10-10-11-R Draft Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ARDEN HILLS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETNG—OCTOBER 10, 2011 5 Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that staff brought this item to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC) for discussion at their September 20, 2011 meeting. Mr. Morphew attended that meeting to present his concerns. After discussing this item, the PTRC made a motion to recommend to the City Council that the parking for Floral Park on Royal Lane and Floral Drive be changed from the south side to the north side (park frontage) of the road and to provide "no parking" for a reasonable pick-up/drop-off distance at the recommendation of the Public Works Director/City Engineer. The Public Works Director and Parks and Recreation Manager met on site and identified an approximate seventy (70) foot area directly in front of the park entrance for the drop off/pick up zone and also identified a small ten(10) foot area directly in front of the walking trail to be identified as "no parking"for access purposes. The PTRC felt this drop-off and pick-up area would minimize pedestrians from walking down the hill between parked cars. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson also explained that Staff reviewed the recommendation and feels some additional changes will be needed to allow parking on the north side of the road. There is a perennial garden on the hill along the park frontage that covers approximately 85 feet. This area has a relatively steep slope extending to the curb. If parking is allowed along the north side, passengers exit their vehicles directly into the garden and into the steep hill. Staff recommends that if parking is allowed on the north side of the road, that the garden (or a portion of the garden) is removed and in addition, a retaining wall be considered for a portion of the hill along the park frontage, depending on degree of slope in order to create an area sufficient for unloading and parking. In addition,the yellow paint along the curb will need to be removed. The • Public Works staff recommends sand blasting. This is not a method our crew has the capability of completing and therefore, would need to be contracted to an outside vendor. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that the action requested of the Council this evening is to approve a motion to support or deny the PTRC recommendation to change the parking restrictions (No Parking) on Floral Drive and Royal Lane from the north side (park frontage)to the south side of the road with the exception of an approximate seventy(70) foot area directly in front of the park entrance and a small ten (10) foot area directly in front of the walking trail. Councilmember Holden asked if there has been a cost estimate prepared for this change. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson responded that she has not yet done a cost estimate. Public Works Director Maurer explained that he had advised Ms. Olson not to do a cost estimate until there was more direction from the Council. He added that he doesn't anticipate that the change would be made until next spring. Councilmember Holden asked if there have been any accidents reported in this area. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that the Ramsey County Sheriffs deputy she spoke with did not recall any accidents in the area and was not aware of any problems. • Councilmember Holden questioned what the other neighbors think of this proposal.