2025.03.03 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Meeting Minutes for March 3, 2025 Page 3 of 10 replacement of the rails on the front step were intentionally delayed so they would not get damaged while cleaning out some of the interior. Improvements on the grounds included brush removal, and they will be working on large tree removal in 2025 and will be looking for site plan approval after finishing assessments of the septic and well. They have advanced community engagement and leadership by recruiting their first student board member and developing a program to share information with students in K-5 at Oneka Elementary School on the revitalization of the schoolhouse to generate excitement on future field trips. Board members are also engaging local history groups and volunteers. There is currently a display of the schoolhouse project at the Washington County Historical Center. They had support for their phase two repairs with donations at their fundraising event, where they raised just under $5,000 through their fundraising event. Another fundraiser was being planned for October 25, 2025. They will also be doing book sales of the Forest Lake History Book and implementing their fundraising campaign. Ongoing work included assessing for ADA compliance; designing plans for the well and septic; preparing plans for plumbing, electric, and HVAC; and preparing structural plans for the interior. Other goals for 2025 included completing the forming of the nonprofit and transferring the contract with the City over to the Heritage Center, beginning demolition and framing of the interior, and getting site plan approval for the school grounds. They will be submitting applications for at least three grants. The Mayor thanked Liz for the update and thanked the team of volunteers. Parks Commission Annual Report – Parks Planner Shayla Denaway Parks Planner Shayla Denaway provided to Council the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission Annual Report. She began by reporting on the use of the City’s five rental facilities saying there were 788 rental events that brought in $71,650. In 2024, 55% of the transactions were done online, and all facilities were accessible by a key card. Diamond Point Park was reconstructed and the Samson Walters Memorial bench installed. New park signs are expected to be installed in 2025. Developers of Oneka Prairie installed a 0.6-acre park. For Bernin Park, the City had applied for a MN DNR outdoor grant in April but was not awarded the funding, so the project has not moved forward. Trails were improved in the Clearwater Creek Preserve and on the property near the north water tower in Oneka Place. Sunset Lake Park hours were shortened at the request of the residents living nearby. At the proposed North Star Wetland Bank and Trails, hydrology monitoring continued in 2024. She talked about the new trails near the development in the Shores of Oneka Lake that follow the ridgeline and would connect to the Bernin property. Council asked questions on when the new park signs would be installed and asked for more information on the wetland bank. Denaway replied that the signs would likely be installed in the spring. She explained that hydrology monitoring at the proposed wetland bank indicated the wells were located further from the storm water ponds and ditch, and it showed that hydrology was dramatically impacted by water being taken from the site. These hurdles could be overcome by putting a clay wall along the ditch, which would be a pretty dramatic construction project if