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Draft NRMP Section 6 Section 6: Implementation Introduction The Natural Resources Management Plan, as a goal and policy guide to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance Golden Valley's natural resources has little meaning if it is not carried out with well-defined implementing programs and specific action items. This section discusses a number of implementation tools, funding sources, action items, and success criteria. Implementation Tools Implementation of the Plan will require obtaining resources, and providing guidance, to ensure that the implementation is completed in a timely and efficient manner. Typically, a combination of tools are used, each used where they are most effective. These may include: Incentives: Can be used to encourage environmental stewardship on private land by rewarding sustainable natural resource practices. For developers, this may include an efficient and cost effective permitting process, and increased development opportunities (increased density, reduced setbacks, etc.). For businesses, this may include awards and public recognition, reduced business license/fee, etc. for responsible stewardship practices. For residents, this may include vouchers for native plant materials, technical assistance for restoration/enhancement of natural areas on their property, and community recognition for good stewardship. City practices and programs: City departments share in the management of natural resources in Golden Valley through routine maintenance and best management practices such as street sweeping,stormwater treatment and storm water pond maintenance, facilities cleaning, tree planting and trimming, and planting native buffers around stormwater ponds. Continuing to promote these type of sound stewardship practices will ensure that Golden Valley's natural resources will remain among the community's most valued assets. Public outreach, citizen participation and education: Natural resources are not restricted to public land as they extend across public and private properties and beyond the City limits. Getting the public involved in managing natural resources at a holistic level can be achieved through public outreach and educational programs. These can be used to solicit community input and share both positive and negative impacts to natural resources resulting from personal decisions. GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 1 The City should continue to share information through the City's website (www.goldenvalleymn.gov), newsletters, brochures, press release distribution to area newspapers, local cable TV, and other forms of social media, i.e., facebook, twitter, etc. The City should also continue to encourage opportunities for citizen participation at all levels of the natural resource planning and implementation process. This can happen through the appointed citizen commissions and boards, attendance and participation at public meetings, and establishment of additional volunteer opportunities and programs. A major goal of environmental and natural resources education is to help develop environmental awareness and stewardship in the community. Offering periodic community workshops on invasive species control, selecting and planting native trees and vegetation, or on creating wildlife (including pollinator) habitat, would not only provide an educational opportunity but a social venue for like-minded citizens. Other education methods may include website brochure or video downloads or airing educational videos on cable network, continuing to publish feature and educational articles in the newsletter, and hosting photographic contests specifically related to natural resources and sustainable management practices. Residents also like to come together as a community to celebrate various themes that include food, entertainment, and a cause; one theme could relate to what is of current importance, e.g.,"community pollinators" or "the world of bees and butterflies". Nature Area Expansion/Land and Easement Acquisition: The most effective method of ensuring that natural resources are managed according to City's standards is for the City to acquire easements or available land within the City to create new Nature Areas or expand existing if circumstances allow. While it would not be practical or economically feasible for the City to purchase and manage all natural resource areas, the City could identify the most ecologically diverse or valuable areas or corridors, prioritize them as most likely candidates, and work with consenting landowners and developers. Once acquired, the City should manage them according to adopted management practices. Regulations/Enforcement on private and public property: Regulations/enforcement methods are often the most extensively used natural resource management tool used by city government. Common regulations include: GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 2 • Zoning: Primary regulatory tool used by governmental units to implement planning policies. It also assists in the protection of natural resources while accommodating compatible human uses. The City may want to consider establishing an environmental or green corridor overlay zone to protect highly valued natural resources such as Bassett Creek or the Sweeney Branch of Bassett Creek. • Subdivision Ordinances: Most widely used control mechanism. The purpose of the ordinance is to safeguard the best interest of the City, the homeowner, and the developer, encourage well planned subdivisions by the establishment of design and construction criteria; to improve land records by establishing standards for surveys and plats; and protect Golden Valley's natural resources including water resources and other environmentally sensitive areas of the city. When combined with public education on property boundaries, rules, and consequences, the effectiveness of a regulatory management tool is increased. Enforcement of regulations should be authorized by City Code, supported by the City Council, and implemented by City Staff. Funding Capital Improvement Plan A Capital Improvements Program(CIP) is a capital expenditure plan for a community's infrastructure and may include public buildings, streets/sidewalks/alleys, utilities and stormwater systems, park and trail system and possibly the management of natural resources. The CIP may outline key natural resource related projects that the City plans to undertake in the next 5- 10 years, and how they may be financed.'The CI P is updated every year and anticipates projects and spending for a five year period. The City also has a biennial operating budget which is reviewed and updated every year. The approval process for the budget and CIP should include a review by the City Council to ensure consistency of the projects with other elements of the plan. It is expected that implementation of the NRMP will require an increase or reallocation of existing funding in the natural resource portion of the budget and CIP. Grant Opportunities Grants provide an important source of funding for natural resources-related projects, and are offered by federal, state, and local agencies and organizations. While funding sources and requirements are relatively fluid over time, following is a list of potential sources of natural GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 3 resource funding opportunities. The selected sources are those available in 2015, and are anticipated to remain as potential sources for the foreseeable future: Agency: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Program: Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program Purpose: To provide grants to local units of government to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance. Funding for this grant program is from the Parks and Trails Fund created by the Minnesota Legislature from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Eligible projects: Include acquisition, development, improvement, and restoration of park and trail facilities of regional or statewide significance. Significance is determined by a regional setting, high quality opportunity and usage, sufficient length or connectivity to other trails, and within areas that currently lack sufficient trails. All park projects must meet requirements for perpetual outdoor recreational use. Level of assistance: Grants are reimbursement based up to 100% of the total eligible project costs. Additional consideration in the selection process will be given to applicants that provide a non-state cash match. Park legacy priorities: Priority for park project funding will be given to projects that address the priorities outlined in the Parks and Trails Legacy plan. Consideration will also be given to the design of the proposed project and existing park facilities. Project design should be compatible with the physical characteristics of the site, consistent with generally accepted engineering and architectural design standards, in accordance with accessibility standards and minimize risk to the health and safety of users. How to apply: Application are due in September annually. Grant application materials can be found through the programs website (http://dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/pt legacy.html) Program: Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Purpose: The Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 4 game, and wildlife in Minnesota. Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, created by the people of Minnesota. Eligible projects: Include projects that restore, enhance, or protect natural resources. This program funds a wide variety of project types, provided they are focused on natural resources. Level of assistance: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources manages this reimbursable program to provide competitive matching grants from $5,000 to $400,000 to local, regional, state, and national nonprofit organizations, including government entities. How to apply: There are typically two funding cycles, with the initial cycle receiving application in August and decision making by the end of trhe calendar year. A second round is dependent upon availability for resources following the initial round of selection. The City is within the Metro grant cycle. Information on the program is available through the program's website (http://dnr.state.mn.us/qrants/habitat/cpl/index.html). Agency: Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) Program: Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources Grant Purpose: To provide grants to anyone with innovative ideas for environment and natural resources projects that could provide multiple ecological and other public benefits. Funding for this grant program is from the State of Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Eligible projects: foundational natural resources data and information, water resources, environmental education, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, air quality, climate change, and renewable energy, methods to protect or restore land, water, and habitat Level of assistance: The program has no specified minimum or maximum funding requests, but does tend to fund based off of innovation, environmental importance of the project, and eligibility under competing programs. GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 5 How to apply: The Request for Applications is usually initiated on the first of January of each year, and are typically due in May of the same year. Grant application materials can be found on the program's website (http://www.lccmr.leg.mn/) Agency: Hennepin County Program: Natural Resources Grant • Purpose: To provide grant assistance to landowners, local governments and organizations for projects to preserve and restore critical corridors and wildlife habitat, reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. • Eligible applicants: Hennepin County individual landowners, non-profit and non- governmental organizations, local government agencies, and businesses. • Eligible project examples: Projects that implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to restore native vegetation, reseed pastures, stabilize stream banks, restore wetlands, reduce soil erosion, reduce stormwater runoff volume, and/or increase infiltration, install grass waterways, install vegetated filter strips, construct rain gardens. • Level of assistance: Up to $50,000. Maximum cost-share is 75% of total eligible project cost. Applicant is responsible for 25% of the cost of project installation. Contribution may be cash and/or in-kind contribution. Available funds may be available as a match for projects where Hennepin County is a partner. • How to apply: Information, funding schedule and grant application materials can be found on the County website (http://www.hennepin.us/residents/environment/natural- Inter-Governmental Cooperation One of the key Natural Resource Management Plan implementation programs is Golden Valley's cooperation with others including federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and adjacent local governments. The reason this is so important is because Natural Resources are not limited by jurisdictional boundaries. Planning and management issues often have regional implications that impact several jurisdictions. Coordination GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 6 agreements and cooperative decisions must be made to effectively implement the City's Natural Resources Management Plan as well as to help other jurisdictions attain their goals and policies. Key partners include adjacent cities, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County, MnDOT, Robbinsdale and Hopkins School Districts, Perpich Center for Arts Education, Metro Council Action Items A final step in the Natural Resources Management planning process is to set priorities for general and specific management strategies for the City's natural resources and specific Nature Areas to achieve its vision, goals, objectives and policies. Just as distinct policies can speak to a given goal, a community can select a range of action items or steps consistent with its policies —to achieve any of its goals. Reaching an understanding of which should be given the highest priority and a given timeframe is a key step in implementing the Natural Resources Management Plan. Table 6.1 summarizes a list of critical action items to implement the Plan's policies. The action items have been assigned a priority rating of high, medium, or low and assigned a completion timeline in terms of short, medium, or long timeframe that the City should undertake to implement the Plan. Also included are action items that will need to be acted upon on an on- going basis. The recommended action items may require substantial cooperation with other agencies, local governments, interest groups, homeowners, etc. In addition, other local government and agency priorities may affect the completion of these key actions in the time frames presented. GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 7 Table 6.1 Natural Resource Implementation Action Item Matrix Short- Medium- Long-Term Priority Term Term On- Est. going Cost Years) (6-10 Years) Years) g g Adeline Nature Area Buckthorn Removal High X X $10,000 • Manage Woodland Health Medium X $5,000 Bassett Creek Nature Area Remove/control buckthorn High X X $10,000 Remove undesirable trees, establish Medium X $10,000 mixed age-class of oak trees Remove undesirable trees, mixed Low X $15,000 age-class of oak trees Regrade erosional channels along Medium X $4,000 the bluff and address concrete fill Briarwood Nature Area Remove buckthorn High X X $30,000 Controlled burns, herbicide High X X $25,000 applications, periodic reseeding Remove damaged trees, plant Medium X $10,000 younger and more diverse trees General Mills Nature Preserve Reed canary grass, purple loosetrife High X X $35,000 control Controlled burns, herbicide High X $21,000 applications, periodic reseeding _ Remove buckthorn Low X X $10,500 Remove damaged trees, plant Low X $10,000 younger and more diverse trees Golden Ridge Nature Area Remove buckthorn High X X $8,000 Maintain&plant younger conifers Laurel Avenue Greenbelt Remove buckthorn High X X 20000 Mary Hills Nature Area Remove buckthorn High X X $20,000 Remove damaged trees, plant Medium X $20,000 younger and more diverse trees Pennsylvania Woods Nature Area Remove buckthorn High X X $8,000 Maintain maple-basswood Medium X $10,000 community, plant younger trees Rice Lake Nature Area Herbicide reed canary grass, Medium X X $20,000 cattails, and purple loosestrife GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 8 Remove undesirable trees,establish Low X X $10,000 native woodland communities Western Avenue Marsh Remove undesirable trees, establish native woodland communities Medium X $6,500 Remove/control reed canary grass Medium X $6,000 Note:For total management acreage estimates per strategy,see Specific Nature Area Management Plans in Chapter 5 of this document. May need to add the following to the table above: General Natural Resource Improvements 1. Address encroachments through education,identification,boundary demarcation 2. Market the nature areas to distinguish them from active parks 3. Expand certain nature areas through agreements or acquisition of easements and land as opportunities arise Table 