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7.a1 PRC Staff Report Bird Migration Project Staff Report Date of Meeting: March 17, 2020 To: City Council From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant Re: Project Support Request: Bird Migration Project Background: Resident Olivia Nienaber presented her 4-H OWLS project to support migratory birds by planting native trees and bushes that have winter-retaining fruit or bloom in early spring to the Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee. Issue: The Parks and Recreation Committee supports Nienaber’s request to participate in this project by donating up to $1,400 to plant three of the ten sites in this project. The selection of the exact trees and bushes would be made by staff and SPRC members. Two sites would be located in the Scandia Community Center area and one behind the Annex building, near the head of the Gateway Trail. Proposal Details: Nienaber requests that the City of Scandia identify four places to plant two native trees and three native bushes in or near an Audubon High-Priority Global Important Bird Area along the St. Croix River Valley. The city would be responsible to call Gopher State One to ensure the locations selected are safe for digging in the chosen areas. Nienaber would assist the city in efforts to promote the project and recruit volunteers to plant the trees and bushes. Nienaber suggests Lilleskogen Park, Scandia Community Center, Hay Lake and behind the Annex building at the head of the Gateway Trail. PRC members and staff discussed the needs of the plants and the logistics of watering or tending to these sites with the proposed planting schedule and concluded that two sites on the Community Center grounds and behind the Annex building that will be near the head of the Gateway Trail are preferred. The city would assist in collecting supplies prior to the planting event and providing the maintenance of the areas after the initial event concludes. A second branch of the 4-H OWL project is an event on May 30, 2020. Nienaber has arranged for a naturalist and master gardener to be at the Scandia Community Center to present and work with community members who register for a bird house building project. Participants will build two bird houses to take home along with native trees and bushes. Nienaber is requesting that the city provide the space in the community center for this event and assist in promotion. Fiscal Impact: The City of Scandia would provide up to $1,4000 for support of Bird Migration Project. Options: 1. Support the Bird Migration Project Proposal as requested and committing up to $1,400 to plant three sites with trees and or bushes chosen by the SPRC. 2. Do not support the Bird Migration Project Proposal. Recommendation: Option 1