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Home My WebLink About03-20-07 PTRC Minutes Approved CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007; 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the March 20, 2007 meeting of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee to order at 7:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Chair Bill Henry, Committee Members Jim Crassweller, Rich Straumann, Roger Williams, Steve Zilmer. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson, Park and Recreation Manager; Greg Hoag, Public Works Director; Dave McClung, City Council Liaison; and Sue Iverson, Finance Director. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Members Cynthia Wheeler, Lanny Baumann. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Committee Chair Henry added County Road E Bridge Discussion as item 8. MOTION: Committee Member Straumann motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Henry had the following corrections for the February 22, 2007 minutes: Elmer L. Andersen Memorial Page 2, first motion, identify the Elmer Andersen Trail as the Trail. Item number 9, add the letter “d” in the word adjourn. MOTION: Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COUNCIL UPDATE Council Liaison McClung provided the following update: th 1. At its February 26 meeting, the Council approved:  A Resolution supporting the DNR local trail connection application for Perry Park th 2. At its March 12 meeting, the Council approved:  City Ordinance 385: City Board, Commissions.  Formation of the Financial Planning and Analyst Committee.  A Resolution supporting the Tony Schmidt Regional Park Master Plan and a Resolution supporting the Rice Creek North Regional Trail.  Two subdivisions. Therefore, there will be two subdivisions worth of park dedication fees.  The preliminary development agreement with the developer (CRR). Also, the developer announced its name change to Ryan Rehbein Land Development, LLC. 3. Upcoming Meetings  Monthly Planning Commission and City Council meetings were set up to address TCAAP issues. th A town hall meeting on April 26 at North Heights Church at 6:30 p.m. nd A transportation open house at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility on April 2 to discussion the Highway 10/Highway 96 area. th The PTRC work session with the Council was moved to June 18. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING March 20, 2007 Page 2 5. PTRC STRATEGIES PLAN – FUNDING DISCUSSION Ms. Iverson stated that she reviewed the funding material that was provided. Among the funding options mentioned in the material she felt that a city/school district cooperative was more favorable, although there were some loop holes with that as well. Ms. Iverson stated that the City of Eagan had some unique programs, but she did not think they were feasible long term solutions. Chair Henry stated that Excel Energy had an interest in establishing wind turbines through out the city. According to a Pioneer Press article, each wind turbine would return $3,000 to $5,000 annually to the city. Chair Henry asked if revenue generated from TCAAP would be put back into that area and therefore result in no park dedication fees being collected. Council Liaison McClung replied that it was one of the issues in the master development agreement that was still to be determined and negotiated. Ms. Iverson stated that grants were harder to obtain, but a possible alternative were the two TIF (tax increment financing) districts: Cottage Villas and the Gateway areas. Typically when a TIF district expires, it goes back on the tax rolls. The City then has the flexibility to increase the levy in the amount that was collected on the increment and dedicate those monies towards something else. Ms. Olson reviewed the projects that were included in the CIP. 2007 Projects:  Old Highway 10 Railroad Improvement. This project would be funded with State Aid money and $50,000 from the park fund.  Basketball/Tennis Court reconstruction at Cummings. It is estimated that $35,000 or more would be used from the Park Fund for this project. 2008 Projects  County Road E Sidewalk. It was very likely that this project would be delayed until 2009. Committee Member William suggested that money from the park dedication fee be used to hire an engineering firm to figure out how to address Council Member Holden’s concerns about the intersection. Chair Henry suggested setting up a meeting with Ms. Kris Giga, Civil Engineer, to look at County Road E and then to discuss possibilities.  Basketball/Tennis Court Rehabilitation $15,000 was budgeted in the general fund for resurfacing at Hazelnut Park.  City Trail Signage Estimated cost was $25,000. Chair Henry suggested designating the trails for easier recognition. He also requested that information on walking/biking and trail connections be posted on the city web page. 2009 Projects  Basketball/Tennis Court $15,000 was allotted from the general fund. The location would be the next park on the maintenance schedule.  Equipment Replacement This would be dependent upon equipment condition. 2010 Projects  Snelling Avenue Regional Trail – Estimated cost: $800,000.  Basketball/Tennis Court Rehabilitation  Equipment Replacement PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING March 20, 2007 Page 3 2011 Projects  Equipment Replacement  Basketball/Tennis Court Rehabilitation Unassigned Projects (Does not have a time table for)  West Round Lake trail reconstruction  County Road D trail  Lexington Avenue trail resurfacing  Play structure at Valentine Park An overall assessment of Valentine Park to be discussed at the June work session. 6. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION UPDATE Ms. Olson provided the following update:  Safe Routes to School Grant awards to be announced in April  The DNR Grant awards to be announced in July Chair Henry asked what Ramsey County’s policy was on plowing trails, specifically the trail under the railroad (Swamp Lift Road). Ms. Olson stated she was not sure, but would ask Mr. Greg Mack (Ramsey County).  Applications were being accepted for parks and public works seasonal positions. Mr. Hoag provided the following public works update:  Public Works are transitioning into spring activities  Preliminary work on the 2008 PMP project – televising sewers  Tear down rinks and repair nets as needed Committee Member Straumann gave a Ramsey County Park Commission Update. Ms. Olson stated that there was a possible Eagle Scout project building park benches this summer. Part of the project would include recommending areas where benches were needed. Mr. Hoag commented that he preferred constructing the benches out of recycled plastic as it was nearly indestructible and relatively maintenance free. Ms. Olson stated that in previous years, the City has held an annual flower planting day and over the last few years, annuals were switched out with perennials. With most gardens converted to perennials, Ms. Olson asked if the committee wanted to continue with the flower planting day. Chair Henry suggested holding a buckthorn removal day in the spring instead. The committee consensus was to try and organize a Buckthorn Removal Day and invite City Council, neighbors, and other interested volunteers. 7. NEXT MEETING AGENDA The Committee should look at the priorities from previous meetings and bring suggestions for edits, additions, etc… 8. ADJOURN MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller moved and Committee Member Williams seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m. \\Metro-inet.us\ArdenHills\Admin\Committees\Parks Trails and Recreation Committee\Minutes\2007\03-20-2007.doc