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7.a)2) Grant from Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District for Wind in the Pines Erosion Control Project Meeting Date: 7/21/2009 Agenda Item: � � � �� City Council Agenda Report City of Scandia 14727 209`h St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: Accept a $780.00 grant from Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) for the Wind in the Pines Trail Project:— Deadline/ Timeline: N/A Background: • Wind-in-the-Pines Park is a 44-acre nature park located east of State Highway 95 at Pilar Road. The city-owned park includes a section of Falls Creek, a high-quality tributary to the St. Croix River, and is adjacent to the state-owned Falls Creek Scientific and Natural Area(SNA.) • At the March 17, 2009 meeting, the Council authorized submission of a proposal to the CMSCWD to fund improvements to Wind-in-the-Pines Park. • The Park and Recreation Committee submitted a proposal for a $14,603 project to complete trail and erosion control work. The CMSCWD Board reviewed the request and tentatively agreed to fund a smaller project (less than $5,000) and asked that the Committee to prepare a new proposal. • The Parks Committee worked with Tim Wegner, a professional trail builder from TrailSource Inc., to redesign the project. The total out-of-pocket cost of the revised project is only$780,to be matched with in-kind contributions of materials and volunteer labor valued at $1,520. • CMSCWD has agreed to contribute $780 to the project. Because it is a small project, rather than executing a formal cost-share agreement, the district has sent the city a letter committing its share and has asked the city to execute a letter accepting the gant. Recommendation: I recommend that the Council authorize acceptance of the grant. Attachments/ • Project Proposal (Revised, June 2009) Materials provided: . Letter dated July 14, 2009, CMSCWD • Draft letter to CMSCWD accepting grant Page 1 of 2 07/15/09 Contact(s): Alex Bildeaux, Park and Recreation Committee Chair(651 433-2121) Karen Schik, Park and Recreation Committee Vice Chair(651 433-5254) Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (accept wind in the pines grant) Page 2 of 2 07/15/09 Project Proposal to the Carnelian-Marine-St Croix Watershed District (Revised) June, 2009 Submitted by the City of Scandia Scandia Park and Recreation Committee PROJECT: Completion of a Hiking Trail on a Hillside Adjacent to Falls Creek at Wind in the Pines Park. DESCRIPTION: The City of Scandia requests the District's assistance with developing a section of hiking trail on a steep slope at Wind in the Pines Park. The trail to be built is approximately 150 ft long, on a steep (45%) slope, and includes three sets of stairs totaling about 30 steps. Wind in the Pines is an important natural area adjacent to Falls Creek SNA. The park encompasses a section of Falls Creek, a high-quality tributary to the St. Croix River. This park preserves many unique features, including rare plants, animals, and high biodiversity and is largely unimpaired by non-native species. The deep ravines, narrow ridges and steep slopes make the park an enthralling place to visit, but also present significant challenges to prevent erosion from human traffic, which would not only degrade the vegetation, but could significantly impair Falls Creek. At present, there is an existing partial trail system at the park,but it is not continuous within the park—it leads off park property onto state and private lands. The city would like to complete the trail system within the city property to provide better public access to this beautiful park and to keep foot traffic located in areas where it is not damaging. A properly developed trail system would prevent degradation of the slopes. The city has already completed trail improvements in the park by installing waterbars and steps on steep trail sections, to repair existing damage and prevent potential erosion problems. The final step to complete the trail system is to create a section of trail on a slope, linking the ridgetop trail to the trail along the creek. If this trail is not completed, park visitors will either continue as they, following a trail onto private property, and exacerbating erosion of a deeply entrenched trail, or they will strike out onto a steep slope that has no trail, potentially causing very serious erosion and plant disturbances. A study of the trail system and designs for the new trail section at the park was completed in 2007 by Great River Greening. Dedicated and skilled volunteers from the Scandia Park and Recreation committee are willing to contribute to this project,but additional expertise is needed to ensure that building the trail does not result in damage or erosion of the slope. Such a situation would be devastating for the condition of Falls Creek. Preventing potential erosion and degradation of Falls Creek is at least as important as repairing a problem once it occurs. ASSISTANCE REQUESTED: The City request District assistance to pay the cost of project supervision and materials and supplies for construction of the trail, up to $780.00. Tim Wegner, professional trail builder from TrailSource Inc. will provide: marking a detailed trail alignment, project oversight, construction 6/10/09 I training, and loan of construction tools. Most of the project supplies and labar will be donated by the Scandia Park and Recreation Committee, with additional volunteer recruitment. The value of the in-kind contribution is estimated at $1,420.00, for a total project budget of$2,300.00. TIMETABLE: The project is expected to begin in late September, 2009 and be completed within two days, with approximately 10 volunteers. LONGTERM MAINTENANCE: The City of Scandia is responsible far the long-term management of the park, including the trail system and other maintenance. The Park and Recreation Committee is charged with the specific tasks of assessing and conducting maintenance needs and is committed to doing so. Committee members have spent numerous hours clearing trails of dozens of fallen trees to preventfiikers from creating alternative trails in seepage areas and other sensitive locations. The committee has also worked diligently to remove exotic brush from the edges of the woodland, and to keep trails mowed and cleared. The committee includes an ecologist, a logger, and a retired parks manager as well as other skilled members. Once a trail system is installed, they will have the ability to ensure the maintenance. BUDGET: The detailed cost proposal and budget for the project is as follows: Item Cost In-Kind Project Match Total Supervision of construction by $500.00 TrailSource (see detail attached) Additional TrailSource hours, if $130.00 needed (@$65.00/hr) Preparation of logs * $120.00 (cut to length, debark, drill holes) Trail and stair construction* $1,200.00 Materials—logs $200.00 Materials - rebar, drill bit $150.00 Total $780.00 $1,520.00 $2,300.00 *Detail of Volunteer rates Rate/hr Hours Total value Laborers $12 100 $1,200.00 Professional logger $15 8 $120.00 6/10/09 2 Wind in the Pines Trail Construction Project Supervision Bid TrailSource, LLC Tim Wegner Twe ner50(�a,vahoo.com 612-845-1345 Bill To: Estimate Date: 5/18/2009 City of Scandia Desired Start Date: Wind In The Pines Project Desired Completion �� Date: Project Scandia MN Soil Location Conditions X Loam X Sand Project Wind [n the Pines Description Clay Rocky Tree roots Sod layer Trail Lengt6 NA X Steep grades High moisture Trail Work Estimate Hrs Rate Trail design-office hrs at $45.00 = $- Trail design& flagging- 2,00 hrs at $60.00 = $120.00 field Construction Supervision 5.00 hrs at $60.00 = $300.00 Trail clearing-DR mower - hrs at $60.00 = $- OHV use for design/build hrs at $25.00 = $- Track Dozer with operator hrs at $135.00 = Staging hrs at $55.00 = $- Finish work-hand tools hrs at $40.00 = $- Per Diem(outside metro) - days $55.00 = $- Drive Time(outside metro) - hrs at $15.00 = $- Mileage 145 miles $0.55 = $79.75 Trail Restoration 300 Feet feet $1.00 Install Class 5 surface hrs at $135.00 $0.00 Total Project Estimate $499.75 Bonding-if required- 10% 6/10/09 3 ' � -� �� x a�,: �r � � . j �t:>� �,�� {�r> >,��n� ��"�.'��'��+'`� ,� x �-�`r� h��..., _ �' �,,, '� � ;� .� � �� ` � h � .r��j�, „a�� ,�, v ,,�l` ,�*,a�. '��3-y..� � ��+ . . � �r$�� `'b y`�a` a�' h«t a . .. �1. . .. . Carrielia�-Mari�e-St. Croix Watershed District Scandia Plaza II•21150 Ozark Avenue •P.O. Box 188•Scandia, MN 55073 •Tel 65].433.2150 July 14, 2009 , _ _ _ _ Scandia Park and Recreation Committee �q�"� ° �� d.`� ; City of Scandia 14727 209`h Street North � � � _� � � ( Scandia, MN. 55073 ' i i I �,I I � �)� �:)�.f�,�Vi_J��\ � Re: Wind in the Pines ~ �^ -� Dear Sirs and Madams: The Board of the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District approved a contribution of$780 to help in the construction of a trail system in Wind in the Pines Park at its meeting on Monday, July 6. This approval is based upon your Project Proposal dated 6/10/2009 and the funding comes from the District's Local Government Cost Share Program to protect water quality, prevent erosion, and educate the public in natural resource issues. Thank you for this opportunity and do not hesitate to call if you have any questions. ` cerely, � ` �;. , �Jim Shaver �Administrator e-mail jimShave�CMSCWD,or�c website CMSCWD.org , .. �,�a��;�� r . a;_. '"s� - y , .� M.,� � �: �° ��° � _ �_ � _ __ if6 '1 t ! .�Ll�y ?�, ?�09 Jiin Shaver, Administrator Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District — 21 l 50 Ozark Avenue. PO Box 188 Scandia, Minnesota 55073 RE: Wind in the Pines Park Project Dear Mr. Shaver: This letter ��ill confirm t�hat at their Jtiilv 21, ?009 meeting the Scandia City Council accepted the District's contribution of$780.00 to construction of a trail in the city's Wind in the Yines Park. We acknowledge that the grant is based upon the project proposal dated June 10, 2009. The city ��ill submit invoices to docu�l�ent expenditure of the funds when requesting reimbursement for project costs. Thank you for the contribution to this project The District's participation will help the Park and Recreation Committee complete the trail and help prevent erosion and plant disturbance in an important natural area in the City of Scandia. Please contact n�e at 651 �33-�274 or at a.hurlburt �i�ci.scan�lia.�nn.lis if there are --------_-__– ------------.--- any questions abol�t the project. Sincerely, Anne Hurlburt Administrator i-+ ; ��! �� `: ��an�li.i :�litini�oi,, ,;��, Plini : !,�� i -i=.;.� , ; ,, �,�,. I : I��, -`�l ;� I 1�� ;'-'n��,� ci �c�,�n�:li,� nti�.u