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06-08-2005 PR MIN MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2005 Members Present: Chair Polston-Hork, Commissioners Nystrom, Niziolek, Peterson, Anderson, Paige and Kuester Council Liaison: Council Member Gumphrey Staff Present: Bill Maertz, Parks and Recreation Director; Chris Leeseburg, Planner/Park Planner; Tonya Love, 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 Chair Polston-Hork. 2. Consider June 8, 2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE TO APPROVE THE JUNE 8, 2005 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 3. Consider Minutes of May 11, 2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE TO APPROVE THE MAY 11, 2005 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 4. Parks & Recreation Commissioner to Attend June 20, 2005 City Council Meeting and June 28, 2005 Planning Commission Meetings 4.1. June 20, 2005 City Council Meeting Commissioner Kuester will attend the June 20, 2005 City Council Meeting. 4.2. June 28, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting Commissioner Anderson will attend the June 28, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting. 5. Open Mike None 6. Recreation Manager’s Report – Michele Bergh Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz presented to the Commission that the Parks and Recreation Department scheduled approximately 537 hours of facility use in May. 271 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 June 8, 2005 ------------------------------------ hours were ball field use, 81 were at Lions Park Center and Trott Brook Barn, 77 hours took place at the soccer fields as well as 67 hours for park shelters. Mr. Maertz stated what programs were offered in May and shared that the annual summer kickoff on May 25 went well even with the rainy weather. th 7. Director’s Report – Bill Maertz Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared information on the progress of the 2005 Parks Capital Improvement Plan; the progress of the soccer/football fields at YAC, rain garden at Lake Orono, trails and shelters being installed in several parks. Mr. Maertz shared the revenue for park passes. Since 2003, Hillside Park pass revenue has been $6,740.00 and Woodland Trails revenue has been $3,941.00. Mr. Maertz shared with the Commission information about the Top of the World Grant pre-award tour. Mr. Maertz stated that the Commission should consider touring the Holzem property on July 13. This property will be coming up for preliminary plat soon. 8.1.Community Events – End of School Year Teen Concert Parks and Recreation Director, Bill Maertz shared that the end of the school year bandshell concert on May 27 was a attended by over 300 students. Four local bands th performed, there was also food available and 3 Lair did a skate park demonstration. rd 8.2. Land Use Cases - Request for Simple Plat (Meadowvale) Chris Leeseburg, Planner/Parks Planner shared information regarding a request to consider a Simple Plat to create 3 new lots located at the corner of County Road 32 and 225 Avenue. th Staff recommends cash dedication for park dedication for the 3 lots. Commissioner Niziolek asked if there would be enough easement for a trail and if it is better to have more then the current 66-foot easement; if the trail system is going to go towards the sand dunes than the commission should consider a larger easement along either County Road 32 or 225 Avenue. th Commissioner Nystrom stated he believes it would be better to have a 100-foot easement. Commissioner Paige asked if the county should require a right away for the trail. Commissioner Anderson stated that they should add another 17-feet to the easement. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NYSTROM AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO RECOMMEND THAT RIGHT AWAY BE FIFTY FEET FROM CENTER OF COUNTY ROAD 32 AND 225 AVENUE TH FOR FUTURE TRAIL. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 June 8, 2005 ------------------------------------ MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE TO ACCEPT CASH DEDICATION FOR THREE LOTS ON MEADOWVALE. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 8.3.A. Policy Issues – Consider request by neighbor to install fence at Meadow Park. Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared with the Commission that a resident has requested that the City of Elk River install a fence at Meadow Park. The homeowner has been troubled with vandalism and believes the perpetrators have been gaining access to his yard through the park. Staff recommends that the request be denied due to the financial and maintenance burden it would create and recommends the installation of additional park boundary signs in order to create a clear delineation of where private property begins. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PETERSON TO DENY INSTALLATION OF FENCE AND INSTALL MORE SIGNAGE. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 8.3.B. Amend Trail Master Plan Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz presented information regarding the trail master plan. There are approximately 30 miles of roads designated for future widened shoulders. If the plan is amended to call for detached trails construction, it will cost $3,200,00 in 2005 dollars. Detached trails vs. widened shoulders has been discussed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and detached trails were more desirable for several reasons. Commissioner Paige commented that they would like the county to agree that detached trails are needed for safety versus the widened shoulder. Appropriate roadway design includes appropriate trail design and the city should not have the burden of $3,200,000 to provide trails. Mr. Maertz stated that the staff is looking for the commission to amend the trail master plan and that the funding source can be explored in the future. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER NYTSROM SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER TO AMEND THE TRAIL MASTER PLAN TO SHOW DETACHED TRAILS ADJACENT TO COUNTY ROADS AND ADD CR 44. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 8.3.C. Consider request by Area 728 Youth Baseball Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared that Area 728 Youth Baseball request of commitment from the Parks and Recreation Commission to reimburse them for putting the batting cage in this year at YAC. Commissioner Paige commented that there is a great amount of pressure to get an additional batting cage set up sooner. Commissioner Kuester asked for clarification of who would be reimbursed. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 June 8, 2005 ------------------------------------ Mr. Maertz stated that Area 728 Youth Baseball Association, who would be paying for the permanent structure and netting this year. Commissioner Peterson asked if the money reimbursed would be coming out of the 20,000 budgeted for YAC each year. The Youth Baseball Association will be paying for the batting cages in 2005; however, they will be reimbursed out of the 2006 Parks Capital Improvements budget. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER PETERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE TO DESIGNATE $8,122 OF THE $20,000 FOR YAC FOR THE BATTING CAGES. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 8.4.A. Lions Park Center: Teen Programming Space Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared that Lions Park is exceptionally well located to provide programming for teens and staff is exploring options for recreational programming at Lions Park in order to provide alternatives to “hanging out” in an unsupervised environment. One option is the creation of a new staff position; Teen Programmer, who would provide supervision at the skate park, teen intramural sports and organize special events and field trips. Another option is the potential of creating indoor recreation space for teens at Lions Park Center. Staff is examining options for enclosing the picnic pavilion attached to Lions Park Center and creating a teen center/warming house. Additional concepts include an outdoor climbing rock and a tow rope for snowboarding. Commissioner Kuester would like to look at other options other than closing off the pavilion space. Also look at the Boys and Girls Club space. The pavilion is a nice amenity. Mr. Maertz stated that with the high use of the skate park the use of the pavilion has declined. The proposal to have teen programming space at Lions Park has come up due to the increase of teens using Lions Park. Commissioner Niziolek stated the traffic flow of the different age groups should be studied to help determine alignment of various park components for programming and park use. 9.1.A. Land Use Cases None 9.2. Park/Trail Development – Update on County Trail Plans Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared that he has received a draft trail plan from the county Park Commission. There is no dedicated funding source as a yet and trails will be competing for funds with other improvements. Commissioner Niziolek stated that the commission should be planning accordingly to what the Met Council plans. Commissioner Nystrom shared that the NRI Committee will be looking at connectivety of trails in the next few weeks. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 June 8, 2005 ------------------------------------ Commissioner Paige shared that as a commission they should come up with a letter supporting the counties plan and encouraging more detached trails. Commissioner Anderson stated that the commission support the county wide system but focus on the city trails. 10.1. Update May 16, 2005 City Council Meeting Chair Polston-Hork provided an update on the May 16, 2005 City Council Meeting. 11. Other Business Commissioner Paige brought up the possibility to change the start time of the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting as a discussion item. Chair Polston-Hork stated that the time had been set at 6:30 p.m. to be consistent with other commission meetings. Commissioner Peterson stated if the meeting time was changed he would have to make arrangements. Commissioner Paige stated he wanted to get an idea if 6:00 would be a start time everyone could attend. Director of Parks and Recreation, Bill Maertz shared that he would check with TV schedule and other staff. Mr. Maertz, stated that in lieu of the July 13 meeting the commission tour the Holzem th property and if there are any action items to have a short meeting before the tour at 6 p.m. Commissioner Niziolek asked how far along the development on the Holzem property is and if there is opportunity for them to help make something happen. Mr. Maertz shared that this is a great opportunity to make something happen. 12. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:46 pm. Respectfully submitted, Tonya Love Recording Secretary