Memo- Wetlands Awareness Week PresentationsMemorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eileen Harvala
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 1998
Subject: Wetlands Awareness Week presentation
Community Relations
On Tuesday, May 5, the Hopkins City Council will be proclaiming May 17 -23 as
Wetlands Week. The City of Hopkins has been working with the League of Woman
Voters (Minnetonka —Eden Prairie —and Hopkins) on a wetlands awareness project.
Sue Scribner, co —chair of the League of Woman Voters Minnetonka —Eden Prairie —
Hopkins Chapter, and LuAnn Tolliver, wetlands project manager, will make a short
presentation before the City Council about this project, Tuesday, May 5.
Attached to this memo is a copy of the proclamation and Hopkins Highlights article,
outlining the different aspects of this project and the city's participation. The project
components include a poster contest, brochure, video and wetlands tour.
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Wetlands W ek
May 17 -23, 1998
Proclamation
Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated May as American
Wetlands Month to elevate awareness and appreciation of wetlands; and
Whereas, the City of Hopkins is cooperating with the League of Women Voters to
promote wetlands awareness through a third grade poster contest, brochure, video and tour;
and
Whereas, wetlands cleanse the water we drink by absorbing and filtering pollutants that
otherwise can end up in lakes, streams and groundwater; and
Whereas, wetlands help soak up heavy rainfall and reduce the risk of dangerous
flooding; and
Whereas, some wetlands buffer creeks, rivers and lakes from the eroding effects of
currents and waves; and
Whereas, wetlands provide precious open space; and
Whereas, wetlands serve as essential habitat for the breeding, rearing and feeding of
treasured birds and other wildlife; and
Whereas, wetlands are home to as many and as diverse a spectrum of plant and animal
species as an equal —size area of rain forest; and
Whereas, wetlands provide opportunities for recreation, education and contemplation;
and
Whereas, Hopkins has demonstrated a commitment to the preservation and
enhancement of wetland areas;
Now, Therefore, 1, Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor of the City of Hopkins do hereby
proclaim the week of May 17 -23 as Wetlands Week in the City of Hopkins, and I urge all
citizens to support efforts to protect our wetlands.
Further, I urge all citizens to examine the materials made available by the League of
Women Voters or other organizations, to visit a wetland in Hopkins, and to take steps in their
own neighborhoods to preserve wetlands.
Adopted, this 5th day of May 1998.
Charles D. Redepenning, Mayor
City of Hopkins
Hop kLvls ILCLps with,
wetlands awareness
ess
May is American Wetlands Month,
and to celebrate the city of Hopkins has
declared May 17-23 as Wetlands Week.
Wetlands Week activities are spon-
sored by the League of Women
Voters — Minnetonka, Eden Prairie and
Hopkins —with partial funding from the
United States Environmental Protection
Agency.
Project collaborators include the cities
of Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden
Prairie, the Hopkins, Minnetonka and
Eden Prairie school districts, the Nine
Mile Creek Watershed District, the
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District,
and the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek
Watershed District.
There are several ways residents can
participate and learn more about the
value and function of wetlands.
• A poster contest open to 3rd graders
was conducted in April. Selected
Paper
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City of Ho
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before JO1A cWj
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There are a variety of utilities buried
underground. Homeowners who plan to
work on their landscaping, to install
fences, basketball hoops or new mail-
boxes, or to do any excavating are
entries to the Wetlands Week poster
contest will be on display at the
Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111
Mainstreet. The winner will receive a
plaque, and a gift certificate from the
Hopkins/Minnetonka Recreation
Services Department.
• Brochures emphasizing local wetlands
issues will be available at Hopkins
City Hall and the Hopkins Library.
• A video highlighting local wetlands
will be cablecast on Paragon Channel
34. (Times to be determined)
• A free bus tour of local wetlands will
be conducted from 9:30 a.m. to noon
Saturday, May 16. The bus will
depart from and return to Eden Prairie
City Hall, 8080 Mitchell Road.
Seating is limited. For reservations,
call the League of Women Voters,
937 -5788, and leave you name,
address and phone number.
For more information about this wet-
lands awareness project, call 937 -5788.
j cLe
Totals
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43 tons
43 tons
required, by law, to call the Gopher
State One Call Center.
The Gopher State One Call Center
will notify all utility companies known
to have buried lines in your area, so that
the location of those lines can be
marked before you dig.
For local requests, call 454 -0002.
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