Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the transcript, here is the formatted version with speaker names identified. **Note:** The name **"Justin"** used in the transcript by the Mayor appears to be a transcription error or a nickname for **Councilmember Ryan Eisele**, who is the Parks liaison for the city. **Lori Taha** is the representative from the Washington Conservation District (WCD). **Mary Sue Arndt** is a member of the Parks Committee. *** [0:00] [Music] [0:10] [Music] [1:44] [Music] [4:49] [Music] [5:16] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Hello everybody. Um, welcome to our special meeting of the Birchwood City Council. Um, I call this meeting to order. Our first item of business is to approve the agenda. We have one item on it, which is discussion of Tai Schmidt project and a discussion of steps going forward. May I have a motion to approve the agenda? [5:48] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Justin [Ryan Eisele] will move. Second? Kathy [Weier], right. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Agenda is approved. And um, welcome to all of our visitors and we'll love to hear from many and all of you. First, I'd like to ask Justin [Ryan Eisele] to um, kind of set the table for us as to why we're having this special meeting. [6:02] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Yeah, so this um, this came out of our collaboration with uh, Washington Conservation District and in particular the Parks Committee's wonderful work on this um, I see we have some of our wonderful Parks Committee here with us so I appreciate that. Um, basically what we have here is a couple of projects um that will help some of the runoff and um, you know, help with some of the drainage issues down at Tai Schmidt. And what we're doing here is um, Lori is going to walk us through what these are and we have an opportunity to apply for a grant uh, to have most of this paid for basically is what it sounds like. So we have to do a 10% match. It sounds like Lori, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the total project cost would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 80,000 but we would get most of that through grant funding. So we'd have to come up with about 8,000. We don't have to approve the project right now um, we are just approving uh, authorizing Lori to go in front of the board and uh, ask for the grant basically uh, which is tomorrow I think. So that's why we're having this as a special meeting is we need to quick authorize her to do that and she's going to tell us more about the project. [7:35] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Yes. So, can you hear me okay? All right. So I'm with the Washington Conservation District. Um, my name's Lori Taha. I've been there for a couple years. My job is to run around the county and try and find um, fun projects to work on that will improve water quality, soil health, all of that good stuff. Um, we do free site visits, no-cost site visits that are funded in part from the county and then they're also funded um, through the different Watershed Partners. So this started with um, Mary Sue inviting me out to see the park and so we walked the park. I think it was more of an interest in why is this flooding and why is this going to be so soggy all the time, no one can really use the sports field. So we um, walked it, came with a bunch of ideas, we had the whole Parks Committee out there trying to think about native plantings and ball fields and community gardens and whatever else we could come up with. From there we kind of engaged the community to see what they were open to. So we had like a community forum here and people came and we did stickers on the walls and stuff to see what people might like to see out of that park and understand that perspective. From there, I mean I had stumbled upon a study that was done in 2017 uh, by the Washington Conservation District that actually looked at every um, lake in Birchwood Village and prioritized projects, and this has actually made it into the 2040 comp plan that you guys have. Um, so I found it in there and uh, that's what this spreadsheet um, the last page of the packet you got is um, basically really what it's all about. So this one is going to summarize every project that was in the report for the most part um, and it ranks them and gives you the funding and gives you the maintenance cost. Granted, 2017 was a different time period; let's add some padding in on those numbers. Um, during this time like a bit of the um, workflow—really I'm just trying to get a better part of the um, workflow—is to do some modeling to see exactly how much storm water is coming off of these project areas and then decide um, you know, which ones rank. And so based on this analysis, we actually have a list of what projects are the most cost-effective that will benefit the water quality the best and there's like 30 of them. So you guys, you know, you have plenty to choose from. Um, so that was fun that this was actually at the park. Um, so we have um—this is the park for everybody's reference—there's the ice rink that everybody likes you know, that's probably the most identifiable. The other areas tend to be um, underutilized. There's a wetland that goes across the back; it connects to Hall's Marsh. There's a couple, as you go through, you'll see a lot of clogged up storm drains, you'll see places where the concrete just um, isn't really functioning how it should and there's a lot of different pipes and overflows and um, different opportunities through here to capture and treat storm water. Um, so I'll be talking about these labeled um, locations. There's infiltration basin opportunities. So infiltration basins, filtration basins, and um, rain gardens—they all typically use plants to help filter the water. So as that junk comes through, the storm water is just going to take a moment to let it slow down, settle out um, and then go onto the lake because honestly, the soils here aren't going to be really infiltrating. So they're more of a "let's clean it, slow it down, let all that sediment fall out." So that's where we're at, found a bunch of projects for you guys. Um, this spreadsheet is basically what I was telling you, it's all um, summarized here. I'm just going to hop down there. So this is each project um, and it has in