Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 09/14/2006

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Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated the Commission is asked to review the study and recommend City Council adopt a Resolution supporting the inclusion of the Mississippi River Trail within the Regional Park and Trail system. Commissioner aIds asked if there were segments of the trail that are not completed and did the resolution allow those segments to be completed. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated that was correct. It is part of the National Park Service Unit so he thought there was a lot of potential partners that will make this connection occur sooner than later. The first and most important connection is getting the connection between Anoka and Ramsey at Kings Comer. Chairperson Johns stated with the designation of regional trail would they still need to use funds for maintenance. She wondered if there was an advantage to doing this. Parks Supervisor Riverblood indicated there is an advantage but he did not think the Met Council would fund this anytime soon. The first step is to put it in the five year plan. He stated he did not see any maintenance funds to be available soon but he thought they would share maintenance with other cities around them that use the trails. He stated this would also connect to the Wayside Rest Area. He thought there was a lot of benefit to having this trail. Chairperson Johns stated this is an intrical part of the trail system and has been planned since the beginning. Motion by Commissioner aIds, seconded by Commissioner Shryock, to recommend City Council adopt a resolution supporting inclusion of the Mississippi River Trail through Ramsey in the Regional Park and Trail system. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Johns, Commissioners aIds, Shryock Erickson and Lehman. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Hansen and LaMere. COMMISSION/STAFF INPUT Civil Engineer II Linton stated in October they will be back at the Fire Station he thought for the last time. They are supposed to move at the end of October 2006. Chairperson Johns asked where Happy Days this year was going to take place. Civil Engineer II Linton indicated it would take place outside of the new City Hall. Parks Supervisor Riverblood stated the building at Central Park is moving slow but there has been some progress made. The quote came in at $79,000 for rest rooms and water. He explained they are looking at getting water from the existing building and trenching to the septic system there also. They are looking at the Park Trust Fund for a funding source. Park and Recreation Commission/September 14, 2006 Page 3 of 4