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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 4.10 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Consent Agenda February 6, 2017 Tim Sevcik, Parks Maintenance Superintendent <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />William H. Houlton Conservation Area Farm Lease Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Agreement <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Approve, by motion, a lease agreement with Sherman Lehn to allow for continued agricultural purposes <br />on city property. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />In 2016, the city entered into a one-year lease agreement with Sherman Lehn for agricultural purposes at <br />the William H. Houlton Conservation Area. Mr. Lehn cultivated 165 acres of existing agricultural fields <br />on the property for the fixed amount of $75.00 per acre for a total term rent of $12,375. <br /> <br />In November of 2016, the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />conducted a wetland restoration within the Conservation Area consisting of approximately 5 acres. As a <br />result, the net acreage of tillable land for 2017 will be 160 acres for a lease fee of $12,000. <br /> <br />The tillable land will be transitioned to native mixed height mesic prairie following the 2017 growing <br />season as a result of grant funds obtained by FMR. It is to the benefit of the native prairie restoration to <br />continue agricultural cultivation until restoration can proceed. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />The city will receive the fixed amount of $75.00 per acre for 160 acres for a total lease fee of $12,000.00. <br />The revenue is planned to be used for continued improvements needed for the property. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Agricultural Lease Agreement <br /> <br />