HomeMy WebLinkAbout061614 Park Commission Minutes
MINUTES
City of Lake Elmo Park Commission
Monday, June 16, 2014
Members Present: Hartley, Steele, Nelson, Ames, Weis, Silvernale, Zeno (6:36)
Members Absent: Hietpas, Frick
Others Present: Planning Commissioner Larson, Taxpayer Relations & Communications Coordinator
MacLeod, PWS Bouthilet, Park Maintainer Colemer, Councilmember Reeves, City Administrator Zuleger
The meeting was called to order by Chair Weis at 6:31 PM.
Approval of Agenda
Steele asked to add item V.c. – an update on park improvements.
M/S/P: Ames/Nelson: Approved as amended 6-0
Approval of May 19, 2014 Minutes
Steele pointed out an incomplete sentence starting with “Survey needs…” on the second page under new
business – asked to delete. Steele also clarified that under item a. in “new business” that he was requesting a
comprehensive plan of the Sanctuary park plan.
M/S/P: Weis/Hartley: Approved 6-0, Ames Abstain
New Business
a. Reid Park Trails (Weis)
Weis shared that Mayor Pearson had forwarded an email about a concern at Reid mainly regarding
maintenance about shrubs and trimming. Bouthilet clarified that part of the issue is deadfall from last year, and
part of it was the flooding that occurs in that area every year.
Weis asked about Pearson’s statement to bring a logger in. Bouthilet responded that a logger wasn’t
necessary.
Weis asked what they could do to help get it cleaned up. Bouthilet replied that lack of time was the biggest
obstacle.
Ames asked about elevated planks (boardwalk) and if adding would help. Bouthilet agreed that it would help
short term flooding issues. Ames suggested that it would be a good project for an Eagle Scout. Steele
suggested that it might be a good idea to come back to the July meeting with an audit of the trail area.
Motion made to request staff to present audit of the Reid Park trail system at July meeting.
M/S/P: Weis/Ames: Approved 7-0
b. Volksmarch Event with Lions (D. Nelson)
Nelson provided a recap of a meeting he attended with the Lions. Nelson shared that the Lions would like to
help out with a Volksmarch event and he feels that it would be a good partnership. He shared some of the
details that they discussed (route length, entertainment, potential sponsors, etc). Nelson thought that this
would be a good thing for the Sunfish Lake task force to work on , and that by doing this event they would have
an example to share with other groups looking to hold similar events.
Ames shared that he thinks that this event is a good idea. He, however, is concerned that if the planning is led
by the commission, it may be difficult to plan on a monthly meeting schedule.
Bouthilet shared his vision for the event, as he had been involved in Volksmarch events in the past, and stated
that he would like to spearhead this event. Nelson, Ames, Steele, Larson, volunteered to be committee
members.
Motion made in support of a Volksmarch with the support and collaboration of the Lions, and that a
subcommittee has been determined.
M/S/P: Ames/Zeno: Approved 7-0
c. Update on Park Improvements (Weis)
Weis provided a summary on where they commission sat on the park improvements. Sanctuary – goal will be
to approve a design tonight, with the hope to get it installed in August. The goal for Pebble is to approve park
equipment and get in by August 1. Third goal is Tablyn to start talking about next meeting and get installed end
of season. Lastly – the last item on the agenda was to discuss prep for the next meeting – topic is safety,
where Tablyn will come in.
Steele mentioned that one of the big ticket items that they were going to work on was a bathroom.
Touch back on item for prep (last item of agenda) – instead of safety talk about bathroom.
Old Business
a. Sanctuary Park Equipment (Weis)
MacLeod presented a site plan and pricing options for the suggested equipment in Sanctuary Park.
Steele and Ames stated that they would like to see a comprehensive plan incorporating the Goetschel property
(reluctant to approve without). It was pointed out that given the gas line easement and steep topography, there
wasn’t much choice on where to put the equipment. Weis also pointed out that it was difficult to develop a
comprehensive plan without knowing what the demographics of the Goetschel neighborhood would be.
Reeves asked the commission if by placing a play structure on the upper portion of the park, would it interfere
with potential plans for the lower part.
Motion made to recommend that council approve the addition of equipment (play set, swing set, tetherball, and
foursquare), a partial paved trail, and a mowed connecting trail in Sanctuary, with expenditures not to exceed
$75,000, with the understanding that the commission pursue a comprehensive plan and the Sanctuary HOA
review the plan before approval.
M/S/P: Steele/Hartley: Approved 7-0
b. Pebble Park Equipment (Weis)
MacLeod presented a site plan and quote for proposed equipment, which included a zipline, play structure,
shelter, and volleyball court.
Commissioners also discussed adding a full-sized basketball court, a paved parking lot, and new benches.
Ames asked about the pavilion and if it matched the standard look that was established years ago.
