10-10-07 Parks Commission Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 10, 2007 TRAIL The Parks & Recreation Director indicated that there are a few sections SYSTEM of the City's trail system that are incomplete. The first is the Maplewood connection. The Director indicated that the City is still working on a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Maplewood for finalizing the connection and allocating cost. There is money in the budget for this connection. The next section is the Gateway Trail connection to Shoreview. One of the biggest obstacles to this connection is getting across the Highway 36 bridge. The City had applied for a grant to study this connection, and it was denied. The Director reported that the Park Commission has discussed with St. Jude Medical the idea of anoff-street connection through their property. However, a walking bridge over Highway 36 will be a high cost factor. Blesener asked about the trail connection across the Rice Street bridge and into Shoreview. The Director noted that the trail can go from Country Drive to South Owasso Blvd., down the railroad property and by the new Frattalone Building. It was noted, however, that there are a lot of issues with trails on or crossing railroad property. It was also noted that St. Paul Water has been drilling wells in this area and in doing so have disturbed existing trail sections. The next trail section discussed was the connection from the Concetta Way, Burke Lane, Yorkton Ridge neighborhood. It was noted that there was some neighborhood opposition to a bridge connection from the Burke Lane neighborhood. The Director noted that a compromise is for an on- street connection from Country Drive to South Owasso Blvd. The City Administrator indicated that Condit Street is on the list to be considered for improvement in 2008. There would be the possibility of an on-street connection along Condit to South Owasso Blvd., however, there would likely be impacts to mature pine trees that would have to be considered. The Director noted that it would be preferable to have an on-street trail connection on Condit Street rather than Country Drive. The Power Line Trail was discussed, and the City Administrator suggested that discussions be had with the appropriate property owner relative to an Edgerton/Payne Avenue connection. The Director noted that the City has worked with Xcel Energy relative to saving some of the pine trees that were planted as a buffer under the power lines. About 25 trees were identified to be saved. These will be moved to Pioneer Park and replaced with lower growing bushes and screening plantings.