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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-07 PTRC Minutes Approved: June 19, 2007 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007; 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the May 15, 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, Lanny Baumann, John Peck, Joani Werner, Roger Williams, Steve Zilmer, Rich Straumann arrived at 8:15 p.m. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson, Park and Recreation Manager; Dave McClung arrived late, City Council Liaison; Sue Iverson, Finance Director; Gen McGilton, RRLD, LLC; and Jeff McMenimen. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER Committee Member Peck and Committee Member Werner introduced themselves to the committee. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 17, 2007 MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Williams to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 5. TCAAP PARKS AND TRAILS INTEGRATION DISCUSSION Mr. McMenimen provided two hand outs: 1) a trails and open space diagram and 2) the three concept plans. Mr. McMenimen reviewed the three concepts and the comments that were received at the open house. The three concepts were developed with guidance from a 16 member advisory group consisting of community residents, City Council, and Planning Commissioners. Concepts A and C both had a central organizing element of the open space whereas Concept B fragmented the open space. On all three concepts, the wildlife corridor was 49 acres and the athletic field was 75 acres. In addition to those open space pieces, Concept A had 37 acres, Concept B had 34 acres and Concept C had 45 acres. Mr. McMenimen stated that there was talk of having standing water in the ponds year round. There would be a combination of strategies for dealing with infiltration and storm water retention such as ponds with standing water, a series of rain gardens and some wet/dry marshes. Based on the average range of uses, fifteen acres of ponding and/or infiltration would be needed. Mr. McMenimen stated that Concepts A and C showed trails that run through the central open space and connecting with the trail system of the Rice Creek Pathway. The current thought was that everything on site be on grade. There was talk about possibly having a grade separated crossing under Highway 96 to connect with a trail that would run on the south side of Highway 96. Chair Henry inquired about a connection from TCAAP to the west. Mr. McMenimen stated that there was a connection from the Rice Creek system to the west. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING May 15, 2007 Page 2 Committee Member Crassweller suggested having a trail along the National Guard property. Mr. McMenimen stated that it was decided that the development team and advisory group felt like the best way to deal with the chain link fence behind the single family homes and the National Guard property was to provide deeper lots that would allow for berming and landscaping. th Mr. McMenimen reviewed the timeline of events. They compiled the information from the April 26 meeting, then met with and got feedback from the advisory group, and met with the City Council and Planning Commission for their input. Now, they will try to meld into a preferred plan as much as they can where the majority of the comments seem to be heading. A draft version of the preferred plan would go to a future open house for comments. Refinements to the preferred plan would become the foundation for the master plan. Chair Henry stated that the PTRC’s intent was to create some trail arteries in the existing city, but he stated it was very important to have trail connections that give access to the Rice Creek Corridor and the shops in the new development area. 6. COUNCIL UPDATE Council Liaison McClung provided the following update: 7. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION UPDATE Ms. Olson provided the following update:  Bocce Golf – Ms. Olson requested Committee Member Baumann to provide diagrams and material listings for the joint City Council/PTRC work session in July. Also, staffed shared concerns about the naming (trademark) annual fees. Committee Member Baumann did express that he could work with the City on signage and work on other options for that requirement.  Ms. Olson and Mr. Hoag have completed hiring for public works and recreation seasonal positions.  Eagle Scout Project will take place this summer – assembling and securing park benches in the various parks. th The joint City Council/PTRC work session is scheduled for Monday, July 16 at 5:00 p.m. Please mark on your calendars. Topics to be discussed are: Bocce Golf, Traffic Study, Maintenance Schedule, Valentine Park, TCAAP trail integration, and FUNDING. 8. FUNDING DISCUSSION – Susan Iverson, Finance Director Council Liaison McClung stated that the Council has not had an organized discussion on bonding for parks and trails. The last time the City has bonded was in 1998 which was to put in the infrastructure in the gateway park. As we move into TCAAP and some of the issues revolving around TCAAP and financing the City will be forced to look at the different financing tools. Ms. Iverson stated that sometimes different projects could be grouped together even though they may not be related. Until a project, a plan and a request has been identified and made, it is hard to fit it into the CIP and look for funding options. Council Liaison McClung stated that the Council has directed staff to look at the portion of the road from Lindey’s triangle across Highway 51 and to look at the balance of the Minnesota State Aid Fund. The Council has started looking at priorities. Committee Member Williams stated that the Council was looking at pay as you go funding and was not looking at a system wide development that would be paid through a bonding project. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING May 15, 2007 Page 3 th Ms. Iverson stated that there would be a workshop on public finance funding on May 30 at 6:30 p.m. Our financial advisors would be presenting information on the different types of funding that were available. The workshop would be focused on TCAAP, but the tools used for TCAAP were also applicable to other projects. Committee members were encouraged to attend. th Chair Henry stated that the PTRC needed to frame the question for the discussion on July 16 as to what the scope of the project budgets were and what the disposition of the Council was. JOINT PTRC/PLANNING/EDC PICNIC 9. th The July 17 Joint PTRC/Planning Commission/EDC picnic would be held at Cummings Park. 10. NEXT MEETING AGENDA Comprehensive Plan Discussion 11. ADJOURN MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller moved and Committee Member Zilmer seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 p.m. \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\Admin\Committees\Parks Trails and Recreation Committee\Minutes\2007\05-15-2007.doc