HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-20 Parks and Trails Minutes
CITY OF CORCORAN
Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2022 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on January 20, 2022, in Corcoran, MN.
Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler. Commissioner
Dugan arrived at 7:02 pm.
Absent was Commissioner Hoffmann.
Also present were Mayor McKee, Councilmember Nichols, Planner Davis McKeown, and Recreation
Supervisor 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. Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Election
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that they had to elect a
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson to serve for the year.
Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Strehler, to elect Commissioner Anderson as Chairperson.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Anderson, to elect Commissioner Meister as Vice-
Chairperson.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 5:0)
4. Agenda Approval
Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Anderson, to approve the agenda as presented.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Dugan, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
(Motion carried 6:0)
5. Minutes
a. Minutes –October 21, 2021, Meeting Minutes
Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to approve the minutes as presented.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Dugan, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
Voting Abstain: Christenson.
(Motion carried 5:0)
6. Open Forum
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission there were no individuals
interested in speaking.
7. Presentations – None
8. Unfinished Business – None
9. New Business
a. 2021 Year in Review and 2022 Priorities
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck gave an overview of some items the Parks and Trails
Commission worked on in 2021 including development reviews and recommendations, City Park
remaster review, and updated park rules. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck went through
2022 priorities including a boardwalk at Bellwether, miscellaneous signage, and development/park
standards update. Chairperson Anderson discussed the opportunity of having presentations
CITY OF CORCORAN
regarding natural resources. Vice-Chairperson Meister and Chairperson Anderson requested
additional information on Commissioner involvement during internal staff discussions regarding
informative and monumental signs at the parks. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed
the Commission that she would be bringing the information back to the Commission twice during the
process and did not feel involvement during staff meetings would be necessary.
b. NE District Plan
Planner Davis McKeown introduced herself and provided an overview of the Hennepin County grant
the City received for the northeast corridor planning process. Included in the background
information, Planner Davis McKeown informed the Commissioners of the moratorium put in place by
City Council that expires on June 10, 2022. Planner Davis McKeown included results from a public
survey as well as during the open house that was held. Chairperson Anderson informed Planner
Davis McKeown that having a trail on one side of the road would be acceptable under most
circumstances. Chairperson Anderson also expressed his interest in having larger setbacks and
better designed road medians than surrounding communities. Commissioner Christenson requested
installing trails and how road expansions would impact those. Commissioners discussed the desire
for shade structures along trails and at parks. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the
Commissioners of a future resident requesting the Commission consider including a dog park in the
Bellwether neighborhood park due to smaller lot sizes in the development. Commissioner
Christenson stated that he did not want to subsidize electric vehicle charging stations from City
funds. Planner Davis McKeown elaborated on alternative funding options such as encouraging
apartment complexes include electric vehicle charging stations or a payment station attached to
charging stations. Commissioners discussed that maintenance of open parking lots is easier, but
less aesthetically pleasing than those with greenery. Commissioner Christenson inquired about
adjusting the park dedication values depending on the natural amenities located on the land, to
which Planner Davis McKeown informed Commissioners that there would have to be mechanisms
set in place to pre-determine the values. Councilmember Nichols informed Commissioners of the
goal setting work session Council had on January 19, 2022, where they discussed options of
purchasing land prior to development to better establish where parks would be located.
Commissioner Christenson stated that businesses that are developing would be incentivized by
good business practices to have efficient buildings and had concerns with adding additional
requirements regarding efficiency standards. Planner Davis McKeown suggested the idea of having
preferred standards that could be met to allow compromise for both the City and developers.
Commissioner Dugan suggested looking into companies such as CenterPoint Energy or Xcel
Energy about rebates for developers to incentivize efficient building practices. Commissioners
discussed the desire for community gardens but needed more information on how they would
operate. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck and Planner Davis McKeown provided their
knowledge based on work with other cities.
10. Reports/Information
a. Active Planning Applications – Informational only
Vice-Chairperson Meister requested additional information about the Zewde Wetland Waiver item to
which Planner Davis McKeown informed the Commission that the property would not be developed
upon and requested to reassign an additional development right from their neighbor.
b. Recreation Supervisor Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission of items that she had been
working on including baseball, the Program Coordinator hiring process, social media posts for the
City, and overseeing the ice rinks and attendants. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed
CITY OF CORCORAN
the Commissioners of Chairperson Anderson winning an award from the Minnesota Recreation and
Park Association. Commissioners congratulated Chairperson Anderson on winning the award.
11. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports
a. City Council Report
Councilmember Nichols introduced himself to the Commissioners. Councilmember Nichols informed
the Commissioners of the goal setting session and some of the goals that were defined, including
acquiring larger amounts of park land, land acquisition planning for fire stations, police stations, and
utilities, and continued planning and collaboration with Three Rivers Park District. Chairperson
Anderson inquired about the data security of the City to which Mayor McKee informed the
Commission of the desire to add additional staff on-site to support the additional IT needs of the
City.
b. Commissioner Term Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners of the Commissioners with
expiring terms including Commissioner Hoffmann, Chairperson Anderson, and Commissioner
Dugan. Of the three, Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted that Chairperson Anderson
turned in an application and Commissioner Dugan informed staff that he would not be reapplying.
Commissioner Dugan updated the Commission of his outside priorities not allowing additional time
for the Commission.
c. Garden Club Report
Chairperson Anderson informed the Commission of the conversation he had with the Director of
Parks and Recreation for Otsego regarding the City’s tree giveaway. Chairperson Anderson also
updated the Commission on the timeline for the 2022 tree giveaway. Councilmember Nichols
suggested reaching out to Heidi’s Growhaus to avoid purchasing the certificate in the future.
d. Park Dedication Fund
Commissioner Nybo noted that the spreadsheet included a donation from the Northwest Area
Jaycees that is intended for the City Park remaster project, to which Recreation Supervisor
Christensen Buck discussed the possibility of adding another section to include specific project
codes as the Commission begins allocating funds to certain projects. Commissioner Christenson
requested additional information about the City’s participation in a bond purchase program, that did
not show on the spreadsheet. Mayor McKee informed the Commission of a bill that will be brought
up at the upcoming legislative session that impacts the park dedication fund. Mayor McKee provided
an overview of the bill including information on the requirements of denser developments and the
potential of allowing less park dedication to be acquired by cities.
12. Other Business/Announcements
13. Commissioner Liaison Calendar
01/27/2022 02/10/2022 02/24/2022 03/10/2022 03/24/2022 04/14/2022 04/28/2022
Christenson Anderson Meister Strehler Hoffmann Nybo TBD
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that the TBD listed on the
schedule would be filled by the Commissioner that fills Commissioner Dugan’s seat. Recreation
Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners of the potential work session and
regularly scheduled meeting on February 24, 2022, stating that Commissioners would be invited to
the work session and Chairperson Anderson would be invited to present at the meeting.
14. Adjournment
Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Anderson, to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 pm.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Dugan, Meister, Nybo, and Strehler.
CITY OF CORCORAN
(Motion carried 6:0)
Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor