HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember Commission minutes finalFINAL
Lake Elmo Park Commission
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
December 15, 2008
Chairman Steele called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Steele, Bruchu, Ames, Blackford, Booher, Adanene,
Wagner, Zeno, Larson
STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler,
Agenda
Agenda was approved, (M/S Ames / Zeno)
Minutes
September minutes approved as amended. (M/S Blackford / Booher, Steele abstained)
Last paragraph under Sunfish Lake Park Land Trust Easement – add “Rolf agreed
to craft the language”.
August minutes approved as amended. (M/S Ames / Adanene, Zeno abstained)
Fourth paragraph under Sunfish Lake Park Land Trust Easment – replace Dunn /
Ames / Blackford with “The Commission.
Update on the Sunfish Lake Park Conservation Easement
Carol Kriegler reported that Sarah Strommen of the Minnesota Land Trust and the city
and Land Trust attorneys have been working to finalize the Sunfish Lake Park
Conservation Easement. Sarah has indicated that there have been some late developing
issues related to the title work. Most of these issues are minor, though Sarah wanted to
alert the commission / city to one issue that could be of some concern.
The Land Trust has determined that there is an additional 40 acre MPCA easement
related to the landfill that they were previously unaware of. Initially the Land Trust was
concerned about this MPCA easement being in conflict with the conservation easement
and considered the possibility of excluding this parcel from the conservation easement.
After further review of the terms of the MPCA easement on this northwest parcel though,
they have since determined that the MPCA’s rights are quite limited (monitoring wells
and a water retention berm) and that this use is probably not in conflict with the
conservation easement. Therefore, they plan to include this parcel but will make some
minor changes to the easement document to acknowledge the special circumstances. Part
of this change would require restoration if any activity results in a conflict with the
conservation values.
Carol Kriegler reminded the commission that when the city council approved the
conservation easement, the motion included some latitude for the attorneys to make
minor and incidental corrections and changes to the easement document as long as the
changes were consistent with the intent and spirit of the easement. Kriegler suggested
that it would be best to defer to the city’s attorney whether acknowledgement of the 40
acre MPCA easement would be a change signifigant enough to warrant bringing the
easement document back for city council review and approval.
Discussion on the development of a park concept plan for Area 2 of Sunfish Lake
Park
The recently approved Sunfish Lake Park Conservation Easement to the Minnesota Land
Trust states that Area 2 of the park, a 20 acre portion, may have limited development for
education, outdoor recreation and nature observation purposes, in accordance with a city
approved park concept plan. This city is to provide the Land Trust with a concept plan
by late 2009.
The Commission was asked to discuss how they would like to proceed with the
development of a concept plan. Carol Kriegler suggested that it might be helpful to
review concept plans used for similar type parks / nature preserves for ideas and insights
into potential planning processes, design principles, and needs assessments. She also
encouraged that there be opportunities for members of the community, Sunfish Lake Park
users in particular, to be involved in the process as park users often have valuable insights
and a unique perspective.
The Commission expressed that they would like to proceed with developing the plan
independently while allowing input through an “open house” where members of the
community would be invited to review a concept plan and provide comment. Members
expressed that after working for a couple of years on the conservation easement, they
already have a well defined vision for Area 2. They also expressed that they felt that
development of a plan was an appropriate task for the commission to take on in
independent manner.
The following timeline was established for developing the concept plan.
January – March Work on concept plan.
End of March Preliminary concept plan developed
Early April Conduct “open house” to gain public comment to plan
April commission meeting Modify plan based on public comment
May commission meeting Approve concept plan
June council meeting Present concept plan to city council
Discussion on the Development of a Comprehensive Sign Program
The 2008 Capital Improvement Plan included $15,000 for signage. Expenditures related
to a Sunfish Lake Park trail map panel system was completed in 2008. The 2009 Capital
Improvement Plan includes $13,000 for signage. Reid Park and Pebble Park had been
identified previously by the parks commission as priorities. The City’s Community
Improvement Committee has identified park planting / landscape beds a potential project
for the committee.
The Parks Commission was asked to provide feedback and direction related to various
sign design options. Specifically the commission was asked to confirm park priorities
and provide direction regarding the following:
A. Sign panel size and shape
B. Sign panel fabrication / material type
C. Potential logo use: current city logo, new city logo, new park logo, no logo
Carol Kriegler made a power point presentation that included photos of entrance signs at
Pebble Park, Reid Park, and Sunfish Lake Park, as well as a number of miscellaneous
rules and directional signs. The commission indicated that they were generally satisfied
with the signs in place. Concern was expressed for the city’s parks taking on the look of
Woodbury or Oakdale. Members also expressed that the existing signs were charming,
representative of the rural character of Lake Elmo, and reflective of the city’s past - - -
though possibly in need of weed-whacking, trimming, and landscaping.
The commission passed the following motion unanimously: It is requested that staff take
a photo of every entrance sign to be made available at the January meeting so that the
photos can be reviewed and used to identify which signs are in need of repair,
replacement, landscaping, weed-whacking or trimming. (M/S Ames / Adanene, 9-0)
Report on Park Woodland Restoration Projects
Project Assistant Kriegler reported that the Washington County Sentence to Serve
program has logged nearly 800 hours removing buckthorn from Pebble Park this fall.
Kathy Widen has secured grant dollars to cover chemical treatment and seedling plant
costs for the restoration project. A spring community planting project is proposed for a
Saturday in May. Kathy and Carol Kriegler are working on a woodland restoration
interpretive panel related to the project. It was also reported that Kathy is proposing
some test projects for managing buckthorn at Sunfish Lake Park. The techniques to be
tested include bark treatments that would not require cutting or material removal. The
hope is that the test projects will result in practical and effective buckthorn management
at Sunfish Lake Park.
Update on City Trail System / Trail Segment Inventory
At the June Park commission meeting staff presented a system for inventorying trail
segments identified in the city’s Comprehensive Trail Guide Plan. This inventory is
intended to serve as a resource for prioritizing and planning future trail improvements.
The inventory includes classifications related to trail type, associated level of
connectivity, level of use and degree of public safety enhancement.
Carol Kriegler reported that 4 Exel spreadsheets have been created for the city trail
system inventory. The 4 spreadsheets include the following 4 trail types: Existing off-
road, Proposed off-road, Existing on-road, Proposed on-road. Information included in
the inventory includes: Location; identifying number (from the map); Trail type;
Ownership / R.O.W. issues; Short-term purpose; Short-term user group; Short-term use
level; Condition, safety features, needed improvements; Estimated Costs; Issues, and
Potential Funding. The spreadsheets will be available for review at the January meeting.
Steele expressed an interest in having the inventory include a numerical rank of all trail
segments. Kriegler responded that much of the inventory is subjective, quite complex
and not necessarily quantifiable. She expressed that while it might not be possible to
have an overall ranking system, the public safety portion of the inventory could possibly
include a numerical rating system.
Kriegler questioned whether commissioners knew whether the Comprehensive Trail
Guide Plan had been submitted to neighboring cities, Washington County, MnDot for
their review and comment. Members expressed that they did not think so, and asked
staff to follow up with this.
Heights Park Neighborhood meeting follow-up and improvement plan.
The Park Commission conducted a Heights Park neighborhood meeting back in May.
The 2009 CIP includes $25,000 for improvements to this park.
The commission was asked to develop a timeline and process for planning improvements
to the park. The commission responded by setting the goal of developing a park concept
plan for the park at its January – March meetings. It was requested that staff make the
neighborhood meeting comments minutes (May meeting) available for the January
meeting as well as an aerial photo of the park.
Update on Picnic Shelter Projects
Design Forum was authorized to proceed with the design development phase for the
picnic shelter projects at the November 18 council meeting. This will allow the city to
obtain competitive proposals for the shelters.
Carol Krieger expressed that Design Forum is currently preparing the documents and
have been instructed to provide for several material options so that there will be some
flexibility in project costs.
Information Items:
Adjourned 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Kriegler
Project Assistant