HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2006 Parks MinutesAPPROVED: MAR. 20, 2006
City of Lake Elmo
Parks Commission
Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2006
Chairman Schumacher called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Parks Commission at 7:00
p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: T. Bouthilet, R. Larson, Watters, L. Wagner, Steele, and
Bruchu (7:02 p.m.) STAFF PRESENT: Administrator Rafferty, Planner Dillerud,
Superintendent M. Bouthilet, and Recording Secretary Schaffel. ALSO PRESENT:
Councilmember Conlin.
1. Agenda
Add Councilmember Conlin to 1.5, add Recognition of Gloria Knoblauch to 3.5, add Trail Plan
Prioritization 4.5.
M/S/P, T. Bouthilet/R. Larson to accept the Agenda as amended. VOTE: 7:0.
1.5 Councilmember Conlin
Councilmember Conlin will recognize the Parks Commission and their achievements at the
Employee and Volunteer Recognition Banquet on March 10, 2006. She encouraged
commissioners to attend and gave a brief overview of how she will highlight their achievements
for 2005.
2. Minutes
M/S/P, Wagner/T. Bouthilet to accept the Minutes of January 19, 2006 as presented. VOTE:
7:0.
3. Lake Elmo Art Center (Ramsey Center For Arts), Bob Meyer
Mr. Meyer requested permission to add three or four 10 X 3 garden plots at the Art Center. He
presented a list of possible garden styles.
M/SIP, R. Larson/Watters to request the City Council support the addition of creative gardens at
the Lake Elmo Art Center. VOTE: 7:0.
3.5 Recognition of Gloria Knoblauch
Chairman Schumacher introduced Gloria Knoblauch, a former Parks Commissioner and current
Community Improvement Commissioner, a founding member of the Friends of Lake Elmo
Library, and the individual responsible for getting wells on 31" Street tested for
perfluorochemicals.
Chairman Schumacher also recognized the countless hours of volunteerism put in by former
Parks Commissioner Susan Dunn.
4. Park Plan Update
The Planner said the City Council has recommended acceleration of the Comprehensive Park
Plan in order to get a Needs Assessment for community play fields. He said the old Park Plan
was developed for a much smaller population than the City now forecasts. A new Park Plan will
be necessary to the programming of improvements for parks in Lake Elmo. The Planner
recommends amending the CIP from the budgeted $5,000 to $25,000 in order to hire a consultant
to do that work. Part way through that plan, the Needs Assessment for community play fields
will be determined and that information can be provided to the City Council. The Planner said
Lake Elmo Parks Commission Meeting Minutes of Feb. 22, 2006
APPROVED: MAR. 20, 2006
that the Park Plan will also give the City a strong foundation for determining new Park
Dedication Fees.
M/S/P, Watters/T. Bouthilet to recommend an amendment to the Capital Improvement Program
to increase from $5,000 to $25,000 for the hiring of a consultant to do a Park Plan Update.
VOTE: 7:0.
Commissioner Bruchu asked how we construct a community play field when our CIP only
allocates $75,000 per year.
The Planner said that the City will bond for a big play field. He said when regional sewer
arrives, development will occur at a much faster pace, and those developments will provide
additional Park Dedication Fees.
4.5 Trail Plan Prioritization
Administrator Rafferty explained that the 2006 Trail Construction Program will soon get under
way. Priorities for trail construction must be established. He said that 55t' Street has already
been determined by the City Council. Superintendent M. Bouthilet said that the cost is $10-12
per centerline foot, but a road base already exists on 55t` Street. He said there is $150,000
dedicated in the CIP for trail construction in 2006, and he asked the commissioners to consider
other locations for discussion at the next meeting. The Planner said staff will also bring
recommendations to the next meeting.
Commissioner T. Bouthilet suggested a back door entrance trail into the Park Reserve from the
Old Village. Creation of a trail would legitimize what is already being used by pedestrians now.
Commissioner R. Larson said he has had serious discussions with the homeowner's association
at the Fields of St. Croix, and inclusion of trails there would be a rather simple process.
Commissioners will submit trail priority suggestions to staff by March 13 for inclusion in the
meeting packet.
Adjourn at 7:58 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kimberly Schaffel
Recording Secretary
Lake Elmo Parks Commission Meeting Minutes of Feb. 22, 2006