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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—APRIL 21, 2014 13 Public Works Director Maurer explained that it is possible and maybe likely that a Storm Water Management plan that meets all of these required regulations will also meet the Council's goal for the aesthetic and passive recreational use of the blue/green spine. However, if the Council can provide some specificity as to what you are expecting for aesthetics and passive recreational use, these items can either be included in or added to the storm water management plan for TCAAP. Some thoughts/questions to help define expectations might be: • Does the Council want standing water along the entire length of blue/green spine at all times? (The blue/green spine as shown on the draft master plan is 25-30 acres. Just the RCWD requirement for water quality treatment would mean this area is flooded approximately 1.5 feet deep before adding rate control ponding.) • Typically wetlands under WCA and ponds under RCWD will have a buffer strip 5-15 feet wide around them of native or natural growth; is that what the Council envisions? The buffer strip works to prevent contaminants in the runoff from reaching the wetland or ponding area and it also helps discourage large populations of geese. Does the Council envision the area with a natural buffer? • Does the Council want to see some kind of water feature(i.e., water fountain) in the Town Center area of the blue/green spine(the area near the existing water treatment building)? • The draft master plan shows a series of trails throughout the blue/green spine. There would also likely be benches, trash receptacles and possibly pedestrian scale lighting. Is there anything else the Council would like to have there for passive recreation? • It is likely that the City would be responsible for maintenance of the area both from a water resources area and a passive park area. Is the Council alright with the City having maintenance responsibility for the area? Staff hoped that the information presented regarding the regulatory constraints would assist the Council in establishing realistic goals for the area from an aesthetic and passive recreation standpoint. Councilmember Holden asked who would be responsible for buying wetland credits. Public Works Director Maurer reported that the County as land owner would be responsible for purchasing the credits or the future developer. He further discussed the AUAR along with the water runoff rate restrictions. Councilmember Holden wanted to be ensured the City would not incur any expense for the wetland mitigation that would be needed on TCAAP. Councilmember McClung believed that the water feature on TCAAP would be important and it would need to hold a great deal of water for the site. Public Works Director Maurer stated that this was the case, with the understanding that the water feature may have to be phased in as the site develops. Councilmember Holden expressed concern with how the water treatment plant would be incorporated into the site and the water feature.