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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-19-24 - PTRCChair: Jill Anderson (2024) Committee Members: Dan Dietz (2024) Lacy Loosbrock (2025) Tim Nelson (2024) Kerri Seemann (2025) Kate Olson, Vice Chair (2025) Emelia Rogers (2025) Nancy Jacobson (2025) Abigail Weber (2024) Elizabeth Johnson (2026) Youth Committee Member: Maeve Edgar (term exp. 8/31/2024) Council Liaison: Emily Rousseau Arden Hills Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee March 19, 2024 6:30 pm 1245 W. Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org City Vision Arden Hills is a strong community that values its unique environmental setting, strong residential neighborhoods, vital business community, well-maintained infrastructure, fiscal soundness, and our long-standing tradition as a desirable City in which to live, work, and play. Agenda CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. February 13, 2024 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Update 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail and Parks Projects Update B. Ramsey County Update 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Newsletter Item B. Lindey’s Park Update C. Agenda Packet Discussion D. Work Session Update E. Community Outreach/Events 6. NEXT MEETING A.Tuesday, March 19 7. ADJOURNMENT CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Committee Chair Jill Anderson called the February 13, 2024 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jill Anderson, Committee Members Nancy Jacobson, Kerri Seemann, Lacy Loosbrock, Abigail Weber, Kate Olson, Emelia Rogers, Elizabeth Johnson and Youth Committee Member Maeve Edgar OTHERS PRESENT: Council Liaison Emily Rousseau and Recreation Supervisor Matt Johnson, Resident Volunteer George Kruse ABSENT: Committee Members Dan Dietz and Tim Nelson 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Anderson requested to add an oath of office for new member Elizabeth Johnson and to add Item 3C – 2024 goals and work groups. The revised agenda was approved. Oath of Office - Recreation Supervisor Matt Johnson administered the Oath of Office to Elizabeth Johnson. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. January 23, 2024 PTRC Minutes Youth Committee Member Edgar noted a typo on page 4. A motion was made by Committee Member Olson and seconded by Youth Committee Member Edgar to approve the minutes as amended. 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Update Council Liaison Rousseau said the motions that were made at the end of December will probably go to a work session in March. Items included an open house, a fire pit donation and a plan to improve the Lindey’s roundabout. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – February 13, 2024 Page 2 Council Liaison Rousseau noted that if anyone receives communications that make them feel uncomfortable because of their role on the committee, they can tell the person to not contact them and refer them to staff. She is gathering feedback on a code of conduct for committees. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail and Parks Projects Update Recreation Supervisor Johnson reviewed the memo from Assistant Public Works Director Miller which included new/updated items:  The 2023 CIP for Parks has been provided in the past and is available online. For the 2025 Parks Project (Arden Oaks Park & Freeway Park), it is requested that the Committee Members of the PTRC review the parks and provide comments to City Staff so that they can be presented to Council at an upcoming Work Session with recommendations from Public Works maintenance perspective. B. Arden Oaks and Freeway Park Wish List Recreation Supervisor Johnson said the memo contains things discussed at the last meeting. The committee can add to it or make changes. Committee Member Jacobson stated she looked online at a gaga ball pit and it looked like it had a sand base which is what is on the list to take out of Freeway Park. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said it doesn’t have to be on sand. Committee Member Olson added that she’d never seen one on sand, that the ball needs to be able to bounce. Chair Anderson thought what might be helpful is if they prioritize or narrow down the list to what is really important to them. Committee Member Olson noted one thing missing from the memo was screening to the neighbors’ homes. Committee Member Jacobson thought the only time the upper part of Freeway Park was used was when there was ice on the rink, and the rest of the year it looks like an eyesore. She’d like to focus on what the park could look like through all of the seasons. Youth Committee Member Edgar felt it would be nice to block the view of the highway from the lower level of the park. Committee Member Olson thought updating or painting the rink boards would help. Committee Member Jacobson suggested a hard surface in the ice rink, possibly with a drain, so it could be used in the summer for roller sports. Committee Member Johnson asked if pickleball was an option. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – February 13, 2024 Page 3 Recreation Supervisor Johnson said there are pickleball lines on the basketball court and someone leaves a net there. A hard surface on the upper level ice rink might work with permanent pickleball lines and a removable net. Committee Member Olson thought it sounded like the priority for Freeway Park was to make the upper section more useable. Committee Member Jacobson suggested asking for a multi-use or multi-seasonal use of the upper park. Chair Anderson said maybe they could say they want to prioritize making the top section look and function better with landscaping, a hard court in the rink and painting the boards, and to remove the sand pit from the lower level. Committee Member Weber would like to see adaptive swings added. Committee Member Rogers asked for a path between the upper and lower sections of the park. Mr. Kruse stated he was there at the request of Committee Member Dietz to suggest a couple of items regarding Floral Park. They are planning to replace the wood duck box in the pond off of Hamline and Colleen, the City has never maintained it but homeowners around the area agree that would be a good project. They would also like to add another box or two to another pond on the Cummings path to Floral Park. They were hoping to fund these through grant money that Graco has given. He further discussed other garden projects they have in mind for Floral Park. Chair Anderson felt they could add those things to the goals discussion. Discussion ensued regarding donation monies from the Arden Hills Foundation. Committee Member Jacobson thought they should have a theme or something imaginative for Arden Oaks Park, and more shade. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said there are farm themes, flower themes, and others they could look at. Committee Member Olson would like to see something that has more of a nature look, not necessarily bright colors. C. 2024 Goals and Work Groups Chair Anderson said she is planning to go to the City Council work session next month to present the PTRC goals. They’ve previously talked about narrowing down their goals for 2024 and having work groups behind the scenes for those goals. She put together an outline of what they’d discussed. There were three areas they wanted to focus on: invasive species and habitat restoration, community involvement, and involvement of planning future and ongoing project which would include looking at the CIP for parks and providing recommendations. She also added volunteer coordination, Committee Member Loosbrock had offered to be the point person for that item. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – February 13, 2024 Page 4 Chair Anderson said there were a few things under the category of habitat restoration or invasive species that she would see that group keeping track of such as Great River Greening, the goat project and looking at long term management. Under community involvement there is some interest in planning an event and the group should keep up to date on projects such as Rice Creek Commons and parks. She’d like to decide today how they’d like to move forward so she has more information to present to the Council. Committee Member Jacobson supported the idea of developing work groups. Chair Anderson asked for people to discuss what they’re interested in so they can assign them to work groups. Youth Committee Member Edgar said she could help with volunteers through the high school. Chair Anderson explained they are trying to come up with goals for 2024 and a clearer work plan for 2025. Different project will require different levels of Council involvement that could be a barrier to moving forward quickly. For example, planning a community event such as for Earth Day could take up to a year, they could plan in 2024 and implement in 2025. Committee Member Jacobson expressed interest in rain gardens; identifying them, what their status is and what to do with them. It could take a year to do that and develop a work plan to make them more functional. She was also interested in RCC and the trail plan for the area. She thought the vegetation management that has been started in some parks is a big project that should be broken down into smaller pieces. Chair Anderson said she didn’t want the size of projects to discourage people from being involved and be concerned about time restraints. As a group or work group they can adjust what they can get done. Council Liaison Rousseau said her understanding of this was that people pick what work groups they’d like to be a part of, get together to put together timelines or game plan that can be brought back to the committee for approval and details handled later by the work group. Chair Anderson agreed that was what she was hoping for. Committee Member Olson was happy to take the lead on the community work group. She was meeting with the Shoreview Arden Hills Rotary Club to give them ideas on how they could help. The Shoreview Arden Hills Lions Club also does a lot of great things for the community, they are interested in hosting an event here on August 15. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said the Lions will be running the event, it will be in the activity guide and all he will need help with is spreading the word. It will be at Cummings Park and the Lions will provide all the food and beverages. Committee Member Johnson thought it would be a good idea for at least one of the PTRC members to be a part of those clubs. Committee Member Rogers offered to be in the community group and work with accessibility. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – February 13, 2024 Page 5 Chair Anderson said Committee Member Seemann would continue working on the invasive species projects. She would put Committee Members Dietz and Nelson at least temporarily under habitat. Committee Member Weber said she could help in whatever area needed more people. Accessibility and community were what interested her most. Committee Member Johnson was interested in working with rain gardens and community involvement if they needed more help. Chair Anderson noted that rain gardens would probably fall under habitat restoration and she could be on that group as well. Youth Committee Member Edgar said she would also be interested in planning. Committee Member Rogers said trails and planning pieces have to do with knowing what the City Council is doing looking ahead to the next few years and what the PTRC response or recommendation would be. She would like to do that and not accessibility. Chair Anderson said they could review the trails priority list later in the year. Council Liaison Rousseau said she had a spreadsheet regarding trails she could send to everyone. Committee Member Seemann stated as far as she knew they couldn’t do anything with rain gardens until Public Works compiles a list of locations. Chair Anderson would like rain gardens to stay as a project under habitat restoration and hoped they would make a plan that may include reaching out to the Public Works Director. Committee Member Johnson would prefer to have a work group that has the title of what they are focusing on rather than an overarching group. Chair Anderson explained that she thought the groups could decide what projects they’d like to work on. They didn’t necessarily need to assign people to groups tonight, the more pressing issue was identifying goals so she can present them to Council. Discussion ensued regarding goals. Council Liaison Rousseau felt the Council would like an update on what areas PTRC wants to focus on this year. She thought a template could be made for timelines and resources. Chair Anderson wanted to be sure everyone was comfortable with the goals she had provided. She would send an updated version to staff for distribution. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – February 13, 2024 Page 6 5. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, March 19, 2024 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – 4A MEMORANDUM DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Lucas J. Miller, Assistant Public Works Director SUBJECT: Trail and Parks Projects Update Previously Discussed Items:  Hazelnut Parking lot negotiations continue between the City and Trinity Lutheran Church. The City has ordered geotechnical work in the lot to help determine the cost impacts which will determine scope and extent of work.  Safe Routes to School from MVHS to E2 down Lake Valentine Road/Old Highway 10 is paved. There will be some repair work needed in the Spring but the trail is plowable this winter and it can be used by pedestrians at this time.  Floral and Arden Manor parks are substantially completed and open. Hardcourt striping, site clean-up and restoration of both parks will be completed in the Spring. New/Updated Items:  City is working with a consultant to pursue grants and it is a candidate to pursue state bonding funds for the trail from Lake Valentine Road to Highway 96 along Old Highway 10. Feasibility study has been completed for this project this last fall. Estimated project cost is now projected to be $4.1 Mil since the 60% design is now completed. Estimated construction would be in 2025/2026 dependent on funding awarded. The Open House took place on 10/5/23 and was well attended. Great feedback was received. The Consultant has been directed to pursue federal and state funding for safe routes to school grants. It did not score well for the regional safe routes to school grant but the final determination has not yet been made and it could still be funded. We won’t know more until late summer.  Lake Johanna Blvd conceptual trail study was completed by Ramsey County and they are pursuing funding currently. They are shooting for a final design in 2028, dependent on funding awarded. Estimated construction cost is $9.5M. Council has adopted resolution 2023-023 which is the local match commitment for Lake Johanna Blvd Trail Project (estimated $2M). County is going for grants and bonding this year potentially up to $5.5M. Ramsey County presented in November about the project corridor with Council. This project did not score well in its category but funding is still being pursued.  The 2025 Parks Project (Arden Oaks Park & Freeway Park), it was presented to Council at the Work Session on 3/11/24. Staff was directed to get a proposal from a designer and pursue estimates of the items that were provided by PTRC and PW UNFINISHED BUSINESS – 4A feedback for consideration. Staff will keep PTRC up-to-speed with the Community Outreach events as the dates get nailed down. It would be appreciated if some PTRC members can attend the Open House event when that takes place in the future. Agenda Item BB-BB MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Action Requested Background Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee March 19,2024 Nancy Jacobson Ramsey County Update I attended the Ramsey County Bike/Walk meeting held Febraury 21st chaired by Rich Straumann and will attend the Ramsey County Active Living meeting on March 11th chaired by Connie Bernardy, Active Living Ramsey Communities Coalition Director. 4 B I will provide a brief update to the PTRC regarding attending two Ramsey County meetings since our last PTRC meeting last February. NEW BUSINESS-5A MEMORANDUM DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Kerri Seemann SUBJECT: Newsletter Item Background The city approved the plan to have goats brought into Chatham Trails Park in the fall of 2023 and spring of 2024 to help manage buckthorn. The goats will be returning in June. I believe that it would be beneficial if there were a note in the city’s newsletter prior to June to make residents aware of the goats so that they can visit the park while they’re there. Agenda Item BB-BB MEMORANDUM DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Action Requested Background Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee March 19,2024 Nancy Jacobson Lindey’s Park During the construction of the trail and Lindey’s roundabout, Lindey’s Park has been used as a construction staging area. Now that the roundabout project is nearly complete, I would like a PTRC workgroup review the current status of the park and make recommendations to the PTRC. 5 B Discuss scheduling a workgroup session regarding the future of Lindey’s Park. NEW BUSINESS-5C MEMORANDUM DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Matthew Johnson SUBJECT: Newsletter Item Background Staff is looking to move to email based Agenda Packets. They will also be available online. We will still provide printed copies on site. This will avoid late packets to PTRC members. Action: PTRC to vote on moving to all email based for those are comfortable with this change. Accommodation can be made to those who do not want email based. NEW BUSNIESS-5D MEMORANDUM DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: PTRC Members FROM: Jill Anderson SUBJECT: Work session with Council March 11, 2024 Background and Update Kate Olson, Kerrie Siemann and myself attended the