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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-23-PTRC Minutes CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Marie Hinton called the February 28, 2023 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Marie Hinton, Committee Members Jill Anderson, Dan Dietz, Mark Kelliher, Tim Nelson, Kristine Poelzer, Kerri Seemann, Kate Olson, Emelia Rogers, and Lacey Loosbrock OTHERS PRESENT: Assistant Public Works Director Lucas Miller, Recreation Supervisor Matt Johnson, Council Liaison Emily Rousseau, and Resident Rich Straumann ABSENT: Committee Member Jill Anderson Introduction of New Members Oaths of Office were given to Mark Kelliher, Kristine Poelzer, Lacey Loosbrock, Kate Olson and Emelia Rogers 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Committee Member Kelliher and seconded by Committee Member Poelzer to add feedback from Council Liaison Rousseau as to the role she plans to take within the committee. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Committee Member Olson and seconded by Committee Member Kelliher to discuss new tree locations under Unfinished Business. Motion passed unanimously. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 24, 2023 PTRC Minutes A motion was made by Committee Member Dietz and seconded by Committee Member Seemann to approve the minutes. Motion passed unanimously. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023 Page 2 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail Projects Update Assistant Public Works Director Miller reported: • Lexington Ave will not be completed until early summer 2023 including the pedestrian access routes on the west side of Lexington. • Safe Routes to School from MVHS to E2 down Lake Valentine Road/Old Highway 10 is scheduled for construction this summer 2023. SRF is preparing documents for bidding. An open house took place this fall. There were $450k in grants for this project. • The City is working with a consultant to pursue grants for the trail from Lake Valentine Road to Highway 96 along Old Highway 10. The feasibility study was completed for this project this last fall. Estimated project cost is $2.6 million. • The Lake Johanna Blvd trail study was completed by Ramsey County and they are currently pursuing funding. The final design is projected for 2028. • An open house for Floral and Arden Manor parks took place in early February. There was a great showing from the residents. Public surveys have been collected and presented to Council for consideration for both projects. Results of the surveys were provided for PTRC last month. Design for both projects are ongoing and construction is slotted for 2023. Arden Manor Park is being funded by grants combined with city funding. Floral Park is city funded. Supply availability could become an issue for the new equipment. • Annual trail maintenance is being scheduled for summer 2023 along Round Lake Rd, Lexington north of 96, Cummings Park and Floral Park. • The CIP for Parks is available online. The budget has been adjusted and will be available when it is approved. • Attachment A is the added trail extension tied to Ramsey County’s Roundabout at Snelling/County Rd E. The extension is due to pedestrian use in this location at the end of Snelling Ave N. Users tend to cut through the residential maintained right of way, so the City is adding this feature to correct that movement. • Attachment B shows the Ramsey County All-Abilities 2050 Transportation Plan – Online Survey. PTRC members should participate in this survey. B. PTRC Council Items Chair Hinton said this was to discuss items that PTRC voted on to refer to the City Council for consideration in 2022. She noted the dog park was missing from the list. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said the $10,000 donation from the Spring Lake Park Lions went toward shade structures at Perry Dog Park. They were delivered in late November and will be installed this year along with a concrete pad at the entrance. Assistant Public Works Director Miller stated making Triangle Park an official park is still in the planning stage with staff. Chair Hinton asked about making part of the Perry Park Dog Park just for small dogs. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said that hasn’t been discussed but may be at a future work session. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023 Page 3 Committee Member Poelzer said that was also requested for the Hazelnut dog park, potentially just using a temporary orange fence. She gave background information on the request to separate the dog sizes. Chair Hinton noted that in July they had made a motion to bring a habitat restoration project forward to the Council. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said that will be approved at the upcoming Council meeting. Chair Hinton talked about the idea of having QR codes in the parks to facilitate surveys. Staff has since been doing surveys, so did they want to go forward with this idea. Committee Member Poelzer liked the idea of a QR code to report problems and give feedback about the parks. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said it could be brought up at a future work session. Committee Member Kelliher said he was opposed to more signs cluttering up the parks. Assistant Public Works Director Miller stated reflective vests for PTRC volunteers was approved and staff could purchase them. He asked that someone send information from a supplier they like. Committee Member Poelzer explained the “levels” of reflective vests they would like to have. Discussion ensued regarding reflective vests. Chair Hinton asked where they were with the pollinator policy. Committee Member Seemann said she had put it on pause to find out more information. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said a subcommittee would be fine, they could meet and report back to the PTRC. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said staff requests that the PTRC submit a proposal for automatic timers for locks at restroom facilities. Public Works Director Swearingen had previously expressed concerns with the idea. Assistant Public Works Director Miller stated investigation will happen this summer at Hazelnut Park to see if a sledding hill is possible, if so, brush clearing would be in the fall. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said name badges for PTRC members had also been approved. Chair Hinton discussed volunteer appreciation ideas that had been suggested. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said there will be a thank you process developed. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023 Page 4 Committee Member Poelzer explained the difference between volunteer appreciation and recognition, and how she has been finding volunteers for projects. Further discussion ensued regarding volunteers, coordination, forms required and types of recognition. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said South Shore Fitness Park and Trail will be approved as the name of the new park on Parkshore Drive. C. Work Plan Goals for 2023 Chair Hinton said they had started on their goals for 2023 and they currently had no goals for trails. She invited Mr. Straumann to share his ideas. Mr. Straumann said the recent Lake Johanna Boulevard Trail study was one of three that have been done. In his opinion the trail portion with the biggest safety issues is the trail in Arden Hills. Ramsey County’s transportation study for 2050 ties into the trails. Sunfish Lake Trail can be walked on Sunday, April 30 during Scoops for Troops. That trail isn’t accessible except during special events, as it is Federal property, but it is being pursued at the County level to have it opened. Round Lake will hopefully be dredged in 2025, after that there may be trails installed around the lake. Building 189 on the TCAAP property will be demolished and a new building will be constructed if a recreation destination is approved, potentially for cross country skiing. He discussed some possibilities to add to the regional trail. Chair Hinton said they are hoping to have a trail walk in the end of May or June so all PTRC members can get familiar with more of the trails. Mr. Straumann said he would be willing to attend a special meeting to talk about Round Lake trails, they could probably get someone from Fish and Wildlife to talk them. The restoration advisory board will be meeting in April. Chair Hinton said if anyone has other ideas to add to the goals to let her know. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. GreenStep Cities Program Committee Member Seemann reported that the City has been a part of the Green Step program but there haven’t been any changes reported for a few years. She said one of the options on the best practices list is to join Bee City USA rather than writing their own pollinator policy. She explained which items she thought they could focus on. Committee Member Kelliher asked what the benefits were to be a Green Step city. He was unsure they were actually doing the items that were highlighted on the list as being done. Council Liaison Rousseau asked if they could have more historical background at the next meeting. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes February 28, 2023 Page 5 B. Tree Locations Assistant Public Works Director Miller said in mid-March there will be some emerald ash borer mitigation items to the Council and using the rest of the tree budget. If they had ideas of where they would like trees they should send him and email. Committee Member Poelzer stated that along the trail in Hazelnut Park there are tree stumps that could be removed and replaced with new trees. Committee Member Olson asked if the City has identified trees that need to come down due to emerald ash borer. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said they treat about 60 trees, usually if they are too far gone or a public safety hazard around trails they will be removed. Committee Member Olson asked if they could have a tree sale like other local cities. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said he didn’t know the answer to that, and it wouldn’t be from the same funds as he was discussing now. Committee Member Kelliher asked if they could define how large a tree they could purchase. Assistant Public Works Director Miller said it would be 2 ½-4” caliper, similar to what was place on Highway 96. 5. REPORTS None 6. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, March 21, 2023 Chair Hinton noted that due to time constraints they would discuss Council Liaison Rousseau’s role within the committee, Green Steps, locks, vests and badges, and 2023 goals at the next meeting. Chair Hinton asked if anyone would volunteer to chair the March meeting, unless they wanted to cancel it. A motion was made by Committee Member Kelliher and seconded by Committee Member Poelzer for Kate Olson to chair the March meeting. Motion passed unanimously. The next PTRC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 2023. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.