Lower Minnesota River Watershed District

The meeting agenda included standard proceedings such as roll call, agenda approval, and a Citizen Forum for public comment, followed by a Consent Agenda. Key items for approval under the Consent Agenda included the minutes from the December 16, 2015 Regular Meeting, financial reports, payment of various invoices, authorization for the Administrator's attendance at a CSSR meeting, designation of the official newspaper and Data Practice Compliance Official, and ordering preparation of the 2015 Annual Report. New Business focused on a 'Paddle Forward Presentation' and discussion concerning transportation improvements for County Highway 61 and State Highway 41. Old Business involved legislative action for the 2016 session, extensive dredge management topics including review of maintenance funding and material management sites, updates on various project sites (Cavallo Ridge, Eden Prairie Local Water Management Plan, MAC Hotel Development, Fort Snelling Upper Post Development), analysis of Dakota County Monitoring Data, and committee reports.

The meeting agenda included standard items such as the Call to Order, Approval of Agenda, and Citizen Forum. The Consent Agenda covered approval of minutes from November 17, 2021, and December 15, 2021, filing of financial reports, approval of various invoices, designation of the 2022 official newspaper, designation of the Data Practices Compliance Official and official depositories, and authorization to solicit proposals for legal, technical, and education/outreach services. A special agenda item involved a discussion with Representative Paul Torkelson. Old Business items included updates on the Lower Minnesota River East One Watershed One Plan, proposals for Audit and Financial Accounting Services, Scott County LIDAR Request, Burnsville Willow Creek Ravine Stabilization, ongoing project reviews (e.g., Area #3 Eden Prairie, Spring Creek Update), and Permit/Project Reviews (e.g., I 35W Trail Realignment, Cliff Road Ramps, MAC 2022 Perimeter Gate Security Improvements). The Board also addressed authorization of payment to the City of Shakopee for the PLOC Realignment/Wetland Restoration Project.

The primary discussion focused on authorizing a partial payment of $49,905.69 to Blackstone Contractors, LLC, for the East Chaska Creek bank stabilization project. Work on the project, which began in February 2021, was temporarily halted due to severe low temperatures affecting the plunge pool area where a gas main was located within the frost layer. Remaining work includes completing the plunge pool and final cross vane, finish grading, reseeding, installing plantings, and finalizing the punchlist. The project's funding structure, involving a Clean Water Fund grant and accumulated levy funds, was detailed, noting that sufficient original contract funds remain to cover the project expenses, although funds initially allocated for a treatment wetland need future reallocation since the intended site was developed by the City of Chaska.

The meeting covered several key administrative items, including the approval of the agenda with an addition regarding sponsorship for the 2021 Salt Symposium. The consent agenda addressed approval of January 2021 minutes and financial reports, and approvals for various invoices and agreements, including authorizing sponsorship for the Salt Symposium and approving an Internal Controls Policy. Under old business, discussions focused on the City of Carver Levee funding request, where board members debated the amount requested versus the total commitment, and the approval of staff recommendations for financial assurances related to the Watershed Management Plan to manage risk where cities did not seek municipal authority. New business included approving financial assurances for the Watershed Management Plan. In project reviews, the Board accepted the Inter-Fluve proposal for the Eden Prairie Study Area #3, authorized execution of the related professional services agreement and a grant agreement with the Board of Water & Soil Resource. Permits were also approved for the City of Carver and an amendment for the Shakopee Flats project. The Board also agreed to pivot the Education and Outreach Plan to utilize social media outreach instead of written articles.

The April 2021 meeting agenda included standard items such as the call to order, roll call, and citizen forum. The consent agenda involved approving minutes from February and March 2021 meetings, filing February 2021 financial reports, and approving various invoices for payment, including surety bonds, legal services, and monitoring services. The Board was also asked to authorize partial payments related to the East Chaska Creek and Hennepin County Chloride projects. New business focused on the Lower Minnesota River One Watershed One Plan, authorizing a 2021 Cost Share project for 11451 Landing Road, and addressing a Hennepin County mailing. Old business covered authorizing a Cost Share project for 11300 Goodrich Road, updates on the City of Carver Levee, dredge management, the Watershed Management Plan, 2021 Legislative Action, and Education & Outreach matters including Citizen Advisory Committee bylaws and signage review.