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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-16-06 PTRC Minutes ~ . ~~ILLS Approved: June 20, 2006 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2006 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the May 16, 2006 meeting of the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Bill Hemy, Committee Members Lanny Baumann, Jim Crassweller, Dave McClung, Rich Straumann, Cindy Wheeler, and Steve Zilmer. OTHERS PRESENT: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Supervisor; City Council Liaison Gregg Larson, and Bonita Sullivan, Recording Secretary. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Members Derrek Hames, Joani Werner, Cynthia Wheeler and Roger Williams. . APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the Agenda as presented, The motion carried unanimously. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES . Approve the April 18, 2006 Minutes. Chair Hemy had the following correction: . Page 4, Item 7, first paragraph, fourth sentence should read: 'the first option would be to move an existing warming 'house', Committee Member McClung had the following correction: . Page 2, Council Update Continued, last bullet should read: 'Council approved DeSCO Solutions, an Indiana firm, as the contractor for the Economic Development Plan.' Committee Member Bauman had tbe following correction: . Page 1, Item 3, Council Update, first bullet item should read: 'Council approved the Tree . Removal Contract, which was divided into two contracts. One contract for 'accessible' trees, which was awarded to 4 Seasons Tree Care; One contract for 'non-accessible' trees, which was awarded to Fritz Tree Service.' PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING May 16, 2006 Page 2 of6 . MOTION: Committee Member Crassweller motioned, seconded by Committee Member Zilmer to approve the April l8, 2006 minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. 3, COUNCIL UPDATE Council Liaison Larson provided the Committee with the following City Council Update: . Emergency Management . Arden Hills, Shoreview, New Brighton Emergency Management Coordinators scheduled IS-700 training for department heads and supervisors. . Ran1sey County Sheriffto host meeting on flu pandemic planning. . Highway 96 beautification has started. Plan is to include 186 trees and 3,600 plants. It also includes an irrigation system. . Grant applications were submitted at the end of April. . Applied for the Active Living Grant and expect a response in late June. . Applied for the Brownfield Grant on behalf of the Chesapeake Company for land in Round Lake Business Park. . Additional legal services - City has retained a new law firm to assist with arbitration process on City Hall construction issues. The new firm will work with City Attorney Jerry Filla. . . Council directs staff on code enforcement. Hybrid between complaint-driveu and City initiated. Need to adopt a housing maintenance code. . Authorized staff to redesign and update the City website. Chair Henry asked if there has been any discussion with regards to the process the City plans to take to fill the O&M position. Ms, Olson explained that Staff wants to take the time to evaluate the job duties for the O&M position. She assured the Committee that the plan is to fill the position but the question right now is whether the position should be filled as it is or is there a need to redistribute some of the job duties. She stated that for now she would be responsible for Parks and Shawn Johnson and Jim Perron would be responsible for the Public Works Department. She stated that currently the City Administrator would prefer not to split the Maintenance Department from Public Works. She stated that Staff would like input from the PTRC noting that nothing has been decided at this time. Committee Member Crassweller suggested considering two pOSItIOns versus one individual doing two jobs, He acknowledged that the concern here would be costs. 4. PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION UPDATE . Ms. Olson provided the Committee with the following update: . Decided to move ahead with the flower planting event. Decided to plant annuals in the ----- PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING Mav 16. 2006 Page 3 of6 . center field at Royal Hills. Plan to fill embankments with perennials. The annual Breakfast is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn. She encouraged the PTRC members to attend and help out with the planting. . Joint tour with the City Council will have to be rescheduled due to schedule conflicts. . Planted all donated trees from Friends of the Park. Noted that some of the trees were stolen after being planted. Staff is working to identify which trees were stolen and will try to replace. Plan to install fencing around the new trees. . Presented the wanning house report at the May 8, 2006 City Council meeting. Council wants to discuss the report further at a future work session in June 2006. Council is asking for more information and is considering the option to move buildings from Cummings or Valentine to Freeway or Hazelnut. Moving one building would cost approximately $4,000 and this would not include the concrete slab. . The warming house at Valentine Park flooded again this spring. She suggested that the PTRC review and consider whether the building should be replaced. She indicated that Staff is reviewing options for this site. Costs to fix the park would be close to $300,000. She stated that if they are staffing the site they might consider a portable unit or not having a rink at this location. She recommended mobile units at Hazelnut and Freeway and not staffing the warming house at Valentine. She noted that the savings would go to pay for two mobile units. . Celebrating Arden Hills is scheduled for June 24, 2006. She stated that posters would be distributed to local businesses and suggested that the Committee help to sell tickets to the . event. She asked the Committee if they would be interested in having a booth or would members be willing to volunteer for shifts at the event. She stated that the City would have a booth and PTRC members could spend time at the City Booth. The Committee agreed that sharing the booth and volunteering time would be the best option. Ms. Olson stated that she would send out a schedule listing the available shifts. . Buckthorn process change - the City is asking that the residents place the cuttings by the curb and then contact City Hall to schedule a pickup. The City will provide pickup services every Friday. She stated that letters would be sent to the residents notifying them ofthe change. . Recreation programs are moving along. . Seasonal and maintenance staff is in place. Hired one person exclusively to maintain the flower gardens. Committee Member Zilmer stated that there has been a lot of trash accumulating around the fields at Perry Park. Ms. Olson stated that she would notify Staff and ask that they keep an eye on the fields with respect to cleanup, 5. PTRC Vision Plan Strategies Chair Henry stated that the PTRC is scheduled to appear before the City Council on May 22, 2006. He stated that he spoke with the City Engineer and was told she has access to cost estimates that could be used as examples of cost for trailway connections. He stated that he . would try to meet with the City Engineer prior to the City Council meeting. He stated that the Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. noting that the PTRC is scheduled as an agenda item for the work session following the Council's regular meeting. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING Mav 16, 2006 Page 4 of6 . 6. Dog Park, Disc Golf, and Bocce Ball Discnssion Chair Henry stated that the idea is to place all three in the same place. He stated that the PTRC would have a mutual discussion with the Council regarding strategies and gain their input in order to determine how the PTRC should set the priorities. He suggested discussing costs and funding at the next PTRC meetiug, Ms. Olson stated that the City Administrator provided comments regarding the dog park and disc golf and reviewed comments with the Committee. Committee Member McClung suggested that the PTRC research recreation grant options. Chair Henry stated that grant applications are included as one of the options on the Funding Options List. Ms, Olson stated that she recently attended a workshop in New Brighton that discussed various barriers, curb cuts and how to help improve the pedestrian traffic. She stated that there was a lot of good information available at the workshop adding that she also has a link to their website. Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to forward the link. He asked if a set of best practices or comments would be available to review on the site. Ms. Olson stated that she was not sure what . was included on the site adding that she would forward the link to the Committee for their revIew. Chair Henry asked if there is an update on the bocce ball court. Ms Olson stated that she would research the options and update the Committee. She stated that she believes it would be a reasonably low cost option for the parks, Committee Member Bauman stated that he might be able to design a small course for the City. Committee Member Crassweller asked where Staff would consider placing a bocce golf course. Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to research the potential areas within the City and provide the Committee with options to consider at a future PTRC meeting. 7. Ramsey County Parks Review Committee Member Straumann provided the Committee with an update on the Ramsey County Parks and the possible connections to Diagonal Trail. He stated that a connector is needed noting that there might be enough money leftover from the underpass project to place a Class 5 trail connection. He stated that they do not want to install an underpass this year without a trail connection. He indicated that the underpass would be installed in July 2006. Chair Henry asked if a trail would come down from Perry Park to the Lift Station. . Committee Member McClung noted the City applied for this cOilllection last year and the DNR turned it down because the City did not have an official trail to connect with. P ARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING May 16. 2006 Page 5 of6 . Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to have someone from Staff contact the DNR to find out what it would take to get the trail connection. Committee Member Straumann stated that as soon as the underpass is done they could begin discussions with respect to the trail connections. Chair Henry asked if it would be feasible to have a trail north of County Road E2. Committee Member Straumann stated that he has walked the area and it could be a possibility. He provided the Committee with copies of the aerial map ofthe Diagonal Trail. 8. Governor Anderson Naming Policy Discussion Ms. Olson stated that she spoke briefly with Committee Member Baumann. She stated that she was unable to find a draft policy that was brought to the PTRC noting that she would need to have it in order to bring it to Council for approval. Chair Henry stated that he would look through his files and forward to Ms. Olson. 9. PTRC Agenda Packet Distribution Discussion . Ms. Olson took a poll of the Committee Members to determine a more efficient means of distributing the meeting agenda and minutes. She made note of the preferences stating that she would also provide copies ofthe agenda at the meetings. 10. Other Discussion Chuck Kachel asked if the PTRC Committee has decided if the dog park would go in on the Park Shore property or is it still in the conceptual stage. He indicated that he spoke briefly with Committee Member Derrek Hames noting that if he were given the choice for location he would suggest designating an area on the east side of the TCAAP property. Chair Henry agreed that this would be a good concept to consider noting that the Park Shore property is a bit difficult to access. Mr. Kachel noted that there is potential property on the north side of the TCAAP area that might be available as it was used as a waste dumpsite at one time. He stated that this would be a good solution for the dog park location. Mr. Kachel stated that he is very sorry to hear that Mr. Moore is no longer with the City. He stated that in his experience with Mr. Moore he has given nothing less than 110 percent to the City adding that Mr. Moore has always done a great job for the City of Arden Hills and will be missed. . Chair Henry asked Ms. Olson to check with the Planning Commission to confirm their joint meeting with the PTRC in July. PARKS, TRAILS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING May 16, 2006 Page 6 of6 . 11. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Committee Member Zilmer motioned, seconded by Committee Member Straumann, to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Bonita Sullivan TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. . . L