02-13-24 - PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee — February 13, 2024 Page 4 Chair Anderson said there were a few things under the category of habitat restoration or invasive species that she would see that group keeping track of such as Great River Greening, the goat project and looking at long term management. Under community involvement there is some interest in planning an event and the group should keep up to date on projects such as Rice Creek Commons and parks. She'd like to decide today how they'd like to move forward so she has more information to present to the Council. Committee Member Jacobson supported the idea of developing work groups. Chair Anderson asked for people to discuss what they're interested in so they can assign them to work groups. Youth Committee Member Edgar said she could help with volunteers through the high school. Chair Anderson explained they are trying to come up with goals for 2024 and a clearer work plan for 2025. Different project will require different levels of Council involvement that could be a barrier to moving forward quickly. For example, planning a community event such as for Earth Day could take up to a year, they could plan in 2024 and implement in 2025. Committee Member Jacobson expressed interest in rain gardens; identifying them, what their status is and what to do with them. It could take a year to do that and develop a work plan to make them more functional. She was also interested in RCC and the trail plan for the area. She thought the vegetation management that has been started in some parks is a big project that should be broken down into smaller pieces. Chair Anderson said she didn't want the size of projects to discourage people from being involved and be concerned about time restraints. As a group or work group they can adjust what they can get done. Council Liaison Rousseau said her understanding of this was that people pick what work groups they'd like to be a part of, get together to put together timelines or game plan that can be brought back to the committee for approval and details handled later by the work group. Chair Anderson agreed that was what she was hoping for. Committee Member Olson was happy to take the lead on the community work group. She was meeting with the Shoreview Arden Hills Rotary Club to give them ideas on how they could help. The Shoreview Arden Hills Lions Club also does a lot of great things for the community, they are interested in hosting an event here on August 15. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said the Lions will be running the event, it will be in the activity guide and all he will need help with is spreading the word. It will be at Cummings Park and the Lions will provide all the food and beverages. Committee Member Johnson thought it would be a good idea for at least one of the PTRC members to be a part of those clubs. Committee Member Rogers offered to be in the community group and work with accessibility.