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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-19-07 Park Minutes FinalAPPROVED 1-23-08 Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting November 19, 2007 Chairman Steele called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Adanene (7:09 p.m.), Ames, Booher, T. Bouthilet, Blackford, Bruchu, Dunn, Larson, Steele, and Wagner. STAFF PRESENT: Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet, Project Assistant Kriegler, and Planner Matzek. Agenda M/S/P, Dunn/Blackford, move to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 9:0. Minutes – October 15, 2007 Chairman Steele asked that the words “end up” be removed from the third paragraph on page two. M/S/P, Booher/Blackford, move to approve the minutes as amended. Vote: 7:0:2. Abstained: Larson and Dunn. Park CIP Project Assistant Kriegler said she worked with the Public Works Superintendent on updating last years CIP and suggested adding informational kiosks in some parks. Commissioner Adanene arrived at 7:09 p.m. Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet suggested a kiosk could be located at City Hall, Lions Park and Demontreville Park. He said that the existing trail map for Sunfish Lake Park is accurate, but not user friendly as it does not show topography. Commissioner Ames asked what problem this solution was addressing and asked for a sense of priorities. Commissioner Dunn said it would be helpful to have directional and informational signage within Sunfish Lake Park at the trail intersections. Chairman Steele suggested starting with Reid and Pebble Park instead of Sunfish Lake Park. He asked Project Assistant Kriegler to draw up some signs for those parks with suggested pricing. Commissioner Larson suggested providing basic inexpensive maps at Reid, Pebble, and Lions Park to see how well it would work. He suggested a survey next spring to see if park users found the map helpful. Chairman Steele said he would like to see the money for signage moved to 2009 in the CIP for all parks except for Reid and Pebble and adding $15,000 under miscellaneous. Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes; 11-19-07 APPROVED 1-23-08 He asked Project Assistant Kriegler to focus on one park and suggest a style and location to give the commission a basis for discussion. He then suggested the commission discuss the signage for Sunfish Lake Park at Highway 5 though it is later on in the agenda. Signage at Sunfish Lake Park Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet said that the Minnesota Department of Transportation will only permit certain signage type in their right-of-way. M/S/P, Ames/Blackford, move to recommend approval of the proposed MnDOT Highway 5 signs for Sunfish Lake Park. Vote: 8:1. Opposed: Commissioner Bruchu and Alternative Commissioner Dunn. Commissioner Bruchu said he opposed the motion because people from other communities would be drawn into the park. Commissioner Dunn said she opposed the motion because the city should better communicate the park’s location to residents and she has concerns about using state signage. Returned to Park CIP Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet said there are still plans to resurface the tennis and basketball courts, extend the parking lot in Lions Park and replace the play equipment. Commissioner Booher asked to include $10,000 to pave the trails in the Stonegate development. Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet suggested a post and barrier system as well as a gate for the parking lot in Sunfish Lake Park. He suggested allocating $10,000 in 2009 for the projects. Commissioner Blackford suggested increasing the money allocated for the MN Land Trust at Sunfish Lake Park to $10,000. Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet said some of the money for VFW Park was to add a water fountain and the amount could be reduced to $3,000. He suggested adding $4,000 in 2008 to replace the park shelter building roof at Lions Park. Commissioner Larson suggested adding a rut or bump across the trails in Pebble Park to reduce the illegal activities. He also suggested increasing the police presence. Commissioner Bruchu suggested adding an infield and backstop to Pebble Park to create a youth baseball field. Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet suggested the conversion of the existing field would be approximately $20,000 and would not need to be included in the CIP. Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes; 11-19-07 2 APPROVED 1-23-08 Chairman Steele asked to have specific examples brought back at the next meeting to reduce the number of vehicles spinning their tires and speeding in the park. M/S/P, Wagner/T. Bouthilet, move to approve the CIP as amended. Vote: 9:0. (Agenda item revisited later in the meeting.) Permitting process for park users (horses) Chairman Steele said Project Assistant Kriegler’s memo identifies that Lake Elmo is on- par with other cities and no permitting process is needed. Signage at Sunfish Lake Park This item was discussed earlier in the meeting. 2008 Park Commission Meeting Schedule M/S/P, Larson/Blackford, motion to approve the 2008 Park Commission meeting schedule. Vote: 9:0. Trail Guide Plan Implementation Chairman Steele said the top priority would be safety. He suggested beginning by looking at existing on-street trails. Commissioner Booher said there is a safety concern with the existing off-street trails in the Stonegate development. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said that Klondike Trail is already being heavily used to access the Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve although there is not an official trail. Commissioner Ames suggested looking at a trail connection from 51st Street to 53rd Street to Kleis Park. Chairman Steele said after safety concerns, links between main corridors would be a high priority. Commissioner Ames suggested the proposed trail along Lake Elmo Avenue and the proposed off-street trails linking the Fields development to the village area be considered. He also suggested connecting the Tapestry and Hamlet on Sunfish Lake developments to the trail system in Sunfish Lake Park. Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet said the correct easements were not obtained for the trails in the Hamlet on Sunfish Lake development. Commissioner T. Bouthilet said he has safety questions about 20th Street as it is heavily used, but does not have a shoulder. Parks CIP Revisited Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes; 11-19-07 3 APPROVED 1-23-08 M/S/P, Ames/Larson to revisit the Parks CIP. Vote: 9:0. M/S/P, Ames/T. Bouthilet, move to add $100,000 for trails in 2008. Vote: 7:1:1. Opposed: Chairman Steele. Abstained – Commissioners Blackford and Alternative Commissioner Dunn. Commissioner Adanene left at 9:04 p.m. M/S/P, Booher/Ames, move to approve amended CIP. Vote: 6:3. Returned to Trail Guide Plan Implementation Chairman Steele asked the commission to prioritize the following trail segments: Klondike Avenue, Stonegate development, 51st St to 53rd St to Kleis Park, connection of Fields development to the village area, Fields development and 50th St, and Hamlet on Sunfish Lake and Tapestry development connections to Sunfish Lake Park. He suggested Klondike Avenue and Stonegate trails are number one and two. Commissioner Dunn suggested the trail to Kleis Park as number three. Chairman Steele suggested Hamlet on Sunfish Lake and Tapestry would be number four. He asked that staff come back with additional information on the four prioritized trails. Comprehensive Park Plan Draft – Informational Item Planner Matzek provided the commission updated versions of the park plan. The plan will be sent to the City Council with the commission’s recommendation in January. Updates There was no report for Park Partners or Klondike Trail. Project Assistant Kriegler said the park section of the city website has been built upon and will be continued. Planner Matzek said the Sunfish Lake Park report and recommendation will be on the January 8th City Council agenda. Planner Matzek said that the rezoning of the park properties was tabled at the Council meeting and the park equipment at Lions Park was approved. Commissioner Ames asked for an updated CIP with the proposed changes. M/S/P, T. Bouthilet/Dunn to adjourn the meeting at 9:19 p.m. Vote: 9:0. Respectfully submitted, Kelli Matzek City Planner Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes; 11-19-07 4