WORKSHOP ITEM Dan Schluender, City Engineer
Title
WETLAND CREDIT POLICY DISCUSSION
Background
At the August 17, 2020 City Council meeting, the Council authorized the sale of wetland credits to the Annandale Care Center for $6,490.44. The sale of the wetland credits prompted the discussion about the history of where the funds are to be allocated.
A completed chronology of the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is attached and includes the dates when motions for the creation of the Site 7 Wetland Bank were discussed. The March 20, 2014 staff report states the following: “The newly proposed banking project would be funded by the Open Space and Trails fund, with a potential of generating credits valued between $1.8 and $4.4 million. This would fund the maintenance of open spaces for many years to come without putting pressure on the General Fund.”
The chronology includes a proposed plan for projects and a proposed budget for on-going and future costs at the BWS.
The NRCB has been having several discussions about future plans for the BWS and the city’s open spaces and trails and how to best spend the funds from the wetland credit sales. Because of the cost of boardwalk, the NRCB is looking at reducing the miles of boardwalk as well as determining if an Interpretive Center is the best option for the northern parking lot since the area doesn’t have sewer and water available at this time. A shelter may be a better option for now until sewer and water are available for the site.
If the Council wishes to change the allocation for the wetland credit sales, the NRCB will need to reevaluate the plans for the other open spaces and trails in the City.