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Home My WebLink About12-20-05 PTRC ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, & RECREATION COMMITTEE/ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2005 **7:00 P.M. MEETING** ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96 AGENDA 1. Call to Order and Roll Call 2. Approve November 22, 2005 Minutes 3. Council Update — Gregg Larson 4. Recreation Update —Michelle Olson 0 5. Parks and Trails Update — Michelle Olson 6. PTRC Vision Statement II Further Discussion 7. Goals/Objectives for 2006 8. Next Meeting —January 24, 2006 Agenda 9. Adjourn Attachments: November 22, 2005 Meeting Minutes 2006 PTRC Meeting Schedule Ramsey County Park Commission Agenda and Minutes A quorum of the City Council may be present at this meeting. ,-S EN HILLS PTRC 2006 Schedule Meeting dates, times and locations are subject to change. Tuesday January 24 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday February 28 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday March 28 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday April 25 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Saturday May 20 9:00 A.M Flower Planting Day Tuesday May 23 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Saturday June 24 3:00-10:00 P.M. Celebrating Arden Hills Event Ramsey County Tony Schmidt Park Tuesday June 27 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday July 25 6:30 P.M. Pot Luck Dinner with Planning Commission Community Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday August NO MEETING Tuesday September 26 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday October 24 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday November 21 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday December 19 7:00 P.M. Upper Conference Room, Arden Hills City Hall *Special Date 0 Potluck Dinner RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA December 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 OCTOBER 11, 2005 #4) REVIEW OF DRAFT PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN 5) PROCESS FOR PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE DRAFT PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM PLAN 6) DIRECTOR'S REPORT 7) REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS 8) ADJOURNMENT * * * COMMISSION MEMBERS PLEASE CALL VICKI DAHLOUIST A T 651-748-2soo x3o7 IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO A TTEND RAMSEY COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES October '11, 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 Straumann at 6:00 p.m., at the Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department, 2015 North Van Dyke Street, Maplewood, Minnesota. Members Present: Deb Falkowski, Phil Jenni and Richard Straumann Members Absent: Terry Huntrods, Jonathon Kusa, Gale Pederson and Elyssa Weber Staff Present: Greg Mack, Larry Holmberg and Jody Yungers APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Straumann asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Falkowski moved, seconded by Mr. Jenni, that the agenda be approved. Motion carried. OPPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Straumann asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 13, 2005 meeting. Ms. Falkowski moved, seconded by Mr. Jenni, that the minutes of the September 13, 2005 meeting be approved as mailed. Motion carried. REVIEW OF PROPOSED 2006-2007 OPERATING BUDGETS Ramsey County is now on a two-year budget cycle. The two-year cycle assists in tying budgets to the State's two-year budget. The County Board considers both years but adopts the tax levy only for the upcoming year. The Parks and Recreation Department's budget hearing was held on September 19, 2005. Departments were asked to prepare target budgets with no increase in tax levy and to identify unfunded items. The County Manager may reinstate items identified as unfunded by the Department. Then the County Manager presents his budget recommendations to the County Board. The County Board approved a maximum tax levy for the county—the levy can only be adjusted downward. The tax levy supports only 29% of Parks and Recreation's total budget of$8 million. The Department has seen significant increases in operating expenses in four areas: $130,000 in salaries/benefits, $95,000 in utilities, $70,000 in workers compensation due to the county changing to a decentralized system, and $27,000 in special assessments, primarily in St. Paul. Revenues Golf course revenues are down due to weather conditions, competition and the economy. The Ponds is a parate enterprise fund and is responsible for debt service payments. Ice arenas revenues are generally 1gher. The interpretive program at Tamarack Nature Center is growing through revenue producing services. 1 he Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for operation and maintenance of approximately 20% the buildings and improved grounds owned by Ramsey County. Parks and Recreation is responsible for over 6,000 acres of parks and open space. Generally, it is proposed that the regular ice arena fee increase $5.00 per hour for each of the two budget years. It is proposed that the regular 18-hold greens fee increase $1.00 in 2006 and 2007. Other golf course fees are scheduled to increase proportionally. The entrance fee for Battle Creek Waterworks is proposed to remain at $5.50 in 2006 and increase to $6.00 in 2007. The public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for October 28, 2005. A truth in taxation hearing will be held on December 13, 2005. Service Levels and Performance Measures As part of performance measurements, Parks and Recreation analyzes beach and park surveys to determine levels of service. Due to budget constraints, Parks and Recreation has not been able to provide park maintenance or park service staff during the evening hours. Coordinators who greeted reservation groups, provided light janitorial services and locked buildings in the evening were eliminated from the budget. Mr. Jenni suggested that having Park Service Coordinators to welcome guests is important and exhibits good customer service. Mr. Jenni asked whether volunteers could provide this service. Mr. Mack explained that consistency is a problem. Tamarack has been successful having volunteers perform specific project work. 16he Commission expressed concern about two critical focus areas: ❑ Concerned about areas of diminished service. ❑ Capital asset management, revenues from tapped out sources, new revenue, concern about diminished service to public in parks with reduced maintenance personnel. Mr. Mack stated that the results of the parks surveys will come before the Board of Commissioners. Chair Straumann asked for a motion to accept the Parks and Recreation budget as proposed. Mr. Jenni moved, seconded by Ms. Falkowski to accept the Parks and Recreation budget as proposed. Motion carried. SYSTEM PLAN Parks and Recreation staff has been working on the system plan and has received draft maps from the consultant. The system plan will emphasize major areas of importance and will identify major facility needs and potential partnerships, such as collaborating with the National Guard at TCAAP for trail access and a future nature center. Commission members suggested that mountain biking be considered in other areas of the County in addition to Battle Creek. Parks and Recreation intends to work with the National Guard to establish cross-country skiing trails at TCAAP. The Department has received requests from cross-country skiers to provide snowmaking at TCAAP or Battle Creek Regional Park in order to have guaranteed snow. lot. Paul offers downhill skiing/ snowmaking at Como Park, which is fully levy supported. It could be mutually beneficial to Ramsey County and the City if the snowmaking operation were moved to Battle Creek. 2 Poplar Lake Mhis is a 450-acre site in northern Ramsey County. The west side of the site is wetland and there is a yard aste composting site on the east side. An Xcel Energy power line runs through the site. The Commission discussed a variety of future uses and concluded that at this time, emphasis should be on trails and nature observation. Snail Lake Marsh Addition to Highway 96 Trail The land north of Snail Lake will become part of the Highway 96 Regional Trail. The area could accommodate a loop off the Highway 96 trail to create a lookout over the lake. The area residents who opposed the bandshell idea presented an alternative Arboretum/Overlook. Mr. Mack expressed support for some elements of the residents' proposal (trails and overlook). Staff will work on additional narrative and maps for the system plan. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission intends to construct 4 additional ice sheets at the Schwan's Superink. Two will replace those at Columbia and there will be two additional ice sheets developed for other groups. REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS Chair Straumann reported that he had attended an Active Living Ramsey County Meeting. Part of the Active Living program has to do with changing the physical environment and improving communities to promote a more active lifestyle. He stated that there is grant money for communities to audit their facilities. The Design Center of Minnesota will prepare the Active Living website. "DJOURNMENT pon appropriate motion, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Vicki Dahlquist 3