Rebecca Haug, Water Resource Manager
Title
OPEN SPACE BUDGET
Background
The Open Space budget is attached. The budget includes revenue from the Park Dedication Fund as well as projected revenue from the sale of wetland credits in the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS). The expenditures include the continued restoration work at the BWS, and overall open space management at Pioneer Park, Kane Meadows, Aquatore, Laddie Lake, Lochness Park, Oak Savanna, Hidden Ponds Park and the city’s raingardens throughout the City of Blaine.
Projections for both revenue and expenditures are also included in the budget. The Park Dedication fee is dependent upon the amount of development that occurs in the city for the upcoming years. The wetland credit revenue is also dependent upon how much development requires the need to purchase wetland credits.
The expenditures include costs to continue the restoration efforts at the BWS and required monitoring work that Critical Connections Ecological Services (CCES) will be doing to ensure the credits are released. Costs also include management of the city’s open spaces and Pioneer Park. These costs were determined based upon previous contracts with the consultants. At the October meeting, a more accurate budget for the upcoming contract work will be provided for the management of the open spaces.