Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to purchase gift cards for mammal survey volunteers supporting the Natural Resources program.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources program relies on skilled volunteers to coordinate and implement an annual small mammal survey, which is open to public participation, on parkland; and
WHEREAS, three graduate students from the University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Brie Ilarde, Kavy Pathirana and Zheng “Oz” Oong, volunteered over four days to survey small mammals at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary during the summer of 2022; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Natural Resources requests permission to purchase three $100 gift cards from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) for these skilled volunteers to thank them for their time and efforts; and
WHEREAS, there is a public purpose in providing these volunteers with gift cards for their volunteer services because the survey data provides important information about the efficacy of Saint Paul Natural Resources restoration work, while the public program allows participants the opportunity to observe how urban ecosystems function and our role in keeping them healthy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby finds a public purpose in this expense and approves the purchase of $300 in gift cards for Brie Ilarde, Kavy Pathirana and Zheng “Oz” Oong who volunteered to support Saint Paul Natural Resources programming in 2022.