Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 082106 Regular Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting August 21, 2006 Chairman Schumacher called the Special Parks Commission meeting to order at 7:00 PM. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Schumacher, Terry Bouthilet, Watters, Larson, Blackford, Wagner, and Ames. STAFF PRESENT: Public Works Superintendent Mike Bouthilet, Assistant City Planner Matzek, and City Planner Dillerud. Agenda M/S/P Watters/Ames to approve the Agenda as published. 7:0 Minutes M/S/P Blackford/Watters to approve the Minutes July 17, 2006 as presented. 7-0 M/S/P Watters/Wagner to approve the Minutes of July 25, 2006 amending the vote on Agenda Item #3 to read Larson as abstaining rather than, and Watters voting “aye”. 7-0 Fields of St. Croix Public Trail Link Assistant Planner Matzek presented the Commission several Power Point slides describing a proposal that Commissioner Larson has been working on for several months th that would extend the City public trail system from 50 Street North through Fields of St. Croix to Tana Park, and eventually to the Old Village. She explained and depicted both existing HOA trails that would be converted by easement to public trails and new public trails that would be constructed within HOA outlots. She also reviewed trail signage and intersection modifications that have been developed by Commissioner Larson to clearly define what trails remain private as those trails intersect the new public trails within Fields. Commissioner Larson explained that it was his intent to present the City’s proposal to the September annual meeting of the Fields HOA, and seek HOA membership authorization for the HOA Board to continue forward with the necessary easement execution and trail improvements as depicted by the plan presented. Ms. Matzek suggested that from Tana Park there would be an option to continue the public trail south to Highway 5, or west through land that will be developed in accordance with the in-progress Village Area Plan. In either case, the intent (from the Trails System Plan) is to link the Sanctuary (and neighborhood park), Carriage Station (and neighborhood park), Tamarack Farms, Tana Ridge and Fields neighborhoods to Tana Park and the Old Village using this proposed link. She suggested that it may be best to await completion of Village Area plans and development of the Heritage property to the west before extending the link beyond Tana Park. M/S/P Ames/Wagner to proceed with work on the appropriate public trail easements with the Fields HOA and/or Mr. Engstrom as proposed by Commissioner Larson, and recommend to the City Council that the 2006/2007 trails construction program be amended to add the required public trail links within Fields to complete the trail link from th 50 Street North to Tana Park, including the signage and trail intersection improvements suggested by staff and Commissioner Larson. Sunfish Park Land Trust Easement Ms. Matzek provided the Commission with a list of questions from the Minnesota Land Trust the answers to which will assist in the drafting of a Land Trust Easement over Sunfish Park. She asked the Commission to only consider the questions at this time while awaiting progress on the Park Plan update project. She advised that, once the Park Plan update is further along, some answers to the questions regarding potential future uses of a small portion of Sunfish Park may be more obvious. Ms. Matzek also requested the Commission to individually and independently undertake the following assignments in preparation for an upcoming meeting (September) with the Park Plan consultants:  Think about park systems and components in other Metro cities of a similar size (build out at 24,000 population and area of 25 square miles with about 25% developed at “urban” scale and density).  Review the policies contained in the 1990 Park Plan to determine which may still be valid, which may accomplished, or may be invalid considering the City’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Also consider any new park planning/development policies that seem appropriate for Lake Elmo in a 25 year park plan. Carriage Station Update Mike Bouthilet explained the playground and trails are complete in the park, but need to be backfilled. Quotes were received on the proposed basketball court. He clarified that the basketball court will not be coming back to the Park Commission because it had previously been approved. Chairman Schumacher asked if any trees were removed. M. Bouthilet informed him that some were transplanted. He also informed the Commission of the MNDOT approved grant to plant approximately 130 trees along State Highway 5 in the spring of 2007. The grant is through the MNDOT Community Landscaping Partnership Program. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said he had been at the park and had noticed trash in the dirt. Chairman Schumacher said it is important to call the Washington County non-emergency phone number when appropriate. Pebble Park Safety Incident Chairman Schumacher said he had read a newspaper article the previous week in which four juvenile males were found with a gun at Pebble Park. The article stated the Washington County police were called. Chairman Schumacher said he believes Pebble Park is the most mis-used park. Commissioner Watters stated she had visited the park on Sunday and noticed trash dumped at the park. She asked M. Bouthilet if there was something that could be done. Commissioner Bouthilet identified Tablyn Park as being a close second for parks having trash dumped in them. Chairman Schumacher suggested Commissioners visit the City parks and to call the Washington County non-emergency phone number when appropriate. Commissioner Larson asked M. Bouthilet and Ms. Matzek if there was something that could be done to study adjustments to the parks to reduce the trash dumping problem. Chairman Schumacher asked Ms. Matzek to recommend TKDA look into rearranging parks (existing equipment, parking, etc.) to make them better used – reduce trash dump- offs, etc. Commissioner Larson asked that Tablyn Park and Pebble Park be specifically identified. Buckthorn Chairman Schumacher stated he had received a letter from Joan Ziertman, Chair of the Community Improvement Commission (CIC), saying the CIC was not able to head up buckthorn removal this fall. City Council Update Ms. Matzek stated there were no park related items on the last City Council agenda. Adjourn M/S/P Ames/T. Bouthilet to adjourn meeting at 7:58 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Charles Dillerud City Planner/Assistant Administrator