CR 05-142 Adopt Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Vision
CITY OF
m
October 18, 2005
HOPKINS
Council Report 2005-142
ADOPT MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT VISION
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move that Council adopt
Resolution 2005-098 Resolution Adopting Minnehaha Creek Vision.
Overview
This item was discussed at the September 13, 2005 work session. Mike Wyatt from the
watershed district presented the following vision.
The Vision for Minnehaha Creek includes both an existing and desired sense of
place. With respect to the existing sense of place, the creek:
. Is a corridor with various reaches and destinations,
. Serves as a gathering place for people,
. Provides recreational opportunities,
. Is a contemporary cultural resource, yet it also reflects our history, and
. Provides natural and aesthetic experiences unique to its setting.
Within the creek corridor it is also desired to:
. Provide balanced opportunities to experience the creek,
. Improve the natural environment,
. Improve water quality,
. Have variation and physical differences, and
. Be reflective of our history and a priority for our future.
Passing the resolution also lends City of Hopkins support for a Corps of Engineers'
Feasibility Study for federal funding ofthe implementation steps of the 'vision.
Supporting Documents
. Resolution 2005-098
R. Bradford, P.E., Assistant City Engineer
Financial Impact: lQ.. Budgeted: N/A Source: N/A Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.): None
Notes:
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2005-098
RESOLUTION ADOPTING MINNEHAHA CREEK VISION
Whereas, the City of Hopkins previously adopted a resolution to create the Minnehaha
Creek Visioning Partnership to provide guidance and recommendations on policy
development, technical issues, and public involvement to create a common vision and
implementation plan for the Minnehaha Creek Corridor;
Whereas, the Partnership's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAe), comprised of23
representatives from the cities of Minneapolis, Edina, St. Louis Park, Hopkins and
Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Hennepin County, and the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, held twelve workshop meetings to develop a
recommended creek vision;
Whereas, the Partnership's Technical Advisory Committee also met to review the
technical feasibility of the vision recommendations developed by the CAC, and has
concluded that these recommendations are technically feasible;
Whereas, the CAC also convened a public Open House to gather further public input and
review of the proposed creek vision and the CAC's recommendations;
Whereas, the CAC has now produced a detailed report that sets forth a creek vision as
follows:
The Vision for Minnehaha Creek includes both an existing and desired sense of
place. With respect to the existing sense of place, the creek:
. Is a corridor with various reaches and destinations,
. Serves as a gathering place for people,
. Provides recreational opportunities,
. Is a contemporary cultural resource, yet it also reflects our history, and
. Provides natural and aesthetic experiences unique to its setting.
Within the creek corridor it is also desired to:
. Provide balanced opportunities to experience the creek,
. Improve the natural environment,
. Improve water quality,
. Have variation and physical differences, and
. Be reflective of our history and a priority for our future.
Whereas, the CAC's creek vision recommendations also include management priorities,
streambank erosion improvements, aquatic habitat management, riparian vegetation
management, woody debris management, study of weir and dam removal, stream flow
management, water quality management, and decision making criteria; and
Whereas, the CAC's creek vision recommendations will be considered by both the
MCWD and the USACE as they move forward with plans and designs, and it is also
intended as guidance for other organizations, such as cities and the Minneapolis Park
Board, which share creek corridor management responsibilities, with the hope is that all
organizations can work together toward a common vision for the creek;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Hopkins hereby adopts the
general creek vision recommendations presented by the CAC as the general conceptual
framework to guide creek corridor management, and thanks the 23 citizen members of
the CAC for their hard work, thorough study, and carefully-considered recommendations;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Hopkins supports the inclusion of these
recommendations in the Water Resources Management Plan being developed by the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Hopkins agrees to continue to work with
the other members of the Minnehaha Creek Visioning Partnership, through its policy
board, technical advisory committee, and citizens advisory committee, to coordinate the
implementation of these recommendations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Hopkins hereby expresses its support for
the United States Army Corps of Engineers Feasibility Study within the Minnehaha
Creek Watershed District to pursue the investigation ofthe potential Federal interest in
assisting with the implementation of Minnehaha Creek Visioning Partnership
recommendations in the Minnehaha Creek corridor.
Adopted by the City Council ofthe City of Hopkins, Minnesota, this 20th day of
September, 2005.
Eugene J. Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk