Loading...
12-10-2014 PR MIN • City of Meeting of the Elk River E lk Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall River Wednesday, December 10, 2014 Members Present: Chair Anderson,Commission members Ahlness,Niziolek,Nystrom, Kallemeyn,Holmgren and Sagan Members Absent: None Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker,Park Planner Chris Leeseberg,Recreation Manager,Steve Benoit,and Recreation Coordinator,Tonya Love I. Call Meeting to Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof,the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m.by Chair Anderson. 2. Consider 12/10/14 Agenda Mr. Hecker added Item 7.3 Lake Orono Trail Project. • Moved by Commissioner Nystrom and seconded by Commissioner Kallemeyn to accept staff's addition to the agenda and approve the December 10,2014, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda. Motion carried 7-0. 3.1 Consider November 12, 2014 Regular PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Ahlness and seconded by Commissioner Kallemeyn to approve the following November 12,2014 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. 3.2 Consider November 12, 2014 Work Session PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Kallemeyn and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to approve the following November 12,2014 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. 4. Open Forum No one appeared for Open Forum. 5. Park/Program Highlight • Mt. Benoit presented the 2014 Downtown Tree Lighting Ceremony, stating this Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 December 10,2014 event is a collaboration held between Elk River Parks and Recreation department, Ill Elk River Municipal Utilities and the Downtown Rivers Edge Business Association. 6. Discussion Items -None 7.1 Rivers Edge Commons Park Expansion and Fishing Pier Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. City Council also looked at concepts of the fishing pier ideas. Shared a list of the Park Improvement Fund and explained that the funds of$14,000 for the River's Edge Park would come out of that fund. Mr. Hecker added that this does not include final cost of construction which will be about a 9%increase. Mr. Hecker read through each task item in the staff report sharing that Task 7 is not included in the budget amount being requested for approval tonight. Commissioner Niziolek shared he is apprehensive about doing the dock and instead more of the money should be put towards the park. Mr. Hecker stated that the dock could be located along the parking lot area as well and he was directed by City Council to include it for the DNR to look at the concept. Commissioner Anderson asked if it's two separate projects and that the outcome be III treated separately with the final designs having options for with a dock and without a dock. Mr. Hecker stated there may be a private funder for the dock. Commissioner Anderson expressed that it's reasonable to keep project designs together for looking at concepts but would like to keep them separate when construction begins. Commissioner Kallemeyn agrees with keeping the dock as a separate project from the expansion of the River's Edge Commons Park. Commissioner Anderson asked if the park can expand into the alley and recommended to add another bullet point stating to utilize the sloped area for additional seating. Commissioner Holmgren asked about the trees along the alley. Mr. Hecker stated those would be transplanted somewhere else. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Kallemeyn to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendation to 1111 LNATURE 11 Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 December 10,2014 • accept the $14,000 budget increase for design and development of River's Edge Commons Park. Motion carried 7-0. 7.2 Gravel Mining Area- Land Use Scenarios Mr.Leeseberg presented his staff report. Kelsey Johnson,community planner with WSB and Associates shared an update regarding the study of the gravel mining area and land use scenarios.Asking the commissioners for feedback regarding specific park land uses and trail connections that would be beneficial to the parks and recreation system. Ms.Johnson shared who they have met with during community engagement.Top priorities that we have a mix of uses, clean industrial land uses that provide jobs, provide adequate streets,traffic flow,east west connections within the city and parks and trails,and more diverse retail opportunities. Ms.Johnson went through each land use scenario and identified key connections to existing parks/trails and asked what parks and recreation needs are needed there. Commissioner Niziolek stated that the green area along the Great Northern Trail is not correct as the commission has identified an oak forest area to be preserved. III Commissioner Anderson requested to see a map of the current park system, to verify the park boundary line. Commissioner Niziolek asked that road be moved away from the park boundary. Mr.Leeseberg shared that from a planning aspect the road gives access to everyone instead of only those living in single family homes. Commissioner Nystrom asked about the utilities and how they are affected. Ms.Johnson stated that the utilities would remain under the easement. Commissioner Niziolek would lobby to put residential along the whole park boundary. Making it industrial would be a mistake. Ms.Johnson asked about connections to other trails or parks. Commissioners Anderson and Niziolek recommended one access a mile north of County Road 33 to connect a residential hub. Ms.Johnson asked what the recreational needs are outside of this area. Commissioner Anderson shared that Elk River could have the best sliding tubing hill IIIwith a tow rope in the area. r EaE11 $1 ATUR Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 December 10,2014 Commissioner Niziolek stated that there should be a water amenity and provide an • outdoor swimming feature. Commissioner Nystrom asked if the road along the park boundary could be a parkway. Commissioner Anderson asked if there could be a significant tree forest screening the park to the road. Commissioner Nystrom stated that there should be a 100 foot easement for the parkway. Commissioner Anderson asked why the park is part of the study area. Ms.Johnson explained that they we were directed to have it in the study and it will stay as a park but to consider how it connects to the different areas. Commissioner Sagan clarified what year will mining will be finished. Ms.Johnson stated that it is phased from 5 to 60 years. Commissioner Niziolek asked to be shown the existing road with respect to the new road alignment. Ms.Johnson stated that the new road alignment is being discussed with Sherburne county,council and DOT. • 7.3 Lake Orono Trail Project Mr. Hecker presented his staff report sharing that staff is looking for support of the trail project resolution to go to City Council. Commissioner Holmgren asked why it stops at Proctor and if it can go further east towards downtown. Mr. Hecker stated that if you ask for more than the funding available in the grant then it would be denied.The city engineer has suggested the amount of trail to be within the scope of the grant. It was asked if we have lost hope of getting access under the bridge,Mr. Hecker stated"no",but is a different issue. Commissioner Niziolek would encourage that the trail go all the way along the Highway 10 to Gary Street. Mr. Hecker indicated this is a conceptual idea. Chair Anderson thinks trail should go to Gary Street so it doesn't go into the skate park. • ► O1EaE 11 NATURE Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 December 10,2014 • Moved by Commissioner Sagan and seconded by Commissioner Ahlness to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendation to support and approve the Lake Orono Trial Project Resolution. Motion carried 7-0. 8. Parks and Recreation Director Report Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Rinks have been flooded in the mornings and The Bank of Elk River has approved the sponsorship of 2015 concert series. 9. Division Manager's Reports Mr.Benoit presented his staff report. Last month Handke ice rink was discussed and what kind of use there is on each rink.This year we are going to schedule open skating at various times on one of the rinks because the rinks are larger this year and the outside area is flooded for leisure skating but can be dangerous when there are hockey players within the hockey rinks. Lack of wind and quality of ice makes it a unique skating experience in MN. Staff will promote and market the skating experience. Chair Anderson appreciates staff looking at open skating option. 10. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update • Mr. Hecker stated that the work session would cover the Plan in full. I I. Announcements Chair Anderson stated that we have several new volunteers in the system and have been high quality people. 12. Adjournment There being no further business,Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission at 8:07 p.m. Minutes prepared by Tonya Love. Dave Anderson,Chair Tina Allard, ity -rk • � orfaEr IT NATURE