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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, November 5, 2018 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />Meyers recommended a public meeting with the neighbors be held if something more permanent is <br />desired. Meyers stated another option would be to pave the area, which would allow them to have <br />summer sports as well, but that there could be issues with the neighbors. <br />SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS <br />5. EAST LONG LAKE TRAIL MASTER PLAN CONCEPT APPROVAL <br />Edwards provided an update on the East Long Lake Trail. Earlier this year the City did temporarily close <br />the northern section of the road to traffic and the City Council subsequently made a determination to <br />make it a permanent closure and to convert the road to a multi -use trail. <br />Since that time Staff has reached out to interested agencies regarding the trail and has engaged a <br />landscape architect from Bolton & Menk to create a preliminary design. Once the preliminary plan is <br />completed, the City will have a document and a set of costs that can then be used to seek grants and other <br />funding. <br />Edwards indicated he is looking to get the Park Commission endorsement of the plan, \vhich will then be <br />taken to the City Council. Grants can be applied for in 2019, and if the City receives a positive response <br />to the grants, Staff will then go back to the City Council for funds and authorization to complete a <br />detailed design, with construction starting in 2020. The estimated cost of the project is $468,000. The <br />plan at this time is to basically remove half of the asphalt and to replace the other half. <br />One of the primary grants the City can apply for is the Hennepin County Bike Way Grant, which is a <br />50/50 grant. Edwards stated the good news regarding this particular length of road is that it is on a <br />designated regional corridor for the bike way, which opens up a number of opportunities for grants. <br />Preliminary discussions have also been held with Three Rivers, with a request that they place this trail on <br />their 2020 CIP. Also available is a DNR trail grant and a federal grant that can be applied for. Edwards <br />stated the only grant that is not available at the present time is a shoreline restoration grant but that the <br />Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is looking at reinstituting it. <br />Edwards stated one other item that has recently come to light is that the Dayton parcel is actually located <br />at 900 Old Long Lake Road. Edwards indicated he did reach out to the trust manager for that piece of <br />land, who informed him that the trust reverts to the DNR in 2020. Edwards stated there probably will be <br />some unique opportunities associated with that, such as a wilderness access trail. <br />Roath noted there were some comments provided about the northern entry and some sensitivity around <br />that road and what happens with the northern portion. Roath stated he does not totally understand it since <br />there are no homes in that area and that the City is not expecting a big demand for parking on that end. <br />Edwards stated most of those comments came from residents of Spring Hill Road. There is parking <br />identified on the plan and what is being envisioned is one or two parking spots to help eliminate parking <br />on the road. <br />Roath stated there was an interesting comment about harnmocks, which lie somewhat agrees with, but that <br />he is not sure whether hammocks are really needed. <br />Ruegemer noted anyone interested in hammocking would bring their own. <br />Page 6 of 9 <br />