Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/13/2014

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Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Olsen, Commissioners Barr, Mobry, and Chubb. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioners Bennett and Fyten. 5. COMMISSION BUSINESS 5.01: Recommendation to Begin the Public Engagement and Alternative Analysis for the Mississippi Skyway Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood presented the purpose of this case, is to consider a Park and Recreation Commission recommendation to the City Council in regard to the Public Engagement and Alternative Analysis process, as part of the Request for Proposals for permitting, geotechnical engineering and final design services for the Mississippi Skyway. In 2012, the City was successful is receiving two Transit Orientated Development (TOD) grants from Metropolitan Council, one of which was for the Mississippi Skyway. The pedestrian bridge, when funded, will connect residents and regional facilities on both sides of U.S. Hwy's #10 & #169 from the existing trail at Mississippi West Regional Park directly to the Northstar Station. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated the skyway will be the nexus of the regional trail and recreation systems — but it also provides connectivity for residents on the south side of the highway directly into the COR's existing and future retail and commercial destinations, and as such, promotes economic development and jobs, and thus a substantial part of the justification for the TOD investment. Using the established formula for determining the ridership `travel -shed' the Mississippi Skyway will add more than 8 resident commuters for the Northstar train from the south side of the highway. Ramsey is unique in having the most renowned river in North America as its southern border and this corridor along the river is also a very unique National Park in the United States known as the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The City continues to work with the Park Service and other public agencies in developing recreational amenities that serve all residents, like trails to and along the river as well as parks. Currently, the National Park Service's focus is building a network of `Alternative Transportation' system for accessing parks, which includes trail networks. Nice Ride bikes, water access and water trails, electric vehicle charging stations and of course the Metropolitan Transit system which includes buses and the Northstar commuter rail. As the proposed Mississippi Skyway literally connects, or will connect these systems and amenities, it has `risen to the top' of all the proposed Alternative Transportation projects within the 72 -mile National Mississippi River and Recreation Area. Parks & Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated as Congress regularly appropriates funds for National Parks (specifically for parks and not available to be used for streets, roads and highways), the TOD grant's deliverables will position the City of Ramsey, Anoka County and Metropolitan Council to partner with the National Park Service to access this funding as a project that is truly shovel- ready. Park and Recreation Commission /February 13, 2014 Page 2 of 5