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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-18-2024 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 June 18, 2024 6:00 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. Meet at Floral Park Shelter Agenda CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. May 21st, 2024 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Update 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Council Liaison Update 7. NEXT MEETING A.Tuesday, July 23rd 8. ADJOURNMENT CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024, 6:30 PM ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL MEETING TO ORDER Committee Chair Jill Anderson called the May 21, 2024 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 6:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Jill Anderson, Committee Members Kerri Seemann, Abigail Weber, Lacy Loosbrock, Nancy Jacobson, Kate Olson, Emelia Rogers, and Elizabeth Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: Recreation Supervisor Matt Johnson and Council Liaison Emily Rousseau ABSENT: Committee Members Tim Nelson and Dan Dietz, and Youth Committee Member Maeve Edgar 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Anderson requested an Eagle Scout Project Update be added to the agenda as New Business item 5A. MOTION: Committee Member Olson moved and Committee Member Edgar seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as amended. The motion carried (8-0). 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 16, 2024 PTRC Minutes MOTION: Committee Member Olson moved and Committee Member Rogers seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes as presented. The motion carried (8-0). 3. REPORTS A. Council Liaison Update Council Liaison Rousseau stated the City received $18,390 from the Twin Cities Gateway Visitor’s Bureau which comes from hotel lodging taxes. She noted last year about $14,000 was divided between Rib Fest and Bethel University’s homecoming. She indicated that this year the Council was looking to evenly divide the funds between Rib Fest, Bethel University, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and potential events hosted by the Mounds View School District. She stated the funds are to be used for marketing and promoting the city’s tourism. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – May 21, 2024 Page 2 Council Liaison Rousseau said she wanted the EDC to be aware that a resident applied for a text amendment to allow for beekeeping. She explained the Planning Commission would review the request prior to City Council review. Council Liaison Rousseau indicated the City Council has started a strategic planning discussion but she did not have much information at this time to provide as the process has been a little bit messy without an experienced professional leading the initiative. She noted she tried to incorporate some of the PTRC’s goals and urged the group to listen to the last two Council work sessions. Council Liaison Rousseau stated the City Council accepted a donation from the Spring Lake Park Lions Club in the amount of $15,000 which is earmarked for parks improvements, noting the Council would discuss use of the funds at a future meeting. She urged the group to share their ideas with the City Council members. A short discussion ensued regarding the use of a prior donation from the Spring Lake Park Lions and Council Liaison Rousseau stated she would get more information on this. Council Liaison Rousseau thanked those that facilitated the Touch a Truck event. She noted that July 16 was the tentative date set for the Committee/Commission appreciation event and urged the members to attend. Council Liaison Rousseau indicated that the upcoming June PTRC meeting traditionally involves a parks tour, weather permitting. A discussion ensued regarding which parks the group would like to visit. Council Liaison Rousseau stated a rain garden presentation was provided to the City Council by Committee Members Committee Members Johnson and Jacobson at a May work session. She asked if they could provide feedback about their experience during their work group update. 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Trail and Parks Projects Update Recreation Supervisor Jacobson provided a recap of the status of projects, indicating most are still in process. He stated there was a new item in that the City was working with a consultant to pursue grants and is a candidate to pursue state bonding funds for a trail from Lake Valentine Road to Highway 96 along Old Highway 10, noting the project could move forward in either 2025 or 2026, depending on funding. He said there would be updates on the statuses of other funding in either June or July. Recreation Supervisor Johnson referenced the parks survey and said he would have results within the next week or so. He briefly discussed the timeline for future PTRC initiatives. Committee Member Johnson inquired about the reference in the packet materials to “input from PTRC on tree replacement due to the removal of these trees”. Recreation Supervisor Johnson said he believed this was in reference to trees located by the courts and storm sewers that may be removed. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – May 21, 2024 Page 3 Committee Member Jacobson asked if information could be provided regarding specifically which trees would be removed. She also asked if Arden Hills has a list of acceptable trees. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated he would get more information from Assistant Public Works Director Miller. Committee Member Seemann noted that if the City partners with Great River Greening, this would be part of the area they would be restoring. She requested they be consulted. Committee Member Loosbrock asked when the roadwork would begin. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated the hope was by the end of May. B. Work Group Updates Committee Member Jacobson stated that she and Committee Member Johnson had attended a City Council work session in order to provide information to the Council about rain gardens. She said they felt the Council was supportive and asked good questions. She noted the objective was to provide background information regarding what the work group was doing versus asking for funding. She said Mayor Grant suggested a PTRC representative attend the Ramsey County Sheriff’s meeting on July 23 in order to provide a handout to the block captains. She also indicated Councilmember Fabel suggested an article be included in the Arden Hills Notes and Public Works Director Swearingen encouraged them to schedule a meeting with him. Committee Member Jacobson indicated the City of Shoreview was offering a rain garden maintenance class should anyone wish to attend. She explained she spoke with someone from Shoreview about future classes. She noted that in Arden Hills, residents are asked to maintain the rain gardens in the front yard along the boulevard but because that is actually City right-of-way, it is ultimately the City’s responsibility. Committee Member Johnson said they were getting closer to being able to have a good procedure in place and were working closely with the Public Works Director regarding where the members could focus their efforts. She noted a meeting would take place in which more guidance would be provided. Councilmember Jacobson stated she wanted to make it clear that the PTRC work group was not proposing to identify and maintain all rain gardens in the city. Chair Anderson asked if the function of rain gardens was discussed as far as their importance to infrastructure in the city. Committee Member Jacobson replied that Public Works Director Swearingen did provide technical background at the meeting. She also commented that all communities are grappling with this and noted the City of Roseville hires a consultant that reviews all rain gardens each year. She said she would like to know how Shoreview handles this topic since they are offering a class. Council Liaison Rousseau asked if Committee Member Jacobson could obtain a price understanding as she was curious to know what was being done annually. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – May 21, 2024 Page 4 A discussion ensued regarding the function of utilizing a consultant to manage rain gardens, Arden Hills’ current process, options for outreach to residents about how to assist with maintaining the rain gardens, and the importance of function versus beauty. A discussion ensued regarding opportunities to provide the community with education about rain gardens. Committee Member Jacobson provided information about improvements made to Hansen Park in New Brighton. Chair Anderson asked if there were any other work group updates. Committee Member Seemann stated she had not heard from Great River Greening in the last month. Committee Member Olson stated they had their first food vendor at an event and it was very successful. She noted the City’s maintenance crew that were in attendance with City equipment at the Touch a Truck event were very appreciative also. Committee Member Olson reported the next community event would be the Lions Club event. She explained that the Boy Scouts would be interacting with kids at the event. Committee Member Olson stated she would work with Recreation Supervisor Johnson regarding food options for fall picture night for the sports. Recreation Supervisor Johnson suggested having a soccer scrimmage for all of the teams in the summer, turning that into a bigger event for the soccer families. Committee Member Olson said they would provide their 2025 vision at the August meeting. A short discussion ensued regarding the community event on August 15. Councilmember Liaison Rousseau indicated there was a meeting with the new Rotary Club president who indicated that she hoped to have an activity every month. She provided a brief overview of what the meeting entailed. Chair Anderson asked if there were any questions or ideas the PTRC members wanted to discuss with the Rotary. Committee Member Seemann stated she had some upcoming classes on pollinators that she was offering and could use help with. A discussion ensued about the Rotary Club, options for partnering on activities and the process of requesting the Rotary’s participation. Chair Anderson noted Committee Member Loosbrock has left the meeting. Council Liaison Rousseau asked if Recreation Supervisor Johnson could assist in collecting suggestions. Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee – May 21, 2024 Page 5 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Eagle Scout Project Update Committee Member Seemann stated she updated the information previously provided. She noted planting was being targeted to start in June if possible. Chair Anderson asked for clarification on maintenance. Committee Member Seemann stated she could perform maintenance once or twice a year. A discussion ensued regarding the use of herbicide and how the plantings would function (watering, mowing, edging). Committee Member Rogers suggested the PTRC consider utilizing Boy Scouts/Eagle Scouts and Girl Scouts in the future since they are always wanting to do projects. MOTION: Committee Member Olson moved and Committee Member Rogers seconded a motion to approve the planting of flowers at Sampson Park by Eagle Scout Kevin Zhu. The motion carried (8-0). Council Liaison Rousseau noted she did not believe the City Council needed to review or approve this project. 6. NEXT MEETING A. Tuesday, June 18, 2024 A short discussion ensued regarding the plan for the parks tour occurring on June 18. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. NEW BUSINESS – 3B MEMORANDUM DATE: June 18, 2024 TO: Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee FROM: Matthew Johnson, Recreation Supervisor SUBJECT: Park/Trail Tour Park Tour Info: PTRC will meet at a local park and go to the following locations. 1. Meet at Floral Park a. 1423 Floral Dr W, Arden Hills, MN 55112 2. Arden Oaks Park a. 1413 Arden Oaks Dr, Arden Hills, MN 55112 3. Freeway Park a. 1370 County Rd E, Arden Hills, MN 55112