LINN COUNTY, IOWA, CONSERVATION BOARD MINUTES OF THE MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017, BOARD MEETING

Transcription

1 LINN COUNTY, IOWA, CONSERVATION BOARD MINUTES OF THE MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017, BOARD MEETING The following is a true copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Linn County, Iowa, Conservation Board held on Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Linn Mar High School, th St, Marion, Iowa. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Steve Emerson, Cindy Burke and John Hanson BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Hillary Hughes, George Kanz STAFF PRESENT Dan Biechler, Executive Director; Dennis Goemaat, Deputy Director; Randy Burke, Planner; and Ryan Schlader, Community Outreach OTHERS PRESENT Megan Moffitt and Todd Happel, Anderson Bogert; Antonio Arenas, Iowa Flood Center; Dr. Keith Schilling, Iowa Geological Survey; Larry Gullett, Bill Waldie, and Alice Atkinson, Johnson County Conservation; Skyler Schrum, Delaney Bishop, Koby Wesselink, Blake Holmes, Chase Brisel, Daniel Ohara, Tyler Hungate, Raechol Oliehy, Jackson Hicks, Anna Christenson, Libby Isenberg, Annabelle Johnson, Isabelle Hernandez, Wyatt Ochs, Charlotte McDermott, William Hunt, Samuel Finley, Nolan Thompson, Brittan Stark, Joelle Nelson, Zane M., Kane B., Ben G., Roxanna B., Alexa M., Iris H., Finley R., Kanishu Puranik; and Nancy Grindle, Marion Times. CALL TO ORDER Board Vice-President Emerson called the meeting to order at 12:05 PM. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were received. ITEM R1. APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Hanson, second by Burke. To approve the consent agenda. VOTE: aye; all present The consent agenda was approved and involved the following items: ITEM C1. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE APRIL 24, 2017 REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING ITEM C2. APPROVE CLAIMS AND EXPENDITURES CLAIMS LIST # Claims and Transfer list # involving claim # through claim # ITEM C3. RECEIVE AND PLACE ON FILE THE APRIL 2017 FINANCIAL/BUDGET REPORT

2 ITEM C5. ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS 1. Gift # , Lawrence & Christine Lynch monetary donation ($1,150) for a memorial tree and bench for Squaw Creek Park. 2. Gift # , Janice Teeter Estate monetary donation ($10,889.14) for use at Squaw Creek Park. 3. Gift # , Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation monetary donation ($451) toward the Anderson Family conservation easement fund. ITEM C6. ITEM C7. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT UPDATES APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH LL PELLING REGARDING ROAD SEAL COAT APPLICATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018 REGULAR AGENDA: ITEM R2. PRESENTATION FROM ANTONIO ARENAS, ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST WITH THE IOWA HYDROSCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AND THE IOWA FLOOD CENTER, AND DR. KEITH SCHILLING, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE IOWA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. Antonio Arenas from the University of Iowa Hydroscience & Engineering (and Iowa Flood Center) and Dr. Keith Schilling from the Iowa Geological Survey met with the Board. Antonio presented information related to work of the Iowa Flood Center on the Cedar River and other watersheds of the Cedar River. Keith Schilling, from the Iowa Geological Survey presented data regarding water quality monitoring at the Morgan Creek County Park oxbow restoration project. No action was taken on this item. ITEM R3. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON AUTHORIZING THE LINN COUNTY CONSERVATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN, SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY S REVIEW AND APPROVAL, A CONSERVATION EASEMENT REGARDING THE JOHNSON COUNTY OWNED LAND UNDER CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD FOR WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING Johnson County Conservation Board (JCCB) Executive Director Larry Gullet and Johnson County Conservation Board members Bill Waldie and Alice Atkinson met with the Board to discuss a proposed wetland bank conservation easement. The Conservation Board had received a letter from the JCCB prior to the meeting requesting the Linn County Conservation Board to take and hold a conservation easement on property owned by Johnson County included in the Cedar River Crossing Wetland Bank. 2

3 MOTION by Burke, second by Hanson. To authorize the Executive Director to sign the easement agreement on behalf of the Conservation Board after review and approval of the proposed conservation easement by the Linn County Attorney s Office. ITEM R4. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON APPROVAL OF AND AUTHORIZING THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO SIGN THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE LINN COUNTY CONSERVATION BOARD AND ANDERSON-BOGERT ENGINEERING REGARDING THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR THE WICKIUP HILL WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT, PROJECT # 5-17 : Randy Burke reviewed the proposed professional services agreement with Anderson- Bogert Engineering regarding the design and engineering for the Wickiup Hill wetland restoration project. MOTION by Burke, second by Hanson. To approve the professional service agreement with Anderson-Bogert Engineering and authorize the Executive Director to sign the agreement on behalf of the Conservation Board. ITEM R5. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON AWARD OF CONTRACT TO THE APPARENT LOW BIDDER REGARDING THE HOOVER TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND PAVING, PROJECT #2-12. Todd Happel from Anderson-Bogert Engineering met with the Board to review bids for the Hoover Trail construction and paving project. Eleven bids were received by the Iowa Department of Transportation with the apparent low bid of $594, submitted by Metro Pavers of Iowa City. No action was taken by the Conservation Board. The Iowa Department of Transportation will be preparing the construction contract for Conservation Board review and consideration at the June 26 Board meeting. 3

4 ITEM R6. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON THE BID PROPOSALS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING TWO FIREWOOD AND EQUIPMENT STORAGE BUILDINGS FOR THE SERVICE AREAS AT MORGAN CREEK AND PINICON RIDGE COUNTY PARKS. Randy Burke reviewed the bids for two firewood and equipment storage buildings. One building is to be constructed at Pinicon Ridge Park and one at Morgan Creek Park. Two bids were received for each building. Sunrise Post and Frame submitted the low bid for both projects. The Morgan Creek storage building bid is $73,770. The Pinicon Ridge Park storagebuilding bid is $84,445. MOTION by Hanson, second by Burke. To award and authorize the Executive Director to sign construction contracts on behalf of the Board to Sunrise Post and Frame for the Morgan Creek storage building bid of $73,770 and the Pinicon Ridge Park storage building bid of $84,445. ITEM R7. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON ANY PURCHASE PROPOSALS RECEIVED REGARDING THE RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE IN MORGAN CREEK PARK. Biechler reported that no purchase proposals were received for the Morgan Creek Park residence. The Notice to Purchasers was published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on April 4, In addition, packets were mailed to potential purchasers / contractors with potential interest. Staff is planning to contact Habitat for Humanity to see if they have an interest in salvaging any of the building. The Board asked if lead paint or asbestos is present. Staff will investigate and address potential hazards prior to demolition. MOTION by Hanson, second by Burke. To authorize staff to donate salvage items as possible and to demolish what remains of the building structure. 4

5 ITEM R8. DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON RESOLUTION # RECOGNITION AND NAMING OF THE PROPOSED FUTURE TRAIL BRIDGE ACROSS THE CEDAR RIVER AS PART OF THE HIGHWAY 100 TRAIL. The Board reviewed Resolution # regarding naming the future Highway 100 trail bridge Biechler Bridge in honor of Executive Director Biechler s service to Linn County and the Conservation Board program. MOTION by Burke, second by Hanson. To approve and adopt Resolution # naming the future Highway 100 Trail bridge Biechler Bridge. ITEM R9. IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE UPCOMING JOINT MEETING WITH THE LINN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, JUNE 26 AT THE WICKIUP HILL LEARNING CENTER. The Board suggested discussing dark sky policies, bird friendly construction policies, land use planning, the Squaw Creek corridor land purchase, and an update on the Linn County Water and Land Legacy Bond. ITEM R10. BOARD MEMBER/STAFF REPORTS 1. Ryan Schlader reported concerning the following community outreach activities: GO Cedar Rapids had started its summer leisure campaign, aimed at travelers and local people (passport app). The watercraft concession is offering a discount for in-park rentals; Wickiup Hill Learning Center and the Linn Parks Challenge (Geocaching) is also featured. Other areas may be included later this summer. Chuck has written a fishing blog for the website to highlight area fishing and promote an upcoming event. Media interviews from KMRY (general information of LCC activities) WMT (Outdoor Iowa show Saturday), and the Gazette (Landowner Forum, easements, and Newstracker on Conservation Bond ). We are working on updated brochures for Morgan Creek Park and Matsell Bridge and a new map to be placed at the Kiosk at the Center Point Depot. Ryan attended a career fair at Xavier; Ryan and Jenny passed out Summer Camp brochures at a table at a CRPD/BBB Kids Festival at the CR Library. Ryan will participate in a Duane Arnold Energy Center/Emergency Management drill as part of Public Information Officer duties shared with Linn County. 5

6 2. Dennis Goemaat reported on recent donations to the Friends of the Linn County Conservation Board. One donation was from an IRA required minimum distribution for $32,690. We will promote this option in future communications to make people aware of this possibility. The Friends received a $5,000 donation from the McIntyre Foundation. 3. Landowner forum update Cindy Burke reported on the Landowner forum held on April 29 regarding the Monarch Research project and pollinator initiatives on private land. Over 200 people attended the forum. Another forum is being planned for sometime this fall. ITEM R11. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were received. ITEM R12. FUTURE CONSERVATION BOARD REVIEW/DISCUSSION ITEMS Two items for future discussion include: 1. Current / proposed Conservation Board policies 2. Strategic Planning ITEM R13. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 1:20 PM. Amanda Bieber typed the above minutes. SEAL Recording Secretary Board Secretary 6