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MINUTES <br />PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION <br />April 7, 2016 <br /> Darling explained she had wanted to review the Parks and Recreation <br />Master Plan before making a decision, but was not able to find it on the <br />website. Horwath agreed and noted he had found it under the City’s <br />Comprehensive Plan. Horwath suggested this be made easier to find, since <br />it is a guiding document for the Parks and Recreation Department. Chair <br />Miller asked if the director could generate printed copies for the <br />Commission. Horwath noted the document was about 29 pages. The <br />Director said he would get copies and give them to people before the next <br />meeting so the Commission would have time to review before the <br />meeting. Horwath reported he had looked at the Parks and Recreation <br />Master Plan and thought it was well done. He noted that while the Master <br />Plan included an updated grid of the Parks in Little Canada, the City’s <br />website did not have the skateboard park on the grid. <br /> <br /> Darling reported that the Commission was invited to a new resources <br />event held by Ramsey County. She explained she had attended the event <br />and was warmly welcomed by other Planning and Parks and Recreation <br />organizations in Ramsey County. The event was sponsored by The <br />Alliance for Sustainability, The Bush Foundation and The Metropolitan <br />Council. Darling explained cities can apply for funds to help implement a <br />Green City plan. She noted the deadline for plan submission is sometime <br />in December of 2018. The Metropolitan Council is sponsoring this <br />endeavor and will provide help. She thought this may be a good idea to go <br />along with the Council’s goal of a Greenstep City. Darling explained that <br />the Metropolitan Council has several grants available that the Parks and <br />Recreation Commission could apply for. Darling reported the meeting also <br />stressed using solar lights to illuminate parks and other public spaces. <br />Darling continued that one of the Council’s determined goals was to <br />investigate the feasibility of a solar garden at City Hall. She stated the <br />meeting had also encouraged Cities to integrate their current trails into the <br />Ramsey County Parks System as well as create bike lanes on city streets. <br />Darling explained the event encouraged promoting bicycle usage in as <br />many ways as possible including holding bike tune-up and safety classes <br />through the City. She explained the meeting had also suggested making a <br />conscious effort to plant pollinating flowers in public spaces to support the <br />butterfly and bee populations. Darling reported the meeting had <br />emphasized the fact that the Parks and Recreation Commission as well as <br />the Department should feel connected to a network of Cities and Ramsey <br />County to which they can rely on for help. Horwath stated he really liked <br />all of the ideas related to bicycle usage and as a person who has worked <br />with mechanics his whole life thought it would be a great idea to engage <br />local bike shops in City events. Horwath also brought up the idea of a bike <br />rodeo. Chair Miller thought partnering with a local bike shop for the <br />recycling day or the farmers market would be a good way to get people to <br />bring their bikes in for a tune-up for the season. Horwath also mentioned a <br />helmet program to provide helmets to riders at a relatively low cost.