DEPARTMENT: Parks, Facilities, and Fleet Management
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Discussion And Direction On Parks, Greenways, And Natural Systems 2050 Vision For Protected Places And Interim 2017 Natural Resources Management System Plan Goal Targets
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Discuss and provide direction on the Parks, Greenways, and Natural Systems 2050 vision and goals for Protected Places and interim 2017 Natural Resources Management System Plan goal targets.
SUMMARY
The Dakota County Parks Department is currently updating the 2030 Parks System Plan with a Parks, Greenways, and Natural Systems 2050 Vision Plan.
Link to 2030 Park System Plan: <https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/About/ParkMasterPlans/Documents/ParkSystemPlan.pdf>
The current 2030 vision and goals for Protected Places includes three elements:
1. Vibrant healthy park resources
2. Parkland acquisition and protection
3. Collaborating in a Green Infrastructure approach
The 2017 Natural Resources Management System Plan (NRMSP) vision is to manage the vegetation, water, and wildlife of Dakota County parks, greenways, and easements to conserve biodiversity, restore native habitats, improve public benefits, and achieve resilience and regionally outstanding quality, now and for future generations.
The 2017 NRMSP identifies goals for 2017-2022 in the areas of vegetation management, wildlife management, water, greenways, and volunteers:
• Vegetation management goal: 1,434 acres restored. Progress to goal: 2,079 acres (145%).
• Wildlife management goal: 3-5 species at 15 sites. Progress to goal: 35 species at 15+ sites.
• Water goal:19 projects. Progress to goal: 30 water quality projects.
• Greenways:
1. Control of invasive species goal: 180 acres annually. Progress to goal: 63 acres in 2023;
2. Vegetation management goal: 180 acres annually. Progress to goal: 39 acres in 2023;
3. Natural resource management plan (NRMP) goal: compete NRMPs for all ten greenways. Progress to goal: four completed and two currently underway.
• Volunteers goal: increase volunteers. Progress to goal: 3,431 estimated volunteer hours in 2023.
Since the 2030 vision and goals for Protected Places were adopted in 2008, the NRMSP vision and goals were adopted in 2017, and the Land Conservation Plan was adopted in 2020, much progress has been made. Staff seeks Physical Development Committee (PDC) direction for updates to the 2030 vision and goals for protected places to ensure they reflect progress made and will meet park system needs looking forward to 2050 (Attachment: Background and Attachment: Discussion). The 2017-2022 NRMSP is now seven years old. Interim goal targets reflecting County Board direction regarding service levels to continue to meet current plan goals are needed prior to the NRMSP update in 2025.
Staff seeks PDC direction on the interim NRMSP goal targets in order to provide policy direction between now and the full NRMSP in 2025 (Attachment: Interim Goal Targets). Five-year goals for the 2020 Land Conservation Plan will be integrated into the updated NRMSP.
PDC will discuss and provide direction on the vision for Connected Places in June.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
Information only; no action requested
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
08-162; 04/15/08
17-541; 10/31/17
17-541; 05/23/17
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Background
Attachment: Discussion
Attachment: Interim 2024-2025 Natural Resources Management System Plan Goal Targets
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Taud Hoopingarner
Author: Lillian Leatham