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-Houlton Farm Planning Committee <br />Draft Minutes <br />May 11, 2015 <br />Present: Chair Wilson, Members Olsen, Anderson, Seeger, Benkofstke, Hecker, Mroz, Femrite <br />Bob McGillivray from the Trust for Public Land was available via the telephone <br />Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:45 pm. Anderson added 4.7 Mowing to the agenda. <br />The minutes from the April 28 meeting were reviewed. <br />Agenda item 4.1 Introduction of Cit Environmental Technician Kristin Mroz <br />Mroz introduced herself to the Committee. She will replace Jeremy Barnhart on the Committee. <br />4.2 Hunting_ Plan <br />Wilson, Anderson, Hecker and Femrite met with City Administration last week to discuss the <br />proposed hunting plan. City Administration is not recommending a permit system. The <br />Committee discussed the need for managed hunts. <br />Anderson recommended proposing two hunting plans to City Council. For example, Plan A with <br />a managed hunt and Plan B not managed. It was discussed that the approval process would <br />start with the committee making recommendations to City Council and then the hunting plan <br />would go to the DRN for their approval. Once the DNR formally approves the plan then it would <br />come back to the Council for final approval. <br />It was discussed that the parking lot will regulate the hunting. It was talked about in initial <br />discussions last fall that the Houlton property needs to be an open public area regulated with a <br />parking lot. <br />Femrite mentioned to keep the plan simple with fewer rules. Seeger asked him if he means a <br />more democratic approach managed by parking spaces. Femrite concurred. The size of the <br />parking lot is for the limitation of hunting. <br />It was discussed that however presented, it is important to avoid the appearance of not <br />managing the property. Seeger felt the city needs to show that it is responsible. It was then <br />discussed that adequate signage would be very important to show how the city is managing the <br />hunt. <br />It was agreed by a majority of committee members that the hunting plan would be regulated by <br />parking. The draft plan will be presented to City Council in June - preferably June 1. <br />N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\Houlton Property Elk River Nature Preserve\Committee Agendas- <br />Packets\Minutes\Minutes 5-11-15.docx <br />