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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-20-21-PTRC MInutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair John Van Valkenburg called the April 20, 2021 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair John Van Valkenburg, Committee Members Jill Anderson, Paul Beggin, Micah Kiernan, Marie Hinton, Suzanne McGaugh, Tim Nelson, Dan Dietz, and Rich Straumann OTHERS PRESENT: Staff Liaison Joe Vaughan, Interim Public Works Director David Swearingen and Council Liaison David Grant, ABSENT: Committee Members Terry Finlay, Jill Anderson, Harold Peterson and Kristine Poelzer 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was unanimously approved by the Committee. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 16, 2021 PTRC Minutes The minutes will be approved at the next meeting. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. South Snelling Trail Update Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said the City Council will host a Public Hearing on April 26 to give residents the opportunity to share comments and concerns on the Snelling Avenue improvements and trail. The latest feasibility report can be found on the City website. B. Mounds View High School Trail Update Interim Public Works Director Swearingen reported that he would be meeting with the design consultant to discuss the concept plan. Progress has been made and efforts are being coordinated with Ramsey County for the segment along Old Highway 10. Ramsey County is planning to Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2021 Page 2 repave Old Highway 10 from County Road E to Highway 96 in 2023. May 31 is the contracted date for shovel ready plans. C. Lake Johanna Boulevard Trail Update Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said the RFP for the corridor study is still out, proposals will be received by Ramsey County on April 29. Proposals will be scored mid-May and a design consultant will be chosen. Council Liaison Grant added that Ramsey County will have a financial participation for the City to contribute. Neither the County nor the City know what the final design will be or how much it will cost. Also, at the Council Work Session, Ramsey County affirmed that Lexington Avenue between County Road E and 694 is slated for 2022. Committee Member Kiernan said the Work Session discussion was positive. D. Trail Priority List Committee Member Hinton said the Chair Van Valkenburg and Committee Member Straumann had done a great job compiling the list and she thought it looked good. Council Liaison Grant requested that staff send the memos to the City Council for review. Committee Member Beggin noted the most likely near or long-term future projects seem to be the ones in cooperation with Ramsey County. Committee Member Straumann addressed item number 7. He said MnDOT will be meeting with Arden Hills and Roseville. MnDOT has suggested to Roseville that they put in a sidewalk from Lydia to Arcade. Roseville would like to go to Glenhill. The homeowner that has been moving a trail from Glenhill to Old Snelling said he would continue to mow that section. Committee Member Straumann said there is funding for one bench in Crepeau Nature Preserve and he is working on funding for a second bench in memory of Don Messerly. He said the burdock has been removed, some buckthorn was chipped up and those chips were added to the trail. There will be more work done Saturday, May 8. The composite benches probably need to be power washed. Committee Member Straumann commented that item 9 was Rice Creek Commons and the Rice Creek Regional Trail, the trail along the AHATS fence is on hold until they grading is done for Rice Creek Commons. Also, last fall the National Guard put a new dirt trail around Sunfish Lake, it should be paved sometime this spring. He is hoping residents will have access to that trial someday. Staff Liaison Vaughan said he received a call from a Councilmember regarding a sidewalk connection on Cleveland Avenue North from Thom Drive to County Road E2. A resident was wondering if that was something the PTRC would like to explore putting that on the list. Committee Member Straumann said that was included on the list. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2021 Page 3 Committee Member Straumann asked if the Trident senior housing project had a start date. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen replied that it did not, there were still some development agreement items to work out. Committee Member Beggin wondered if there would still be an exercise area proposed by Trident. Council Liaison Grant said the trail is still in the plan with about six different stations along the trail. The City and the developer are working out who will maintain the trail. The Committee unanimously approved that the priority list be presented to the City Council. E. Park Benches Update Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said there has been approval for four benches that were brought to Council in January. A fifth bench will be brought forward at an upcoming meeting. Quotes have been gathered, but delivery time in unknown. The goal is to install them this summer. Committee Member Beggin felt there was really good information about benches this year. He wondered who’s role is it to know if there is money for a memorial bench and who checks with the people that donated regarding placement and plaque; what steps are needed by the Committee or staff. Chair Van Valkenburg said the Arden Hills Foundation had been asked what funds were available. The Committee writes a thank you letter. Coordinating placement goes through Public Works. He felt the Foundation and the Committee should talk with the donors. Council Liaison Grant said the four benches were requested by the City Council. The Arden Hills Foundation Board voted to fund them. He is not aware of a personal or family designation related to those four benches. The City Council formally accepts the money from the Foundation at a Council meeting, the Foundation cuts a check to the City and the City buys the benches. The City determines where the benches should go. Committee Member Straumann noted the bench from State Farm will have a plaque added and the location has been determined in Crepeau Nature Preserve. He has pledges toward a memorial bench for Don Messerly totaling $210 at this time, they hope to also place that bench at Crepeau Nature Preserve. There may be more pledges for a bench for Chuck Michaelson also. Committee Member Dietz said his company has been donating money for Floral Park but it appears their balance isn’t showing. Chair Van Valkenburg thanked the committee member and his company and said he would check into the funds. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2021 Page 4 F. Spring/Summer Recreation Programs Update Staff Liaison Vaughan said the City’s spring programs will begin this month. There are two programs for adults starting, yoga and tai chi. Youth tennis lessons are beginning in May. Seasonal staff is being hired. There aren’t as many participants as in pre-COVID years, but people are starting to register for programs. Committee Member Dietz added that the AARP driving classes are being offered online. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Location for Tree Planting Staff Liaison Vaughan said at the last PTRC meeting there was discussion about where the committee would like to see trees planted. Donations were received from the Friends of the Parks and Trails for a tree to be planted in Valentine Park. Council Liaison Grant said some of the developments that have taken trees down and can’t replant on the property need to pay fees and the City can determine where to plant new trees. New Perspective has money that will be available and the committee can make recommendations to Council as to where they’d like to see trees planted. There will be a lot of trees that can be planted. Chair Van Valkenburg suggested that committee members check their local areas and make suggestions at the next meeting. Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said Google Earth might show bare spots in the city. B. Parks and Trails Survey Staff Liaison Vaughan commented that at the last meeting the idea was brought up of surveying residents about improvements they feel would be welcomed in the parks and trails. He wondered what other thoughts the committee had about a survey. Chair Van Valkenburg said to start they could ask residents as they are out and about. Committee Member Nelson felt they should do something more comprehensive, possibly an on- line survey. Chair Van Valkenburg thought the idea was good but a lot of work. He thought people generally tell the Council or committee members when they have ideas. Committee Member Beggin said he brought it up because he saw so many people on the trails during COVID and he thought people don’t really know that there is a parks, trails and recreation committee and that they could have input. Committee Member Anderson wondered if they could have the City post on the Facebook page asking for feedback and providing contact information, or in the newsletter. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2021 Page 5 Interim Public Works Director Swearingen thought it was a great idea but creating the content of the survey is the most important place to start. They could have a general comment section in the survey but it’s best to direct them with specific questions. Committee Member Straumann suggested they consider making a trifold brochure with trail locations and updating the trail signs. C. Crepeau Nature Preserve Update Chair Van Valkenburg said Committee Member Straumann has organized the neighbors and the committee to work in the preserve. The next cleanup is scheduled for May 8. Committee Member Straumann said they would be distributing information to area residents, and possibly posting the flyer on the signs in the park. D. Summer PTRC Meeting Schedule Committee Member Straumann suggested instead of having a May meeting the committee members come to Crepeau Nature Center on May 8 to help with the cleanup. In June they could meet at the County Road I parking lot and do a walking tour of Building 189 and the Rice Creek Regional Trail. Chair Van Valkenburg asked if they should they have a meeting in May or should they do the activities suggested by Committee Member Straumann, possibly a committee picnic in July. He noted they usually don’t have a meeting in August. The committee unanimously voted to approve no meeting in May, but working at the Creapeau Nature Center on May 8, a tour of the Rice Creek Regional Trail in June, a picnic in July and no meeting in August. E. Park Maintenance and Improvement Updates for 2021 and 2022 Interim Public Works Director Swearingen said there is no park playground equipment replacement scheduled, just routine maintenance. There is some crack sealing on hard surfaces being done. They are also working on the Perry dog park, and monitoring the seeded grass growth. Staff Liaison Vaughan said he would send committee members the City website link to report park maintenance issues. F. Community Development Block Grant Funds Staff Liaison Vaughan commented that leading into 2022 they have a playground that will be replaced at Arden Manor Park. The City submitted and application through the Community Development Block Grant. County staff administering the funds supports the project and will be recommending to the board to fully fund the project. More planning will take place once funding is granted. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes April 20, 2021 Page 6 5. REPORTS Council Liaison Grant reported that the development of an office warehouse located in the northeast quadrant of 694 and 35W had a development agreement approved by the City and it appears they will build. It will be approximately 350,000 square feet. The two senior housing projects are on track to be built, but lumber prices are causing some concern. The Brausen gas station development is moving quickly. There will be a Public Hearing at the upcoming Council meeting on the trail section on Snelling to County Road E. 6. NEXT MEETING The next PTRC Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 18, 2021 was cancelled. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.