5:00pm Commissioner Fine calls the Planning Committee to order ( and
the 5 + hour ordeal begins in the standing room only packed boardroom)
GM of Operations Mike Schmidt mentions that the XC ski trails were not
suppose to create trouble but sometime there are unintended
consequences.
Mary Lyn Pulsher of the staff gives a lengthy presentation on the
history of the Wild Flower Garden and presents the staff recommendation
that reaffirms the 1964 buffer zone policy (Xerxes AV to Wirth PKWY,
Glenwood AV to Wayzata BLVD ). The plan is to keep and restore natural
areas and promote low impact uses, no bike trails, on or off road.
They would also like better trail planning including better signs.
Restoring some of the area to the original Oak Savannah is also part fo
the plan. ( This does not address the new XC ski trails for the Loppet
that were created last winter). She showed quite a few before and
after pictures.
Liz's Note.... Apparently new XC ski trails were created last winter to
create a better route( less steep, wider and not on asphalt ) for the
Loppet and also provide a link to local schools. One trail comes
particularly close to the fence around the Wild Flower Garden within
the buffer zone. This spring the buckthorn was removed and some
heavier equipment left tracks after going inside the fence to eliminate
some diseased and dead trees. Though the fence was replaced and the
buckthorn area was replanted with native non invasive species the area
looks clear cut.
Commissioner Hauser starts the questions asking if there are "non built
trails" of which there are many and asks if this policy would deny MOCA
(Minneapolis Off-road Cycling Association) access to the area.
Per Mary Lyn they would have access to the west side of Wirth Park only.
Commissioner Erwin does not feel that cycling is high impact and there
is some discussion over biker remaining on designated trails or not and
the impact.
Commissioner Young asks if the Friends of the Wildflower Garden were
invited to the public meetings ( and mentions the myriad of e-mail she
has received on this issue)?
900 cards were sent out and at least 60 were to members
Liz's Note... This will be the first of many discussions about people
being notified... a word to all Minneapolitans... WATCH FOR POSTCARDS
FROM THE MPRB!!!
At this point Commissioner Dziedzic makes a substitute motion that the
staff meet with the Wildflower folks and the Loppet folks and find a
compromise
The time is now 5:30 pm and time for the public hearing on the St.
Anthony Parkway bike trail plan
First a 5 minute discussion breaks out among commissioners about time
limits as so many people have signed up to speak and it is decided that
1 and 1/2 minutes per speaker will be alloted...
Commissioner Dziedzic states he will make a motion for more meetings
later...
1. Don Pflaum, city planner and Minneapolis Bike Advisory Board
member... for the plan
2. Dan and Jody Hoffman, They would like to see a Master Plan for the
completed Grand Rounds before the project should even begin ( the bike
trail would cross their yard using the current plan)
3. Liz Wielinski .... let's just say I lost my temper ( see cable
repeats for red-faced tirade) because the majority of the folks signed
up to speak and mostly against had not been to any of the previous
public meetings held for the purpose of discussing this plan and were
unhappy because the planned route would cross in front of their
property ( on MPRB land ). They kept saying they were never notified,
the MPRB budget does not allow for hand engraved invitiations, ( see
above note ) but they were here this evening after Commissioner
Dziedzic in order to be "inclusive" hand delivered flyers to their
doors prior to the meeting ( did you do the same for the residents of
Nicollet Island regarding DeLaSalle and the athletic field
Commissioner????).
4. Mr. Gould address along the route... opposed
5. Jon Monahan opposed
6. Tracy Weinstein opposed
7. Andrew Vold opposed
8. Pastor Dodd of the Mount Carmel Lutheren Church ( the most affected
property, who had the sense to attend meetings and even arranged for
extra meetings with the staff ) not opposed and willing to host
further discussions at the church.
9. Matt McMerchy trail is needless... opposed
10. Doug Tanner opposed
11. Lars Olson ( the only neighbor besides myself that went on the
trail ride portion of the public meetings to see the route) supports
the plan
12. Jim ?? plan is fraught with safety issues opposed
13. Wayne Kafra opposed
14. Joel Bruckner serious concers opposed
15. Al Stansbury opposed
16. Peter Hucksman would like a bike trail but not willing to give up
land in his front yard that he thought he owned ( better talk to your
title company, you may be able to sue)
17. Archie Thomas opposed
18. Lorraine Rogers opposed
Public hearing is now closed
( had to split part 1 as it was too big look for part 1 1/2 next)
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
http://www.parkboardreform.org
http://www.mplsparkwatch.org
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