Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-15 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Co-Chair Phil Kramlinger called the January 20, 2015, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:33 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Co-Chairs Phil Kramlinger and John Van Valkenburg and Committee Members Nancy O’Malley, Steve Scott, Jennifer Stephens, and Rich Straumann. OTHERS PRESENT: Staff Liaison Sara Grant. ABSENT: Committee Members Don Messerly, Chuck Michaelson, Harold Petersen, Matt Trites and Council Liaison Holden. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Co-Chair Van Valkenburg motioned to approve the agenda as corrected seconded by Committee Member O’Malley. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). 2. PRESENTATIONS – November 18, 2014 A. Swearing in Ceremony for Chuck Michaelson, Nancy O’Malley, and Steve Scott. The committee members swore in Committee Members Michaelson, O’Malley and Scott with Co-Chair Van Valkenburg witnessing and signing the Oath of Office. B. Designation of Committee Co-Chair Phil Kramlinger Co-Chair Van Valkenburg inquired if any of the committee members were interested in being the Chair/Co-Chair of the PTRC in 2015. Committee Member Stephens indicated she would take on the role of Chair for 2015. MOTION: Co-Chair Van Valkenburg motioned to nominate Committee Member Stephens as Chair seconded by Committee Member O’Malley. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). Committee Member Straumann offered to substitute as Chair in Ms. Stephens absence. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 2 C. Confirmation of Committee Members Co-Chair Van Valkenburg asked if all members were still interested in being on the PTRC. Ms. Grant indicated she would send an email to the members that were not present to see if they were still interested in being on the committee. MOTION: Co-Chair Kramlinger motioned to nominate the committee members listed seconded by Committee Member Stephens. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). D. Nominations for 2015 Committee Co-Chair/Chair Co-Chair Van Valkenburg recapped that Committee Member Stephens would be taking over as Chair of the PTRC for 2015. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 18, 2014 Co-Chair Van Valkenburg indicated that the first and third sentence of the last paragraph on page 3 should be changed to read Committee Member Michaelson as opposed to Co-Chair Van Valkenburg. MOTION: Co-Chair Van Valkenburg motioned to approve the November 18, 2014, minutes as amended seconded by Co-Chair Kramlinger. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Subcommittee Updates – Trail Access and Safety, Pickle Ball, Survey Analysis and Community Gardens Survey Analysis Subcommittee Committee Member O’Malley reported that per the request of former Council Liaison McClung she reviewed the Community Survey Analysis to see what priority or immediate projects they could bring to Council as a work list. Ms. O’Malley indicated that from what she could determine residents felt trails and links were the most important items. She also found that there were a number of things that had already been done from the survey results like trail signage, basketball nets, and gates down on paths. Committee Member O’Malley also indicated that there were a few comments on programming like possibly earlier class times in the evenings or having more lifetime sports. She indicated the other most common thing she found was Fox Ridge residents wanting more equipment and more varied equipment at Royal Hills Park and also comments about replacement of outmoded equipment at the parks. She felt it might be beneficial to have an article in the newsletter explaining the playground replacement program/schedule. Staff Liaison Grant commented that Cummings Park and Valentine Park have the most updated equipment and that Perry Park will be the next to get new equipment. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg asked Ms. Stephens if she could work on an article. Ms. Stephens asked if something could be put on the City website stating that the City is constantly improving the parks and that replacement of the equipment is on a 15- Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 3 year schedule. She indicated they could also mention that residents can check the Arden Hills web page to see what parks are up next for equipment replacement. Committee Member O’Malley indicated she feels the PTRC is doing a good job of doing many of the things that the residents want. Committee Member Straumann suggested they administer another Community Analysis Survey in the near future, as it has been a couple years since the last survey was done. Community Gardens – Floral Park Committee Member O’Malley recapped that she along with Committee Member Messerly are the subcommittee working on how to rehabilitate the three gardens in Floral Park in order to turn them into gardens that will attract birds, butterflies and pollinating insects along with using native plants. She mentioned at one point the PTRC had discussed using Buzz from the U of M, however, they charge for their services. Instead they have found a volunteer, Dr. Mullens, who is a retired horticulture professor and lives in Arden Hills, to be their advisor. Ms. O’Malley indicated that Dr. Mullens has looked at the gardens and he feels they can be replenished with native plants. She stated that she and Committee Member Messerly are going to write an article for the newsletter asking residents for plant donations. She indicated they will also ask Council for some funding. Committee Member O’Malley asked if they would present the request for funding to Council at the March Work Session. Staff Liaison Grant indicated that Council is a little behind because of the TCAAP meetings, but she will get a finalized date when she knows their schedule. She also indicated that there is money in the budget for perennials. Ms. Grant suggested that maybe the PTRC could get donations from the Arden Hills Foundation and also put it on the website. Committee Member O’Malley asked if the committee members felt it was a good idea to move forward with this. It was the consensus of the committee to move forward with the pollinating gardens. The members also suggested that Mr. Mullen do a garden study and look at all the parks or that he come along on the PTRC park tour. Trail Report Committee Member Straumann provided the PTRC with a map showing the proposed trail at Rice Creek Commons. Mr. Straumann pointed out that the map also includes a proposed trail head for cross-country skiing. He indicated that snow making is a possibility as there is water stored in a reservoir on top of the hill. Mr. Straumann indicated that the entire metropolitan area is trying to have six different areas for cross- country skiing – Buck Hill, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Lake Elmo, Battle Creek, and this one would be #6. He then explained the map with the proposed infrastructure and also discussed other various trail segments that will be completed in the near future and ones that are needed. He stated one of his goals is to have a tri-city north/west Ramsey County trail hiking/biking day. Committee Member Straumann asked Ms. Grant how trails can be added to the trails map and if anyone could work on doing that. She indicated City Engineer Anderson has been really helpful and they could possibly have an insert showing the new segment. Discussion ensued on where various trail connections are needed and areas that have safety concerns because of needed trail segments. Ms. Straumann indicated that there will also be a trail from Bethel through Pine Tree Center going in this summer and from Flaherty’s over to Lindey’s. He asked Ms. Grant if she could provide periodic updates on the projects as City Engineer Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 4 Anderson should have plans and documents. Ms. Grant indicated that she believes there was a bidding last week and she can send the information to Mr. Straumann. Committee Member Straumann suggested that the committee take a look at their trail gap map. Co- Chair Van Valkenburg asked Ms. Grant to get the trail gap map to the subcommittee for review and then the subcommittee can set up a meeting and report on it. Co-Chair Kramlinger commented that filling in the gaps and making the connections will improve safety but that there are some gaps that need to be addressed. Committee Member Straumann indicated he feels the prior suggestion of having a joint meeting with Ramsey County on trails and he is a wonderful idea. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg suggested they invite Ramsey County to one of their meetings. Committee Member Straumann asked Ms. Grant to make contact with Planner Scott Yonke or Gus who has experience with trails. He commented that at the joint meeting the PTRC usually gives a presentation to Council on their upcoming projects and if the PTRC would like a regional trail they need to partner with Ramsey County. Committee Member Straumann then gave a brief update on TCAAP and reviewed the master plan and map. Pickle Ball Staff Liaison Grant indicated that she and Committee Member Michaelson had a meeting and decided to add a pickle ball court to one of the courts at Cummings. Ms. Grant indicated that she did some research on what would be needed to convert a tennis court into a dual pickle ball/tennis court. She commented that during the summer, she has playground programs going on at Cummings and has a staff member there monitoring the building who would be able to rent out the pickle ball equipment and could also keep track of how many people are playing. Staff Liaison Grant also indicated that she will do a blurb in the Recreation Guide and on the senior page to make residents aware that pickle ball will be coming to Arden Hills. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg indicated that he feels better communication with the community is needed and that the committee use Ms. Stephens as a resource. B. Unfinished Business Ms. Grant provided the committee members with a brochure about the Adopt-A-Garden program. She stated she mirrored some of the information from other cities that have an Adopt-A-Garden program. Ms. Grant stated she found that with most of the cities they are asking volunteers to commit for a year. She indicated she is thinking of putting the brochure into the utility bill to get the word out to the residents. Staff Liaison Grant also stated that the City would provide the materials for the volunteers and that she would have signs made for the gardens indicating who adopted the garden. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg asked about whether the basketball backboards had been repaired. He asked if Ms. Grant looked into how often they were replaced. Ms. Grant commented that the City does not have a maintenance program or log sheet showing when things have been replaced, but that that is something she will start doing. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 5 Ms. Grant announced that the Recreation Programmer position has been offered to a graduate of Northwestern College. Co-Chair Van Valkenburg asked if he and Committee Member O’Malley should work with Ms. Grant on a maintenance schedule for the basketball backboards and also on which parks should be done first so they can get that to Council in March. He indicated he feels the PTRC should have a basketball replacement plan and do one park every year. Committee Member Straumann questioned if the committee was going to do a Dog Park in the summer. Ms. Grant indicated they would again be doing a dog park at Hazelnut Park and that they have not talked about offering it anywhere else. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. 2015 PTRC Goals Staff Liaison Grant indicated the committee will be discussing the 2015 PTRC goals at the next meeting. She indicated the goals would include trails, community gardens, and pickle ball. B. Other New Business None 5. REPORTS A. City Council Report None B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report Ms. Grant mentioned that the Arden Hills Newsletter had an article about her recent promotion to Recreation Coordinator and that she would send them a copy. Staff Liaison Grant indicated that staff is working on completing the Spring/Summer Recreation guide and that staff is ahead of schedule. Ms. Grant commented that classes are going great and that a lot of the After School Programs at Island Lake are filled up. Ms. Grant indicated she is offering some new adult classes for Spring/Summer and also a Senior Yoga Class and a Senior Walking Club. Ms. Grant mentioned that there are 25 children in the skating program and she is teaching the class. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes January 20, 2015 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Van Valkenburg moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m., seconded by Committee Member O’Malley. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). NEXT MEETING The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, February 17, 2015.