Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout07.27.2016_Park Commission Meeting MinutesMedina Park Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 27, 2016 Medina City Hall Page 1 of 2 The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in special session on July 27, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Steve Lee presided. 1) Call to Order Commissioners Present: Steve Lee, John Jacob, Dino DesLauriers, Michelle Beddor, Lori Meehan, Nate Pearson, and Lisa Cole Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: City Planner Dusty Finke, Public Works Director Steve Scherer and Assistant City Administrator Jodi Gallup (arrived at 8:15 a.m.) 2) 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan Review for Parks & Trails Discussion centered on establishing the Park Commission’s priorities for the trail plan. Several members raised specific questions concerning existing and prospective trails and what trail improvements might be available on existing pathways. A map offering a more modest paved trail network for Medina was also discussed. It was agreed that discussion of specific trails (existing and new) are better addressed after the issues identified below are resolved. The summary of priorities discussed is as follows: 1. Reasonable budget - Medina’s paved trail system must be constructed and operated within a reasonable budget for a city of our size. The Park Commission will need to set an appropriate budget given our current funds and expected growth out to 2040. State and County Grants, cooperative joint ventures and other partnerships should be utilized to reduce the costs of construction and maintenance. Utility and other governmental right-of-ways should be used for construction of our trails where such use decreases our cost and increases safety. 2. Connect neighborhoods & create loops - within our budget, we would like to connect neighborhoods and create loops (versus dead ends). Priority should be given to areas with the greater population density and where there is already a lot of usage. Trails should also create north-south and east-west corridors connecting to adjacent cities trails where possible. Connections to trails in neighboring cities will effectively expand our trail system and should be a priority as well. 3. Use of existing shoulders - where it is safe, use of existing shoulders should be used to save on costs. 4. Safety – trails should be made as safe as possible, using the latest, cost effective methods, to protect our citizens. Also we should be mindful of the trails location with respect to police protection and easy access if a citizen is hurt on the trail. The Park Commission had the following unanswered questions: Medina Park Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 27, 2016 Medina City Hall Page 2 of 2 1. When do we expect the money to flow into the parks and trails budget over the next 25 years? In other words, when will we have the funds necessary to construct the trails we want? 2. What portion of a parks and trails budget should normally and reasonably be spent on trails for a city of our size? What do other cities of similar size spend on trails in terms of dollars and percent of parks & trails budget or overall city budget? 3. Where are the private trails in our town (paved and unpaved), which are used by neighborhoods. Can these mitigate the need for some city trails? 4. What is the realistic time frame for construction of the trails we prioritize? What barriers bar us from building the trails, (e.g. current owners of the land don’t want a trail). 5. Are there ways we can raise additional fees (e.g. charge developers more when land is developed) without impacting the local tax rate? The Park Commission directed staff to put together a draft plan based on the priorities discussed at this meeting. The Staff will also offer input on the questions noted above. It was noted that discussion on the plan would continue at the August 17, 2016 regularly scheduled Park Commission meeting. 3) Adjourn There was a general consensus to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 a.m. Minutes prepared by Steve Lee and Jodi Gallup.