Minutes - Council Work Session - 09/25/2012

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Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood advised that the Metropolitan Council, through Anoka County Parks, has opened public comment for the Rum River Regional Trail. He stated he had argued that it should be in Ramsey but Anoka County proposes it to be along County Road 7. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted that is one way to provide connections, via County Road 7. In addition, the City should still look at the Trott Brook Trail as being part of the solution; however, it involves traffic volumes and whether Mn/DOT turns back Highway 47. Councilmember Elvig stated at the Metropolitan Council Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC) meeting, there had been discussion of infrastructure, trails, and the importance of accessibility to promote better health. That initiative targets trails through Minneapolis and Uptown and found that people are flocking to those areas due to large regional trails, confirming they are a tremendous amenity. Councilmember Strommen stated the Council is being asked to ratify the trail methodology and trail priorities and asked whether the priority project is to complete the loop trail. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood explained the three steps identified in the staff report (Step 1 — Trail priority categories and ranking of major /significant trail gaps and projects; Step 2 — Trail priority methodology; and, Step 3 — Funding source categories for significant trails) was an internal document to work through the priorities and outcome from the Council's Strategic Work Session. Councilmember Strommen asked for the list of priorities. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted there are many projects listed. Councilmember Strommen stated the list indicates the only high priority is the Highway 10 overpass. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted The COR loop is another high priority project. Councilmember Strommen stated support to identify priorities and trail connections to first address including regional connections and safe passage to schools. She noted this will also be valuable from an external funding perspective that can be shown when seeking those funds. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood explained this is a bit of a struggle because there is such a vast need for trails, making it difficult to identify whether a one - quarter mile connection in an urban neighborhood is more important than a one mile segment of the loop trail. He stated he has identified the funding categories, which may drive the priority. Or, the list of projects (100 segments) can be reordered if so directed by the City Council. City Council Work Session / September 25, 2012 Page 3 of 8