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08-14-2024 PR MIN - SPECIAL crty of Special Meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall River August 14, 2024 Members Present: Chair Dave Anderson,Commissioners Melissa Fermoyle,Joy Goodwin, Greg Loidolt, Mike Niziolek, Hal Stewart,Jill Varty Members Absent: none Council Liaison: none Staff Present: Assistant City Administrator/Business Services Director Joe Stremcha, Parks and Recreation Manager Jeff Shelby, Recreation Sports Coordinator Warren Ellingworth, Lauren O'Neil Recreation Intern, Senior Administrative Assistant Dawn Larson I. Call Special Meeting to Order 1.1 Regular Meeting Cancelation and Special Meeting Notice Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chair Anderson. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Consider Minutes 3.1 July 10, 2024, Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Varty to approve the July 10,2024,Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. 4. Open Forum 5. Presentations, Awards, and Recognition 5.1 Summer Program Recap Presented by Lauren O'Neil-Recreation Intern 6. Action Items 6.1 Veteran Resilience Program Special Event Request at Lion John Weicht Park Zach Binsfeld,2531 Jefferson St. NE Minneapolis,MN presented the information about the event that was provided in the report. Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 August 14,2024 Mr. Binsfeld gave a history about the program and what they offer to the miliary community.The event will be from 10:00am to 2:00pm and include yard games,a corn hole tournament,and food trucks.The event is a fundraiser with sponsors and with tickets to be sold for the cornhole tournament instead of a 5k. See handouts for the schedule for the day and information about the organization. Chair Anderson asked if they have done this event before in other communities. Mr. Binsfeld has put together events but has never done a cornhole tournament.They are hoping for an attendance of 100- 300 people. It is the first time they are trying something like this. They hope to provide a positive community event for military members past and present and their families and raise mental health awareness. Chair Anderson asked Mr. Bins feld to come back and tell them how it goes. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Goodwin to allow the event and promote the event. Motion carried 7-0. 6.2 Bradford Park South Development-Lennar Homes Mr. Stremcha presented his report and asked for recommendations for feedback to accept park dedication money or additional land that they deem as value. Chair Anderson asked Mr. Stremcha if he had done the math on this. Commissioner Niziolek said the master plan shows the trail continuing all around the lake and he feels that they should stick to that plan. Mr. Stremcha clarified that it is not a lake but a body of water. Commissioner Niziolek pointed out it is clean water derived from an aquifer that was punctured. He also feels it is of great significance to our community. Mr. Stremcha said that the commission can recommend but the council will make their decision and consider the recommendations from the commission. Chair Anderson agrees with Commissioner Niziolek about continuing the trail all around the water. Commissioner Fermoyle asked when the master plan was created.The commissioners confirmed it is the 2018 trails master plan they are referring too. Chair Anderson said it is like an artisan well and has a lot of untapped potential to the community. Commissioner Goodwin asked if adding the full trail loop would eat up all the park dedication money. Chair Anderson clarified that this option would only use a portion of the money and that it is always a balancing act to weight the money vs. the amenity. Commissioner Goodwin asked if there were other parks in this area. Mr. Stremcha reviewed the original layout of the park with the commission and explained that being a new development there are no other parks. Commissioner Varty also agreed that the trail should continue in a circle. p1olEBEB er NATURE Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 August 14,2024 Mr. Stremcha explained that it would be around a$115,000 reduction in park dedication money if they accept the land. Commissioner Fermoyle asked for clarification on what is being asked of the commission. Chair Anderson shared that the fundamental question is to accept the trail of value and/or the money. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Loidolt to incorporate a complete trail around the body of water and include the recommended green space associated with this trail of approximately 2.5 acres and the remainder in cash. Motion carried 7-0. 7. Discussion Items 7.1 Meadowsweet Bend Development Mr. Stremcha explained that this is a conceptual plan for review at this time and no action is needed until the meeting in September. Ben Schmidt with Twin Cities Land Development introduced himself. Mr. Stremcha explained that the property is adjacent to Burr Oak and the question to the commission is if it is agreeable that the park dedication portion of the land encompasses the utility lines. The Commissioners discussed if it would be used as programable space or not.This park is a consideration for the disc golf location so it would be a good idea to walk the space before this comes back in September for decision. Mr. Schmidt explained this development is a hybrid designed for rural development without curbs and gutters but with city sewer. He will be meeting with the planning department next week. Commissioner Niziolek asked if this requires a zoning change. Chair Anderson asked if there will be public hearings through planning and council. Commissioner Niziolek asked to see the master trail plan. Commissioner Niziolek pointed out that there is a plan to put a trail through that development going east to west so there is no other option but to put it along the tamarack swamp setting it off from the neighborhood and meeting the trail needs. Mr. Schmidt said that would mean putting the trail through back yards and that is something that people do not like due to conflicts with assumptions of privacy in such a rural setting. Chair Anderson asked that Mr. Stremcha go back to the trail plan and pointed out that the dotted yellow line of the proposed trail connection should have been considered before these plans were made. Commissioner Niziolek believes a trail would be an amenity to this development. Chair Anderson said that in an ideal world the trail would follow the bluff line but that would significantly affect these lots. Commissioner Niziolek said he does not have a plan since he has not had a lot of time to look at the plans but suggested the developer consider doing it as a cluster house design. Mr. Schmidt said from what he knows via City staff is that there is not a desire for unconventional design for housing which 1 0 / E f E 1 11 NATUR Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 August 14,2024 is why they created the layout as a conventional rural acreage concept design. He is also open to the idea of a trail even though he does not have it in the design right now. Mr. Schmidt said he did review the trail master plan and the plan for a potential future trail through the land. He also agrees that trails are amenities but would like a trail that is on the roadbed so it would not take up so much acreage by having the street, ditch, trail, ditch, driveway. He would like it if they produced a trail that is on the same plane as the roadbed west to east to connect the neighborhood to the park. Mr. Stremcha said that an option would be to run a trail along the main road that runs through the development to make that bridge point to the county road, also if there is interest in converting one of the lots to additional land to create an observation area. Chair Anderson asked what out lot B would be. Mr. Schmidt said it is a storm pond.The other out lot A is wetland and slopes etc. and would be owned by the HOA of the development. Commissioner Niziolek said he has not looked at this property very closely but is curious about reconfiguring the layout of the existing Burr Oak Park to fit the community's needs better. Chair Anderson said he believes Burr Oak is park dedication land. Commissioner Niziolek said that he would not accept tamarack swamp as park dedication. Chair Anderson asked if the commission felt they could accept the land under the power lines. Mr. Stremcha said it is defined as usable as maybe parking lot but not a playground etc. or other amenities. Commissioner Niziolek said there are some access issues to Burr Oak Park that he feels need to be addressed at some point and could be during this process. Mr. Schmidt said that the piece of land they proposed was with the idea to give an access point and potentially parking for the park. Chair Anderson is asking if they can accept land that is in the power line right of way and said they can discuss this at the next meeting. Commissioner Niziolek said he is reluctant to accept park dedication land under the utilities. Mr. Stremcha said the commission can decide what is and is not usable space. Chair Anderson wants to talk to the power company to see what uses can be done under the power lines before deciding. Commissioner Niziolek said that if they cannot build a structure on it,he does not see the property as usable. Chair Anderson said it would be nice to have a trail east to west and he is interested in the little triangle piece of land because it would create an access point to the property. Mr. Schmidt explained that the size of the piece of land is 3.7 acres with about 40%in the easement area. Chair Anderson said he is interested in the piece of property because he knows they do need access to the park. Commissioner Niziolek suggested reconfiguring the park with the possibility of rounding the edges. I O l E I E I IT NATURE Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 August 14,2024 --� Mr. Schmidt said that the driveway on the east will be used as an emergency access during construction but then they could work out a deal where the city would have access to that after the development is done. He said he appreciated the feedback and would take it into consideration as they continue to work through the process. 8. Recreation Manager Update 8.1 Parks and Recreation Manager Update Mr. Shelby presented his report. Commissioner Niziolek asked if the public will be notified about the River's Edge Commons Park rock replacement. Mr. Stremcha confirmed they would work with their communications team to get the word out but that there would not be a public hearing. Commissioner Niziolek asked about potential resurfacing of the trails at Woodland Trails and if the commission could be updated on that. Mr. Stremcha said he was not sure of the timeline. Commissioner Niziolek asked for notices given to the public when that occurs. Chair Anderson said he is not sure of a date either. 9. Announcements 10. Motion to Adjourn Special Meeting Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Goodwin to adjourn the special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission at 8:45pm. Motion carried 7-0. Commissioner Goodwin left the meeting at 8:45pm. I I. Work Session I I.I Concept Review: The Specht Family Farm Housing Development Mr. Stremcha introduced Steve Bono and Heather Barker with Capstone Homes. They have already met with the planning commission and then the City Council. Mr. Bono explained that the property is very special for many reasons, and they were selected by the family to work on the property. Mr. Bono said their desire is to work with the commission on creating a great park. After this meeting they will meet with the City Council to begin a master concept plan.The goal would be to create a 10 to 12-month plan to work with the City of Elk River, Sherburne County and the DNR in hopes of breaking ground on the property next year. Mr. Bono explained that riverfront land on the Mississippi like this is not something they have had many of to work with. The property is located next to the Oliver Kelley Farm. One of the goals of the project is to have pedestrian trails that bring people to the river and after visiting Rivers Edge Commons Park he saw how there could be potential for the property to —�, eventually connect to this park. Mr. Bono explained that they would like to have trail connections to the north, south,and even across highway 10. IOuEBEO 81 NATURE Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 August 14,2024 The frontage of the property along highway 10 is about a mile and there is also about a mile of riverfront. Capstone Homes has been working with several communities including St. Michael on building a park right in the middle of their community. Their goal is to have a residential community with access to the river and provide opportunities for city residents of Elk River to walk or ride their bike to the river.The plan calls for about 500-600 homes.The Legacy Bay community in St. Michael is what they are using as inspiration with most of the homes located inward from the river to keep them at an affordable price. They have been looking at a boat launch option for the river as well. He went over the park space. There would be another potential trail that would connect to the Oliver Kelley Farm. DNR approval would be necessary for the lower flood plain.They have worked with them before on the St. Michael project. Mr. Bono explained that the next steps would be to gather feedback from today and offer a tour of the St. Michael housing community they worked on,and then onto the City Council to keep moving forward with the master concept plan. Chair Anderson asked about the water way and if it would be for storm water. Mr. Bono confirmed it would be. It would be a wet bottom pond that would drain into the river. Chair Anderson asked about the size of it and if it would sustain the size they are thinking. Mr. Bono confirmed he believed that it would. The developers wanted a trail off the road and near water. Commissioner Niziolek said that having a trail on the bluff top along the entire development would be a premier trail. He also recommends that the developers, family, city staff,commissioners,and other land interest groups to see if they could make something happen as far as a trail on the bluff top.These groups could include the Friends of the Mississippi,MN Land Trust, and the Trust for Public Lands. Chair Anderson asked to see the trail master plan again,pointing out the Mississippi River trail concept and said it could be one of the best trails ever. He also shared that previous collaborations with the land interest groups that Commissioner Niziolek mentioned have given great results. Chair Anderson said that the idea of a park down by the Mississippi is fabulous and incorporating a bluff trail would be incredible. He told Mr. Bono that it sounds like a quality development they are striving for. Mr. Bono pointed out where the road and boat launch option is on the plans on the upper part of the map. It would be like the one in Anoka. Chair Anderson said he and the Trust for Public Land have already been on the site already and if there is any way that the bluff could be restored to oak savannah it would be incredible. He also explained what the Trust for Public Land is and how they assist in acquiring land. They assisted in the acquisition of the William H. Houlton conservation area. PO ■ EOEO 01 NA1`URE Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 7 August 14,2024 Chair Anderson explained that the Friends of the Mississippi have put almost a million dollars into the William H. Houlton Conservation Area. Chair Anderson and Commissioner Niziolek explained how these organizations assist with acquiring land via grants and funding other than park dedication. Commissioner Stewart shared that the developer gets fair market value for the property from the organizations, the city gets money instead of park land, and then the organizations help with the maintenance of the property. Mr. Bono said he is interested in working with the commission and appreciates the feedback. 12. Motion to Adjourn Work Session Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Varty to adjourn the work session of the Parks and Recreation Commission at 9:31 p.m. Motion carried 7-0. utes pr p y Da arson. Dave An rson,Chair Tina Allard, City Clerk O I E O E 0 Ill NATUR