06-28-2023 PRMIN - Special MeetingSpecial Meeting Elk River
Parks and Recreation Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Members Present: Chair David Williams, Commissioners Dave Anderson, Mike Brown, Ryan Holmgren,
Greg Loidolt, Mike Niziolek, and Mark Rathbun
Members Absent: None
Council Liaison: Councilmember Mike Beyer (absent)
Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Manager Michael Hecker, Assistant City Administrator Joe
Stremcha, Senior Administrative Assistant Dawn Larson
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 6:06 p.m. by Chair Williams.
2. Bradford Park Development Park Dedication-Continued
Mr. Hecker presented the staff report. Also attending were Joe Jablonski Director of Land
Development with Lennar and Whitney Behny Civil Engineer with ISB.
Chair Williams asked the commissioners if there was anything new to bring up related to the three
motions presented in Mr. Hecker’s report.
Commissioner Anderson shared concerns about the amount of flat usable space. He referenced page
47 on the grading plan, Outlot H. He wanted confirmation from the representatives from Lennar that
the green area on the map is a total of 6 acres.
After walking the land Commissioner Anderson believes that a good portion of the area to the left of
the north-south trail in orange is unusable due to steep slopes.
Miss Behny clarified that Commissioner Anderson was referencing backlots 180-184. She also
explained the standard slope requirements are 4 to 1. Commissioner Anderson said he does not
consider that slope measurement as being flat usable space. Miss Behny explained that part of the
lines on the grading plan also include a tree preservation line that was requested to be included.
Commissioner Anderson is concerned that if the green area on the map is sloped it is limited in usage
compared to if it was completely flat. He is concerned that the park is split up into three little chunks
around water areas vs one large programmable space near the largest body of water.
Commissioner Anderson referenced the part of the trail as it goes northeast toward the water feature
on map 48 and 46. He said that because the land does connect us to the water feature it is valuable
but otherwise not usable. He believes the sides of the water are very steep and not sustainable for
human traffic due to being a gravel pit.
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2
June 28, 2023
Commissioner Anderson asked Miss Behny how much shoulder there is on the south side of the
gravel pit in case of erosion. She said there is 5 feet on either side of the trail, 20 feet total width from
the water.
Commissioner Anderson asked the staff from Lennar for more detail on the type of restoration they
are responsible for around the gravel pit since it is currently very steep. Miss Behny explained that the
bank on the north side of the water will be cut down. During construction, the trail sides will be
stabilized. They are not planning to increase the water totals of the mining ponds. There are water
control structures between each water feature. The grading plans show the details. Miss Behny
explained how the water level of the gravel pit would be maintained to stay at a similar level to what it
is today in more detail.
Commissioner Niziolek said he has a suggestion to save a quarter million dollars. He said he suggested
removing the trail between J and K all the way to the road. He also recommended removing the trail
that runs between roads along the south side of the smaller retention pond in the middle of the
development. He recommended putting the money into the park dedication fund instead of this land
for park dedication.
Commissioner Loidolt said he thought that the city had requested the trail between the retention
ponds. Mr. Stremcha reiterated that parks maintenance requested the trail between J and K for
maintenance access.
Chair Williams said that he has thought about this a lot, and he knows where a lot of these
recommendations are coming from.
Moved by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Loidolt to accept staff
recommendations for a regional trail within the development (shown in blue) from Cleveland
Avenue to the current Trott Brook housing development and pay for the trail segment using
existing park dedication fund. Motion carried 6-1. Commissioner Niziolek opposed..
Moved by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Brown to accept staff
recommendations for a 10-foot trail connecting the sidewalk along the south side of Road G
with the trail around the pond-running between basins J and K at Lennar’s expense.
Motion carried 6-1. Commissioner Niziolek opposed.
Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to accept staff
recommendations with the general trail layout of the trails depicted on the attached Bradford
Park exhibit, subject to the recommended changes noted including the exclusion of the zig
zag trail that goes along basin H. Motion failed 4-3. Commissioners Loidolt, Brown,
Holmgren, Williams opposed.
Moved by Commissioner Brown and second by Commissioner Holmgren to accept staff
recommendations the general trail layout of the trails depicted on the attached Bradford Park
exhibit, and subject to the recommended changes noted. Motion carried 5-2. Commissioner
Niziolek and Commissioner Anderson opposed.
Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3
June 28, 2023
3. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to adjourn the
special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Motion carried 7-0.
The meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Dawn Larson.
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David Williams, Chair
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Tina Allard, City Clerk