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it interferes with the natural resource staff's native planting work that is scheduled later in the fall.. Based on the assurances provided in their June 3 letter of response, staff recommends acceptance of the Jay Bros. bid. Motion: Roger Lake moved, Bob Johnson seconded, to accept the Jay Bros. bid of $77,849.15 as the apparent lowest responsible and responsive bidder for the Battle Creek Flood Protection Project and to authorize staff to execute the contract documents. The motion carried with 3 ayes (Lake, Johnsori, and Skinner) and one nay (Frost). Valley Creek Road Stormwater Infiltration Brad reported that only one bid was received from Jay Bros. in the amount of $234,442.50. The engineer's estimate of about $155,000 contained considerably lower figures for the Netlon product and native planting line items. The Netlon product is designed to prevent compaction of the topsoil layer so that it maintains the necessary infiltration characteristics. Staff had hoped to test the product on this site and were also expecting a long-term savings in maintenance costs.. Cliff Aichinger stated that the project budget will not cover the cost of this bid and recommended rebidding the project. Staff can separate some of the project costs from the base bid and create same alternates w, hick wiil give the District more flexibility in fitting project costs to the existing budget. Also discussed was the urgency of completing the project in a timely manner to allow the Met Council to begin their monitoring program at the site this summer. Motion: Bob Johnson moved, Jack Frost seconded, to reject the bids received for the Valley Creek Road Stormwater Infiltration project and to authorize staff to rebid the project. Motion carried. WaterFest 2002 Louise Watson reported an estimated attendance figure on May 18 of 1,000.. The trend appears to be that we gain about 250 attendees per year. 6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT PERA Update PERA enrollment took place in May. Anew deferred compensatiori program (to take the place of the District's discontinued retirement program) will be brought to the Board for ratification at the July meeting. Discussion was held on PERA's letter received June 3, 2002, in response to the District's request for waiver of the look-back contribution requirement. They state they have little discretion to grant an exemption and will proceed to bill the District for the past three years of employee earnings. Tracey Galowitz stated that it was her opinion that the District's request for a waiver is still worth pursuing, considering the potential cost to the District and also considering that the District had contributed to a retirement plan for its District employees until the PERA deductions started. She recommended that the Board allow her to discuss the basis.for their decision with PERA legal staff before further action is taken by the Board. Maplewood and Watershed District Permit Coordination Issues Discussion was held on the issues raised at a May 30 meeting held between District and City of Maplewood staff. The city is concerned that the District has not adequately coordinated its permit actions with city permit issues. The city disagreed with the District's granting of wetland buffer variances and allowing construction activity on two projects in the vicinity of the wetland and Kohlman Creek (old county ditch 18). Cliff stated that the District has the right to take actions that differ from the city's, but stated that the regulatory and procedural requirements of both agencies need to be recognized and coordinated to improve our decision- making process on future permits. Roger Lake requested that a written report be submitted to the Board on the outcome of the understanding or procedure that is reached between the District and the City of Maplewood, hoping that it can be applied to our interactions with other cities as well. Woodbury Joint Powers Agreement for Weir Drive Capital Improvements Project Staff submitted for Board approval the proposed joint powers agreement that sets forth the shared responsibilities and costs associated with the undertaking of Weir Drive improvements that include flood protection for Battle Creek Lake properties. Page 3 June 5, 2002 RWMWD Minutes