Laserfiche WebLink
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — APRIL 24, 2023 2 <br />Councilmember Fabel asked what forms of restoration they engaged in other than buckthorn. <br />Mr. Rexine stated they did prairies, forests, woodlands, upland habitat and stream and lakeshore <br />restoration. <br />Mayor Grant asked who wrote the grants. <br />Mr. Rexine said he and his staff did. They have two additional grant writers. They would write <br />the grant and take on the grant administration for the duration of the grant and keep the <br />documentation for seven years after the grant is completed. <br />Councilmember Monson asked if they had done any buckthorn removal and restoration in the <br />metro area and what results they had seen. <br />Mr. Rexine replied they have, and they currently have a large project in Dakota County. They are <br />also working with St. Louis Park. <br />Councilmember Rousseau asked what the cost was to have them write the grant. <br />Mr. Rexine stated there was no cost. They would be submitting a proposal for Land and Water <br />Legacy Funds for natural resources. They would like to know if the City has an idea of how much <br />they could match, as they would be asked that when they go to hearings in August. Communities <br />do a cash match, some use their own staff to help defray the cost of certain things, like buckthorn <br />disposal. Sometimes public works will help, sometimes cities will open up compost sites for <br />contractors to deliver to, sometimes cities will work on one section while the city works on <br />another section. It depends on the degree of staff and volunteer capabilities. <br />Mayor Grant asked what is typical for cities to match? <br />Mr. Rexine said they try to get matches around three to one; 25% from the municipality, 75% <br />grant. <br />Mr. Kelliher noted the 25% could be in -kind or actual dollars. <br />Mr. Rexine added it could be volunteer labor or contracted labor. If the contracted labor was <br />hired by the city it would go toward the 25%. The county workers that do work for the city could <br />be counted. <br />Councilmember Monson thought a 25% match from Arden Hills would be roughly $120,000. <br />She thought this was a fantastic idea. She wondered if they were thinking to use goats at all <br />locations or just some. <br />Mr. Rexine said it would be a mix as goats have pros and cons. If there are a lot of dogs around <br />they can sometimes spook the goats, they need electric fencing and they won't take the big stuff <br />down. They are just one tool to use. <br />Mayor Grant asked how they get to the point that the buckthorn doesn't come back again. <br />