Approve Easement to Great River Energy at Alpine Park and Accept $14,000 for Restoration

As part of the landfill settlement agreement with Waste Management Inc. in the 1990's, approximately 90 acres of land was conveyed to the City of Ramsey north of the landfill for public purposes.  At this same time the city planned for, and subsequently constructed Alpine Drive between Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Ramsey Boulevard.

In addition,  at this same time, the city was planning for a community park north of the landfill, adjacent to what was to become Alpine Drive.  As Alpine Drive would bisect this tract of land, causing concern relative to park patrons crossing the road (if there was to be park on both sides of the street), the decision was made to sell the land north of Alpine Drive to a developer, with the proceeds funding the new park.

Prior to the above conveyance of land to the City of Ramsey, Waste Management dedicated an easement for a electric transmission line on the west edge of what was to become Alpine Park, to the City of Anoka Municipal Utility.

Recently, the Anoka Municipal Utility 'sold' their transmission line to Great River Energy (GRE) - and while the easement and infrastructure remain, GRE is in the process of securing easements with the current property owners along this transmission line (City of Ramsey versus Waste Management).

Following Great River Energy's purchase of the transmission line and initiative to update easements with the present land owners; was a GRE program to clear the easements of encroaching trees.

Tree clearing in easements is often troubling to adjacent landowners accustomed to seeing lush vegetation, then finding a stark, barren landscape following the tree removals.  And this was the case at the west edge of Alpine Park after removals in the winter of 2013.

Knowing that the now cleared 80' foot corridor at the park would re-vegetate over time, only to be completely 'denuded' years later, causing another period of distress by adjoining residents - staff used the opportunity of GRE's desire for an easement  to negotiate a restoration plan for the park that would result in a landscape that served an appropriate ecological function, and one that would end the cycle of tree removals.

A proposed restoration plan was developed with staff and Prairie Restoration Inc., with the intention of properly establishing a prairie planting, with large shrubs along the west property line of the park, adjacent to those homeowners that desired some screening.  This plan in summary includes the following elements and associated investments:

Site prep and grasses ($6,230 )
50 shrubs at $50 each ($2,500)
Straw mulch ($2,470 )
2013, 2014 & 2015 maintenance and wildflower seeding ($2,750)

The labor and materials quoted totals $13,950 with the desire that GRE would cause the work to be performed.  It should be noted that this restoration plan is not something the GRE has done before - with their usual operations consisting of simply designating tree clearing on a multi-year rotation.  However, staff was successful in explaining that this sustainable plan would, over time, be in GRE's financial interests as well - and represented good-will to neighbors of Alpine Park and also was a good demonstration project* that could be replicated within other utility corridors.

The end result of the above discussion was an agreement by GRE to provide the City of Ramsey $14,000 to fund and oversee the work by Prairie Restoration as soon as the easement is approved by City Council; and thus, the purpose of this case is to both approve the updated easement for the transmission line and also to accept the money for the 80' foot corridor restoration within Alpine Park.

Attorney Bill Goodrich has researched the proposed easement, and finds it complete and consistent with the easement it replaces.  (Additionally, staff would point out that there are no plans at this time for any modification or additions to the existing transmission line within Alpine Park according to GRE.)





*Note:  An item on the Environmental Policy Board’s 2012-13 City Council approved Work Plan was a demonstration project to establish a native prairie within a utility corridor.  The intent was to demonstrably show that a tree cleared corridor could be transformed into not only an aesthetically pleasing area, but also serve as critical habitat for wildlife, pollinators and song birds. The Board does intend to develop signage to be placed in Alpine Park that would highlight the project and corresponding values.

Staff recommends approval of the easement to Great River Energy, and acceptance of the $14,000 to order the 3-year prairie establishment by a contractor.

No supplemental funding is needed other than what this case authorizes; and staff time associated with the prairie establishment is consistent with regular landscape maintenance in parks.

Motion to approve Easement #: AW-001b for Great River Energy and accept $14,000 for the prairie establishment at Alpine Park