Consider Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants for Project Specific Wetland Replacement

The COR (formerly known as Ramsey Town Center) is a master-planned 300 acre development.  The master planning included creating two wetland mitigation areas on site to compensate for the loss of wetland filled as part of the development process.  The wetland mitigation process includes monitoring and filing reports on the condition of the wetlands for five years after the wetland is created.
 
The wetlands were created in 2005-2006.  Monitoring was performed in 2011 and 2012.  The City selected SEH consultants in 2020 to complete the monitoring of the wetlands so the mitigation could be declared complete.  The report from their monitoring of the mitigated wetlands is attached.

The report was submitted to the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) for review. The LRRWMO convened a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) on site on May 21, 2021 to review mitigation areas and the monitoring report to determine if the goals of the mitigation had been met.   

The TEP concurred with the observations in the report that the wetlands are generally functioning as proposed.  The report notes that hybrid cattails dominate the vegetation, which is natural given that the hybrid species out competes the native species in an area and is not easily controlled to emphasize growth of the natural species.

The report states that a Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants for Project Specific Wetland Replacement must be recorded at the county over each mitigation site.  The City owns the parcels where the mitigation occurs; therefore, the City has prepared the attached documents for the mitigation sites.  The declaration has three parts, the declaration, Appendix A, the legal descriptions of the parcels with the mitigation areas and Appendix B, the map of the mitigation areas. 

A resolution is attached authorizing the City Administrator and Mayor to sign the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants for Project Specific Wetlands.

The mitigation wetlands were constructed as part of the Ramsey Town Center (now COR) project.  The monitoring costs were paid from  the stormwater utility fund.

Resolution 22-147 has been prepared to authorize the City Administrator and Mayor to sign the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants for Project Specific Wetlands.  Staff recommends approving Resolution 22-147 directing the City Administrator and Mayor to sign the Declaration.

Motion to Approve Resolution 22-147.