12-12-2011 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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(16. LURTON PARK IMPROVEMENTS, Continued) burn and reseeding of the open field area with native prairie vegetation; similar burn/re-seeding in the adjacent Hennepin County right—of-way and around the MnDOT wetland in the southeast corner of the site; trail improvements (clearing as needed and wood chips); adding signage along the park boundaries and buckthorn removal. The City had received a quote from Prairie Restorations, Inc., in April of 2011 for this work. Subsequent requests for quotes from four additional firms resulted in only one additional response from Minnesota Native Landscapes, which substituted herbicide applications for the controlled burn. Based on the two quotes, Staff is recommending that Council accept the proposal of PRI for the field re-vegetation project. PRI has also quoted expanding the re-seeding project to include the Hennepin County right-of-way for an additional $8,950. Staff has not yet had contact with Hennepin County regarding whether they would allow that work. Staff has met with Mark Simenson of PRI and with Van Erickson to discuss this project as well as other potential site improvement projects. PRI has provided a spreadsheet with cost estimates for the various potential site improvements. Van Erickson has indicated he believes the two highest priority projects are the field re-seeding and buckthorn removal. Council has not had any in-depth discussion regarding a buckthorn removal program for this site so Staff has asked Mark Simenson to attend tonight's Council meeting to answer any questions the Council may have. Staff recommends accepting the quote of PRI, Inc., for the field burn/re-seeding project in the amount of $13,200. Council should advise Staff as to whether there is support for expanding this to the Hennepin County right-of-way if allowed by the County. Staff further recommends that Council provide Staff with direction regarding a buckthorn removal program for Lurton Park. The project would not start until next spring, which would give the city time to decide whether the Hennepin County right-of-way work will be included in the project. Rahn commented in his view the City can move ahead with the bid for $13,200 and then ask Hennepin County whether the other work within the right-of-way can be done. Rahn stated he was unsure how many improvements were going to be made to the park. Franchot asked what the Lurtons’ expectations were regarding the buckthorn. Gaffron stated in his view they feel the re-seeding and burn are a higher priority than the buckthorn. Next spring the City does need to perform some work on the trail. Staff is hoping to get some volunteers to remove debris and place wood chips down. Gaffron stated in his opinion the removal of the buckthorn is something that should be done since it is not well established at this point. Franchot noted the City has approximately $130,000 left from the Lurtons' gift to the City and asked whether that was intended as an endowment. Gaffron stated it was intended for maintenance of the park and that there were no specific changes as to how the remainder of the money was to be used. Gaffron noted that if the City is going to use the interest from the $130,000, it would not amount to more than a couple thousand dollars a year. Gaffron stated it is not an endowment at this point. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 12/12/2011 Approval of Council Minutes 11/28/2011 [Page 12 of 16]