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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-15-22-PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2022, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Marie Hinton called the February 15, 2022 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Chair Marie Hinton, Committee Members Micah Kiernan, Kristine Poelzer, Tim Nelson, Dan Dietz, Paul Beggin, and Council Liaison Steve Scott OTHERS PRESENT: Staff Liaison Joe Vaughan, Public Works Director/City Engineer David Swearingen and Assistant Public Works Director Lucas Miller ABSENT: Committee Members Suzanne McGaugh, Jill Anderson 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by the Committee. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 19, 2022 PTRC Minutes The Committee approved the minutes. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail Projects Update Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said the City Council approved plans and specs for the Snelling Avenue North project that has a ten-foot trail on the west side. Bids will be collected on March 9. The Trail Feasibility Update was also approved for a proposed trail along Old Highway 10 from Lake Valentine Road to County Road 96. The City isn’t committed to constructing the trail but this gives the City a good position for funding opportunities. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen stated the City is applying for bond funding for the Mounds View High School trail improvements. A consultant is also applying for a Safe Routes to School grant. This trail is from the high school to Lake Valentine Road to Old Highway 10/Old Snelling, and south to County Road E2. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 15, 2022 Page 2 Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said Ramsey County is holding a virtual meeting on March 1 about the Lake Johanna Boulevard trail study. There was a previous open house style meeting in the fall that was well attended. The zoom link for the March meeting is on the County web site, and can be accessed through the City website. B. 2022 Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee Work Plan Staff Liaison Vaughan said he would like Committee to finalize the work plan; what direction and areas they’d like to focus on with some specific goals such as what parks they’d like to focus on for buckthorn or general clean up, what trails need maintenance, etc. If anyone had things to add to the draft or things they’d like to take out they could discuss. Chair Hinton asked if anyone had comments on the Purpose and Mission shown on the draft Work Plan. Council Liaison Scott suggested changing the first sentence to say “live, work, or play”. Committee Member Beggin stated that the City Vision says “live, work, and play” so it would be good to keep that language for consistency. Chair Hinton asked for comments on the Ongoing and As Needed section. Committee Member Poelzer discussed item 3. Committee Member Beggin said initially that item was so if they heard about grant opportunities they would let the City Council know and possibly contribute to the writing of grants, but they were never actually involved. Council Liaison Scott thought it went back to a former PTRC coordinator who wrote a lot of grants. He suggested leaving the item to give them more flexibility. Committee Member Poelzer said she would like to review grants and be given the opportunity to make suggestions. Committee Member Dietz asked where the money goes that is available for trees from business development agreements. Council Liaison Scott said the thought the money went into the general fund but was earmarked for trees. Committee Member Dietz noted the Mayor had asked the Committee for input on where to put trees. He thought that should be on the work plan. Council Liaison Scott added that landscaping or other uses wouldn’t be appropriate for this money. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 15, 2022 Page 3 Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen thought there was over $100,000 in the tree fund. There will also be a buddy tree program discussed by the City Council for trees to be planted next to trees with emerald ash borer. They have a list of suggested trees to plant, and have been looking at getting more mature trees. Chair Hinton briefly reviewed the possible priorities list. After discussion it was decided that Tree Placement replace Hazelnut Garden Cleanup on the Park Priority list. Committee Member Poelzer suggested they add a small dog section to Perry Park. Committee Member Dietz said they need to recruit volunteers to help with buckthorn and Earth Day cleanups. Committee Member Poelzer stated that she has volunteer recruitment experience and would be able to come up with a plan proposal. Committee Member Beggin said he would like to know how much money has been donated from the Arden Hills Foundation for benches, and would like to see a better system set up for organizing the placement of them. Committee Member Nelson discussed the addition of a trail from the Elmer Anderson trail to Mounds View High School, even if it wasn’t a paved trail. Committee Member Beggin said he thought that trail was a Ramsey County project. After discussion Item 6a would be revised to include sledding hills at all parks. Committee Member Poelzer suggested 6g also mention senior recreation classes, and multi-age opportunities. Staff Liaison Vaughan mentioned that he gets requests in the summer for volleyball equipment but they have to be aware of irrigation systems in the parks and where stakes are being put. Committee Member Poelzer thought geocaching might draw in middle and high school students. Staff Liaison Vaughan said he looked into geocaching and it is a pretty involved process. To make it official and get put on a map there are a lot of steps to go through. If there are committee members willing to help they could explore it. Chair Hinton and Committee Member Poelzer said they would be willing to work on geocaching. Chair Hinton reviewed the Community Partnership Goals. She wondered if they could have students be committee ambassadors. Committee Member Poelzer requested to add a magician to the list of community events. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 15, 2022 Page 4 Committee Member Beggin said he could check on a magician, and he would like to see music in the parks, in partnership with the schools and colleges. Staff Liaison Vaughan said he contacted the Mounds View High School choir director about music in the parks, he was told spring and summer were difficult to schedule but it could be a possibility for future years. Committee Member Beggin said once they get on the calendar they could possibly make it an annual event as part of the music program. Council Liaison Scott said the National Guard has a band that may be willing to perform. Chair Hinton said she would like to add a tree outreach to the Community Partnership list to see where people would like to see extra green and shade. Committee Member Dietz suggested that committee members identify where they live and reach out to the community in their areas. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said there is a tree inventory map of the ash trees within the city. He isn’t aware of a tree canopy map but he can look for one. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen noted they will revise the work plan for their next meeting and it can be brought to the City Council work session the following week. 4. NEW BUSINESS Committee Member Poelzer asked if they could show on the agenda page when each committee member’s term is up. Committee Member Beggin said they should also note which term the member is on. 5. REPORTS None 6. NEXT MEETING The next PTRC Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2022. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.