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Home My WebLink About03-23-04 PTRC • ,-ARZEN HILLS AGENDA PARKS, TRAILS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2004 **7:00 P.M. MEETING** ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Approve February 24, 2004 Minutes 3. Council Update • 4. Parks and Recreation Update a. Bridge on County Road E b. Perry Park c. URS Study on Old 10/RR Bridge Trail 5. Neighborhood Meeting — April 1, 2004 for County Road E Pedestrian Improvement 6. Review Trail Improvement handout of February 24, 2004 7. Next Meeting Agenda 8. Adjourn A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS Identified in Parks,Trails and Open Space Plan 2/24/04 discussion draft "Sprawling communities are plagued with a lack of sidewalks,isolated housing developments far removed from shopping and business centers,busy roads that prevent children from walking or riding their bicycles to school,and an absence of anywhere to walk to . . ." (Advances,Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,2003, #4) Grade-separated trail connections: -ICo. Rd E over Highway 51 Highway %underpass between Highway 10 and Lexington Highway 10,just south of Royal Hills Park Highway 10,north of Highway 96 1-35W:existing RR bridge north of 694 or north of 96 VRR underpass in Tony Schmidt Park Other trail connections vfOld Snelling: Roseville border to Co Rd.E Old Snelling:Co.Rd.E to% VCo.Rd.E:TH51 to Old Snelling Co.Rd.E:Lake Johanna Blvd.To New Brighton Road Lake Johanna Blvd.:Tony Schmidt Park to Northwestern College V Crepeau Park-Tiller Lane-Hamline to Roseville border Ingerson Road:Hamline to Lexington Pine Tree Drive bet. Co.Rd. E&Crepeau Park at Harriet Ave. Cleveland Ave.: Hazelnut Trail to Co.Rd.D Valentine Rd.:Old Snelling to Mounds View High School South of Round Lake:Old Snelling to I-35W From Floral Park, along Hamline to Co. Rd.F to Lexington V'Hwy 96:Lexington to Hwy 10 Hwy %:Hwy 10 to I-35W V'Within Tony Schmidt Park Within Bethel and Northwestern Colleges Within TCAAP and along Rice Creek 'Perry Park.parking lot to lift station Perry Park to Mounds View High School Connect Tony Schmidt Park to Diagonal Trail Trail around south end of Lake Johanna to Lydia Avenue Water Quality Strategies for Riparian Landowners • Owners of property that abut wetlands,ponds, or lakes in Arden Hills often inquire about what can be done to improve water quality. A natural shoreline is one factor that can have a positive effect on water quality. A natural shoreline is a complex ecosystem that sustains fish and wildlife and protects the entire lake. Native vegetation along the shore acts as a buffer zone, intercepting nutrients and reducing runoff, erosion, and sedimentation. Aquatic plants provide food and shelter for ducks, songbirds, and other animals while reducing problems caused by Canada geese and burrowing muskrats. Plants growing in and near the water are critical for wildlife and fish habitat and minimize erosion and help maintain water quality. A buffer zone is a strip of native vegetation that extends both lakeward and landward form the water's edge. A buffer zone that extends 20-50 feet form the shore is preferable,but even 10-15 feet provides benefits. Creating and maintaining natural buffer zones along that shore does not mean your property has to look unkempt. Buffers and upland islands of trees, shrubs, and flowers can bring natural beauty to your yard. Tall native plants have deep root systems that will slow erosion, decrease ice damage, increase rain infiltration, and act as a barrier to discourage Canada geese from • walking on your shoreline property. Your shoreline is part of a larger community and ecosystem. Individual choices by many have cumulative impacts on a lake and its ecosystem. Your actions can restore or degrade the quality of the ecosystem. Restoring your lakeshore to a more natural condition is important, even if your neighbors are not restoring theirs,because it can improve water quality, including fish and wildlife habitat. Submergent and emergent plants provide underwater cover for fish, amphibians,birds, insects, and other organisms. These plants break wave action and help to stabilize bottom sediments that are often loaded with nutrients. Bottom sediments that are re-suspended by current and wave action can contribute to algae blooms in ponds and lakes. Plants growing on upland slopes and lake banks help keep the water clean by holding sediments in place against the eroding forces of water runoff and by absorbing excess nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen that can degrade water quality. Maintain a healthy pond or lake is far less costly than trying to fix a degraded one. If you are fortunate enough to have a natural shoreline, maintain or enhance it as a buffer zone and minimize erosion on the areas used for access or recreation. If your property lacks natural areas, plant native vegetation or let areas grow naturally. You will have a positive effect on water quality and be surprised at the aesthetic appeal as well as the time and energy you save. Useful information about shoreline restoration can be found on the following DNR website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/restoreyourshore/index.html, in a book titled Landscaping for Wildlife and Water Quality, and a CD-ROM titled Restore Your Shore that can both be purchased through Minnesota's Bookstore at www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/bookstore.asp.