05-05-05 Parks Commission Minutes

Home Browse Search

MINUTES Parks & Recreation Commission May 5, 2005 ,E CREAM The Commission felt that the Ice Cream Social is a popular, worthwhile event and should be SOCIAL held again this year. The Director stated that in past discussions with Canadian Days, they are okay with holding the social in conjunction with the Canadian Days festival. This year's theme for Canadian Days is "Blazing New Trails." The Canadian Days Committee hasn't formally finalized any plans for aribbon-cutting or groundbreaking ceremony for the trails construction project yet. Sackett Glaser felt it would be nice to hold a trail dedication ceremony in conjunction with Che ice cream social. The Director stated that he will present the matter to the Canadian Days Committee. Sackett Glaser said that she would be willing to attend that meeting, if necessary. Mans suggested that if a trail dedication ceremony is held at the Firefighters Historical Trail, the social could be held immediately after in the parking lot of the fire station. The Director suggested having the ceremony just before the social at the Firefighters Historical Trail, and then holding the social at the Spooner Park shelter, and the entertainment in the bandshell so people can sit on the hill to listen to music in the amphitheater. The social will be held the Thursday before Canadian Days in a format similar to last year's affair. ON-STREET The Director gave the Commission information on this issue including excerpts fi•om the City TRAILS Council meeting and comments from the Sheriff's office. The Commission took a few minutes to review the material. Mayor Blesener commented that he disagrees with the need to post both sides of certain streets as "no parking" because there aren't many cars parked on the street on a regular basis. He stated that he has received complaints from residents living in these areas stating that calling City Hall for a parking permit is inconvenient. One resident holds weekly meetings at her home requiring a permit every week. Sackett Glaser felt that if a street contains an on-street trail designation, there's a higher expectation that the city has made an attempt to make it a safer place to walk or ride bicycles. If parking is going to be allowed on these streets, she would prefer that Chese sections of trail be removed from the City's trail system. Gray stated that in the absence of an off-street trail, he prefers having an on-street trail for people who like to walk or bike. He felt ChaC calling City Hall for a parking permit is not that much of a hardship. He felt that parking on streets with on-street paths should be handled the same to provide consistency throughout the city. Mans did not like the idea of having an on- street trail only on one side of the street since the City would then be forcing people to violate State law by making pedestrians/bicyclists travel the wrong way depending on which direction they are traveling. Sackett Glaser stated that she prefers off-street paths. However, on major streets that are deemed part of the trail system with very well-developed shoulders, she definitely feels that no on-street parking should be allowed if on-street paths are present. She commented that more of an argument could be made with the more residential streets such as Arcade, McMenemy, and Viking where there is not as much traffic. Sackett Glaser stated that if parking is allowed on these smaller, residential streets, we should change the trails map to show these areas as "proposed" or "futw~e" trails. Page 2 of 4