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Home My WebLink About12-08-21 meeting packetY O FF O`v L 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda December 81h, 2021 Andover City Hall Conference Room A & B 6:00 a.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident forum 3. Approval of minutes: September 81h, 2021 regular meeting 4. Discuss promotion ideas and opportunities of the nature preserves 5. Other business a. Recap joint meeting with City Council b. Next meeting? 6. Adjournment 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV TO: Andover Open Space Advisory Commission FROM: Kameron Kytonen, Natural Resources Technician SUBJECT: Approval of Minutes — September 8, 2021 Regular Meeting DATE: December 8, 2021 INTRODUCTION The Open Space Advisory Commission is asked to review and approve the minutes from the September 8, 2021 regular meeting. DISCUSSION Please share any changes to the minutes at the meeting. ACTION REQUESTED A motion, second, and vote are necessary to approve the minutes. Respectfully submitted, Kameron Kyto en Attachment September 8, 2021 meeting minutes REGULAR ANDOVER OPENSPACE ADVISORY COMMISSIONMEETING September 8, 2021 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Chairperson Kim Kovich at 7:09 p.m. at Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Chairperson Kovich noted that prior to the meeting the group toured Martin's Meadows Preserve. Commissioners present: Erik Lindberg, Ryan Ingebritson, and Jim Olson Commissioners absent: Jen Vedadi Also present: Kameron Kytonen, Natural Resources Technician RESIDENT FORUM No one wished to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —June 16, 2021 Motion by Commissioner Lindberg, Second by Commissioner Ingebritson, to approve the minutes of June 16, 2021. Motion passed 4-0. DISCUSS POTENTIAL CROSSING AT DALSKE WOODLANDS PRESERVE Mr. Kytonen summarized the item and indicated that it would be nice to get a crossing from the north upland area to the south area. At the last meeting, cost information was shared about a boardwalk installed at an Isanti County Park. Mr. Kytonen stated that at the last meeting, Commissioner Olson volunteered to gather cost estimate information about a boardwalk installed in Wisconsin, which Chairperson Kovich visited recently. Commissioner Olson stated he did some research and figured that if he were to build one on his own, it would be approximately $130 per linear foot. The group discussed the length of the boardwalk needed and determined it was best to go with 200 feet as an estimate. Thus, the estimated for materials would be around $25K. Commissioner Lindberg asked if this could be an Eagle Scout project. Commissioner Ingebritson said safety and integrity of the boardwalk is important. Mr. Kytonen said it's a possibility an Eagle Scout group could help build portions of the boardwalk. Chairperson Kovich confirmed the boardwalk is in the 2023 CIP for $25K. Mr. Kytonen indicated that's correct. Chairperson Kovich stated he will get estimates from the Wisconsin boardwalk and email to the group. Mr. Kytonen stated he will keep an eye on potential grant opportunities as well. Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —September 8, 2021 Page 2 DISCUSS ITEMS FOR JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL Chairperson Kovich asked about joint meeting timing. Mr. Kytonen stated that it would likely be in November, but would check with the City Administrator to confirm. Chairperson Kovich stated that obviously the Dalske crossing would be on the agenda for the joint meeting. He noted that the new access to Martin's Meadows has been almost completed and a "thank you" to the City Council would be in store at the joint meeting. He brought up overall involvement of the Open Space Advisory Commission would be an important discussion item. He further explained about the ability to comment where developments are close to the preserves. Commissioner Ingebritson stated a member could attend a P and Z or City Council meeting early on. Commissioner Olson stated the Commission wants to be involved. Mr. Kytonen stated that he would email a final list of discussion items to the commission soon. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Kovich noted that Councilmember Butler put newsletter article together on the preserves. a. Next Meeting: December 8, 2021 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Ingebritson, Second by Commissioner Lindberg, to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Motion passed 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Kameron Kytonen Natural Resources Technician Drafted by: Kameron Kytonen 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 • WWW.ANDOVERMN.GOV TO: Andover Open Space Advisory Commission FROM: Kameron Kytonen, Natural Resources Technician SUBJECT: Discuss Promotion Ideas and Opportunities of the Nature Preserves DATE: December 8, 2021 INTRODUCTION Commissioner Vedadi has some ideas for promoting the nature preserves. There is a slide show she would like to share with the group. DISCUSSION The four nature preserves have a lot to offer. Despite this, it's relatively unknown how much use from the public they are getting. Thus, maybe there are some additional promotion