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'It ,ADR�EN HILLS Approved: May 22, 2023 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION APRIL 24, 2023 6:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Special Work Session at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Emily Rousseau, Tena Monson and Tom Fabel Absent: Councilmember Brenda Holden Also present: City Administrator Dave Perrault, Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen, PTRC Members Mark Kelliher and Kerri Seeman, and Director of Operations and Programs at Great River Energy Todd Rexine 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Buckthorn Management Discussion PTRC Member Kelliher stated there was a small group of PTRC members that started exploring the idea of renting a herd of goats to raze buckthorn in the parks, initially thought to be a pilot project of one to two acres. After identifying vendors, they started to explore funding. Green River Greening's focus is ecological restoration and can identify and apply for grant funding. There is a grant cycle underway for legacy fund monies that closes May 26. He said the focus for this meeting would be the long-term solution with Great River Greening. Mr. Kelliher said Great River Greening has compiled estimates of what four parks would cost to remediate. The four parks (Hazelnut, Floral, Perry and Chatham) could be done over the course of five years. The City could commit to accomplishing certain tasks that could be paid for with money, or use staff and volunteer resources as "in -kind" contributions. Director of Operations and Programs at Great River Energy Rexine stated that he had walked the sites and put together a rough estimate of what buckthorn removal would look like over a five year period. They apply for grants every year from the Outdoor Heritage Fund for easement acquisition or restoration of public lands.