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Home My WebLink About09-28-05 PTRC ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE/ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 **7:00 P.M. MEETING** ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 AGENDA 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Approve June 28, 2005 and July 26, 2005 Minutes 3. Council Update — Gregg Larson 4. Recreation Update —Michelle Olson 5. Parks and Trails Update — Tom Moore a. Open House Dates: i. Cummings Park— Saturday, October 8, 2005; 10:00 a.m. —noon ii. Perry Park— Saturday, October 15, 2005; 10:00 a.m. —noon b. Buckthorn Removal Date: Saturday, October 22, 2005 Cummings Park, Crepeau Nature Preserve; 9:00 a.m. —noon (9:00 a.m. breakfast at the Holiday Inn) 6. PTRC Vision Statement— Roger Williams 7. Benefits of a Sidewalk/Trail System— Cindy Wheeler 8. Next Meeting Agenda 9. Adjourn Attachments: June 28, 2005 and July 26, 2005 Meeting Minutes Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda and Minutes A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA September 13, 2005, 6;00 p,m, RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 2015 NORTH VAN DYKE STREET MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109 MAIN FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM 1) CALL TO ORDER 2) APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 14, 2005 104) REVIEW OF CONCEPTUAL LAND EXCHANGE WITH HILL-MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL 5) SYSTEM PLAN (COMMISSION MEMBERS,PLEASE BRING YOUR COPY OF THE SYSTEM PLAN FOR DISCUSSION) 6) SPECIAL MEETINGS: • SEPTEMBER 24, 2005, NOON, TCAAP SITE (HAMLINE AVENUE EXTENDED), RICE CREEK CORRIDOR MEDIA EVENT • SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, 4-8 P.M., NEW BRIGHTON FAMILY SERVICE CENTER, ACTIVE LIVING RAMSEY COUNTY! COMMUNITY KICK-OFF 7) DIRECTOR'S REPORT 8) REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS 9) ADJOURNMENT * * * COMMIK►.SION MEMBERS PLEASE CALL CHERYL JOHNSON AT 651-74B-2500, X307 IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES June 14, 2005 RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT 2015 NORTH VAN DYKE STREET MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109 Main Floor Conference Room The regular meeting of the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Hanson at 6:10 p.m., at the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department, 2015 North Van Dyke Street, Maplewood, Minnesota. Members Present: Deb Falkowski, Michele Hanson, Terry Huntrods, Gale Pederson, Richard Straumann and Elyssa Weber Members Absent: Phil Jenni, Jonathon Kusa and JoAnne Van Guilder Staff Present: Greg Mack and Larry Holmberg APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Hanson asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Pederson moved, seconded by Mr. Straumann, that the agenda be approved. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Hanson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the May 10, 2005 meeting. Ms. Falkowski moved, seconded by Ms. Pederson, that the minutes of the May 10, 2005 meeting be approved as mailed. Motion carried. ISLAND LAKE COUNTY PARK BOAT LAUNCH / FISHING PIER RELOCATION Mr. Mack briefed the Commission on future Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DOT) plans to expand 1-694 within Ramsey County. 1-694 abuts Ramsey County parkland at several points within this corridor. One of the areas identified for future improvement is the interchange at 1-694 and Victoria Street. The Island Lake boat launch / fishing pier are located on the northwest shore of Island Lake. Access to these facilities is provided via a park roadway located on MN/DDT's right of way. This roadway provides for vehicular access and serves as a pedestrian route along the north shore of Island Lake. Plans for reconstruction of 1-694 and the interchange with Victoria Street will impact these park facilities. Mr. Holmberg presented a map superimposed on an aerial photo illustrating the park improvements, property boundaries, and the current configuration of 1-694 and the Victoria Street interchange. He stated that the proposed improvements in the area of Victoria Street are not anticipated until after 2010; however, MN/DOT is preparing an environmental assessment of *alternates associated with the interchange. He presented four alternates and explained each of the alternates using maps prepared by MN/DOT. Alternate 1 provides trail and vehicular access to the northwest side of Island Lake, maintains the fishing pier and boat access in the current location, but requires a substantial fill within Island Lake in order to accommodate additional traffic lanes, an upgraded exit ramp, and to maintain the park road and trailway. Alternate 2 shifts the exit ramp to the east side of Victoria Street onto the Deluxe Corporation campus, removes the road access to the northwest corner of Island Lake and provides a trailway along the north side of Island Lake. This