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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-26 PRC minutesCITY OF STILLWATER PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING February 26, 2018 Present: Vice Chairman Rob McGarry, Commissioners Scott Christensen, David Brandt, and Sandy Snellman; Council Representative Mike Polehna Absent: Chairwoman Linda Amrein, Commissioners Bill McGlynn and Sam Nelson Staff: Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of December 18, 2017 meeting minutes Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Brandt, to approve the December 18, 2017 meeting minutes. All in favor, 4-0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. ACTION ITEMS Heifort Hills Estate Public Works Superintendent Moore provided the staff report, which stated that Todd Ganz, Integrity Land Development, is proposing to develop Phase Two of the 26.1 acre Heifort Hills Planned Unit Development (PUD). 24 home sites are proposed to be located on 10.9 acres of land to be platted as Heifort Hills Estate. All of Phase Two lies within the Natural Environment Shoreland District of South Twin Lake. The Comprehensive Plan's Parks and Trails Chapter shows no planned park on the property. However, the Master Trail Plan envisions a trail along Neal Avenue between McKusick Road and Dellwood Road (State Highway 96). The trail constructed with Phase One of this PUD stops just south of the wetland next to Neal Avenue. The trail alignment between the wetland and Neal Avenue will require additional investigation by the developers before the final plat application is submitted. Specifically, the status of the wetland and any necessary wetland replacement will need to be verified. The developer's costs for constructing this trail, any necessary retaining walls, and any wetland replacement needed for the trail will be credited against required park and trail dedication fees. Park and trail dedication fees will be required for 23 of the 24 lots in the amount of $2,000 park dedication and $500 trail dedication for each single family home, totaling $57,500 in park and trail fees. The trail work done by the developer will be credited against these fees. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 26, 2018 Mr. Moore explained that on January 30, 2018 the City Council approved the preliminary plat with 16 conditions. Condition 6 states, "A trail must be constructed by the developer on the east side of Neal Avenue as an extension of the existing trail to the south. The trail is to be extended to State Highway 96. Any costs for the trail and necessary retaining wall that exceed the developer's park and trail fee obligation will be paid for by the City from its Parks and Trails Fund." He added that typically, the Parks Commission reviews developments before the Council takes action. However, the January 22 Parks Commission meeting was cancelled due to weather. The Commission is asked to consider the park and trail dedication requirements for this residential development and make a recommendation to the City Council. Mr. Ganz, applicant, added that the existing trail along Neal stopped on the north cul de sac of Phase One. Phase Two will continue that trail and also will finish the asphalt on Neal all the way to Highway 96. Construction of the trail may require construction of a 6-8 foot tall retaining wall 150-200 feet long on the east side due to the topography of the site. Councilmember Polehna explained that the Council asked the developers to complete the trail now, as long as the road is being torn up. Commissioner Christensen asked if the developer is paying for the road extension. Mr. Moore responded yes, as part of their agreement with the City. Motion by Commissioner Brandt, seconded by Vice Chair McGarry, to approve the park and trail dedication of $57,500 for Heifort Hills Estate, Phase Two, and to recommend that the developer be required to complete the trail to Highway 96. All in favor, 4-0. INFORMATION ITEMS Lily Lake Water Quality Improvement Projects Mike Isensee, administrator for the Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization, reviewed past water quality studies and noted that in 2014, Lily Lake demonstrated a statistical improving trend for total phosphorous for the first time since monitoring started in 1988. He added that as of 2016, there are four major contributing areas to Lily Lake. The concentrations of phosphorus were much higher coming off Greeley Street compared to other sources. He explained two projects being designed to achieve the last 45 lbs of phosphorus reduction. One will be a two feet deep holding area installed behind the ballfields at Lily Lake Park. It will have a mowed path around it and will be planted with transition native prairie pollinator habitat. The other will be an underground piping system at Washington Park. The areas anticipated to be served by the two projects account for about 60% of the total load of phosphorous going into Lily Lake. The two projects are expected to result in a reduction of 50-55 lbs of phosphorus. Vice Chairman McGarry asked who will pay for the projects. Page 2 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 26, 2018 Mr. Isensee responded the cost will be shared between the Watershed Management Organization (WMO) and the City. In August 2018 he will write a Clean Water Fund grant requesting 75% of the total cost and asking the City Council to budget the other 25% in the Capital Improvement Plan budget. The WMO will pay for the administrative components. Commissioner Snellman asked about disruption to Washington Park. Mr. Isensee said it is anticipated that the only disruption will be in the area directly above the system; the ballfield will not be useable for one season. Safety fencing will be up during construction and the project won't impact any trees or the playground. The other system at Lily Lake will be in a low -use area. No impacts to Lily Lake park are anticipated. Mr. Isensee said the WMO anticipates seeing a big drop in algae production in Lily Lake. Generally, 1 Ib of phosphorus equals 600-1,000 lbs of algae growth. The next step will probably be in 2022 or 2023, to do a treatment to remove the algae matt in the lake. It is anticipated that by 2025, Lily Lake will be well below the threshold needed to remove the lake from the impaired waters list. Mr. Moore asked who would be responsible for maintenance of the systems. Mr. Isensee responded that the WMO will contract with Washington Conservation District to do maintenance for the first two years. After 2022, maintenance would be handed over to the City. Commissioner Christensen asked about the construction cost and how much phosphorus is going into Lily Lake now. Mr. Isensee replied the projects will cost in the range of $600-900,000. They are shooting for 40 micrograms per liter of phosphorus. Lily Lake is now in the 45-50 micrograms per liter range. These two systems should sustain a phosphorus load under 32-35 micrograms per liter. The consensus of the Commission was to support the concepts for the two systems. Outdoor Winter Rinks Mr. Moore reported that the rinks are in fairly good shape and have been getting good use. In regard to a request for an additional rink at Settler's Park in Liberty, he stated the slope made it difficult to establish a rink there. He asked for input on what should be a minimum size for rinks and where rinks should be placed. For instance, the Old Athletic Field rink, which is one of the larger rinks, gets a lot of use. A 100' x 200' rink is a hockey rink size. Commissioner Christensen stated the City doesn't have any outdoor rinks that are hockey rink size. He recalled that the Hockey Association was having a hard time getting volunteers to maintain the outdoor rink at the Rec Center. Page 3 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 26, 2018 Councilmember Polehna suggested eliminating some of the little rinks that get little use, and focusing on the big ones. Commissioners McGarry, Snellman and Christensen agreed. Public Works Superintendent Moore said he will ask other communities about their minimum size for rinks. Councilmember Polehna noted that rinks with a warming house and lights are the ones people use the most. He explained improvements being considered for the Rec Center to make it more of a multi -use facility, and fundraising efforts for the improvements. COMMISSION ITEMS/TOPICS Ice Castle Councilmember Polehna reported that the City is working with the promoter to get the items removed so it's not an eyesore like it was last year. Lobbyist Councilmember Polehna informed the Commission that the Council is looking at hiring a lobbyist to help obtain state and federal funding for projects such as the shore stabilization project, which could possibly include a cantilevered trail along the edge of the river. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Christensen, to adjourn. All in favor, 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary Page 4 of 4