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2005-07-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 12, 2005 The July 2005 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Dave Libra, Larry Craighead, Stan Linnell, Raymond Morris, and Paul Portz. Commissioner Missie Hickey was excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Operations and Projects Coordinator Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff, and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. Councilmember Ultan Duggan was also present. MINUTES Commissioner Morris moved approval of the June 14, 2005 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes with revisions. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 CHAIR SPICER'S REPORT ON COMMITTEE MEETING TO PLAN 2006 PARK CELEBRATION/50TH ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION Chair Spicer provided a report on the planning committee meeting which took place the same evening from 6:00 to 6:30 pm. Chair Spicer said that the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary would be on June 3, 2006. Chair Spicer said that the Anniversary would feature the appearance of Royalty and music from Henry Sibley High School and Saint Thomas Academy marching bands. Chair Spicer said there would also be appearances by beauty queens, a car show, and a parade. Chair Spicer said that there would be lots of bands for both kids and adults. Chair Spicer asked Ms. Gangelhoff to show the audience the official Celebrate Mendota Heights rubber wrist band. Chair Spicer said that the event would be video taped by NDC4. Chair Spicer said that there would be food vendors, tennis tournaments, golf tournaments, and fireworks. Chair Spicer said that the committee was still looking for community volunteers. Chair Spicer said that that there would also be the Imagination Station and a variety show. 1 RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S REPORT Ms. Gangelhoff provided an overview of this summer's recreation activities. Ms. Gangelhoff summarized the Performances in the Park and Safety Camp in August. Ms Gangelhoff said that there were still four spaces available for kids in Safety Camp. NURT TRAIL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING The following people were in the audience for this discussion: Evelyn Wohler Fred Wohler Kevin Boehmer Joyce Boehmer Justin Herzog Sue Herzog Julie Shade Allen Shade John Bukowski Joe Henry Jamie Henry Andrea Glewwe Matt Glewwe Ngo Pham Maureen Boland Joseph Weis Ultan Duggan Ross Fefercom 641 Highway 110 641 Highway 110 639 Highway 110 639 Highway 110 669 W. Highway 110 669 W. Highway 110 649 Highway 110 649 Highway 110 663 Highway 110 657 Highway 110 657 Highway 110 591 Highway 110 591 Highway 110 689 Highway 110 673 Highway 110 643 Highway 110 (City Council) (Town Center Developer) Chair Spicer acknowledged Mary Jackson and Tim Corby from Dakota County. Ms. Jackson said that representatives of Dakota County and the City of Mendota Heights met with MnDOT officials to discuss the alignment of the NURT trail, and that MnDOT had given their definitive refusal to allow the trail to be between the frontage road and Highway 110. Ms. Jackson said that this denial did not come as a complete surprise, and that County staff shared some of their concerns. Ms. Jackson said that the only alternative for the trail was on the north side of the frontage road, and that if the trail is not built there, the funding would revert to the state and be reallocated to other Metro area projects. Commissioner Craighead noted that one year ago the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend that the trail be placed on the south side of the frontage road with a safety barrier between the trail and Highway 110. Commissioner Craighead asked if that option was discussed with MnDOT. 2 Mr. Corby introduced himself as a an engineering consultant for Dakota County on this project and added as an aside that he is a former resident of Friendly Hills in Mendota Heights. Mr. Corby said that he did present to MnDOT the proposal for a four-foot high guard rail between the trail and Highway 110. Mr. Corby said that he presented 10 copies of the proposal to MnDOT, which were distributed to different people at MnDOT, and that one or more reviewers at MnDOT felt that even with the guard rail, the proposed trail would not be safe. Mr. Corby added that Dakota County also had a "gut feeling" that the option on the south side of the frontage road would not be safe. Commissioner Craighead said that the proposal for a guardrail was more than a simple post. Mr. Corby said that most MnDOT officials could have been leaning against a guardrail for maintenance or safety issues. Ms. Jackson said that if the County is not able to place the trail on the north side of the frontage road, they may have to wait at least six or seven years before the money would be available again. Ms. Jackson said that the project had secured $524,000, which