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Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2015-07-27Elk - River I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER 2. CONSIDER AGENDA 3. CONSIDER MINUTES Regular Meeting Houlton Farm Planning Committee AGENDA 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS No action to be taken now. Action may be taken in the future. 4.1 Hunting Plan Status and Update 4.2 Naming Status and Update 4.3 Building Dispositions 4.4 Friends of the Mississippi Update 4.5 Agricultural Lease 4.6 Trails 4.7 4.8 Island Sanctuary Fishing Plan 5. ACTION ITEMS 5.1 None 6. ADJOURNMENT Monday, July 27, 2015 5:45 p.m. Elk River City Hall Meeting Protocol ■ No sidebar discussions • No interruptions ■ State your concern ■ Ensure you understand ■ Don't take things personally ■ Adhere to time limits ■ Come prepared ■ Ensure all are heard This agenda is available in alternate formats upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Auxiliary aids and services are also available upon a 72 hour advanced notice. Please contact the City Clerk at 763. 635.1000 to make a request Examples of alternate formats may include: large print, Braille, audio tape, etc. Examples of auxiliary aids may include a sign language interpreter, assistive listening device, etc. 11VEIE1 �fllN,ATUR -Houlton Farm Planning Committee Draft Minutes June 29, 2015 Present: Chair Wilson, Members Olsen, Anderson, Seeger, Benkofstke, Hecker, Mroz Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm. Anderson added 4.7 Island Sanctuary The minutes from the May 11 meeting were reviewed. Agenda item 4.1 Huntin E Plan Status Hunting plan was presented to City Council on June 1 by Committee Members Wilson, Anderson and Hecker. Council had some concern with the parking lot controlling the hunt. They felt that education would be important and that local ordinances would need to be reviewed and updated. Committee members discussed the possibility that utilities might decrease the size of their parking lot for security reasons. This could affect fishing access to the Elk River. The Committee discussed the need for a fishing plan. This should be on the agenda for the July meeting. 4.2 Naming Status and Update The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the naming of the property to the William H. Houlton Conservation Area. Since the winning name came from a Committee member who wishes to stay anonymous the $100 prize will go to the second place winner. This happens to be Eric Toth who came up with the name William H. Houlton Nature Preserve. Eric wishes to donate the prize money back to the property for an educational plaque regarding the history of farming on the property. 4.3 Building Disnositions The House should be removed in July. The Committee reviewed some of the costs to remove the buildings on the site. It can be expensive and up to $49,000 to take away the newest barn. The Committee discussed the expenses it would take to bring the barn up to building code and that could be a problem since it does not fall within the scope of the property. Michael will check if the fire department might be interested to burn any of the buildings. Michael will prepare an RFP to remove the buildings. The Committee will be able to review it by the end of the summer. It was decided that all of the buildings would be included in the RFP except for the Quonset building. The RFP would include both taking away the buildings and demolitions. 4.4 Friends of the Mississippi Update The attached report from Alex Roth of the FMR was handed out to Committee Members. The FMR has been working with staff on funding for the conservation plan on the property. N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\William H Houlton Conservation Area\Committee Agendas-Packets\Minutes\Minutes 6- 29-15.docx 4.5 Land Management It was discussed that a buffer of 50 ft. is required between the tillable ground and the river. The farmer is aware of this new requirement. It was discussed that the roadway around the perimeter of the farming area needs a 15ft road maintained. Michael mentioned that the police and fire departments are recommending this. The Agricultural Lease Agreement should be approved by City Council. The money from the farmer will be going back to the Houlton fund that has been set up for the property. The farmer will give the city $12,600 for 2015 in the lease. The Committee discussed the need to keep some of the trails on the island. The group discussed the need to review the paths that should be viewed on a map. It was discussed that the paths should be shown on a map. Kristen mentioned that she will look into using GPS on the property. 4.6 Island Sanctuary It was discussed that the island became a sanctuary for wildlife. It could become a quiet space for animals. The hunting rules would be different. For example no turkey hunting in the spring. The idea of an island sanctuary will be on the agenda for the July meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm 2 FMR Houlton Farm/Bailey Point NRMP Update 7/23/15- Specific /23/15- Specific Update (from Alex): I have now created the majority of the maps necessary for the NRMPs. These maps will inform the restoration goals at the site, and include maps of soils, surficial geology, presettlement vegetation, current vegetation, and landscape context (proximity to parks, corridors, and high-value natural areas). I have continued to visit the sites when possible. On recent visits to Houlton I have concentrated my vegetation surveys in areas of the floodplain forest and in the savanna -like openings on the north side of the property. At Bailey Point, I have completed surveys in the northernmost "prairie" area and in two locations along the Elk River. I plan to continue surveying both sites, concentrating on the southwest floodplain island at Houlton and in the southern savanna and floodplain areas at Bailey Point. I have also continued to photograph species of interest (both plants and animals) that I see during my surveys and take GPS points of features ranging from structures and trails to specific plant species. On recent visits, I have also spent time meeting with interested parties from Elk River to walk the property and discuss the ecology of the site. I was also able to meet with Lucille Abraham, a resident of the property for 58 years. She imparted a great deal of valuable information regarding the historical uses of the property and the timing and location of certain events. Much like walking the property and documenting its species and features, this historical information will help to guide and prioritize management throughout the two properties. While the original goal was to finish the NRMP by the end of the year, it's likely that we will have it finished much sooner (likely early fall). This will allow more time for the plan to be digested and approved by the city of Elk River and other relevant entities. Alex