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2004-07-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 13, 2004 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 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 Raymond Morris, Dave Libra, Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Missie Hickey. Commissioner Stan Linnell arrived late. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister, and Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Commissioner Libra moved approval of the June 8, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Commissioner Hickey seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoff provided an update of planned events for the Fishing Derby scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, 2004, Safety Camp, and other recreation activities planned for Fall 2004, Chair Spicer commended Ms. Gangelhoff on a successful summer and fall recreation scheduleI N.U.R.T. TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATIONAL MEETING The following residents were present for this discussion John Wallace 645 Highway 110 Mendota Heights Bonnie Wallace 645 Highway 110 Mendota Heights Susan Verduza 2047 Charlton Street West Saint Paul Justin Herzog 669 Highway 110 Mendota Heights Sue Herzog 669 Highway 110 Mendota Heights Maureen Boland Joe Henry Kevin Boehmer Evelyn Nohlers Julie Shade John Bukownski Larry Mrozinski Sue Mrozinski Andrea Glewwe Matt Glewwe 673 Highway I10 657 Highway 110 639 Highway 110 641 Highway I10 649 Highway 110 663 Highway 110 595 Highway 110 595 Highway 110 591 Highway 110 591 Highway 110 Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Mendota Heights Councilmember Ultan Duggan was also present. Chair Spicer welcomed the representatives of Dakota County who were in attendance to present information about the NURT trail. Ms. Mary Jackson of the Dakota County Office of Planning presented an overview of the NURT trail. Ms. Jackson said that the County is currently doing preliminary engineering studies on Phase II. Ms. Jackson said that the County had already done extensive planning and route selection in 1994/1995. Ms. Jackson said that the original goals of the NURT trail were to connect regional trails in northern Dakota County and to link to local activity generators. Chair Spicer said that he would like to focus on the issue that the audience was most interested in, whether the trail would be on the south side or the north side of the frontage road. Chair Spicer asked Ms. Jackson why the County believed that the trail would be safer on the north side of the frontage road than on the south side. Ms. Jackson acknowledged that the south side of the frontage road as originally presented to MnDOT was the preferred route on the 1996 trail plan. Ms. Jackson said that MnDOT is concerned about a real or perceived hazard from placing pedestrians and bicyclists so close to Highway 110 traffic. Ms. Jackson said that MnDOT is also concerned about storm water issues if the trail is on the south side of the frontage road. Chair Spicer said that if the trail were on the south side it would have a clear unencumbered route. Chair Spicer said that if the trail were on the north side it would encounter old trees, driveways, shrubs, and the possibility of a car backing up. Chair Spicer said that he would argue that the north side of the frontage road would pose more safety concerns than the south side of the frontage road. Chair Spicer added that it appears from the maps provided to the Commission by Dakota County that if even the Mendota Heights portion of the trail were placed south of the frontage road, it would still be further from the highway than the new trail under construction in West Saint Paul. Mr. Michael Fischer with Dakota County said that the County had met with MnDOT about the issue and that MnDOT had raised the concerns about safety and drainage. Mr. 2 Fischer added that he and Ms. Jackson had met with residents living along the frontage road on June 22 and that the neighbors had expressed a clear preference for the trail to be on the south side of the frontage road. Mr. Fischer added that the neighbors also expressed concerns about strangers, the safety of children, litter, dog residue and loss of mature elm trees. Mr. Fischer presented three scenarios for the alignment of the trail. The first option showed the trail between the frontage road and the highway. The second option showed the trail north of the frontage road. Mr. Fischer described the third option as a hybrid of the two, with the trail partly north of the frontage road and partly south of the frontage road. Chair Spicer then asked for comments from individual Commissioners. Commissioner Craighead said that his biggest concern was safety. Commissioner Portz agreed that the biggest concern is safety. Commissioner Morris asked if the trail would be bituminous. Mr. Fischer responded that it would be and eight foot wide bituminous pathway. Commissioner Morris asked what the funding mechanism would be for long-term maintenance. Ms. Jackson said that she would have to check on that but that she believed that the City would do routine maintenance of the trail and that the County would perform any reconstruction or overlay when necessary. Commissioner Morris asked how thick the trail would be. Mr. Fischer said that it would be two inches thick on a six-inch gravel base. Commissioner Morris echoed previous comments that safety is the biggest concern. Commission Morris said that in his experience with the National Park Service, he has observed that trails generally increase the value of residential property. Commissioner Morris said that if he were a homeowner along the north side of Highway 110 he would actually prefer putting the trail on the north side of the frontage road rather than having to look at a guardrail. Commissioner Morris said that he could go with either Option 1 or Option 2. Commissioner Hickey asked who has responsibility for patrolling the trail. Ms. Jackson said that the Dakota County Parks Patrol would patrol the trail. Commissioner Libra said that he did not like Option 3, because bikers may choose not to cross when the trail switches sides and that this could lead to safety concerns. Commissioner Libra said that he preferred Option 1. Commissioner Libra said that a guardrail is better than a fence. Commissioner Libra said that he preferred the trail on the south side of the frontage road and that he would like it to be 10 feet wide instead of eight feet wide in areas where there is more right-of-way. The consultant said that MnDOT requires afour-foot gap from the edge of frontage road bituminous to the start of a trail. Commissioner Craighead asked what the guardrail would look like. Mr. Fischer said that it would consist of 6" x 6" posts every 20 feet with metal guardrail typically found along metro highways. [Commissioner Linnell arrived at this point.] Chair Spicer asked for a show of hands from the audience as to which side of the frontage road they wanted the trail on. The audience indicated unanimously that they preferred the trail on the south side of the frontage road. Chair Spicer asked for a motion of recommendation to the Council. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council choose Alternative 1 to place the trail between the frontage road and Highway 110, and that the trail should be eight feet wide with a four foot gravel shoulder and a guardrail. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: I (Linnell) DISCUSSION WITH AMELIA OLSON OF MHAA Mr. Hollister informed the Commission that Ms. Olson had expressed her regrets that she would not be able to appear this evening and that she planned to attend the August Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. 2005 PARKS MAINTENANCE BUDGETS Chair Spicer asked if anyone on the Commission had any questions about this item. Commissioner Linnell asked about the removal of garlic mustard. 4 Mr. Kullander said that the only place in the City where garlic mustard has been recorded is in Valley Park, and that the City does not have sufficient staff to actively search for other areas where garlic mustard may be present. GUIDE PLAN FOR REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FROM CITY PARKS Commissioner Linnell said that it would be good to remove the garlic mustard from the sidelines of the Valley Park trail. TRAIL MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR 2004 Chair Spicer complemented Mr. Kullander on the plan. Mr. Kullander said that the plan contained a minor error, and that he would be changing the request in next year's budget from $40,000 to $45,000 as the Commission requested in June. PROPOSED 2005 PLAYGROUND "ACTION PLAN" Mr. Kullander explained that at least half of the elements of park playground facilities needed to be handicapped accessible for ADA compliance purposes. Chair Spicer commented that the costs are lower than the estimates from Mr. Kullander several months ago. Commissioner Morris said that he might be changing the subject slightly, but that he wanted to comment on now frequently the skateboard park is being used. Commissioner Morris said that every time he visits the skateboard park there are at least three kids using it. Commissioner Morris suggested that the Parks Commission look into adding one or two more elements to the skate park. Commissioner Morris said that by contrast he usually only sees one child using the play equipment. Mr. Kullander said that if the Commission wished to add an element to the skate park, the logical next piece would be a "half -pipe", which would cost $12,000 to $15,000. Mr. Kullander said that he would include this item in next years Parks Capital Improvement Plan to facilitate discussion and add this to the draft 2005 City Budget request. Commissioner Portz suggested that the Commission take a tour of the playground equipment of one of the parks so that Mr. Kullander could explain to them some of the maintenance issues that require rehabilitation or replacement of the playground equipment. Chair Spicer recommended that the Commission meet at a playground immediately before convening the regular August 10 Commission meeting at City Hall, Commissioner Craighead said that when he has looked at the playground equipment, he has not seen any problem with the timbers and questioned the need to spend $55,000 to upgrade one playground. Commissioner Craighead said that he feels that a mile of new trail costs $90,000 and that it would get more use than playground equipment. Commissioner Craighead said that trails are a better use of money. Mr. Kullander said that the only altemative to replacing the playground equipment is to remove them entirely when they no longer meet safety standards. Mr. Kullander acknowledged that replacing the equipment is expensive, but said that it is necessary. Mr. Kullander said that residents would complain if the play equipment were removed. Commissioner Craighead said that that the new playground equipment at Harriet Island is set directly into the concrete and that it appears that it would last more than 7-15 years. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander which park he would suggest the Parks Commission meet at before the August 10 Commission meeting. Mr. Kullander suggested meeting at Wentworth Park at 6:00 before the August 10 meeting. Chair Spicer announced that the Parks Commission would convene fora "workshop" at 6:00 on August 10 at Wentworth Park to look at playground equipment, weather permitting, and that the regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting would begin at 6:30 the same evening in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Commissioner Libra said that he thought this was a good idea, although he would not be able to attend. TRAIL OPTIONS TO LINK BROWN COLLEGE MAIN CAMPUS WITH LE CORDON BLED Mr. Kullander said that this was an informational item only. Mr. Kullander said that the Le Cordon Bleu school was approved by Council on the condition that the school help pay for a trail between the school and the main campus after the new facility is in operation if the Council determines it necessary for safety purposes. PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2005-2009 Mr. Kullander reminded the Park Commission that they had asked the Council at the Joint Workshop to find an alternative source to replenish the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander said that he needed input from the Parks Commission on what type of projects they wanted in a new 2005-2009 Parks Capital Improvement Plan. Mr. Kullander asked the Commissioners to either fax or e-mail CIP suggestions to him so he could put a draft CIP together for the next meeting. VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided an update on the following item: • Police Report [II11Z11117►1 Commissioner Portz moved to adjourn to the August 10 workshop at 6:00 pm at Wentworth Park, to be followed by the regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers. Commissioner Hickey seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.