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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-27 PRC MIN CITY OF STILLWATER PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING January 27, 2020 Present: Chairwoman Linda Amrein, Commissioners David Brandt (left at 8:11), Scott Christensen, Pam Johnson, Sandy Snellman, Stephanie Souter, Council Representative Mike Polehna Absent: Commissioner Sam Nelson Staff: Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 16, 2019 MINUTES Chair Amrein asked if the City Council ultimately approved a 3 or 5 year license for the North Hill Community Garden. Public Works Superintendent Moore said the City Attorney has to review it before it goes to the Council. Motion by Commissioner Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to approve the December 16, 2019 meeting minutes. Motion passed, 6–0. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. ACTION ITEMS St. Paul Curling Club Tour Public Works Superintendent Moore stated that the Parks Commission will meet at City Hall and carpool to the St. Paul Curling Club for a tour on February 5. Northland Park Courts Mr. Moore stated that after the Stillwater Pickleball Group approached the Commission about converting Northland Park into permanent pickleball courts, staff researched layouts to maximize the number of courts in the existing footprint. Conversion to all pickleball courts would cost approximately $104,735. He led discussion of ways to obtain public feedback on the project. The City can gather feedback electronically through PolCo, a survey program, it can be put on the City’s Facebook page and web site and disseminated via Constant Contact. Commissioner Brandt noted it is a big step to turn the tennis courts into pickleball courts so input will be important. Chair Amrein asked if there is a tennis organization in town. Commissioner Johnson said she and her family play tennis. The best courts are at Stillwater Junior High. She just wants to see these courts used. She questioned whether it is cost effective to dedicate one just to tennis for the super recreational tennis player. Councilmember Polehna pointed out the Liberty tennis courts are 1/2 mile away. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 27, 2020 Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Johnson responded those courts have issues with slanting and cracking. She feels these courts need to be used to capacity. Better players will go to the high school, junior high, or Mahtomedi rather than Northland. Commissioner Christensen asked how much will the pickleball club contribute? Mr. Moore replied right now, he has not heard of anything. Commissioner Christensen pointed out when other groups come to the Parks Commission, it’s usually a proposal for a partnership. Commissioner Snellman asked what is the price difference with just redoing the court versus redoing it for pickleball? Mr. Moore replied the $104,000 estimate may be a little high for the pickleball conversion. Last year the City redid the Staples courts with one permanent pickleball court, one combined pickleball/tennis court and one permanent tennis court and that cost about $65-75,000. It has about the same surface area as Northland. Councilmember Polehna asked if the proposal includes removing the fencing. Mr. Moore replied part of the request was to have wind screens. To do that the fence must be taken down and replaced with a heavier gauge and more posts. Councilmember Polehna said that should be a discussion point with the pickleball club. If they want that, they should be asked to contribute. Commissioner Christensen asked, does this fit with the capital plan? Mr. Moore said the Department budgeted $100,000 for redoing Northland in 2020. Commissioner Souter suggested using Nextdoor to inform citizens and gather input. Mr. Moore said he will look into that. Chair Amrein suggested putting up signs where the City might put a pickleball court. Commissioner Christensen said at this time of year erecting signs would not work. Planning Commission - Lot Split on Third Street South Councilmember Polehna informed the Commission that Jennifer and Jeff Smittkamp received Council approval to split their lot at 703 Third Street South into two individual lots. The City accepted a cash dedication of $2,500 to satisfy the park and trail obligations. Planning Commission - Lot Split Boutwell Valley Estates Mr. Moore said that Jeffrey and Patricia Pratt submitted a request to subdivide their 2.50 acre homestead lot at 7960 Minar Avenue North into two lots. The northern lot would retain the Pratt residence and the southern lot could have a new single family residence placed on it. The Comprehensive Plan shows no planned parks on or through the property. So, the contribution to the park system would likely have to be in the form of a fee in lieu of land, which would be $2,000 per new lot created. No trails or sidewalks exist in this area and no new improvements are proposed. Future trails are shown within 1⁄4 mile to both the east and the west. The total park and trail Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 27, 2020 Page 3 of 4 fee would be $2,500 for each new residential lot created. Staff recommends the Park and Recreation Commission accept a cash dedication of $2,500 for the new lot. Commissioner Brandt commented the biggest issue is that an alignment for a trail has not been identified yet. Mr. Moore responded it would be better to have a trail on the east side because then there would be no street crossings. The property owners are willing to give the City a trail easement. It would be an insurance policy for the future if the City cannot obtain easements on the east side. Motion by Commissioner Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to accept a trail easement on the property at 7960 Minar Avenue North, and to recommend that cash in lieu be accepted for park and trail dedication fees totaling $2,500. Motion passed, 6-0. Councilmember Polehna said Neal Avenue is being improved and it will include an 8-foot trail on the east side of the road from Boutwell to Highway 96. INFORMATION ITEMS Snowmobile trail Mr. Moore informed the Commission that Washington County was contacted by the Star Trail snowmobile club about grooming the trail on the east side of Manning Avenue from County Road 12 to the north. The Commission’s position in the past has been to plow the trails. He asked for thoughts on continuing to plow or not. The snowmobile club wants it groomed for snowmobiles instead. They already groom on the west side as it is a designated snowmobile trail. Commissioner Brandt noted he sees asphalt torn up by snowmobiles. Commissioner Johnson remarked she sometimes sees fat tire bikers on the trail. Commissioner Brandt added he has run the snowmobile trails too. Commissioner Christensen commented it seems like a bigger issue than to be decided by the Commission. Input is needed from people who are using it. Mr. Moore said staff could set up another survey for citizens. In the meantime staff is plowing it. The City has an agreement with the County that allows the City to decide whether or not to plow it. Commissioner Brandt said he would like to investigate maintenance costs. His gut reaction is to say no if there is already a maintained trail on the west site. He would like to see maps of snowmobile trails showing crossings and how safety of the snowmobiles and other using trails is maintained. Commissioner Souter said she shares Commissioner Brandt’s concerns about safety at crossings of snowmobile trails over roads. The consensus of the Commission was to keep plowing the trail for now. COMMISSION ITEMS/TOPICS Commissioner Brandt said the City Lights tunnel is not fully lit and doesn’t look great. Councilmember Polehna said the downtown business group is in charge of it. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting January 27, 2020 Commissioner Christensen said he has been going to the Sustainable Stillwater meetings. They are planning an event downtown for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day April 20. They also want to plant lots of trees in City parks that weekend. The • Commission should determine what type and where. Mr. Moore said the group should bring a tree planting proposal to the City. He will be happy to talk to them about it. Commissioner Christensen remarked that two years ago the Commission approved a proposal to get Stillwater designated as a Bird City. On February 4 it will go before the Council. Sustainable Stillwater would like to see this passed. They already have planned an International Migratory Bird Day on May 23 at Washington Park. Councilmember Polehna said he has no problem with it but it needs to be a partnership and not the City doing all the work. The way it was originally presented, the City would have done all the work. Commissioner Christensen said he thinks there was a lot of miscommunication on it. Mr. Moore stated he has not yet seen a park permit request for use of Washington Square on May 23. The group must submit an event application so there is no conflict with use of the park. Commissioner Christensen said he will explain this to the group. Councilmember Polehna told the Commission he was at the kick off to the Aiple Property Master Plan. The consultant is touring the property and will start working on the plan. To use the house, it would have to be sprinklered. This would cost about $10-15,000. Additionally, there is no sewer hooked up to the house right now. A pump system would cost about $30,000. So it would cost close to $50,000 to get the house to be useable. Councilmember Polehna reported on the Lift and Loop celebration May 15-16. There will be a dinner on the bridge Friday, pancake breakfast and ribbon cutting on Saturday, and then Hands across the Croix will start at 11 a.m. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed, 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. tuv La , Linda Am rein, Chair ATTEST. Tim Moore, Public Works Superintendent Page 4 of 4