HomeMy Public PortalAbout02.26.2020_Park Commission Meeting MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 26, 2020
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in special session on February 26, 2020 at 6:00
p.m. at Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Ann Thies presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present: Ann Thies, Terry Sharp, Mary Morrison, Angela
Bernhardt, Troy Hutchinson
Commissioners Absent: Steve Lee, John Jacob
Also Present: Public Works Director Steve Scherer, Assistant City
Administrator Jodi Gallup, Planning Director Dusty Finke
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of the Minutes from:
January 15, 2020 Regular Meeting
A motion was made by Morrison and seconded by Sharp to approve the minutes from
January 15, 2020 with one change on page 2 by adding “walnut signage” to the goals
list. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update
Scherer provided an update to the Park Commission on recent City Council actions.
6) Diamond Lake Regional Trail – Three Rivers Park District
Representatives from Three Rivers Park District and SRF Consultants representing Three
Rivers Park District introduced the Diamond Lake Regional Trail Master Plan to the
Medina Park Commission. The discussion focused on gaining input from the
Commission on trail alignment options and opportunities. Public engagement
opportunities could happen at Medina Clean-up Day on April 25th, Bike Rodeo in May,
or during neighborhood Night to Unite parties in August. Below is a summary of the map
discussion:
Asked about using the Spring Hill Golf Course underpass of CR 6 at Tamarack
Dr.
Okay with trail alignment adjacent to, but outside Wolsfeld SNA. They were open
to a trail in the SNA if it was an option, but were informed that it likely was not
an option.
They like the diagonal corridor along Cherokee Road and Meadowwoods Trail as
an option to get from Tamarack Dr to Holy Name Lake.
Tamarack Drive is low and wet and would require a lot of boardwalk. Seek other
options.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 26, 2020
Medina City Hall
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Hunter Drive is the easier of the two roadway options (Tamarack/Hunter). But,
it’s straight and not very exciting.
Like the idea of connecting to Holy Name Park.
There are large undeveloped tracts of land north of Holy Name Lake that may
develop in the next 20 or so years, providing opportunity for easement acquisition
through park dedication.
The City has a trail easement east of Navajo Road West that could be used. This
could be used to extend a trail further west to Tamarack Dr.
The Met Council owns property south of Hamel Road that used to be a water
treatment facility.
Like the idea of connecting to Hennepin County Public Works.
Wayzata School District owns a large tract of land for a future middle and
elementary school south of Highway 55 at Tamarack Dr.
There will be a signal at Tamarack and Highway 55 in the future, when the school
develops.
The City looked into a pedestrian bridge over Highway 55 at Sioux Drive. The
cost was very high, so it was not pursued. This would be a good place for a
crossing of Highway 55.
There is affordable housing south of Medina Country Club on Clydesdale Trail.
The City owns two parcels northeast of Medina Country Club.
The group likes the idea of the trail going up the east side of Medina Country
Club.
There will be future development east of Arrowhead Drive, north of Highway 55.
Also, future development south of Meander Road, north of Highway 55.
There was interest in a trail near Medina Lake Preserve.
Suggestion that Highway 55 crossing further east may be better placed to serve
local non-motorized needs.
Some mentioned an interest in the corridor being closer to Uptown Hamel.
Three Rivers Park District representatives explained that the proposed process from here
is to bring the plan to the City Council in April and back to the Park Commission in
August. Collectively, we will come up with the best two trail options to go to the public
for input.
7) Hamel Athletic Club Request
Hamel Athletic Club (HAC) president Andy Servi provided an update on their program
to the Park Commission and made a request for additional field improvements to be
funded 100% by HAC. The requested field improvements include installing a new
outfield fence on quad 4 field to the regulation little league size, removing parts of the
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 26, 2020
Medina City Hall
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existing outfield fence to install t-ball fields in the excess/old outfield space, installing
new entrance gates, and installing a new solar powered scoreboard.
Discussion took place regarding the request to confirm that this was the appropriate field
to convert to a Little League Field. It was suggested converting the quad 3 field into a
little league field instead of the quad 4 field, so we could leave the outfield of quad 4
open for future parking space. It was noted that the quad 3 in-field is too large to be a
little league field at this time.
A motion was made by Bernhardt and seconded by Sharp to recommend to the Medina
City Council approval of the Hamel Athletic Club’s request. Motion passed unanimously.
8) Staff Report
2020 Park Commission Goals – Gallup distributed an updated 2020 goals list
from the Park Commission’s discussion in January. Thies stated that she would
volunteer to be on the Bird City subcommittee.
General Items – It was suggested to promote the Friends of the Park program at
Clean-up Day.
9) Adjourn
A motion was made by Hutchinson, seconded by Sharp and passed unanimously, to
adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup