INDIANAPOLIS GREENWAYS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING – June 24, 2009
5 p.m., CityCountyBuilding - Room 118
Board Members Present: Greg Silver, Mike Vollmer, Ken Pendleton, Gene Schulstad, John Myers, , Greg Henneke and Mary Ellingson
Board Members Absent: William Mooney , Joseph Shikany, Joyce Sommers,Lisa Hicks and Richard Quinn
Others Present: Paul Smith, Indy Parks and Christina Jones, Indy Parks
Meeting was called to order at 5:00Pm by Chairman Silver followed by introduction of the Board. Minutes from December 2008 and April 2009 was approved.
Jones reported that the newly assigned Greenways Manager, Al Ensley, has been called up to serve in Iraq. Al’s last day with the Department was May 22nd the City will retain his job until his return in May of next year. Don Colvin, Deputy Director and Andre Denman, Parks Principal Planner will be the interimAdministrators of Greenways during Al’s absence.
The Committee Members and Christina Jones welcomed Mary Ellingson as a new member of the Greenways Development Committee. Ellingson is a two year resident of Indianapolis, Mary is fromNaperville, Illinois where she served as a member of the City County Council.
Jones reported that during the Indy Parks Summer Kick-off Celebration June 24th The Monon Trail received recognition for being inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The Monon Trail was featured as Trail of the Month on their website, highlighted in the Rail Trails Magazine and received signage for the Monon Trail.
Paul Smith, Real Estate Manager for Indy Parks reported that the three properties along the Monon Trail was consider beach front property and that advisors thought we should not use for office space instead seek to market as revenue generating facilities. A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the three (3) properties on the Monon received very good responses. The successful vendor wanted all three properties but due to her desire to make more changes to the Boulevard Station than we are will because of its historic significant she has since been offered a different location. A second RFP will happen for Boulevard Station next year. We expect some interim operation this summer and hope to have some permanent use in early 2010. The Greenways Office will be moving to 6820 E. 32nd (Shadeland) for better access to the maintenance staff. The successful vendor will be involved as possible with Greenways offering limited information to trail users.
Henneke inquired about a clause in the agreement that the Greenways Foundation would always have a presence in the Depot. Smith recalled some language that indicated that as long as the Greenways Office was in the building that the Greenways Foundation would have a space. Smith stated that “if the Greenways Foundation had heart burn over this we would be happy to discuss and work through it with them.”
Henneke suggested that since the tile transfer was less than smooth that we should at least talk to the Greenways Foundation about it first. Silver said we should ask City Legal to take a look at the document to assure no surprises arise.
Jones gave an update on the Pennsy Trail segment between Arlington Avenue and Shortridge Road. The paving is scheduled to start tomorrow pending on Mother Nature. Images were shown of then and now progress being made to the area. A dedication will be planned for later this summer or early fall.
Jones report on the South White River is that Indy Parks is still in conversation with CSX for agreement. We are hopeful we can still meet the fall letting schedule. An easement with the Department of Defense is still being sort as well.
Lilly Day of Service brought out as many as 9,500 volunteers that completed between 50 and 60 projects throughout the City.Some of their hard work can be seen on the Monon Trail at 64th Street on the Roger’s Pool building where a mural was painted by Broad Ripple High School Students, the image is a scene from one of the Welcome to Broad Ripple postcards. And a mural of a different flavor with large colorful flowers can be seen along Westfield Boulevard at 65th Street. Members of Broad Ripple Village (BRVA), Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), Harmony Group and Meridian Kessler Neighborhood Association (MKNA) partnered with Lilly to create a number of small flower beds in the Broad Ripple area. At the corner of Westfield and the Monon is just one of many. Along Pleasant Run Trail between Raymond Street and Keystone Avenue on both sides of the Creek 610 trees and shrubs were planted. Trees were planted in OrangePark as well. New type of beaver protection cages were placed on the trees that were planted. One hundred sixty-one trees were planted in TarkingtonPark, 300 at WashingtonPark and 200 trees were planted at OscarCharlestonPark. Additionally, the groups painted trash barrels, shelters and picnic tables.
Jones reported that the north bank of the Central Canal Towpath was again being replanted due to lack of maintenance the last planting failed. JF New is now under contract to replant the area with shrubs, wild flowers and perennials also to maintain the area. Plants were chosen to attract birds, bees and butterflies for families. Jones is working with BRVA on a plan for next year’s Lilly Day of Service in the Broad Ripple area.
Code Blue emergency call boxes on the Monon are checked weekly to facilitate any maintenance issues and Park Ranger can be seen patrolling the Trail. The Indy Works Summer Program enables us to have a group of students for 6 weeks from mid June to July 17th. They served as Trail Monitors, they helped with landscaping and research projects.
Donald Colvin, Deputy Director and Christina Jones, Parks Planner have been invited to attend the next Nora Community Council Meeting on August 6th to talk about the Kroger going in at 86th and Monon. Jones reported that Kroger was advised by Department of Public Works (DPW) to work with Indy Parks before any drainage permits can be obtained. Urban Forestry, Paul Pinco and Lindsey Purcell evaluated the trees on the west side of the Monon at 86th Street. Forty (40) shade trees will be removed and Parks’ policy has a replacement ratio of 3 to 1 that’s 120 trees. Due to overhead power lines and visibility of Kroger building only 24 trees will be re-planted there the remaining 96 trees will be paid for and delivered this fall to be used at Eagle Creek Greenway. In addition, Kroger is obligated to install underground tanks to hold water that will be filtered and slowly released into the drainage swale which drains under the Monon out onto the east side of the trail. Ego Logic is contracted to provide three batches of plants for the drainage swale, soil is wetter in some areas and dryer closes to 86th Street therefore plants will be selected accordingly. Kroger is obligated to maintain the area for a period of twenty (20) years.
Meeting adjourned.
Next Greenways Meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2009 at 5:00PM, 200 East Washington Street, City County building, room 118.
Respectfully submitted by Annie Brown.