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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION – JULY 26, 2021 2 PTRC Chair Jon Van Valkenburg stated this may be a good idea for clarity purposes. He understood that the list was a recommendation and that none of the projects were guaranteed or funded. He explained that the PTRC had tried to coordinate trail recommendations with projects that were happening in the City. He understood that the PTRC was making recommendations and was a resource available for the City Council. He suggested a point person that was knowledgeable about the trails be considered. Councilmember Holden indicated she had some concern about the “point person”. She discussed how not all information was shared with the PTRC when it came to grants due to the fact the City did not want to miss out on opportunities and to keep projects from getting too competitive. Mayor Grant explained in the last 20 years while he has served on the Council, the City has only received a handful of grants from 2000 to 2015. However, in the last five years the City has been successful in receiving more grant funding from the State. Councilmember Holden reported the City Council was working hard to get more money for trails. She suggested that if the PTRC had a point person that this person be in communication with the City Council liaison. PTRC Chair Van Valkenburg stated he liked this recommendation. Councilmember Holden suggested the PTRC members have a point person to inspect existing trails to ensure they are being properly maintained. She recommended that the PTRC map out the buckthorn in the City’s parks as well. Mayor Grant supported this recommendation. He commented further on how the PTRC was completing park tours in order to track the condition of each park in the City. Councilmember Holden recommended the PTRC create a park amenity/equipment replacement plan as well. Councilmember Holmes stated she believed it made more sense for the PTRC to have a point person on the different parks in the City than on specific future trails that may or may not be completed. Further discussion ensued regarding the potential of having point people within the PTRC to get trails and projects done in the City’s parks. Councilmember Holden requested the language for Trail #8 be rewritten because wood chips had been placed on this trail. Mayor Grant commented on the condition of several bench throughout the park system that were in need of attention. Councilmember Holden recommended Trail #9 and #10 be removed from the priority list. She noted this was AHATS and TCAAP property and was not City owned land.