03/03/2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 3, 2004 APPROVED 1 Chair Lindy advised to complete the connection of the existing trail along north side of 2 Birch Street from Black Duck Drive to Pheasant Hills Drive the City would have to get 3 approval from the County. The estimated costs of the project do not adhere to the 4 County's new standard of a 22' buffer zone from a rural roadway to an off-road trail. 5 Further discussions with Anoka County would need to occur to determine whether this 6 project is viable. 7 8 Councilmember Dahl stated she has heard from many residents that they love the trail in 9 Trapper's Crossing. Some of the residents, however, have complained that there is no 10 place to lock up bicycles. 11 12 Public Services Director stated a bicycle rack was discussed last year. The problem is 13 that there is not enough room there to install a rack without blocking access to the fire 14 hydrant or trail. 15 16 Councilmember Carlson referred to the new 22' standard from the County and asked 17 what the previous standard was. Public Services Director DeGardner stated the County 18 previously did not have specific requirements. The new standards call for a 22' buffer on 19 a rural section of a highway and a 10' buffer on urban roadways. There are several areas 20 within the City that it would be impossible to construct a trail and adhere to those 21 standards. City staff is hoping the County will be reasonable in those areas. 22 23 Councilmember Carlson suggested the City Council write a letter to the County 24 Commissioner regarding that issue. Council directed staff to draft a letter for the City 25 Council to sign and forward to the County Commissioner. 26 27 Councilmember Reinert stated that when the City held a referendum for the athletic 28 complex trail development was included in the costs. He asked if any of the proposed 29 trail projects were included in that plan. 30 31 Public Services Director DeGardner advised all of the proposed trail projects were 32 included in the referendum for the athletic complex. He noted all the dollars that will be 33 used for the projects come from dedicated park funds. 34 35 Councilmember Reinert asked if there has been any discussion about acquiring the land 36 that was meant for the athletic complex. 37 38 Chair Lindy stated there has been no discussion regarding that issue at the Park Board 39 level. It would be very difficult to find the funding to purchase the land. 40 41 Councilmember Stoltz inquired about the process of obtaining dollars for parks. Public 42 Services Director DeGardner explained the process in relation to development and park 43 dedication fees. He noted year 2003 was atypical for park dedication fees due to an 44 increase in development. He stated staff would be reviewing the park dedication 45 ordinance again at some point in the future. He noted the City does not use general fund 46 dollars for the cities parks. 47 48 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, March 22, 2004, 6:30 p.m.