HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember Park Agenda PacketCity of Lake Elmo
3800 Laverne Avenue North
Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042
(651) 777-5510 Fax: (651) 777-9615
Www.LakeElmo.Org
NOTICE OF MEETING
The City of Lake Elmo
Parks Commission will conduct its regular meeting on
Monday, November 15, 22001100,, at 7:00 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Agenda
2. Minutes, October 18, 2010
3. Welcome to new Park Commission member Pam Hartley
4. Review and discussion on 2011-2016 Park Capital Improvement Plan
5. Sign program planning for recently completed Demontreville and Sunfish Lake Park
information kiosks
6. “Trail Visioning” and Trail Guide Plan implementation
7. “Sunfish Lake Park West” update
8. Update on efforts to review parks for opportunities to enhance public safety
9. Adjourn
The public is invited to attend.
DRAFT
Lake Elmo Park Commission
Minutes of Regular Meeting
October 18, 2010
Chairman Ames called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ames, Steele, Zeno, Blackford, Larson
STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler
Agenda
Agenda was approved (M/S, Steele/Zeno, 5‐0)
Minutes
Sept. 20, 2010 minutes were approved as amended. (M/S Blackford/Steele, 5‐0)
Eagle Scout motion changed to “funding up to $1,400 and “Rolf” changed to Larson, (M/S
Larson/Steele). Park safety discussion “grading” changed to “graded”. Remove unnecessary sentence
on in motion supporting parking area grading and rain gardens.
Discussion on park safety and efforts to promote appropriate park use
Item tabled in light of Officer Loehrs absence.
Update on Sunfish Lake Park parking area improvements and prairie restoration project
Carol Kriegler reported that the Commission’s supported parking area improvements at Sunfish Lake
Park were approved by the City Council at their Oct. 5 meeting. Carol Kriegler provided an overview of
the grading plan and placement of rain gardens. Three rain gardens are to be located along the south
side of the parking area for the purpose of reducing run‐off from the sloped turf area, while a fourth rain
garden will be installed in the northeast corner of the parking area for the purpose of capturing run‐off
from the parking area. Grading of the parking area will result in the vast majority of run‐off being
directed into the northeast rain garden.
Members of the commission who had visited the park recently noted that there is considerable “wind‐
fall” on the trails that needs to be cleared before ski season. Members also requested that a “walk‐
thru” of the prairie with MNL Ecologist be scheduled for next spring.
Review and discussion on park CIP
Members reviewed the current CIP and 2010 work plan. They requested a park fund balance for the
next meeting. Members once again expressed their interest in improving pedestrian and bicyclist
safety along Demontreville Trail. The roadway is scheduled for reconstruction in 2011 at a road width of
24’ with lane configuration / line painting yet to be determined. The Commission expressed that their
highest priorities are improving Demontreville Trail and developing the Village / Stillwater H.S. base trail,
presumably mostly along Hwy. 5.
The Parks Commission also expressed the following as high priorities: Demontreville picnic shelter, sign
program, Lions Park volleyball court, Sunfish Lake Park West and general public safety improvements.
Motion: The Parks Commission designates Demontreville Trail from Green Acres to 50th St. and Olson
Lake as a high priority trail segment and that we ask professional staff to do a feasibility and engineering
cost estimate for this trail as well as the previously designated high priority trail of Highway 5 from the
Village to the High School. (M/S, Steele/Zeno, 5‐0)
Progress update on Trail Guide implementation steps
The Commission expressed their strong interest in moving forward with some trail development and
doing so with the goal of addressing the most urgent safety issues and serving the greatest number of
users. Members expressed an interest in having Ryan attend the next meeting to provide an update on
Demontreville Trail reconstruction plans as well as an MPCA landfill update.
Update and discussion of the Park Commission
Members expressed their frustration and disappointment with being forced to relocate to the Annex
conference room for two of three of their meetings due to the Planning Commission. Kriegler
apologized for the relocation on behalf of Planning Director Klatt and explained that the need for
relocation was due to the combination of the Columbus Day legal holiday, the need for video recording
of Planning Commission meetings as dictated by state statute, and the need for the Planning
Commission to take action on an item prior to the next evenings City Council meeting. Park Commission
members expressed that they felt that it sent a poor message ‐ ‐ that of the Parks Commission’s
business being of less importance to the City.
Motion: The Parks Commission strongly urges that the Planning Commission schedule tentative
alternate meeting dates during holiday weeks in advance to avoid disrupting the work of the Park
Commission.
Adjourned 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Kriegler
Project Assistant
Parks Commission
Date: 11/15/10
Item: 3
ITEM: Welcome to new Park Commission member Pam Hartley
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Pam Hartley was appointed to the Park Commission at the Oct. 19 City Council meeting. Following
introductions, it is requested that we provide Pam with a brief overview of current projects and issues.