work session with Council on March 11, 2024 and presented the attached 2024 Goals and Work Plan. In addition, we addressed other previously passed motions, including Fire Pit Donation, Automated Bathroom Locks, Community Outreach event, and Lindey’s Roundabout. Generally, feedback to our goals and work plan was positive. Councilmember Monson liked the idea of increasing accessibility and would like us to keep family-friendly focused. We also received positive feedback on the idea of becoming involved with future planning, however, that discussion led into a larger discussion of the PTRC’s role. Councilmember Rousseau mentioned that our charter needs to be updated and clarified. Updates on the previously passed motions from the PTRC are as follows: Firepit Donation: The recommendation to Council from the PTRC was to accept the donation of the firepit. Council had many of the same questions we had regarding the firepits, including use, safety and potential liability of having a firepit available at parks. Much of this information was not available to PTRC at the time the motion was passed to accept the donation. Given the concerns outlined above, the City Council voted not to accept the donation of the firepits. Automated Bathroom Locks: The recommendation to Council from the PTRC was to install the automated locks on Perry Park bathrooms with the goal of increasing accessibility to these restrooms by the public. Public works continued to express concerns about staff availability to maintain the bathrooms should they be made available to the public on a more regular basis. Eventually, in a 3-2 vote, the Council voted to install the locks. It may be helpful for us to reach out to surrounding cities and get more information on their maintenance schedules, etc. NEW BUSNIESS-5D Community Outreach Event: In January of 2024, PTRC voted to propose a community outreach event. This proposal is in progress with the intention of proposing the event for 2025. No action was taken by the City Council. Lindey’s Roundabout: A motion regarding the roundabout was made by the PTRC at the December 2023 meeting. It was communicated to council that the issue of Lindey’s Roundabout has since been tabled by the PTRC for the time being. No action was taken by the Council. Action Requested: PTRC to continue working toward goals as outlined in the 2024 Work Plan. Attachment Memo PTRC 2024 Work Plan Arden Hills Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee 2024 Goals and Work Plan I.Strategic Planning. A.At the recommendation of Councilmember Rousseau and City Staff, Chair’s of the PTRC have worked to implement a new planning structure to be implemented within the PTRC. The new structure incorporates work groups, composed of members of the PTRC, whose focus is to further a specific goal or priority of the PTRC. Work groups are tasked with identifying specific goals and projects to further larger goals as determined by the PTRC and City Council. B.For 2024, PTRC has identified four primary work groups, which include: 1.Community/Accessibility 2.Land Management, including habitat restoration projects and City beautification. 3.Future Planning 4.Volunteer coordination Under each work group category, the PTRC has identified potential action steps the work group may choose to focus their efforts for 2024. Those proposed action steps are outlined in more detail below. C.In addition to furthering current, on-going, and new projects for 2024, work groups are tasked with identifying a more long term plan to be incorporated into future work plans. II.Community and Accessibility A.Goal: Increase accessibility around Arden Hills. 1.Trail Advocacy. PTRC to review and update a trails priority list. 2.Park Building Accessibility. PTRC moved to recommend automatic door locks on the bathrooms at Perry Park for the purpose of increasing community accessibility to public buildings. 3.Maximize and prioritize ADA compliant facilities when and where possible. B.Goal: Community Outreach and solicitation of public input. 1.Increasing opportunities for community members to provide feedback through the use of QR codes, input on trial priorities and school engagement. 2.PTRC to host an Open House or similar event for the purpose of educating the community on current projects and soliciting comments from the public on upcoming projects. 3.City to host one free community event. 4.Organize an Earth Day clean up event. C. Goal: Community Education. 1.Outdoor resource library that contains resources about plants and the environment. 2.Create an outdoor classroom in one of the parks. 3.Educate the community on how to make requests. D. Goal: Increase communication with the community. 1.Provide updates and timelines about big projects to the community. 2.Educate the community on how to make requests. III. Land Management, including habitat restoration projects and City beautification. A.Goal: Continue working to remove invasive species. 1.Continue to work with Great River Greening on opportunities to partner for purposes of habitat restoration within our parks and green space. 2.Implement controlled burns into land management. 3.Create a plan for removing and managing buckthorn. 4.Create and maintain rain gardens throughout the community. IV. Future Planning A.Goal: Remain up to date on upcoming and future projects to ensure PTRC is able to give feedback at the front of projects. 1.Create an early priority list for planning RCC. 2.PTRC liaison to attend planning meetings and keep up to date on upcoming and future projects. V. Volunteer Coordination. A.Provide information on the City’s website for volunteer opportunities with the city. B.Maintain a database of volunteers. C.Assist with volunteer recruitment as needed to further PTRC goals as determined by the City Council. NEW BUSINESS-5E MEMORANDUM DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Brenda Holden SUBJECT: Community Outreach/Events Background Councilmember Holden would like to present some new ideas to PTRC. Gleaming – Programming Isolation Day Pollinator Barrels