here: the first line is the name of the project. For example, increase street sweeping. Um, it's got a reduction of 2.7 pounds of phosphorus, 1,029 of suspended solids. The cost is 784 bucks to go run the street sweeper another time, you know, so that's an example project. Um, it's got maintenance cost so $130. So that's kind of the example of where we went through and we just looked at all these different projects. We've got some costs, we know we need to go back in and up them and redo, you know. So we have the basic designs done. Once we pick which ones we want to push forward, we can do Phase Two, maybe 50% design, and you know, really dig into what we're doing. Um, so those are some cool possibilities and I'll kind of go up. This is the one that I'd like to talk about. So you can just see the corner of the ice rink there on the right side and so what's shaded is basically the area of water that's directed to these different practices. So you can see a couple dots like 22 and 5, so accepting water from that neighborhood. And so we would be looking to capture and treat um, those areas. And the blue box just kind of outlines the costs again. So the most important thing I suppose about all of this is just knowing that it's preliminary and there are just some ideas that we want. Um, I actually had a chance to run out um, with Marcus [Johnson] with the engineer here and we scoped out the different areas and you know, came up with even some different ideas than we're initially on here. So there's a lot of flexibility, nothing's in stone, we just want to start moving forward. Um, we have... I guess the next item on the agenda would be nice to know where we are or if you guys have any immediate questions about this kind of overview without me having to dive in to every project. Um, do you want more information on the projects? [13:30] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** It would be nice to um, kind of hear maybe maybe a little bit more detail about the ones that you thought were the most feasible. [13:37] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Sure, yeah. So the most feasible um, Area A is um, an infiltration basin kind of right there at the um, top where there's an overflow to um, Birch Lake kind of is connected right there. There's a main storm water pipe, and so that was one area that we thought we could do kind of a wet pond through there. Um, Area B—there's actually a big soggy spot there where the ice rink flows and overflows and that area is just really filled with water. Um, easy place to throw in some plants, get some filtration, there's already like a pipe that goes under an old trail there. C is probably the highest priority based on our Parks Committee evaluation and initial assessment; it just really goes straight down to the beach there. So is that Delwood Beach? Does that sound right? So Delwood Beach has a little bit of a... there's an outfall that just shoots water right through some plants and then into the um, the lake. And we could see sediment depositing there, we could see some real erosion. Um, although there are some plants there, it could definitely be enhanced. Um, it could be integrated into a really cool space amenity um, if we kind of thought it through. And then um, there's some areas, but I would say each one of these areas, like Area C, is really just off the side of the road and it's not very noticeable. It doesn't seem like it's on anybody's property; it'll just accept the water in a small ditch and then like a depression, I should say, and then overflow um, to the lake. So I don't know, this one just seems like a really good project given its location and its existing topography, and we really think we could work with that one. Um, right across from it, basically at that parking area D, there's um, an inlet that's just clogged up. That's that bottom picture—I don't know how much I can zoom in—but it's basically just a clogged-up drain. And so that... I mean if anyone's open to it, we could knock out some pavement there or go into the grass a little bit and we could create a basin and have that be like a riser and then it would overflow after it's had a chance to settle. And that one is actually just treating water that's not even in this study, but it is obviously a benefit, I believe, to you guys. So that's where we're at, we're just kind of looking through these. Anything you want to add about our tromping around? [16:02] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Okay. Uh, does anyone on the council have some questions for Lori? [16:09] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** So I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, but you have a whole list of projects not just in Tai Schmidt but in other areas as well listed. Um, do you have any projects proposed for the runoff that comes down Highway 120? [16:24] **Lori Taha (WCD):** We don't. So right now I feel like this is a great time to really... you know, you guys can direct the projects for sure. Like, so anything that's City Council has every ability to rise projects forward. The reason this got moved forward is just because of the involvement and interest. We're directed by the citizens and you know, rarely do we go out and pick the projects. [16:48] **Councilmember Ryan Hankins:** It's just... would it be better maybe to... because I think I might be interested in that, but I think would that be better just to keep separate from maybe this tonight? [16:58] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Sure. Yeah, let's do it. Let's have like a... it's like shovel-just-about—maybe not shovel-ready but vote-ready. And I don't want to digress too much here, but okay. Yeah. Yeah. So the idea is you have this list, and even though there's this grant that's coming up, it doesn't mean we're going to get it. There's always more funding available. So once we just kind of pick projects and move forward, it just starts snowballing then. So we just need to identify what we want to move on. Um, just look at... so we identified some projects, now I can talk about the grant if anyone... [17:34] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah, that would be great. [17:35] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Okay. So the grant—I just um, there's a one I sent out kind of the summary—but it's called Watershed-Based Implementation Funding. Um, it's offered through the Board of Soil and Water Resources. Let's see, I have a handout. So it looks like this. If you follow the link, it's going to tell you everything you need to know about the policy. Um, but what it is basically is all of the Metro areas identify projects, come together, and then try and figure out how they're going to spend it. So a project has to be $50,000 to be pitched. There's 300,000 to divvy up. Everyone kind of presents a project or two, they divvy it up, they really look at the water quality benefit. So it has to have that documented amount, and it has to show up in a plan, and it has to have been prioritized and identified. And so the fact that we had all of these three things—that they're in your plan, they're in a study, and um, they have community like interest—is why it kind of rose to the top. So we would love to bring it forward to the committee. They, or basically it's this is just to "throw your hat in the ring" type of thing. We just say like, "Hey, this is what we're thinking, what do you... does the partners want to move forward?" Obviously, they've got to weigh—I think there's other projects that are really great, too—so they're just going to weigh that. But the way this funding opportunity works is it requires 10% match. Um, all you have to do is one of these projects that's going to benefit and go above and beyond what's required for your permits. It's got to be something that is um, going to be maintainable. And I think that is the number one thing for this meeting and this council is just to really notice the maintenance cost on this. Like, we can get this funded, we can come in with 80,000, we could come in with another 10 for the match from Rice Creek Watershed District—I don't even know if there'd be any funds from you guys required—but what is important is to understand that it's a 10-year process, and this is just like any other storm water BMP. And so the city would have to be prepared to have a maintenance um, in place. And so the maintenance piece is something I can give you an operations and maintenance plan. We can work with your city staff to do some trainings. We actually have the ability to contract out our maintenance department to come out, and it's uh, Rice Creek Watershed District has um, volunteer events, and so they can come out and do like annual hosting and then they do the weeding of the rain gardens. So there's a lot of opportunities, but it's just exploring those. And if you do want to move forward with projects, that's what we heard from the community too—they said we want maintenance for this park. So you know, it's great, great, great you want to turn it all into a prairie, but you know, we just want to make sure that those maintenance costs long-term are integrated. So that's where we are. [20:29] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Is the is the maintenance um, going to be... do we need to budget for that or can that come out of grant monies? [20:37] **Lori Taha (WCD):** So that's a 10-year kind of maintenance and so each one kind of has a ballpark, you know, $500 a year, sorry, annual. Um, yeah, that is not part of the grant. And so it's possible we could get funds for it, but that would be something that like I was mentioning we'd be looking at... um, that would be probably the most ongoing commitment from the city would be that piece. [21:04] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** So when you say a 10-year maintenance, do you mean that that Birchwood commits to maintaining what was built or constructed for 10 years and then after that 10 years there's no obligation anymore? [21:19] **Lori Taha (WCD):** That's true. Yep. So most of these practices are just um, just to be good fiscal responsible like users of public funds. They just really want to make sure that someone doesn't just dig it up the next year. But 10 years is a long time for things to change and at that point they could be revamped or removed or whatever. [21:40] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** What are the odds of receiving the grant? Do they get tons of applicants? [21:44] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Um, there's no... we're really... that's... you guys are sitting really good. There's not a lot of places that have projects identified in their comp plan honestly, so that are like... that have a Parks Committee that's sitting there ready to go and who are moving things forward. [22:04] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** So is it a just a rolling grant? There's no deadline and then they decide, or how's it work? [22:07] **Lori Taha (WCD):** No. So I'll give you the process as I understand it: this group of cohorts—a bunch of different district managers and city people—all are going to talk about the funds and then they'll kind of decide who they want to move forward. And from there, we will know that we can develop the project over the winter. So I can work um, with the district engineer, I can work with our engineer um, I can work with our restoration staffs and we'll just try to move that project to the next level. And then July um, is when the city would come back in to approve a grant contract. So the contract wouldn't be now; the project final sign-off would not be now. All of that would be once um, you know, once we've got something on the table pretty concrete. And then you guys would have two years, so it would be 2025 you'd sign off on the contract saying that you're going to implement by 2027, and so you've got two full years to get like, you know, all the kinks worked out for funding and all of that. And then it's reimbursement, so that would be something you know, we have to work out all the finances. There's contracts, agreements, operation maintenance plan, all that fun stuff. But right now it's just, are we good to kind of look? And we've actually started looking um, for the wetland piece too. We were looking at Hall's Marsh enhancements, and so we're looking at doing a habitat enhanced landscape pilot project—it's a HELP grant—and so we're already kind of looking at getting that um, and then using that to leverage some of this work as well. So we're just out there; we get grants about every other week through our inboxes. Once we have projects, we will try and get