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Parks Commission Minutes 01-24-2013PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Jan 24, 2013 MINUTES PARKS COMMISSION THURSDAY JANUARY 24, 2013 - 8 A.M. "To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining Cityparks with a high standard of quality. " Members Present: Larry Nolan, Nancy McCaffrey, Gene Emmanuel, Tim Stalpes Members Absent: Beth Bigelow, Gene Emmanuel Others Present: Tom Pawelk, Park Superintendent, Angela Schumann, Community Development Director, Brian Stumpf, Council Liaison, Bob Paschke, Public Works Director 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 8 a.m. and declared a quorum present. 2. Approve Minutes of November 29, 2012, 2012 Parks Commission Meeting. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 29, 2012 PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. TIM STALPES SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. Trailhead Sign Review: The trailhead sign review will be included with Item 9, Discussion of Great River Trails. BCOL Regional Park Update: Angela Schumann informed the commission that the legacy grant was received and it was the largest grant issued from the State of MN from the legacy funds, totaling $1.5 million. With this grant there is only a 10% match Tom Pawelk said that the YMCA is planning to develop the day camp this year. Angela said that in 2014 the funds will be allocated for the athletic complex. Larry Nolan said he wished to formally thank Angela and Tom for all their efforts in preparing the grants. 4. Citizens requests and comments. Tom Pawelk shared a Thank You note he received from the Lions Club, thanking the department for their assistance with the 1 st Annual Brewfest. Page 1 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Jan 24, 2013 5. Review and discuss Safe Routes to School Grant locations. Tom Pawelk shared maps with the proposed safe route connections and asked the Parks Commission to prioritize the connections. Tom said they have not met with the school district and will meet with them after the routes are prioritized. Angela Schumann informed the group that these are federally funded grants and the maximum eligibility is $300,000 per grant award. No local match is required but Angela said they will include a small match with the application as it gives it more value. Tom clarified that the purpose of the grant is for school pedestrians and to stay within close proximity to the schools. Bob Paschke asked Tom to look into the cost of the pedestrian light as that may take up the entire grant. Bob said that he will contact Advanced Disposal (formerly Veolia Waste Services) regarding a donation towards the light. The priority for the proposed connection is as follows: 1. Pedestrian Flashing Light — at 3rd Street & Elm Street 2. Pathway /Sidewalk Connections — both sides Golf Course Road (to 7th Street) 3. Pathway Connection — Fallon Avenue (from Farmstead to 87th) 4. Pathway Connection — Hart Boulevard (North side Broadway) a. Bob Paschke stated that if there is not enough funding that this section of pathway can be completed in -house with Public Works staff TIM STALPES MOVES TO PRIORITIZE THE PROPOSED SAFE ROUTE CONNECTIONS AS INDICATED. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Nancy McCaffrey brought up discussion on the proposed 7th Street Extension. Brian Stumpf stated that that project has been slated for 2013 and Angela concurred, stating that sidewalk on both sides of 7th has been included in the project plans. 6. Appoint Gene Emmanuel to serve another three years. Appointment was tabled until the next Parks Commission Meeting. 7. 2013 park improvements. Tom Pawelk said he would like to set up a spring park tour with the group to review the areas of proposed projects and improvements for the season. The tour was set for Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 8 a.m., meeting at Public Works prior to the tour. An e -mail reminder will be sent out to the commission members regarding the tour. 8. Discussion of interstate tree planting. Tom Pawelk said that with the previous I -94 ramp project MN /DOT agreed to provide the City of Monticello $20,000 for tree planting along the project area. However, Tom Page 2 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Jan 24, 2013 said that MN /DOT will now be planting a living snow fence in that designated area under their landscape contract. Tom handed out a map showing the areas that will be planted by the state. Tom said he will be in contact with MN /DOT to get clear direction on whether the City can utilize the $20,000 for trees somewhere else in the community. If approved, 7th Street will be the focal planting area. 9. Discussion of Great River Trails. Tom Pawelk had a handout of the design from WSB. This will be the trailhead signage near the box culvert on CSAH 75 West. The easement granted for the Trailhead by Xcel Energy is an area to the west of the Montissippi Park entrance. There will be a road going into the parking lot and then the picnic area will be on to the north. Angela Schumann said the plan is to mirror some of the design elements that were incorporated into East Bridge Park to have continuity throughout the community. Angela said the trailhead is being bid as part of the grant, and this is a federal grant. Tom said the most important thing is to get the identification for the general users via signage. The trailhead sign will be a large monument style similar to the City entrance monuments but there will be an insert area with plexi -glass so that information can be updated easily in the sign. The plan also includes directional signs for people so they don't get lost. Tom said there is a small issue with Segment 3 requiring a crossing of the railroad that BNSF Railway is not in agreement with. Angela said that Xcel Energy is going to contact BNSF and try to work something out with them. The grant requires completion in July of 2013 so if Segment 3 continues to be an issue then it will be pulled out of the plan until a later time. Bob Paschke explained that he is going to price out sign making equipment to see if the Public Works Department can make signs in -house which could save the City money in the long run. Basic signs like the directional signs along the trail could be easily made with the proper equipment. 10. Update on Spring Tree Program. Tom Pawelk shared the spring tree order form. Tom said this is a program that the City makes money on and has been very successful in previous years with anywhere from 250 to 300 trees sold. The goal is to gradually build our urban forest. This year a donation section was added to the order form to request residents to donate a tree to the BCOL Regional Park. Thank you to Larry Nolan for being the first to submit his tree donation to the BCOL. 11. Next meeting scheduled March 28, 2013. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 8 a.m. at the Monticello Public Works Facility. Nancy McCaffrey said that she will be out of town so she won't be able to attend. Page 3 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Jan 24, 2013 10. Adjourn. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 8:55 A.M. TIM STALPES SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. RECORDED BY: (5�cth rIreen DATE APPROVED: 03 -04 -2013 ATTEST:, Page 4 of 4