08-11-2004 PR MIN
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MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
HELD AT CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST II, 2004
Members Present:
Commissioners Anderson, Nystrom, Kuester, Polston-Hork, Paige and
Niziolek. Chair Peterson arrived at 6:40 p.m.
Members Absent:
None
Staff Present:
Michele McPherson, Director of Planning; Chris Leeseberg, Planner/Park
Planner; Parks and Recreation Director Bill Maertz; Michele Bergh,
Recreation Manager; T eny Bye, Park Foreman; Rae Ann Gardner,
Recording Secretary
1. 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 Vice-Chair Polston-Hork.
2.
Consider August 11. 2004 Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda
Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Maertz moved item # 8 Policy Discussion - "Tobacco
Use in Parks" to the work session.
Director of Planning, Michele McPherson removed item 9 .B.1. M & P Utilities Request from
the agenda.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 11, 2004 PARKS &
RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED
6-0.
3. Consider Minutes of July 14. 2004 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK TO APPROVE THE JULY 14, 2004 PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
4. Parks & Recreation Commissioner to Attend August 16. 2004 Planning Commission and
August 24. 2004 City Council Meetings
a. August 16. 2004 City Council Meeting
b.
Commissioner Niziolek will attend the August 16, 2004 City Council Meeting.
August 24. 2004 Planning Commission Meeting
Commissioner Paige will attend the August 24, 2004 Planning Commission Meeting.
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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes
August 11,2004
Page 2
5. Open Mike
No one appeared for this item.
6. Neighborhood Meetings/Discussions: None
7. Park Development Progress Report - T eny Bye
Park Foreman, T eny Bye stated that they installed basketball standards and baskets at
Highlands West Park and they have placed dirt out there and are preparing to seed.
Mr. Bye shared that at Trout Brook they installed the panic bars on the Barn door and it is
ready for use.
Mr. Bye stated that they have finished installing in the insulation and plastic at the Youth
Athletic Complex concession stand and they will continue to sheetrock upstairs.
Commissioner Kuester asked when the Barn will be ready for use and how can people
reserve It.
Recreation Manager, Michele Bergh stated that they are waiting for the policy to be
approved and it is at the sub-committee level and when that is in place the Barn will be ready
for use.
Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Maertz shared that the Trout Brook Association will be
using the barn next month for their meeting.
Commissioner Nystrom stated that he noticed a lot of trees are dying this year and is there
anything they can do to stop it.
Commissioner Kuester asked if they ever received the grant for the Big Tooth Ridge
demonstration project.
Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Maertz stated he will check on that grant.
(Chair Peterson arrived at this time)
8. City Recreation Update - Michele Bergh
Recreation Manager, Michele Bergh shared that the department is now taking on-line
registrations and it is going vety well.
Ms. Bergh stated that the department participated in the 4th of July Festival at Orono Park
and the Sherburne County Fair Parade and both of those went really well and was a great
opportunity to market programs. Ms. Bergh also stated that they currently have flyers in the
money envelopes at the Bank of Elk River with all the Entertainments in the Park listed for
the summer.
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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes
August 11,2004
Page 3
Ms. Bergh shared that they have reserved a total of 1,663.5 hours of use for city facilities.
Over 1,000 of that was in field use and about 250 hours was for Lions Park Center.
Recreation Assistant, Rae Ann Gardner demonstrated to the Commission the on-line
registration program. Ms. Bergh shared how the department will discontinue taking phone-
in registrations and have a laptop on the front counter that customers can build their own
on-line account and register for programs.
Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Maertz shared that the library will be placing labels on
the computers with the on-line registration website so that customers who do not have
access to the internet are able to get on-line and register at the library.
Commissioner Paige asked if there are signs that can be placed around town about the on-
line registration and the website.
Commissioner Niziolek thanked all those who prepared the trails for the Big Tooth Sweet
Tooth Race. There were 75 participants this year.
9A.1. Community Events: None
9.B.1. M & P Utilities - Use of Great Northern Trail
This item was removed from the agenda.
9.B.2. Consider Park Dedication P 04-18 Windsor Meadows
Planner/Park Planner, Chris Leeseberg presented the preliminary plat request for Windsor
Meadows. The applicant is proposing a 35 lot single family cluster development on an
approximately 64-acre parcel that will be accessed from Wmdsor Park 3rd on the north and
from Windsor Park on the east. The subject property is open rolling meadow land with
most of the westerly portion being wetland. Two internal trail connections are being
proposed within the development with no sidewalks being proposed. The site is outside of
any park target area, and is located near existing parks therefore staff suggests that cash for
35 lots be collected for park dedication.
The Commission discussed the need to complete an ecological restoration of the site. The
site is currently farmed. Commissioner Niziolek noted the presence of Blaclin's turtles on
the site and the need to maintain access to the upland.
The Commission also discussed the proposed trails and whether they were public or private.
If the developer is seeking credit for public use, the trails need to link developments or be a
longer circuit.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
ANDERSON TO ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO
RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL CASH DEDICATION FOR 35 LOTS.
THE COMMISSION ALSO WOUlD LIKE STAFF TO ENCOURAGE
EXPLORATION OF A BROADER TRAIL THAT CONNECTS ALONG WITH
ROADWAY CONNECTION TO THE SOUTHWEST; THAT THE PLANTING
OF NATIVE GRASSES ARE ENCOURAGED; AND, THAT STAFF FOLLOWS
UP WITH DEVELOPER FOR THE LONG-RANGE SUCCESS OF TIlE GRASS
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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes
August 11, 2004
Page 4
IN OUTLOT B. THE COMMISSION WOUlD ALSO HAVE STAFF
ENCOURAGE THE APPLICANT TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE LOCATIONS
OF THE PIAYGROUND AND PAVILION TO OBTAIN MORE STREET
"PRESENCE". MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
10.
Information/Update Items
A. Land Use Cases: None
B. Park/Trail Developments:
1. Park Dedication Fund Balance
2. Hillside City Park Donations
3. Article-"Wedands Up For Adoption"
4. Article-"Covering City Volunterrs"
5. NRI Update
11. Update on Tuly 19. 2004 City Council Meeting
Commissioner Nystrom provided an update on the June 21, 2004 City Council meeting.
12. Update on July 27. 2004 Planning Commission Meeting
Commissioner Niziolek provided an update on the June 22, 2004 Planning Commission
Meeting.
13.
Other Business- None
14. Adiournment
The There being no further business, the meeting adjOl.uned to worksession at 7:25pm.
Respectfully submitted,
RaeAnn Gardner
Recording Secretary