alternate encroaches substantially on Deluxe Corporation and has been a concern of Deluxe and the city of Shoreview. Alternate 3 provides an improved exit ramp on the west side of Victoria Street, relocates the boat access to the northeast corner of the park and provides an elevated trailway along the north shore of Island Lake. This alternate requires that both the exit ramp and trailway be constructed on bridges to avoid fill in the lake. Alternate 4 shifts the entire 1-694 roadway corridor to the north, resulting in the need for reconstruction of the Victoria Street bridge. The park road servicing the existing boat access and trail would be constructed on the north shore. The shift northward results in filling a part of the lake on the north side of 1-694. Commission members inquired about the cost impact on the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department. It was explained that all costs associated with the project will be borne by MN/DOT. All of the alternates maintain a boat access, fishing pier and trail function within the park. These are considered critical elements. Staff believes that Alternate 3, with some refinement as to the location and configuration of the boat launch, is acceptable. The other alternates require more significant impacts on the lake or the Deluxe Corporation campus. A commitment on the part of MN/DOT to reconfigure the northeast quadrant of Island Lake County Park could minimize the impact of relocating the boat launch and fishing pier, provide a separated trail for pedestrians and cyclists, and improve the current condition that utilizes a shared roadway. In the long term, staff believes that a trail around Island Lake, including a boardwalk section along the south shore, is very desirable. It was suggested that the Deluxe Foundation may be a source of funding for this kind of capital improvement given the potential access for its employees. The Commission emphasized the importance of maintaining the boat launch, fishing pier and trail access along the north shore of Island Lake. Based on the alternatives presented, it was moved by Mr. Straumann, seconded by Mr. Huntrods, that the Commission finds that Alternate 3 for the intersection of 1-694 and Victoria Street is acceptable, subject to refinement of plans for the trail along the north shore of Island Lake, boat ramp, fishing ,pier and picnic area in the northeast quadrant of the park. Motion carried. RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SYSTEM PLAN The Commission discussed the format (i.e. development maps, natural resource maps, narrative sections, etc.), public review processes and potential facility additions that should be incorporated into the updated system plan. As background, Mr. Mack distributed excerpts from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — 2004 Outdoor Recreation Facility Adequacy Survey that ranks the facilities needed now by region of the state. These rankings were compiled from surveys completed by facility managers. It was noted that this information is not based on a general citizen survey. Mr. Huntrods requested that staff supply the Commission with information on needs identified through user surveys compiled by other organizations in the metropolitan area. Commission members felt that the sections in the current system plan provide appropriate information; however, the natural resource management sections should be expanded for the regional parks and larger county parks to reflect proposed vegetation and reference to other natural resource management activities. In addition, a section will be added to the introduction that discusses partnerships with other agencies, such as the Metropolitan Council, Watershed District, etc. It was suggested that the maps identify trail connections that extend beyond the boundaries of the particular park unit. Commission members were asked to provide input on additional facilities that should be considered for incorporation into the system plan. DIRECTOR'S REPORT *The Friends of St. Paul and Ramsey County Parks and Trails will be celebrating their 20tn anniversary this year. The annual meeting is scheduled for June 23 at the Como Park Streetcar Station. All members of the Parks and Recreation Commission are invited. The contract has been awarded for redevelopment of Lake Josephine County Park. Construction is scheduled to begin in early July. The nature hikes conducted at the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant have been well received. To date, 175 people have participated in hikes scheduled on three days. REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS Chair Hanson requested that the itinerary for a summer parks tour be included on next month's agenda of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Chair Hanson also reported that she expects to be moving out of the county and will have to submit her resignation from the Commission. ADJOURNMENT Upon appropriate motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Greg Mack