MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT
BOARD OF MANAGERS

October 6, 2011

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Board of Managers was called to order by Manager William Olson at 7:05 p.m. at the District offices, 18202 Minnetonka Boulevard, Deephaven, Minnesota. 

MANAGERS PRESENT

James Calkins, Lee Keeley, Richard Miller, Pam Blixt, Jeffrey Casale and William Olson.

MANAGER ABSENT

Brian Shekleton (present for the earlier presentation training session).

OTHERS PRESENT

Eric Evenson, District Administrator; James Wisker, District Planner/Program Coordinator; Renae Clark, Project Manager; Tiffany Forner, Maintenance Technician; Steve Christopher, Regulatory Program Manager; Michael Panzer, District Consulting Engineer; and Louis Smith, District Counsel.

MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR

Ms. Sliv Carlson, member of the Woodland City Council, appeared before the Board of Managers and expressed her appreciation for service on the Citizen Advisory Committee.  She stated that she felt attending the Watershed District meetings were helpful to her City Council service.  The managers thanked her for her commitment. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mr. Wisker requested that item 7.1, Restoration Plan for 3180 Xanthus Lane North, Plymouth be pulled from the agenda; that item 7.3, Big Island Management Plan be moved up to 7.1; and that review of bids for pond maintenance projects be added to the agenda as item 7.6.  It was moved by Manager Keeley, seconded by Manager Miller, to approve the agenda with these changes.  Upon vote, the motion carried

Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Manager Casale, seconded by Manager Keeley, to approve the minutes of July 7, 2011, with the correction of the spelling of Ms. Forner’s name at page three.   Upon vote, the motion carried.

It was moved by Manager Casale, seconded by Manager Calkins, to approve the minutes of September 22, 2011 as distributed.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

Board, Committee and Task Force Reports

Legislative Committee Report

Mr. Joel Carlson appeared before the Board of Managers and reviewed plans for the upcoming 2012 legislative session.  After general observations about the upcoming session, Mr. Carlson noted that important work would include outreach to new members of the legislative delegation and new committee chairs; further work on aquatic invasive species and administrative penalty authority; and monitoring of funding opportunities for watershed district projects.  The managers thanked Mr. Carlson for his work and presentation.

Building Committee Report

Manager Casale reviewed the ongoing work with the City of Minnetonka to pursue planning of a District office within a shared facility on Minnetonka property along Minnehaha Creek.  He noted the importance of focusing on the site and best uses of the site as a priority activity.  He noted that the committee had reviewed proposals from various design firms and selected two firms as finalists (HGA and Cerny Associates) for further review.

Bushaway Road Task Force Report

Manager Calkins reported he attended a meeting on September 29 to review the County’s revisions to the Bushaway Road project.  Manager Calkins reviewed some of the changes, which include the lowering of the railroad tracks.  Mr. Steve Christopher stated that the staff had prepared a response for the Boards review, commenting on these plan changes. 

Hennepin County Governance Report

Manager Miller stated that the Hennepin County Governance study is nearing completion.  A draft report is being developed and may or may not be reviewed by the Task Force.  It appears that the recommendations from the report will to be to consolidate watershed organizations in Hennepin County.  Manager Miller stated that Eric Evenson had been an affective participant in this process. 

Administrator Meeting With Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Superintendent

Mr. Evenson reported that he had met with the new Minneapolis Park and Recreation Boards Superintendent Jayne Miller, along with the new Planning Director Bruce Chamberlain.   Mr. Evenson said this was a very positive meeting and that the discussion included concepts for ongoing creek restoration work and integration with storm water management.

Manager Keeley reported on attending meetings of in Chelsea Woods, a meeting concerning property on Xanthus Lane; a meeting of a Lake Associations for Lake Minnewashta Lotus and Christmas Lake concerned with an aquatic invasive species; and a meeting of the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District.  Mr. Evenson noted that he attended the LMCD meeting, felt it was a positive discussion, and he expressed his respect for the LMCD’s knowledge and expertise with these issues.  Manager Olson also stated that there had been a good dialogue at the LMCD meeting on the need for a broader watershed approach to AIS issues. 

