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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-18 PRC MINAMENDEDfflIwater The Birthplace of Minnesota 216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 www.ci.stillwater.mn.us PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 18, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Amrein called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairwoman Linda Amrein, Commissioners David Brandt, Scott Christensen, Sam Nelson, Sandy Snellman, Stephanie Souter, Council Representative Mike Polehna Absent: Commissioner Pam Johnson Staff: Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore City Planner Abbi Wittman ELECTION OF OFFICERS Motion by Chairwoman Amrein, seconded by Commissioner Christensen, to elect Commissioner Brandt as Chair. All in favor. Chairman Brandt began chairing the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Amrein, seconded by Commissioner Christensen, to elect Commissioner Snellman as Vice Chair. Commissioner Snellman declined because her term expires early next year. Motion by Commissioner Snellman to elect Commissioner Christensen as Vice Chair. Commissioner Christensen declined because if Commissioner Brandt is absent, he likely would be absent as well. Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Amrein, to elect Commissioner Souter as Vice Chair. All in favor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Amrein requested two typographical corrections. Motion by Commissioner Souter, seconded by Chairman Brandt, to approve the April 27, 2020 meeting minutes as amended. All in favor. OPEN FORUM Mary Piontek, 197 Maryknoll Drive, asked if the plan for The Lakes development still includes a trail that would connect to the dirt road behind it. City Planner Wittman replied that the City has granted permission to wait on the final trail connection until construction is done. They are still obligated to put in the trail. ACTION ITEMS Stillwater Mountain Bike Team Request City Planner Wittman stated that Matt Lehmann, Stillwater Area Scholastic Cycling Association (SASCA) has submitted a request for the team to use the Browns Creek Park for practice two days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for eight weeks from Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting May 18, 2020 September 8 to October 27, 2020. In 2016 the City Council granted SASCA a license to use the area and no complaints were received. Commissioner Christensen asked is this a renewal or a change? Ms. Wittman replied they requested permission to use the trail in 2016 but have not asked for permission since then. Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Amrein, to recommend that SASCAbe allowed to use the trail from September 8 through October 27, 2020. All in favor. Commissioner Christensen asked if there is a desire to move to an ongoing permit or does the Commission want to see them come back every year or two. Commissioner Snellman said her only concern is to be able to monitor any citizen complaints. Chairman Brandt remarked if there is no problem created by the team using the trails he doesn't know why they should be required to come back every year. Matt Lehmann, SASCA, stated that the seasonal use would be September and October every year. Ms. Wittman said staff will recommend that the Council consider a longer use permit up to five years, retaining the ability to evaluate upon complaint. Name the Park Recommendations Ms. Wittman led discussion of suggestions received for names for the two new park properties. Commissioner Amrein suggested not naming a park after a person. Naming it after a Native American tribe that lived in this area, or a natural feature such as bird species, may be appropriate. Chairman Brandt said he likes the idea of tying a name to milling or lumbering activities that occurred on the property. Commissioner Nelson suggested the Commission invite some local historians to explain the history of the site at the next meeting. Commission consensus was to table the naming of the park property at 1513 Main Street to gather more information on the site history. Motion by Chairman Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to recommend the name Millbrook West for the other park property. All in favor. INFORMATION ITEMS Aiple Park Plan Update & Structure Alternatives City Planner Wittman led discussion on the Aiple Park plan and structure alternatives. At issue is the need to balance accessibility, programming uses and overall coverage limitations. The conservation easement requires that there be no net gain in surface coverage. Portions of the building could be preserved for environmental education and recreational purposes and a drop off zone with two ADA parking spaces could provide a bus turnaround. There could be two boat launch areas. She summarized public concerns about congestion during unloading of boats. The draft plan has a lot more surface coverage than what is there today, therefore there is a need to prioritize and consider whether the bus turnaround is a viable use of surface coverage or would it be sufficient to have busses drop off passengers in the southern parking lot and then walk in on one of the trails? Commissioner Christensen asked if the long driveway that uses a lot of space is just for the house. Page 2 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting May 18, 2020 Ms. Wittman replied the driveway takes up a significant portion of impervious surface but there is no net gain because it's already there. The increase would be the turnaround, not the driveway. Commissioner Christensen said he had thought there was not a lot of support for keeping the house. Ms. Wittman replied the Council directed staff to explore every option for preserving the building. Councilmember Polehna added if the house is tom down, the City will never be allowed to build anything that close to the river that will serve the public. The Council is concerned about talking to enough user groups to make a good decision. Chairman Brandt questioned whether the stmcture will be a liability or an asset. He has not seen evidence that it is an asset. Ms. Wittman said the public has voiced a desire to use the building for small classes. Staff feels there is a need for a building close to the river but not necessarily for events. Commissioner Christensen pointed out that the driveway has a lot of pavement. He is not sure it would be good to have school buses using that narrow driveway area. Chairman Brandt said he never envisioned having school buses down there. Commissioner Snellman said she would not like to see buses there. Commissioner Souter agreed, she did not envision buses there. She is concerned about encouraging people to be driving across the trail. Ms. Wittman explained the distance would be about 1/2 mile that somebody would be trying to bring their boat all the way down. Access could be limited to those with accessibility issues or the environmental programming component. Staff is concerned about the need for more asphalt for pull offs for vehicles going different directions. Commissioner Snellman said it would be helpful to tour the property. Public Works Superintendent Moore said he could take Commissioners there to look at the property individually within the COVID guidelines. Ms. Wittman offered to help coordinate a site visit for the Commissioners. Park Facilities, Playgrounds, Sports Leagues, Park Reservations Status Update Mr. Moore informed the Commission that during the Covid-19 Pandemic, most outdoor City facilities were closed. The City Council cancelled all park reservations through June 1 and all events through July. The Council is working on a plan to open up playgrounds and stairs by adding signage. There are no plans to open Teddy Bear Park because social distancing could not be maintained there. St. Croix Valley Athletic Association, Stillwater Area Baseball Association and the School District are working on a plan to have a limited season this summer. Staff is awaiting an update on their plans and will follow CDC guidelines. Staff requests comments from the Parks Commission. Commission consensus was as far as organized sports, the City should not condone gatherings of more than 10 people if the Governor's guidelines prohibiting such gatherings are still in effect. COMMISSION ITEMS/TOPICS Commissioner Christensen asked for an update on the Rec Center. Councilmember Polehna replied he has not heard anything. Regarding the lift bridge, MnDOT says the lift bridge will be open June 1 or June 16. The dinner on the bridge has been postponed. Mr. Moore reported that the Chestnut Plaza will be turned over to the City in mid to late June. Page 3 of 4 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting May 18, 2020 Regarding the river trail, Councilmember Polehna stated the Corps of Engineers now wants a muscle survey completed. It will be done around beginning of June. Public Works Director Sanders is working on the easement in front of the Dock Cafe. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Amrein, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed, 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. ATTEST: Ark Tim Moore, Public Works Superintendent David Brandt, Chair Page 4 of 4