ADMINISTRATION - Dan Schluender, City Engineer
Title
BWS BRANCH 3 AND SITE 7 TRAIL PERMITTING
Background
The City of Blaine Economic Development Agency (EDA) completed the wetland banking permitting process for Branch 3 in 2012, which did not include any trails through the wetland bank. In 2014, the city completed the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS) Master Plan that included a trail system throughout the entire site.
In order for the extension of the trails in the BWS the wetland permits for both Branch 3 and Site 7 will need to be amended to include the impacts from the additional proposed trails. Attach is the map of the proposed trail extensions and cost projections for each trail segment. The BWS subcommittee reviewed the trail options and are in favor of the Alignment 1 (Central) option. The subcommittee is also in favor of Alignment 2 (West) option as an alternative. However, the regulatory agencies will determine which option is best for the site.
This trail extension will create a loss of credits for the EDA in Branch 3. Staff has had internal discussions with EDA staff and they are supportive of the trail extension through the Branch 3 site. Staff discussed a swap of credits from Site 7 to Branch 3 to make up for the loss of credits created by the additional proposed trail.
The rational for selecting Critical Connections Ecological Services (CCES) to complete this work is because they completed the original permit and have been intimately involved in the work for both Branch 3 and Site 7 so staff requested a quote to amend the original permits to allow trails to connect the trails from north to south throughout both wetland banks and provide connection to the southern portion of the BWS. The estimated cost is not to exceed $25,000.
This amendment to the wetland banking permits is a very lengthy process. There is urgency to complete this amendment because once all credits are sold it removes the ability to amend original permits.
*These proposed trails will have a public process to get resident input before any plans or construction would occur. There is currently no timetable set for when the trails would move into the planning process.
Recommendation
By motion, recommend entering into a contract with CCES not to exceed $25,000 to complete the amended wetland banking permits for both Branch 3 and Site 7 to allow for trail extensions with Alignment 1 (Central) being the preferred location.