and publicity mechanisms to generate more appreciation, usage and community involvement. ACTION REQUESTED The Commission is requested to brainstorm how some of these ideas could potentially be acted upon. Respectfully submitted, Kameron Kytonen Attachment "Get Outside! Proposal" '4 City of Andover Open Space Commission Project `Get Outside!' Proposal Executive Summary Objective: create new opportunities for community members to experience Andover Nature Preserves to build awareness and appreciation of the preserves and promote (appropriate) usage Goal: facilitate 1-2 `Get Outside!' events in 2022. Continue to seek additional opportunities to promote use and stewardship Strategies: • Partner with educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and community members to build attractive experiences • Conduct a campaign to promote experiences • Take advantage of free non-profit resources to ensure success with the proposal Event Ideas North Woods: Environmental Stewardship Partner with Davinci Academy Charter School to host an educational session(s) for elementary/middle school age children. The session would focus on understanding the Anoka Sandplain, the diverse and rare plant species found in the preserve, and the local ecosystem as a whole. In the end, students would understand more about Andover's natural world and the importance of preserving ecosystems and habitat. Mapleview: Outdoor Play & Learning Partner with Free Forest School to design and offer 1-2 Forest School experiences for Andover families with young children. The sessions would blend traditional early education learning (under 7 years old) with outdoor play. Sessions would also include environmental stewardship promotion. Dalske: Walk Through the Past Partner with the Minnesota Historical Society to offer a walking tour that showcases Minnesota's historical roots (native american history, settlement, farming, railroad, etc). Focus of the session would be to bring history alive. The session would also include information about woodsman skills used by earlier generations (fur trapping, hunting, foraging, etc). North Woods: Environmental Stewardship Idea When: week of 9-13th, 2022vent Ideas: North Woods: partner with Davinci Academy Charter School to host an educational session(s) for elementary/middle school age children. The session would focus on understanding the Anoka Sandplain, the diverse and rare plant species found in the preserve, and the local ecosystem as a whole. In the end, students would understand more about Andover's natural world and the importance of preserving ecosystems and habitat. Mapleview: Session Development: partnership with University of Minnesota students and Davinci Academy middle school students to design session learning objectives, syllabus, and content. Session Delivery: Session would also be student led, with an Open Space Commission host(s). Considerations: selecting which grades and classrooms/students would participate, transportation from Davinci to North Woods Status: contacted Davinci Academy and they are interested in offering this as an enrichment class for their annual school intercession. They are willing to transport kids to the preserve for a field trip as part of the class. Mapleview: Outdoor Play & Learn Idea When: tbd 2022 Session Development: partnership with a Forest School expert to design learning objectives, syllabus, and content. Session Delivery: Session would also be Forest School facilitator led or led by a community member who could receive training from Forest School experts. Open Space Commission host(s). Considerations: the number of people who can attend to minimize negative environmental impact to the preserves Status: contacted the Free Forest School organization by email and they are willing to help us set these sessions up in our community. Scheduling meeting to discuss in more detail. Dalske: A Walk Through History Idea When: spring or summer 2022 Session Development: partnership with the Minnesota and / or the Anoka County Historical Societies to develop the experience Session Delivery: delivery by a historical society member and/or Andover community members Considerations: timing the sessions to avoid times with heavy mosquitoes and to avoid hunting season on the adjacent state lands Status: exploratory inquiry sent to the Anoka County historical society Promotional Campaign Andover Today Newsletter City of Andover website and Facebook pages Local neighborhood Facebook pages Flyers at Local Andover Businesses Flyers at City Hall, the Andover Community Center, and the YMCA Information in School Newsletters Resources Project Get Outdoors- training for how to sponsor, promote, and facility community outdoor events. 8 hour online leader training is free. Free Forest School- an organization that supports adults to enable outdoor experiences for children. The organization has a focus on honoring the various ways people from different cultural backgrounds experience nature. Anoka County Historical Society- repository of information about Anoka County history and access to knowledgeable history experts Next Steps -* Present proposal to the Andover City Council 4 Receive City Council feedback -* Continue to explore and pursue ideas, based on City Council feedback