would go back to the state. Commissioner Morris said that the T-21 funding structure is in jeopardy on a federal level and that therefore this type of funding may never be available again. Chair Spicer asked if there were any questions from the audience. Mr. Joe Henry, 657 Highway 110, asked when the funding was acquired and why are these decisions being made at the last minute. Ms. Jackson said that the original trail was suggested back in the 1980s, and that the plan was approved by all the relevant municipalities. Ms. Jackson said that the project is being phased. Mss. Jackson said that the project started in 2004. Ms. Jackson said that during a County hiring freeze, there was no funding to hire engineering assistance until 2003-2004. Mr. Corby said that in accordance with the MnDOT T-21 process, the plans were due on April 15. Mr. Corby said that Dakota County submitted the plans by that date. Commissioner Morris asked if the NURT trail is mostly built out with the exception of the portion under discussion tonight. Ms. Jackson reviewed the completed and uncompleted portions on a map. Ms. Jackson said that the portion under discussion this evening was part of Phase II, and that this is a critical segment of the NURT trail. 3 Commissioner Craighead asked if in terms of timing, the plans could have been submitted by Dakota County earlier than April 15th. Mr. Corby said that work on the plans had to wait until approval of the project memorandum and that MnDOT had concerns about filling the ditch. Mr. Corby said that the project memorandum was approved in January of 2005, and that Dakota County worked as fast as they could. Chair Spicer said that the trail would be a good thing because it would provide access to the Village at Mendota Heights and Valley Park and that it would also be good for students who walk to Henry Sibley High School. A resident in the audience said that Highway 110 has already been changed twice. The resident said that both Highway 110 and 641 had been taken out and rebuilt. The resident said that when the City moved the service drive to the north, they took 14 feet of the resident's yard. The resident said that the Commission paid $5 to them to compensate for the loss of the yard. The resident said that this occurred way back in 1947 and 1948. Chair Spicer said that Mendota Heights incorporated in 1956. Andrea Glewwe, 591 Highway 110, said that she and her husband are actually in favor of placing the trail on the north side of the frontage road. Ms. Glewwe said that the trail would be dangerous on the south side of the frontage road and that kids go fast in their cars on the road. Ms. Glewwe said that there has already been an accident on the frontage road. A resident in the audience said that kids driving come off of the Highway into the residents' yards. The resident said that she almost hit two people in the street. The resident said that the trail would cross 13 or 14 driveways. The resident asked where the liability for such accidents begins and ends for the residents. The resident said that people are coming by and picking her lilacs all the time. The resident said that the residents will be liable if someone gets hurt. The resident asked why the City does not maintain the boulevards. The resident said that the trail would devalue their property. The resident said that if the trail were made of cement instead of tar it would add to the value of the homes. Chair Spicer said that there are 22 miles of trail in Mendota heights. The resident said that a former police officer in Mendota Heights told her that he used to drive his squad car down the trail because he doesn't feel safe walking down the trails. The resident said that no one will want to ride the trails if they feel unsafe. Commissioner Linnell said that the safety issues along Valley Park differ from the safety issues along the frontage road. 4 A resident asked why the walkers don't use the Marie trail. Mr. Henry asked why the plans for the trail were not built into the original Town Center. Mrs. Henry said that it is not safe to walk at Town Center. Mrs. Henry said that the City should put the sidewalks into Town Center as soon as possible. Commissioner Morris said that sidewalks are typically the last thing built in developments such as Town Center. Mrs. Henry said that the residents along Highway 110 do not feel that the City considers them as important as the new residents of Town Center. A resident asked the Commission to name one person who has died along the frontage road. Mr. Corby said that the residents, the City and the County were all hoping that MnDOT would allow the trail on the south side of the frontage road, and that MnDOT's denial represents a defeat for all concerned. A resident in the audience asked where representatives of MnDOT were. A resident asked why the County couldn't build the trail on the south side of Highway 110, since it is a nature trail. The resident said that if safety was a concern, the trail should be on the south side along Dodge Nature Center. Ms. Jackson said that the trail is a regional trail, not specifically a nature trail. Ms. Jackson said that there is a safety issue crossing the highway and that MnDOT would not accept an at-grade crossing. In response to an earlier comment on the impact of trails on property values, Ms. Jackson said that the County currently does not raise anyone's tax assessments as a result of the trail. Ms. Jackson said that some studies have shown that trails increase property values at the time of sale, or at least are value-neutral. Ms. Jackson said that she is not aware of any evidence that trails actually decrease property values. Mr. Corby said that he lives along a regional trail in Brooklyn Park. A resident in the audience asked why the frontage road could not be moved to the south and the trail striped onto the frontage road. Mr. Corby said that Dakota County is looking at sliding the frontage road to the south for the first few lots. 5 Commissioner Morris asked about the portion of the trail from Delaware Avenue to the North Frontage Road. Commissioner Morris asked why MnDOT considered Alternative Three "unsafe and unacceptable" and Alternative Two "acceptable". Mr. Kullander explained that the map that Commissioner Morris was referring to was an old drawing provided only for reference. Mr. Kullander said that the current proposed alignment would put the trail on the north side of the frontage road from Oak to Delaware. Chair Spicer said that the Parks and Recreation Commission is merely an advisory body, and that the Council would have the benefit of the minutes from the meeting and that Councilmember Duggan is also present this evening. Councilmember Duggan asked the two Dakota County representatives where the road might be if they straighten the "S" curve. Mr. Corby passed out copies of a map. Commissioner Portz asked if this plan would involve the taking of any property. Mr. Corby said that the plan would not involve the taking of any property. Mr. Kullander confirmed that the trail would be totally within MnDOT right of way except portions west of Oak Street. Mr. Corby explained the map that he passed out, saying that the frontage road would be kept straight for a certain distance. Commissioner Linnell said that the lot on the far left end of the proposed trail segment would have more severe impacts in taints of tree loss than other lots. Mr. Corby said that Dakota County thought that they could mitigate the impact of that tree loss by sliding the frontage road. Mr. Corby showed a map indicating the right-of- way and the home. Mr. Kullander said that the existing distance faun the edge of the house to the right of way is about 10 feet, and 43 feet from the back of the curb. Commissioner Craighead asked if the trail would be eight feet wide. Mr. Kullander said that the trail would be ten feet wide, with a four foot boulevard and two foot shoulder on the north side of the trail. Mrs. Henry asked if the trail has to be 10 feet wide. Mrs. Henry said that she is losing pine trees and that the thought of losing those trees is sickening. 6 A resident said that she is fifty years old and that those pine trees have been there since she was born. Mrs. Henry asked if the trail could be narrower than 10 feet. A resident asked why the County cannot widen the road and stripe the trail onto the road. The resident said that in previous meetings the County looked at an on-street trail. Ms. Jackson said that the standards for the NURT trail preclude motorized traffic. Commissioner Morris asked if in the case of mature trees, the trail could straddle the tree by placing 5 feet of trail around each side of the tree. Ms. Jackson said that the right-of-way is fairly wide through that area, as long as the County maintains the right size of curves. Ms. Jackson said that each yard would have to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. A resident in the back asked why the entire frontage road could not be shifted to the north to make more room for the trail on the south side for the trail. Mr. Corby said that the two issues with that option would be cost and that the fact that MnDOT would have the final say. Mr. Corby said that it would be expensive to move the entire road. Ms. Jackson said that she could invite representatives of MnDOT to attend next Tuesday's Council meeting. Mr. John Bukowski, 663 Highway 110, said that the frontage road was allowed to exist in a bad state of repair for many years until construction started on Town Center. Mr. Bukowski said that at that time the City decided to reconstruct the frontage road. Mr. Bukowski said that the trail could have been constructed at that time. Mr. Kullander said that at that time the Council thought that the rail could be on the south side. Commissioner Morris said that it was the state who denied the trail on the south side of the frontage road. Mr. Henry said that he has an e-mail from