HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-14-04 PTRC Minutes
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ARDEN HILLS
MINUTES
PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2004 7:00 P.M.
ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL
1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Henry called the December 14, 2004 meeting of the Parks, Trails and Recreation
Committee to order at 7: I 0 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Bill Henry, Committee Members Jim Crassweller, Rich
Straumann, and Steve Zilmer.
OTHERS PRESENT: Tom Moore, Operations & Maintenance Director; Brenda Holden, City
Council Liaison; and Bonita Sullivan, Recording Secretary.
MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Members Don Messerly, Roberta Thompson, and
Joani Werner; Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Supervisor
. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Agenda was approved by consensus.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
NONE
3. COUNCIL UPDATE
Council Liaison Holden provided the Commission with a brief update on the following Council
activities:
4. PARKS AND TRAILS UPDATES
Mr. Moore provided the Committee with the following update:
Council Liaison Holden asked ifthe Real Estate Department is willing to allow both sides. Mr.
Moore stated that both the Real Estate Offices and Canadian Pacific had no problems with both
sides. He explained that they don't know the substructure which would involving the
Engineering Department in addition to Canadian Pacific with respect to testing the soil and
. determining how far back line goes east and west.
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December 14, 2004
Page 2 of 4
. Committee Member Straumarm stated that he just came from the Ramsey County meeting noting
that there is interest in punching the hole in the winter months versus the spring and reviewed
with the Committee.
Chair Henry asked if Ramsey County plans to place a lifeguard at Lake Johanna. Committee
Member Straumarm confirmed stating that it would have to include a proposal and reviewed.
5. RECREATION UPDATE
Mr. Moore provided the Committee with an update on the Park activities:
. Recreation Programs are going well.
. Had a good turnout and registration for the Winter Program activities.
. Letters from Santa have been a big hit. He commended the Support Staff for putting together
all of tht; information and personalized each letter written from Santa.
. January 2005 Parks Committee meeting - plan to provide the Committee with an overview
and summary of the 2004 Parks, Trails and Recreation accomplishments.
6. 2005 - 2009 PRIORITIES
Chair Henry reviewed the list of priorities and suggested narrowing the priorities down to the top
. five.
Chair Henry asked if the County would be open to a discussion to possible name a trail for the
late former Governor Elmer Anderson. Committee Member Straumann stated that the County is
open to the discussion. He referenced the Long Lake identification and Tony Schmidt
component stating that the County is also consid~ring combining the two into one regional park.
Mr. Moore stated that they are looking at a trail in the southwest quadrant that would run from
Cleveland and County Road D all the way to County Road E west, above the lift station.
Committee Member Straumarm stated that it is in the County plan to finish that end noting that
there is a section that is part ofthe Tony Schmidt Park property on the north side.
Chair Henry asked if it would be possible to connect through the compost area. Mr. Moore
stated that there is an informal trail behind the Lift Station going northwest adding that the bridge
would be installed to the southeast ofthe Lift Station.
Committee Member Crassweller clarified that it currently does not go through the compost area,
but it is a possibility. He stated that a trail could be run where the diagonal (rail ends, straight
through to Compost Road. He indicated that there is a trail at Compost Road that crosses the
swamp area noting that they would have to install some bridge areas. He stated that they would
also have to build the area up near the tracks and place a bridge in the area in order to cross the
. swamp. He stated that there is also a trail that comes out of the woods that would connect to this
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December 14, 1004
Page 3 of4
. trail. He stated that there are a number of ways this could be done and reviewed with the
Committee.
Chair Henry asked M r. Moore to contact County staff to see if they are interested in exploring the
trail as a possibility.
Committee Member Straumarm suggested including a trail designation discussion as part of their
priorities.
MOTION: Committee Member Straumarm motioned, seconded by Committee Member
Crassweller to recommend that City Council approve the proposal to name the
Diagonal Trail in honor ofthe late Governor Elmer Anderson to be known as the
Governor Elmer Anderson Diagonal Trail. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Moore stated that the City Council has designated dollars in 2005 for the Trail and Park
slgnage.
Council Liaison Holden stated that they still do not know the destiny for the library. She stated
that Northwestern College is also in the process of discussing their plans and suggested
communicating with the College.
. Committee Member Crassweller suggested that the Committee address this project as soon as
possible and reviewed his concerns with the Committee. Mr. Moore stated that he would touch
base with the Plarming department.
Chair Henry asked if warming houses should be included in the list. He suggested adding
warming houses for Freeway, Hamlet and Valentine parks.
The Committee held a general discussion to determine the top five to six priority projects for the
2005-2009 timeframe. The Committee identified the following six projects:
. Trail through Northwestern College.
. Trail along County Road E in front of Holiday Inn
. Trail/Sidewalk along west side of Lexington from County Road E to 694.
. Trail Designations
. Dog Park at Park Shore Drive
. Warming Houses at Freeway, Hazel and Valentine
Chair Henry referenced the Trail Designation and asked Mr. Moore to bring an inventory of trails
that should be designated to their next Parks Committee meeting for further discussion.
7. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS
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. Council Liaison Holden asked for an update on the Gateway signs. Mr. Moore stated that the
City Administrator has given the task to him and Scott Clark. He stated that they are planning a
breakfast meeting after holidays to get discussions started.
Mr. Moore stated that he has received the names of two individuals interested in serving on the
Committee. He stated that they should try to get good representation on the Committee for all
quadrants of the City. He encouraged the Committee to bring forward potential candidates for
consideration from as many areas of the City as possible.
8. NEXT MEETING AGENDA
. Review Trail Designation inventory.
. Overview of the 2004 Parks and Recreation Accomplishments
9, ADJOURNMENT
Committee Member Crassweller motioned, Committee Member Zilmer seconded, to adjourn the
meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
. Bonita Sullivan
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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