Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-17 Parks and Trails Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes March 17, 2022 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on March 17, 2022, in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. Absent was Commissioner Christenson. Also present were Mayor McKee, Councilmember Vehrenkamp, and Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck. Present virtually was Councilmember Nichols. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call Chairperson Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Anderson invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chair Anderson invited Commissioner Wyffel and Commissioner Friedrich to introduce themselves. Commissioner Wyffel informed the Commission that she joined the Commission because she has young children and wanted be part of the upcoming changes to the City in a positive way. Commissioner Friedrich informed the Commission that she has lived in the City for 21 years and wanted to be involved in trail planning. 3. Agenda Approval Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Meister, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. (Motion carried 6:0) 4. Minutes a. Minutes – February 17, 2022, Meeting Minutes Motion: Made by Meister, seconded by Anderson, to approve the minutes as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. (Motion carried 6:0) 5. Open Forum Councilmember Vehrenkamp thanked the Parks and Trails Commission for their time spent on the Commission as well as congratulated Commissioners Friedrich and Wyffels for their appointments. Dean Vehrenkamp, 9310 Bechtold Road, spoke to the Commission about his concerns regarding effective signage that prevents private drives being used as turnarounds. 6. Presentations – None 7. Unfinished Business – None 8. New Business a. Preliminary Plat Application for Kariniemi Meadows Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of the preliminary plat application, including the Parks and Trails map identifying a proposed on-road trail, proposed off-road trail, and a potential Community Park. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck reminded Commissioners of a discussion they had at a previous meeting where they recommended the trail be put in behind the houses instead of along the cul-de-sac. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission the trail is located almost entirely within the floodplain boundary, but must be outside of the floodway, with the applicant having to provide a cross section to prove the trail is buildable. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that the staff recommendation being a woodchip, gravel, or mown trail that can flood, with an extension of the trail CITY OF CORCORAN out to County Road 19 on the southern part of the plat. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided the Commission with Commissioner Christenson’s emailed feedback which included his preference towards an off-road, woodchip trail and noted that while it might not be as accessible, there will be many accessible trails. Commissioner Meister requested more information regarding the difference between the two trail options show in the map exhibits. Commissioner Nybo asked what outlot 10 was zoned as, to which Mayor McKee informed Commissioners that the applicant was previously looking to put in 3-5 commercial lots but would likely have to be rezoned from residential. Councilmember Vehrenkamp informed the Commission that there would be a lot of trail meandering due to elevation changes. Commissioner Friedrich asked what the concerns were with the trail being closer to Public Works, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that it was not as aesthetically appealing. Vice-Chair Meister asked Councilmember Vehrenkamp what quality the creek is in, to which Councilmember Vehrenkamp said it dries up in the summertime. Commissioners looked at a map from Hennepin County GIS that showed what the property looked like in 2000. Commissioner Strehler expressed interest in taking the cash-in-lieu of land. Vice-Chair Meister inquired about who would be responsible for building the trail, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that the developer would grade the land, but the City would be responsible for building the trail. Commissioner Wyffels requested more information about the proposed road that was shown in the ghost plat exhibit in the packet and how that would impact the trail. Commissioners discussed that if the road was in future plans, the trail would be to the side of the road. Vice-Chair Meister and Commissioner Wyffels expressed their interest in having the connection to County Road 19 from the proposed trail. Chair Anderson expressed his interest in having the natural trail as close to the creek as possible. Councilmember Vehrenkamp circled back to the Commissions conversation about creating a trail loop, to which Councilmember Nichols suggested adding an additional trail leg connecting off the main trail and going north of the City’s Public Works property, connecting to County Road 19 to create that loop. Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Nybo, to recommend a natural, mown trail with wood chips in lower areas. Voting Aye: Anderson, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. Voting Nay: Friedrich. (Motion carried 5:1) Motion: Made by Meister, seconded by Friedrich, to recommend the trail extension on the south side connecting the trail to County Road 19. Voting Aye: Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. (Motion carried 6:0) Motion: Made by Friedrich, seconded by Meister, to recommend the trail be located as far east as possible without being in the floodway, with an additional connection north of the City’s Public Work Facility property. Voting Aye: Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. (Motion carried 6:0) a. Park Signs Discussion Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that the reason for the discussion was to get input regarding park entrance signs and rule signs. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that there could be one entrance sign per parcel of land and no stated limit to the number of park rules signs. Commissioner Friedrich expressed her interest in having the City logo on the sign to signify that it is a City owned park. Commissioner Nybo and Chair Anderson expressed their interest in having the address listed on the entrance sign. CITY OF CORCORAN Commissioners discussed including the name of the park, address of the park, and full city logo with “City of Corcoran” listed. Commissioners discussed having simplified entrance signs at neighborhood parks as compared to community parks. Commissioner Friedrich discussed her concern with unauthorized vehicles in the parks. Chair Anderson and Commissioner Wyffels expressed their appreciation for other cities having a phone number on the rules sign. Chair Anderson suggested having a QR code on the sign that could link to a website with all the rules. Commissioners discussed the current park rules and concluded the City phone number, park hours, noise ordinance, restriction on hard liquor and glass, picking up after and having dogs on leashes, prohibited tobacco use, and no golfing be included on the rules signs. 9. Reports/Information a. Active Planning Applications – Informational only No discussion took place regarding this agenda item. b. Recreation Supervisor Update Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of the items she has been working on since the last Parks and Trails Commission meeting including baseball registration and oversight, hiring of the Program Coordinator position, City social media postings, field and pavilion reservations, ice rink attendant supervising, and soccer program preparations. 10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a. City Council Report Councilmember Nichols thanked the Commissioners that attended the goal setting session and informed the Commissioners that they planned on having future work sessions to continue working towards those goals. Councilmember Nichols noted that final plats had been coming in for developments and therefore additional park dedication was anticipated as well. Councilmember Nichols updated the Commission on the water tower location search. Councilmember Nichols welcomed Commissioners Wyffels and Friedrich to the Parks and Trails Commission. Commissioner Nybo requested additional information on the MS4 ordinance amendment, and the Housing Authority items, to which Mayor McKee informed the Commission that MS4 was regarding stormwater and the Housing Authority was regarding a bill going through the legislature that would impact developments. b. Garden Club Report Tom Anderson updated the Commission on a minimal number of trees remaining in the program. Anderson updated the Commission on the meeting between him and Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck where they discussed more efficient ways of running the tree giveaway that they may begin implementing for the 2023 tree giveaway. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck thanked the Northwest Area Jaycees for their donation towards the 2022 tree giveaway. Commissioner Friedrich inquired about increasing the number of trees due to the growth in population, to which Anderson responded that it would be determinate upon the funding from the Northwest Area Jaycees and Vice-Chair Meister noted many new lot sizes are smaller in size and may not have room. Chair Anderson informed the Commission that wildflower plugs were ordered for the Memorial Garden. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission of the upcoming City Council agenda item regarding purchases made from the Memorial Garden Fund stating that purchases less than $5,000 would be able to be purchased with Parks and Trails Commission approval without Council pre-approval, but greater than $5,000 would require pre- approval from Council. c. Park Dedication Fund CITY OF CORCORAN Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that future packets would include a separate sheet that shows allocated funds for future park projects. 11. Other Business/Announcements 12. Commissioner Liaison Calendar 03/24/2022 04/14/2022 04/28/2022 05/12/2022 05/26/2022 06/09/2022 06/23/2022 Strehler Nybo Anderson Christenson Anderson Meister Strehler Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that Commissioner Strehler offered to serve as the liaison for the City Council meeting on March 24. Chair Anderson offered to serve as the liaison during the April 28 City Council meeting. 13. Adjournment Motion: Made by Meister, seconded by Strehler, to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 pm. Voting Aye: Anderson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels. (Motion carried 6:0) Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor