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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-15-23-PTRC MinutesPage 1 of 7 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Committee Chair Marie Hinton called the August 15, 2023 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Marie Hinton, Committee Members, Mark Kelliher, Kerri Seemann, Kristine Poelzer, Jill Anderson, Kate Olson OTHERS PRESENT: Council Liaison Emily Rousseau and Recreation Supervisor Matt Johnson ABSENT: Committee Members Nancy Jacobson, Dan Dietz, Timothy Nelson, Emelia Rogers and Lacy Loosbrock and Assistant Public Works Director Lucas Miller. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion was made by Committee Member Kelliher and seconded by Committee Member Poelzer to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed unanimously. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. June 13, 2023 PTRC Minutes Committee Member Kelliher requested clarification on Item 2A, referring to the “motion at the bottom of page 5” of the June 13, 2023 minutes. has something to do with color choice. Committee Member Kelliher offered an amendment Item 3C of the June 13, 2023 Minutes, Interim Buckthorn Management Solution. Rewrite minutes, revision would begin at the end of the third line, after “hire a heard of goats”. The wording should be “Hazelnut Park and Floral Park are on the list for the upcoming grant cycle with Green River Greening and the amount of the grant award will be known this fall payable in June 2024. Hopefully a similar grant will be submitted next year. Committee Member Kelliher plans on suggesting the Chatham Trails are for that grant application. This means that it will be another two years before the area of Chatham Trails that has benefited from Buckthorn harvesting will go through full remediation. To ensure that all the work done so far is not lost Committee Member Kelliher is proposing that PTRC recommend the engagement of a contractor to bring in another herd of goats to browse down the resurging Page 2 of 7 Buckthorn in that area. The cost of that endeavor will be $4500 this year, that price includes___________ in the grazed area.” A motion was made by Committee Member Kelliher and seconded by Committee Member Jill Anderson to amend the June 13, 2023 minutes as referred above. Motion passed unanimously. Committee Member Polzer stated that on page 2, Item 3B the minutes should be corrected to say “how many volunteers Arden Hills has”. Removing “they” and changing has to “have”. A motion was made by Committee Member Polzer and seconded by Committee Member Jill Anderson to amend the June 13, 2023 minutes as referred above. Motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Committee Member Kelliher and seconded to Committee Member Jill Anderson approve the minutes, as amended. Motion passed unanimously. 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Updates Council Member Rousseau reported that the Youth Positions were approved. Between the Economic Development Commission and the PTRC there are five candidates, some with interest in both. Final interviews are tomorrow. Committee Member Kelliher asked for further information on the candidates. Council Member Rousseau responded that they are Mounds View High School students. One we interviewed for the PTRC their interest is in the trails and native plants. Others are yet to be interviewed. Committee Member Polzer asked about appointing a mentor for the Youth Member. Council Member Rousseau responded that after we have the decisions we can discuss which Committee Member would be a good fit. Council Member Rousseau reported that the Council did approve the Arden Manor and Floral Park improvements. The Arden Manor hard court was cut and it was requested that Staff apply for a grant this fall to help cover the costs. The costs were reduced by $115,000. Council was very disappointed that the costs had gone up 30% since the May estimate. Monetary investments by the City will be $606,000 for Floral Park and $60,000 for Arden Manor, and $189,000 for Arden Manor that is grant funded. Committee Member Kelliher commented that this $606,000 does not include the MN Legacy Fund monies for the remediation for the buckthorn. This will be almost $750,000 worth of improvements at Floral park when the grant monies are included. Page 3 of 7 Council Member Rousseau noted that PMP Street and Utility Improvement Projects were approved and this includes five parallel parking stalls and some trail rehabilitation at Floral Park. Committee Member Polzer commented that currently there are not any parking spots at Floral Park. Council Member Rousseau replied that there are not any spots currently, so this will increase the total to five and will be put in Summer 2024. Council Member Rousseau relayed that Council Member