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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-03-2019 Park Commission Minutes • MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Acting Chair Brian Roath, Commissioners Rick Carter, Casey Conrad Hudson,Bryce Johnson, and Julie Ruegemer. Representing Staff were Adam Edwards,and Recorder Jackie Young. Mayor Dennis Walsh and Council Member Dennis Libby were present. Commissioners Rick Carter and Jennifer Klaahsen arrived at 6:35 p.m. Chair Meyers called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. JULY 1,2019,PARK COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Johnson moved,Hudson seconded,to approve the minutes of the July 1,2019,Park Commission meeting as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. 2. AUGUST 5,2019,PARK WORK SESSION MEETING NOTES Ruegemer moved,Hudson seconded,to approve the minutes of the August 5,2019,Park Commission work session. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENT None STAFF REPORTS 3. PUBLIC WORKS PARKS UPDATE—ADAM EDWARDS Edwards reported the Public Works Parks performed the following work: • Trails have had regular maintenance since the last meeting • Irrigation pump replacement repairs, drainage and cart path project were performed at the Golf Course • Highwood Park—downed tree removal • Big Island—biweekly park maintenance • Crystal Bay—stump removal and filling • Lake accesses—closed summer access points,opened winter access points,dock replacement at Loma Linda • Lurton Dog Park—provided event support, erected new signs,created new borders, a memorial garden project has been completed by a Girl Scout,porta-pot shelter and trail work is being completed by a Boy Scout,and invasive plant treatment has been completed • Hackberry Park—removed old wooden benches,installed new basketball backboards, and tree removals • Saga Hills—tree removal, invasive plant treatment Page 1 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Pending work includes the following: • Close the golf course for the winter • Bederwood Sports Field project was awarded. Construction is to begin mid-September. • Big Island received a grant and the engineering and design was approved by Council. • The Big Island archeological report is now complete and is available on the City's website. • The East Long Lake Road Trail grant was received and the engineering approved. Construction is expected to begin in 2020. • The design is underway for the Navarre Dakota trail access and cost estimates will be forthcoming. Each partner is contributing$100,000,but the project costs may exceed that due to some rather substantial retaining walls that are needed. • The Dakota Trail crossing at Orono Orchard Road is under construction and should be completed sometime in October. • 2019 tree inventory is complete. Staff will look at the inventory for the health of the trees and the species in the area. The City has a number of trees that are showing early signs of decline that hopefully can be addressed. The inventory will also allow the City to assess whether the ash trees have signs of Emerald Ash Borer. Lurton Park Passes as of September 2019: 2018—543 total,206 resident and 337 nonresident 2019—498 total, 191 resident and 307 nonresident Ruegemer asked whether any work has been done to allow residents to renew their dog passes online. Edwards indicated the Finance Department is working on it and they believe they can utilize the same software that is used for the Golf Course. Roath asked about the timeline for Bederwood. Edwards stated the contractor will be doing a dormant seed of the playing surface and by mid-June of next year the field should be playable. Some spot seeding may need to be done depending on the germination rate. Roath recommended the City reach out to the various sports organizations once Staff has a better idea of when the project will be completed so a grand opening event can be scheduled. Roath asked if there is enough availability at Hackberry. Edwards stated there appears to be and that there has been increased interest in using the City's various sports fields. 4. 2019 BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROPOSALS—EDWARDS Edwards stated the purpose of this item is to review the Parks Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for 2019. The operating budget is for the routine maintenance and minor improvements at the parks. A budget for the golf course has also been included in the packet. This month the Council will be Page 2 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. establishing a preliminary levy and no major changes are being proposed for the Park Commission's 2020 budget. Johnson noted Saga Hill will require some periodic attention similar to Lurton and asked whether that would fall under the park maintenance budget. Edwards indicated that is already built into the operating budget and comes out of the professional services part of the Parks budget. Roath asked how close the budgets are to being finalized. Edwards stated they are pretty much finalized unless the Park Commission has any suggested changes. The Capital Improvement Plan or CIP looks at expenses going out ten years. Items to consider for the 2020 Parks Capital Improvement Plan are as follows: Trail construction along CSAH 19(Livingston to Dakota)-$115,000 East Long Lake Road to trail-$120,000 Summit Beach improvements(paved parking and playground) -$140,000 Big Island ADA Trails,Amenities,Restroom-$80,000 GC fire pit-$26,885 Picnic table and shade sail at community garden-$7,000 Park related equipment on the CLP for 2020 include an aerator and a mower. Carter noted every project is included on the CIP except for Item 8. Johnson asked why the trail construction along CSAH 19 is not being done next year. Edwards indicated he tied the project to the road and currently that project is scheduled for 2022. Johnson asked if there was not some provision to redo that road as part of a development project due to damage caused by construction traffic. Edwards stated he is not aware of the set-aside of specific funds and that he would need to review that specific development agreement. Ruegemer asked whether the trail could be done separate from the road project. Edwards indicated it could be but then the trail costs would increase substantially. Carter asked what the County Road 6 trail improvements are. Edwards indicated that is a trail between Old Crystal Bay and Willow. The improvements would consist more of a rehabilitation of an existing trail versus new construction. Edwards noted the projected end-of-year 2019 Park Fund balance is $468,067. The projected end-of-year 2019 Lurton fund balance is $28,275. Barring any major developments,there will be some funding issues in future years. Page 3 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Roath asked whether Staff made any changes since the Park Commission last reviewed this. Edwards stated he routinely makes adjustments to the Capital Improvement Plan based on discussions with the Park Commission and the City Council. The CIP is a guideline for how the expenditures would look like going out ten years but is not set in stone. Roath asked whether the matching grant funds are either included in the Park budget or will be allocated from other funds. Edwards indicated that is correct. Carter asked what the average park dedication fees are per year. Edwards indicated it fluctuates based on the number of developments and that he can look at the past ten years to arrive at an average. Johnson stated the Park Fund is being decreased due to the number of projects that have been undertaken and that future funding would be a good topic of discussion at the next work session. Roath asked whether discussing the Park Fund at the next work session would work with the timeline for the overall City budget process. Edwards noted the Capital Improvement Plan is typically finalized by the Council in December. Carter stated the Park Commission is not obligated to spend all that money and that they can prioritize the projects,which may allow the fund to be built back up again. Roath noted of the six projects listed in the memo,the City is moving forward with three of them, and that the document provides an outline to the City Council of what the Park Commission would like to accomplish going into the future. Edwards stated East Long Trail received a grant and design has begun. Summit Beach was included based off of discussions with the Park Commission. The projects on Big Island is tied to a grant and fundraising. The Golf Course fire pit and picnic table at the community garden are just suggestions and no work has been done on those. The Bederwood project has already been accounted for. Roath asked whether Staff could provide a better idea of what is being envisioned for Summit Beach at the October work session, Edwards stated he would like to get the committee together so they can discuss that further. Klaahsen indicated she would be willing to join that committee and that there appears to be a good mix of projects and amenities for 2020. Carter asked whether Staff could also provide how much has been spent on the Capital Improvement Budget over the past ten years. The Park Commission took no foiuial action on this item. Page 4 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. 5. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT—ADAM EDWARDS Edwards noted the Park Commission's Trail Committee has been re-evaluating trail priorities,and as a result,they are recommending updating the Parks Chapter of the 2040 Community Management Plan. To make any changes to the Comprehensive Plan requires an amendment be submitted to the Metropolitan Council. Carter noted at the last meeting the Park Commission talked about supporting the Willow Lake trail and that he had the understanding it would be added to the list of priorities. Hudson stated he has not seen a letter of support for that project. Edwards stated the Willow Lake trail is the connection between Long Lake and Orono on the south side of the railroad to the north side of the fire department. Carter stated the notes from the last meeting state that he suggested they add the Willow trail as one of the Park Commission's goals for the year and then also add it to the Comprehensive Plan. Carter stated while it does not necessarily have to be added to the Comprehensive Plan,he does not want that trail to be overlooked. Edwards stated the Comprehensive Plan is more of a long-distance document and that it may not be necessary to include that trail. Edwards stated he understood they were waiting to hear from Long Lake. Hudson indicated he can follow up with them. Carter stated they could add a note that the Park Commission supports that trail. Carter moved,Ruegemer seconded,to recommend the City Council initiate a Community Management Plan Amendment updating the trails section of the plan,with the addition of Note 6 supporting the Willow trail. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS 6. BIG ISLAND UPDATE—RICK CARTER Carter stated he is on the 501(3)(c) committee for Big Island. The committee has developed a letterhead and interviewed someone who can do some promotional work. They currently have$26,000 pledged, with the goal being to raise$120,000. Some of those funds are matching funds. The 24 x 36-inch panels would come out of the match so the City receives credit for that. Carter indicated he and Commissioner Johnson will be going out to the Island to figure out a methodology for erecting the signs in the building. A considerable number of people have reviewed the mockups,but they would still like the City Council and Watershed District to see the panels. Carter stated he also will be going out to the Island with Adam to review options for barricades. The Park Commission took no formal action on this item. Page 5 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. 7. LURTON PARK GROUP UPDATE—JENNIFER KLAAHSEN Klaahsen reported the group was formed in early July and a group email was sent out yesterday inviting the people who signed up at the event to join the group. Four or five emails have bounced back and some people have joined the group. Some of the people who have accepted the group have forwarded it onto people they know. Dates for when the work sessions and meetings are scheduled will be posted. Johnson commented it is a good way to communicate about the park and that they could perhaps consider putting a sign out at the park saying there is a Facebook page for the park. Edwards recommended the sign be laminated. CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS 8. COMMISSIONER'S UPDATES Klaahsen reported Sandy Beach and Casco ice rink have been adopted by two different families. Someone had placed a bunch of stuff for free at the park over the weekend and that she will let Adam know if those items are still there. Northstar Mini Donuts has been secured for the tree lighting ceremony and that the vendor would like additional information on the event. Roath noted Commissioner Berg is coordinating that event. Saga Hill and Lurton Park Johnson commented Saga Hill looks very nice with all the wildflowers and that he likes the trail marking signs. Johnson asked why some of the signs had a red square and some had a green arrow. Edwards indicated they used different colors and shapes for the different trails and that they used a shape and color to help those who are color blind. The colors and shapes should line up with the trail map. Johnson stated some more signs could be erected at the place where the trail goes off to the left near the opening. There is no indication that the trail continues past the edge of the Big Woods and that the area is overgrown. Johnson noted there are still only two sitters out there and that it was his understanding they were going to get a third. Edwards stated he will have to double-check but his recollection is the distributor was out of them this spring. Public Works will start mowing the trail into that area since it has become overgrown. Crystal Bay Park Hudson reported an Eagle Scout will be starting his project at the Crystal Bay playground. He will be installing a new rain garden on the back side of the Post Office and removing the split rail fence. The Page 6 of 7 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Tuesday,September 3,2019 6:30 o'clock p.m. Eagle Scout is still looking for volunteers and anyone interested can stop by between 4 and 6 p.m. on September 4th and 5th. Drinks and beverages will be provided by the Eagle Scout. Tree Planting Edwards reported the Orono Rotary Club will be doing a tree planting on or around September 12 in partnership with the City. Otten Brothers is providing the trees at their cost. Navarre Park Ruegemer stated someone lost their wedding ring at Navarre Park and was unable to find it. Ruegemer indicated she also searched the park with her kids and did not find it either. The other day notification was received that someone found a wedding ring at the park and they were put in touch with that person. ADJOURNMENT Ruegemer moved,Carter seconded,to adjourn the Orono Park Commission meeting at 7:31 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. ATTEST: acv. , �-(<\ Cha Page 7 of 7