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