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05-10-2000 PR MIN . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2000 Members Present: Chair Kuester; Commissioners Dana Anderson, Dave Anderson, Huberty, and Peterson. Commissioners Westrum and Reitsma arrived at 7:55 p.m. Members Absent: Commissioner Sladek Staff Present: Michele McPherson, Director of Planning; Phil Hals, Street/Park Superintendent Steve Wensman, Planner; Debbie Huebner, Recording Secretary 1. Call Meetina To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Kuester. 2. Consider 5/10/00 Park & Recreation Commission Aaenda . COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MAY 10, 2000, PARK & RECREATION AGENDA. COMMISSIONER PETERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 3. Consider Minutes of 4/12/00 Park & Recreation Commission Meeting COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 12, 2000, PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. COMMISSIONER HUBERTY SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Park & Recreation Commissioner to Attend Mav Plannina Commission and Citv Council Meetinas a. 5/15/00 City Council Meeting Commissioner Dave Anderson will attend the May 15, 2000, City Council meeting. b. 5/23/00 Planning Commission Meeting Commissioner Kuester will attend the May 23, 2000, Planning Commission meeting. 5. Open Mike . Jim Nystrom, 19232 Proctor Avenue, Sherburne County Zoning Administrator and member of the Sherburne County Park and Open Space Committee, was present Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 10,2000 Page 2 . to discuss forming a regional park coalition for East Sherburne County. Mr. Nystrom explained how he recently became aware of the opportunities which are available for parks. trails and open space when communities combine their efforts and form a coalition. He described the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization (APO) which is made up of members from Benton. Sterns and Sherburne County and the City of St. Cloud. He stated that they have a well- defined and well-organized planning process for acquiring property and grants from various organizations for projects which benefit a large area. Mr. Nystrom stated that the purpose of the East Sherburne County coalition would be to develop a regional park plan. identify trail corridors and lobby for funds from various sources. He suggested that membership could possibly include roughly the Highway 169 corridor. consisting of approximately 16 - 17 public entities from Rogers up to Princeton. with a population of about 50.000 - 60.000. Approximately 5 counties would be involved. He felt that planning for this area would increase park and recreation opportunities in East Sherburne County. Mr. Nystrom suggested possible projects could include a trail corridor project with the proposed Mississippi River Highway 101 north bridge replacement. This link would connect Wright and Sherburne County. and eventually, it could provide the link necessary to connect Anoka and Hennepin Counties. He felt the City of Elk River Park & Recreation Commission would be the best place to start the movement to form a coalition. . Mr. Nystrom noted that Mille Lacs County has purchased the railroad right-of-way all the way from Milaca down to Princeton. Chair Kuester suggested that this issue be placed on a future agenda. Mr. Nystrom suggested that in one to two years. the coalition could be formed and a plan developed. so that they could then approach the legislature for bonding. He added that some of the acquisition can be done without bonding, through tools such as park dedication and DNR grants. Mr. Nystrom stated that he will prepare an outline of his proposal for a future agenda. Michele McPherson suggested that Mr. Nystrom present the idea to the Community Recreation Board. since the board includes elected officials from some of the communities proposed to be included in the coalition. Mr. Nystrom stated that the coalition would be a planning body for acquisition and development. He was not sure if the Recreation Board was the appropriate body to approach. and felt they would deal more with implementation. 7. Area Recreation Uodate Michele McPherson reviewed the May 2000 Area Recreation update prepared by Michele Bergh. Highlights included the summer program registrations, staff additions. summer intern. youth field scheduling and attendance at Emporium. . --." Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 10, 2000 Page 3 . 8. Park Develooment Proaress Reoort Phil Hals reported on park development activities for the month of April as follows: · Approximately 25 trees were saved this past month from the Wal-Mart site and planted at Lions, Hillside 5th, Deerfield 4th, and Barrington Parks, and at the ice arena site. · A total of 57 trees in all were planted at various parks this month. · A walkway was based in from the Lions Park entrance to the Boys and Girls Club. Also, the base work was completed for Jerry Palmer's flag pole memorial site at Lions Park. · The irrigation heads were installed at Kuss Field and will be hooked up soon. · The trails and base have been completed for the Woodland Trails picnic site and he expects the student project to be completed in a week or so. The Commissioners and staff discussed an issue which has arisen regarding location of the trail head at Greenhead Acres 2nd Addition. Staff will provide video footage of the site at the June Park and Recreation meeting. 11. Uodate on 411712000 City Council Meetina 12. Uodate on 4125/00 Plannina Commission Meetina There were no park issues discussed at the April City Council and Planning Commission meetings. . 12.a. Uodate on Mav 8, 2000, City Council Meetina Chair Kuester reported on park issues discussed at the May 8th Council meeting, including the downtown EDA site on the Mississippi River, and authorization to purchase the Devine barn. 9.B.1. Preliminary Plat P 00-7, Twin Lakes Townhomes 9.B.2. Preliminary Plat P 00-9 - Elk River Cenex 9.B.3. Preliminary Plat P 00-10 - Elk Path Business Center 9.B.4. Administrative Subdivision AS 00-4 - Livina Waters Church COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO ACCEPT THE PARK DEDICATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING: 1. PRELIMINARY PLAT - TWIN LAKES TOWN HOMES - PEDESTRIAN TRAILS AS DESCRIBED, AND CASH. 2. PRELIMINARY PLAT - ELK RIVER CENEX - CASH DEDICATION 3. PRELIMINARY PLAT - ELK PATH BUSINESS CENTER - CASH DEDICATION 4. ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISION - LIVING WATERS CHURCH -CASH DEDICATION COMMISSIONER HUBERTY SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0-1. Commissioner Reitsma abstained. . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 10,2000 Page 4 . 9.C.1. Deer Tick Handout The Commissioners discussed a handout regarding deer ticks. Commissioner Westrum noted that a very informative article was in the Wednesday, May 10th Minneapolis Star & Tribune newspaper. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to post the handout in the park and also, to place an article in the Star News regarding deer ticks. 9.C.2. Master Park Plan MaD Chanaes The Park & Recreation Commissioners and staff reviewed the list of proposed changes to the Master Park Plan map, as detailed in the staff report by Steve Wensman dated May 10, 2000. The list was revised as follows: - Delete #23, regarding Charest river front property as a future park - Add #36 - Identify future area-wide park/recreational area expansion north of Top of the World Park and east of the railroad grade trail. - Add #37 - Identify Wapiti Park as possible future Community Park, and future trail from Wapiti Park, going east along Lake Orono undeveloped land. COMMISSIONER REITSMA MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TO THE MASTER PARK PLAN AS PRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT DATED MAY 10, 2000, INCLUDING THE REVISIONS AGREED UPON BY THE COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER DAVE ANDERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0. . 9.C.3. Discuss Regional Park Criteria (adiourn to Conference Room Al Michele McPherson began the discussion by stating that two possible locations have been identified for area-wide parks: 1) an area north of County Road 33 and west of the railroad grade, and 2) an area east of Highway 169 and north of County Road 33. Commissioner Reitsma raised questions regarding the definition of an area-wide park, how large an area-wide park should be, and how many acres total does the city anticipate will be needed when the city is fully developed. Factors which were discussed in determining the acreage for park need projections included: . how many acres of park land per 1 ,000 people is appropriate for this community: . how many residents will Elk River have when it is totally built out: . what is the likelihood of residential development in the gravel mining district when mining is completed: . the impact in population if a second sewer treatment facility were constructed: . Using 43 acres of park land per 1 ,000 people would result in 559 acres for a population of 13,000. A population of 17,000 would mean 731 acres were needed. A figure of 50,000 was suggested for the City's total built-out population. It was felt the figure could be as high as 80,000 if a second sewer treatment plant were built (to serve future residential development in the gravel district). Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 10,2000 Page 5 . After discussion, the Commission and staff felt 15 acres per 1,000 residents for heavier park uses, and 25 acres per 1,000 for natural areas/open space were appropriate figures to use in determining park needs. Based on this information, approximately 1 ,250 acres would be needed to meet future requirements for open space. Taking into account the existing 700 acres of open space park land, approximately 550 more acres are needed. Discussion then centered around the minimum size requirements for parcels to be considered for area-wide parks. The Commissioners and staff were in agreement that a figure of 50 plus acres would be a minimum. The St. Louis Park Gun Club was discussed as a site the Commission felt strongly about preserving indefinitely as open space, because of its beauty and natural amenities. The club is located west of County Road 1 at roughly the 205th A venue alignment. Staff will contact the DNR regarding possible negotiations they are having with the Club. Commissioner Dave Anderson felt that the use of the gun club site would be extremely limited due to the sensitivity of the area. Michele McPherson pointed out several parcels adjacent to the gun club which would bridge the gun club with Woodland Trails Park. Commissioner Dave Anderson felt that preservation of the Tamarack swamp which is located on the David Thompson, Judith and Richard Thompson, and Bloomdahl and Carl Thompson properties. The Commissioners were in agreement that this was a desirable site to preserve as open space. . The West Twin Lake area was considered next. It was the consensus of the Commissioners that there was some interest in the area as a community park, but they did not feel the site would be large enough to consider as an area-wide park. Commissioner Peterson raised the question of how Anoka County would feel about Elk River connecting a park with their park. It was suggested that the area might be well-suited for ball fields, since it is relatively flat with limited wooded area. Some conversation was then given to the Weldon Schulz farm located off Monroe Street. It was suggested that a portion of this property would make an excellent area-wide park. Due to the time, Chair Kuester called a special meeting for June 28, 2000, at 7:00 p.m., to continue the discussion of area wide parks. 10. Information/Uodate Items (No discussion or presentation unless reauested) Information or updates were provided in the Commissioners' packets for the following issues: Land Use Cases: 1. Park in Trout Brook Farms 2. Status of Charest Mississippi Parcel . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 10,2000 Page 6 . Park/Trail Develooments: 1. Playground Schedule 2. Public Information - Elk River Star News Articles 3. Community Recreation Update 4. Current Article, April 2000 5. First Quarter Financial Information 13. Other Business A special meeting is called for June 28, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. 14. Adjournment There being no further business, COMMISSIONER WESTRUM MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COMMISSIONER REITSMA SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting of the Elk River Park & Recreation Commission adjourned at 10:00 p.m. R, ?\ect"f,,~UIIY su, ~:tti' " j)d0d'~ Debbie Huebner Recording Secretary . .