Monson noted that an ADA compatible portable toilet would make a positive at Perry Park. Floral and Arden Manor parks will have larger hard surface pads for that style of portable toilet. She asked if this Committee be interested in discussing this type of update at all parks. Discussion ensued about the actual number of ADA portable toilets at various Arden Hills parks. Committee Member Polzer commented that she would like to see at least one portable toilet at each park, and it should be an ADA size. Chair Hinton felt that we should make our parks as inclusive as possible. She asked Council Member Rousseau to clarify the need. Council Member Rousseau responded that defining whether this type of improvement should be added to the PTRC annual plan or that is possibly a more urgent need. This item will be added to the agenda for the next meeting for discussion. Council Member Rousseau reported that a request was submitted to the State from capital funds back in June for bonding for a trail going north on Old Highway 10 Valentine Park. The request is for $1.5 million for a trail along that highway. They City will also be pursuing Met Council Regional Solicitation to look at opportunities for safe routes for schools. We should know if any of this bonding will go forward sometime in January with the Governor’s budget bill. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. PTRC Member Updates Chair Hinton began a report on Park and Trail Assignments evaluations: Crepeu Park - beautiful as always. She did submit to the city tracker website that there is a little bridge that goes over a stream that needs to be leveled because it sinks in parts and is hazardous. Suggested a sign on each side noting “uneven surface”. For future consideration there is an area outside that a neighbor is mowing that would be a good space for a natural play area. Ingerson Park - The basketball net need to be replaced. Portable toilet is very clean. The picnic table by the basketball area is often covered in bottles & trash. Needs a recycle and trash bins by the picnic table instead of or in addition to under the shelter. This was put into the city tracker, also. Page 4 of 7 Committee Member Polzer Sampson Park - No graffiti. Entering Sampson on one of the trees to the left of the basketball court there is a brown sign with white print that says “Welcome” with hours & rules for park. It is not visible, because a branch has grown in front of it. Asked for branches to be cut down or the sign to be moved on the city tracker. Appears to be an evergreen tree that is dead. Picnic table is bent. At the back of parking lot there are railroad ties along the back that have fallen down, as well as a pile of refuse. Part of the parking lot in the far back corner is missing asphalt, so it is taken over with weeds. Bench near swings has weeds under it. Recreation Supervisor Johnson indicated that Sampson Park will be redone in 2027. Triangle Park – no graffiti. Welcome sign, bench, chessboard table are all in good shape. Three crab apple trees near the sign, one is dead and one needs help. Committee Member Seemann – no report Committee Member Kelliher Lindy’s Park – have not inspected, can’t get there with construction. Arden Oaks Park – a lot of traffic is routed through there due to construction, doesn’t seem to be suffering. Committee Member Jill Anderson Johanna Marsh – needs mulch Freeway – looks fine. Pickleball court is being used a lot. Recreation Supervisor Johnson reported for Committee Member Rogers that at Valentine Park there is nothing negative to report. Some neighbors are concerned with the Mounds View High School trail not being done in time for school to start. City should send an update. Committee Member Olson Arden Oaks Park – no cover on a trash can. Volunteer Report Chair Hinton reported Commission Member Loosbrock had said that there is one person that she needs to connect with. Committee Member Polzer updated that Boston Scientific, Gradient, Boy Scouts, Sea Cadets how do we go about getting the volunteers from these organizations copies of the newsletters and Rec Activity Guide? Recreation Supervisor Johnson – explained that City employees would have to have a list and mail to them. Committee Member Polzer to provide volunteer mailing addresses to Recreation Supervisor Johnson. Page 5 of 7 Committee Member Polzer stated that the National Honor Society of at Mounds View High School and Sea Cadets are interested in volunteering for the Pumpkin Hunt. She has turned over all volunteer information to Committee Member Loosbrock so she can coordinate volunteers. Chair Hinton stated that a resident inquired as to the best method for communicating with the PTRC. After discussion it was decided that residents should share their ideas with Recreation Supervisor Johnson to initiate the process to getting ideas on the PTRC Agenda. Discussion start an annual open house for the community. Committee Member Olson presented the idea of having a suggestion box or some sort of interactive tool for residents to communicate with the PTRC when they are at the parks with for activities. Committee Member Kelliher asked if the City has an open house for the community that we could add a Parks component. Council Member Rousseau stated that Open Houses are usually focused on a project such as construction. There is the State of the City event. Chair Hinton stated that the PTRC already has a long list of goal and opening it up to people providing new ideas could lead to disappointment when they aren’t implemented as they would hope. Committee Member Polzer discussed using Facebook as an interactive communication tool. After discussion it was decided to add a Community Open House to the agenda for further discussion. Committee Member Kelliher provided an update on the Buckthorn Remediation Project in the Chatham Trails area. A bench handout was provided. Council liked the idea of using goats to bring down the buckthorn and approved $3500 this year and next year toward that end. The goats will be here for 3-4 weeks, starting the end of August, installing fencing first and then bringing in the goats. The goatherder asked that we put together a vigilance committee to walk the trails to ensure the fencing is intact and goats are not escaping twice a day, as well as fill water tray for them, if needed. He and his neighbors will actively inspect the area. Looking to make a roster of volunteers and asked if any PTRC members were interested. Discussion commenced about signage, communication with Valentine Hills Elementary School and youth interaction. Committee Members Polzer, Olson and Chair Hinton indicated they are interested in being added to the list of goat inspectors. Further discussion ensued requesting the assistance of Senior Communications Coordinator Cardona in trying to get both print and TV media exposure about the goat program. Page 6 of 7 Committee Member Plozer provided an update on the Twins Community Fund’s Twins Fields for Kids matching grant Program. $1,000 - $15,000 matching grants, applications open in January 2024. Hazelnut, Floral, Cummings & Royal Hills all have ball fields. Potential source of funds. B. Trail and Parks Projects Update Recreation Supervisor Johnson provided an update from Assistant Public Works Director Miller, who is absent. • Floral Park construction has begun. • Tree project is complete. • Hazelnut parking lot negotiations between the City and Trinity Lutheran Church are ongoing. • Safe Routes to School is under construction. Committee Member Polzer asked that during the September 2023 Open House for the trail from Lake Valentine Road to Highway 96 along Old Highway 10 include detailed imagery or data from PTRC plan (reference document) that includes information on previous and future park projects. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Unofficial Trails Committee Member Seemannn introduced adding logs to edges of the unofficial trails at Hazelnut to be delineated, not maintained. Discussion ensued about Unofficial Trails and the potential for making an exception in this case at Hazelnut. Committee Member Seemannn made a motion that the existing foot paths through the woods at Hazelnut park be treated the same as similar trails at Floral Park. No second was voiced. Committee Member Polzer offered an amendment to the motion “that the foot trails at Hazelnut Park be considered to be the same as the ones at Floral Park that are not paved, however that be taken into account after restoration has been done at Hazelnut Park”. Committee Member Kelliher made a motion and was seconded by Committee Member Seemann to propose tabling the motion until after the 2024 Hazelnut Park remediation in order to assess the nature of any modifications to existing unofficial trails. Motion passed 4-1 (Polzer opposed) C. Outdoor Classroom Committee Member Olson provided information about an area of Hazelnut Park that is suitable location for a “Little Free Library”. Chair Hinton moved to postponing this topic to the October agenda. Page 7 of 7 C. Native Plants – tabled due to time to September meeting. D. PTRC Announcement for South Shore Fitness Park and Trail - tabled due to time to September. E. Floral Park Court Color Committee Member Polzer made a motion and it was seconded by Committee Member Olson to choose option 1 (blue with blue) for the court colors at Floral Park. Motion passed unanimously. F. Park Improvements Plan Recreation Supervisor Johnson indicated that the intent of this Item was to present it to the committee. 6. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, September 19, 2023 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.