them. [23:25] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** That sounds great. And I thank you, for the Parks Committee for... yeah, you're digging in and surfacing these opportunities and and and making sure that yeah, we're ready to be able to compete you know, for for grants. [23:44] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** And I just want to thank you, Lori um, she's been amazing just you know, working with us and and her whole group and uh, it's it's been it's been amazing and uh, thanks to the Parks Committee as well so. [23:56] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay. Um, any other questions from the council? [23:57] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** I'm curious about the maintenance portion as far as the reporting on that. Is that one where our admin team has to send in paperwork details etc. for reporting on those 10 years or is that one where it's a drive-by to confirm that it still looks good or... [24:14] **Lori Taha (WCD):** I think it's lowkey, but I haven't read through um, all the agreements, but I wouldn't expect it to be extensive. Okay. Um, yeah, those pieces can be worked out. I just I don't expect it to be too overwhelming at all. Um, there is roles and responsibilities that I can bring up that um, would be interesting to chat about quickly. There's um, similar project that we're doing where... so the Washington Conservation District would apply on your behalf, we could accept um, funds on your behalf, but any of the work would be through the city. So we don't act as a contractor. And so if you engaged with say someone to do the the entire project um, for $80,000, the contract would be with the city. The agreements, the bonds, like all of that charity stuff would all be you guys. We're just going to help manage the funds and distribute the funds, and that kind of discussion can be held in detail later, but just important to know that we aren't the contractor and the landowner is very much like in charge, right? And we do construction oversight, so I can come out, we can have people come out and help with that and we can... um, in this also is going to say we were going to try and roll in some admin cost so that potentially we could bring in your city engineer to do some of that behind-the-scenes coordination that is so important, like who's closing the road down and who's bringing the cones and... [25:56] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Marcus, do you have any comments on this? [26:03] **Marcus Johnson (City Engineer):** Um, can you guys hear me? I don't... um, no, Lori and I walked through last week and everything I mean, looked pretty good. It looks like a good plan. Um, I think that it's a good opportunity for the city to, especially in some of those areas around the hockey rink where it's always wet, trying to keep that um, more maintained. Yeah, and stuff. So I think that'd be good. [26:22] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay great, excellent. Thank you. What do you need from us, Lori? [26:27] **Lori Taha (WCD):** I really don't need much. We just didn't want to blindside you guys and say, "Oh look, they're putting in a grant on our behalf" without you guys being like, "Oh okay, we're aware," because it's going under the City of Birchwood Village like kind of with us being in charge. So you guys would be kind of the uh, you know, the person who's leading the charge in in a way as far as the implementation. [26:54] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Okay, want to make sure you guys are interested. [26:57] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** Interested and exciting and we're not just you know... [27:01] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Should we make a motion that we're excited? Yeah, motion that we're excited. [27:04] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I'll be happy to make a motion to authorize you to put in the grant though. [27:07] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Yeah, that's... would you like that? Okay, right. I may have a second? [27:09] **Councilmember Kathy Weier:** I'll second. Kathy. [27:11] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Kathy, all right. Any further discussion or Parks Committee, would you like to make any comments? No? Just wondering about timeline... Mary Sue, can you come up? Yeah, just so we can... yeah, thank you. [Laughter] [27:36] **Mary Sue Arndt (Parks Committee):** Oh, so Lori has this meeting tomorrow. I don't know if it's virtual or in person with the the deciders... [27:42] **Lori Taha (WCD):** It's Zoom, I think. [27:44] **Mary Sue Arndt (Parks Committee):** And then they're going to go away and make some their choices. And I just was wondering if that... we'd be waiting in suspense for a month? I don't really know. [27:54] **Lori Taha (WCD):** It's usually pretty quick, so they'll... I will be in as soon as I know if. And also don't be like disheartened if they went with a giant stream restoration or something. We can keep going; like, this is every year we get these funds and there's other grants, too. [28:11] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Well, it sounds like we're poised to put our best foot forward here. Yeah. Yeah. Great, thank you for doing this for us. Yeah, thank you so much, great. All right, well um, any other any other discussion or we can uh, call the question. [28:34] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All right um, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Please proceed. [28:43] **Lori Taha (WCD):** Happy to do so. Thank you. [28:45] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** Thank you. Thank you very much, that's great. Thank you. Thank you, yeah. Alan, would you like to make any comments since you're [Laughter] here for [Laughter]... that's right. Well thank you very much, yeah thank you very much everybody. And thank you, Lori and Marcus and the Parks Committee and and... yeah, well great, this will... we're waiting to hear what happens. Yeah, thank you. Um, I I have a motion to adjourn? [29:05] **Councilmember Ryan Eisele:** I'll move. [29:07] **Councilmember Bridget Sperl:** Second. [29:09] **Mayor Jennifer Arsenault:** All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Meeting adjourned. Thank [Music] [Applause] [Music] [29:40] [Music] [29:53] [Music] [Music] oh