Board Meeting Schedule

The managers noted that the meetings in November and December would be on November 3 and November 10; and December 8, 15 and December 29.

Big Island Management Plan and Project Update

Ms. Renae Clark appeared before the Board of Managers and introduced Mr. Gabriel Jabbour and Mike Gaffron of the City of Orono to present the Big Island Management Plan.  Mr. Jabbour appeared before the Board of Managers and stated that he greatly appreciated the joint effort to preserve Big Island and pursue the conservation management plan.  He noted the extensive effort and time taken to prepare this plan and the partnership effort involved.  He noted that the City of Orono stakeholders are completely in tune with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for the conservation mission.

Ms. Clark expressed gratitude on behalf of the District to Mr. Jabbour for his countless hours of service as custodian of Big Island and work on the project overall.  Following discussion, it was moved by Manager Olson, seconded by Manager Keeley, to place the resolution approving the management plan on the consent agenda for the meeting of October 27.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

Chelsea Woods Stream Restoration Project

Ms. Renae Clark reviewed the request for board action, and presented the preliminary design for the project.  She also reviewed aerial photos of the area since the 1950’s which show the watershed challenges.  Following discussion, it was moved by Manager Miller, seconded by Manager Casale, to place the final design as an action item on the Board meeting agenda for October 27.  Manager Blixt asked whether there were any alternatives to planting willows at this site, and Ms. Tiffany Forner appeared before the Board of Managers to review the list of alternative vegetation options prepared in response to a suggestion from Manager Calkins. 

Manager Miller stated he was concerned with City Council Member Black’s expression of the poor state of relations between the City and the Watershed District, and asked whether the homeowners association is in support of this project.  Mr. Wisker stated that he would be in contact with the homeowners association.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

Easement for Dutch Lake (DL-3) Project

Ms. Clark reviewed the request for board action, to authorize payment of $8,000 to Elroy and Sara Kuglin for an easement on their property at 6800 Game Farm Road in the city of Minnetrista for use of the property in construction and maintenance of the Dutch Lake infiltration project.  Ms. Clark reviewed the data from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources listing conservation easement payment rates for the adjacent township, and noted that the requested amount falls within the range of the payment rates.  Following discussion, it was moved by Manager Miller, seconded by Manager Blixt, to move the staff recommendation to the consent agenda for the October 27 meeting, on the condition that the easement area be marked on the property.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

Bid Award for Construction of Dutch Lake Project

Ms. Clark reviewed the request for board action, noting that the bid opening is scheduled for October 19, with plans for a bid award on October 27.  Following discussion, it was moved by Manager Miller, seconded by Manager Calkins, to forward the draft resolution for the construction bid award for formal action at the meeting of October 27.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

Bid Award for 2011-2012 Stormwater Pond Maintenance

Ms. Tiffany Forner appeared before the Board of Managers and reviewed plans for a bid opening on October 24 for maintenance work at Twin Lakes Pond, Southwest Calhoun Pond, and the Gleason Lake Phase 2 Pond.  Mr. Evenson recommended that staff confirm with the engineer’s assistance that the ponds upland of the Gleason Lake Phase 2 pond be cleaned first if it is determined by the engineer that these upland ponds are contributing pollutant loading  to the Phase 2 pond.  Following discussion, it was moved by Manager Calkins, seconded by Manager Casale, to forward the draft resolution for the construction bid award for formal action at the meeting of October 27, with the added condition as recommended by Mr. Evenson that the condition of the ponds upland of Gleason Lake Phase 2 pond be investigated.  Upon vote, the motion carried

Property Tax Payment for Second Half of 2011

Mr. Evenson requested specific authorization for payment of property taxes on property owned by the District for the second half of 2011, check number 31138 in the amount of $45,483.  It was moved by Manager Calkins, seconded by Manager Olson to authorize this payment.  Upon vote, the motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting of the Board of Managers was adjourned at 9:38 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lee Keeley, Secretary