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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-21 Parks and Trails Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes October 21, 2021 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on October 21, 2021, in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. Absent were Commissioners Christenson, Dugan, and Hoffmann. 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 7:02 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Meister invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Agenda Approval Commissioner Nybo requested that an agenda item get added regarding the trees at Wildflower Park, to which Chair Meister added the item to 9c. Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Anderson, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) 4. Minutes a. Minutes –July 15, 2021 Meeting Minutes Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that there was a typo in the minutes which was adjusted after the packet was printed. Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Anderson, to approve the minutes with the adjustment mentioned by Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck. Voting Aye: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) 5. Open Forum Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission there were no individuals interested in speaking. 6. Presentations – None 7. Unfinished Business a. City Park Project Public Input Discussion Commissioner Nybo inquired about the reasoning behind staff suggesting obtaining additional public input following the master plan preliminary design being created. Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that following a conversation during the July 22, 2021, City Council meeting regarding the Diamond Lake Regional Trail planning process, staff wanted to ensure enough planning went into the City Park Remaster. City Administrator Martens updated the Commission that with additional projects and limited funding, the project would be paused until more funds are acquired. Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners of options she would like to utilize for acquiring public input including online surveys and in-person events. Commissioners recommended proceeding with feedback from residents. b. Park Rules Adjustment Update Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck provided background information and an overview of the rules that would be added and adjusted. Commissioner Anderson inquired about the ordinance banning glass containers, to which City Administrator Martens informed Commissioners that many of the ordinances would be educational opportunities rather than active citations. CITY OF CORCORAN Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend ordinance adjustments as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Meister, Ny bo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) 8. New Business a. Fee Schedule Exemption Groups Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck provided an overview of the organizations that were previously listed as fee exemption groups and informed the Commissioners of the adjustments and additions suggested by staff. Commissioners discussed St. John’s Lutheran School being listed as a fee exemption group, to which Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed them that they do not have their own space to host a track meet and have not had issues when renting the park previously. Motion: Made by Anderson seconded by Nybo to recommend Council approval of the fee exemption groups suggested by staff. Voting Aye: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) b. Preliminary Plat and Variance Application for Skies Limit LLC “Bechtold Farm” Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck gave an overview of the proposed development and the staff recommendation for park dedication on the property. Commissioner Anderson referenced Three Rivers Park District’s planning process and reflected that he would like to take on similar tactics for City trail planning. Commissioners agreed that the cul-de-sac easement is the best means for the neighborhood to access the trail easement on the west side of the development. Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend Council accept the two proposed trail easements as recommended by staff and take the remainder as cash-in-lieu of land. Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) c. Trees at Wildflower Park Commissioner Nybo informed the Commission that the trees at Wildflower Park were dying. City Administrator Martens updated the Commission that he was told the trees would be replaced weeks ago, but staff was not aware of that happening yet. Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck told the Commission that she would report back to the Commission upon further examination. 9. Reports/Information a. Active Planning Applications – Informational only Commissioner Nybo requested more information on the sign ordinances, to which Mayor McKee informed the Commission that it would be on the October 28, 2021 City Council meeting. City Administrator Martens informed the Commission of the construction signs discussion and an upcoming discussion on campaign signs. b. Recreation Coordinator Update Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission of items that she had been working on including baseball and soccer coordination, 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 updated the Commission on City Council meeting topics that were discussed since the last Parks and Trails meeting. These topics included rezoning, preliminary plat, planned unit development application for “Amberly and Bellwether”, the Diamond Lake Regional Trail alignment, NTIA broadband partnership grant application, City Council appointment of Dean Vehrenkamp, and the Planning Commission appointment of Corinne Brummond. Commissioner Anderson inquired CITY OF CORCORAN about Corcoran wells and municipal water, to which City Administrator Martens informed the Commission of an upcoming City Council work session on the topic. b. Garden Club Report Tom Anderson informed the Commissioners of Yolanda Tillman taking over as the new Garden Club chair and the club’s plans to reach out to Bellwether, Ravinia, and homes with smaller lots to get new, active members. Chair Meister inquired about the Memorial Garden permit requirement from agenda item 8a., to which Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that the item has since been removed from the fee schedule and is no longer applicable. c. Park Dedication Fund Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commission of the M/I Homes and Tavera park dedication line items that had been added since the last meeting. 11. Other Business/Announcements Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that there were no planning items set on the November agenda and the Commissioners agreed to cancel the November Parks and Trails Commission meeting. City Administrator Martens informed the Commission that this was his last meeting that he would be attending as he accepted a job in the City of Shoreview as their City Manager. Commissioners thanked City Administrator Martens for his work over the years. 12. Commissioner Liaison Calendar 10/28/2021 11/10/2021* 11/22/2021* 12/9/2021 12/22/2021* 1/13/2022 1/27/2022 Anderson Meister Strehler Dugan Hoffmann Nybo Christenson Recreation Coordinator Christensen Buck informed Commissioners that the astric indicated the meeting does not fall on the normal second or fourth Thursday of the month. Commissioner Anderson updated the Commission of Ken Guenthner becoming an Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission Board Member representing Corcoran. Commissioners Nybo and Strehler updated the Commission of the new spring that located in Lake Jubert. 13. Adjournment Motion: Made by Anderson seconded by Nybo to adjourn the meeting at 8:01 pm. Voting Aye by Roll Call Vote: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. (Motion carried 4:0) Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor