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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-19 Parks and Trails Commission Agenda Packet1.Call to Order/Roll Call 2.Pledge of Allegiance 3.Agenda Approval 4.Minutes a.Minutes - December 18, 2025 Meeting b.Minutes - January 16, 2026 Meeting 5.Open Forum - Public Comment Opportunity 6.Presentations a.Heritage Park Update 7.Unfinished Business 8.New Business 9.Reports/Information a.Planning Project Update b.Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update 10.Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a.Garden Club Report 11.Other Business/Announcements 12.Adjournment Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission Agenda February 19, 2026 7:00 PM *Includes Materials - Materials relating to these agenda items can be found in the Council Chambers Agenda Packet book located by the entrance. The complete Council Agenda Packet is available electronically on the City website at www.corcoranmn.gov. 1 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 4.a Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Jessica Christensen Buck, Parks and Recreation Manager Topic: Minutes - December 18, 2025 Meeting Action Required: Council Action Attachments 1. 2025-12-18 Parks and Trails Commission Minutes Draft.docx 2 1 Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission Minutes December 18, 2025 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on December 18, 2025, at City Hall in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, and Schmidt. Commissioner Walsh arrived at 7:07 pm. Absent: Commissioner Strehler. Present at City Hall was Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call Chair Christenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Christenson invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Agenda Approval Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Anderson, to approve the agenda as presented for December 18, 2025, Parks and Trails Commission Meeting. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, and Schmidt (Motion carried 5:0) 4. Minutes Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to approve October 16, 2025, minutes. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, and Schmidt (Motion carried 5:0) 5. Open Forum – Public Comment Opportunity (None). 6. Presentations – None 7. Unfinished Business - None 8. New Business a. Wayfinding Outline & Policy Guideline Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the staff report to the commission. Commissioner Nybo asked why only one monument sign was allowed per parcel. 3 2 Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck explained the restriction was per city code. Commissioner Nybo said it was imperative to include the address on park monument signs in case of an emergency and that there were different addresses specifically at Heritage Park. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck said the new park building address will be 20400, the West side parkland will be 20200. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck asked the commission if there were other items necessary to include on the monument signs other than the address, logo, and park name. Commissioner Anderson said the monument signs could be physically different between Heritage Park and neighborhood parks such as the neighborhood park monument signs be smaller than Heritage Park. Vice-Chair Erzberger said the monument signs should be similar in style, but that the scale could be different depending on the park. He said there could also be park specific styling and information included for each park on the monument sign. Commissioner Walsh said the monument sign could be double sided to provide more directional visibility to the sign. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck asked the commission their preferences on wayfinding signs. Vice-Chair Erzberger said the simplified maps with key information were preferable. Commissioner Schmidt agreed that a simple illustrated map is preferred. There was some general discussion about where else to have wayfinding signs when there are trails and other amenities like athletic fields. Vice-Chair Erzberger suggested there be a sign at each entrance of a park whether it is a monument, wayfinding, or other sign. There was some general discussion regarding signs below street signs that signify a park is close in proximity to the sign. Vice-Chair Erzberger asked about Three Rivers signage, and Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck said the policy could specify it was for city signage only. Commissioner Anderson said the signs should have QR codes in order to convey more information to the public. 9. Reports/Information a. Planning Project Update (Information Only) b. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update. 10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a. Garden Club Report Commissioner Anderson gave a brief update. b. Park Dedication Fund Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck supplied the most recent Park Dedication Fund numbers. 11. Other Business/Announcements 4 3 12. Adjournment Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Nybo, to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 pm. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, Nybo, Schmidt, and Walsh (Motion carried 6:0) Submitted by Seth Gellman, Community Development Administrative Assistant 5 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 4.b Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Seth Gellman. Community Development Administrative Assistant, Topic: Minutes - January 16, 2026 Meeting Action Required: Approval Council Action Attachments 1. 2026-01-15 Parks and Trails Commission Minutes Draft.docx 6 1 Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission Minutes January 15, 2026 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission met on January 15, 2026, at City Hall in Corcoran, MN. Present were Commissioners Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, and Nybo. Absent: Commissioners Schmidt, Strehler, and Walsh. Present at City Hall was Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call Chair Christenson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Chair Christenson invited all in attendance to rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. Agenda Approval Motion: Made by Anderson, seconded by Nybo, to approve the agenda as presented for January 15, 2026, Parks and Trails Commission Meeting. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, and Nybo (Motion carried 4:0) 4. Minutes (Approval of December 18, 2025, minutes were deferred and will be reviewed at the next regular meeting). 5. Open Forum – Public Comment Opportunity (None). 6. Presentations – None 7. Unfinished Business a. Draft Wayfinding Policy Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the Staff Report. Vice Chair Erzberger asked if the implementation language needed to be part of the policy or part of the overall recommendation. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck said it did not need to be within the specific policy and suggested design standards replace the implementation language. 7 2 Vice Chair Erzberger suggested that the appendix be cited within the policy. He asked for clarification on whether the policy was for all open spaces or specifically open space parks within the city. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck clarified it would not include all open spaces within the city but would be park specific. Vice Chair Erzberger suggested the policy clarify that design standards for signs could differ from the policy scope depending on external funding and partner recognition. There was discussion about external funding and partner recognition signs and what the signs generally displayed. Commissioner Anderson suggested that the city find out how long the park signs could last and to have an inspection schedule for maintenance. Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Erzberger, to recommend City Council to direct staff to work with HKGi to draft a Wayfinding Policy. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, and Nybo (Motion carried 4:0) 8. New Business a. Draft 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Priorities Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the Staff Report. There was discussion about Chair Christenson working with Commissioner Anderson to transition duties for the Tree Giveaway. Vice Chair Erzberger said the Park Naming Policy should be included in the Annual Report. There was discussion about screening and tree placement as well as length and width of the trail. Chair Christenson discussed concern over potential variations in quality of the trail construction done by the developer versus the city. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck clarified it was common for a developer to assist with trail construction. b. Linear Park – Timeline Discussion Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the Staff Report. Vice Chair Erzberger asked if there would still be a park dedication funding component even if St. Therese helped construct the Linear Park. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck confirmed it would be part of the discussion with St. Therese. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck said it would likely be an 8-foot bituminous and meandering trail. 8 3 Chair Christenson discussed concern over potential variations in quality of the trail construction done by the developer versus the city. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck clarified it was common for a developer to assist with trail construction Commissioner Nybo had questions about whether the tree plantings would be additional or in replacement of other trees not yet planted on the property. Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck confirmed it would be generally replacing trees not yet planted from the development landscape plan. Commissioner Anderson shared concerns about tree placement and that oak trees were placed too close in proximity to the buildings. The Commission had questions about the size of the linear park and other specification questions. Staff confirmed they would provide the Commission with more specifications of the linear park. 9. Reports/Information a. Planning Project Update (Information Only) b. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck presented the Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update. 10. Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a. Garden Club Report Commissioner Anderson gave a brief update. b. Park Dedication Fund Parks and Recreation Manager Christensen Buck supplied the most recent Park Dedication Fund numbers. 