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01-12-2020 PRM Meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Members Present: Chair Williams, Commission members Anderson, Holmgren (6:50 p.m.), Loidolt, Niziolek Members Absent: Rathbun and Soltvedt Council Liaison: Ms. Wagner Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director Michael Hecker, and Recreation Assistant Ali Wallace 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 Chair Williams. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Consider 01/12/2022 Agenda Chair Williams removed 8.1 Lion John Weicht Park Playground due to two commissioners being absent. Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve the January 12, 2022 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda. Motion carried 4-0. 4.1 Consider 12/08/2021 Regular PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve the following December 8, 2021 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 4-0. 5. Open Forum - None 6. Presentations - None 7. Action Items 7.1 Park Dedication Funds for County Road 33 Trail Mr. Hecker shared the staff report. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 January 12, 2022 ----------------------------- Mr. Dave Roedel, Deputy County Engineer with Sherburne County, was in attendance to answer questions. Mr. Roedel shared they discovered the Master Trail Plan in the spring of 2021 that indicated a desire for a trail adjacent to County Road 33. At an open house in August there was an overwhelming response by the public that wanted this trail to be included with the project. The construction will begin in 2023. Commissioner Anderson shared this is a very expensive and once in a lifetime opportunity to install a trail. Commissioner Holmgren arrived at 6:50 p.m. Commissioner Loidolt agrees it is very expensive for a 2-mile trail and will take out the budget for years to come for future projects. He wishes there were other trails to connect to and make it more palpable to understand the need for the trail. It seems like it’s a trail to nowhere. Commissioner Niziolek agrees it is expensive but is important to add a trail for pedestrians to travel. At this time, it is a trail to nowhere, but it could potentially be a trail to the Great Northern Trail and Woodland Trails Regional Park. Commissioner Anderson sees the trail as a potential major east west connector. Mr. Hecker shared the updated Park Dedication Fund spreadsheet and the previous council minutes from November 15, 2021 that were passed out tonight. According to the council minutes “Council did not feel the area near County Road 33 had enough population to warrant a trail and recommended bringing the discussion back to the Parks and Recreation Commission for them to make recommendations. Mr. Femrite added that it may be more economical to design and build the trails during the road project.” Chair Williams shared the biggest issue he has is paying for this with park dedication funds. That would leave us with no money until 2028 at the earliest. Commissioner Anderson shared there should be another fund for trails. Commissioner Loidolt does not agree with using park dedication funds. If there was another funding source he would be for the trail. Commissioner Holmgren agrees with not wanting to use park dedication funds. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 January 12, 2022 ----------------------------- Mark Lea, 10934 205th Ave NW, shared he will lose a significant amount of property along with tree line privacy if the trail is added. He shared the trail seems like it is more of a wish list item and the homeowners are not being taken into consideration as to how it will impact them. Commissioner Anderson asked if the roadway doesn’t have a trail will it go back to a rural section on both sides? Mr. Roedel shared it would be and it will cost more to add the trails at a later date. Commissioner Loidolt asked if both 6-foot shoulders will be paved? Mr. Roedel shared it will be paved 6 feet from the fog line. It is designed to state aid standards. Commissioner Niziolek asked if there will there be a 6-foot shoulder on the by-pass lane? Mr. Roedel shared there will not. Typically, on a by-pass lane there will be a couple extra feet of asphalt paving. There would not be a shoulder paved outside the by- pass lane. Commissioner Anderson shared we have a trail plan, and this is an opportunity to execute the plan. We are now saying we are not going to follow the plan because of cost. Why do we have a trail plan if we are not going to follow it. Commissioner Anderson asked if the funding was coming from another source would we want the trail? Commissioner Loidolt asked Anderson if he is in favor of spending $1.7 million on a trail. Commissioner Anderson replied he is not, but he is willing to commit to allow the design work and trail construction planning to proceed in hopes that we can come up with another funding source. By saying no to park dedication, we are saying no to the trail. Chair Williams shared that you could make a motion to approve the County Road 33 trail using dedicated funding and ask the council to increase the franchise fee. Council member Wagner shared she will bring this up to the council and feels like we need to revisit the county and city contribution guidelines and how we participate Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 January 12, 2022 ----------------------------- in county projects. The city is responsible for 90% of the trail on a county road. If the commission would like the trail fees added to the franchise fees, then you need to be ready for the council to ask questions. Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendations to construct County Road 33 trail with funds coming from a combination of the Park Dedication Fund, Franchise Fee and County Cost Share. Motion carried 3-2. Chair Williams and Commissioner Holmgren opposed. Council member Wagner asked to clarify that the commission is wanting the council to come up with the funding between the franchise fee, park dedication and potential county cost share, but there is not a recommendation on the dollar amount. Council member Wagner asked when this will be presented to Council. She shared if this does move forward there will be one budget season to figure out where the funding sources come from and if a franchise fee amendment happens then that is changing the ordinance. Will there be a public hearing when it is brought to council? Mr. Hecker shared we are not required to do a public hearing but can invite citizens to a future meeting. Council member Wagner asked how we can ensure that the homeowners are notified that this is going to City Council if it is not a public hearing. Mr. Hecker shared staff can send letters to homeowners. Commissioner Loidolt shared he would like to rescind his vote. If there is a chance the council could approve the trail and the $1.74 million would come from the park dedication fund, then he is not in favor of the vote. If we vote on this again a certain amount needs to be included in the motion. Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to reconsider Commissioner Loidolt’s previous vote. Motion carried 4-1. Commissioner Anderson opposed. Commissioners discussed what amount they are comfortable spending from the park dedication fund. Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendations to construct County Road 33 trail with the following conditions: Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 January 12, 2022 ----------------------------- • $300,000 coming from the Park Dedication Fund • Request the City to amend the Franchise Fee • Re-negotiate the Cost Share with the County. Motion carried 3-2. Chair Williams and Commissioner Holmgren opposed. 7.2 Naming Rights – John Barth Fields Mr. Hecker shared the staff report. Chair Williams shared he asked Mr. Hecker why there was a 2-year waiting period. In the council minutes, dated November 19, 2012 it states Council member Zerwas wanted to remove the 2 year language, but Mayor Dietz disagreed and stated emotion may cause a hasty decision in which a time delay could help by offering more time for perspective. Chair Williams shared staff suggested putting in memorial benches at the JV field and wait the full 2 years for the naming rights and Mayor Dietz agreed. The mayor was okay with not waiving the 2-year timeline. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendations to approve waiving the policy requirement to wait two years for a deceased person before a naming opportunity can be considered. Motion carried 3-2. Chair Williams and Commissioner Loidolt opposed. Moved by Commissioner Holmgren and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to recommend to City Council to accept staff recommendations to approve naming the two softball fields John Barth Fields. Motion carried 3-2. Chair Williams and Commissioner Loidolt opposed. 8. Discussion Items - None 9. Parks and Recreation Director Update Mr. Hecker shared the staff report. Elk Riverfest, July 30, 2022, will be moved to Lion John Weicht Park instead of Orono Park for the family daytime events, due to the park and grass not being ready. 10. Announcements Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 January 12, 2022 ----------------------------- 11. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Williams adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission at 7:54 p.m. Minutes prepared by Ali Wallace. ___________________ David Williams, Chair _____________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk