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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 <br />November 10, 2021 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br /> <br />• YAC Playground Safety Netting. Motion Carried 7-0. <br /> <br />8. Invasive Species Management <br /> <br />Mr. Hecker shared his report asking if the commission interested in having a <br />dedicated funding source to contract services to control invasive species. <br /> <br />Commissioner Niziolek stated it is imperative to have a dedicated fund to invest on a <br />yearly basis to be successful. <br /> <br />Commissioner Anderson shared, we transformed Woodland Trails Regional Park <br />temporarily by cutting down the buckthorn and if the funding would have been <br />there, we could have sprayed the buckthorn this year to keep fighting it. <br /> <br />Commissioner Anderson would like the State of Minnesota to declare that <br />buckthorn is an invasive species to fight it. You can improve the quality of your <br />native community in a site-specific area even if the neighbor does not. We must do <br />our part to preserve and protect the lands we have. <br /> <br />Commissioner Rathbun would like to know a long-term eradication plan. <br /> <br />Council member Wagner understands the concern and wants to know what the <br />amount is needed yearly and for how long. <br /> <br />Commissioner Niziolek one thing that would save us is a prescribed burn in the <br />parks where we can be aggressive to save significant amount of money. Plan by <br />implementing burn programs to minimize the cost. <br /> <br />Commissioner Anderson stated it is very complicated to name all the nature areas we <br />have without consulting experts in the area. Stating if we don’t put $75,000 to <br />$100,000 towards Woodland Trials Regional Park next year, we will have lost. <br /> <br />Chair Williams stated if it is in the Parks Operation budget then staff and council <br />would figure the amount out for invasive species. <br /> <br />Council member Wagner clarified, the commission wants the funding source but <br />council to determine the source and to bring in a consultant to work out how much. <br /> <br />Commissioner Anderson stated for the sake of timeliness it should be $100,000 and <br />then look at future funding and leverage Friends of the Mississippi, but they <br />wouldn’t come up to Woodland Trails Regional Park, this partnership has helped in