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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br />Monday, July 6, 2015 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Gaffron stated to his knowledge Staff has not created a map of that type and that Staff would have to go <br />back and review all the plats to see where easements have been granted. <br />Bryce Johnson stated that might be helpful <br />Meyers asked if the County wants an easement for a trail. <br />Gaffron stated Hennepin County typically requests an easement for future expansion of the roadway or <br />for a pedestrian trail. Hennepin County's position is if the City does not obtain an easement during the <br />platting process, they expect the City to pay the costs for obtaining the additional easement. <br />Meyers asked if there has ever been an instance where the City would prefer the County construct the <br />trail. <br />Gaffron stated Hennepin County typically does not help fund the trail unless it is something that they <br />would like to see be built. Gaffron indicated it would cost approximately $3.5 to $4 million to build out <br />that trail system. That layout was Iooked at six or seven years ago as part of the City's Comprehensive <br />Plan. Gaffron stated if you go back 15 to 20 years, it was not clear what was going to happen with the <br />new highway section and that it was felt a trail could possibly be constructed along the railroad tracks. <br />Gaffron stated that is not going to happen now that the new highway has been constructed and that it <br />would make sense to take another look at the layout of the trails. <br />Gaffron illustrated the existing trails in the area. <br />Meyers agreed it would be a good idea to get an updated map to see what the best layout of the trails <br />would be. <br />Brenda Johnson stated it would also be helpful to have a copy of the City's policy for determining <br />whether a trail easement should be obtained. <br />Gaffron stated to his knowledge there is no written policy. <br />Brenda Johnson stated at the intergenerational dialogue forum, there were a number of comments about <br />being able to link communities and neighborhoods to trails. Johnson stated she is in favor of trails <br />whenever they can be constructed but that the City should probably have a policy outlining some criteria <br />for when a trail is constructed. <br />Gaffron stated the Comprehensive Plan relating to parks does have a policy section but it does not really <br />address why a trail is constructed in a particular area. <br />'.Meyers stated it sounds like a review of the trail system will be reviewed as part of the next <br />Comprehensive Plan update and that the Park Commission can look at that at some point in the futurc. <br />Gaffron stated when Staff has the time, they could identify where the City has easements along the <br />proposed trail system. <br />Brenda Johnson noted recently the City Council removed Cygnet and a couple of other smaller parks <br />from the list of parks. Johnson asked if there is a plan to update the list so it can be included on the City's <br />website. <br />Page 3 of 13 <br />