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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-06 PTRC Minutes EN HILLS Approved: April 18, 2006 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2006 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the February 28, 2006 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Bill Henry, Committee Members Lanny Baumann, Jim Crassweller, Derrek Hames, Dave McClung, Cindy Wheeler, and Roger Williams. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Supervisor; City Council Liaison Gregg Larson, and Bonita Sullivan, Recording Secretary. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Members Rich Straumann, Joani Werner and Steve Zilmer; Tom Moore, Operations &Maintenance Director. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Crassweller to approve the Agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • Approve the January 24, 2006 Minutes. Committee Member Williams had the following corrections: • Page four, paragraph four, last sentence, should read: `He suggested that the Committee consider recommending a sidewalk along County Road E.' • Page eight, strike paragraph two from the minutes. Committee Member Crassweller had the following correction: • Note that Committee Member Crassweller did attend the January 24, 2006 PTRC meeting. MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Williams to approve the January 24, 2006 minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee Meeting February 28, 2006 Page 2 of 5 • 4. COUNCIL UPDATE Council Liaison Larson provided the Committee with the following City Council Update: • Stated PTRC did great job with their presentation to the City Council last week. • New Council Member, Vincent Pelligren. • Reviewed the letter from City Council addressing the City employee charged with embezzling funds from the City. Noted that the letter was also sent out to the Community. • Adopted a one-year sign moratorium at the last City Council work session. He explained that Staff is concerned about the language and plan to review and update the verbiage. • City has received a new appraisal for the City Hall site. Original appraisal for the site was $1.5 million noting that they had signed a purchase agreement with Royal Oaks for a planned unit development but there was not enough Council support and the agreement was not approved. The new appraisal says the site is worth approximately $2.5 million. • Council held a discussion around City capital improvement projects. Council reviewed the planned projects as they appear on the capital improvement schedule. • Council also reviewed the fund revenues for sewer, water, and stormwater, MSA funding and General Funds. The Council's feeling at this point is that the City has • been a bit too aggressive in doing some of the projects over the last couple of years noting that the projects are getting very expensive. He stated that as a result the City is spending down their funds and are concerned about maintaining a balance in the Enterprise fund. Council decided not to go forward with bids on the lift station replacements. Noted that the initial plan was to try to complete three this year but it was decided that too much was going on. Council has decided to review how pavement management projects are scheduled. He indicated that this could have an impact on Snelling Avenue and the trail planning. Chair Henry stated that the PTRC has asked to meet with the Council at the March 20, 2006 work session. He asked if this has been confirmed for the work session agenda. Ms. Olson stated that she would verify the Council schedule and update the Committee. 5. PARKS AND TRAILS/RECREATION UPDATES Ms. Olson provided the Committee with the following Parks update: • Ice rink season came to an early end due to weather. Buildings are closed for winter. • Building Inspectors are looking at Valentine, Freeway and Hazelnut. They are taking photographs of the buildings that will be included as a part of a comprehensive report that will be provided to Council for evaluation. She stated that a statement from the PTRC will be included that recommends the mobile units for the parks. The report Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee Meeting February 28, 2006 Page 3 of 5 • will be completed by the end of March and included for the City Council work session in March. She noted that estimates are being done for the repairs and will also be included with the report. 6. RECREATION UPDATE Ms. Olson provided the Committee with an update on the Recreation activities: • Recreation department has started the hiring process for the spring and summer seasons. • Celebrating Arden Hills is approaching and the planning process has begun. Received bids from various catering companies and have secured a new caterer. Ticket prices will remain the same. Menu will be a pig and turkey roast with beverages. All of the vendors are secured and the evening will end with entertainment from the White Sidewalls. Will be budgeted through the General Fund. Committee Member Williams asked if it would be appropriate for the PTRC to review the park building report and provide a recommendation to be included in the Council packet. Ms. Olson explained that she has been directed to provide the report directly to the City • Administrator. She stated that she would ask if a copy should be provided to the PTRC for review. MOTION: Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Crassweller, to request that the park building report be provided to the PTRC for review prior to Council review. The motion carried unanimously. 