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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-06 PTRC Minutes ,-S EN HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS,TRAILS,AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY,OCTOBER 17,2006; 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the October 17,2006 meeting of the Parks,Trails and Recreation Committee to order at 7:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Chair Bill Henry,Committee Members Lanny Baumann,Rich Straumann, Cindy Wheeler,Roger Williams, Steve Zilmer,and Jim Crassweller. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson,Park and Recreation Manager; Gregg Larson, City Council Liaison; and Chuck Kachel,Resident. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Member David McClung. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Henry added two items to the agenda. 1)update from Committee member Straumann regarding the wildlife viewing area and 2)a very short discussion on Round Lake. MOTION: Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Straumann to • approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Henry had the following corrections for the September 19,2006 minutes: • Page 1,under Others Present, Chuck Kachel's was misspelled. MOTION: Committee Member Straumann motioned, seconded by Committee Member Williams to approve the September 19,2006 minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 3. CITY COUNCIL UPDATE Council Liaison Larson provided the Committee with the following City Council Update: • Council approved the final plat for the business development on the old City Hall site. • The Council and Planning Commission discussed the clear cut restoration of the property on Lake Johanna Boulevard. The owner developed a plan and went to the Planning Commission and the Council. Neither the Planning Commission nor the Council took action as they were awaiting tree size and other things from the owner. • A new strategic economic development plan was received from the Economic Development Commission. It will be reviewed by the Council at a future work session before action can be taken. • The law firm of Kennedy and Graven was retained to help with legal assistance and drafting of land transaction paperwork for TCAAP. The attorney was currently working on an interim development agreement. The most current development agreement was suspended until a purchase agreement was secured with the GSA. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING October 17 2006 Page 2 of 4 • Mr. Greg Hoag was hired as the public works director and will start on Monday, October 30'h • The finance director position has not been filled. The City will restart the recruitment process. • The Council and PTRC had a park tour yesterday. Mr. Hoag was also in attendance. • There was a discussion on goose removal that stemmed from previous goose removal efforts on Lake Johanna and complaints regarding wild turkey and deer. The Council's directive was for staff to develop a policy for City involvement when there are public safety issues. 4. PARKS,TRAILS,AND RECREATION UPDATE Michelle Olson provided the committee with the following update: • Cummings Park and Perry Park have been targeted several times during the summer by vandals. Several kids were caught smoking marijuana in the Cummings Pavilion. The old warming house at Cummings Park has had break ins and graffiti vandalism many times this summer. Also, picnic tables at Perry Park have been hit hard with graffiti this summer/fall. Ramsey County Sheriffs were informed and are working with us. • The building at Valentine Park was scheduled to be moved either last night or tonight. Once moved, electricity will be connected and repairs will be completed. • Repairs were been completed on warming houses: Perry got a new roof; Hazelnut was resided, repainted and smaller repairs completed. • Ms. Olson will meet with Jodi Yunger of Ramsey County this Friday to walk the trails off County Road E2. They will also look at the County Road E2 and County Road 10 area by Valentine Elementary to talk about safe routes to school. • • Ms. Olson was also working with the engineer on the Perry Park connection for the local grant Committee Member Williams asked Ms. Olson to elaborate on the nature of the vandalism at Perry Park. Ms. Olson stated that the graffiti was sexually explicit drawings and messages. Chair Henry asked if there was much vandalism at Tony Schmidt Park. Ms. Olson stated that vandalism used to be a big problem a few years ago when the park was renovated. Vandalism was especially problematic at the upper pavilion because it was more secluded. Ms. Olson stated she was not sure if it was still a problem, but would look into the matter. 5. PTRC PARK TOUR FOLLOW-UP Chair Henry thanked Ms. Olson for her work on the park tour. Chair Henry also thanked Council Liaison Larson and Committee Members Straumann and Wheeler for attending. Committee Member Wheeler commented on the lack of sidewalks in the city and stated the City needed to be more pedestrian friendly. Council liaison Larson stated that he has always felt Arden Hills was lacking in sidewalks and that it was a battle because residents in those neighborhoods did not seem to be concerned about sidewalks. 