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09-14-1994 PR MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1994 Members Present: Chair Dave Anderson; Commissioners Dana Anderson, Rolfe Anderson (9:00 p.m.), O'Brien, Daleiden. Lipetzky. and Olson Members Absent: Commissioner st. Dennis. Staff Present: Bill Rubin, Economic Development Coordinator; Phil Hals. Street/Park Superintendent 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 7:05 p.m. by Chair Dave Anderson. 2. Consider 9/14/94 Aaenda COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE 9/14/94 AGENDA. COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 3. Consider Park and Recreation Commission Minutes COMMISSIONER OLSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE 8/3/94 MINUTES. COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE 8/18/94 MINUTES. COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 4. Open Mike No one was present for this item. 5. Update on EDA Site - Bill Rubin Economic Development Coordinator Bill Rubin shared background information about an HRA sponsored development of a trail system from the central business district. Bill asked that the Park and Recreation Commission consider requesting that the City Council authorize the expenditure of some funds to be combined with HRA funds to develop a riverfront corridor. Bill suggested that two Park and Recreation Commission members. two Housing and Redevelopment Authority members, one downtown property owner, two Downtown Development Corporation members. one Chamber of Commerce member and one at-large community representative for a Committee that could Elk River Park and Recreation Commission Meeting September 14, 1994 Page 2 plan and implement a design and then carry this on to the bid and construction mode. . Commission members voiced support of the concept, but all expressed concern to recommend the $17.000 fund requested at this time without having a detail of expenditures. COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF A RIVERFRONT CORRIDOR WITH TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION ON THE COMMITTEE AND WITH FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN MORE INFORMATION IS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER OLSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 6. Continue discussion on Iiahted trails around City Hall Phil Hals stated that in the 1994 Park Capital Improvement expenditures he had proposed lighting for the Orono Lake trail and a link west of Orono Road that would connect the Orono Lake trail and the Orono Parkway sidewalk. but the need for a different light fixture and additional installation costs increased the estimate from $7.500 to $13.000. It was the consensus of the Commission members that the whole issue of lighted trails be considered some time in the future, but present needs are for the funds to be spent on trail construction and not lights. 7. Update on oroDosal for athletic fields in Lion's Park . Phil Hals explained to the Park and Recreation Commission members that he had forwarded a request to the Lion's Club asking that they reconsider their position of not wanting organized athletics in Lion's Park. Phil indicated that his request was driven by a projected surplus of fill sand on the Jackson Road project, the need for more soccer/football fields for youth athletics, and the extreme under utilization of Lion's Park. The Lion's Club response was that they would like a football field, soccer field, and baseball field constructed in the park, but still not allow organized athletics. Phil stated that his position is that this would be a lot of work and expense for the continued under utilization of the park. (7:50 p.m. - Power outage. The meeting was moved from Conference Room A to the open office area to take advantage of emergency lighting) After discussing the issues at hand, it was the consensus of the Commission to have two unnamed members attend a future Lion's Club meeting in an effort to educate the Lion's of park usage and field needs. COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO CONTINUE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DOWN SIZED SOCCER/FOOTBALL FIELD WITH FABRIC UNDERLA YMENT WITH COSTS NOT TO EXCEED $6,000. COMMISSIONER OLSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. . . . . Elk River Park and Recreation Commission Meeting September 14, 1994 Page 3 8. Consider Preliminary Plat for Hillside Crossina South CHAIR ANDERSON MOVED THAT THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION COULD NOT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS ITEM DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THAT THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION WOULD NOT HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TO RECONSIDER THIS SUBJECT. COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 8.1 . Pedestrian Issues Commissioner O'Brien raised the issue of pedestrian traffic versus vehicle traffic in areas of Proctor Avenue/School Street and School Street/Highway 169. COMMISSIONER L1PETSKY MOVED TO REQUEST A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT PROCTOR AVENUE AND COUNTY ROAD 1, AND TO CONSIDER MAKING THIS A FOUR WAY STOP INTERSECTION. IN ADDITION, THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED CONSIDERATION OF A CROSS WALK AT THE INTERSECTION OF COUNTY ROAD 1 AND SCHOOL STREET, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THAT INTERSECTION. COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 8.2. Shiely Park Dedication Chair Anderson indicated that the offer by Shiely is to dedicate 50 acres of park land for 500 acres of gravel mining and explained that staff has suggested that the Council look at other options that may allow other park acquisition in the 500 acre section when it is developed. After a lengthy discussion. it was the consensus of the Commission to support the proposal to recommend that the City Council take the 50 acres of park land for the 500 acre development. Commissioner Rolfe Anderson arrived at this time (9:00 p.m.). 9. Staff Uodates Phil Hals reported on a demonstration of a landscape rake that the Street/Park Department had and that the 1995 budget contained a request for $2.600 for the purchase of such a rake. After a short discussion it was the feeling of the Commission members that if such a tool could be purchased and used in 1994 that they would support it. COMMISSIONER O'BRIEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF A LANDSCAPE RAKE FOR $2,130. COMMISSIONER OLSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 7-0. Phil Hals explained the MnDOT landscape partnership program by which MnDOT furnishes a landscaping plan and the funds to purchase plant materials to landscape areas of Highway right-of-way within the City of Elk River. Elk River Park and Recreation Commission Meeting September 14, 1994 Page 4 The City furnishes a coordinator. the equipment to prepare planting beds. move plant materials. and water planted trees and bushes, and the planting is done by volunteer groups. Phil indicated that the application is being prepared to submit to MnDOT, and. if all proceeds at a reasonable rate, planting could take place in April and May of 1995. . Phil has informally discussed this program and has received volunteer support from the Chamber of Commerce. the American Legion, and the Boy Scouts. Commissioner Lipetzky indicated that School District 728 has a curriculum program that would coincide nicely with this program and he was certain that the School District would be interested in involving students and staff in this program. COMMISSIONER L1PETZKY MOVED THAT THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER ROLFE ANDERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0. Phil Hals passed out a memo from the City Administrator and an attached copy of the City Conflict of Interest Ordinance and asked that the members review the information and be prepared to discuss the item at the October meeting. 11. Adiournment . There being no further business, COMMISSIONER DANA ANDERSON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. COMMISSIONER DALEIDEN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 7-0. The meeting of the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission was adjourned at 10: 1 0 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ;0 JUJ /Vc-do (~R) Philip E. Hals Street/Park Superintendent .