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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 06-07-05 ST. CROIX COUNTY • NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING r TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Ron Raymond, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation DATE: June 7, 2005 TIME: 10:40 a.m. LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING: July 5, 2005 ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: Director's Report Bills /vouchers Capital Outlay plan * RFP's - Homestead Parklands - Stairway design UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Outdoor Recreation Plan Snowmobile ordinance Campground host Job Description - Operations manager LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Agency Reports FSA NRCS DNR RC &D West Central Area NEW BUSINESS: Subdivision Review - 1:00 p.m. Vouchers EPA - Watershed Initiative Grant DATCP - SWRM cost -share dollars /extension policy Capital Outlay plan Prairie Garden Dedication - 12:30 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Conservation awards Staff Reports Information & Education report Priority Watershed Projects ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: May 25, 2005; amended May 31, 2005 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS * ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES Convened: 10:55 a.m. Recessed: 12:37 p.m. Reconvened: 1:20 p.m. Adjourned: 5:45 p.m. ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Agricultural Service & Education Center, Baldwin, WI June 7, 2005 Members Present: Lois Bum, Bill Peavey, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: None Staff Present: Bob Heise, Dave Larson, Arlene Lier Others Present: Ellen Denzer - Planning, Julie Speer -County Board Supervisor, Peggy Rode Adoption of Aeenda: Cody made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Date of Next Meeting: June 16, 2005 (Conservation Tour — Barron County) July 5, 2005 PARKSDEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS Director's Report: Campine Refunds Heise reported that at times there are camping refund checks issued (11 so far this year, averaging about $44.00). Part of the refund is retained for administrative cost. This process goes through the Finance Department. Discussed using a voucher system instead of issuing refund checks. The voucher could be issued for use the next weekend or later in the year. The voucher (letter form) could be offered in place of a refund check. Campers would be notified that "Refunds are in the form of a voucher ". Heise was directed to write up something "as policy." RFP's — Homestead Parklands - Stairway Desien Larson presented three proposals for the stairway design (most northern parking lot down to the beach access trail). This was part of the master plan when the park was developed which never was instituted during that phase. It was meant to connect the upper playground area with the swimming beach area. To further develop the park, we let out Request for Proposals for stairway design (vertical stairway and a series of paths with some minor steps). Three proposals were received from engineering firms (Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc., Bonestroo Rosene Anderlik & Associates, Cedar Corporation). Four county staff reviewed the proposals and ranked them independent of each other. SEH was the top scorer by a considerable margin. They looked at general requirements, technical requirements, and cost was at the end. Zoerb requested background information on the plan. Following the master plan, it is designed to connect areas of the park which currently people are not using. They now have to walk all the way around. This would access the upper area and people could walk down to the beach. It is a controlled shortcut so people are not walking down steep hills creating paths. There is a 15 -car parking lot by the playground. It would also connect to the west side hiking trails. It would open up more of the park for usage. Raymond commented that it will cost approximately $17,000 and we still don't have a trail. If we approve this proposal, we will anticipate substantial expenditure whatever the option is. Heise stated that this is already projected ($13,140.00 for design cost) in our 2005 budget. The project ($73,000 — grant eligible) is in the 2006 capital outlay plan. Zoerb suggested that each of the proposals ($12,973, $19,600, and $6,800) be reviewed. Cedar Corporation did not comply with the technical requirements to submit a set of drawings. Raymond stated that Cedar Corporation is a significant enough low bidder to QISf. (.* -2­7 -Os require further investigation or they did not respond in a fully compliant way to the RFP (the only two answers to work with now). Raymond suggested we meet with Cedar Corporation and have them give us that bond that says they will deliver this work for $6,800. LWCC decided to continue discussing this issue during the afternoon session. BillsNouchers Bills list was presented. Motion by Peavey, seconded by Burn, to approve the Snowmobile accounts ($6,505.30) and Park account bills ($35,241.55). Zoerb questioned the St. Croix County Highway Department bill for $11,114.50. Larson stated that in checking with other boat ramps that were installed in the area, Highway Department was substantially less expensive. Carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Snowmobile Ordinance Heise reported that the public hearing was held on June 1" and went well. No written comments were received yet. Campground host Heise reported that we have a campground host (Ilene & Ludvig Blagen) at Glen Hills until July 5'. Capital Outlay Plan Heise presented the preliminary capital outlay plan. Reviewed and discussed years 2006 -2010. Many of the projects /practices shown are in our Outdoor Recreation Plan. He attempted to balance the cost from year to year so we don't get these spikes but we maintain a general idea on budget for park improvements. We will be working on this plan for the next several months. We will no longer be receiving park dedication fees. Peavey left the meeting due to a fire call. Heise reported that Personnel requested our temporary help (Parks Department seasonal staff) forms in the month of June. No change from 2005. Outdoor Recreation Plan Denzer attended the meeting to review and discuss the "revised draft" of the Eastern and Western (two separate categories) Facilities Analysis and Action Plans. Heise explained that it was done because of management responsibilities and roles. Site Managers have responsibilities over certain parks. We try to line up creation of this in the development of the outdoor plan to reflect those responsibilities. This is a similar format to previous plans. It provides a narrative of each of the parks, a history of the parks, and then breaks it down as far as what the needs are of that park and tries to reflect what year that would be installed within that facility. Those projects are reflected in our capital outlay plan. Some small items do not show up in the Capital Outlay Plan. Stanton and Kinnickinnic forests are included in the plan (not previously) as recreational opportunities. Heise stated that during our July meeting we could have the snowmobile, bicycle, and administration session. Discussed a special meeting on August 4 at 1:00 p.m. to approve the final version of the plan. County Board adoption would be held in November. Job Description — Operations manager Heise reported that he and Zoerb worked on the revised job description draft. They met with Deb Kathan - Personnel Director on May 12. Heise was requested to list reasons (justification) for the revised job description. Zoerb made motion that committee accepts the draft version for the County Parks Operations Manager as presented and submit to Personnel Committee for review, seconded by Burri. Carried. Roll call vote: Ruetz — yes, Zoerb — yes, Burri — yes, Raymond — yes. Peavey was absent during the vote. Recessed at 12:37 p.m. Prairie garden dedication was held. Tammy Wittmer gave a presentation, acknowledged and thanked the organizations that contributed towards the garden. Refreshments were served following the dedication. Reconvened: 1:20 p.m. Adjourned: 5:45 p.m. LAND & WATER CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Ron Raymond, Gene Ruetz, Jan Zoerb Members Absent: Bill Peavey Staff Present: Director -Bob Heise, Land Specialist—Pete Kling, Lakes Cluster Technician -Tammy Wittmer, Secretary- Arlene Lier Others Present: Bob Hendrickson -FSA; Steve Pernsteiner -NRCS; Dave Hausman -DNR, Eunice Post -DNR; Sienna Corporation: Lary Thompson, Pat Carpenter, Jeff Serum, Brian McCou; James Rusch, William Lindau, Max Guldan, Fred Buttke Action on Previous Minutes: Motion by Ruetz, seconded by Burn, to approve the May 3 and June 1, 2005 meeting minutes. Carried. FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA) Robert Hendrickson reported: • CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) - Staff is working on the 29 CRP signup folders, NRCS gives them to staff. Also very busy with land selling and trading hands out of CRP. • Compliance - Most of the 817 -U post cards that staff sent out for CRP compliance have been returned. • DCP (Direct and County Cyclical Program) - We ended up with 1,700 contracts after the signup deadline of June lsc Late filers will cost them $100. We will be down about 75 or 100 from last year. • 75% of the producers have signed up for the advance Counter Cyclical payments (first and second) for 2004. Some just don't want to have to pay any money back so they are waiting until the end (October I to see if any is going to be paid out. • The interest rate for Commodity Loans is 4.375% and 4.0% Facility Loans. • No MILC (Milk Income Loss) payments for May at this point. We haven't heard if it is going to be extended or not. We have heard that there will be a small MILC payment for June which will be paid out in July. • The LDP'S (Loan Deficiency Payments) for today: .02 for corn, .00 for Barley, .00 for Soybeans and .00 for HRS Wheat. • Recons — Staff still has a few recons coming in. Also working now on tweaking our CRP on the GIS maps. • Disaster is in full swing. Many farmers are signing up for it. Most of the losses are in 2003. Insurance is required for the next 2 years if producers get a payment on any crop. Program payment limitation is $80,000. No one has hit that limit yet. • Livestock Assistance Program (LAP) - St. Croix County qualified for this for 2003. Producers that apply for this will have to prove to us that they had a loss in 2003, cattle sold due to lack of pasture, extra hay purchased, feeding earlier than normal, etc. • May 31" ended the Loan and LDP period for 2004 crops. If you didn't have a loan or LDP by now, you can no longer get one on the 2004 crops. However, if you have a loan and there is a LDP in effect you can still buy your corn or what ever back with that rate or a Market Gain. NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Pernsteiner reported: • CSP- NRCS is currently processing 2005 payments for 2004 Conservation Security Program (CSP) participants. NRCS opened up enrolhnent in the Eau Galle watershed for CSP. One new application for 2005. • All 2005 EQIP local applications for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) have been funded. No -till, feed management and nutrient management practices most common practices in new contracts. Busy making payments on previous contracts. • Jay Custer is still assisting Pierce County with large CSP and EQIP workload. Andrea Crownhart is working here this summer as an intermittent employee. She is busy checking CRP. • Four Wildlife Habit Incentive Program (WHIP) applications have been approved. • Three landowners have recently requested participation in the CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program). DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) Dave Hausman- Warden Supervisor — Law Enforcement — Reported: The 2005 Spring Turkey Stub Tally Sheet for turkey zones 37, 19, 20, 6, 2 - Good success but a reduction on the juvenile/ adults that were taken, usually 50% and really low. Not many jakes were seen. Wildlife - Information on Ruffed Grouse Drumming counts which is an indicator of rough grouse cycle population usually on a ten year cycle. We are at the bottom and state wide it is about a 13% drop in drumming counts. Southeast and Central had an increase in drumming counts. The north and southwest had an increase. It is an indicator of where the cycle is. It probably will bottom out and come back up. Forestry Program — Mark Kubler provided a report that initially the Governor proposed in his budget to eliminate 40.75 FTE's (Full Time Equivalency, AKA Permanent Employees), Division of Forestry, around the state. After Joint Finance committee met recently, they passed motion to retain the 34 private forestry positions. These were positions that primarily focused on private land owners and managed forest lands. At the Baldwin office, one of the most common walk -ins (aside from registration of vehicles and licenses) is to contact the staff of foresters. Kubler supervises foresters for Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix. If there are specific things we want to discuss, e-mail DNR. Hausman commented that he agreed with the new Snowmobile ordinance. There has to be ample signage out there. Heise stated that we have 60 signs already purchased for posting. RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT (RC &D) Ruetz reported that he attended the training conference for RC &D Council Members held at Rosholt, WI on May 19 -20. Mileage was paid by RC &D. The training was on educating public officials, fund raising, and the rules on lobbying. WEST CENTRAL AREA Raymond announced that the 2005 Summer Conservation Tour, hosted by Barron County, will be held on Thursday, June 16. Burri, Cody, Raymond, and Heise plan to attend. The West Central Area business meeting will be held during the dinner hour. The state WLWA meeting will be held in Eau Claire on December 7 -9. NEW BUSINESS Vouchers Reviewed vouchers. Zoerb made motion to approve Chair Raymond's signature on the June voucher list in amount of $94,271.91, seconded by Cody. Carried. EPA — Watershed Initiative Grant Heise stated that WI DNR and MN DNR wrote an EPA iniative grant for the St. Croix River Watershed. If they are successful, that may have an impact internally with our 2006 budget. This is a multi- state, multi jurisdictional effort with the St. Croix Partner Basin team looking at the St. Croix River, with goals of 20% reduction in nutrients and phosphorus into the St. Croix River by 2020. Last year Stacy Volkert did an inventory of land uses on the Willow River. It is one of those chosen rivers that is our targeted area. It is identified as a huge nutrient source entering into the St. Croix River. The Willow River is targeted in this grant. If successful, there is money in the grant that would provide an individual in our Land & Water Conservation for about 3 years. The grant would pay for 75% of the cost, also cost sharing; we would have to come up with 25% matching funds. Various options were discussed. Heise has submitted a letter of support. Discussion of this item will be continued at the July meeting. DATCP — Cost Share policy Heise handed out copies of the revised St. Croix County Cost Share Policy for Resource Management Plan and the St. Croix County Cost Share Contract - Landowner Agreement. Committee should review and it will be on the July agenda. Subdivision Review Kling introduced Jeff Engel (summer intern), New Richmond graduate, who just finished his first year at UW- Madison. He is doing the erosion control inspections. Kling presented: Hudson Business Center — (Located in part of the NE '/4 of the SW '/ and part of the NW '/ of the SW ' / 4, T29N,R19W, Sec. 27, Town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 28.5 acres, 13 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The stone water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Raymond made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Cottonwood Ridge 2 nd Addition — (Located in part of the SW ' / 4 of the NW ' / 4 and part of the NW '/4 of the SW '/ of Sec. 36, T29N -R19W, Town of Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 60.5 acres, 24 lots total. All stone water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Raymond made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Stone Run Estates — (Located in part of the NW ' / 4 of the SE '/a of Section 26, T3 ON-RI 8W, Town of Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 26.4 acres, 10 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Cody made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, seconded by Ruetz. Carried. Brown Wood Estates — (Located in part of the NE ' / 4 of the NW '/4 and in part of the SE '/4 of the NW '/4, Sec. 30, T30N- R19W, Town of St. Joseph, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 48.6 acres, 14 lots total. All storm water and erosion control issues have been resolved and the plans conform to the St. Croix County Subdivision Ordinance. The storm water and erosion control plans are acceptable for this subdivision. Ruetz made motion to recommend that the plans for this subdivision are acceptable and a letter be sent to the Planning & Zoning Committee, seconded by Raymond. Carried. Sunset Landings — (Located in part of Government Lot 3, Government Lot 4, Part of the SW ' / 4 of the SE '/a and in part of the SE ' / 4 of the SE '/a of Sec. 1, T29N -R20W, Town of St. Joseph, St. Croix County, Wisconsin) — 49.9 acres, 9 lots total. Extensive discussion on the environmental issues related to this subdivision. The Committee recommended conditionally approving the storm water and erosion control plan for Sunset Landings, citing the following 4 conditions: 1) Satisfaction of all Town of St. Joseph conditions associated with their approval of the preliminary plat. 2) Satisfaction of LWCD comments listed in the May 23, 2005 letter with the exception of comment # 16 regarding the river access trail. 3) LWCD staff and project engineer explore alternatives to the proposed river access trail including a walking trail and mechanical lift, and report back to the LWCC on July 5, 2005. 4) All required state and federal permits are obtained before construction commencement. Capital Outlay Plan Reviewed the LWCD plan. Heise stated that we plan to upgrade some of our monitors to larger flat screens. The 15" screens are not large enough to do GIS type work. Some monitors will be funded through out watershed programs. Also one computer will be replaced. We plan to replace a vehicle in 2007. Zoerb made motion to approve the 2006 preliminary Capital Outlay plan for LWCD and forward to the Finance Committee, Burri seconded. Carried. Heise stated that he will be submitting a temporary help (summer intern) position for 2006. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Conservation Awards Committee approved the suggested candidates for each of the award categories: Conservation Farmer (Schulte Bros. Farm), Conservation Teacher (Cindy Landers), Water Quality (Squaw Lake District), Wildlife Habitat (Tiffany Creek Improvements — Local Chapter TU), Leadership Award (Shawn Schottler). Priority Watershed Projects Wittmer reported: Lakes Cluster Bass Lake - • Working with NRCS and two landowners near Bass Lake on the CREP contract that will entail 8.5 acres of water frontage. • Completed a shoreline restoration project with Roger Orf on Bass Lake. There was approximately 2,000 square feet of shoreline restored. • The landowners on 132 avenue are working with the Town of St. Joseph for a cul -de -sac design. They may be looking to do some shoreline restoration yet this year. • There are 3 more restoration projects on schedule for this year on Bass Lake. Squaw Lake - • Ken & Gayle House have a signed cost -share agreement to restore about 3,800 square feet of shoreline. • The WLWCA Conservation Showcase event was held at Prairie Flats North on May 16 There were approximately 26 attendees, including Representative Andy Lamb. Overall, great response from everyone, including the wildlife! Pine Lake — • A shoreline restoration project for Pine Lake Park is scheduled for fall 2005. We'll be doing a boat landing survey this summer and applying for a RBF grant to redo the approach at the landing. South Fork of the Hay River Project • Glen Hills Prairie Restoration is scheduled to happen within the next couple of weeks. We also have the go ahead from DNR to do a wildlife scrape within the restoration. However, the scrape probably won't occur until after the planting is done. • Fairgrounds restoration is scheduled to be done by Rodeo. Everything is moving along very nicely! Information & Education Reuort Heise reported that the I & E report was mailed to the LWCC. RFP's — Homestead Parklands - Stairway Desien (Continuation from Parks a.m. meeting) Larson presented more background on the three proposals for the stairway design work. Discussed the rating system used in evaluating (general, technical and cost) each of the proposals. LWCC did not agree with the evaluation system used. Requested staff to work with Dana Baker - Management Systems Specialist to re- evaluate the proposals, interviewing Cedar Corporation regarding their extreme low design cost. Raymond suggested two members be delegated to make the decision for the LWCC. Zoerb made motion to authorize Peavey and Raymond to be the committee members to participate in making the decision for LWCC, seconded by Burri. Carried. Raymond adjourned meeting at 5:45 p.m. Jan Zoerb Secretary Arlene Lier Recording Secretary