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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-15 Parks and Trails Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN Corcoran Parks and Trails Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on February 15, 2024, in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. Absent was Commissioner Friedrich. Present at City Hall 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. Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Elections Chairperson Anderson informed the Commission that he believed Vice-Chairperson Christenson was prepared to be the Parks and Trails Commission Chairperson for 2024. Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to elect Commissioner Christenson as Chairperson. Voting Aye: Anderson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler Abstained: Christenson (Motion carried 5:0:1) Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Christenson, to elect Commissioner Friedrich as Vice- Chairperson. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 6:0) 4. Agenda Approval Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Erzberger, to approve the agenda as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 6:0) 5. Minutes a. Minutes – December 19, 2023, Meeting Motion: Made by Nybo, seconded by Schmidt, to approve the minutes as presented. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 6:0) 6. Open Forum Craig Mattson, 10174 Ironwood Court, expressed his excitement for the trails and parks within the Bellwether neighborhood, but were interested in learning about remediation options as the trails is proposed to navigate through part of their property. Carmen Mattson, 10174 Ironwood Court, provided Commissioners with a document from the sales office in the Bellwether development and elaborated on the impact of the trail as it goes approximately 20 feet into their yard. She further explained that they had spoken with the City Council and City Administrator Tobin, with the response that the City would try to soften the curve as much as they can. Mattson explained that there is a wetland next to the property and staff had informed the Mattson’s that it would impact realignments. 7. Presentations a. Commissioner Training Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck went through training slides providing an overview of the Parks and Trails Commission including regular meeting items, 2040 Comprehensive Plan, park dedication, park classifications, and maps. Commissioners inquired about costs of parks, to which Recreation Supervisor informed the Commission that discussions would take place at the next CITY OF CORCORAN meeting regarding park dedication fund projecting and sources and uses for funding parks. Councilmember Nichols provided information on the buffer size for wetlands, informing the Commission that it is determined by the quality of the wetland. Commissioners discussed how long trees are required to remain alive after being planted by developers and if developers are required to keep a certain number of trees. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that the City does not have a tree preservation ordinance; Councilmember Nichols informed the Commission that trees must live for 1 year after planting and developers that utilized a PUD can preserve trees as a benefit. Commissioner Anderson informed the Commission of a background on the Watershed District, their role in Parks and Trails Commission, and a potential future opening for the representative from Corcoran. Commissioners asked about the PUD process, to which Councilmember Nichols informed the Commission that a PUD provided flexibility for the developer, with added benefits and negotiations that can be done, versus a straight plat. Additional conversation took place regarding tree replanting in developments and development agreement change to tree replacement when incorrectly removed. 8. Unfinished Business – None 9. New Business a. Preliminary Plat for Woodland Hills Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided background information on the preliminary plat, noting it is proposed at 60 single-family residential lots, 1 community amenity/recreational lot, and 5 outlots. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that there are not any high-quality natural communities shown, no parks are shown on the Comprehensive Plan, and the on-road trail is located within the City’s right-of-way. Councilmember Nichols noted that the pool house community amenity is located next to an existing residential neighborhood and those residents would not be able to utilize it. Commissioner Anderson expressed interest in trail connections to parks for the community to use, to which Councilmember Nichols informed the Commission of the connection through the Hunter neighborhood and the future park located within the Tavera development. Commissioners discussed the oak savannah that is located within the area and their desire to save as many quality trees as able. Commissioner Schmidt noted that his property is located along the northwest section of the plan labeled ghost plat, with discussions regarding the oaks being located behind his property. Discussion regarding ghost plats took place, where Councilmember Nichols informed the Commission that it shows what could happen if development took place on the property labeled ghost plat. Chairperson Christenson inquired about if the Commission could propose taking land-in-lieu of cash, in a scenario similar when a park is not shown on the Comprehensive Plan, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission she was uncertain but would ask Planner Davis-McKeown. Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to recommend accepting cash-in-lieu of land for park dedication. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 6:0) Commissioner Anderson noted that during the 2050 Comprehensive Plan development, the Commission will have the opportunity to review the Parks and Trails Plan to update and propose the parks as development continues west. Commissioner Nybo asked Councilmember Nichols if the MUSA line would change with the upcoming water tower, to which Councilmember Nichols responded that the MUSA is moved dependent on Council and City decision. b. 2024 Goals and Measurables CITY OF CORCORAN Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission of the 2024 core strategies, set by City Council, including enhancing Corcoran’s sense of place/identity and providing diverse amenities and recreational opportunities. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an overview of the draft trails map, listed as one of City Council’s measurables. Chairperson Christenson requested that the colors for regional trail and recorded trail easement get adjusted on the map as they were very similar in color. Commissioner Nybo asked if the easements are shown, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that they were included. Commissioners discussed that the easements collected provide areas for future trails when the property develops, allowing for future development of trails. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck updated the Commission of the work done with a site analysis of City Park by City and HKGi staff and upcoming attendance from HKGi at the March Parks and Trails Commission meeting. Councilmember Nichols inquired about the status of the requested federal funding, to which Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that she would look into it. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck noted updating park standards and creating a funding sources/uses within the first quarter, which would occur during the March Parks and Trails Commission meeting. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck also informed the Commission of an upcoming joint work session between the Parks and Trails Commission and City Council during quarter 2, with more details to follow. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck highlighted key topics for the March Parks and Trails Commission meeting including introduction to HKGi, funding sources/uses and park dedication projecting, park standards update, and Wildflower Park bike rack options. 10. Reports/Information a. Active Planning Applications – Informational Only No discussion occurred. b. Recreation Supervisor Update Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck provided an update on items she had been working on including youth baseball, ice rinks, trails, master park planning, hiring a Program Coordinator, and preparing the Parks and Trails Commission materials. 11. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a. City Council Report Councilmember Nichols highlighted the items discussed at City Council meetings since the last Parks and Trails Commission meeting including City Park ice rink direction, Burschville School funding assistance, Parks and Trails Commission reappointments, state pay equity report, license plate reading cameras, and organics recycling. Councilmember Nichols highlighted City Council’s interest in utilizing the charitable gambling funds. Commissioners discussed organics recycling, with charges being dependent on hauler and the City cannot control if haulers charge, but set up the system so they are not required to charge. Commissioner Nybo inquired about the roundabout proposed at County Road 19 and County Road 117, to which Councilmember Nichols encouraged asking Public Works Director Mattson. b. Commission Term Update Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that Commissioners Nybo and Strehler were reappointed for three year terms. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck highlighted that Commissioners Anderson, Friedrich, and Schmidt’s terms would be expiring in 2025. c. Garden Club Report Tom Anderson informed the Commission that the tree giveaway would begin soon. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck informed the Commission that she requested funding from the CITY OF CORCORAN Northwest Area Jaycees and would be attending their February meeting. Anderson informed those in attendance that the tree giveaway allows residents to reserve up to 5 free trees through an online form. d. Park Dedication Fund No discussion occurred. 12. Other Business/Announcements Commissioner Erzberger expressed interest in discussing shading at Wildflower Park, as well as future when discussing park standards. Councilmember Nichols recommended staff compile amenity considerations as part of the park standards, with approximate costs. Commissioner Erzberger informed the Commission of Crooked Creek Park as his family frequents it and had a nice shelter and picnic area. Recreation Supervisor Christensen Buck also informed the Commission of a park in Delano that had ideas for memorial areas, shade structures, and exercise stations. 13. Commissioner Liaison Calendar Commissioner Nybo and Chairperson Christenson exchanged dates for the May 9 and May 23 City Council liaison attendance. 14. Adjournment Motion: Made by Strehler, seconded by Anderson, to adjourn the meeting at 8:47 pm. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Strehler. (Motion carried 6:0) Submitted by Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor 02/22/2024 03/14/2024 03/28/2024 04/11/2024 04/25/2024 05/09/2024 05/23/2024 Strehler Anderson Erzberger Schmidt Friedrich Nybo Christenson Christenson Nybo