Purpose of Report: To receive direction from the commission regarding the City of Stillwater, Parks, Events and Recreation Department entering into an agreement with the Teal Ridge Wetlands Project for maintenance.

Background: In August of 1999 a proposal was presented to department staff from Mr. Alan Stacey, with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to participate in the Teal Ridge Wetlands project. This project is to be located on 23 acres of land owned by Mr. Tom Blaylock. at 19^th & Walnut, just east of Western. The land is leased to the Department of Agriculture. The city was asked to participate by providing maintenance for this area. There are ten other organizations that are partners and providing some level of oversight for this project. The purpose of the project is to provide recreational and educational opportunities, quality wildlife habitat and floodplain management within the Stillwater Creek floodplain.

Discussion: The specific request from Mr. Alan Stacey is for the City of Stillwater, Parks, Events and Recreation Department to be involved with mowing and trash removal. The mowing would be twice monthly from March through November with trash pick up weekly.

The department is already maintaining the Babcock park area and due to the Wetlands being in close proximity to that location it was felt that the impact would not be to great to include the wetlands in the maintenance schedule. However, the Wetlands would be placed at a lower priority for maintenance than Babcock Park when weather conditions warrant any adjustments to the mowing routine.

The estimated cost to the department would be approximately $2,000 per year with $1,000 for mowing and $1,000 for trash removal.

This project has been presented to the Park Operations Committee and the Park, Events and Recreation Advisory Board. The Board has been supportive of the project, but expressed a concern for the additional time and money that would be needed for this project. Staff has also been concerned about stretching current resources. When looking at this project alone, the impact is not significant. But when we look at the big picture several small projects will begin to add up and make a significant impact on time and equipment.

At the January 12, 2000 advisory board meeting the board voted to support the project to include mowing every other week from March through November on project dike trail as well as weekly trash pickup at parking area locations.

A draft agreement is included with this report. If it is determined that staff should continue to work out an agreement, a final agreement will be completed with assistant from the city attorney's office and will include more specific guidelines regarding the city's involvement.

Mr. Alan Stacey with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife will be present at the meeting to present the project and answer any questions the Commission may have.

Alternatives:

1. Approve the request from Mr. Stacey that the city participate in the maintenance of the Teal Ridge Wetlands Project and the Parks, Events and Recreation Department provide the mowing and trash removal as specified in the draft agreement, and recommended by the Advisory Board.
2. Deny the request for the city to participate in the wetlands project based on committing city resources to privately owned property and adding to the departments maintenance responsibilities.
3. Deny the request based on the concern no water supply solution has been decided for this project. Absent a resolution of this issue, the success of the project is limited. The management team recommends denial and expressed concerns that rehabilitation of former wetlands has not been identified as a community priority.

Recommendation: Recreation staff recommends alternative 1, based on the recommendation of the Parks, Events and Recreation Advisory Board. Staff is confident that we could perform the necessary maintenance for the Wetlands and with the partnering groups represented in this project it would be a positive addition to the community.

The management team recommends alternative #3

Your direction is requested.

Reviewed by:

___________________________

Carl Weinaug

City Manager