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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-25 PRC minutes CITY OF STILLWATER PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING January 25, 2016 Present: Chairman Linda Amrein, Commissioners Scott Christensen, David Brandt, Rob McGarry, Sandy Snellman Absent: None Staff present: Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore, City Planner Abbi Wittman APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of December 28, 2015 Parks Commission Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Christensen, to approve the December 28, 2015 meeting minutes. All in favor, 5-0. OPEN FORUM Hank Gray, 231 Everett Street North, of Stillwater Area Scholastic Cycling Advocates (SASCA) and coach of the Stillwater Mountain Bike Team, stated that the team is working in several venues to find areas where kids of different skills could practice. He would like the City to consider granting the team a Special Use Permit for one hour, once a week for the 8-9 week practice period, to use the nordic trails north of the paved Brown’s Creek trail and west of the wetland. They would be happy to put signs up so people would know there is practice going on, and would share the trail with other users. City Planner Wittman stated that currently there are no bikes allowed, and that traditionally, a SUP would be issued by the Planning Commission or in some circumstances, the Council. In this case, it would involve a change in the Trail Plan, so the Parks Commission would need to make a recommendation to the Council. Superintendent Moore stated that staff could gather more information and bring it back to the Commission. Commissioner Brandt said he doesn’t have an issue with opening up the north side for mountain bikes. Commissioner McGarry pointed out that the presence of the mountain bike team could encourage others, so the Commission will have to look at opening it up to bikes for all users. Commissioner Christensen noted that mountain bikes have become so mainstream that the Commission should revisit the issue of allowing them on the trails. He runs 750-800 kids on the trails so if there is a concern about erosion, what’s the difference? Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 25, 2016 Page 2 of 3 City Planner Wittman stated that another common concern is users going off-trail. With a group like this, it would be monitored, but individual users would not be monitored. Mr. Gray offered to take pictures of the trail if a one-year SUP is granted, to determine whether there are any areas where it causes erosion. Staff agreed to do more research and bring it back to the Commission for a recommendation. ACTION ITEMS Brown’s Creek Winter Trail Maintenance City Planner Wittman explained that in July 2013, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the City portion of the Brown’s Creek State Trail be groomed for cross- country skiing and snowshoeing. In December 2015, the DNR determined previous Gateway Trail winter maintenance activities, plowing to Jamaca and grooming to Pine Point Park, would no longer occur, nor would winter maintenance occur on the Brown’s Creek State Trail. In response to community input, the DNR altered their decision and indicated that plowing of the Gateway Trail would occur to Jamaca but that no other maintenance would occur beyond that point, including winter maintenance on the Brown’s Creek State Trail. Shortly after the DNR’s determination and reversal, the DNR invited communities to participate in a discussion regarding the future maintenance of these two trails. At a December 22 meeting the DNR outlined the service level changes and budget constraints. The DNR would like stakeholders to be a part of a regional planning consortium that would work with the DNR on future maintenance needs. In roundtable discussions with the DNR, it was determined different maintenance options were necessary depending on the location of the trail. For example, a portion of the Gateway Trail is a designated as a Safe Route to School in one of the eastern metro communities, so plowing the trail is essential for that community’s use. However, plowing the Gateway Trail through the more rural areas may not be a priority or even desired based on the user groups. Following this discussion, the DNR indicated they may be favorable to entering into different types of maintenance agreements with the various communities, based on the community’s needs. As the Commission has made recommendation of the most desirable winter maintenance option, and the DNR will not be implementing that recommendation, the Commission will need to determine what level of service, if any, it can provide to the users of the Brown’s Creek State Trail in this area. Additionally, Washington County seems favorable to discussing cooperative maintenance agreements with agencies, including the City of Stillwater. Their determination of what kind of maintenance is necessary on county-owned property as well as on unincorporated county lands could, for trail consistency, be weighted on what type of maintenance will occur in the City of Stillwater. Ms. Wittman led discussion of the options of plowing, packing, grooming and no maintenance, and the various types of recreational activities that each option would Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 25, 2016 Page 3 of 3 allow. Consensus of the Commission was that from Neal or McKusick to downtown, they would support plowing, and from Neal to Manning, they would support grooming the trail. Mr. Moore noted the growing trend of states and counties constructing trails and amenities, and then turning them back to local communities for maintenance. He stated that the City is taking on a lot of state and regional trails in its jurisdiction. Ms. Wittman noted that there is another meeting with the DNR coming up, so staff will continue the conversations about winter maintenance. Commissioner Christensen commented he would like to send the message to the City Council that you can’t build the most popular bike trail in Minnesota without putting in bike racks, and you can’t build the most popular walking trail in Minnesota without shoveling it. Either the City should spend money on bike racks and maintenance, or these trails will sit there inaccessible to many users for half the year. The City is going to have to do whatever it takes to maintain these trails as it wants them to be used. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS There were no informational items. COMMISSION ITEMS/TOPICS Commission resignations Chairman Amrein confirmed that Commissioners Peterson and Stiff have resigned. Superintendent Moore added that the City Clerk is currently advertising for Parks Commission applicants. Boomsite Commissioner Christensen asked about construction at the Boomsite. Commissioner Brandt replied that he read that the County is participating with the DNR to redo the north side, repaving the parking lot and adding informational kiosks. February 22 Parks Commission meeting Commission consensus was to cancel the meeting due to an anticipated lack of a quorum. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Christensen, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to adjourn. All in favor, 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary