Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission

PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 23, 2024 A F T DR MINUTES PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 - 8:00 A.M. ACADEMY ROOM – MONTICELLO CITY HALL “To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining City parks with a high standard of quality.” Members Present: Julie Jelen, Janine Kopff, Adam Leiferman, Maria Onnen, Daryl Tindle, Council Liaison Charlotte Gabler Staff Present: Sara Cahill, Beth Green, Tom Pawelk, Sue Seeger, Tricia Menth 1. General Business A. Call to Order: Chair Jelen called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. B. Approval of Agenda – Items may be added for discussion purposes or approval. Add: Resignation of Commissioner Turner Add: Haven Ridge Update COMMISSIONER LEIFERAMN MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDED ITEM. MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KOPFF. MOTION CARRIED. C. Approval of Meeting Minutes  Regular Meeting Minutes from March 28, 2024 COMMISSIONER TINDLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 28, 2024. MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURDOFF. MOTION CARRIED. D. Citizen’s requests and comments. Commissioner Leiferman said that he was at Ellison Park for a rental and there was a lot of great feedback that people love the park, that it’s beautiful and very well maintained. E. Commissions Liaison Updates. None. 2. Regular Agenda A. Consideration of approving draft recommendations from Davey Research Group Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance. Tom Pawelk reviewed the document with the Commission and explained that this is funded through the state DNR grant. For acknowledgements, will add PARC and City Council. Total trees inventoried were just under 9,000 ROW and public trees. We get to see the benefits of trees which have value as public infrastructure. Planting a tree today is a promise for the future. We have quite a bit of work to do with our shade tree program. Page 1 of 4  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 23, 2024 We don’t have the correct balance of species of trees and will have to change our diversity and keep in mind our legacy trees that we want to protect. The diversity will be followed for our right of way and public trees but not required for private lots. We have to change our thinking and look at what’s best for the long term. Asking for a footnote to say, “see section to explain the stormwater runoff savings”, per Commissioner Onnen. Turf grass can only take in so much and then it’s runoff whereas native grasses are a different absorption than turf because the roots are longer. The state statute has changed so if residents want to put their entire lawn in natives, they can, and we want to encourage residents to reach out to us first to discuss how that works. There are many benefits to having a natural yard, as there is a deeper root system and less runoff. Parks are teaming with Community Development on natives. The next phase is the tree canopy study for the entire community. That will provide us with resources for the future. We are using Tree Keeper software to manage our trees. This plan recommends a 2 to 1 replacement. Any recommendation with this plan will transfer into developments and development recommendations. Stormwater pond maintenance with trees. Talk with Engineering Department about preserving some trees. Trees are being cut down by residents. We need to do more education for the residents. The recommendation from Davey Resource Group is $700K for the next five years for maintenance. We will apply for grants as they become available to help pay for the maintenance, for contractors, etc. Pawelk asked the PARC to email him comments on the draft in the next couple weeks. Commissioner Leiferman stressed planting and planting at the appropriate depth. Inspection is key. Goal to have it wrapped up by the end of August for council to approve. Will keep moving forward and bring back to next meeting. 3. Discussion of Added Items A. Consideration to accept resignation from Commissioner Turner and authorize advertisement for commission member to fill her seat through 12/2025. Page 2 of 4  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 23, 2024 COMMISSIONER KOPFF MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION FROM COMMISSIONER TURNER AND TO ADVERTISE TO FILL HER SEAT THROUGH 12/2025. MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LEIFERMAN. MOTION CARRIED. B. Pickleball Subcommittee: Commissioner Kopff volunteered to serve on the Pickleball Subcommittee. C. Haven Ridge Update: Angela Schumann introduced Carla from Twin Cities Land, the rep for the Haven Ridge Development. She reviewed the new development plan with Parc. With the redesign they are able to save more trees by shifting the roundabout and sidewalk connections. They recognize trees as a huge asset to the community. One big change was adjusting the townhome neighborhood layout and shifting to smaller private streets rather than public roads. There were tweaks made to protect significant trees. The upper east portion is the first phase. Will continue to work through with developer to make sidewalk and trail connection in the future CIP. On the southern edge were able to get a proposed trail edge. The connections are number one and are included to the park. There will be a sidewalk that’s installed to connect people to the park. The power line may be undergrounded in the future. Angela Schumann walked PARC through the technical issues. Review plats for preliminary plat for park dedication. They have not made a preliminary plat yet as this is just a tweak to what was previously approved. This will come before the PARC formally when it is ready, and the final plat will happen in phases. The park dedication will be paid at prevailing rate at time of plat. Requirement is sidewalks on one side of street. Where trails meander outside of development that or those can be used for park dedication such as a paved trail at the south could be a park dedication trail. This is an update, but you will continue to see this as it moves through the preliminary plat and the final plat in phases. Just want you to see the big picture so as the pieces come to you, you can make sense of it all. The roundabout is a critical transportation feature. We have to provide a safe intersection and one that pedestrians can move through safely as well and roundabouts allow for that. Councilmember Gabler asked about crossing at the roundabout and adding a crossing up near where the townhome starts to the Hunters Crossing Park. 4. Updates A. MontiArts Update (SS). Updated included in agenda packet. Commissioner Leiferman congratulated MontiArts on the CMA Grant. He also volunteered to serve on subcommittee for the art scene mural inside the MCC building Page 3 of 4  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 23, 2024 gallery wall. Commissioner Onnen also volunteered to serve on the subcommittee. B. MCC Update (SC). Update included in agenda packet. C. Superintendent/Director’s Update (JB/TP). Update included in agenda packet. D. General Park Updates (TP).  West Bridge Park: Contractor installing block retaining wall and site landscape on Walnut. Council authorized hardscape installation of large play area along with the project as a change order. If the grant doesn’t go through in July, this gives Council an opportunity to move forward with the new play structure in 2025. We may be able to reinstall some structures that have been removed, music, diggers, etc. The existing playground is 25 years old. There are risks both ways, but we will have a park that’s operational for community events next year. If the grant is approved, the new playground could be installed in the spring and be ready for summer in 2025.  Turf Conversion: Currently drone spraying and will be seeding next week.  Romp & Stomp: A grant received from Cargill but there is still a $6,500 shortfall to fund it. Continuing to look for funding options. 5. Schedule Next Meeting  Next Regular Meeting: July 25, 2024, at 8 a.m. will be held in the Community Building onsite at West Bridge Park. 6. Adjournment COMMISSIONER LEIFERMAN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:53 A.M. MOTION SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MURDOFF. MOTION CARRIED. RECORDED BY: Beth Green DATE APPROVED: 7-27-24 ATTEST: Tom Pawelk Page 4 of 4