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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19 Commission minutes FINALFINAL Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting October 19, 2009 Chairman Ames called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ames, Blackford, Dunn, Larson, Dobbs STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler Agenda Agenda was approved as amended. Agenda was amended to move item 7, Information Items up to follow item number 3. (M/S, Dunn/Larson, 5-0) . Minutes Review and approval of September minutes delayed until next meeting. “Sunfish Lake Park West” Discussion – Exploration of opportunities and limitations regarding “turn-back” of area currently in landfill Peter Tiffany, MPCA Senior Engineer for the Washington County Landfill clean-up project attended the meeting to provide an update on the project as well as an overview of the opportunities and limitations regarding the turn-back area currently in landfill. Peter provided a brief overview of the grading plan, which will result in the turn-back area being a depression with significant slopes. Explanation for the grade is that waste is being removed from what was a quarry, a depression. Members expressed displeasure with the MPCA’s unwillingness to bring in fill to cut back the drop in grade. Concern was expressed that the area could be an attractive nuisance with poor visibility from the road. Peter also explained that there will be the need for a retention birm that will require about 20% of the area. There will otherwise not be any infrastructure / equipment in the area. There is some flexibility for location of the retention birm, access road, and some minimal changes in grading and that the city should plan to provide input on these issues by late spring. Possible uses identified for the area included a dog park, athletic fields, sliding hill, disc golf, walking trails. Peter explained that a development of a “Use Plan” is required for the entire project including the 6 acres that will be turned back. Information Items New City Administrator Bruce Messelt began in late September. Bruce has expressed an enthusiasm for parks & trails and plans to attend a park commission meeting in the near future. Pebble Park woodland restoration project - - a 7-9 individuals braved cold temperatures and wet conditions at the Oct. 3 Buckthorn pulling event. l 1 Carriage Station shelter - - location of shelter within the park was summarized. Contractor is about to begin pouring footings. Demontreville Wildlife Area ravine restoration - - a couple of calls / emails were received regarding disruption in the area. Tablyn Park paving project – very near complete – 2nd lift was expected to be complete in the next day. EMBRACE award - - organization has indicated a willingness to recognize the city’s conservation efforts at SFLP at a spring event. Metro Greenways grant update Members were provided with a brief overview of expected restoration related activities. It was reported that final grant agreements from the DNR are expected soon. Marty Dobbs volunteered to be a part of small restoration project committee. Rolf Larson also expressed a willingness to serve if others are not interested. City Trail Plan Demontreville Trail Reconstruction Update Kriegler reported that construction is scheduled for 2011 with the County reporting that they plan to reconstruct the road to a full-width of 24’. The City will then have the opportunity to stripe the road in one of several possible ways. The City’s engineer will be providing an update to the City Council at the meeting tomorrow evening. The Parks Commission requested that their support for improving pedestrian safety along Demontreville be expressed to the council again tomorrow evening. The Parks Commission passed the following motion unanimously: "The Lake Elmo Parks Commission supports paving a full-width of 24' along the entire length of the Demontreville Trail reconstruction project with striping in a manner that maximizes the protection of pedestrians." Trail Inventory Update Hoping to have the inventory nearly complete by the November meeting. Stonegate Trail Kriegler reported that the staff report on the Stonegate Trail was being made available in response to the continued interest in the trail improvement. A couple of years ago the City’s consulting engineers outlined the nature of the project and estimated the improvement at a cost of $129,410.00. Park Commissioner Booher has since advocated that just 2 of the 3 segments be improved as opposed to the complete trail length. Commissioner Booher advocates the paving of the 2 segments that are less complex. Chairman Ames asked Kriegler if the R.O.W. turn-back that occurred on the west end of the Stonegate would prevent the trail from serving as a Base Trail as identified in the City’s Trail Guide Plan. Kriegler responded that the Trail Guide Plan is “conceptual” in nature and provides for flexibility in locating trails and connections. Trail connections in l 2 l 3 other locations can be considered as long the change still meets the original intent of the component. Further discussion was delayed until the trail inventory can be reviewed. Discussion on Sunfish Lake Park Area 2 concept plant development. Discussion was delayed until next month’s meeting. The Commission requested that Novembers meeting be limited to three items: Sunfish Lake Park concept planning, Trail inventory and CIP budget – in that order. Adjourned 9:05 Respectfully submitted, Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant