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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-21-08 Minutes2 Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting April 21, 2008 Secretary Blackford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ames, Blackford, Booher, Dunn, Larson, Wagner and Zeno. STAFF PRESENT: Project Assistant Kriegler Agenda Agenda was approved, (M/S Ames / Booher) with 2 additional agenda items: 7c. Information item: May 7 Highway 5 planting project 8. Park Reservation Policy Minutes March 17 Minutes: M/S/ P, Blackford/Ames, move to approve as corrected Vote: 6:0 Commissioner Ames was not in attendance. Commissioner Blackford clarified that mountain biking is currently a prohibited activity at Sunfish Lake as stipulated in the city code (#8065- Chapter 1015) Follow-up to Washington County request to conduct deer harvest in Sunfish Lake Park in November of 2008 Carol Kriegler reported that Peter Mott of Washington County Parks had submitted a revised agreement for the Sunfish Lake Park / Lake Elmo Park Reserve deer harvest. The revised agreement includes the cap of 100 deer to be harvested between the two parks, as requested by the Park Commission. Peter also reported that he had reviewed the 2008 deer hunting zones and regulations and found no changes that could potentially impact the planned harvest. Follow-up to a Development of a Comprehensive Signage System – presentation of 3 conceptual designs. Linda Wagner reported on a proposed plan to place banners on light posts located on Lake Elmo Avenue and Highway 5 near the Village. The banners would serve to welcome people to Lake Elmo and promote local businesses. Each banner would include the name of a business sponsor. The cost of the banners would be covered through contributions of participating businesses and possibly donations from local service organizations. Several banner concepts were presented with various city graphic concepts. Carol Kriegler had created several of the graphics, with the possibility of the graphic also being incorporated into comprehensive park system signage. Rolf Larson also presented a potential graphic with a nesting eagle. The Commission was asked to provide comments relative to the concepts. Thos comments were as follows: Middle logo difficult to read Like use of the eagle Would like to see use of a barn / farm to better reflect character of Lake Elmo Barns are a common landmark Any city graphic used within the park sign systems should be consistent with what the city uses elsewhere. Linda and Carol reported that the banner concept and city graphic concepts would be presented at the May 13 council workshop. The commission expressed support of the banner concept moving forward. Lowes Partnership Program Project Assistant Kriegler reported that a marketing representative from Lowes has verbally expressed that the city will be awarded $7,000.00-10,000 in materials and in- kind services for a park project and that a written agreement is forthcoming. Heights Park Neighborhood Meeting Carol Kriegler reminded commissioners of the neighborhood meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening, May 7. Kriegler provided an overview of the layout of the park. The lot is considered a “flag lot” with minimal road frontage and is surrounded by homes. This layout creates a particular challenge in balancing neighborhood / public access verses adjacent home owner’s privacy and protection. Commissioners were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the park and the past survey results in preparation for the meeting. John Ames commented that one of the surveys included the claim that the city had promised neighbors that the park would always remain a place of passive use. Ames requested that this claim be researched. He also expressed that the CIP is a planning document and does not necessarily ensure a project’s implementation, and that the Commission should be careful about accepting a similarly challenging lot as park dedication in the future.. Lastly, he expressed concern about the future of park improvement funding availability. He commented that money is “drying up”. Information Items 7a. Trail Improvement Update Carol Kriegler reported that inclement weather had prevented staff and city engineers from doing two scheduled field visits of Stonegate Trail. A trail visit is scheduled in the next week for the purpose of conducting a preliminary assessment of the trail from an engineering perspective. The Commission expressed the desire to continue to pursue the steps necessary to see other 3 identified trail segments (in 2008 work plan) completed. Kriegler reported that she would consult with Administrator Hoyt regarding the need and process for land acquisitions and conveying. Park Partners Reports 7b. Information item: Horses in Sunfish Lake Park The need was expressed for signage at Sunfish Lake Park that reflects “No mountain biking” and information relative to use for horseback riding. 7c. Information item: Planting Project Park Reservation Policy John Ames reported that a resident had expressed frustration to him regarding his/her lack of success in being able to reserve a field. It was reported that all fields were already reserved. The Commission requested that the reservation policy be brought forward for review at the next meeting. Meeting was adjourned (M/S, Dunn / Blackford) at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Carol Kriegler Project Assistant