Loading...
3.2. PRSR 03-11-2015 iik ity Meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission River Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, February 11, 2015 Members Present: Chair Anderson, Commission members Ahlness, Niziolek,Nystrom, Kallemeyn,Holmgren and Sagan Members Absent: None Council Liaison: Ms. Wagner Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker,Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit, and Recreation Coordinator,Tonya Love . 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 6:32 p.m. by Chair Anderson. 2. Consider 2/11/15 Agenda Mr. Hecker switched Items 7.2 and 7.3. Moved by Commissioner Holmgren and seconded by Commissioner Kallemeyn to accept staffs changes to the agenda and approve the February 11,2015, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda. Motion carried 7-0. 3.1 Consider January 7, 2015 Work Session PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Sagan and seconded by Commissioner Nystrom to approve the following January 7,2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. 3.2 Consider January 14, 2015 Regular PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Kallemeyn and seconded by Commissioner Nystrom to approve the following January 14,2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. 3.3 Consider January 14, 2015 Work Session PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Ahlness and seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to approve the following January 14,2015 Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 February 11,2015 4. Open Forum No one appeared for Open Forum. 5. Park/Program Highlight Mr. Benoit shared a presentation regarding recreation programs held at The Y and Salk Middle School gym. Commissioner Anderson asked what the attendance for Open Gym was like. Mr. Benoit stated that current staff is working on retooling the program to align with the master plan. 6. Action Items 6.1 Trail Steward - Pat Roles Mr. Benoit presented his staff report. Pat Roles, 10345 175th Ct. NW, Elk River. Shared what she has done in the park, pulled buckthorn,wrapped trees to help prevent beavers from damaging the trees, watching it. Commissioner Anderson asked to describe the park. Ms. Roles stated it is not developed so there is not a lot of activity,people will bring canoes down and kids will play there. Commissioner Anderson thanked Ms. Roles for her work. Moved by Commissioner Ahlness and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to accept staff recommendation to appoint Pat Roles as the Kliever Marsh Park, Park Steward. Motion carried 7-0. 7. Discussion Items 7.1 Eagle Scout Project Proposal Eagle Scout, Zachary Johnson presented his project proposal to improve the maintenance shed at Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Commissioner Nystrom asked if the siding was still available. Mr.Johnson stated that there may be someone who can make it. Mr. Toth,Bailey Point Nature Preserve Park Steward shared that maintenance avIaEu ITI INATURE r Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 • February 11,2015 equipment is kept in the building. Siding will be difficult to match however;Mr. Johnson has shared some ideas of how to replace the siding. Mr.Anderson shared he was glad that Zachary Johnson chose this project. 7.2 221 st Ave. Trail and Parking Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Shared pictures of the area, stating that the city has a five year plan for the streets and that there is no planned improvement for 221st Ave. Commissioner Sagan shared that he has used the trail and road a lot in last five years and it is dangerous for both pedestrians and people parking along road. It should be made a priority for parking and trail. Commissioner Niziolek would recommend painting a crosswalk on the road right now as a starting point. Discussion of weather Quinn St. is a city street or not and if it is a city street could it be recommended to direct parking along Quinn St. and add a trail from that to the Great Northern Trail. Mr. Hecker will take points to City Council. Commissioner Anderson asked if the Commission will see this again. Mr. Hecker stated that the issue will be presented to the council in March. Commissioner Anderson asked to look at the current road right a way of 221st Ave. and if it is 66 ft. or 100 ft. Second,to develop a cross section of that trail and show how a detached and attached trail would be like. Third,if Quinn St. is a city street or not? Lastly,what is the right a way for the trail. Is it 100 ft. from center from 221st Ave. Stating, that another option would be to have parking along the right away of the trail,pulling on and off of 221st Ave. and what would the safety of that be? Commissioner Anderson asked if parking is established would"No Parking" signs be installed and can property ownership be looked at in all four quadrants along with what are the restrictions for the