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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 01-31-08 NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE January 31, 2008 — 7:00 p.m. New Richmond Civic Center 156 East First Street, New Richmond, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ADOPTION OF AGENDA DATE OF NEXT MEETING — February 5, 2008 PARKS DEPARTMENT NEW BUSINESS: ST. CROIX COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN Presentation — Question /answer session (approximately 20 minutes) PUBLIC HEARING OLD BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise DATE: January 16, 2008 COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS (Items may be taken in different order) *Additions /Changes /Corrections a �. UNOFFICIAL ST. CROIX COUNTY LAND & WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE New Richmond Civic Center, New Richmond, WI January 31, 2008 Members Present: Ron Raymond, Lois Burri, Sharon Norton- Bauman, Bill Peavey Members Absent: Gene Ruetz - excused Park Staff Present: Bob Heise, Director; Dave Larson, Operations Manager Regional Planning Staff Present: Ann Schell, Associate Planner -West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Others Present: Jeff Jordheim, Glenwood City; Brian VanSomeren, Baldwin; Maeta Gherty, Hudson; Mark Gherty, Hudson; Don Schumacher, Town of Rush River; Dan Bauer, Town of Kinnickinnic; Janet Bauer, Town of Kinnickinnic; Jane Hansen, New Richmond; Maggie Hansen, New Richmond; Greg Olson, Town of Hammond; Steve Lewis, Town of Star Prairie; Michael Kamm, Town of Warren; Ron Merrill, Hudson; Ken Bogner, Hudson; Jim Heebink, New Richmond; Marian Webber, Town of Troy; Jim Webber, Town of Troy; Jim Nelson, New Richmond; Sue Lohmeier, Woodville; Joe Kerlin, New Richmond; Peter Lohmeier, Woodville; Jill Berke, Town of Troy; Jan Cuccia, Town of Troy; Elsie Take, Hudson; Ray Takle, Town of Hudson; Art Doyle, Bike Rider Advocate; Jean Hoffman, Town of Somerset; Jerry Bauer, City of Hudson Chair Raymond called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Action on Previous Minutes: None Adoption of Agenda: Burri made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Peavey. Carried. PUBLIC HEARING — ST. CROIX COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Bob Heise started by giving a brief overview of the planning process for the St. Croix County Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. Ann Schell continued the power point presentation with a brief synopsis of the draft plan. Questions /Comments: Chair Raymond asked for questions from the floor. Several individuals addressed the Committee regarding the planning process to date, funding issues, and inquired about the next step in the process. PUBLIC HEARING Chair Raymond explained the public hearing process and Bob Heise read the official Public Hearing notice as posted. Chair Raymond opened the Public Hearing at 8:03 p.m. • Comments: • Jill Berke, Town of Troy Park Board Chair, displayed township map of the bicycle and pedestrian routes as approved by the Troy Town Board. The presented map highlighted four additional segments and requested they also be adopted into the County bicycle and pedestrian plan. Jan Cuccia, Town of Troy Park Board member, presented letter from township with formal written request for the inclusion of the four additional trail segments. • Greg Olson, Town of Hammond resident, requested that the County look at a bike license fee similar to county park fees to help offset costs. • Jane Hansen, City of New Richmond resident, encouraged development of bicycle paths and trails. • Sue Lohmeier, Village of Woodville Trustee, significant number of people have requested more trails in our area, especially in safe areas for families. The local school district started their Community Education project with a bike tour. Tour attracted over a hundred people the first year. They never anticipated that kind of support. She believes people will use trails if they exist and are advertised right. • Jerry Bauer, City of Hudson resident, need to review criteria for having paved shoulders on busy roads. Look at sections of County roads for connectors to town roads which have lesser traffic volumes and speeds. Good way to set priorities. We need safe routes to get to areas of lesser travel which are much easier to ride on. • Marion Webber with River Valley Trails, wished to emphasize other trails around us in close proximity and that we explore connectors to these other trails, i.e. Gandy Dancer, Minnesota trails, Prescott trail, Red Cedar; this would offer a lot of appeal for nice evening and weekend rides. Look at bottlenecks, study ways to improve safety and help people get around. She commented that there are no helmets on bikers on cover of draft plan. • Jim Nelson, Town of Richmond resident, if part of goal is for family oriented trails, he doesn't see town or county roads as a safe viable avenue. Ideal alternative for County to pursue railroad grade Hudson to Superior — good for bike trail and other uses. Look at offering check -off on County taxes for trail uses; dollars better spent on trail then expanding runway at airport or extending fence three quarters around airport. • Ray Takle, Town of Hudson resident, proposes Committee explore the possibility of turning Wildwood Trail over to WI DNR to let them develop it as a bike trail. They require a trail pass to use; I have no problem paying to ride. Wildwood Trail usage is stagnant, under utilized and serves so few residents. It could benefit more users than it presently does. The existing surface isn't suitable for biking, by the time the County gets done improving the surface I'll be dead. • Jim Webber, River Valley Trails, I just like to thank the County for pulling this together and doing a total plan for the County and trying to bring all jurisdictions into the process. Now we have something real that we can work with and get money for. Close Public Hearing: Burn made motion to close public hearing, seconded by Norton - Bauman. Carried. Public Hearing closed at 8:20 p.m. Chair Raymond expressed that the draft trail plan is a maturity on behalf of the County and Towns. Raymond thanked the people on the committee and also offered thanks to everyone for their input. Chair Raymond adjourned meeting at 8:22 p.m. Dave Larson Recording Secretary