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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-14 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Co-Chair Kramlinger called the September 16, 2014, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Co-Chair John Van Valkenburg and Committee Members Steve Scott, Nancy O’Malley, Jennifer Stephens, Matt Trites, Don Messerly, Harold Petersen, Chuck Michaelson and Rich Straumann. OTHERS PRESENT: Staff Liaison Sara Grant and Council Liaison Dave McClung. ABSENT: Committee Member Cindy Garretson. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member O’Malley motioned to approve the agenda seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (8-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 17, 2014 The June 17, 2014, PTRC minutes will be submitted for approval at the October 21, 2014, meeting. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Park Tour Evaluation Results Staff Liaison Grant provided the committee with the results of the park tour and the 2014 ratings versus the 2013 ratings. Committee Member O’Malley suggested they review the evaluations from the park tour on a park by park basis and then determine what items could easily be taken care of. Council Liaison McClung stated that concerns falling under more of a maintenance type nature could be taken care of by the Public Works crew and other items could be budgeted for in the future. The committee first reviewed the comments for Arden Manor and it was determined the biggest need was for a park sign which would identify the park as a City park. The opinion of the committee was that the sign should be similar to the other signs in the Arden Hills parks. Committee Member O’Malley stated she felt the park could also use some more benches but questioned the cost. Committee Member Stephens mentioned that the Foundation had a bench program. Council Liaison McClung indicated he felt Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2014 Page 2 that would be something they could talk to the Foundation about as people do donate money for benches in the community. He stated oftentimes those people donate for a specific area and the PTRC could possibly get some benches via the Foundation. Mr. McClung questioned if the committee ever decided to have a liaison between the PTRC and the Foundation. Committee Member Scott indicated he would be interested in being the liaison starting the first of the year as presently he has another commitment. Mr. McClung commented he felt it would benefit the PTRC in having more contact with the Foundation as monies donated to the Foundation could help with some of the park and trail improvements. Co-Chair Van Valkenberg pointed out that for Arden Oaks Park the rusty basketball hoops were of concern. He indicated if the hoops cannot all be replaced at once, he feels there should be a program in place where hoops are replaced at one park a year, with hoops similar to the ones at Valentine Park. Ms. Grant stated that the nets are replaced every year and that the hoops can be painted if it is not possible to upgrade all of them at once. She indicated she would research the cost of various hoops and then the PTRC could decide on how they wanted to proceed. Council Liaison McClung suggested Ms. Grant check the maintenance history of the hoops and when they were last replaced. Then, if it is something the Committee wanted to pursue, they could bring a proposal back to Council. Ms. Grant indicated she would also check with Gopher Sports to see what discounts they would be able to offer the City. After reviewing the comments for Crepeau Nature Reserve it was the consensus of the Committee that the path be replenished with wood chips. Staff Liaison Grant indicated she will check with Public Works to see how often the wood chips are replenished and when this was last done. The consensus of the Committee was to look at the basketball backboards and nets at Cummings Park. It was also suggested the nets be replaced with chain nets; however, Ms. Grant indicated that chain nets could cause a liability issue. Another suggestion was to possibly have a Karth Lake viewing deck. Committee Member Stephens pointed out that the trail going to Karth Lake needs some work. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg commented that clearing and replenishing the trail with mulch would be a good Eagle Scout project. The consensus for Floral Park was to look at reroofing the pavilion since it leaks and has weeds growing on it. Council Liaison McClung suggested they look at this from a maintenance perspective. Committee Member O’Malley suggested taking out one of the gardens at Floral since trying to maintain three gardens is unmanageable. Council Liaison McClung asked Ms. Grant to check with Public Works Direction Maurer on removal of one of the gardens and to report back to the committee at the next meeting. The committee felt they should once again look at an Adopt a Garden program to see if some of the neighbors would volunteer to maintain the gardens. Council Liaison McClung suggested the PTRC work with Kristine Goodrich of the Communications Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2014 Page 3 Committee to draft an article for the newsletter for early next spring. Committee Member Stephens indicated she would volunteer to be the contact person between the PTRC and Communications Committee and would also work on drafting an article for the newsletter. The Committee Members felt that a sign should be placed by the lower park area at Freeway Park. Mr. McClung indicated they could try to get this in as a maintenance item. Co-Chair Van Valkenberg expressed concerns about the parking lot and the drainage issues. Mr. McClung commented that at this point the parking lot could possibly be a low dollar maintenance type project versus reconfiguring it, as the parking lot may get done as part of the bridge project or when the trail goes in. Co-Chair Kramlinger felt the painting of the hockey boards would be a low cost maintenance item and would be a huge improvement to the park. Ms. O’Malley expressed concern regarding the fence and felt it should be removed. It was noted that this may be a MnDOT fence and not a City fence. Mr. McClung commented that any major changes would more than likely be a post-bridge project. Discussion ensued on the concerns with the park and the adjoining area. Council Liaison McClung indicated that some land may be used if they install another right turn lane to get onto the southbound jog on 51. He asked Ms. Grant to check with Public Works Director Maurer to see what, if any, ability the PTRC would have to do any improvements to the parking lot and also to check on what could be done with the fence. Mr. McClung stated that after they get the information from Ms. Grant, the committee can then check to see what else they could do at Freeway as part of the bridge project. From several of the comments for Hazelnut Park, the committee determined that the basketball and soccer nets need replacing. Ms. Grant reported that the dog park at Hazelnut is well used. It was indicated, however, that the gate needs to be lowered so smaller dogs can’t get out. Discussion ensued and the committee felt that Perry Park might be a good spot for another dog park. Ms. Grant mentioned that on Tuesday nights the Perry Park hockey rink is used for overflow parking. Council Liaison McClung suggested they solicit some feedback from the community and if they find the dog park is working as well as the committee thinks it is, they can look at expanding the dog park to a second location. Ms. Grant indicated she has come up with a new rec idea called “Bark and Rec” where families can bring their dogs to the dog park for some scheduled event. By holding this event, she could also determine how many people are actually using the dog park. It was noted that the basketball hoops at Ingerson Park are broken and should be replaced. Council Liaison McClung indicated that this should be addressed this year. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg indicated he would like to know when the backboards were put in. Ms. Grant stated she would research this and report her findings at the next meeting. Staff Liaison Grant reported that the tennis court at Johanna Marsh is scheduled to be resurfaced and Council Liaison McClung reported that the park signage will be replaced. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2014 Page 4 It was questioned whether the committee would be going ahead with restoring Lindey’s Park to native landscape. Council Liaison McClung indicated it was the Council’s opinion that this should be done in another area, potentially in the TCAAP area. Committee Member Trites also suggested having a sign indicating where the parking is at Lindey’s. The committee was in consensus that the sand box at Perry Park is in bad shape. Ms. Grant indicated staff has discussed possibly removing all sandboxes from the parks. Also of concern was the condition of the play structure and the chain link fence at the beginning of the hill which is unraveling and has sharp edges sticking out. Ms. Grant reported that the hockey rink is scheduled to be painted by a volunteer group. Committee Member Trites asked if it would be possible to have Public Works cut back the brush on the right side of the road. He indicated there is a blind spot because of the brush when turning north out of the park and it is hard to see cars that are coming when looking up the hill. Ms. Grant indicated she would check into this. Committee Member O’Malley suggested the Public Works crew spray paint the rusty tennis court fences and poles at Royal Hills Park. Several Committee Members indicated they felt the brush by the bike path at Sampson Park should be cut down and also suggested the wild flowers growing over the path by Noble and Grant Road be cut down. It was the consensus of the committee that the area would look much nicer with just grass. Committee Member Stephens indicated that the grass at Valentine Hills Park is in bad shape and hard to walk on. Committee Member Messerly commented that the condition of the grass is due to the type of grass seed that was used. The committee will check to see what it would take to establish new grass. Ms. Grant recapped that she will discuss the mentioned concerns with Public Works Director Maurer and with Public Works to see which projects are manageable and can be taken care of. She will then provide feedback at the next meeting. B. Other Unfinished Business Co-Chair Kramlinger indicated the committee, at some point, should review their PTRC goals and continue forward with their plans. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Clean-Up Day Ms. Grant reported that the Clean-Up Day will be held on Saturday, October 25, at 9:00 a.m., and that those attending meet at City Hall. She would also like any members interested to let her know so she can plan accordingly. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2014 Page 5 B. Other New Business Committee Member O’Malley reported that an article in the newsletter stated there would be a series of articles in upcoming newsletters regarding Arden Hills parks. She was wondering if the PTRC members could be involved in writing some of the articles. Council Liaison McClung asked if any member(s) were willing to work with the editor to find out how frequently they have room for articles, as they do have space constraints, and to find out exactly what they are looking for as far as the articles are concerned. Committee Member Stephens indicated she would work with the editor and find out how often they have room for articles, what parks they would like featured, and how much space if available for an article. She will then email the PTRC members with the information. She indicated she would also come up with a template for the articles. Committee Member Michaelson questioned Committee Member Scott on whether he was still planning a TCAAP site visit for the PTRC members. Committee Member Scott indicated his acquaintance tried to set up a session last spring but it got rained out. He commented that if the committee was still interested he could try to reschedule the visit. 5. REPORTS A. City Council Report Council Liaison McClung reported that the City will be holding two State of the City sessions. He indicated the first session was being held at Flahertys on Thursday, September 18, from 7:30-9:00 a.m., and the second session was being held at City Hall on Tuesday, September 23, at 6:30 p.m. Council Liasison McClung encouraged the PTRC members to attend. He indicated the sessions would consist of a brief presentation on TCAAP and the process the City is currently involved in, some of the transportation projects that are going on in the City, and information on recycling, and then there would an opportunity for people to provide feedback and ask questions. He mentioned that the City is rebidding the recycling contract and looking to moving to the larger containers in 2015. He commented that there is a Ramsey County Block Grant for recycling and Ramsey County may be providing the City with money for the first set of recycling totes. Council Liaison McClung reported that staff and Council have had many meetings concerning TCAAP and are currently working on putting together the design standards for the TCAAP neighborhood. Council Liaison McClung indicated the City of Arden Hills has three Council seats expiring the end of 2014. One is the Mayoral seat and two are Councilmember seats. He informed that Mr. Werner has decided not to run for the next term and that Mr. Grant is running uncontested for Mayor and Bob Woodburn, who was a former Mayor in the 1980’s, and Fran Holmes are running uncontested for City Council. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2014 Page 6 B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Ms. Grant distributed her business card so that the PTRC members have her current contact information. 5. NEW BUSINESS None ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Michaelson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m., seconded by Committee Member Stephens. The motion carried unanimously (8-0). NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2014, at 6:30 p.m.