06-20-06 PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

,AIZEN HILLS CITY OF ARDEN HILLS PARKS, TRAILS,AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY,JUNE 20,2006 7:00 P.M. ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henry called the June 20,2006 meeting of the Parks,Trails and Recreation Committee to order at 7:02 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Bill Henry,Committee Members Lanny Baumann,Jim Crassweller, Dave McClung,Rich Straumann, Cindy Wheeler,Roger Williams and Steve Zilmer. OTHERS PRESENT: Greg Mack,Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Director;Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Supervisor; City Council Liaison Gregg Larson; and City Administrator Michelle Wolfe. MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Committee Members Derrek Haines and Joani Werner APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Chair Henry motioned, seconded by Committee Member Williams to amend the agenda by moving the Underpass Update and Trail Connection Discussion to be the second item on the agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 2. UNDERPASS UPDATE AND TRAIL CONNECTION DISCUSSION Mr. Greg Mack, Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Director gave the Committee an overview of the Regional and State Trail System. Mr.Mack provided a map that illustrated approximately 93 miles of state and regional trails located throughout the County. Generally,the regional trails are part of the regional trail system administered by the Metropolitan Council. A few additions had been made to provide appropriate connections within an area of the County. Of the 93-mile trail system that was identified, approximately 54 miles has been developed. The remaining 39 miles has a price tag of about$25 million. The Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority has taken renewed interest in trails as one element of the overall transportation system. There have been some suggestions that the Regional Rail Authority may seek legislative authority to broaden their authority to include trails. In that capacity,the Rail Authority could be the conduit to secure funding for acquisition and development of regional trails. The regional trails identified in the PDF would serve as arterial routes. Municipalities would be encouraged to link local trails to these arterial routes in order to provide a more comprehensive trail network. Chair Henry commented that the Committee's intent has been to recommend that the diagonal trail be dedicated as the Elmer L. Andersen Trail, but the more we talked about it the more it became apparent it might be possible to make the Elmer Andersen trail much longer to connect the two regional parks. He asked if the County was open to that. Mr. Mack replied that it could be possible. The process we have is it has to initiate someplace from the citizens group. Our commission would review that and make a recommendation with the county board. I would say with Tony Bennett as chair and his long time affiliation with the Andersen's, this would be a