Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/01/2014 - 01/09/14

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1) Park and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes dated November 14, 2013. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Olsen, Commissioners Bennett, Fyten, Barr, and Mobry. No: None. Absent: Commissioner Chubb. 5. COMMISSION BUSINESS 5.01: Recommend Funding for an Extension of the Alpine Drive Trail Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood reviewed that Anoka County is in the process of completing Plans and Specifications for bidding comprehensive improvements to the intersection of Nowthen Boulevard (County State Aid Highway #5 or CSAH 5) and Alpine Drive (a city street). The project would be let and under construction early in 2014 to take advantage of partial Federal funding. Together with signalization would be turn lanes, medians and the potential to close a significant trail `gap'. At the December 10, 2013 regular City Council meeting, there was much discussion on some of the improvements, particularly medians and the trail, and both Anoka County and City Staff continue to refine options and details, and communicate with adjoining landowners — with the Joint Powers Agreement (approving the project) anticipated to return to Council in January 2014. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated the purpose of this case is to recommend a funding source for the trail, to close the aforementioned trail gap in a scenario that meets with Council approval. The estimated cost of the trail is $17,000, with a part of the cost `written down' by a new easement over existing parkland discussed below. Two exhibits provided for the Commission depict the project — the first showing the generalized trail location of the trail(s), the second the larger project detail. Riverblood reviewed the following important detail from the City Council's December 10, 2013 agenda pertaining to this case: Observations /Alternatives: Stormwater ponding — The City owns a 0.57 acre parcel of property in Alpine Acres in the northwest quadrant of the intersection, which is dedicated in a plat as parkland. According to Anoka County, the property has an assessed value of $3,300 and a portion of "the property is classified as wetland, rendering it largely undevelopable. Anoka County is therefore proposing that the city provide a drainage easement over the entirety of this parcel to allow the County to use this parcel for stormwater ponding to accommodate the increased stormwater runoff due to the increased impervious area associated with these improvements. Due to access and grading issues associated with the potential development of this site as parkland, and because an opportunity exists at this time to exchange the use of this parcel for cost reductions related to construction of a missing trail connection north of Alpine Drive between CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) and Kryptron Street, staff recommends providing Anoka County with the requested drainage easement over this parcel. Alpine Drive trail connection (CSAH 5 (Nowthen Blvd) to Krypton Street) — Numerous trails exist in the project area but a gap exists in the trail system north of Alpine Drive between CSAH Park and Recreation Commission / January 9, 2014 Page2of7