Steele suggested putting gravel or chips to better connect higher and lower areas. Colemer replied that he had
widened the trail and added limestone on the foot path from the playground to the ball field.
Steele and Hartley commented that they recalled the need for field improvements (both soccer and baseball).
Items discussed were the uneven soccer field, improved backstops and benches. They also mentioned that it
would be a good idea to clear out brush to the field to improve the sight lines. Colemer responded that the trail
did get cleared a bit as a result of widening the trail.
Weis suggested deciding on phase 1 at the night’s meeting, and discuss plans for phase 2 at July’s meeting.
Weis stated that he thinks one thing that sticks out is the lack of a permanent restroom given all of the activities
being added. Hartley asked where the most logical place would be to place one. Bouthilet responded that it
would be just west of the parking lot. Steele asked for a ballpark estimate on the cost of a pit toilet. Zuleger
responded that the last one he did was $80k.
Steele asked about an option to piggyback off of an upcoming street project to get the parking lot and a
basketball court paved. Zuleger said they would ask the engineers about adding it to the 2015 street
improvement plan. A parking lot on its own would cost approximately $100k.
Ames shared that ideally he would love to see tennis, volleyball, ball field improvements, toilets and pavement.
Reeves suggested that they get together and look at the 5-year comprehensive vision on all of the parks.
Steele responded that he thinks they have already started that process by tackling one park at a time.
Steele would like to see the plan again with a bathroom and the volleyball court repositioned.
Motion was made to approve the addition of the proposed park structures (Zipkrooz, and rocks ‘n ropes play
structure) and pavilion at Pebble Park, not to exceed $80,000.
The commission will talk about adding volleyball court, basketball court, field improvements, restroom, and
possibly paving, at the July meeting for a phase 2 plan.
M/S/P: Weis/Ames: Approved 7-0
c. Dog Park Update (MacLeod)
MacLeod shared that they were still trying to find a time to meet with the folks from the Stillwater Area Dog
Park to ultimately present more details to the commission. The Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park are
currently occupied with a new park that was recently approved in Stillwater on a landfill. MacLeod would
continue conversation with the group to acquire information for next steps.
Steele asked Zuleger about other uses for a landfill. Zuleger responded that he has built one on a landfill site in
the past and it is the ideal location or use for that type of area. Steele asked if he has seen any other creative
uses for landfill areas. Zuleger responded that he hadn’t. The biggest issue he said was small dogs going after
big dogs, but that separate areas could be built for small dogs and large dogs.
d. 50th Street ROW (Bouthilet)
Weis stated that there really wasn’t an action for this item, but more of a question for Mike. They had a request
from a resident about putting a trail on 50th Street, and Weis asked Bouthilet for more information on the ROW.
Bouthilet responded that it is a bad ROW because it jumps back and forth, and they would have to look at land
acquisition to build a trail. Zeno asked if they could add wider shoulders. Bouthilet responded that it is curb and
gutter and not much that can be done to widen.
It was noted to forward this information to Casey to add to the trail plan.
Staff Report
a. LERT Update (Zuleger)
Zuleger met with Met Council’s Park and Open Space Commission Chair former mayor Johnston. They talked
to the Washington County folks and they do believe that Lake Elmo will be included in the master plan. They
asked to be included in the search corridor - would be looking at linking Lake Elmo Regional Park with parks to
the north in Stillwater (the High School is also part of this). Once it gets in the hands of Met Council, it is
anticipated that Washington County will be looked at favorably.
Dean also noted that intern Casey is a landscape architect (and master gardener) and that he and MacLeod
would travel with her to visit the entrances of parks for inexpensive ways to freshen up the entrances. He also
mentioned that Bouthilet had recently hydro-seeded the entrance to Sunfish Lake Park.
b. Sign Update (MacLeod)
MacLeod shared that the specs for the signs had been approved, and were currently in production. Signs are
expected to be completed in mid-July.
c. Prep for next meeting (Weis)
Weis declared that the next meeting priority item will be to finish the Pebble master plan, and start Tablyn
planning and the bathroom planning.
Ames asked if they could talk about Sunfish Prairie restoration. He wanted to make sure that it was being
mowed, and questioned the controlled burn. Colemer replied that it had not been done this year.
Weis asked about the Sunfish Park task force and if they had talked about bringing a report. He recalled that
the committee had once discussed making a presentation to the commission in July. Steele replied that they
were planning on meeting next week. Weis reminded them that any remaining funds in 2014 were likely going
to go toward improvements in Sunfish.
Reeves stated that he’s read a lot of articles in the last few months about passive parks, and the benefit they
are to the community. Steele asked Reeves to pass the articles on to the commission if possible.
Meeting adjourned at 8:56 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Alyssa MacLeod, Recording Secretary