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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-21-15 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Stephens called the April 21, 2015, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:35 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jennifer Stephens and Committee Members Chuck Michaelson, Nancy O’Malley, Harold Petersen, Rich Straumann and John Van Valkenburg. OTHERS PRESENT: Council Member Brenda Holden, Staff Liaison Sara Grant, Recreation Programmer Aaron Thelen and Bob Mullen - Guest. ABSENT: Committee Members Matt Trites 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member O’Malley would like to add flowers to Floral Park. Committee Chair Stephens motioned to approve the agenda seconded by Committee Member Michaelson and Committee Member Peterson. The motion carried unanimously (7- 0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 21, 2015 Committee Member Scott indicated that he was absent at the last meeting and should be reflected in the minutes. MOTION: Chair Stephens motioned to approve the April 21, 2015, minutes as amended seconded by Committee Member Straumann and Member Van Valkenburg. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Basketball Court Improvements – Donation Letter Committee Member O’Malley, Committee Member Van Valkenburg reviewed the letters at the PTRC Meeting everyone decided that the letters should be combined. The PTRC will be asking some of the local businesses for donations for some basketball system improvements. This way we could spread out the cost and maintain them over time and not all at once. Some of the letters are addressed to some of the businesses around Cummings Park. The four companies that we are sending the first batch of letters to are Boston Scientific, Gradient, Land O’ Lakes, Fair Isaac. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2015 Page 2 We would also like to come up with some other companies that we can send letters to as well. Committee Member Van Valkenburg asked Committee Members if we should be sending the letters out to just a few companies right now or if we should get a list going of all the companies we would like to send letters to. Below is the list that all Committee Members came up with: Anchor Bank, Allegra Printing, Bethel University, Brausen Family Repair, Bremer Bank, George’s Shoe Repair, McDonald’s, North Heights Lutheran Church, University of Northwestern, Presbyterian Homes, Smith Medical, Staples, Wells Fargo, Cub, Target, Lexington Station, Trader Joes, Now Bike and Fitness, Frattalone’s Ace Hardware, Walgreens, and TCF Bank. Committee Member Van Valkenburg mentioned that we can ask some of the businesses for general donations. These donations don’t have to be directed to a specific park. Committee Member O’Malley wanted to clarify how much a new basketball system would cost at each site. We are asking for $2500 per basketball system. These prices include the installation and tear down of the existing system. Some parks have two basketball systems in place and that is why the cost would double to $5000. Council Member Holden stated that if we ask for a specific donation or amount people are more willing to give. If more than one company provides a donation for the same thing, we would then contact that company to see if their donation can be used for a new park bench, or tennis court improvements, etc… Chair Stephens stated that we could be a little less specific when it comes to some of the other businesses that we are asking for donations. Instead of listing the replacement of basketball systems we could list out some of the other donations that the PTRC think would benefit each park. Committee Member Michaelson asked how we get the letter to the right person. Staff Liaison Grant mentioned that she has some contact information for some of the local businesses and would send those out to them. If we do not know the contact person for some of the businesses we would like to send the letters to – we would just need to contact the business and ask who the Manager/Store Owner is. Council Member Holden mentioned that we should change the sentence that we would like the basketball systems up and running by this summer to 2015. We should also add Jennifer Stephens name to the letter. B. PTRC & Arden Hills City Council Meeting Dates Staff Liaison Grant asked Council Member Holden when would be a good time for the PTRC and City Council to meet to discuss some of the topics that are a priority for the PTRC. Council Member Holden mentioned that Staff Liaison Grant would need to speak with the City Administrator to set up a meeting date and time that would work for everyone. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2015 Page 3 Committee Member Van Valkenburg would like to know when the City Council approves the budget. The City Council looks over the budget in August and September and then it gets voted on in December. If the PTRC would like to ask for anyhting we would want to meet with the Council in June or July. We have approval to purchase flowers for the Floral Park Gardens. Committee Member Michaelson would like to get information to the Council by June or July so they know what some of the inputs are that PTRC Members have. C. Floral Park Gardens Bob Mullen retired horticulturist from the University of Minnesota has been out to the Floral Gardens. Bob Mullen spoke with the PTRC about adding to the three gardens at Floral Park. We would like to add native plants to the three gardens. Bob has been evaluating what plants are in the three gardens. (What we can do with them this year and what we can do with them next year.) One of the beds is full of day lilies, another one of the garden beds is full of ornamental grass, and the third bed needs a full makeover but it is already in progress. Some of the flowers that we are looking to get in to the third bed would be some Black Eyed Susan’s, and some of the flowers that are already in resident’s back yards or gardens. Bob purchased some flowers that will help with the bee and butterfly population. Bob would like to establish existing areas along the trails where he can add native plants to the existing areas. Bob bought a lot of different varieties of seeds to plant at various locations throughout the City. We would like some members from the PTRC to help out with the Floral Park Gardens. Chair Stephens asked what other plants could be donated to the Arden Hills Foundation for some of the local community gardens. Bob Mullen suggested that any native plants will work. At this point we will have enough plants for this year. We would like to see how well the plants work at this point and reevaluate next year. Staff Liaison Grant mentioned that the Public Works Department will be putting water barrels at Floral Park for the gardens. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2015 Page 4 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Bark Park – Dog Park Equipment Dog Park Equipment is something new and exciting to add to the Arden Hills dog park. Council Member Holden would like to make sure that the dog park is being utilized by residents. We will be adding a question to the summer survey to see how many residents use the dog park. Our Bark and Recreation Day will be held on Saturday, July 25th at the Hazelnut Park Dog Park. Staff Liaison Grant mentioned that if we had an interested Eagle Scout – maybe they would be interested. Chair Stephens mentioned that we could use the tunnel from a park that would be getting replaced for our dog park. Recycle some materials to make them dog friendly. Staff Liaison Grant mentioned storing the equipment in one of the warming houses that is not being used in the winter. Recreation Programmer Aaron Thelen mentioned that the PTRC could get some donations from the local pet stores around the area, and would be able to get their name out there as well. B. Park Tour Staff Liaison Grant thought it would be a good idea to invite local residents and new residents to the Park Tour. We pay for a school bus to take us around to every park in Arden Hills. What a great way for residents to see each park. We would like to put an article in the newsletter. Staff Liaison Grant mentioned that she could send invites out to new residents in our community. This would be an opportunity to get people involved with the PTRC, and parks in general. 5. REPORTS A. City Council Report Council Member Holden apologized for missing the last couple of PTRC meetings. Trinity Lutheran Church is going to have a community garden available for people to use. Plots will be 10 ft by 10 ft if anyone is interested. The City Council is working very hard on TCAAP – coming up with the final plans. Parks are located in the creek neighborhood, two parks in the hill neighborhood, and a walkway park from County Road H to the AHATS property. The PTRC may want to revisit what amenities we would like. (ball fields, parks, indoor space, gym, etc…) The County Road E Bridge is down and under construction. There will be a trail/sidewalk on each side of it. 35W to Mounds View High School Trail will be going in next year. County Road F will be getting a new sidewalk as well over 35W that will be happening this year. A lot of new sidewalk improvements and trails will be added. The City Council will be contacting the railroad to talk about New Brighton Road improvements. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 21, 2015 Page 5 B. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Report If you read the Arden Hills Notes you will see the article written about Aaron Thelen. We had our Annual Egg Hunt at Cummings Park on April 4th and had a wonderful turnout. We had around 100 kids at Cummings Park for the event. We have now ordered new basketball nets for all of the Parks in Arden Hills. This is a money saving effort and improves all of our courts in Arden Hills. The Public Works meeting that was scheduled with the Arden Hills City Council was cancelled. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Scott moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m., seconded by Committee Member Petersen. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). NEXT MEETING The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 18th at 6:30 p.m.