6. PTRC STRATEGIES PLAN—FUNDING DISCUSSION • Disc Golf Course/Bocce Golf Course Chair Henry stated the installation of a course would not cost very much and asked if there was an area in the city where the course could be installed. Chair Henry asked how much it would cost to put holes along the perimeter at Lindey's Park. Committee Member Baumann stated that if they were similar to what he PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING October 17, 2006 Page 3 of 4 • has, he could do it for about $200 a hole. Committee Member Baumann further stated that he thought he could get nine holes in the area. Chair Henry asked what maintenance a bocce golf course would required. Committee Member Baumann stated that the maintenance would be minimal with mowing weekly. Ms. Olson asked if the course would remain as is during the winter. Committee Member Baumann stated that plastic covers could be placed over the holes to prevent someone from tripping and could be kept there all winter. • Fenced Dog Park Chair Henry stated that the dog park idea was abandoned. At one point, Ramsey County was considering putting one at Tony Schmidt Park.,but it appears that will not be the case. Chair Henry asked if the PTRC should pursue the dog park at the Parkshore Park area. He further questioned, whether if it was safe for dogs to swim in or drink from Round Lake and if a dog park is not possible, what should be considered for that land. Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to look into the possibilities. Committee Member Williams asked what kept the City from putting in a trail around Round Lake. Ms. Olson stated she was not sure about the portion from Parkshore Drive, but the portion near the businesses would require the purchase of easements. Several years ago, the city was successful in negotiating easements from all but one business owner. Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to look into the easement situation. 0 Improve Warming House Conditions at Freeway and Hazelnut Parks The Freeway and Hazelnut Warming House improvements are near completion. • Study the Feasibility of Improving Valentine Park iMs. Olson stated she needed to get a drainage study of the neighborhood and the park from URS. • Tony Schmidt Park Railroad Underpass The trail and railroad underpass have been completed. A class five trail would be put in from the paved trail from the parking lot through the underpass to the Swamp Lift Road. Chair Henry proposed that we add as 1A, the trail from Swamp Lift Road to Perry Park, to the strategies for trails. Ms. Olson provided an aerial map and rough estimate for this segment. Ms. Olson stated that putting in the proposed trail where it was originally proposed, close to the wetland would require removing a lot of trees, putting in retaining walls and obtaining a permit from the DNR. An alternate route would be to follow the trail that the Mounds View runners currently use. The grade will be a challenge and staff is unsure if ADA standards can be met at that location. The local connection grant from the DNR will be due in February. The grant has a $5,000 minimum, a $100,000 maximum and a 50% match. Ms. Olson further stated that Council approval to apply for the grant is required. • West Side of Old Snelling from Highway 51 on the South to County Road E on the North This project was tentatively scheduled for 2007, but was changed to 2010. Ms. Olson spoke with the engineer about the extension down to Lydia. This extension would have to be a cooperative project with Roseville. There may be an opportunity to cost share with Northwestern College as well. • North Side of County Road E from Old Snelling to Connelly The grant for the north side of the County Road E Bridge was submitted last week. • East Side of Old Snelling from County Road E to Highway 96 . The railroad widening project was scheduled for 2007. State aid-$100,000 -Park Fund- $50,000. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING October 17, 2006 Page 4 of 4 . • North Side of Lake Johanna Boulevard from County Road E on the West to Old Snelling on the east This was on Ramsey County's master plans to do. Staff will contact Ramsey County to discuss a timetable and the possibility of a partnership. • Traffic Signals at County Road E and Old Snelling This intersection would have to meet certain standards in terms of traffic before a traffic light could be installed. The City probably would not do it unilaterally. Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to look into traffic signals and find out who need to be contacted and/or what needed to be done. • South Side of Highway 96 from North Heights Church to Old Highway 8 &Long Lake Regional Park This project is on hold until the Highway 10/96 intersection improvements are finalized. This project will also be contingent upon the development of TCAAP. • Elmer L. Andersen Trail Designation The first segment of the diagonal trail beginning on Cleveland to County Road E was designated to be named the Elmer L. Andersen Trail. A motion will need to be drafted to the Council designating this trail. • Four Annual Events It seems that the majority of the council wants to scale back on the Celebrating Arden Hills Event because it has fallen heavily on staff and not volunteers and the cost has continued to increase Chair Henry asked for thoughts regarding hosting an ice fishing contest. The committee discussed holding off on taking on this event. 7. BUCKTHORN REMOVAL DAY • Buckthorn eradication was scheduled for October 28`h at Floral Park. There will be two public works employees present to run the chipper. Smaller tools will be provided. 8. WILDLIFE VIEWING AREA A group of boy scouts worked on National Lands Day weeding and planting in the wildlife viewing area. The National Guard acquired a grant for significant improvements to this area. Also, the Public Works Department spent one day fixing the asphalt trail up to the existing bridge. 9. NEXT MEETING DATE The next meeting will be held on November 21 st. 10. ADJOURN MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller moved and Committee Member Straumann seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 p.m.