7. PTRC Vision Statement II - Discussion Chair Henry stated that the City Council has asked the PTRC to coordinate a schedule for a tour of the City's parks and trails. He stated that Mr. Moore suggested setting up the tour for the same day as the annual spring flower-planting event. He suggested that the Committee work to develop an itinerary prior to the tour. Ms. Olson stated that the City Administrator would like the Council and the PTRC to tour the park warming house buildings and suggested including Valentine, Hazelnut and Freeway as part of the tour itinerary. Committee Member Haines suggested including a map of the proposed trails. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Committee Member McClung stated that he would prepare the agenda packet for the next Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee Meeting February 28, 2006 Page 4 of 5 PTRC meeting. He stated that he would like the Committee to get a good discussion going around park dedication fees adding that he would review how it is outlined within the City ordinances. He explained that this is the only source of revenue for the parks noting that in the past the City Council has been very strict about getting the maximum for park dedication fees but there has only been one development in the recent past and the City Council is letting some of the park dedication fees go because it is part of a larger negotiation process. He reviewed the current process and suggested that the PTRC recommend that the City go back to the original 6-percent calculation. He stated that he would put together the information and provide it to the Committee for their review prior to the next meeting. Chair Henry asked Committee Member McClung if he is familiar with what is being dedicated from TCAAP. Committee Member McClung stated that currently all they have is what is stated within the ordinance. He explained that in terms of the park dedication fee for TCAAP, the City Council has always said that the park dedication fee is determined through negotiation with the development team. He stated that the Council also feels that the PTRC should be involved in the recommendations for what should be received for a park dedication fee. He noted that the current ordinance does not address minor park dedication fees and this should be reviewed. He stated that he has not seen anything specific at this point in time with respect to TCAAP but he believes the PTRC should be involved in the process. He reviewed and clarified the subdivision process with the Committee. He suggested that the PTRC review the park dedication fee process and percentages that are currently used for both the sale of land and for subdivisions. Committee Member Wheeler suggested, as a point of comparison, that the PTRC also review how this is being done in other communities. After a brief discussion the Committee decided to review the process used within the City of Arden Hills first. Chair Henry suggested that the PTRC consider taking the opportunity to approach the business community and encourage them to be an active participant in the community process. 9. SELECT DATES FOR A PTRC/CITY COUNCIL TOUR OF THE PARKS/TRAILS SYSTEM Chair Henry clarified that the PTRC has decided to recommend May 20, 2006, the annual spring flower-planting date, as the date for the tour with the City Council. 10. NEXT MEETING DATES—MARCH 28, 2006 Chair Henry stated that several members of the Committee have suggested changing the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee Meeting February 28, 2006 Page 5 of 5 monthly PTRC meeting date from the fourth Tuesday of the month to the third Tuesday of the month. He suggested tentatively scheduling March 20, 2006 as the date for the PTRC to meet with the City Council during their work session. Committee Member McClung stated that the Council has a very full schedule and would probably prefer to meet in the April timeframe. MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Baumann, to approve the recommendation to change the PTRC monthly meeting to the third Tuesday of the month. The motion carried unanimously. 11. GENERAL DISCUSSION Committee Member Harries asked if he should work to put together estimates for a dog park. He stated that he would be willing to put together a proposal. Chair Henry agreed stating that it putting together an estimate would give a good idea of what actually should be done. Ms. Olson stated that while she was attending the MRP Conference in Rochester she had the opportunity to tour a dog park in the area. She stated that they have had a lot of luck • with the park and it appears that the residents really enjoy it. She stated that she was able to get some of the information on financing noting that Rochester did it as a cooperative program with several groups. She stated that she would review the report and provide the information to the PTRC for their review. Committee Member Crassweller stated that he had the opportunity to visit a dog park while in Florida. He stated that the park was fenced and basically dirt-based due to the activities with the dogs. He stated that it was obvious that the dogs and owners loved the park and really enjoyed it. 12. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Crassweller, to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Bonita Sullivan Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.