Mr. Kullander saying that the trail would not be placed on the north side of the frontage road. Mr. Kullander said that he never said that there would never be a trail on the north side of the frontage road. 7 Mr. Bukowski asked why the City did not get together with the Council on shifting the frontage road to the north and building the trail on the south side of the frontage road. Mr. Bukowski said that the neighbors would have been okay with shifting the frontage road to the north. Mr. Bukowski said that the City ripped up one side for the ditch. A resident in the back asked if the rumor was true that the residents on the east side of Knob Road will get free curb and gutter as part of the trail project. Mr. Corby said that that is not known until engineering is underway. A residents in the audience said that he has a voice mail from Mr. Kullander saying that there will be curb and gutter. The resident said that he and his neighbors had to pay the full assessment for curb and gutter, and that if other people get curb and gutter for free as a result of this project, the City will be taken to court. Commissioner Libra asked if the existing trial along Marie could be incorporated into the NURT trail. Ms. Jackson said that using Marie Avenue as part of the NURT trail would be politically challenging, that the trail is against the curb, and that the trail is too narrow. Mr. Kullander said that the NURT trail requires a ten foot trail with a four foot boulevard. Mr. Kullander said that there were a couple of houses along Marie that would have been extremely close to the trail if it had been built to those standards. Ms. Jackson said that the trail along Marie Avenue also had slope issues which were a challenge for NURT status. Ms. Maureen Boland, 673 Highway 110, said that her house is the second house where the road curves. Ms. Boland said that right now the map shows the trail coming 14 feet in. Mr. Kullander said that the trail could encroach into Ms. Boland's yard about five feet. Mr. Corby agreed that five feet is a good approximation. Councilmember Duggan suggested that the Dakota County representatives ask MnDOT why, if putting the trail south of the frontage road is dangerous, did they allow the trail to be placed against the freeway further east in West Saint Paul from Charleston Avenue. Mr. Duggan said that this segment is also part of the NURT trail. Ms. Jackson said that the trail in that case may be a little bit further in from the freeway than in this case and that it is a Spur Trail, constructed by the County to connect to the NURT trail. Ms. Jackson said that this is not part of the NURT trail system. U 8 Councilmember Duggan questioned how the safety issues are different in the two cases. Ms. Jackson said that in the Mendota Heights case, the trail would be sandwiched between two roads, whereas the Spur Trail to the east backs up to private properties. Chair Spicer said that the Parks and Recreation Commission thought the trail would be on the south side and that the Commission would rather have it on the south side. Commissioner Linnell said that he has a background in trail design with the DNR and that he may be the only Parks and Recreation Commissioner that preferred it on the north side. Commissioner Linnell said that he would encourage the residents along the frontage road to work the County and the City to rework landscaping. Commissioner Linnell said that the residents should be compensated for their loss of privacy or trees. Commissioner Linnell said that the City has to look out 50-100 years. Commissioner Linnell said that the trail will be there long after everyone in the room is gone. A resident in the audience asked if there was sufficient money in the project budget to re- landscape fourteen properties and to take care of drainage issues. Mr. Corby said that there is money in the budget for landscaping and storm water facilities. Mr. Corby showed plans with a large stoini sewer pipe. Mr. Corby said that $520,000 is budgeted for this project. A resident in the audience asked about moving fire hydrants. Mr. Corby said that two or three fire hydrants would have to be slid to the north five to ten feet. A resident in the audience asked the meaning of the stakes that were planted into the ground. Mr. Kullander said that the stakes represent the north edge of the proposed trail and were placed fourteen feet back from the curb or edge of asphalt. Chair Spicer encouraged all present to go to next week's Council meeting. Chair Spicer said that the Parks Commission does not make decisions. Chair Spicer said that it would be good to have MnDOT attend the Council meeting to explain things to the residents. A resident in the audience said that the road does not have the truck traffic that it used to have. Mr. Bukowski said that neighbors to the west all have ditches filled in. Mr. Bukowski said that he put in ARC pipe and landscaped over it. Mr. Bukowski said that he should be reimbursed for $1000 for the pipe he put in there. 