wetlands in the quadrants and cost for adding a shoulder from Quinn St. Commissioner Niziolek asked where Quinn St. goes and does it go to Ridges of Rice Lake and if it is possible to create a trail through the "back door" which would get people off 221st Ave. Ms. Schmitz, 12495 225th Ct NW showed the drain field option to put a trail in to 221St Ave. E.P. lEsEe ® r Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 February 11,2015 Commissioner Niziolek said the goal is to keep cost down. Ms. Schmitz shared that she is passionate about the situation because of the danger when two cars pass and there is a pedestrian on the shoulder. Commissioner Anderson asked to have the information at the March meeting. Commissioner Anderson stated that looking at the right a ways will show if there is enough room for improvements. 7.3 Reducing Deer Density in Parks Commissioner Anderson asked to have this item on the agenda sharing the staff report. He discussed the timing that an update could be given to the mayor and council, establishing rules,and consideration to allow hunting on smaller lots adjacent to park property. Commissioner Niziolek thinks it should be pursued with and ambitious timeline this fall. Also stating there should be a base line study of density of deer this spring and use that baseline as a standard for rules. Commissioner Anderson said the DNR will do a study just not sure when. Council member Wagner stated it should be presented at a work session for council. Also expressing to think about how this would be signed and what is the program to how this would happen? Commissioner Anderson stated there are similar hunts in many surrounding areas that can be looked at for direction,having an informational meeting with the council having experts there. Council member Wagner asked what the projected timeline would be for this project. Commissioner Anderson stated that it should be worked on until it gets completed, by fall if possible. Commissioner Niziolek shared that it will be important to phase it in. Commissioner Anderson asked if there should be a volunteer group to head this project and will work with Mr. Benoit to find some volunteers to put the hunt together such as rules etc. 8. Parks and Recreation Director Report Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Sharing that there is $50,000 donation for the Houlton property from Trust for Public Land and that it cannot be used towards r 0 I E O 16 l r INATURE Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 February 11,2015 maintenance. Staff met with HKGi regarding the Rivers Edge Commons Park expansion. Hillside City Park will be getting a new sign because there will be some improvements of adding water to the park and so the sign will follow the new wayfinding plan. The Bank of Elk River will be recognized on February17 at City Council for their sponsorship. Work session on March 18 to look at park dedication and latest draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Council member Wagner asked if they will have input on the park signs and if there will be something digital that park users can scan for more information. Commissioner Anderson asked that as the wayfinding process progresses that the commission be included in the decision of park signage. Commissioner Niziolek stated that there should be a protocol of plantings to go with the wayfinding signs. Council member Wagner shared that those suggestions should be done now to help the designer in their work. Commissioner Anderson asked where the money for the sign at Hillside City Park would come from. Mr. Hecker said it may come out of the park fund. Commissioner Anderson asked who the skate park design will go out to. Mr. Hecker explained that it is a very small group of who designs skate parks. Mr. Benoit said there isn't a timeline as a of yet,but will be sending out requests soon. 9. Division Manager's Reports Mr. Benoit presented his staff report. Sharing staff has started summer programming and creation of the summer program guide and marketing efforts. Activity Center has started a new program of Fabulous Fridays. Mr. Benoit thanked the Elk River Nordic Ski team wanted to do a service project in the community. They did an awesome job of buckthorn removal in Woodland Trails rerffE ' er NA `URA Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 February 11,2015 Park in a 4.5 acre area. 10. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update Mr. Hecker stated they met last week and got through the plan and restated the next meeting dates March 11 and March 18. II. Announcements Council member Wagner shared that this weekend was Shiver Elk River and great community event using our parks. Hockey tournament on Friday and Saturday and Plunge on Saturday with a 5k run. 12. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission at 8:04 p.m. Minutes prepared by Tonya Love. Dave Anderson, Chair Tina Allard, City Clerk P01111111 IT NATURE