HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-21-07 Park Minutes FinalAPPROVED 6-18-07
Lake Elmo Park Commission
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
May 21, 2007
Chairman Steele called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Parks Commission at 7:02
p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Adanene, Ames, Booher, Bouthilet (7:04),
Blackford, Bruchu (7:06), Dunn (8:07), Steele, and Wagner. STAFF PRESENT:
Planner Kelli Matzek.
Approval of Agenda.
Chairman Steele added the following:
“Old Business – Heights Park Update” #9 “Trail Plan Implementation,” #10 “Lake Jane
Hills Park Clarification”
M/S/P, Ames/Blackford to approve the agenda as amended. Vote: 6-0.
Approval of Minutes
April 16, 2007
Commissioner Blackford said on the second page, fifth paragraph should read “Nature
Conservancy and DNR statement for inclusion in the plan.” On page three, number
seven there is a typo – it should say “quiet.” In the second paragraph of number nine
under policies, it should say “diverse” instead of “divers.” For clarification of what was
included in the last park plan, she would like the date of the Comprehensive Plan added
in parenthesis.
Commissioner Ames said that on the second page, third paragraph, the last sentence is
accurate, but he would like it to be clarified and would like the last four words removed
and to end with the word “uses” and take out “such as horseback riding.”
M/S/P, Wagner/Bouthilet to approve the minutes as amended. Vote: 7-0-0.
Draft Park Plan
a. Council Comments received – David Steele
Chairman Steele stated that he agreed to take the input received from the City Council on
the draft park plan and to do the word-smithing.
b. Survey of residents
Chairman Steele said he would like to ask the commission if it would be useful as input
for the park commission to solicit input through a survey of the residents of Lake Elmo.
Specific information was not obtained at the open houses and public meetings. He stated
that if the plan is supposed to be long-range, it would be good to have more public input.
Commissioner Bouthilet said that a preference menu was distributed to city residents and
those likely to respond to a survey probably would have responded to the preference
menu.
APPROVED 6-18-07
Commissioner Booher said there may be different needs and opinions when the
community grows.
There was a general consensus that the commission felt comfortable with their
representation of the broader public.
Sunfish Lake Park/MN Land Trust Process
Chairman Steele said that given the conversation, this project would not be tied to a
survey. He would like to see closure to the Sunfish Lake Park project and he was
thinking of creating a subcommittee of three or four commissioners to work over the next
month on how the park should be designed and preserved.
Commissioner Bouthilet said he would like to see staff write the report. If a couple
commissioners wrote the report, it would not be representative of the entire commission
and he does not have much time during the month to participate.
Planner Matzek stated that staff could put together a draft staff report that could be
brought in front of the commission next month for their review and edits.
The commissioners agreed to have staff write up the draft staff report.
Scheduling Spring 2007 Park Walk-Throughs
Chairman Steele asked the commission if they had in the past found it valueable to have
the park walk-throughs. The commission agreed.
Commissioner Blackford asked that the City Council be invited to attend a walk-through
of Sunfish Lake Park.
Commissioner Ames stated that there are now three access points to Sunfish Lake Park.
Chairman Steele said the walk-through of Sunfish Lake Park would be held Tuesday,
May 29th at 6:30 p.m. and asked staff to invite the City Council. Tuesday, June 5th at
6:30 p.m. would be the walk-throughs for Carriage Station Park, Pebble, Tablyn, and
Reid.
Rock Point Church – Hard Hat Tour – informational purposes
Planner Matzek said that Rock Point Church is nearing completion and has invited the
City Council and the commissions to a tour of the church. The date and time have not yet
been established.
City Council Updates
Planner Matzek said that on May 15th the City Council approved authorization for plans
and specs for the Lake Elmo Avenue Infrastructure Project. This would include a
number of items including a potential trail. It has not yet known if a trail can be included,
but will be studied as a part of this authorization for plans.
Trail Plan Implementation
Lake Elmo Parks Commission Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2007 2
APPROVED 6-18-07
Lake Elmo Parks Commission Meeting Minutes of May 21, 2007 3
Commissioner Wagner said the commission has spent a lot of time on plans, but nothing
has been implemented.
Planner Matzek stated that she heard last year the trail along Klondike Avenue to the
Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve had been studied and decided it could not be done due
to topography.
Commissioner Bouthilet thought that previous staff had made a judgment call and it was
not studied. He would like to see the fence taken down in the Lake Elmo Regional Park
Reserve where Klondike meets the park. Washington County has allowed the city to
include the northern regional park entrance as a part of the trail plan.
Commissioner Bruchu stated that many people walk down to the park currently and does
not believe the volume will change.
“The park commission recommends City staff work with the County parks staff to create
a pedestrian access from Klondike Avenue to the Lake Elmo Regional Park existing trails
as a way to begin implementation of the Comprehensive Trail Plan.”
M/S/P, Ames/T.Bouthilet to provide the above recommendation. Vote: 9:0.
“The park commission recommends that in the summer of 2007 and per the CIP, a trail
be created to connect the old village to the previously proposed pedestrian access to the
Lake Elmo Regional Park on or along Klondike Avenue.”
M/S/P, T. Bouthilet/ Ames to provide the above recommendation. Vote: 9:0
Lake Jane Hills Park Clarification
Planner Matzek stated she did not have the information with her, but believed the land in
question was a part of the landfill and although the land is owned by the city, the MPCA
has easements on the land.
Chairman Steele requested the city administrator create a statement on the park.
Old Business – Heights Park Update
Planner Matzek said staff has not forgotten this as an item, but given the multitude of
planning items on the list of things to do, this unfortunately has not been accomplished.
Staff has done research on the site, but has not yet set up a neighborhood meeting to
discuss the future of the park.
Adjournment
M/S/P, T. Bouthilet/Booher to adjourn. Vote: 9 – 0.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelli Matzek
Planner