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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-13 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair called the October 15, 2013, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Nancy Committee Members Phil Kramlinger, John Peck, Harold Petersen, and Matt Trites. OTHERS PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson and Council Liaison Fran Holmes. ABSENT: Committee Members Cindy Garretson (excused), Jane Larson (excused), Don Messerly (excused), Chuck Michaelson (excused), Steve Scott (excused), Rich Straumann (excused), and John Van Valkenburg (excused). 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Petersen motioned to approve the agenda seconded by Committee Member Kramlinger. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 24, 2013 Committee Member Peck pointed out that the second paragraph on page 3 under Item B. should read Committee Member Michaelson instead of Petersen and on page 5 the last sentence of paragraph 3 should read Committee Members Garretson and Van Valkenburg instead of Garretson and Larson. MOTION: Committee Member Peck motioned to approve the September 24, 2013, minutes as amended, seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Parks and Recreation Community Survey Results Ms. Olson asked the committee how they wanted to utilize the results of the survey and how they wanted to present to Council. Chair Osuggested the committee prioritize what was commented on the most and present the Council with the full survey as well as the prioritized information. Discussion ensued on the comments which included comments about adding amenities at Royal Hills, adding drinking fountains, having splash pads at some of the parks, and the incorrect crosswalk painting in the Fox Ridge area. Ms. Olson indicated she would talk to Public Works Director Maurer about the current location of the crosswalk and whether there was a reason for that specific Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2013 Page 2 location. She also indicated it would be expensive to add splash pads since only three of the parks have water. Council Liaison Holmes stated she felt it would be a great amenity and suggested utilizing the Arden Hills Foundation if the committee has a specific purpose for a splash pad. Ms. Olson indicated she would look into the cost of a splash pad and the cost of water hookup, but will first have the City engineer look at it since there could be an issue with water hookup. Ms. Olson asked the committee which park they had in mind for the splash pad and it was the consensus of the committee to have it at Hazelnut Park. There were also comments about adding permanent bathrooms at Hazelnut and leaving the bathrooms unlocked during the day at the parks that have pavilions. Ms. Olson indicated she felt the bathrooms would be vandalized even more if left open and there would be a maintenance issue as staff would need to hire a part time seasonal to unlock and monitor the bathrooms. Chair she felt were easy fixes. Council Liaison Holmes stated she felt the points brought up in the survey were reflective of things she has heard. She suggested that staff divide up the comments by park and that way they could focus on each park and see what the issues are and which issues would be easy fixes. It was also suggested that staff have a section on trail comments as well as comments by park. Ms. Olson indicated some of the comments were inaccurate because the residents were not aware of what actually transpired. She indicated that, for example, the comment about the resurfacing at Floral Park that did not turn out, is not accurate. Ms. Olson explained the City started to resurface Floral and found there was a coating left on the trails from a prior time that was not allowing the resurface to adhere. Therefore the resurfacing was stopped at that location and instead was done at the Elmer L. Andersen Trail. She stated that Floral was never finished as the comment indicated and staff is still looking at options for resurfacing that area. Chair Osuggested that a letter be sent to the residents explaining the resurfacing problem so they are aware of what is going on. It was the consensus of the committee that staff prepare a report for the newsletter and also provide a link to the report on the City website. Ms. Olson indicated that she felt residents, for the most part, are satisfied with the park and recreation programs the City offers and that currently there is more of a demand for preschool classes. It was suggested that a link be provided to the Shoreview and New Brighton park and recreation offerings on the City website and in the recreation guide. It was noted that there was a comment about the Night to Unite. Council Liaison Holmes indicated that most neighborhoods with a Neighborhood Watch hold a Night to Unite. It was felt the City should put an article in the newsletter informing residents how to go about having a Night to Unite. Committee Member Peck informed that Ramsey County hosts a dinner for the captains who are organizing such an event and they provide the captains with kits for planning the Neighborhood Night Out. woodchip levels being low. Ms. Olson indicated the City is on a 2-3 year replacement schedule and that the levels do Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2013 Page 3 meet all safety standards. She indicated Public Works is currently working on replacing woodchips at Cummings Park. Ms. Olson stated that if there are any items the PTRC would like to work on, then it is something Council and staff would first need to discuss. B. Community Project Day October 26, 2013 Ms. Olson recapped that instead of having the traditional buckthorn removal day, the committee planned on soliciting help from Bethel students to paint the hockey boards at th Freeway on October 26. This week, the Bethel students went ahead and completed the painting and did a very nice job. Ms. Olson stated she would now like direction from the committee, since the painting is completed, on whether they would like to proceed with a garden clean-up day on October 26th or if they preferred to cancel the event. She indicated the committee volunteers would be responsible for raking and putting the plants/debris into the trucks after Public Works finished trimming. She informed that five or six committee members have already committed. Ms. Olson indicated the volunteers would start at 9:00 am and she will inform them of where to meet and then will provide each group with a schedule of which gardens they will be working on. C. Other Unfinished Business r Messerly asked her to provide an update on ed the six residents that live by the park. He indicated that five of the six residents stated they had no objection to a prairie garden and that one resident was against it. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Committee Member Terms and Committee Chair for 2014 Ms. Olson reported that Committee Member Peck has informed that he will not be seeking reappointment, and that Committee Members Petersen and Straumann have indicated they will seek reappointment. As of this date, she has not heard from Committee Member Larson who will need to inform Deputy Clerk Dietl by October 18. dicated she preferred not to serve as Chair in 2014, but would do so if no other member was interested. Ms. Olson indicated she would send out an e-mail to see if any other member was interested in being Chair in 2014. B. Review 2103 Work Plan Progress Ms. Olson provided the committee with the 2013 work plan to see if there were any unfinished items that needed to be completed and to begin discussion on 2104 priorities. She questioned whether the committee should be looking at the Hazelnut Picnic Shelter Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2013 Page 4 Enhancement project which was tabled earlier in the year. Council Liaison Holmes indicated she felt the timing was not right and that this should be revisited in 2014. Ms. Olson recapped that the Off-Leash Dog Park item would go to Council at the October 21Work Session and that Committee Members Michaelson, Peck and Messerly would be presenting the proposal. C. Other New Business Committee Member Trites indicated there was a comment in the survey questioning the safety of the bidge on County Road E and he also believes there is a safety concern as the railing on the bridge is not very high. Ms. Olson informed there are plans for the bridge to be reconstructed in 2015. 5. REPORTS A.City Council Report Council Liaison Holmes thanked Ms. Olson for organizing the painting project at Freeway Park. Ms. Holmes reported that Committee Member Messerly asked her to notify the committee that he has heard there is concern about the walking trails on the south side of Country Financial if Bethel purchases the property. Presently, Country Financial allows the public to use those trails which Bethel will not when they buy the property. Ms. Olson stated that she has talked to the City Planner about this and recommends that if this goes forward, that Bethel continue to allow the public use of these trails. Council Liaison Holmes stated Superintendent and a school board member Hoverman attended the Council meeting on Monday and there was discussion about the City partnering with Mounds View for a trail from the bridge up to Mounds View High School. Superintendent Hoverman was in favor of the idea, however, the school has no funds for the project. Committee Member Peck indicated besides the Arden Hills Foundation the City could also contact the District 621 Foundation regarding a safe trail for students. Ms. Holmes informed that another Gateway sign will be placed on the corner of E2 as you turn right, by the office complex. She mentioned the foundation is also working with the City on a sign at Hwy 96 and Lexington. The committee members suggested placing the sign in the median. Ms. Holmes indicated she would check into whether this would be possible, but felt the median may be too small to accommodate the sign. Ms. Holmes stated that Council is spending a lot of time on TCAAP and has been looking at the master plan and AUAR. Council Liaison Holmes metioned that Round Lake Road, which is located behind the Holiday Gas Station, will be repaved. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 15, 2013 Page 5 Ms. Holmes also reported that Hwy 96 and 10 will open at the end of November. Ms. Holmes informed that the Goodwill store will be going to the Planning Commission in December if all goes well. She mentioned that since they will not own the building, but will be renting, they are not tax exempt. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Ms. Olson reported that the trails that were reconstructed this summer/fall are almost complete. The sections that were reconstructed include a portion of Cummings Park Drive, the section from Hamline to Cummings Park that is by the pond, a section of Perry Park, and the section from where the gate was removed at Hazelnut to the play structure. She indicated that both the Floral Park and Hazelnut Park gates have been removed and that Public Works is putting in pedestrian ramps at Hamline where the new trail at Cummings goes over to Floral Park. Ms. Olson indicated that Public Works may not get all the landscaping done at Cummings until the spring. Ms. Olson informed that Public Works will be installing bike racks at Cummings, Hazelnut, Perry, and either Royal Hills or Floral Park, and will be putting in more bike racks next year. Public Works is hoping to get them installed this fall. Ms. Olson indicated that Public Works is starting to get ready for winter. They are also doing some aerating and fertilizing of the parks and installing mats at the play structures. Ms. Olson mentioned that she talked to Public Works about removing the chain attached to the stop sign at Sampson Park. She also informed that the pathway will remain open during the winter and that the bumpers will be removed. Ms. Olson advised that she is in the process of hiring ice rink attendants. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Peck moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m., seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). NEXT MEETING th The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. site to be determined. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at 6:30 p.m.