6.2 Nature Area Amenity Improvement Action Item Matrix Short- Medium- Long-Term Term Term Priority oin Est. Cost Years)(1-5 (6-10 Years) (10+Years) g g General Amenity Improvements Standardize and Install Entrance High X X $100,000 Signs throughout system Complete sign and amenity design guidelines High X Install general wayfinding and Medium X educational signage Install Trash Receptacles Medium X X $40,000 Install Pet Waste Receptacles Low X X $20,000 • Complete field assessment of open Low X space parcels Specific Nature Area Recommendations Adeline Nature Area Install benches near entrance and at Medium X $1,500 dock Remove and maintain tree limbs Medium X X $1,000 and shrubs obstructing views Install interpretive sign Low X $3,000 Install post and cable barrier Install tunnel under the Union Pacific Low X $500,000 railroad tracks Bassett Creek Nature Area GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 9 Reroute lower trail, pavement High X $70,000 improvements Install additional interpretive sign Medium X $3,000 along the creek Install new benches along the trail at appropriate intervals or at key Medium X $6,000 viewpoints Briarwood Nature Area Obtain agreements, easements, or complete land exchange to High X $10,000 formalize social trails for public usage Extend trail, possible pavement High X $95,000 improvements Install benches at regular intervals Medium X $6,000 or at key viewpoints Install additional interpretive signs Low X $6,000 along trail General Mills Nature Preserve Maintain trail system Low X $5,000 Golden Ridge Nature Area Install new sign at entry locations Low X $15,000 Install interpretive sign along the trail Low X $3,000 within the conifer plantation Install new benches along two main Low X $3,000 trails Laurel Avenue Greenbelt Install interpretive sign along trail at Medium X $15,000 key vantage points Install benches at entry and on deck Medium X $20,000 overlook Natural surface trail development Low X $15,000 Pavement improvements(6'wide Low X $30,000 asphalt trail)8 feet wide Mary Hills Nature Area Collaborate on the Sochacki Park/Mary Hills/Rice Lake Nature High X $25,000 Area plan Pennsylvania Woods Nature Area Install 2 types of educational signs Medium X $6,000 Install new benches along the trail at Medium X $6,000 regular intervals or at key viewpoints Rice Lake Nature Area Collaborate on the Sochacki Park/Mary Hills/Rice Lake Nature High X $25,000 Area plan GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 10 Evaluate stability of Bassett Creek span, resurface natural surface High X $50,000 trails, repair/replace dock transition Install new benches at entry and on Medium X $2,000 deck overlook Western Avenue Marsh Extend new trail, pavement improvements(6'wide asphalt) 8 Medium X $50,000 feet wide Install interpretive sign Medium X $3,000 Install new benches at entry and on Low X $3,000 deck overlook Need to add recommendations for key open space parcels here Adaptive Management Success Criteria Implementation of natural resource adaptive management is typically defined as successful if progress is made toward achieving its goals through a "learning-based" or adaptive decision making process. Recognizing success in an adaptive management approach are based on four criteria (See Figure 6.2): • Stakeholders are actively involved and committed to the process. • Progress is made toward achieving management objectives. • Results from monitoring and assessment are used to adjust and improve management decisions. • Implementation is consistent with applicable laws. GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 11 Figure 6.2 Adaptive Management Success Model Adaptive Management Success N Stakeholder involvement Progress toward achieving Informative monitoring and Implementation consistent And support Resource objectives assessment with applicable laws Success Success Success Success Factors Factors Factors Factors Source: DOI Maintaining the Plan To ensure the Natural Resources Management Plan remains a dynamic and usable document, the City should implement an on-going planning process that uses the Plan to develop annual improvement projects. It should also be reviewed and evaluated periodically to ensure that its goals, objectives, policies, and programs continue to reflect changing needs. To serve as an effective tool, the Plan should be used as part of the day-to-day and monthly planning and management routine by committed elected and appointed officials, City staff members and citizens. The Plan should also be referenced in other planning studies and reports when considering any impacts or improvements to the City's natural resources. Amending and Updating the Plan Amending the Plan GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 12 While major updates are typically made every ten years, periodic amendments can provide an opportunity for relatively minor plan updates and revisions such as changed conditions—in future land use designations, nature area expansions, implementation actions, and review of the Plan for consistency with ordinances. Process for Amending the Natural Resources Management Plan should be similar to the process used to develop this Plan. Updating the Plan The City of Golden Valley should review this Natural Resources Management Plan annually. If there are significant physical changes; changes in community needs, priorities, trends; or significant regulatory changes by adjacent jurisdictions or agencies with oversight, the City should update the Plan accordingly. At a minimum, the City should update this Plan every ten years or in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan Update. The process for updating the Natural Resources Management Plan should be similar to the process used to develop this Plan. GVNRM Plan 2015 IMPLEMENTATION Page 13