11-05-2018 Park Commission Packet

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PARK COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM Prepared By: Reviewed By: Approved By: Item No.: 5 Date: November 5h, 2018 Item Description: East Long Lake Trail Presenter: Adam T. Edwards, P.E. Dir, Public Works/City Engineer Agenda Section: Special Committee Reports 1. Purpose. The purpose of this item is for Commission endorsement of the East Long Lake Trail Concept Plan. 2. Background. At the May 29th, 2018 meeting, the City Council directed staff and the Parks Commission to develop a plan for the conversion of northern section East Long Lake Road to a trail. At the July 2nd Parks Commission meeting, the commission established a special committee to develop a plan. Bolton and Menk was selected by the city to provide landscape architect planning consultation for the project. That committee, city staff and our consultant have held several meeting and developed a concept plan for the trial. 3. Scope of Work. The project would convert the existing roadway to a bike trail. This will include the removal of the existing asphalt, stabilizing the lakeshore where required, construction of a 10ft wide multipurpose trail and adding some amenities such as benches, rock fishing points, a dock, and interpretive signage. See Exhibit A for the concept layout. 4. Coordination to Date. To date the committee has met twice to review the draft plan, Staff has coordinated with Three Rivers Park District, Hennepin County, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and MN DNR. There are two key partnering opportunities with this project: one; since the project is located on a designated regional route regional funding is available and two; the 900 Old Long Lake parcel that abuts the project area is due to be included in the Woodrill SNA by 2020 providing possible collaboration opportunities with the MN DNR. 5. Public Comment. The plan was posted on the city website for public comment in October with a mailing sent to those property owners in the vicinity of the project. A listing of comments received is at Exhibit C. The general comments are supportive and encourage the City to maintain / restore as many natural aspects of the corridor as possible. The majority of the specific comments are items that the project is already incorporating or should be considered during detailed design work. Several Spring Hill road residents did provided concerns about parking on the north end of the trail. The plan current envision 1-2 spots with in the exiting foot print. 6. Cost And Funding. The probable cost based on the concept layout is $347K. See Exhibit B. The intent is to fund a significant portion of the project with grants. The concept plan, once approved will be used for the solicitation of those grants. The portions of the cost borne by the city will be funded by the City’s Stormwater Fund and Park Funds. The City will be applying for the Hennepin County Trail Grant, the DNRs Local Trails Connection Program, and have requested inclusion on the Three Rivers Parks District CIP for 2020. 7. Way Forward. Once approved the concept plan will be used to seek grants, funding and secure partnerships with other agencies. Once funding is secured then we will complete detailed design with a goal of constructing in 2020.