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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-17 PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Rich Straumann called the January 17, 2017, meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rich Straumann, Committee Members Terry Finlay, Nancy O’Malley, Harold Petersen, and John Van Valkenburg OTHERS PRESENT: Council Liaison Mayor David Grant, Council Member Steve Scott, Staff Liaison Sara Knoll, Staff Aaron Thelen, Interim Public Works Director Andy Brotzler, Arden Hills Resident and Guest Paul Beggin. ABSENT: Committee Members Josh Bloyer, and Keri Bloyer 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: The agenda was approved by the Committee unanimously (5-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 17, 2017 Minutes MOTION: Committee Member Petersen motioned to approve the December 20, 2016 minutes, and seconded by Committee Member Van Valkenburg. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Joint Meeting Presentation with Arden Hills City Council PTRC Members went through the joint meeting presentation that they will be presenting to the Arden Hills City Council at an upcoming work session. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Jan. 17, 2017 Page 2 Staff Liaison Knoll stated that the slides and pictures have been updated for the upcoming joint work session. Committee Member Van Valkenburg suggested that we add the park names on the pictures as well. This will save on time when we are presenting to the City Council. Committee Chair Straumann stated that we changed the PTRC Goals ongoing O on going as needed slide to have four main points. We have added four main topic points – Parks, Trails, Recreation and Community Partnerships. Committee Chair Straumann and the PTRC Members would like a fact sheet on how the Coho Menk Memorial Award came about. This will be helpful when continuing this program in the future. Having a list of guidelines on why we gave it to that specific playground leader. Staff Liaison Knoll gave the PTRC Members an update on the new signs that staff ordered for the Perry Park Dog Park and Arden Manor Park. There will be two signs that say “Dog Park” and PW staff will put at the entrance of Perry Park. There will be a new sign with the correct hours listed and it will allow residents to know that Perry Park Dog Park is open year round. Committee Member Van Valkenburg asked if we should include the new volleyball system that was installed at Hazelnut Park in the slide show. We have now added the volleyball picture to the recreation slide. Committee Member Van Valkenburg questioned the status of the Perry Park playground replacement for this year as it was supposed to take place in 2016. Interim Public Works Director Brotzler stated that Staff Liaison Knoll followed the process but with the staff transition that took place, there was no way to continue until a new Public Works Director was hired. Staff is hopeful that in 2017 the playground will be updated. Committee Chair Straumann discussed the Sampson Park obstacle course and what is being done with the completion of the project. The Public Works Department will help with the building of the obstacle course and we hope to have it up and running by spring 2017. Staff Liason Knoll updated the PTRC Members on the status of the beehives for this year. Staff Liason Knoll has a meeting set up with the Bee Keeper (Andy) to discuss how many hives the City would like to have this year and the locations. In 2016, The City of Arden Hills had two beehives on City/Park property. One beehive was located at Floral Park to help with the pollination of the Floral Park Gardens, and one beehive was at City Hall. Interim Public Works Director Brotzler gave an update on the City Council Work Session that took place before the PTRC Meeting. The City Council discussed the Highway 96 trail still being a priority but it is not as high as a priority Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Jan. 17, 2017 Page 3 as some of the other trail connections in Arden Hills. The City Council has given staff direction to look at extending the Old Snelling Trail north in 2017 and the costs that would be associated with it. Staff Liaison Knoll stated that this would be a great improvement to our trail system. It would create more access to the Safe Routes to Schools Trail. This would also give the City the option to extend the trail further north to Valentine Park and then Mounds View High School. Committee Chair Straumann stated that we would like to continue discussion on the New Brighton Road trail for 2017. Committee Member O’Malley and Committee Member Van Valkenburg asked how many benches are currently at Crepeau Nature Preserve. Staff Liaison Knoll stated that she would do a bench inventory and bring it back to the Committee. Committee Chair Straumann informed the PTRC Committee that the thumb road would be going in this year. Committee Member O’Malley asked about the Bethel Trail Open House that took place at Arden Hills City Hall. Staff Liaison Knoll spoke about the open house and the communication that took place with the residents that attended the open house. Some of the residents have concerns about the trail going in on the west side of Old Snelling. Staff spoke with these residents in detail on why the trail would be going in on the West side of the street. Interim Public Works Director Brotzler stated that staff would continue to have communication with the residents that the trail project will effect. Interim Public Works Director Andy Brotzler suggested that we bring a trail map to the Arden Hills City Council for them to adopt in the future. He stated by having a trail map that has future improvements indicated will allow residents to know what the City of Arden Hills will be adding in the future. Mayor Grant and City Council Member Scott joined the PTRC meeting after the work session at 7:10 p.m. Mayor Grant discussed which trail projects are going to be beneficial for the residents of Arden Hills. He stated that they would be in areas that get heavy use. Mayor Grant was pleased that the trail priorities that the City Council discussed matched the vision of the PTRC Committee. A discussion continued about the park amenities that will be in TCAAP. Mayor Grant spoke to the PTRC Committee about the Civic Space that is designated in TCAAP. The Arden Hills City Council discussed what should go in that space. The Arden Hills City Council decided that putting together a task force with committee members from each committee would be the best idea. A discussion continued about the Civic Space with Mayor Grant and Committee Members. Interim Public Works Director Brotzler stated that the PTRC Committee should wait until the Council has a plan in place on how they would like to move forward Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Jan. 17, 2017 Page 4 with the Civic Space. The City Council will put some guidelines in place to have the committees follow. Committee Chair Straumann discussed the Ramsey County Partnership slide. He wanted to make sure that the slide listed the different Ramsey County Regional Trails that are in Arden Hills along with Tony Schmidt Regional Park. B. Memorandum of Understanding Committee Chair Straumann discussed the Memorandum of Understanding with Committee Members. All PTRC members should be aware of what the developers plan is for each park in Rice Creek Commons. 4. NEXT MEETING The next PTRC Committee meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, February 21st. The Arden Hills City Council will be having their retreat in March and have decided to postpone our joint work session. We will now be meeting with the Arden Hills City Council after their retreat in March. Date – TBD. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m. with a unanimous vote (5-0).