Minutes - 2026/01/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A. Cricket field use review- Thomas- Szurek: Cricket field: questions of installing turf in part of current baseball/softball field and if it would affect other sports. The city of Bloomington does have turf for cricket in part of a field- but it is in a youth field in the outfield and does not interfere with the other use. The cricket group specifically asked for Silver View Park because they want two fields for tournaments. The cricket use as it has happened currently is causing damage to the field. Two different cricket groups have been using the fields- one group has been more comfortable with using temporary mats, but would like storage for the portable mats as they are big (over 10 feet) and heavy. Question on storage for both IBL (or other baseball group) for pitching mounds and cricket players for portable cricket mat. Question on whether portable cricket mat prevents damage. Going forward, rental policy to require cricket mat. Based on how a permanent mat would affect other use, no interest in having a permanent mat installed. 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Greenfield Trail – Condition, maintenance, winter snow removal discission – Peterson: Citizens have reached out about the condition and ongoing maintenance of Greenfield Trail. On researching the Trail it was discovered that some of the parcels with the trail on it are owned by the state. The city doesn’t have the rights to do anything on the land until the state provides permission or otherwise works out an agreement with the city. Ideally the city will get clean title to the land currently technically owned by the state. The city also never applied for a permit to put the trail in. The trail also overlaps with a ditch that is owned by Rice Creek. Rice Creek is looking at removing the trees and in 2027 getting the area back to its original profile. There are a number of trees that will need to come out. The city applied for a grant for relief for restoration of the area and was awarded $146,200, The grant will help pay for that and help two staff members become forestry certified, and will pay for planting trees. Snow removal: Snow removal has never been done by the city for the trail. Per both the City attorney and City Insurance policy: council will have to make a determination on whether it wants to take on snow removal, but if the city decides to start plowing the trail it would have to remain consistent. The current trail has a bridge- which is an obstacle for maintenance. Both the city and Rice creek would like to get the bridge out to help with both drainage and maintenance. Resident comments Jim Schlotterback 8265 Eastwood Road: has been enjoying the trail since the late 90s. The trail was historically more dry. During COVID pandemic there was a massive uptick in use. Feels fortunate to have that greenspace, and it’s a great place to go to be in nature within the city. More winter traffic has happened in recent years. Reports about a dozen people Schlotterback consistently sees on daily trail use. Concerns: low spots that have become more wet. Would like the snow to be removed in winter. Dan Manthei 7906 Greenfield Ave: has been using the trail since 1985. Would like the trail to be maintained year round so it can continue to be used. Greg Bolander 2356 Sherwood Road: Has been plowing the trial and would like to keep plowing it Costs to do snow removal: fuel and man hours. With gravel the initial plows are time consuming. When plowing: considerations: hazard if a piece of equipment falls off the trail. If the city is not going to be plowed- recommendations for sign/posting that it is not maintained. Looking for recommendation for both maintaining the trail and snow removal. Trail was not part of the master plan.