Parks Commission
Date: 11/16/10
Item: 4
ITEM: Review and discussion on the Park CIP
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Park Commission is being asked to review and discuss the draft Park CIP in an effort to provide input
and comment regarding the establishment of a 2011 – 2016 Park CIP.
Parks Commission
Date: 11/15/10
Item: 5
ITEM: Sign program planning for recently completed Demontreville and Sunfish Lake
Park information kiosks
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
Information kiosks have recently been installed at Sunfish Lake Park and Demontreville Wildlife
Area. The kiosks are ready to accept signage and a lockable message board, if desired. The
purpose of the kiosks is to provide a central location for the organized posting of interpretive,
regulatory and directional signage. The City Council authorized expenditures for kiosk signage
as a part of the Sunfish Lake Park Parking Area improvements at their October 5 meeting.
A sign program for each of the two locations might include the following:
Sunfish Lake Park
Park map
Park hours
Rules and regulations (emphasize no bicycles, horses limited months, no motorized vehicles,
etc.)
Interpretive (wildlife to look for, history of the park, park projects overview – parking area
improvements, raingardens, prairie restoration, natural resource management plan)
Public safety enhancement (do not leave valuables in car, etc.)
Land Trust designation
Demontreville Wildlife Area
Park map
DNR Gateway trail map
Park hours
Park rules and regulations (emphasize no motorized vehicles – snowmobiles)
Interpretive (wildlife to look for, park projects overview – stream / lake water quality project)
Public safety enhancement (do not leave valuables in car, etc.)
Adopt-a-park acknowledgement
Lockable message board
Carol Kriegler will provide an overview of a potential sign program for the two locations. The
Parks Commission is asked to provide comment and direction.
Parks Commission
Date: 11/15/10
Item: 6
ITEM: Trail visioning and Trail Guide Plan implementation
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Park Commission’s recent annual work plans have identified trail development as a very high
priority. To date the Commission has prioritized based trails within the proposed trail system and
identified the Village / Stillwater High School base trail as their highest priority. To date, City Staff
has made some progress in identifying probable ROW and land acquisition needs throughout the
system.
Carol Kriegler will provide an update on conversations with City Engineer Ryan Stempski related
to the creation of a “vision” for trail development and a proposed process for Trail Guide Plan
implementation. Specifically, staff will report on measures being taken to identify a specific trail
segment to be constructed in 2011 as well as efforts to develop an implementation plan for the
development of the Village / Stillwater High School base trail including the identification of a
specific route, associated land acquisition needs and potential ROW issues.
Parks Commission
Date: 11/16/10
Item: 7
ITEM: “Sunfish Lake Park West”
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The MPCA landfill remediation project is well ahead of schedule and is expected to nearly
complete late this fall. A concluding phase of the project will include grading of the site in the
spring. It is anticipated that about 10 acres on the north end of the site will be turned back to the
City with the potential opportunity for recreational use of the area. While there will be some
limitations regarding potential uses and improvements, the site may well be appropriate for a
variety of recreational uses. Past discussions have included a dog park, disc golf course, sliding
hill and skating rink as possible uses for the site.
City staff met with Peter Tiffany, MPCA Senior Project Engineer, in September in an attempt to
express what the Park Commission has identified as potential recreational uses of the site and in
turn to gain an understanding of the MPCA’s limitations related to future potential uses and
improvements to the site. Three members of the Park Commission (Rolf Larson, Mike Zeno,
Marty Dobbs) also attended the meeting.
As a next step, City Engineer Ryan Stempski was going to communicate the city’s comments and
interests through a submission of modified plan drawings to the MPCA. He has also formally
requested that the MPCA respond the City’s request that the depth of the “hole” be dramatically
reduced. Carol Kriegler will provide an update on these matters.
Parks Commission
Date: 11/15/10
Item: 8
ITEM: Discussion on Park safety and efforts to promote appropriate park use
SUBMITTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
___________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In light of recent criminal activity in the area, the Parks Commission had a general discussion at
their September meeting regarding park safety and efforts to promote appropriate park use and
curb vandalism and illegal activity. At that time, members requested that staff explore
opportunities for the possible evaluation of the city’s parks for opportunities to enhance public
safety.
Carol Kriegler contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and inquired what
resources the department might be able to provide in this regard. W.C.S.D. Officer Loehr has
received considerable training in crime prevention through environmental design. He was invited
/ requested to address the Parks Commission on this subject at last month’s meeting, but was
called away on a more pressing issue.
Unfortunately Officer Loehr will be out of town for the next week, but he hopes to attend our
December meeting.
FINAL
Lake Elmo Park Commission
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
September 20, 2010
Chairman Ames called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ames, Blackford, Steele, Larson, Dobbs
STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler
Agenda
Agenda was approved. (M/S, Dobbs / Steele, 5-0)
.
Minutes
August 16, 2010 minutes approved as amended. (M/S Dobbs / Steele, 5-0)
Motion to approve July Minutes made by “Blackford”, not “Black”. Last paragraph in
Sunfish Lake Park prairie restoration project / parking area update - - “Rain Gardens”
inserted at start of paragraph to read “Rain Gardens were discussed with . . . . . .”
Proposed Eagle Scout Project Presentations
Eagle Scout candidate Kyle Yarusso gave an overview of his proposed project which
includes the construction of two information kiosks at Demontreville Wildlife Area and a
segment of trail rehabilitation also within the park. The trail rehabilitation involves the
widening and wood chipping of an existing worn footpath. Kyle outlined his familiarity
with the park and expressed his opinion that his proposed project would add
considerable improvement to the park. The proposed information kiosks are similar to
kiosks recently installed in an Oakdale Park. The kiosks are to be constructed of cedar
and will include a roof. There was considerable discussion about the desire / need to
have all kiosks and related amenities consistent in use of materials, construction details
and appearance. There was some discussion about the inclusion of a roof in these
kiosks knowing that the proposed Sunfish Lake Park kiosk design does not include a
roof. Kyle suggested that a roof would be desirable in this particular location given the
lack of natural shade. Members expressed the desire to upgrade the roofing materials
to cedar shakes and therefore recommended funding for the project at $1,400.00.
Eagle Scout candidate Chris Amundson gave an overview of his proposed project as
well which is also an information kiosk, but located at Sunfish Lake Park. Chris gave an
overview of the construction detail and general location of the proposed kiosk. The kiosk
is to be constructed of cedar and will serve as a central location for the posting of
interpretive, directional and regulatory signage. The materials will be covered by a DNR
“Grant-in-aid” capital improvement grant. Members of the Commission expressed the
interest in having the kiosk located on the north side of the drive with the final location
determined by the parking lot grading plan and location of the rain gardens. The desire
was expressed for the kiosks to be painted / stained with a “natural” finish for aesthetics
and preservation / care of the cedar. Ames requested that the cement for the footings
be mixed outside of the hole.
Members expressed that a future agenda item address the development of design
standards for kiosks and related park amenities.
Motion: Recommend approval of the proposed (Yarusso Eagle Scout) project and
recommend funding up to $1,400.00 (M/S Rolf / Steele)
Motion: Recommend approval of the proposed (Amundson Eagle Scout) project with
materials and finish to be consistent with the Demontreville kiosks. (M/S Larson / Steele)
Discussion on Park Safety and efforts to Promote Appropriate Park
In light of recent criminal activity in the area, Chairman Ames requested that the
Commission have a general discussion regarding park safety and efforts to promote
park use and curb vandalism and illegal activity. Members expressed the interest in
evaluating problem parks for opportunities to increase visibility and increase safety and
security. The interest was expressed to incorporate design elements that encourage
appropriate park use and discourage inappropriate use, such as increasing the visibility
of parking areas by neighbors and passers-by as well as possibly increasing signage
and employing surveillance cameras. Kriegler was asked to investigate what resources
might be available for conducting a “public safety” evaluation of parks.
Carol Kreigler reported on developments related to scheduled improvements to the
parking area and Area 2 of Sunfish Lake Park. Specifically, details were provided on the
plans to grade the parking area and install rain gardens in an effort to solve the ongoing
drainage problem in the parking area. There is a history of standing water in the
northeast corner of the parking area at snowmelt and following heavy rains. Kriegler
explained that City Engineer Stempski proposes the installation of rain gardens along
the south side of the parking area (in an effort to capture run-off from the sloped turf area
and gravel drive) as well as pretreatment area north of the parking lot that would capture
run-off from the parking area. The parking area would be graded in such a way that run-
off would be directed to the pre-treatment area to the north. Members expressed that
the grading plan consider the need to accommodate horse trailers and buses and their
need to turn-around. Members expressed that effectively addressing the standing water
in the parking area is a high priority that must be addressed before the start of the cross-
country ski season when the park is in high use. Some concern was expressed though,
about the lack of projected costs associated with the rain gardens. Kriegler responded
that Stempski would be estimating detailed budgets / costs for the rain gardens.
Motion: Recommends City Council approval of grading of the parking area and supports
installation of the rain gardens pending review of costs by the City Council.Chairman
Review and Discussion on Potential Recreational uses of Area to be Turned Back
to the City following MPCA Landfill Remediation
Kriegler provided a very brief overview of the discussion that took place with 3
commission members (Larson, Zeno, Dobbs), Engineer Stempski, City Administrator
Messelt, Kriegler and Peter Tiffany of the MPCA. Requests / desires as expressed by
the Commission at their August meeting were expressed to Tiffany. Kriegler reported
that Engineer Stempski has since followed up the meeting with a letter to Tiffany
(MPCA) requesting that the hole be minimized by fill. It was also reported that the
grading of the area would not be taking place this fall and that considerably more time
would be available for development of the grading plan.
Adjourned 8:50
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Kriegler,
Project Assistant