HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-21 Parks and Trails Minutes
CITY OF CORCORAN
Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2022 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on April 21, 2022, in Corcoran, MN.
Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
Also present were Councilmember Nichols and Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck.
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.
3. Agenda Approval
Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Strehler, to approve the agenda as presented.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
(Motion carried 7:0)
4. Minutes
a. Minutes – March 17, 2022, Meeting Minutes
Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Nybo, to approve the minutes as presented.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
(Motion carried 7:0)
5. Open Forum
6. Presentations – None
7. Unfinished Business
a. Memorial Bench Program Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided background information regarding the memorial
bench program including the decisions made by the Commission to keep the benches consistent,
and requesting staff put together a program mockup. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck
informed the Commission that some internal staff discussions took place and additional research
was being done with the potential for a draft to be brought to the Commission during an upcoming
meeting this summer. Vice-Chairperson Meister asked if the Public Works Department had any
maintenance requests, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission
that they had requested concrete pads and if possible, to have the benches be inside of any
playground containers instead of located in grass. Commissioner Friedrich asked if the installations
would be done utilizing internal staff, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the
Commissioners that it would likely be an external installation for the concrete pad and bench.
Councilmember Nichols asked if Concrete Science would be an eligible installer, to which
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck responded that they could bid on the project when it was
open.
b. City Park Remaster Update
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commissioners that she would like to host an
open house on May 19, 2022, at 5:30 pm, prior to the May Parks and Trails Commission meeting, to
acquire feedback from the public on the proposed project. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck
also informed the Commissioners of the tentative timeline for the project, highlighting July 2022 as
the end of the feedback phase, August 2022 for revisions by the City engineers, September 2022 for
the project to be evaluated by the Parks and Trails Commission and City Council, and fall 2022 to
submit final plans as part of the Hennepin County Youth Sports grant application. Chairperson
CITY OF CORCORAN
Anderson asked how the remaster would impact programming that takes place at the park, to which
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that while some of the fields
would be lost, there would be enough space for programming as the project moves forward.
Commissioner Friedrich asked where the electronic scoreboard on Snyder Field would go, to which
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed her that it would be staying for Phase 1 of the
project but could likely be moved to a new field in future phases. Chairperson Anderson inquired
about the timeline for the grant money to be used, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck
informed the Commission that it would likely have to be used within 2-3 years. Commissioner
Friedrich inquired about when the best time would be to provide feedback on the project, to which
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck stated the Commission could provide the feedback during
the current meeting, at the open house, utilizing the online survey, or emailing Recreation
Supervisor Christensen Buck. Commissioner Christenson inquired about the price estimate for and
options for funding, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck stated that she would defer to
City Administrator Beise during the open house. Councilmember Nichols recommended speaking
with Finance Manager Ung about incoming park dedication funds, to which Recreation Supervisor
Christensen Buck informed Commissioners that she had followed up Planner Lindahl and that
estimates for incoming funds were being compiled. Commissioner Friedrich asked if a skating loop
around the hockey rinks would be feasible, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck stated
concerns with safety of hockey pucks going outside of the hockey rinks. Councilmember Nichols
inquired about flooding a hockey rink over the top of the splashpad, to which Recreation Supervisor
Christensen Buck expressed concerns of damaging the splashpad. Councilmember Wyffels asked if
the splashpad would require payment to use it, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck
stated that it could be a later discussion and that a variety of options for payment are available.
Commissioner Christenson asked if the Commission would have the opportunity to reflect on the
feedback before Stantec makes adjustments to the plan, to which Recreation Supervisor
Christensen Buck suggested a work session prior to the June 16, 2022, Parks and Trails meeting.
8. New Business
a. 79th Place Rain Garden/Ditch Treatment
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that a ditch water treatment is
required by the Elm Creek Watershed near the intersection of 79th Place and County Road 116.
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck requested the Commissioners discuss the location they
would prefer as well as the style of the ditch water treatment option. Chairperson Anderson provided
an overview of the purpose of rain gardens and ditch treatments to assist in drainage of water. Vice-
Chairperson Meister inquired about maintenance and viability of the plants located in the ditch water
treatment. Commissioners discussed the safety and aesthetic aspect of having the ditch treatment
between the trail and County Road 116. Commissioners expressed an interest in having a longer,
skinnier treatment option, that serves as a buffer between County Road 116 and the proposed trail,
located in the lower lying area of the park to the north.
Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Strehler, to recommend approval of a water ditch
treatment system that is thinner and longer in size, on the northern side of the proposed land, and
closer to the road.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
(Motion carried 7:0)
b. Pulte Walcott Glen – Rezoning, PUD Plan, and Preliminary Plat
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of the project located at the
intersection of County Road 101 and Hackamore Road that would create 85 townhomes and 44
CITY OF CORCORAN
single family units on a 35.07-acre site. Commissioners discussed that the proposed park was
smaller in size and those in the neighborhood would have access to the two public parks located in
the Ravinia development. Commissioners expressed interest in accepting the full $470,617 as cash-
in-lieu of land. Commissioners discussed if a need for a trail connecting the proposed park to County
Road 101 if the park was not owned by the City. Paul Hoyer of Pulte Homes expressed that Pulte
was flexible with the plans and if the City chose to not accept the park, it would likely remain an open
space area managed by the homeowners association. Chairperson Anderson inquired about the
marketed buyer of the townhomes in the proposed development, to which Hoyer explained that they
have a broad range of demographics which provides a range of housing pricing.
Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend approval of cash-in-lieu of land
and not recommending the trail from the proposed park to County Road 101 or the sidewalk on the
north side of Goldenrod Trail.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
(Motion carried 7:0)
9. Reports/Information
a. Active Planning Applications – Informational only
Councilmember Nichols highlighted 260 homes that were pending final plat; therefore, the
Commission could expect to see park dedication funds soon. Vice-Chairperson Meister inquired
where City Center would be located relative to St. Therese, to which Councilmember Nichols
informed the Commission that it would be nearby along County Road 116. Commissioner Wyffels
inquired about a potential pavilion at Wildflower Park, to which Recreation Supervisor informed the
Commission that it was part of the initial planning but was not included in the final planning.
Councilmember Nichols expressed an interest in having shaded areas as part of future park
planning.
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 the youth baseball program
starting, Night to Unite meetings, training the Program Coordinator, registration opening for the
youth soccer program, and tree giveaway requests.
10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports
a. City Council Report
Councilmember Nichols highlighted key items from the recent City Council meetings including the
Cook Lake Highlands final plat and PUD, code enforcement priorities for 2022, water supply
planning, solicitor’s ordinance, and the appointment of Jessica Beise to the City Administrator
position. Commissioner requested additional information regarding the legislature on park
dedication, to which Councilmember Nichols informed the Commission that it was currently not
making any active progress.
b. Garden Club Report
Tom Anderson informed the Commission of the tree giveaway pick up taking place on Saturday,
April 23 at City Park. Anderson also informed the Commission that the pollinator plugs for the
Memorial Garden had been picked up and funds were used from the Memorial Garden Fund to
purchase them. Anderson updated the Commission of Yolanda Tillmans taking on additional
responsibilities of the Garden Club.
CITY OF CORCORAN
c. Park Dedication Fund
Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck highlighted the addition to the Park Dedication Fund report
that shows the funds that are allocated to projects. Chairperson Anderson requested that future
reports be condensed to one page to save paper.
11. Other Business/Announcements
12. Commissioner Liaison Calendar
04/28/2022 05/12/2022 05/26/2022 06/09/2022 06/23/2022 07/14/2022 07/28/2022
Wyffels
Strehler
Christenson Anderson Meister Strehler
Nybo
Friedrich Nybo
Wyffels
Commissioners discussed dates that they would like to exchange including Strehler attending the
April 28, 2022, meeting, Nybo attending the June 23, 2022 meeting, and Wyffels attending the July
28, 2022 meeting with all other dates remaining the same.
13. Adjournment
Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Nybo, to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 pm.
Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Friedrich, Meister, Nybo, Strehler, and Wyffels.
(Motion carried 7:0)
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Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor