HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-15 Parks and Trails Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN
Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes
July 16, 2021 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on July 16, 2021, in Corcoran, MN.
Present were Commissioners – Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
Absent was Commissioner Christenson.
Also present were Mayor McKee, City Administrator Martens, and Recreation Coordinator Christensen
Buck.
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
Chairperson Meister called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Chairperson Meister invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Agenda Approval
City Administrator Martens informed the Commissioners of public comment opportunity options
throughout the meeting.
Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Dugan, to approve the agenda as presented with the
addition of public comment opportunities for each applicable agenda item.
Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion
carried 6:0)
4. Minutes
a. Minutes – May 20, 2021 Meeting Minutes
Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Hoffmann, to approve the minutes as presented.
Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion
carried 6:0)
5. Open Forum
Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission there were no individuals
interested in speaking.
6. Presentations
a. Three Rivers Park District – Diamond Lake Regional Trail
Stephen Shurson, Landscape Architect from Three Rivers Park District, provided an overview of the
trail as well as the history of the conversations with the City’s staff, Commissioners, and Council.
Stewart Crosby, Senior Associate in Landscape Architecture for SRF Consulting, informed the
Commissioners of the new adjustments to the trail in the Bellwether development. Commissioner
Anderson inquired about a crossing on County Road 116, to which Crosby and Shurson informed
the Commission it would likely be a grade separated crossing that would be planned during the
master planning process, while the current phase is conceptual and flexible. Commissioners Nybo
and Dugan inquired about the route going through City Park and where a potential snowmobile route
would go. Crosby informed the Commission that the route is planned to go through City Park and a
potential snowmobile route would go through a wider corridor in a park area. Commissioner
Anderson asked what amount of the trail is in Corcoran to which Crosby informed the
Commissioners that approximately 7.5 miles goes through Corcoran.
Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend approval of the trail as presented.
Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion
carried 6:0)
CITY OF CORCORAN
7. Unfinished Business
a. Cook Lake Highlands
City Administrator Martens provided the history of the project and an overview of the motions staff
on public trail location, dedication of the proposed public park, and park dedication either in cash-in-
lieu of land, land, or a mixture. Commissioners requested more information on the natural resources
located on Outlot C, the developer’s proposed public park. Beth Hustad with Trek Development
informed the Commission of the benefits associated with the City accepting Outlot C including a
natural buffer and larger wooded area. Commissioners discussed the maintenance requirements, to
which City Administrator Martens discussed the potential future costs with trail maintenance and
invasive species.
Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Hoffmann, to accept Outlot C as land-in-lieu of cash,
accepting the remainder of the park dedication as cash-in-lieu of land, and no trail connection to the
cul-de-sac.
Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion
carried 6:0)
8. New Business
a. 2022 Budget and Fee Schedule
Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners of the proposed updates to
the 2022 fee schedule to reduce the volleyball reservation block from a 4-hour reservation to a 2-
hour reservation. Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck also updated the Commission on an
increase to program fees to help cover the cost of the increased expenses associated with new
program equipment. Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck also informed the Commission of a
potential addition of a season, part-time Program Coordinator to assist with programming.
Commissioners inquired about increasing the cost difference between residents and non-residents
to which Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission that the registration
numbers would likely decrease. Commissioners inquired about the relationship that Corcoran has
with the local cricket players to which Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed them she
had a meeting with a local group in 2018 to discuss their needs. Mayor McKee updated the
Commission of the conversation he had with the local cricket groups which included the request for
a discounted reservation rate.
9. Reports/Information
a. Active Planning Applications – Informational only
Commissioners did not have a discussion.
b. Recreation Coordinator Update
Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission of items that she is working on
including baseball and soccer preparations, putting together the Parks and Trails packets, creating
social media posts for the City, and organizing Night to Unite with Sergeant Ekenberg.
10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports
a. City Council Report
Mayor McKee provided an overview of items discussed during previous City Council meetings
including the NAPA site plan, Hackamore Road improvement plan update, construction hours, and
City Center Drive and 79th Place feasibility study.
b. Garden Club Report
Tom Anderson informed the Commission of the Garden Club’s upkeep on the Memorial Garden at
City Hall as well as additional plans to update the plants in front of City Hall.
CITY OF CORCORAN
c. Park Dedication Fund
Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission that there had not been any
updates to the park dedication fund.
11. Other Business/Announcements
Commissioner Anderson updated the Commission of his desires to ensure the expectations for
parks is portrayed to developers clearly. Commissioner Anderson informed them of the adjustments
he would like to make including having parks off an access road, more defined park sizes and
frequency based on residential density, and size of parking.
12. Commissioner Liaison Calendar
7/22/2021 8/12/2021 8/26/2021 9/9/2021 9/23/2021 10/14/2021 10/28/2021
Meister Strehler Dugan Hoffmann Nybo Christenson Anderson
13. Adjournment
Motion: Made by Dugan, seconded by Strehler, to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 pm.
Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Dugan, Hoffmann, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion
carried 6:0)
Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Coordinator