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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-26 PRC MIN 216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 www.ci.stillwater.mn.us PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES October 26, 2020 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Brandt called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chairman David Brandt, Commissioners Linda Amrein, Scott Christensen, Pam Johnson, Sandy Snellman, Stephanie Souter, Council Representative Mike Polehna Absent: Commissioner Sam Nelson Staff: Public Works Superintendent Tim Moore and City Planner Abbi Wittman OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of August 24, 2020 Parks Commission meeting minutes Chairman Brandt requested a correction on page 3, paragraph 9, “it will should suffice” should be “it should suffice.” He also questioned whether page 3, paragraph 7 captured Commissioner Christensen’s comments about the sidewalk. He thinks Commissioner Christensen’s intent was that the trail would be a better connection than the sidewalk. Commissioner Christensen confirmed that is what he meant but he is not sure how he would want to reword the statement. Motion by Commissioner Souter, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to approve the August 24, 2020 meeting minutes as corrected. All in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS Park and Trail Dedication - White Pine Ridge, 12950 75th Street North City Planner Wittman stated that Jon Whitcomb has submitted an application for preliminary plat approval of a 14-lot single family development (13 units) to be known as White Pine Ridge to be located at 12950 75th Street North. The developer is not proposing any parks, trails or sidewalks. City staff recommends that the Parks Commission recommend that the City obtain trail easement on the south side of Lot 1, and require a payment of $32,500 in park and trail dedication fees, due prior to release of the plat for filing with Washington County. Chairman Brandt acknowledged that with so many individually owned properties, it would be difficult to try to create a cohesive neighborhood park out of the patchwork of different developments, so the best that the City can do is to obtain a trail easement in this area. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting October 26, 2020 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Johnson referred to the staff report statement that the existing house is not going to pay any park/trail fee. She asked if that is typical. Ms. Wittman replied that the City collects park and trail dedication fees only from new units. Commissioner Snellman asked if Washington County plans a controlled intersection at Northland. Ms. Wittman said she believes it will be access with turning lanes because it would be too close to Maryknoll to have another signal. Motion by Chairman Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Souter, to recommend that the City obtain trail easement on the south side of Lot 1, and require $32,500 in park and trail dedication fees for the development to be known as White Pine Ridge to be located at 12950 75th Street North. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 2021 Capital Improvement Update Mr. Moore stated that the proposed budget was presented to City Council on August 18, 2020 for review. Public Works was asked to reduce the capital improvement budget for Parks to $500,000 for 2021. The play structure funding was reduced from $120,000 to $60,000 for Northland Park. Also the irrigation and Northland Park water extension items were removed. Commissioner Johnson asked about the proposal for the curling club. Councilmember Polehna said he met with the curling group and they are going to make a proposal to the Council to do a study on what is possible. They are confident they can raise the money. Chairman Brandt noted that the trail along Stillwater Boulevard is in rough shape. He asked who is responsible for maintenance. Mr. Moore said the City is responsible; he met with a contractor to look at different types of surfacing. Councilmember Polehna said there was Council discussion on pavement management and acknowledgement that staff needs to start putting together a plan to maintain all the trails. At that Council meeting, Public Works Director Sanders said the Stillwater Boulevard trail was the County’s responsibility. Mr. Moore said he will clarify. Memorial Benches and Trees Mr. Moore informed the Commission that the City has had a memorial bench program for many years but has no formal memorial tree program. With increased requests for both, staff has identified additional bench locations and has done research on a memorial tree program. He reviewed examples of forms used by other communities that have memorial tree programs. Three options that other cities use are a plaque, a tag on the tree, or a certificate for the donor. Commissioner Amrein said she wouldn’t want to see something hammered into the tree or see the tree damaged in any way. Councilmember Polehna said with Washington County’s memorial tree program, a certificate was provided stating that a tree was planted in someone’s memory and a log was kept in the office. Commissioner Johnson said she likes the idea of memorial benches and trees. She prefers the form from the City of Edina. She likes the idea of being able to select the park. The program could be promoted on the City web site. Commissioner Amrein asked who would decide on the type of tree. Councilmember Polehna replied the City has a forester who is a full time staff member. TY Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting October 26, 2020 Mr. Moore added that a tree survey was done last summer, so the City has a count of type, size, and condition of all trees on City property except for Brown's Creek Park Reserve. Commissioner Amrein noted that the Commission has been criticized in the past about not informing park users that something was going to happen. She would like to somehow notify nearby residents and park users ahead of time when trees are going to be planted. OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION Councilmember Polehna said the Council and staff are trying to figure out ways to bring more people into Stillwater during the winter, for instance lighting the pedestrian plaza and making the Chestnut Street Plaza into a winter wonderland with Christmas trees and lights. They are also looking at having ice sculptures on the plaza area, possibly a luge, trees and lights on Chestnut Street,bringing a fat tire bike rally to Stillwater, making skating rinks on Lily Lake and possibly making a rink downtown also. Chairman Brandt asked if anything is going on with BikeMN. Councilmember Polehna replied that Sustainable Stillwater is working on making Stillwater a bicycle friendly community. He has been working with the Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Chamber on ways to make downtown businesses more bike friendly. Commissioner Amrein suggested there could be a certificate or card that a downtown business could give bicyclists to encourage them to come downtown, for instance 15% off an item. Councilmember Polehna reported that interviews are being conducted for the new police chief. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Chairman Brandt, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m. C, David Brandt, Chair ATTEST. Tim Moore, Public Works Superintendent Page 3 of 3