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Conservation Commission - MINUTES - 5/17/2012Approved 9/26/12 Conservation Commission (Commission) City of Muskego Minutes of Meeting Held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 Chairman Pilak called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call - Commissioners: Ms. Julie Holubowicz, Mr. Bill Miller, Mr. Leonard Pilak, Ms. Sharon Roy, Ald. Harenda, Mr. Howard Schneider and Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar. Excused: Ms. Barb Schroeder Guest: Ald. Borgman The meeting was posted in accordance with the open meeting law. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — A motion was made by Commissioner Miller to approve the minutes of the meeting held January 19, 2012. Seconded by Commissioner Schneider; motion carried. PROJECT UPDATES Conservation Coordinator Zagar updated the commissioners on the following projects: Spring Burns —He reported that it was the best burn season ever as they accomplished many burns. They did several burns at the Engel Conservation Area and small prairie burns in several parks. They had good weather conditions with the early spring and dry weather. Ms. Roy mentioned that the firehouse was called on the burn at the Engel Conservation Area. Conservation Coordinator Zagar advised that the police department is notified of when they are going to do the burns. Every once in a while they will send out the fire department. They get a lot of calls whenever it is a spectacular burn with smoke in the air. Tree Plantings —They planted a thousand seedling trees; a lot of them at the Engel Conservation Area with the help of a scout troup. He recently checked on them and with the adequate rainfall, they are doing fine. They planted oak trees, hazel nut shrubs, shagbark hickory, river birch, tamarack; a nice variety. The trees came from the State nursery at about 50 cents apiece; roughly about $400 for the trees. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Development of a Site Plan for Badertscher Preserve (Borst Land Acquisition)— Conservation Coordinator Zagar reported they did purchase the 103 acres from Mrs. Borst and decided to name it Badertscher Preserve after her father. The commissioners should start thinking of how they want to develop that property. He presented a restoration and development plan for their review. Commissioner Schneider inquired if the easement to the property is up the driveway. Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated there is an access easement not totally shown on the map, but it would be up the driveway; the driveway that goes to the farm house to the west side of the pole barn. Ms. Borst retained the area to keep the public out of view and the access goes through that area of hills. He has looked at the property several times. Mrs. Borst had entertained the idea of enrolling her wetlands into the NCRS program but she did not do it. The same plans were looked at by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and they would like to get into a project to restore those wetlands. They did a burn at the oak savannah tree area as there was grassy area in between and oak litter on the ground. He mentioned that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have the city hire a contractor to cut all the brush out. The agricultural lands lend themselves very well to prairie grass restoration like the Engel Conservation Area. Off to the west, are scattered trees within that agricultural area and he proposed adding more trees in that area. Some discussion on a parking lot and he felt it would probably be 20 stalls about the same size as Engel Conservation Area's lot. Conservation Commission Meeting — May 17, 2012 — Page 2 Chairman Pilak inquired about hiking trails. Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated there are a lot of existing trails and it is a matter of putting signage up; possibly shutting a few down especially those in the northwest woods because there are too many. Cross -county skiers could use the same hiking trails. Also, the commissioners discussed equestrian use of the trails as well as the disposal of animal waste on the trails. Ald. Harenda inquired about the funding mechanism to do the development and maintenance of the preserve. Conservation Coordinator Zagar said that with the Engel Conservation Area, staff was able to keep costs down by doing maintenance themselves and, also, they have been successful in getting grants and scouts looking to do Eagle Scout projects. The scouts get support from organizations in the city for their materials. He then focused on the uses for the preserve. It was noted that hunting must be allowed on lands acquired with assistance from the DNR Stewardship grant program. The municipal code previously did not allow hunting on any city lands. By a recent city ordinance, hunting can now be allowed on certain lands by Common Council resolution. It is proposed that the area be open for bow hunting but not firearm hunting - as bow hunting would be a compatible use in the area, considering the proximity of neighbors and others using the trails. A permit system to limit the number of hunters was proposed in the plan. Chairman Pilak asked if they were to do hunting by permit, several issues would need to be addressed such as the number of days, can blinds be left out, will it be by lottery, who's going to enforce it. Conservation Coordinator Zagar noted that hunters were not crowding the city's DNR lands and maybe a permit system, limiting hunters was really not necessary and it would be too cumbersome to manage the permit system. He suggested that, like on State lands, tree stands and blinds would have to be removed daily. Mr. Miller shared that Mequon Nature Preserve has a permit system. Conservation Coordinator Zager will check with them to see how it is working and, also, the police department to see if they want to enforce the issue. Disallowed uses were discussed and they are similar to what is set for the Engel Conservation Area. These shall include all motorized vehicles, bicycling, camping, camp fires, firearms use for hunting or target shooting (with the current carry law, the firearms in general cannot be disallowed) and the walking or running of pets. Chairman Pilak asked about snowmobiles using the trails. Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated if approached by the Icetronauts, they could consider a connection trail through the preserve. NEW BUSINESS Recommendation on Grant for Badertscher Wetland Restoration --Conservation Coordinator Zagar announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Partners for Fish and Wildlife grant that is being proposed for a $16,500 project of which they would cover $9,500. There would be a $7,000 local share. It would involve the agricultural wetland area and they would be plugging the ditches by making shallow scrapes and making irregular shaped ponds and using that material to refill the ditches. This was done at the Engel Conservation Area and after a while, you don't see the ditch areas. They would restore the hydrology which is good for the wildlife and plants. It is also good for holding back storm water; releasing it very slow and should help flooding downstream. Commissioner Schneider asked if that would impact the neighbors. Conservation Coordinator Zagar replied that they are designed very carefully so they do not affect the water on the adjoining properties. As far as the local cost share, most of it could be derived from the yearly budget to do conservation work. The city will be getting $5,000 annually for 10 years from the Little Muskego Lake Association for the Borst (Badertscher) acquisition and they requested the money be used for either/or both for paying on debt service and restoration. Ald. Harenda moved to go forward with the recommendation to the Common Council to apply for this grant. Commissioner Roy seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Aquatic Plant Composting (Weed Tipping) at Badertscher Preserve —Conservation Coordinator Zagar briefly reviewed the weed harvesting that is done by the Little Muskego Lake District. They are in need of places to tip the weeds. Initially, they were helpful in working with the city to acquire the Borst property. They would like to have an area in the preserve to dispose of the plants. In the initial application process, the city did cover it in the narrative letter to the DNR. However, none of the acquired land was set aside for this purpose. Conservation Commission Meeting — May 17, 2012 — Page 3 The DNR made it very clear that they don't consider this a compatible use. What would have to be done would be to return any cost -share money to the DNR and this would involve an appraisal of that portion of land that would be used for the weed disposal. The process could be worked out. He will contact Faye Emerson to see how they want to approach the issue with the DNR. Emerald Ash Borer Management —Conservation Coordinator Zager deferred to Commissioner Miller to give input on the Emerald Ash Borer and where the State of Wisconsin is at regarding the infestation. Commissioner Miller gave a historical account of the borer. As of now, though it is around the surrounding communities, it is not believed to be in Muskego yet. An insecticide can be applied to ash trees by doing a trunk injection or soil treatment to prevent succumbing to the infestation. Conservation Coordinator Zagar stated the city is doing the soil treatment for many ash trees in the parks, pouring around the base of trees. Noting that there is a substantial number of ash trees on private lands it is important to get information to people on how to treat the trees. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW Way Finding Signage—Conservation Coordinator Zagar introduced the city's plan for way finding signage; signs to direct people to various points of interest in the city; the Engel Conservation Area and the Badertscher Preserve to be included on the signs. Ald. Borgman commented that what he saw of the proposed signage, there was as many as thirteen places called out on a sign. He could not see how you could be driving down a road and discern thirteen different places and the directions to it. There was a recommendation that all things straight ahead would be grouped and all the things east be grouped and all the things west be group. This should make things easier. Compared to other cities, he thought Muskego was trying to include too much on the signage. LMLA Donation —Conservation Coordinator Zager thanked the LMLA for their donation towards the Badertscher Preserve acquisition of $50,000 payable over 10 years. A large mock-up check representing the first installment of $5,000 will be presented to the Common Council. ADJOURNMENT —Mr. Miller moved, Ald. Harenda seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM. S(o,0 Duahoo, CPS Recording Secretary