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BCOL Advisory Council Minutes 05-04-2012MINUTES BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES REGIONAL PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL Friday, May 4, 2012 8:00 a.m. - Bridge Room, Monticello Community Center Advisory Council Members Present: Martyn Dibben, Jim Lindberg, Lyle Trunnel, Pat Sawatzke, Glen Posusta, Rose Thelen, Pete Stupar, Tom Jahnke, Jim Hayes, Clint Herbst, Sandra Theros Advisory Council Members Absent: Gene Emanuel, Wes Olson Staff Present: Angela Schumann, Kitty Baltos, Tom Pawelk, Graham Sones —SGA Staff Absent: Marc Mattice, Jeff O'Neill, Stacy Marquardt Martyn Dibben called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. 1) Approval of the April 6, 2012 Meeting Minutes ROSE THELEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE APRIL 6, 2012 MEETING MINUTES AS CORRECTED. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY TOM JAHNKE. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0. 2) Consideration of adding to and approving agenda ROSE THELEN MOVED TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY JIM LINDBERG. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0. 3) Review draft work/use plan /map for 2012 Tom Pawelk summarized the importance of creating good access points and providing adequate parking for park users. The front gate, which is currently located on 90th Street, will be relocated to the public access point on Bertram Lake. The gate, which is on the gravel road to the left of the Bertram landing, will be open during the summer. The parking lot will be developed on the south end of Long Lake by the old day camp. There was some discussion about the location of the two canoe landings and associated carry on access points on Bertram and Long Lakes. The landing that was put in for current public use will be closed once the remainder of the property has been acquired. Pete Stupar expressed concern about the amount that the City and County have contributed for park acquisition. Staff clarified that tax dollars were not used for land acquisition. Although the City and County each contributed a third of the original acquisition cost, by the end of the acquisition process, each jurisdiction will be responsible for significantly less than a third of the estimated total cost. Many of the existing trails will be eliminated and the remaining trails will be improved and or realigned. The mountain bike trail and the hiking trail will have some overlap. There will be a trail map onsite. Access to the trails will be on the more Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: 05/04/12 improved road to the west. Martyn Dibben suggested that the trail system around Long and Bertram lakes may open mid -year. Jim Lindberg pointed out that there are mostly scrub trees on the north end of the park and there is significant erosion particularly around the amphitheater and the overlook. There was also discussion about adding a culvert near the beaver pond and addressing the deterioration of the bridge. 4) Discussion regarding other forms of motorized uses, ice augers, vehicles, and review Park Ordinance The Wright County Park ordinance seems to provide the latitude to restrict motorized uses of ice augers and vehicles on frozen lakes. This issue is of particular relevance for planning purposes for the annual ice fishing event. Clint Herbst suggested that it may be an option to consider approving a special permit for such events. The Advisory Council had previously authorized the utilizing electric motors on the Bertram and Long lakes. Pat Sawatzke indicated that ATVs not be allowed on frozen lakes as they are not allowed in the park at any time. ROSE THELEN MOVED TO TABLE FURTHER DISCUSSION REGARDING OTHER FORMS OF MOTORIZED USES, ICE AUGERS, VEHICLES, AND REVIEW OF THE WRIGHT COUNTY PARK ORDINANCE. MOTION WAS CARRIED BY GLEN POSUSTA. MOTION CARRIED 9 -2 WITH PETE STUPAR AND TOM JAHNKE VOTING IN OPPOSITION. 5) Review conversation had with the YMCA regarding building use, design, shared use The YMCA will present their request for Conditional Use Permit to the Wright County Planning Commission at the May 10th public hearing to obtain preliminary approval for their new daycamp location. Staff indicated that this initial approval would only establish the conditions under which they are allowed to develop. The Advisory Council discussed their interest in having input into final project approval considered by the Planning Commission. The Board has authority to determine conditions within the lease agreement. The YMCA expects to start building three buildings in the spring of 2013. The City and County are in general agreement with the YMCA as to where the buildings would be located. The multi -use building is to be shared use and the other two buildings will be more primitive shelter buildings available for public use. There was discussion about how using metal in building design would be less costly to maintain and would meet the County's color specifications. There was discussion and some differing opinions about possibly utilizing the current location of the daycamp as a maintenance, material, and equipment storage area. There were questions about possible pollutants and liability for site restoration. Martyn Dibben noted that there is likely little environmental concern in that location. Some Advisory Council members were concerned that maintenance shouldn't be in a prime or visible area of the park. GLEN POSUSTA MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BUILDINGS BUILT 2 Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: 05/04/12 BY THE YMCA ON THE BERTRAM PROPERTY BE BRICK, BLOCK, METAL OR MASONRY TO ENSURE LOW MAINTENANCE AND DURABILITY. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY PETE STUPAR. MOTION CARRIED 10 -1. Martyn Dibben noted that this item will be brought forward for further discussion after the financial parameters have been established. 6) Park security and use fees The Sheriff's Office works closely with the Wright County Park Patrol to try to keep ATVs from entering the park at several locations. There are scheduled park patrols and staff respond to complaints and issues that arise. There is a no motorized vehicle ordinance in effect in County parks which includes enforcement penalties. There was some discussion about adding signage in the park related to fines and blocking access at the T and securing the gate. There was also some preliminary discussion about whether or not it would be appropriate to charge park users an entrance fee or a fee for certain activities. County parks only currently charge for camping. It may be useful to look into how fees are handled at Cedar Lake. PETE STUPAR MOVED TO TABLE FURTHER DISCUSSION OF PARK SECURITY AND USE FEES UNTIL MARC MATTICE IS IN ATTENDANCE. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY JIM LINDBERG. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0. 7) Funding update (Bonding, Grants, Legacy Funding and Legislation) Angela Schumann reported that the final version of the Senate and House bonding bills had not included funding for Bertram Park. The Governor signed the Legacy funding bill. The Greater Minnesota Parks & Trails are no longer restrained by a cap on how much in Legacy grant funds can be requested for greater Minnesota. Grant applications are no longer required to include a local match component. Grant applications providing a local match will have increased odds of receiving a grant. Marc Mattice will explore which parcels to include in the next grant application for land acquisition with the Advisory Council at an upcoming meeting. The City moved forward with approval for the purchase of Parcel 1 which is part of the area for planned for the active athletic complex. Staff hope to receive word about the status of the grant application in June or July. Parcel 1 acquisition will cost just over $1 million. The City and County would be expected to pay related closing costs. 8) Friends Update The Friends invited area boy scouts to assist with a Clean up Day at the park on May 5, 2012 from 1 -5 p.m. Scouts will clean out rocks, old wood and invasive buckthorn. The Friends also donated $100 to Parks & Trails as a gift for their lobbying assistance. Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: 05/04/12 9) Additions a) Boat Landing: Pete Stupar indicated that it would be difficult to explain to citizens why the park has limited large boat access and asked that the Advisory Council more thoroughly discuss putting a boat landing in Long Lake as part of the park plan. There were some comments that this item had previously been discussed and voted upon. b) Election: Rose Thelen and Pat Sawatzke will be running against each other in the upcoming election due to the redistricting process. This will affect the County official representation on the Advisory Council. C) Summer Programming: Kitty Baltos reported that the MCC has firmed up information related to coordinating and assisting with several canoeing events on Long Lake this summer hosted by Clearwater Outfitting. Martyn Dibben suggested that the boats be sprayed for contaminants prior to launching. Staff agreed to notify the YMCA about activities planned on City /County property. PAT SAWATZKE MOVED TO APPROVE MONTICELLO COMMUNITY CENTER SUMMER PROGRAMMING AT LONG LAKE. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY ROSE THELEN. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0. d) Items added to future agenda: Pete Stupar asked that the agenda items related to other forms of motor uses and the discussion of existing YMCA properties, sites of buildings, and the location of the maintenance facilities, be held over to the July meeting. e) Township Update: Angela Schumann noted that Marc Mattice had suggested that it would be useful to have City and County officials present a park update at the upcoming Township meeting. The YMCA will also be presenting at the meeting. 10) Adjourn GLEN POSUSTA MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 10:02 AM. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY JIM LINDBERG. MOTION CARRIED 11 -0. Recorder: Kerry T. Burri Approved: June 1, 2012 Attest: Angela ScK nn) Bertram Advisory Council 0