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1984-01-24 Council minutesPage No. 1956 January 24, 1984 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA Minutes of the Adjourned Joint Meeting with the Park And Recreation Commission and City Council Held Tuesday, January 24, 1984 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the adjourned meeting of the City Council and Park and Recreation Commission, City of Mendota Heights, was held at 7:3.0 o'clock P.M., at the City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Acting Mayor Mertensotto called the meeting to order at 7:33 P.M. The following members were present: Acting Mayor Mertensotto, Councilmembers Hartmann and Witt. Park and Recreation Commission members present were: Chairperson Jim Stein, Commissioners Al Singer, Marsha Knittig, and Bob Doffing. Mayor Lockwood and Councilman Losleben had notified the Council that they would be absent. Item #1 - Roll Call. The roll was noted by acting City Clerk Kevin Frazell. Item #2 - Adopt the Agenda. The agenda was adopted by concensus. Item #3 - Introductory Remarks by Jim Stein, Parks Commission Chairperson, regarding development of bike trail system. Stein said that at Council request, the Parks Commission had taken a look at the trails plan. He said that while trails are normally thought of as a recreational amenity, there are also safety considerations in getting bikers and joggers off the streets. According to Stein, Mendota Heights is at a bike trail "hub", with the links to the Eagan and Minneapolis systems. Consequently, Stein said that he thought the City's proposal for development of the system was consistent with the County's plans. Commissioner Bob Doffing said that it was the Commission's plan to start with a "backbone" system that went somewhere, by linking the Ramsey County Regional Park to the Eagan system and •the trail across 1-494, into the Minneapolis system. Other links of the Mendota Heights system could then be developed at later dates. Commissioner Stein noted that the link being proposed by the Commission through Valley Park is important because it gets people off TH 13. Item #4 - Staff presentation and proposal - Director of Phblic Works Jim Danielson. Mr. Datielsonssaid that the proposal was to develop a "trunk" trail system, just as we have trunk water and sewer systemsshowing the proposed align- ment of the trunk or backbone system. He indicated that he and City Administrator Frazell had met with repre- sentatives of the County Parks and Planning Departments, and that they actually prefer the City's proposal to the existing County plans. Mr. Danielson said that the proposal was to develop the backbone system over a three year period, with the first link being completed in 1984. This Page No. 1957 January 24, 1984 would be completion of the Marie Avenue alignment east of Valley Park, then north through Valley Park to the Mendota Heights City limits. He said that the estimated cost of this 1.2 mile segment would be approx- imately $50,000, and that the City would be applying through the Minnesota Department of Transportation grant program for 75% of the construction cost. County staff had indicated that there might likely be residual funds left from previous trails projects in the County to fund the $12,500 local match for the project. He said that in all of these projects, the local community was required to provide the engineering design and inspection seri/ices, which would be approximately $15,000. City Administrator Frazell stated that the request of the Commission and the staff was to have Council authorization to pursue funding through Mn/DOT and the County, and also to spend up to $15,000 from the local park improvement fund for engineering services. However, he said that Mn/ DOT did not currently have an appropriation, and was trying to substantiate the need for an appropriation beginning with July 1, 1984. He said that the County also did not necessarily have funds, but that the staff of the County Parks department were confident that there would be some funds available when they close out existing projects. Item #5 - Council/Commission Discussion of Park Development Priorities. Chairperson Stein indicated that the Commission had discussed the relative importance of trails versus saving money for the acquisition of additional park facilities, most notably the Wachtler property. Stein said that the Commission had a very definite priority on beginning development of the trail system, but that it would also be important to acquire the Wachtler property when and if it becomes available. City Administrator Orvil Johnson said that no one had ever answered the question as to how much of the Wachtler site we really needed for develop- ment of a community park. He suggested that it might be wise to spend some money to study the Wachtler site so that we could determine what our exact needs and wants are. Councilman Mertensotto expressed the concern that if the property were sold to a developer, he would probably be able to demand a much higher price based on the highest and best use of the property. There was a general concensus of the Commission and Council that staff should research possibilities for developing a more complete needs assessment and proposal for a park on the Wachtler site. Item #6 - Council Action Regarding Proposed Trail System. Motion by Councilmember Witt, seconded by Councilmember Hartmann to approve the concept of the trails "backbone" system as shown on the map. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Councilman Hartmann, seconded by Councilwoman Witt to authorize staff to proceed with developing and submitting a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, based upontthe three year staged implementation plan. Motion passed unanimously. Page No. 1958 . January 24, 1984. • Motion by Councilwoman Witt, seconded by Councilman Hartmann to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,000 from the Parks improvement fund for the engineering department to do a feasibility study of the Lexington segment of the proposed backbone system. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Councilman Hartmann, seconded by Councilwoman Witt to adopt Resolution No. 84-08, "RESOLUTION REQUESTING DAKOTA COUNTY ENDORSEMENT OF AND COST PARTICIPATION IN A CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS TRAIL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT", requesting the Dakota County Board of Commissioners to endorse the Mendota Heights backbone trail system, and provide up to $12,500 for the 25% local match required under the Mn/DOT program. Motion passed unanimously. The adjourned meeting of the City Council was adjourned to January 31, 1984, at 7:00 o'clock P.M., in the Engineering Conference Room. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:05 o'clock P.M. Recorded and transcribed by Kevin D. Frazell, City Administrator zp.z.z>„) 11') thleen M. Swanson, City Clerk ATTEST: Charles E. Mertensotto Acting Mayor