Laserfiche WebLink
excavation. When land development happens, there are situations where wetlands may be filled in order to <br />meet the needs of a project. These filled wetlands must be replaced at a 2:1 ratio with existing wetland credits <br />from a wetland bank site. A wetland bank site in a location of created wetlands that can be used to offset fill in <br />other areas, typically in the same county or watershed. <br /> <br />Elk River currently owns a wetland bank site with less than an acre of remaining available credits for purchase. <br />Our long-term goal is to create another, larger wetland bank site and sell wetland credits when projects in our <br />city require wetland fill. A total of $145,000 has been set aside since 2017 to purchase this site. Creating a <br />wetland bank site requires suitable land to restore or create new wetlands. There are also additional costs <br />involved with creating the bank site. The creation process includes design work, permitting, site construction <br />(grading, berms, ditch control), vegetation establishment and annual monitoring and maintenance. The EDA <br />annual budget item is being set aside for these costs in establishing a wetland bank site. Once established, the <br />wetland credits would be sold for projects at a market rate per acre. <br /> <br />DRONE FOOTAGE <br />Drone footage includes site virtualization and an interactive format that would offer visitors the opportunity to <br />engage in the following activities for the various EDA available lots, the Sherburne County site and other <br />future industrial sites: <br /> On each site pin the available “financial incentives” <br /> Simulate driving on Hwy 169 – flow and businesses <br /> Pin utility information (cost, voltage etc./provider information) <br /> Pin fiber information and provider information <br /> Pin utility substations with voltage etc. <br /> Pin Permitting process and timeline <br /> Show reclamation of Tiller Gravel mine and future site possibilities <br /> Pin type of rail i.e. BNSF commercial rail and Northstar commuter rail <br /> Pin airports <br /> Drone footage of the community, community events, EDA available lots, gravel mine area, accessibility <br /> Potential buildings on available lots – as was completed for the two Northstar Lots <br /> <br />Cost: $10,000 future updates available as needed <br /> <br />Major initiatives from these documents include: <br /> Market the City of Elk River and gain positive exposure for the city. <br /> Grow and maintain an inventory of private and public properties available for future development. <br /> Maintain financial incentives to enhance economic development. <br /> Celebrate and grow our existing businesses. <br /> Develop and expand a microloan program to encourage new green collar jobs. <br /> Increase the number of companies actively manufacturing products or components of products directly <br />or indirectly used in renewable energy or energy efficiency by 2024. <br /> Proactively work with the business community impacted by the 169 Redefine project. <br /> Begin implementation of the EDA Strategic Plan. <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br />The proposed budget accounts for a slight decrease in expenditures for office supplies. An increase telephone, <br />postage, conferences and schools, advertising and marketing, publishing, insurance, and dues and subscriptions. <br />