Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 11-14 CONCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROCKI:.YN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION NOVEMBER 14, 1978 _ CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Conservation Commission met in regular session and was . called to order by Chairman Vetter at 7:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Vetter, Commissioners Price, Dorff, and Albright. Also present were Coun~ilmember Celia Scott and Administrative Assistant Mary Harty. Chairman Vetter noted Commissioner Jensen was unable to attend the meeting and was excused. Chairman Vetter also noted Commissioners Winkelman and Wesloh would be late., APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairman Vetter suggested approval of minutes be deferred until later in the meeting when the other Commissioners had arrived. CORRESPONDENCE Mary Harty noted there were several brochures and pamphlets concerning issues of conservation and this information was passed on to the Commissioners, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS Mary Harty briefly explained the progress which had been made in selecting a Citizens Participation Committee for Community Development Block- Grants. She explained each City advisory commission had suggested names of members of that advisory commission to serve on the Citizens Participation Committee. From that list, the City Council wiii appoint one member from each of the City's advisory commissions to serve on the Citizens Participation Committee. Those appointments will be made at the City Council meeting.of November 20,. 1978. In addition, four other members to the Citizens Participation Committee will be selected at-large from the community. The Commissioners selected to serve on the Citizens Participation Committee from the City's advisory commissions will bring with them their expertise to the Committee, but will not necessarily represent their advisory commissions as a whole. In response to questions from the Commissioners Mary Harty noted there would be an effort made to appoint people to the Citizens Participation Committee from the various different sections of the City. Councilmember Scott added the Council and the staff were still looking for input and comment into how money received from Community Development Block Grants should be spent within Brooklyn Center. She encouraged the Commission to provide input either through the Conservation Commissioner selected to serve on 11-14-78 -1- the Citizens Participation Committee or by contacting a member of the Council or the staff. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND REVIEW OF CRITICAL AREAS PLAN 9 Mary Harty briefly explained the comprehensive planning process and also the critical areas planning process. She again noted there was a need for citizen input in this planning process. She encouraged the Conservation Commissioners both as a commission and as individuals to provide input in both the comprehensive plan and the critical areas plan. She explained the date of the regularly scheduled Conservation Commission meeting had been changed in order that Conservation Commissioners might attend a public hearing as part of the Planning Commission's meeting of November 16, 1978 concerning the critical areas plan. She further explained it was the consensus of the Commissioners attending the last Conserva- tion Commission meeting, that they wished to meet before the public hearing and review the critical areas plan as provided by the consultants to the City in order that they might make a prepared statement at the public hearing of November 16, 1978. Chairman Vetter suggested the Commission might wish to review the document in its entirety and thereby determine specific comments to be made at the public hearing, Commissioner Winkelman arrived at 8:10 p.m. Commissioner Wesloh arrived at 8:15 p.m. The Conservation Commission proceeded to review the critical areas plan document in its entirety beginning with the goal and policy guidelines and also reviewing the inventory of existing conditions, the development opportunities and constraints, the list of additions to be made to the text and the maps. A general discussion was held on each of these major components of the plan and there was a consensus that the Commissioners wished to raise the following issues at the public hearing on November 16, 1978: 1) The Commission strongly supports the overall goal and policy guidelines for the future use of land and public facilities in the Mississippi River Critical Area. 2) In the policy guidelines, part 2, which states zoning should be restricted in the neighborhood south of Interstate 694 to the R-2 classification, the Commission indicated they wished consideration to be given to acquiring land east of Lyndale for park purposes or open space if that ever was possible. 3) As part of the inventory of existing conditions, shoreline vegetation, a paragraph explains the tree cover on the western shoreline of the Mississippi River is comprised primarily of Elms, Maples, Cottonwoods and Ashes. The Conservation Commission suggests a study should be made of what percentage of those trees on the western shoreline are Elms and consideration should be givers to a reforestation program for those Elms on the western shoreline of the Mississippi River. 11-14-78 -2- 1 4) As part of the inventory of existing conditions, existing recreational opportunities, the Commission suggests consideration be given to- providing an upgraded south entrance to River Ridge Park and again concurs with a general policy statement which comprehends developing a safe means of access to River Ridge Park from the southeast neigh- borhood for pedestrians and bicyclists and also upgrading and maintaining the surface of the road and parking area in River Ridge Park for in all weather uses. 5) As part of the development opportunities and constraints section the Commission notes there is an error in stating River Ridge Park is a City park and the error should be corrected 6) The Commission suggests consideration should be given to the planning of salt resistant trees and/or shrubs in order to screen River Ridge Park from the freeway. 7) The Conservation Commission also suggests that Durnam Island should be purchased by the State or the County and maintained as an open space area. The Commission makes that suggestion realizing Durnam Island is part of Brooklyn Park although geographically located in Brooklyn Center. It was decided by the Conservation Commission that Chairman Vetter should present these concerns at the public hearing as a representative of the Conservation Com- mission. OTHER BUSINESS Chairman Vetter introduced the next item on the agenda, that of other business, stating she did not have other business to consider at this time o Mary Harty suggested the Commission might wish to begin a process of reviewing past accomplishments and direction of the Conservation Commission for the. purposes of setting goals for the future direction of the Conservation Commis-lion, She suggested a basic discussion of the philosophy of the Conservation Commission and its goals and purposes would be a timely assignment for initiating the new year. There was a brief discussion on the suggestion by Commissioners and the Commissioners in attendance concurred they would like to formally discuss philosophy goals and activities. of the Conservation Commission. It was decided to schedule this item.for the December meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 10-19-78 There was a motion by Commissioner Price and seconded by Commissioner Winkelman to approve the minutes of the October 19, 1978 Conservation Commis- sion meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Dorff and seconded by Commissioner Wesloh to adjourn the Conservation Commission meeting of November 14, _1978, The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Chairman 11-14-78 -3-