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<br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To <br />Parks and Recreation Commission <br />Item Number <br />7.1 <br />Agenda Section <br />Discussion Item <br />Meeting Date <br />December 8, 2021 <br />Prepared by <br />Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Item Description <br />Buckthorn Removal <br />Reviewed by <br />Tim Sevcik, Streets and Parks Superintendent <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Discuss a dedicated funding source and priorities to conduct buckthorn removal. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />Commissioner Anderson attended the November 15 City Council meeting in which buckthorn management and <br />funding was discussed. The Council was informed the Commission was not interested in utilizing the Park <br />Improvement Fund (PIF) as a funding source. The Commission also discussed at the November meeting to defer <br />recommendations to staff for to what it would take to maintain and progress buckthorn removal. <br /> <br />Staff met with our Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) partner who has worked with the city on Natural <br />Resource Management Plans for both Bailey Point (BPNP) and W.H. Houlton Conservation Area (WHHCA), <br />which included buckthorn removal. Utilizing $50,000 in matching city funds from the PIF, we have leveraged <br />$743,625 through the FMR for restoration, $300,000 of which went to buckthorn removal on roughly 200 acres <br />at WHHCA and BPNP. <br /> <br />If we continue our FMR partnership efforts on BPNP and WHHCA, we will be able to leverage their natural <br />resources expertise and additional financial resources for continued buckthorn removal. There is potential to <br />leverage additional funding sources for other city parks in the future with FMR or other partnering initiatives. <br /> <br />City Council referred the management plan and funding discussion back to the Parks and Recreation Commission. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />If the city can provide $6,250 per year for 2022 to 2026, the FMR will be able to secure $150,000 for buckthorn <br />removal follow-up at WHHCA and BPNP. Staff recommends taking our contribution from the Park <br />Improvement Fund. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Natural Resource WTRP Buckthorn Plan (handed out by Dave Anderson at Council meeting) <br /> Elk River FMR Buckthorn Summary