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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-02-22 PRC MINThe Birthplace of Minnesota 216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 www.ci.stillwater.mn.us PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES February 22, 2021 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Brandt called the meeting to order via Zoom at 7:03 p.m. Present: Chairman Brandt, Commissioner Johnson, Nelson, Snellman, Souter, Council Representative Polehna Absent: Commissioner Christensen Staff: Public Works Superintendent Moore, City Planner Wittman, Public Works Director Sanders and new Parks Superintendent Jason Grode APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of January 25, 2021 regular meeting Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the January 25, 2021 meeting minutes. All in favor. OPEN FORUM There were no comments. NEW BUSINESS Welcome new Parks Superintendent - Jason Grode Mr. Moore introduces Mr. Grode, the new Parks Superintendent with the City of Stillwater. Mr. Grode joins us from the City of Andover. He will be working in the Public Works division and taking over most things related to parks, including replacing Mr. Moore as the city staff member at the Parks and Recreation Commission meetings. Mr. Grode expressed his gratitude and relays his excitment to learn more about the Parks Commmission. Mr. Moore will join as many Parks Commission meetings as necessary during the transition. Aiple Property Discussion City Planner Wittman, stated the park plan was finalized in December of 2020. City Council approved the 10-year project with over $3 million in improvements. Council has budgeted $200,000 for improvements in 2021. Staff recommends the money be put towards engineering and design plans for the short terms projects and some mid -range projects such as parking lot expansion, picnic shelter improvement, and trail amenities and improvements. These improvements are recommended to help with the overall safety of the plan, bringing the park into ADA compliance, and help with the opportunity to seek outside funding for the park. The MN DNR has already committed $50,000 in 2022 to go towards the construction on the north kayak launch but has additional grant programs that could potentially match up to $250,000 to go towards more park improvements. The Federal Lands Access Program could provide more Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 22, 2021 funding for site access improvements. It is an 80/20 match program and would call for submissions by the end of 2021. Additionally, there is potential bonding opportunities with the state legislature. Staff is making their recommendation based on the potential to gain additional outside funding which could help ensure that the short and midrange park plans are completed within the next 5 years. Chair Brandt asked for a clarification of what staff is asking the commission to approve. City Planner Wittman reiterated that City Council approved $200,000 of Capital Improvement funds to go towards the Aiple property park specifically and staff feels that money should go towards engineering and design plans for the short and some midrange projects. These projects include implementing a vegetation plan, fixing the border fencing along Brown's Creek State Trail, and improvements along the northern boundary. Commissioner Johnson asked if the parking lot is going to be ecologically friendly, as in the water will drain properly. City Planner Wittman mentioned that because the property falls within the Middle Saint Croix Watershed there will be storm water management requirements that would address that issue. Councilmember Polehna suggests staff gets these plans together as there has been discussions started regarding state funded LCCMR money, which is part of the lottery funding, and $3.5 million dollars has been requested to develop the whole park. Councilmember Polehna suggests that if the plans are put together then there is good basis to request the $3.5 million be approved this year. Motion by Commissioner Souter, seconded by Commissioner Snellman, to accept staffs recommendation to move ahead with the recommended design and engineering project as well as preparation of the DNR grant application. Commissioner Nelson asked if the short term projects are in order by priority because of the safety and security improvements. Furthermore, he wonders if the plans previously discussed at a commission meeting are still up for discussion regarding the park space that is used for the driveway and proposed round about. City Planner Wittman stated site access and parking lot expansion will likely be done together. As funding becomes available, projects will be determined. The driveway and proposed round about are needed for the access to both the ADA launch and the south launch. Commissioner Snellman asked if there are walking trails in the park separate from the road. City Planner Wittman replied there are two proposed trails in addition to a sidewalk that would go along the driveway. Chair Brandt comments he's hesitant to create the connection of the park to the Brown's Creek trail before all the safety requirements in the park are in place. Chair Brandt reiterated the call to motion made by Commissioner Souter, seconded by Commissioner Snellman. All in favor. Heifort Hills Estate 2nd Addition City Planner Wittman discussed a new development submitted by Todd Ganz, Integrity Land Development for a 4.19-acre site that includes two existing parcels which currently have single Page 2 of 5 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 22, 2021 family homes that are planned to remain in place. In addition, building pads will be developed for 10 new houses. The Comprehensive Plan shows neither public park improvements nor public trails planned on, or along the perimeter of, the property. There is a future trail envisioned along Highway 96 that would provide connections between Stillwater Township and Brown's Creek Trail. However, it is premature to acquire easements for this trail yet, since it has not yet been determined whether the trail should be on the north or south side of the highway. City Staff recommends a fee in lieu of land or park improvements. The park dedication fee would be $2,000 per new home and the trail fee would be $500 per home. The total for the 10 new homes would be $25,000. This fee would be due prior to release of the final plat. Councilmember Polehna asked if the City would ever intend to put a connector trail in this development area. City Planner Wittman stated it's hard to say since the road will only service 12 homes. Commissioner Souter question why the plan would try to create an access on Oak Glen Trail when there is already access to via Hwy 96. City Planner Wittman stated MNDOT will not allow for the improvement to upgrade a driveway to a road, City code says a driveway can only provide access to two properties. If there is more than two properties then a street has to be developed. Since the access on Hwy 96 is a driveway and not a road the developers sought to use the lot at 2384 Oak Glen Trail to create road access. Planning Commission and City Council will be discussing this development in the coming weeks and determine if this is a suitable access for the site. Chair Brandt asked if there's a connection from the private drive to Hwy 96. City Planner Wittman said the private drive will be retained with some possible alterations. The common area will be owned by the HOA so homeowners will be able to use it for access. Motion by Chair Brandt, seconded by Commissioner Snellman to accept the staff recommendation to accept fee in lieu of improvements. All in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Name the Park Public Works Superintendent Moore recalled the discussion from the May 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting when the Commission was presented with a list of suggested names for two new park properties at 1513 Main St. N & the corner of Hwy 96 and CR15. At that meeting, the Commission chose Millbrook Field West for the Hwy 96 & CR15 property and Old Mill Park for 1513 Main St N (Aiple Property). City Council reviewed the recommendation on park names and decided to received more public input for the Aiple property. A list of additional names have been compiled along with all of the original name suggestions. The Commission should select another name to recommend to Council for the Aiple property. Commission members shared their top two or three name suggestions and results were tallied with Riverside receiving the majority of votes, Old Mill Park second and Zephyr Park third. Recommendation to City Council is to name the Aiple Property either Riverside Park, Riverside Landing or Riverside North. Page 3 of 5 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 22, 2021 OTHER ITEMS OF DISCUSSION Councilmember Polehna mentioned Washington County is going to award a Ship Grant to the City for the implementation of bicycle racks/parking areas downtown and asked what is the status on the permit for Chestnut Plaza project. Public Works Director Sanders stated there were some original design concerns that needed to be redone so construction on the project will not begin in 2021, more likely in 2022. Councilmember Polehna asked Mr. Sanders for an update on the St. Croix Riverbank Stabilization Project. Public Works Director Sanders stated currently there is a contractor working on riverside tree removal which needs to be done before March 15th, due to restrictions associated with the allowed disturbance times of the endangered species of `Rusty Patch Bumblebee' present in the area. Overall the City has full approval on the project, and is working with the Dock Cafe on moving the walkway closer to the river. Permit submissions have been delayed until a redesign is agreed upon. City is planning on bidding the project in July/August and start construction in the fall. Project completion is slated for March of 2022. Councilmember Polehna inquired about the trail project on Neal Avenue. Mr. Sanders stated the City is currently working on acquisition of easements and that section of Neal Avenue project should be completed this summer. Public Works Superintendent Moore provided an update on the upcoming weekend event activities, opening of the downtown restroom in South Lowell Park., and the Northland Park playground. The GIS/mapping portion of the Northland Park project is almost complete. When it's finished public input will be sought. Commissioner Snellman confirmed with Mr. Moore that the old playground will be removed and further expressed concerns of snowmobiles cutting through Northland Park. Commissioner Johnson inquired about having the goats come back to Northland Park area to eat the buckthorn. Public Works Director Sanders stated it takes 3 years to eradicate buckthorn with the use of goats. Some of the buckthorn was too big for the goats to eat so the City will cut down the larger sections and hopefully the goats will be able to return. Councilmember Polehna commented how much the pickleball courts in Northland Park were being used this winter. Commissioner Snellman also observed an increase in the use of the ice rink. Event organizer Obed Floan asked if the Opera on the River event is on the agenda tonight. Mr. Moore stated it will be on next month's agenda. Councilmember Polehna provided an update on the Lift Bridge celebration which will take place August 13-15. On August 13 there will be a dinner on the bridge, August 14 will have a dance and grand opening of the trail and bridge, and August 15 a bicycle ride that cross the bridges. Commissioner Johnson asked about the status of the curling club. Councilmember Polehna stated there is a plan in place. Page 4 of 5 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting February 22, 2021 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Snellman, seconded by Chair Brandt, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. ATTEST: Jaso Grod •, Parks Supe'intendent Page 5 of 5 David Brandt, Chair