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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-18-14 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Co-Chair Phil Kramlinger called the November 18, 2014, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:40 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Co-Chairs Phil Kramlinger and John Van Valkenburg and Committee Members Don Messerly, Rich Straumann, Nancy O’Malley, Chuck Michaelson. OTHERS PRESENT: Staff Liaison Sara Grant, Council Liaison Dave McClung, and Guest Bob Mullen. ABSENT: Committee Members Cindy Garretson, Harold Petersen, Jennifer Stephens, Matt Trites and Steve Scott. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Council Liaison McClung asked that a brief substitution be made to the agenda right before New Business as he had an announcement on some changes that were made to the Park and Recreation Department. MOTION: Committee Member O’Malley motioned to approve the agenda as corrected seconded by Co-Chair Kramlinger. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 20, 2014 Co-Chair Kramlinger asked that the second paragraph on page 3 be changed to read Co-Chair Van Valkenburg instead of Co-Chair Kramlinger. MOTION: Co-Chair Van Valkenburg motioned to approve the October 20, 2014, minutes as amended seconded by Committee Member O’Malley. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). 3. NEW BUSINESS Changes to Parks and Recreation Department Council Liaison McClung announced that Sara Grant now has a new position in the Parks and Recreation Department as Recreation Coordinator. He indicated that former Parks and Recreation Director Olson’s responsibilities are being split between Public Works Director Terry Maurer, Assistant City Engineer John Anderson and Ms. Grant. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes November 18, 2014 Page 2 Ms. Grant indicated that effective January 1, 2015, staff will be posting for her former position as Recreation Programmer. The committee members congratulated Ms. Grant on her new position. A. PTRC Subcommittees Recreation Coordinator Grant recapped that at the October meeting they had discussed forming subcommittees to work on certain projects the PTRC is looking at. Council Liaison McClung commented that they had discussed having a subcommittee for safety and trail access, a community survey subcommittee, a pickle ball subcommittee, and a floral garden/plant pollinator subcommittee. Committee Member O’Malley indicated she will be reviewing the Community Parks and Trails survey results in order to see what concerns the residents have and will present some action items to the Council. Co-Chair Kramlinger suggested the other committee members also review the survey results and give their ideas to Ms. O’Malley. Committee Co-Chair Van Valkenburg informed that the plants and garden subcommittee will first be looking at the three gardens at Floral Park. They are hoping to get notification out by spring 2015 in order to get volunteers to help with the gardens. Co-Chair Kramlinger suggested they put a subcommittee update item on the agenda so that each committee can give an update on their progress. Committee Member Straumann gave a brief update on Ramsey County’s trails master plan for pedestrian and bikes and indicated that all of the information has been gathered from each of the communities on street improvement plans, etc., and Ramsey County is wanting to make sure that each community’s plan is on the master plan as part of trail connections. He indicated Ramsey County will be hiring a consultant to pull everything together and to come up with safe practices, access, and signage. Mr. Straumann suggested the PTRC have a joint meeting with Ramsey County to review Arden Hills’ plan and give input. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg asked Mr. Straumann to provide the PTRC with periodic updates. Committee Member Straumann and Council Liaison McClung also provided a brief update on various County street/trail projects coming up in 2015. B. Ice Rinks Recreation Coordinator Grant commented that this is the earliest that Public Works has ever started flooding the ice rinks. She indicated the rinks are scheduled to open December 8 and that the packet includes the rink locations and hours. C. Winter Recreation Guide Ms. Grant informed that staff was ahead of schedule getting the Winter Recreation Guide completed. Council Liaison McClung pointed out that the PTRC members are listed on the back of the Recreation Guide. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes November 18, 2014 Page 3 D. Other New Business None 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Adopt a Garden (Floral Park) Committee Member Messerly indicated he would assist Co-Chair Van Valkenburg and Committee Member O’Malley with the Floral gardens. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg pointed out that the subcommittee is not just looking to redo the gardens at Floral Park, but are starting with Floral as they saw the greatest need at that location. He indicated if the pollinator gardens are successful there, they will be looking at other parks in the future. Mr. Van Valkenburg then introduced Professor Mullen who has offered to help with the gardens. Mr. Mullen questioned the bee concept and asked what the PTRC’s goal was regarding the pollinator gardens. He indicated, he did talk to someone who maintains a few hives in order to get information on what plants to use. He stated that attracting bees to a given area might also be a liability issue and this is something the PTRC needs to think about. Mr. Mullen provided a handout from the University which he felt would be a good starting point for the subcommittee. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg commented that they will have a meeting and will discuss concerns and come up with more specifics on what the subcommittee is looking at, and hopes that Mr. Mullen can attend. He indicated that this is just a general idea to improve the gardens in the City and to also make them easier to maintain. He also hopes to get some neighbors involved in maintaining the gardens. Committee Member O’Malley indicated she feels it would be a good idea to get plants that would attract pollinators and also butterflies. She suggested when the garden is completed, they place a sign stating that it is a butterfly/pollinator garden. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg indicated he and Committee Member O’Malley will hold a meeting the first part of December so that they can report back to the PTRC at the December meeting. B. Pickle Ball Co-Chair Van Valkenburg mentioned he visited the Shoreview Community Center to look at the pickle ball courts. He indicated they have three courts in their gym and furnish a ball and racket for $3.00. Mr. Van Valkenburg suggested the PTRC find out what it would cost to add pickle ball lines to one of the Arden Hills tennis courts. Recreation Coordinator Grant indicated they should also figure out which tennis court and then see how often the pickle ball court is getting used. Committee Member Peterson asked Ms. Grant to check into the cost of a pickle ball net system. He stated they are very simple to set up and they just sit on the ground. Ms. Grant questioned if someone could not just walk off with it. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes November 18, 2014 Page 4 Committee Member O’Malley suggested that at this time they convert one tennis court, add the lines and just lower the net. Council Liaison McClung indicated the PTRC could always look at expanding this in the future. He indicated the committee needed to publicize pickle ball and give people the opportunity to experience this new sport. Mr. McClung felt they needed to see how many people would actually use the court and if it is something they really want. He indicated he would work with the Communications Committee to write an article and get it out in the newsletter. Discussion ensued and it was the consensus of the committee members to use a tennis court for the time being. Recreation Coordinator Grant indicated she will look into the cost of paddles, balls, and a net. She also suggested they offer a pickle ball day/event at one of the sites, have a staff member available who would be responsible for renting out the paddles and balls, as well as keeping a tally how many people attend. Ms. O’Malley suggested that at the next meeting, they discuss what court to use. Committee Member Michaelson asked if anyone wanted to be on the subcommittee. He indicated he will send out an email to see who is available on the evening of the subcommittee meeting. Council Liaison McClung asked that when the subcommittees set a date for a meeting they send an email to Sara so she can inform the other members of the date and time. C. Other Unfinished Business Committee Member Straumann pointed out that the trail at northwest Rice Creek Commons is not on the trail map. He suggested they make people aware of the trail by updating the Arden Hills trail map. Council Liaison McClung indicated they can update the trail map once the master plan is done as it will include the major thoroughfares which will possess most of the multi-use trails. 5. REPORTS A. City Council Report Council Liaison McClung informed that there was an assessemnet hearing for the County Road E improvements. He indicated when the assessment hearing is finished, staff will order plans and specifications and do the assessments at the December 8 meeting. Mr. McClung indicated that Hwy 96 will be able to be kept open for most of the time during the Hwy 96 reconstruction. He commented that individuals will not be able to get onto the freeway but that they will be able to get over to New Brighton. Council Liaison McClung indicated that in response to the question he had regarding the budget, the vote was 3-2. He indicated he and the Mayor voted against the preliminary levy of 5%. He indicated he could not support the 5% increase as there was no contract plan on where the money would be spent. He indicated he could support some increase as costs for public safety have increased. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes November 18, 2014 Page 5 Mr. McClung indicated that the Joint Development Agreement that created the Joint Development Authority between the City and the County to do TCAAP stated that all due efforts would be made to try to have the Master Plan completed within two years, which is the 18th of December. He stated that they are not close to having it done and are now looking at approving the Master Plan some time at the end of February. B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Recreation Coordinator Grant stated that she will be out-of-town from December 11-18 and would not be available for the December 16 PTRC meeting. Council Liaison McClung suggested they cancel the December 16th meeting and instead use that time to have each subcommittee meet. Ms. Grant indicated she and Committee Member could either have their Pickle Ball subcommittee meeting on the 22nd, 23rd or 30th. She asked that the subcommittees e-mail her their meeting dates and she will forward the information on to the other committee members. MOTION: Co-Chair Van Valkenburg motioned to cancel the December 16th meeting seconded by Committee Member Michaelson. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Van Valkenburg moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m., seconded by Committee Member O’Malley. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). NEXT MEETING The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, January 20, 2014.