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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 22, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 20 (5. DAKOTA TRAIL PARKING AT BAYVIEW PLACE, Continued) Carlson stated the challenge with a bike trail along County Road 19 is if a biker is heading northbound and another biker is headed southbound in the opposite direction, the bike trail would not be wide enough to accommodate both of those riders. If someone is headed eastbound, they would have to cross either up at the light in Navarre; perform a mid-block crossing, which is not a great location due to the incline where the city park is; or they would need to ride against traffic, which is not something Three Rivers would like people to do. One option is to make a connection further west, but the downfall is people would need to bike through residential neighborhoods, some type of route would need to be striped, and there is a good size hill to ride up. Carlson indicated that is not a perfect solution. Carlson indicated Three Rivers has looked at a lot of different locations in Orono, such as the Hennepin County overflow area, the fire station, and near the post office. Carlson stated none of them present an easy solution since all locations seem to have at least one fatal flaw and are not the optimal solution. Carlson noted if more people were to use the municipal lot to access the trail or the City wished to expand trail parking there, there would have to be some additional partners at the table to pursue that option. McMillan asked if various designated trail parking has been added yet to the Three Rivers Park District website. Carlson indicated Three Rivers is working on that but due to staff absences that has not yet been completed. Carlson noted there is an unauthorized website that identifies some parking areas along the trail but they are not all authorized parking locations. The information Three Rivers would like to get out to the general public is to only park in the identified authorized parking areas. Carlson indicated Three Rivers is currently working on getting that information on its website and it should be completed within the next week or two. McMillan commented the Mound parking lot is a perfect location. McMillan asked how much dedicated parking is located in St. Bonifacius. Carlson indicated Three Rivers initially added six to eight spots in St. Bonifacius at the time the master plan was approved and a new trail connection has just been completed on the west side of town near County Road 90 that has essentially unlimited parking for the trail. St. Bonifacius has authorized that as a designated parking location for as many cars as Three Rivers needs. Carlson indicated that location creates another opportunity for people who want to drive to that location and then head west out towards Carver County. McMillan asked if Gales Woods has a connection. Carlson indicated there is a connection in that area which also potentially has unlimited parking during the week but more limited parking on the weekends. Printup stated Staff’s recommendations as proposed are good, and in reviewing the minutes from several years ago, they reflect the same issues being raised tonight. Printup stated he supports the restriction on parking in the Bayview area, but that he wants everyone to be very aware that when parking in this area is shut down, there will be other parking issues popping up elsewhere. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 08/12/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 07/22/2013 [Page 4 of 20]