11. Other Business/Announcements 12. Adjournment Motion: Made by Christenson, seconded by Nybo, to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 pm. Voting Aye: Anderson, Christenson, Erzberger, and Nybo (Motion carried 4:0) Submitted by Seth Gellman, Community Development Administrative Assistant 9 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 6.a Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Jessica Christensen Buck, Parks and Recreation Manager Topic: Heritage Park Update Action Required: Information Only Summary As the Heritage Park Remaster project progresses, Staff wanted to provide an updated summary of construction activity, upcoming work, and anticipated timelines. Commissioners are encouraged to review this information and bring forward any questions so staff can provide any clarification or additional details. Building Construction Progress Work on the park building has progressed over the winter months. The following items have been completed: Foundation and footings CMU (block) wall along the base of the building Waterproofing and drain tile installation Building shell and framing, including the wood roof structure Plumbing rough-ins Over the next several months, the following work is anticipated: Insulation and sheathing (late February) Metal roofing installation (late February) Window installation Wood siding (late March) Interior insulation and drywall Polished concrete floors Wood ceiling installation Interior wall panels Tilework and countertops Painting Electrical, HVAC, and plumbing trim-out Site Work Progress Significant progress has also been made across broader Heritage Park, including: Brush and tree removal Removal of former tennis courts and playground Paving of the parking lot and island curbing (with light pole bases installed) Majority of flatwork completed, with select openings for construction access City and Diamond Lake Regional Trail paving Preparation for the boardwalk section of the Diamond Lake Regional Trail, with installation still anticipated for this winter Area preparation for a future pickleball courts (courts not included with this phase) Partial playground delivery and installation, including concrete embankment and steps Stormwater pond infrastructure Playfield rehabilitation/restoration Utility coordination, conduit installation, and easement discussions The following items are scheduled for completion this spring: Remaining concrete flatwork Landscaping (playground area, parking lot islands, building perimeters, etc.) 10 Completion of playground installation, including poured-in-place rubber surfacing, engineered wood fiber, and remaining equipment Utility installations (Comcast, Wright-Hennepin, CenterPoint) Pedestrian lighting Trash enclosure Park signage Parking lot wear course Rehabilitation of the western ballfields Final stormwater stabilization Installation of site enhancements (benches, bike racks, tables, etc.) Recreation Programming Impacts Staff anticipate that youth baseball and youth soccer will return to Heritage Park for 2026. Soccer programming may operate at slightly reduced numbers for 2026 to allow the restored areas sufficient time to re-establish and strengthen following construction. Timeline and Opening The project remains on track for substantial completion in late May to early June. Staff would anticipate hosting a grand opening in early summer, allowing the community to experience the park and its new amenities. Staff will bring photos of the site updates during the February 19, 2026 meeting as part of the presentation. Council Action No action required. 11 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 9.a Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Dwight Klingbeil, Planner Topic: Planning Project Update Action Required: Information Only Council Action Attachments 1. Planning Project Update.pdf 12 Page 1 of 2 MEMO Meeting Date: February 5, 2026 To: Planning Commission From: Dwight Klingbeil Re: Planning Project Update Projects/comments in blue italics are new. The following is a status summary of active planning projects: 1. M&J Creekside Interim Use Permit & Site Plan (PID 08-119-23-23-0017) (City File 25-026). Margaret and John Fernandez request approval of a site plan and interim use permit to allow the operation of a wine tasting room at 23020 County Road 30. The operation would consist of wine sales, production, and processing. This item was reviewed by the City Council during the October 23, 2025, regular session. After some discussion, the Council approved the IUP and Site Plan with the conditions that the maximum number of guests be limited to 88, the hours of operation be limited to 12pm-9pm Thursday through Saturday, and 12pm-6pm on Sundays, and additional screening to be provided along the northwest and south sides of the parking lot. The applicants have also requested approval of an after-the-fact variance from the Shoreland Overlay District standards for a structure that was constructed within the minimum setback area from Rush Creek. This is complete for City review and is scheduled for the February 5, 2026, Planning Commission meeting. 2. Phil’s Quality Auto Site Plan & Variance (PID 26-119-23-11-0029) (City File 25- 030). Phil’s Quality Auto request approval of a Site Plan and Variance to allow the expansion of their parking lot within the minimum front yard setback area at 7590 Commerce Street. This item was reviewed and approved by the City Council during the November 25, 2025, meeting. Following the meeting, the applicant met with staff to discuss the project further. The applicant submitted a request for additional variance from the setback requirements and drive aisle width for paving and expanding the parking areas on the lot. The public hearing for this item was held during the January 13 Page 2 of 2 6, 2026, Planning Commission meeting. After some discussion, the Commission motioned to recommend approval of the request. This item approved by the Council on January 22, 2026. 3. Woodland Hills Easement Vacation (PID 36-119-23-33-0037) (City File 25-042). Hanson Builders request vacation of a portion of a drainage and utility easement located at 19714 63rd Place. Council approved this item during the January 8, 2026, meeting. 4. St. Therese Phase 2 Site Plan (PID 24-119-23-32-0004) (City File 25-043). Saint Therese of Corcoran submitted a site plan for phase 2 of their campus, which would consist of 36 additional units at 19800 79th Place. This item is complete for City review and is scheduled for the February 6, 2026, Planning Commission meeting. 5. Kariniemi Orchards Preliminary Plat (PID 11-119-23-21-0002) (City File 25-044). Nate Kariniemi submitted a preliminary plat application for a 12-lot subdivision at 20400 County Road 30. This item is incomplete for City Review and is not currently scheduled for any upcoming City meetings. 6. Continental Springs Concept Plan (PID 12-119-23-13-0007) (City File 25-045). Ebert Companies and Continental Properties submitted a conceptual master plan for a mixed-use development containing 294 market-rate units and 34.5 acres that would be preserved for future commercial development at 19330 County Road 30. Council reviewed the concept and provided informal feedback during the January 22, 2026, Regular Session. The applicant will be holding a neighborhood meeting in the Council Chambers at 5:30pm on February 6, 2026. 14 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 9.b Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Jessica Christensen Buck, Parks and Recreation Manager Topic: Parks, Recreation, and Trails Update Action Required: Information Only Summary Recreation Update Ice rinks and warming house are closed for the season due to the warm weather. Interest is strong for renting the pavilion and the building. Baseball registration is open through Sunday, March 1 (or until filled) Soccer registration opens to residents on Monday, April 6 at 8 am, and to all else on Monday, April 13 at 8 am. Council Update February 12, 2026 Heritage Park Remaster - Change Order #12 Updates to low voltage rough-ins. Heritage Park Remaster - Change Order #11 Updates to soffit lighting type, resulting in a credit. Heritage Park Remaster - Change order #10 Updates to exterior wall and roof insulation, associated furring, and attachment methods, resulting in a credit. Heritage Park Improvements - Pay Request #6 (Building) Approved payment to Valint Construction Services. January 22, 2026 2026 Special Events Approved proposed 2026 special events: Night to Unite (8/4), Bark in the Park (9/11), Trunk or Treat (10/29), Holiday Toy and Food Drive (12/8, or 12/9) Heritage Park Improvements - Pay Request #5 (Building) Approved payment to Valint Construction Services. Resolution 2026-06: Recognizing the Holiday Toy and Food Drive/Toys for Tots donations Approved Resolution 2026-06: Recognizing the Holiday Toy and Food Drive/Toys for Tots donations. See My Legacy - Quarterly Acceptance Resolution Accepted Heritage Park donation from Jeremy Nichols. Council Action 15 STAFF REPORT Agenda Item: 10.a Council Meeting: February 19, 2026 Prepared By: Jessica Christensen Buck, Parks and Recreation Manager Topic: Garden Club Report Action Required: Information Only Summary Interest Survey Staff recently met with three prominent Garden Club members (Susan Nelson, Tom Anderson, and Sharon Meister) to discuss the future of the Garden Club. During the meeting, there were discussions of a decline in activity, a need for a dedicated leader to help guide efforts, and interest in growing membership. To support these goals, staff assisted in creating a Garden Club interest survey to increase awareness and gather community input. The survey allows residents to indicate their interest in joining the Club and share ideas about programming and activities they would like to see offered. This feedback will help shape a more active and engaging Garden Club moving forward. Annual Tree Giveaway The annual Tree Giveaway is now open. Residents are eligible to receive up to five free bare-root seedlings per household, with a variety of trees and shrubs available. Quantities are limited and will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Thank you to the Northwest Area Jaycees for their continued support. Trees may be reserved using the Tree Giveaway Reservation Form. The pick-up date will be determined and shared at a later time. Residents who reserve trees will be contacted once details are finalized. The anticipated pick-up timeframe is mid-to-late April 2026. Additional information is available on the City’s website. Council Action 16