Ely Minnesota

Regular meeting held at the Ely Recreation Center (ERC) on Main Street instead of Council Chambers. Park & Recreation Board meetings are not usually recorded by the City. There are 3 video clips of this meeting posted by Citizens for Transparency, because there were 2 outdoor “field trips” that were not recorded.

Tonight was perhaps an record-setting meeting in terms of the number of recommendations made to City Council. Many of the recommendations were done outside and should appear in Park & Rec’s minutes posted in City Council’s packet.

Part A (approx 8 minutes) starts with usual discussion about agenda, etc. New Board Member Steven Toddie welcomed.

Chair Morgan Sauls and Adam Bisbee were invited to attend the Wednesday (Sept 18) Planning & Zoning meeting to start discussion on green spaces. If others from Park & Rec want to attend, they should consider attending as public and not as Park & Rec Board Members, or just not attend, so there are no issues about quorums and open meeting laws. Council Members Adam Bisbee and Angela Campbell (Council Rep on P&Z) are not voting members of their commissions, so they can both attend.

Abby Dare voted in as Vice Chair of Park & Rec Board.

Part A was followed by “walking field trip” outside to the skateboard area. Two girls formally recommended repairs and changes. Park & Rec voted on several recommendations for action. See their Sept 16th minutes when posted in Council packet. For privacy reasons, this was not recorded.

Part B (approx 47 minutes) Discussion begins with North Country Trail Town memo of understanding from Steve Piragis and Ozzie Reif. An official ribbon-cutting event at noon on Sept 28th at Hidden Valley. Community involvement and groups shared.

Other topics: replacement of drum head at Whiteside Park and how to deal with vandalism in the parks, including using cameras. Trail maps – which ones and where are they (should be) available.

Abby Dare would like more pollinator gardens, rain gardens, etc. Discussion followed. She’ll bring more info later. Park & Rec would like to collaborate with others. Sustainability is important. Maybe make it part of Comp Plan. Make it part of Park & Rec mission. Gardens are hard to maintain. Should we consider private enterprise to maintain?

Other topics: hockey rink repairs, stories, costs, sharing. Should Park & Rec set up a study session for public to get together and talk about multi-recreational activities (mainly sports)? Yes. Mural painting at Semers Pavilion. There are various artists and NLAA are interested.

Comprehensive Plan. Scott Kochendorfer suggested there be a Google document shown on the overhead screen at the Planning & Zoning meeting.

Part B was followed by “walking field trip” to Pillow Rock (greenstone rock formation). Park & Rec voted on several recommendations about new signage, removal of posts, and clearing/weeding of Pillow Rock area. See their Sept 16th minutes when posted in Council packet. Due to expected rain, this excursion was not recorded.

Part C (approx 20 minutes long) starts with a discussion of designated dog-friendly area near softball field. Bruce Wheelright presented progress his group has made. Questions, answers and comments followed. There are issues about wet areas. Dogs are not allowed on ball fields. The dog park group is still working on nonprofit status. Liability costs might be $800/year??

Scott Kochendorfer presented information from the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) for “A comprehensive community wellness program.” Lots of discussion about possibilities for Ely and court design reflecting Ely.

Council Member Adam Bisbee shared information he found about liability when public activities take place on private property.

Scott Kochendorfer, Planning Administrator, discussed the possibility of developing mountain bike and dirt bike trails by the college and along the south side of Miners Lake). The City has been talking with a trail developer for the area by the college. The maps presented are hard to read, so listen closely to the presentation.

Special notes from FM: In response to this posting, many have commented about having non-motorized mountain and dirt bike trails closer to downtown Ely, near the college, etc. Many new people I’ve spoken to want motorized bike trails. The purpose of the Citizens for Transparency website is to provoke citizen action. Why promote transparency when nobody acts? Yes, saying “motorized” provokes. Scott Kochendorfer did not clarify. Citizens need to appear at commission, committee and board meetings to propose what they want, what they feel fits in with their neighborhood and surrounding community, whether businesses or nature. Look through previous recordings of Park & Rec to see when “quiet bikers” last presented. Look at their minutes. There is a different kind of open discussion that flows when citizens directly approach the commissions, committees, and boards at their meetings. If you can, compare the discussions (of previously recorded) Park & Rec meetings when citizens directly presented vs. when The City presented what was lobbied to them. In both instances, there needs to be more reflection on the community-wide vision for areas — not just piecemeal decisions based on a zoning code of open, commercial, etc. There are MANY voiced and unvoiced opinions about projects, trails, developments, etc. for the same desirable areas in Ely. How can Park & Rec or Planning & Zoning select among the BEST proposals when they are currently presented in piecemeal fashion? We need more quiet bikes and bikers in and around Ely. We need more discussions that evolve around what additional services, amenities, signage, parking stands, “repair stations,” etc. are needed, as well as safe paths. Park & Rec meetings are the most open, transparent and welcoming format for bikers to DIRECTLY share ideas and proposals with the WHOLE community.