4.7. SR 01-20-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Request for Action To Item Number Mayor and City Council 4.7 Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by ConsentJanuary 20, 2015Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director Item Description Reviewed by Natural Resource Plan for Houlton Farm Property Cal Portner, City Administrator and Bailey Point Nature Preserve Reviewed by Action Requested Approve, by motion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Friends of the Mississippi River and the City of Elk River to develop a Natural Resource Management Plan for the Houlton Farm property and the Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Background/Discussion During early discussions to acquire the Houlton farm property, the need to develop a Natural Resource Management Plan to improve the habitat of the property was discussed. Staff worked with the staff of the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) to obtain a grant of $160,000 from the State of Minnesota for the development of a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for the Houlton Farm property and Bailey Point Nature Preserve. FMR will develop a document (NRMP) that describes the site features and potential for ecological restoration. The general restoration and management recommendations will be described for each land cover type, as well as the restoration potential, priority, and general cost estimates. The NRMP will be developed under the guidance of staff and the Houlton Farm Planning Committee. This will be one of the main responsibilities of the Planning Committee. City Attorney Peter Beck reviewed the attached MOU. Financial Impact FMR requested the city make a financial contribution for their technical knowledge and experience to develop a NRMP. They requested $5,000 for the Houlton property and $5,000 for Bailey Point for a total of $10,000, which is in the 2015 Park Improvement Plan. Attachments  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Friends of the Mississippi River