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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.D.1. Natural Resources Coordinator Position I ?J, D. J. CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Jamie Polley, Park, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Subject: Natural Resources Coordinator Position Meeting Date: March 17,2009 INTRODUCTION: The Council is asked to discuss the importance and determine the future of the Natural Resources Coordinator position within the City. BACKGROUND: The Natural Resources position was approved by Council in May 2004. The position was changed from a non-exempt position titled Natural Resources Specialist to an exempt position titled Natural Resources Coordinator in February 2007. The Natural Resources Coordinator position has now been vacant since November ih, 2008. In approving the 2009 budget the City Council retained the funding for the position; however approval was not given to advertise and fill the position. The Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has evaluated the duties and responsibilities of the Natural Resources Coordinator position and determined what tasks need to be completed, what tasks will be completed as time allows and what tasks will not be completed due to lack of personnel. DISCUSSION: The responsibilities that are of high priority to the City include development review, tree management, and natural resources planning. The previous Natural Resources Coordinator had begun to transform and establish a natural resources program that benefits the City in many areas. The Natural Resources Coordinator and the EAC have established criteria and standards for preserving the City's important Natural Resources during development and building actIvities. The task of inventorying the City's boulevard trees has begun to diversify the forestry makeup of the City for the future and boundary markings have been installed and maintained along the City's parks, trails and open spaces as well as the City's conservation easements. The Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has met with the Public Works Director to discuss various task completions. At this time the Public Works Department will complete the tree inventory and work to develop a tree maintenance plan. The Public Works staff will also assist with tree plantings, disease tree management and native plantings. All development review, additional diseased tree management, public land encroachments and other required tasks will be completed by the Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. Page 1 of6 The Natural Resources Intern position approved by the Council on March 3rd for the summer of2009 will assist with tasks such as public land encroachments, the tree management plan, and native plantings. Attachment A is a chart of the Natural Resources Coordinator's responsibilities. Council has seen this chart previously when evaluating the position. The chart is now updated to show who has been designated to complete the tasks, and what tasks will not be completed at this time. The majority of the responsibilities of the Natural Resources position are unique to an individual with experience in Natural Resources, Environmental Science, Forestry or related field. The chart indicates who will complete the specific responsibilities. However, there is not a current employee on staff with the necessary experience to carry out the responsibilities ofthe Natural Resources Coordinator to the extent the tasks have been completed. BUDGET IMP ACT The 2009 budgeted salary and benefits for the Natural Resources Coordinator position is $89,600. The 2009 budget included extensive cuts to operating expenses as well as personnel. The 2010 budget if forecasted to be tighter. Staff is currently evaluating City services and department personnel and understands that an open position may not be filled at this time. The Natural Resources Coordinator position is important to the City during times of peak development as well as slower development and therefore the fact that development is down should not affect the need for this position. Having a Natural Resources Coordinator or similar position on staff will benefit the City by maintaining and protecting our current natural resources, and developing management plans while implementing best management practices. Current City staff will complete the tasks of the Natural Resources Coordinate to the best of their ability if the position is not filled at this time. OPTIONS If the Council feels that the natural resources position is to be filled at this time, it should 1. Direct staff to evaluate the classification of the position based on the desired responsibilities and expressed needs of the City. Staff would then bring the action back to Council for approval of any changes, and to receive approval to advertise the position, If Council feels the position should not be filled at this time, Council should: 1. Direct staffto bring back recommended job duties to continue, and which to delete. RELATIONSHIP TO CITY VISION & GOALS D. Vibrant, Resilient and Strong Goal # 9: Protect the Environment REQUESTED ACTION The Council should give direction as to whether to fill or eliminate the position for the remainder of 2009. Page 2 of 6 ATTACHMENT A NATURAL RESOURCES RESPONSIBILITES Duties Mandate Timel Position Notes Pro,i ect Completing Task Administer and update the State Law 400 Director PRNR Plan was recently compete and is Natural Resources Plan hr/yr being approved by Met Council. component of the Staff will update as necessary Comprehensive Plan Coordinate Noxious Weed State Law 100 Public Works or Additional tasks assigned to PW, Inspections and Management hrs/yr CSO Currently the PD is not fully as the Local Weed Inspector staffed with CSOs to cover task Administer and update City Code 20 hrl Director PRNR Natural Resources Corridor proj ect Time needed to understand Design Criteria criteria Administer Tree City Code 200 Director PRNR Management Regulations for hrs/yr Developments