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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-14-14 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair called the January 14, 2014, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:35 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Nancy Committee Members Phil Kramlinger, Don Messerly, Chuck Michaelson, Harold Petersen, Rich Straumann and John Van Valkenburg. OTHERS PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Manager Michelle Olson, Public Works Director Maurer, former Council Liaison Fran Holmes, City Administrator Patrick Klaers, Council Liaison Dave McClung and Charles Katchel,. ABSENT: Committee Members Cindy Garretson (excused), Steve Scott (excused), and Matt Trites. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commi - Other Unfinished Business. MOTION: Committee Member Michaelson motioned to approve the agenda as amended seconded by Committee Member Kramlinger. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 19, 2013 MOTION: Committee Member Petersen motioned to approve the November 19, 2013, minutes as presented, seconded by Committee Member Michaelson. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Franchise Fees Parks and Recreation Manager Olson recapped that at the November PTRC meeting, City Administrator Klaers presented the committee with the topic of franchise fees. He had indicated that a portion of those fees is being proposed to be used for parks and trail improvements. At that time the committee discussed brainstorming ideas on potential improvements that the franchise fees could be used for. Staff did provide the committee with a list of potential park and trail projects and Ms. Olson reviewed the list with the committee. Ms. Olson asked for input from the committee. Committee Member Van Valkenburg indicated he felt something should be added about dog parks and a trail connecting Briarknoll over US10 to Old Hwy 10. Ms. Olson also indicated that at the Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 Page 2 last meeting it was discussed that the committee make a motion encouraging the franchise fees and having a letter drawn up, which the Chair would sign, to show the support of the fees. Committee Member Michaelson asked if there was any other type of funding available as an alternative to franchise fees. City Administrator Klaers indicated one source of funding would be taxes and another would be by a bond referendum. He stated that one reason the Council has asked to evaluate the pros and cons of franchise fees is because it is a new Ms. Holmes indicated that 45 percent of the City is tax exempt and do not pay property taxes. Staff is trying to get information on what the revenue would be from the 45 percent that currently do not pay taxes, if franchise fees are implemented, as Xcel charges the fees per meter. Ms. Holmes informed that City Administrator Klaers has also put together a list of all the cities that have a franchise fee and that there are quite a few. City Administrator Klaers indicated the one thing they can determine is the amount of money they would get from the residential properties since it is a flat fee in the amount of $57 a year. Public Works Director Maurer indicated that Council has set two Public Hearings in thth February, one on the 10 and the other on the 24, and feels it is important for the committee to attend and show their support and for the committee to encourage friends or neighbors of like mind to support it also. City Administrator Klaers advised that there will be opposition and that it is important for the Council to hear a wider perspective then just the negatives so they can consider all points of view before making a decision. Council Liaison McClung pointed out there were several forms of communication regarding the franchise fees and Public Hearings including the newsletter, the newspapers, the Arden Hills website, and an insert in the quarterly utility billings. Also an e-mail was sent to anyone that had given Community Development their e-mail for TCAAP updates. Ms. Olson indicated she will also send the PTRC an e-mail reminder about the Public Hearings on February 10 & February 24. MOTION: Committee Member Van Valkenburg moved that the PTRC support the franchise fees with a certain percentage of the fees dedicated to parks and motion carried (6-1). B. 2014 Work Plan Ms. Olson recapped that the PTRC will be submitting their work plan to Council at a joint work session on February 18th. She indicated she will use the community survey results as part of the PowerPoint presentation. An item that was discussed previously was creating a trail subcommittee. She along with Public Works Director Maurer met with Committee Members Kramlinger and Van Valkenburg to work on how the subcommittee wants to move forward. The present proposal and findings of the subcommittee can also be presented to Council as part of the work plan. Other work plan items that had been discussed previously was to research buckthorn eradication methods, a prairie restoration conversion for Lindeys park, to review the commnity Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 Page 3 survey results, and then to work on a park and trail improvement project list for potential franchise fees. Ms. Olson questioned whether the committee wanted to keep all these items on the work plan and asked for input. Chair and Committee Member Messerly indicated they felt the buckthorn eradication was beyond the scope of the PTRC. Discussion ensued and it was the consensus of the committee to remove the buckthorn eradication from the work plan. Council Liaison McClung suggested the committee focus on things they really want to have an impact on. Ms. Olson indicated she would put together a draft presentation and the committee could decide on which members should present the topics. It was decided the committee would meet on th February 11 at 6:30 p.m. to go over the presentation, before submitting the work plan to Council on February 18th. MOTION: Committee Member Van Valkenburg motioned to go forward with all topics included in the memo except the buckthorn eradication, seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). C. Committee Chair Nomination Ms. Olson informed that Committee Members Van Valkenburg and Kramlinger have agreed to accept nomination of Chair and Co-Chair of the PTRC. MOTION : Committee Member Petersen moved to have Committee Members Van Valkenburg and Kramlinger as Chair and Co-Chair of the PTRC, seconded by Committee Member Straumann. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). D. Other Unfinished Business Committee Member Messerly indicated he visited six residents on Snelling Avenue Park and all were favorable except one. Mr. Messerly asked if the committee was interested in proceeding with the project. He indicated the cost for the project would be $3,000 for site preparation and planting and an additional $2,185 over a 3-year period. Mr. Katchel indicated his concern with going forward with the restoration is that it would pre-empt any other use of the field and feels the park does get used even if it is not as defined as other parks. Ms. Olson recapped that the City does have limitations on what it can do with the park because the City does not have title to the property. The property was give to the City as part of a park dedication which allows the City to use it for open space. She checked with the attorney and he did indicate prairie grass would be acceptable but something more active like a dog park may not meet that criteria. Discussion ensued regarding whether or not to leave the item on the work plan. The consensus of the committee was to leave this goal on the work plan as it is inexpensive and is low maintenance. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 Page 4 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Crosswalk Discussion Committee Member Petersen recapped that residents at Fox Ridge expressed concern about the access to Royal Hills Park. He received an email explaining the concerns which he ultimately forwarded on to Ms. Olson. He indicated the residents walk down the east side and cross at the corner by his home and there is no curb cut to get into the park with strollers and wheelchairs. The only other option is to use the crosswalk at Royal Hills Drive and put the strollers on the grass. He indicated the residents would like a crosswalk at the corner by his house so they can cross there. Discussion ensued regarding the issue and Public Works Director Maurer indicated that studies indicate that striped crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections are actually less safe than if nothing were there. Reports indicate that the number of people that make full stops at a stop sign is less than 12% and this is the same as with a crosswalk. He indicated there is no way to make people cross at a crosswalk as they are going to cross wherever they feel safe. Mr. Maurer indicated he feels at this time the road is striped where residents feel most safe crossing and adding another crosswalk would be of no benefit. He suggested the committee do something similar to what was done with Valentine Hills, and engage the neighborhood to find out what the residents want. It was felt the playstructure could be put on a list of enhancements for the park and at that point in time the location of the playstructure could be looked at in conjunction with the pathway. B. Other New Business None. 5. REPORTS A.City Council Report Council Liaison McClung also recapped that there will be two Public Hearings regarding franchise fees, one on February 10th and the other on February 24th. Mr. McClung indicated that there will be a TCAAP Open House on Wednesday, January nd 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Marsden Room. At the Open House consultants will be presenting the first draft of the Master Plan which also includes potential trails and green space. Council Liaison McClung indicated he highly recommends that all attend and would be interested in the committees feedback and guidance regarding the green space that is being provided and the types of parks that are included in the Master Plan. application for the Federal Tap Funding which would provide money for trails. He indicated Council is fully aware that this is an important segment and they give their full support. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 14, 2014 Page 5 Mr. McClung mentioned that the Planning Commission approved the Goodwill and that this will go forward to Council. Mr. McClung indicated that Creative Catering has not completed an application for the as of yet. He stated they are in the preliminary stages as they have some issues regarding parking. Council Liasion McClung also mentioned that the new gateway sign was placed at County Road E2 and Cleveland at the Triangle Property. Mr. McClung asked if anyone was interested in writing for the Communications Committee. He stated they would love to have additional people to help them write as they are short people. B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Parks and Recreation Manager Olson informed that she has received an application from a resident who is interested in joining the PTRC and will be setting up an interview with the Chair, Co-Chair and Council Liaison. She will send out an e-mail to establish a date for the interview and hopefully if all goes well the committee will have a new appointment. Ms. Olson indicated she is trying to get two grants done - the TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) and then a Planning Grant for Safe Routes to School. She is working with the City of New Brighton and three schools (Moundsview, Valentine Hills, ) on a plan for the Safe Routes to School Grant, which needs to be in place in order to apply. Ms. Olson indicated things are going well as far as trail plowing and rinks are concerned. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Petersen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m., seconded by Committee Member Van Valkenburg. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). NEXT MEETING The next meeting (a joint work session with Council) is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2014, at 5:00 p.m.