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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-06 PTRC Minutes s f ,- IZEN HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS,TRAILS,AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY,DECEMBER 19,2006; 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the December 19, 2006 meeting of the Parks,Trails and Recreation Committee to order at 7:03 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Chair Bill Henry, Committee Members Lanny Baumann,Jim Crassweller,Rich Straumann,Roger Williams, Steve Zilmer, and Dave McClung. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson,Park and Recreation Manager; Greg Hoag,Public Works Director; Gregg Larson, City Council Liaison; Bill Ashton,Disc Golf Course Consultant,Chuck Kachel, Resident. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Member Cindy Wheeler. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION: Committee Chair Henry motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The committee discussed multiple changes to the November meeting minutes and asked that staff bring it back with these changes for approval at the next meeting. The level of detail in meeting minutes was also discussed. The committee requested that meeting minutes be kept brief. 3. DISC GOLF COURSE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION—BILL ASHTON Mr. Ashton gave a presentation on disc golf. Mr. Ashton stated that to accommodate the sliding hill, baskets would go into a ground sleeve. It would be about a two foot sleeve that would go in the ground and the basket would slide in. It would be locked with a padlock, allowing for the baskets to be removed and the sleeve capped for the winter. The sleeves would be cemented in the ground and therefore kept in the ground year round. In regards to liability concerns,Mr. Ashton stated that he has never encountered anyone he knew who has gotten hurt playing the sport in the 30 years he has played MOTION Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Straumann to recommend to the City Council the development of a frisbee golf course of some kind at Ingerson Park, recognizing that this was a process and that funds in the park fund be used to support the development. The motion carried 6-0, Committee Member McClung abstained. Mr. Hoag stated that one of his concerns regarding a disc golf course was that it would be more of a regional sell. He had reservations about installing a disc golf course where there was not adequate parking and that could potentially increased traffic on neighborhood streets. Ms. Olson stated her concern was that the committee needed to come up with a financial plan to fund their strategies. Funding options were not yet discussed at the Committee level and then also needed to be discussed with the Council. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 19 2006 Page 2 4. COUNCIL UPDATE- • The Truth in Taxation Hearing was held • The 2007 Budget was approved with a six percent levy increase. • The naming of the Elmer Andersen Trail was approved. • The Council reviewed the PTRC request for a traffic study at County Road E and Old Snelling. • The site plan was approved for 3433 Lake Johanna Boulevard. • There would be a Council appointed TCAAP Advisory Committee. 5. PARKS,TRAILS,AND RECREATION UPDATE Mr. Hoag provided the committee with the following update: • Public Works staff started flooding rinks again overnight Sunday. Warmer weather was forecasted for the next several days; therefore staff anticipated that rinks probably would not open until Tuesday. Installation of the portable building at Valentine Park was completed. • The Public Works crew responded to a couple of water main breaks in the last week. Ms. Olson provided the committee with the following update: • Ms. Olson was working on the Safe Routes to School Grant and the DNR Grant. • The Friends of the Park tree sale was currently going on. Interested individuals should get orders in soon. • Ms. Olson stated that the application for the County Road E bridge was submitted in October. The City should receive notification early in the year,possibly February. 6. PTRC STRATEGIES PLAN—FUNDING DISCUSSION Ms. Olson stated that the committee needed to come up with funding strategies that could be brought to the Council. The special park fund has dwindled and with limited developable land, there would not be much in park dedication fees to add to the fund. The Committee, after having developed its vision and strategies discussed looking at funding options. Ms. Olson stated that she believed the Council wanted to hear how the committee intended to fund their strategies. The purpose of the funding discussion with the Council was to work with the Council to identify sources to increase funding, perhaps in the form of grants, donations, etc. Council Liaison Larson suggested that perhaps the committee could inquire about funding options with surrounding cities. Chair Henry requested that the funding discussion be brought to the February Council work session. Ms. Olson stated that the City received notice of a statue change that restricted the use of charitable gambling funds for parks and recreation. Currently, parks and recreation received 60% of gambling funds, which translated into $36,000 last year. MOTION Committee Member Williams motioned, seconded by Committee Member Crassweller to expand the Ehlers engagement to include consideration of the sources for future parks, trails and recreation services. Motion carried 6-0, Committee Member McClung abstained. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 19, 2006 Pam • 7. COMMITTEE EXPECTATIONS Chair Henry requested that the committee take a look at the attached proposed expectations and be prepared for a discussion at a future meeting. 8. NAMING OF GOVERNOR ELMER L.ANDERSEN TRAIL SEGMENT Ms. Olson stated that$25,000 was budgeted for trail signage in 2008. Chair Henry suggested having one set of guidelines for trail signs in the City. However, it would not pertain to the Governor Elmer L. Andersen trail sign because the committee wanted to encourage Ramsey County and other governmental entities to be involved with the trail. It was suggested that the Committee look at Hennepin and Ramsey County signs for ideas for the Governor Elmer L. Andersen Trail. Also,to revisit having the person who designed the City park signs to design signs for all other city trails. Ms. Olson would contact the designer and could probably bring this back in March, depending on the designer's schedule. 9. TONY SCHMIDT REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN DRAFT UPDATE Ms. Olson would contact Mr. Greg Mack, Ramsey County, to find out what was expected of the Committee in regards to this master plan draft; if the committee needed to review the plan and then make a recommendation to the Council. It was asked that Ms. Olson also request for an electronic copy of the draft. 10. NEXT MEETING DATE The next PTRC meeting was scheduled for January 9, 2007. Committee Member Baumann would send • an electronic version of the bocce golf proposal to Ms.Olson to be included in the next agenda packet. Ms. Olson stated that a few benches needed to be added. The City has an inventory of benches and typically added to it yearly, as needed. In the past, benches have occasionally come up as Eagle Scout projects. With the proposed installation of a bocce golf course, it was suggested that benches be put at Ingerson Park. 11. TOWN HALL MEETING The Town Hall Meeting was on scheduled for January 16, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to about 8:30. The City has expressed interest for the PTRC to have a table at the event. 12. AJOURN MOTION: Committee Member Straumann moved and Committee Member Crassweller seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m.