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Home My WebLink AboutIV. d. Industrial Park Boulevard LandscapingTo:Hastings Economic Development & Redevelopment Authority From:Nick Egger –City Engineer Date:July 6, 2011 Re:Boulevard Establishment for 2009 Industrial Park Project Request City staff is requesting guidance from HEDRA for future interaction with Industrial Park property owners/operators as it relates tothe establishment ofboulevard rain gardens. Problem: Fourproperties in the IndustrialPark have regularly mowed the linear raingardens, killing off the prairie grass mix that was planted as part of the 2009 street reconstruction program. All property owners had previously been asked not to mow the raingarden areas, and Public Works installed lath clearly denoting the “no-mow” areas. Options: Seek Council authorization to restore the prairie grass and bill the property owners for this cost (Ballpark estimate is $5,000 total for all affected areas). Leave the damaged areas as is, but strongly discourage any other property owners from mowing the prairie grass. Let Industrial Park property owners maintain the right of way abutting their property as they see fit. Background Information Industrial Park Improvements – 2009 The City reconstructed several streets within the Hastings Industrial Park in 2009. Part of the improvements included establishing linear rain garden basins in the boulevards alongside most of the streets. The contract for the project required a three-year maintenance and establishment period for these areas to ensure that the proper vegetation is fully developed. Spring/Summer 2010 In May of 2010, we began to notice that several property owners weremowingdown the vegetation within the rain gardenareas. To help deter this practice, City staffprovideda letter to all property owners explaining the establishment process and requesting that they refrain from mowing them. Initial compliance levels were quite high, but despite the enhanced information, some property owners resumedmowing operations into the rain gardens. The City acted again in September to request termination of mowing in the rain gardens. The September letteralso updated property owners on the work that the Contractor had been performing to promote vegetation establishment. As an added measure, City staff went through the entire project area and installed wooden lathe marking the boundaries of the rain gardens. For your reference, I have attached both of the previous written notifications, along with a few photos of established rain gardens and those at properties who have chosen to mow them down. Spring 2011 Now in theirsecond year of the three-year period, most of the rain garden areas are well on their way to being established as prescribed by the City’s project plans. However, we continue to observe mowing in several rain gardens.With this having been nearly a continuous occurrence, we fear that the affected areasare beyond our ability to establish without re-tilling the soil and re-applying seed. HEDRA Meeting Packet - July 14, 2011Page 43 of 99 ÆÃªùªÐÃ£ªª±Yøk±±Y±ÃÆ¬3444ÂÃ±£k±` ÆÃªùªÐÃ£ªÃªÐ«£_¬0.4ÂÃ±£k±` HEDRA Meeting Packet - July 14, 2011Page 44 of 99 June 7, 2010 Re: City Project 2009-1 Industrial Park Area Improvements Dear Property Owner/Manager: It has come to our attention during recent site inspections that many of the ditch/raingarden areas located on the 2009-1 Industrial Park Area Improvement project have been mowed to a “normal” lawn height. The grass, from five feet behind the curb extending to the property line, is specifically designed to grow approximately 18” tall. This mature growth allows the root structures of the grass to extend deep into the soil, maximizing the amount of stormwater runoff that can be absorbed into the soil. If the grass is cut to a “normal” lawn height, it will reduce the amount of designed infiltration, and, in many cases, may damage or kill the grasses. The City requests that the grass within the first five feet of the curb be mowed, but the remaining area to the property line be left natural. The first five feet behind the curb contains a different species of grass that is designed to be cut. If necessary, please remind any property management companies you may employ of this restriction. Landscaping contractors will be in the area in the coming weeks to spray for weeds, especially in the area directly behind the curb, and to seed thin areas in the ditch/raingarden areas. They will also be planting Prairie Cordgrass plugs within the designated raingarden areas. This grass is specially designed to absorb the additional water that will pond in those areas following rain events. The landscaping contractor will also return in late summer to reseed the area directly behind the curb to help ensure uniform growth.. At some point during the summer/fall, they will be cutting the ditch/raingardens to a depth of 6” to 8”. This one-time mowing will aid in spreading seed and filling in those areas with fewer established grasses. We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Engineering Department at 480-2334. Sincerely, Nick Egger, P.E. City Engineer Cc: Thomas Montgomery, Public Works Director Dave Chalmers, Engineering Supervisor Tom Groh, Minnesota Sod Co. HEDRA Meeting Packet - July 14, 2011Page 45 of 99 September 10, 2010 Re: City Project 2009-1 Industrial Park Area Improvements Ditch/Raingarden Maintenance Update Dear Property Owner/Manager: The maintenance contractor for the ditch/raingarden areas has performed a number of activities in these areas throughout this summer, including mowing and herbicide application. As part of this ongoing maintenance effort, the contractor is scheduled to apply additional grass seed and fertilizer in the boulevard areas (5 feet behind the curb) next week. This will be followed immediately by an additional cutting of the ditch areas. These cuttings of the ditch areas to a height of approximately 8” are intended to aid in eliminating weeds and to allow sunlight and nutrients to reach the desirable plants. It has again become evident that many of the ditch/raingarden areas located in the Industrial Park Area Improvement project have been mowed to a “normal” lawn height. It is imperative that the grass and plantings within the ditch and raingarden areas be allowed to grow to their intended height in order for them to develop effectively. The grass and plants, from five feet behind the curb extending to the property line, are specifically designed to grow approximately 18” tall. This mature growth allows the root structures of the grass and plants to extend deep into the soil, maximizing the amount of stormwater runoff that can be absorbed into the soil. If they are cut to a “normal” lawn height, it will reduce the amount of designed infiltration, and, in many cases, may damage or kill the desirable grasses and plants. As a reminder, the grass within the first five feet of the curb is meant to be mowed, NOTE: but the remaining area to the property line is intended to be left natural. Since the contractor will be seeding the first five feet behind the curb, they will be doing any necessary mowing in that area this fall.In an effort to better delineate those areas that are not designed to be cut, City staff will be visiting each property in the coming weeks to place stakes at the boundaries between the “mow” and “no mow” areas.Please refer to the diagram on the back of this letter for a diagram that We also are represents the typical dimensions of the ditch/raingarden areas. respectfully requesting your assistance with this effort, by reminding any lawn services provider you may employ of these restrictions.We have included two copies of this letter so that you may share one with your lawn services provider. We would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Engineering Department at 480-2334. Sincerely, Nick Egger, P.E. City Engineer Cc: Thomas Montgomery, Public Works Director Dave Chalmers, Engineering Supervisor Tom Groh, Minnesota Sod Co. HEDRA Meeting Packet - July 14, 2011Page 46 of 99