2010-02-03 P & R Minutes Approved

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Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-03-10 Park Planning (Branch) Ms. Stephan supplied the committee with aerials of each park including a piece of property the City owns on Mill Road and along the east side of the pond abutting Royal Meadows Park. Also included in the packet were pages from the Comprehensive Plan corresponding to Parks & Trails. Chairperson Pat Branch would like a Committee Member responsible for each of the parks and a yearly update within the committee as to what is the purpose of each park. Each member would take responsibility of a park and the issues associated with it, what does the park need, so when we do have funds available we know right where they need to be applied and not depending on the memories of the members. Chairperson Branch asked the committee members to think about which park (s) they would like to be involved with. Committee Member Seeley said she would specifically like to look into what could be done with the Mill Road property. Mayor Capra discussed how that ties into the Capital Improvement Plan suggesting the committee inventory the parks and set goals for 1 to 5 years, perhaps looking out 5 to 15 years, for example what if St. Paul Water Utility wants to abandon the piece of property next to Hidden Spring Park would we want to acquire that piece? The plan can be continually adapted or amended. Mayor Capra stated the trail project for 2010 has been in the works since 1998. Committee Member Amundsen questioned maintenance on the City trails. It appears to be a problem now, how is the City going to be able to maintain new trails with short staff and budget cuts. This is an issue with the parks also with planting, weeding, watering and maintaining the flower beds and rain gardens. Committee Member Amundsen said we have all these great trails and parks, but no way to maintain them. Conditions of the fields at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park were used as an example. Mayor Capra suggested looking for grants, maybe the Twins have grants specifically for Little League use, the only way to find out was to do research and she would see if Mr. Mike Jeziorski, Finance Director has time to look into it. Chairperson Branch said the first line of the comprehensive plan makes reference to a 1998 plan which he received a copy of from Ms. Stephan. In reading the 1998 plan Chairperson Branch did not find a great deal of value for the committee in 2010. Committee Member Seeley asked whether the City had ever heard anything from Anoka Country regarding the safety issues with bikers and pedestrians crossing Main Street at Peltier Lake Drive and Lakeland Circle. The City Administrator had sent a letter to Mr. Doug Fischer, County Engineer requesting it be looked at. Ms. Stephan will check with Mr. Larson and report back to the committee. Public Works & Preliminary Projects Mayor Capra asked to have this on the agenda to discuss the importance of including Public Works in plans even at the preliminary stage as the Public Works Director or Staff may have input necessary to move forward on a project. The PRD (Project Requirement Document) form that was created for the committee by Committee Member Haiden is a valuable tool, but the committee has not really had an opportunity to use it. Mayor Capra used the example of the sand volley ball court when discussing projects with Mr. Palzer, Public Works Director and for instance there is potential for the committee to use gravel that Public Works already has. The placement of a volleyball court 4 of 6