The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About11-10-08November 10, 2008 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in special session on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor AI Rassier. Councilors Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz, Steve Frank, Rick Schultz. Administrator Judy Weyrens. Park Board Members Present: Chair Bruce Berghorst. Board Members Marge Lesnick, Chuck Muske, Allison Brown-Bell. Citv Representatives Present: Finance Director Lori Bartlet, Park Plan Consultant Veronica Anderson. Others Present: S. Paula Revier, S. Katherine Kraft Public Hearing. Master Park Plan: Mayor Rassier called the joint City Council/Park Board hearing to order and stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider adoption of the 2008 Master Park and Trail Plan. At this time Rassier turned the floor over to Veronica Anderson of SEH, consultant hired to prepare the master plan. Anderson stated that she has been working with the Park Board over the past months to develop a Master Park and Trail. The purpose of the Park Planning is: provides a picture of the current system - identifies issues and opportunities; responds to the needs and desires of community -based on community survey and open house; provides evaluation of parks within the system; provides vision, mission, goal and policy statements that establish clearly defined guidelines for developing a beautiful, well maintained and functional park and trail system; provides recommendations -general and specific; provides cost estimates for short, medium and long-term proposed improvements. The Plan included the following tasks: Project initiation; data collection and analysis -parks evaluations; visioning, goals and policies; park classification and LOS methodology; plan recommendations - concepts; draft park and trail system plans; final park and trail system plan. The data collected in the plan includes population growth, age groups, household size and recreation trends. Some of this data was collected through a survey that was sent with the bi-monthly utility bills. Anderson stated that the Park Board spent a considerable amount of time establishing the vision statement for the Master Plan and a mission statement for the Park Board. The Vision statement for the Plan is: St. Joseph shall provide an attractive, well-maintained park, open space and trail system that is safe and accessible to all community members and that provides a range of active and passive opportunities for diverse and changing recreation needs. The Park Board Mission statement is: To plan, develop, preserve, improve and maintain our City's parkland for a balanced and diverse park and trail system. Plan Highlights include: Goal: Provide a sufficient amount of public land to meet the recreational needs of existing and future residents. Objective: Provide 10 acres/1000 people to be set aside for parks, trails and open space to accommodate the needs of future residents in the year 2030. Policies: The shall continue to acquire land as needed to maintain the 10 acreas per 1,000 person standard within search areas shown in the Parks, Open Space and Trails Plan; Search for land appropriate to the intended recreational use; Pursue grants from regional, state and federal agencies to obtain funding for park and open space planning, acquisition and administration; Coordinate park system efforts with other functional and governing agency plans. Park November 10, 2008 Page 2 of 3 Classification: Klinefelter Park -Community Park (25.04 A); Centennial Park -Community Park (2.30 A); Cloverdale Park -Mini Park (.48 A); Hollow Park -Neighborhood Park (.54 A); Memorial Park -Special Use Park (4.89 A); Millstream Park - Community Park (35.0 A); Monument Park -Special Use Park (.31 A); Northland Park -Neighborhood Park (9.25 A). Existing Park Acres by type Park System -188.42 A; Community Parks - 62.34 A; Neighborhood Parks - 25.10 A; Mini Parks - .48 A; Special Use Parks - 5.2 A; Regional Parks 95.30 A. Anderson also presented the concept plans for each park illustrating uses. She stated that the concepts are merely a vision and before development can begin detail park plans will need to be developed. The Plan includes proposed costs for implementation of each concept plan and it will be up to the Park Board to prioritize the development based on available funding. Mayor Rassier opened the hearing to those present for questions and/or comments. S. Katherine Kraft, 104 Chapel Lane, spoke in support of the Plan. Kraft commended the City for undertaking the development of a Park Plan and encouraged the Council and Park Board to continue to set aside land for recreation and open space. Kraft stated that she was encouraged to see that the plan addressed the CR 75 underpass as it connects to Millstream Park. The underpass is in dire need of updating and currently it is the only safe way to cross County Road 75 to access Millstream Park. S. Paula Revier, 104 Chapel Lane spoke in support of the Plan. She also commended the City for planning for open space and recreation. Revier encouraged the Council to preserve high quality environmental areas as St. Joseph develops. Councilor Frank suggested that the City change the labeling of Field Street to some other name due to the complexity of the transportation study and connotations associated with the same. Frank questioned if the plan takes into account safety of existing equipment and new equipment/material available. Anderson stated that the Plan does include the safety review of the City's insurance carrier. As the Park Board moves forward with implementation of the plan alternative materials and equipment can be researched. Councilors discussed minor typographical changes such as changing the name of Kennedy to the St. Joseph Community School. Those present were asked to submit their changes to the City Office staff for inclusion in the final draft. Anderson stated that she would like to have the comments within the next 10 days to finalize the Plan. Symanietz made a motion to close the public hearing at 7:10 PM; seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously. Mayor Rassier stated that the Master Park and Trail Plan is a component of the Comprehensive Plan and the public hearing for the Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, 2008. The Comprehensive Plan cannot be finalized until the Master Park Plan is adopted. Weyrens stated that the Council could adopt the plan with the contingency that the minor corrections will be completed. Wick requested that the population projects included in the Master Park Plan be consistent with those of the Comprehensive Plan. Schultz made a motion to approve the Master Park and Trail Plan with the minor corrections and updating of the population data. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. The joint meeting of the Park Board and City Council was adjourned by consensus at 7:20 PM. Councilor Schultz left at 7:20 PM. November 10, 2008 Page 3 of 3 At 7:30 PM Frank made a motion to close the public meeting to consider and discuss strategy for labor negotiations or review negotiation proposals pursuant to Minn Stat Sec 179A.01 to 179A.25(the Public Employment Labor Relations Act) and pursuant to Minn Stat Sec 13D.03, Subd 1 (b)(the Open Meeting Law), The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. Mayor Rassier opened the meeting at 8:30 PM at which time Symanietz made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Wick and passed unanimously by those present. ~G~% ~ <~:~ dy \IV yrens,/ ~ `~ ' trator