9 Mr. Corby said that he would analyze this. A resident in the audience asked which side the trail would be on from Delaware to Warrior. Ms. Jackson said that the trail would be on the north side. The resident said that there are ducks in the wetland east of Warrior and that he is a member of Ducks Unlimited. The resident said that he was calling every organization he could to make sure that the ducks are not disturbed. A resident said that they had a pipe on their property and asked if it would be disturbed. Mr. Corby said that the County would look at this when designing the storm system. Commissioner Craighead asked about the next phase of the project and whether or not Dakota County would report back to Mendota Heights. Mr. Corby said that the first step would be to get through the current process. Mr. Corby said that then they would do soil borings, wetlands mitigation, surveys, and environmental studies. Mr. Corby said that this would take 3 -4 moths. Mr. Corby said that they would then start preliminary design, which would again take 3 -4 months. Mr. Corby said that they would then submit this to MnDOT for approval. Mr. Corby said that he would present preliminary plans before final plans. Mr. Corby said that he would then work with individual residents to mitigate impacts. Commissioner Portz said that while the Parks Commission does not make decisions, it does make recommendations. Commissioner Portz asked if the Commission wished to make a recommendation to the Council for the current situation. Chair Spicer said that Vice Chair Linnell and he felt that this is a Council decision and that they did not wish to make a new recommendation. Commissioner Linnell said that it appeared that most of the Parks and Recreation Commission would be in favor of a trail on the north side of the frontage road if the only other alternative were no trail at all. Commissioner Morris said that the Parks Commission is charged by the citizens to improve recreational activities for everyone in the City, and that if they did not build the trail it would probably go away for ever. Commissioner Morris said that some of the state funding would also go away forever. Commissioner Morris said that he understands the issues with the trails, but for the grater good he would hate to see so much work be undone and not have the recreational opportunity. 10 Mr. Henry said that the Mayor had told him recently that he would vote against the north side, and that the Mayor prefers no trail at all to a trail on the north side. Chair Spicer said that Vice Chair Linnell and he thought that it would be fruitless for the Parks Commission to vote on this issue this evening. Chair Spicer said that as a Commission they are pro-trail. Chair Spicer asked the audience to go to the Council meeting next Tuesday. Chair Spicer asked Dakota County to get representatives from MnDOT at the Council meeting. Chair Spicer asked that the minutes from the meeting reflect that the Parks and Recreation Commission remains strongly in favor of the trail on the south side of the frontage road, and that the Park Commission believes in trails. COUNCIL ACTION ON PARK ITEMS AT JUNE 21ST, 2005 MEETING Mr. Kullander summarized the Council's action on June 21 regarding parks items. Mr. Kullander said that the Council had denied the request of funding for the Spacenet at Mendakota Park. Councilmember Duggan said that he believes that he was the only Councilmember in favor of the Spacenet. Councilmember Duggan said that he likes the Spacenet. Councilmember Duggan said that the other Council members thought that they could get a lot of other things for $50,000. Mr. Kullander showed pictures of the Spacenet and the Climbing Rock installed at Somerset Elementary School last week. 2006 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to remove the Spacenet from the CIP and put Ivy Falls Park back in for 2006. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to move the Friendly Hills Park Skate Rink Lights back in for 2007. UPDATES Staff provided the following updates: Pilot Knob Area Mr. Hollister said that the Council has scheduled a workshop from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm next Tuesday to hear a presentation from the Trust for Public Land regarding the Garron property. Mr. Hollister said that the regular Council meeting would then convene at 8:00 pm the same evening. 11 OPUS/EcoLab Mr. Hollister said that the OPUS proposal for redevelopment of the Ecolab site received preliminary approval by the Council on June 29, 2005. Mr. Hollister said that the Commission could anticipate $297,000 (at 110 units x $2700) of income into the Special Parks Fund as a result of this project, minus any credits to OPUS for in-kind parks contributions such as trails. Police Report There were no comments on this item. OTHER COMMENTS (None.) ADJOURN Commissioner Libra moved to adjourn. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 12