Staff Liaison to City Code 200 Director PRNR Environmental Advisory hrs/yr Committee Administer Shade Tree City Code 200 Public Works Paperwork completion will be Disease Control and hr/yr completed by the Director PRNR Prevention or Private and Public Property .. Reviews and Administers City Code 80 Director PRNR the Tree Planting Permit hrs/yr Process Install and Maintain City Code 200 Director PRNR Completed to date, new Conservation Easement hrs/yr development left to mark Boundary Markers Install and Maintain Park City Code 100 Director PRNR Completed to date, new and Open Space Boundary hrs/yr development left to mark Markers during the Development and Building Permit Review Process Administer Tree City Code 200 Director PRNR Management Regulations for hrs/yr Building Permits Tree Protection Fence City Code 20 Director PRNR Installation Inspections hrs/yr Obtain Diseased Tree City Code 5 hrs/yr Will not complete Samples for Laboratory Analysis Page 3 of6 Complete Wetland Wetland 20 Engineering staff Assessments for compliance Conservati hrs/yr with Wetland Conservation on Act, Act and Natural Resources City Code Design Criteria Prepares Technical Job 200 Director PRNR Information, Plans and Description hrs/yr Reports for EAC Prairie Planting Restoration Job 20 hrsl Public Works, Contractor fee may be required Projects for Water Quality Description project Director PRNR, Education and Maintenance Contractor of Project Develop Park and Open Job I 0 hrsl Director PRNR Plan was recently compete. Staff Space Management Plans Description project will update as necessary Complete Hazardous Tree Job 80 Public Works staff Paperwork completion will be Inspections and Coordinate Description hrs/yr completed by the Director PRNR Removal Complete City Tree Job 150 Public works staff Inventory Description hrs/yr Update Natural Resources Job 100 Will not complete Inventory (Minnesota Land Description hrs/yr Cover Classification System) Administration of GIS Trails Job 20 Engineering GIS and Park Files Description hrs/yr Administration of GIS Job 20 Engineering (data Diseased Trees, Tree Description hrs/yr input only), public Planting Requests and Tree works staff Removal Files Respond and Assist Job 40 Director PRNR I Residents with Tree Disease Description hrs/yr or Insect Questions Receives and Processes Job 40 Director of PRNR, Right-of- Way Tree Description hrs/yr Public Works staff Installation Requests Review Grading Job 5 hrsl Director PRNR, Plans/Grading Permits for Description project Compliance with Environmental Regulations Assist Developers and Job 2 hrsl Developer will be responsible for Builders in Landscape Description project hiring this work. Planning by Recommending appropriate Tree and Shrub Species Page 4 of6 Review, Administer, Job 60 Director PRNR, NR Enforce and Manage Description hrs/yr Intern Conservation Easements to Address Encroachments Coordinate Completion of Job N/A Director PRNR Environmental Assessment Description Worksheets Development of Storm Job N/A Engineering and Water Pond Management Description public works staff Plan Application and Job 50 Director PRNR We currently do not have the Administration of MnDNR Description hrs/yr ReLeaf grant ReLeaf Grants Application for Scott WMO Job 5 hrs/yr Director PRNR Grant will be applied for if Cost Sharing Grants Description needed. Application for MnDNR Job 5 hrs/yr Director PRNR Grant will be applied for if Forest Stewardship Grants Description needed. Coordinate Buckthorn Job 15 Director PRNR, NR Work with STS Management in Parks and Description hrs/yr Intern, Public Works Conservation Easements Update Natural Resources Job N/A Director PRNR Map completed, changes will be Corridor Map Description made if needed Coordinate Lake Water Job 20 Director PRNR Quality Monitoring of Lake Description hrs/yr O'Dowd and Dean Lake Preparation of Current Job 10 Director PRNR This service will be limited Public Education Description hrs/yr Information Handouts at City Hall and on Website Assist Residents in Locating Job 20 Residents will have to hire this Property Corner Iron Description hrs/yr themselves Monuments and Explaining Easement During the Tree Planting Permit and Boundary Marking Process Coordinate Tree Disease and Job 5 hrs/yr Director PRNR Minimal amount of work. Insect Programs for Description Department of Agriculture Coordinate Public Tree and Job 5 hrs/yr Director PRNR This service will be limited Raingarden Workshops Description Coordinate Forestry Station Job 40 Director PRNR Will not be completed this year at Scott County Outdoor Description hrs/yr Education Day Event Coordinate Forestry Station Job 16 Director PRNR Will not be completed this year at Regional Envirothons Description hrs/hr Page 5 of6 Coordinate Eagle Scout Job I 0 hrs/ Director PRNR Will not be completed this year Projects - Storm Drain Description project Stenciling, Habitat Improvement, Etc. Coordinate Storm Drain Job 1 0 hrs/ Director PRNR Will not be completed this year Stenciling with Local Description project Elementary Schools Coordinate Arbor Day Tree Job 70 Director PRNR, Sale Description hrs/yr Public Works Coordinate Adopt-A-Pond Job N/A Director PRNR Program will not be implemented Program Description at this time. Coordinate Completion of Job N/A Community Alternative Urban Area wide Description Development Reviews Director Public Education at the Job 4 hrs/yr Director PRNR Shakopee Showcase Event Description Parks and Recreation Job 4 hrs/yr Recreation This service will be limited Classes Description Supervisor Complete Wetland Wetland 1 0 hrs! Engineering staff Delineations and reports Conservati project on Act Complete Wetland Wetland 4 hrs/ Engineering staff, Delineation Field Review Conservati project on Act Complete Wetland Wetland 4 hrs/ Engineering staff, Delineation Report Review Conservati proj ect on Act Complete Wetland Wetland N/A Engineering staff Consultant fee of approximately Conservation Act Permitting Conservati $2,000-$6,000 on Act Snowmobile Maps N/A Police Department Page 6 of6