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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-18 PRC PacketAGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday, July 18, 2012 7:00pm Meeting Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. June 20, 2012 5. Visitor Presentations a. 6. Unfinished Business a. Joy Park Utility Easement Maintenance 7. New Business a. Fish Creek Master Plan and Management Plan 8. Staff Presentations a. Lions Park 9. Commissioner Comments 10. Adjourn — (9:00 p.m.) CITY OF MAPLEWOOD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 20, 2012 7:OOpm COUNCIL CHAMBERS — MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Roman indicated that there was a quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:02PM. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Commissioner Craig Brannon, present Commissioner Don Christianson, present Commissioner Peter Fischer, absent Chair Bruce Roman, present Commissioner Therese Sonnek, present, Commissioner Roy Adams, absent Commissioner RJ Commissioner Kii Sta Parks Manager,) 3. >APPROVAL B! Ayes: All a. May 16, 2012 Commissioner Erhardt requested that under Commissioner Comments, "Commissioner Erhardt stated that she liked Commissioner Sonnek's suggestion about having rock bands at the Maplewood Community Center as a place for adolescence to go and listen to these bands as well." be changed to "Commissioner Erhardt stated that she liked CommissionerSonnek's suggestion about having rock bands at the Maplewood Community Center as a place for adolescents to go and listen to these bands as well." 1 Commissioner Erhardt moved to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by Chair Roman. Ayes: All Abstain: Brannon, Schmidt The motion passed. S. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Recreation Coordinator —Neil Breneman Neil Breneman, Recreation Coordinator, presented information about the different recreation programs and events that he coordinates for the city. The Commission discussed the recreation programs with Neil Breneman. b. Resident, Dave Johnson,, 2587 Lydia, presented information about Joy Park and Joy Park Preserve. The Commission discussed Jov Park and Jov Park Preserve. 6. UNFINISHED 7. NEW BUSINE Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the Parks Commission vacancy. 8. a. wacistone aavanndn Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the Gladstone Savannah project. The Commission discussed the Gladstone Savannah project. b. Fish Creek Event Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, stated that the event was rescheduled due to weather. The event is in the process of being rescheduled and will be posted as soon as a date is decided on. c. Tennis Court Resurfacing Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the Tennis Court Resurfacing project. 2 d. Beaver Creek Preserve Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the progress of the Beaver Creek Preserve. The Commission discussed the idea of putting benches in Beaver Creek Preserve along the walking trail. 9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Christianson stated that we have an outstanding police department and to imply that or to say that our police and our police chief do not go after certain crimes because the City Council approves of those of crimes is reprehensible to bring into discussion. The police department does a good job policing our parks and has attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meetings in the past to discuss the issue of crimes in parks and what they are doing to help with the situation. He believes that they are doing a good job. Commissioner Sonnek stated that with all park protection against flooding. She hoc our parks and to remedy any problems it Commissioner Erhardt stated t years of Pleasantview Park she Pleasantview Park has been ex rain we have received she is worried about the as that a close eye is on what the rains are doing to iay cause. lived in Maplewood for 20 years and the first few d that they kept improving the park. She thinks that Chair Roman inquired about the Music in the Park music series and if anything has been planned in that venue with the City of North St. Paul. Chair Roman also would like to get a brief description of the Light It Up! Maplewood event that takes place on the 4` of July at Hazelwood Park. He stated that he would like to see this event happen each year and not to switch off between Light It Up! Maplewood and the Taste of Maplewood. Chair Roman stated that he believes that running the same event year after year will bring more people there over time. Chair Roman inquired about the property north of the Maplewood Library, which is not park land (across from Legacy Park), there is some sort of new development at the site. He would like to know what is being developed there. Jim Taylor, Parks, Manager, stated that it is the VA clinic that will be going in at that site. Chair Roman wanted to share information regarding the Fish Creek Barbeque, Bingo and Beer taking place Thursday, July 26, 6:OOPM- 9:OOPM at the Maplewood Community Center. It will be a fundraising event for Fish Creek to raise funds for the Fish Creek Bluffs. It is a family event with a barbeque buffet, face painting for the kids, and other various activities. The Lions are also putting on the BINGO with cash prizes. He asked everyone to mark it on their calendar so they can attend the event. 3 f07�e1�aL�111 :�i!IJilgi!11 Commissioner Brannon moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Schmidt The meeting was adjourned. Ayes: All Next meeting is July 18, 2012. MEMORANDUM TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator James Taylor, Park Manager DATE: 7/10/12 RE: Joy Park Utility Easement Maintenance In spring 2012, BP Pipelines, Inc. had a contractor remove trees and brush on their pipeline easement through Joy Park Neighborhood Preserve. Their purpose for clearing is primarily safety. The easement is 50' wide and extends above the ground. BP inspects the pipeline easement from the air and needs to be able to see the route of the pipeline without interference of tree branches and other vegetation. In addition, it needs to maintain immediate access to the pipeline in the event of an emergency. Ginny Gaynor visited the site on May 21, 2012, after brush removal was completed. At the June 2012 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, commissioners raised questions about the maintenance. James Taylor and Ginny Gaynor evaluated the site on June 29, 2012. Staff contacted BP in July and their representatives have been very helpful and cooperative. Below is a summary of our findings and recommendations in response to the concerns raised by commissioners. City staff will be visiting the site with Valley Branch Watershed District staff on July 12, so the information herein may be updated at the July 18 commission meeting. Observations and Discussion 1. Easement width. The pipeline easement is 50'. Staff paced off the width of the cut areas in several places and it was less than 50'. BP's representative indicated that they are diligent in measuring the easement. He also stated that the previous cut was less than 50' in many areas and, thus, a wider swath may have been cut this year than previously (but no more than 50'). 2. Tree removal near edge of easement. Commissioners were concerned that trees outside the easement may have been cut. Staff saw standing stumps from about five large trees (12 "+ diameter), and there may have been more. Most of these were right along the edge of the cleared area. The pipeline is checked by helicopter so it is important that the tree canopy does not extend into the airspace of the easement. BP's representative indicated that where possible they just remove branches overhanging the 50' easement. But, if a significant amount of the tree canopy is in the easement, they will remove the whole tree, since taking too much of the canopy would kill the tree. City staff supports this removal strategy. 3. Ruts from vehicles in the wetland. There were some ruts in the wetland and it looked like a vehicle had driven through the wetland. Due to growth of vegetation, the ruts were not as obvious as they had been during the May site visit. The contractor has indicated that work in the wetland was done by a bobcat with tracks, not wheels. Staff believes it will be least destructive to let this area revegetate naturally, and not to try to remove the depressions. The recommendations below address future work in wetlands that are in utility easements. 4. Oily sheen in wetland. Staff observed an oily sheen and an orange - colored growth in the open water area of the wetland. We believe the oily substance is a natural phenomenon (a biogenic sheen) caused by decomposition, and was likely present in prior years. We have observed a similar substance in the wetlands at the Priory Preserve each year and several years ago had a wetland scientist assure us that it was not petroleum at the Priory wetlands but a natural part of the wetland. The attached publication explains this phenomenon. Other publications suggest additional possible natural causes. Valley Branch Watershed District staff will look at this when they visit the site. 5. Fire in the pines. Maplewood Fire Department received no calls about a fire at Joy Park. Our park staff are not trained in fire investigation. But from a lay person's look at the site, we believe the fire was likely started in a brush pile on the interior of the pine plantation and spread from there. Near the pile, the fire scars on pine trunks are 4' to 5' high and the scars on trunks are much shorter as you move away from this area. We did not see evidence of fire near the utility easement. Our guess is that someone visiting the site started the fire, either as a recreational fire or accidently. The brush piles were created a few years ago by Century College volunteers who dissembled "forts" and structures in this area. 6. Vegetation regrowth. Vegetation is growing back throughout the easement. In areas that had a thick groundcover of grasses, the grasses have nearly completely filled in. In brushy areas, the brush is resprouting. There are some patches with little or no vegetative cover but there is enough shredded wood on the site to prevent erosion until the brush resprouts. In the wetland, some areas are completely vegetated and a few small patches do not yet have vegetation. Staff believes these will vegetate this summer — except for a small area that likely had less vegetation due to water flow. Re- vegetation of the site is on track. The city should consider taking advantage of the maintenance work done to transition this area into grassland. This could be done by herbicide application to the resprouts and seeding with prairie species. Recommendation Prior to conducting work on the site the city was notified and given an opportunity to discuss the project with BP's contractor. We had never had an issue with brush cutting on utility easements in our parks and preserves in the past, so staff approved the project proceeding. The only concern staff has with the way the project was done is that a vehicle was used in the wetland. This could have been avoided if staff had discussed the project in advance with the contractor. Our recommendations focus on this issue. Recommendation 1: The Parks Department should adopt a policy to discuss utility maintenance projects with contractors prior to project commencement to specify any special needs or conditions for work at the site. In particular: • Identify wetlands on the site and determine how the work can be done to minimize impacts to the wetland. This may include prohibiting use of vehicles in a wetland, doing work when the ground is frozen, or other strategies. • Discuss whether any trees outside the easement will need to be cut. • Discuss access to the site. Recommendation 2: The city should send a memo to BP Pipeline to be put in the file for this easement indicating that there are wetlands on this site and landowner needs to discuss special conditions with the contractor prior to easement maintenance. Attachment 1: Excerpt from A Field Guide to Aquatic Phenomena From A Field Guide to Aquatic Phenomena, http: / /www.urnaine.edu /waterresearch /fieldguide /Field %20guide.pdf An OILY SHEEN that reminds you of rainbow puddles in an asphalt parking lot might be from spilled petroleum. But "oil" can also come from natu- ral sources. Some bacteria that live in waterlogged places get their energy from iron and it is from bacteria or plant or animal decomposition. A YELLOWISH POWDER OR DUST on the surface of still water in spring and early summer is probably pollen from pine and other trees. After becoming water- logged, the pollen sinks to the bottom or may col- lect along the shore. Lines of pollen may be left on rocks as water levels drop in sum- mer. Sometimes pollen clumps together and forms small blobs. ORANGE OR REDDISH BROWN SLIME OR FLUFF is produced by a group of bacteria that use iron as an energy source. This is the same group of bacteria that create oily sheens. The masses of bacteria excrete slimy or fuzzy- On a windy day, LINES OF FOAM OR DEBRIS may form along the length of a lake, reservoir, or river. These lines are called windrows or Langmuir streaks. Wind can cause water to circulate in a pattern that makes material collect in lines on the surface. The lines are roughly parallel to the wind direc- tion, and the windier it is, the fur- ther apart the lines. WHAT'S THAT FLOATING ON THE WATER SURFACE? Iron bacteria. Photo courtesy C. Smith. MEMORANDUM TO: Environmental and Natural Resources Commission Parks and Recreation Commission Heritage Preservation Commission FROM: Ginny Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator DATE: July 10, 2012 RE: Fish Creek Master Plan and Management Plan INTRODUCTION Maplewood is developing a Master Plan and Management Plan for the Fish Creek parcel that the city is working to acquire. The project scope and schedule is outlined below. 1116Yfl1b1y M L I The city and its partners are working to acquire a 70 -acre parcel of land near Fish Creek in south Maplewood. The Conservation Fund (TCF) owns the land and the city has an agreement to purchase the land by Fall 2013. Once the land is purchased, 50 acres will be owned by the city and 20 acres will be owned by Ramsey County. The land acquired will be a natural area with opportunities for passive recreation. Grants received to help with site acquisition and restoration require that we prepare a Management Plan. Thus, the city and county will prepare a Master Plan and a Management Plan prior to owning the site. Development of the plans is a joint venture between Maplewood, Ramsey County, Great River Greening, and Friends of the Mississippi River. Project Scope and Process The Master Plan will be a site map that addresses recreational use of the site, trails and parking. It will be developed in conjunction with public meetings and prepared by city and county staff. The plan will cover the 70 -acre Fish Creek parcel being purchased and the adjacent County Open Space. The Management Plan will be a more detailed natural resources plan addressing site conditions and restoration. Great River Greening staff will prepare the Management Plan with assistance from city and county staff and input from the public meetings. The focus of the Master Plan and Management Plan is protection and enhancement of natural resources and providing access to the site while protecting natural and cultural resources on the site. Concepts for the Master Plan and Management Plan will be developed through a series of public meetings. Three commissions are being asked to participate in the planning process: Parks and Recreation, Environmental and Natural Resources, and Heritage Preservation. For the process to be effective, it is crucial that two to three members from each of these commissions attend the scheduled public meetings. Those commissioners can then update their commissions during monthly commission meetings. At the end of the process, project staff will present the plans to each commission for their review and recommendations to council. The Management Plan will include a brief summary of the archeological findings documented in Summit Envirosolutions' 2005 report for CoPar Development. Garrett Knutson, an archeologist with Summit Envirosolutions, will present historical and archeological information regarding the site on October 2, as part of the 2012 Fish Creek Events series. Everyone interested in site history is encouraged to attend this presentation. If commissioners and others have historical documentation on this site, please submit documents to staff. Preliminary Schedule July Send mailing to residents near the site and press release to local paper Tues, 8/7 -- Public Meeting #1, Background Information and Public Input, 6:30 p.m., Maplewood Nature Center, 2659 East County Road B, Maplewood Tues, 8/21 -- Public Meeting #2, Hike the Site, 6:00 -8:00 p.m., Meet at Carver Avenue and Henry Lane in south Maplewood, Hike 1 -1/2 to 2 miles on uneven terrain, some footpaths and some off -trail Tues, 9/11 -- Public Meeting #3, Review Concepts, 6:30 p.m., Maplewood Nature Center Tues, 10/2 -- Archeology of Fish Creek and the Woodland Culture, presentation by archeologist Garrett Knutson, sponsored by City of Maplewood and Maplewood Historical Society, 7:00 p.m., Ramsey County Library - Maplewood Late fall Commissions review the Master Plan and Management Plan For more information on the site, please visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us /fishcreek Restoration Project Great River Greening (GRG), a non - profit organization dedicated to community -based restoration of natural areas, received a $187,500 grant for restoration on the Fish Creek County Open Space and on TCF's parcel (future city land), and will begin work this fall. The city will provide $15,000 matching funds for the restoration grant, which will be used for development of the management plan and restoration activities. This will be covered by 2012 CIP funds for open space improvements, pending council approval. In conjunction with GRG, St. Thomas University has committed funds for tree planting on the county land and on the new parcel. Students planted trees on the county land this past spring and are scheduled to plant acorns and trees on a small area of the land owned by TCF this fall. TCF supports this restoration work occurring on the site prior to the city owning the site. City staff is supportive of this partnership and tree planting on a portion of the site. The area to be planted has not yet been delineated and will be determined when Great River Greening staff is further along in the site analysis and recommendations for target plant communities. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the three commissions participating in the Fish Creek Natural Area planning process each appoint two or three representatives to attend the public meetings.