08-20-24 - PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – August 20, 2024 Page 3 Council Liaison Rousseau updated that Council considered the proposal by Public Works Director/Engineer Swearingen to add staffing in the different phases. The council is still considering the proposal and looking at budget. She thought the phasing of what he is proposing is possible. This proposed position would take some of the tasks from Public Works Staff and leave them available to work on bigger projects. Committee Member Olson asked if the Council is working on the budget for next year. Council Liaison Rosseau confirmed. She explained the preliminary budget is set higher and then fine tune it, as needed. She said you can’t change the preliminary budget amount to a higher amount than the preliminary budget amount, but it can be lowered. Committee Member Olson wondered if it was already too late to have something in the budget for next year, since it hasn’t been proposed. Council Liaison Rosseau wondered if there was anything specific the group wanted to discuss. She said a place holder of $10,000 for Pickleball nets was allocated. She is happy to discuss any other items. She thought moving forward, the committee should look at August to have discussions on the following year’s needs. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail and Parks Projects Update Recreation Supervisor Johnson discussed the church and city property for that parking lot. He noted that it is not the City’s parking lot. Discussions are underway to purchase the property and then update. It is not a budget issue, rather a real estate issue. It needs to be done. Recreation Supervisor Johnson updated that the Safe Routes from Mounds View High School to E-2 to Valentine Road and Old Highway 10 is paved. There are a couple minor punch list items to wrap up, but the trail is usable and fully open. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said Floral and Arden Manor Parks projects are complete and open. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated the Lake Johanna Boulevard trail study was completed. We didn’t score well. Committee Member Jacobson asked if the committee could see the trail study. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said yes. He would reach out to City Staff for a copy. Committee Member Olson asked if Staff are following up on the project to see who was awarded funding. She read the final design is set for 2028. She stated the trail is not a definite thing. She wondered what the committee, staff and residents need to do to help make sure the trail gets funded. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated he will request that information from Assistant Public Works Director Miller