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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-22-PTRC MInutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2022, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Marie Hinton called the October 18, 2022 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Marie Hinton, Committee Members Paul Beggin, Kristine Poelzer, Kerri Seemann, and Council Liaison Steve Scott OTHERS PRESENT: Assistant Public Works Director Lucas Miller ABSENT: Committee Members Suzanne McGaugh, Micah Kiernan, Mark Kelliher, Jill Anderson, Tim Nelson and Dan Dietz 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Committee Member Beggin requested to add an update on the recreation programmer position. Council Liaison Scott said the City posted the position and was happy with the quality of the candidates. They hope to hire someone by mid-November, but it will impact some winter programs. Committee Member Beggin also requested the parks list for equipment and facility updates be added to the work plan. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. September 9, 2022 PTRC Minutes No quorum, not approved. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail Projects Update Assistant Public Works Director Miller reported that Lexington Avenue construction is moving slowly, projected to be done sometime in 2023. The Safe Routes to School from Mounds View High School to County Road E2 is on the docket for 2023, the grant was awarded and there will be an open house coming up. The feasibility study for the route from Lake Valentine Road to Hwy 96 was received last week, project cost is roughly $2.6 million, the study will be posted on the website. The Lake Johanna Boulevard trail study is complete and tentatively scheduled for Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 2 construction in 2027. Floral Park improvements will be presented to Council next Monday to approve starting the design. A survey will go to Arden Manor residents to see what improvements they’d like to see at that park with an open house in the next month. Pickle ball striping was installed at Hazelnut and Freeway parks. Committee Member Poelzer said it would be nice to have some kind of name badge for committee members to wear when they attend events. B. PTRC Item Update Committee Member Poelzer said she thought they had talked about the triangle park being an official park since it was donated land and had a welcome sign. Council Liaison Scott said there are some things that he will advocate for but staff generally brings the items to Council. Council depends on staff to tell them if ideas are feasible or not. Committee Member Poelzer mentioned the idea of a sledding hill at Hazelnut Park. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said the larger hill could work but the smaller hill won’t work because of it being too close to wetlands and backyards. Committee Member Poelzer said also at Hazelnut Park there are tree stumps sending roots to the trail and heaving it. Chair Hinton asked if they wanted to have a future official vote about starting a pollinator subcommittee. She thought it could come off the list. C. Parkshore Loop Trail Name Assistant Public Works Director Miller stated Council discussed this at a work session, due to lack of resources to facilitate a contest at the schools Council was asking PTRC to suggest names they can choose from. Chair Hinton thought they could do a Facebook post to make suggestions. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said the name should incorporate the area and that there is exercise equipment. Council wants suggestions from the PTRC. Committee Member Poelzer said she could post on the Arden Hillbillies Facebook page asking for suggestions if staff finds out it is ok to do so. D. 2023 PTRC Work Plan Trail Recommendations Chair Hinton suggested tabling this item until November. She would also like to add park recommendations and trail recommendations. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 3 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Park Stewardship Committee Member Seemann stated that one of the GreenStep Cities best practices is to develop a program to involve community members in hands-on land restoration, invasive species management and stewardship projects. She thought it was something they could work on to advance in the GreenSteps program. Committee Member Seemann said she had residents around Hazelnut Park tell her that the people in their area feel they are responsible for maintaining the park adjacent to their yards so they are clearing out buckthorn, making forts and planting flowers, some of which are invasive species. New owners don’t know what their responsibility is. Assistant Public Works Director Miller responded they are not supposed to do work on City property without filling out the proper forms and coordinating with staff. Sometimes people take it upon themselves to do things that the City hasn’t approved. Committee Member Poelzer said there is a statement on the City website that says residents are encouraged to take out buckthorn in their yards and on park property. (Staff note: The City website under Public Works/Forestry/Buckthorn states “The City encourages residents to remove buckthorn from their own property to maintain and protect the ecological habitat.”) Assistant Public Works Director Miller said they have had complaints with people taking more than the buckthorn and they’ve had to put a stop to it in the past. Committee Member Poelzer said she had posted on the Arden Hillbillies Facebook page that they were looking for people to help. She described the buckthorn removal tool. She would like to see the City newsletter promote the website pages about invasive species. It was decided to bring this item back again when more committee members are present. Committee Member Poelzer said the sign on the north end of the Elmer L. Anderson trail near County Road E near Lake Johanna Beach needs repair. Assistant Public Works Director Miller asked her to report it through the City’s website. B. Park Restroom Locks Committee Member Poelzer said she had seen automatically locking door on restrooms at a Lakeville, MN park. She would like the committee to consider making a motion to request a cost feasibility study to install similar locks at Parry and Cummings Parks. Currently Perry and Cummings parks’ indoor restrooms aren't open unless the facilities/ball field are rented or when the city holds an event. The porta-potties at these two parks could then be used at other AH parks where there currently are none. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 4 Committee Member Beggin thought it was a great idea. He realized there would be expenses to this and cleaning needed. Committee Member Poelzer said it is an amenity the residents of Arden Hills paid for once upon a time that they don’t have access to. Chair Hinton said the item would be tabled until a future meeting with a quorum. C. Review of Past PTRC Goals Assistant Public Works Director Miller said the Mayor was looking for an update on the Work Plan, such as what items had been done or postponed. Committee Member Beggin commented that there was money donated to the Foundation for a bench in someone’s name and he felt the City should contact the family to let them know how much is there. Council Liaison Scott explained the donations are made to the Foundation, the Foundation eventually donates money to the City, and the City Council has to approve the receipt of the donation. Committee Member Beggin said that when someone donates to the Foundation there should be an acknowledgement made to the family that the donation was made for. Committee Member Poelzer noted that if the Foundation is sitting on money the Council wouldn’t know. She said there was a former Recreation employee that used to be the go-between. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said that person may have just taken it upon herself to do that. Committee Member Poelzer thought they should note in the report how many groups of volunteers they’ve had, how many people, how many hours and in what parks. Chair Hinton stated the Perry Park improvements are in progress, they recommended sliding hills and staff is looking at those, there has been a large amount of volunteer work done especially with invasive species, everyone adopted parks and reported on maintenance items, they identified areas that trees could be planted, staff was going to work on updating the park map and info on the website but she wasn’t sure where that was at. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said the website updates would be a winter item for staff. Chair Hinton said they gave input on trails and which trails on the list of recommendations would be completed would be up to Council. Assistant Public Works Director Miller noted item C was in progress. Item E was basically done. Discussion ensued regarding the trail at the senior housing project on Pine Tree Drive. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 5 Chair Hinton reviewed items under the categories of Recreation and Community Partnership. She thought the City should consider having someone on staff do work as a volunteer coordinator. Committee Member Poelzer noted a gap in the trail system on the north side of County Road E. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said filling that gap be Ramsey County’s decision. 5. REPORTS None. 6. NEXT MEETING The next PTRC Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 2022. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.