02-11-2026 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Packet (1)

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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes January 14, 2026 --------- Page 5 of 6 signs in April. Chair Anderson and Commissioner Stewart said there are already some very large signs on the Sherburne County portion of the trail at major trail heads and just past the observation deck where the Elk River portion turns over to Sherburne County. Commissioner Goodwin asked where these signs Mr. Shelby presented tonight will go on the trail. Councilmember Grupa asked if they wanted to take a vote on who wants striping and who doesn’t. Commissioner Niziolek said that he uses the trail a lot and most of the issues he encounters are due to people using the whole trail and not choosing a side. He said he has to guess which side they are going to move to when he is riding up behind them on his bike and that a stripe would give a clear understanding of how people can use the trail one side or another. Commissioner Fermoyle said in her experience users on the trails usually say on your left or would communicate in some way. Chair Anderson said he has concerns about the costs. Councilmember Grupa said he doesn’t see people following the stripin. Chair Anderson and Commissioner Niziolek said in the metro most trails are striped. Commissioner Fermoyle asked why the other shareholders said no to striping the trail. Mr. Shelby said primarily cost and they also questioned if it would be followed. Commissioner Loidolt suggested they start with basic signage and see how that goes. He doesn’t see spending the money on striping right now. He also said that he thinks this part of the trail is used more by walkers in the nearby neighborhoods than by bikes that use the larger portion of the GNT. Commissioner Niziolek is concerned about collisions with e-bikes. Commissioner Loidolt and Commission Stewart do not think the striping will prevent the collision. Chair Anderson said he is more worried about walking and getting hit by a bike than when he is on a bike. Mr. Stremcha said at trail heads you could spray paint bike symbols and directional signs. Commissioner Niziolek said that verbiage should state specifically to stay to the right side and pass on the left. Commissioner Stewart said that we need to educate people, so they are aware. Commissioner Goodwin suggested adding an educational event at Woodland Trails Regional Park in the Spring. Mr. Shelby explained that this event is already in the works for this year with the police department. They used to do a bike rodeo event in the past, but it hasn’t happened in awhile. Mr. Shelby shared that the Elk River Police Department were awarded a grant for this year. Commissioner Stewart said that Three Rivers Park District has done something like this and it was very popular. Commissioner Goodwin said that she likes Mr. Stremcha’s suggestion of painting 6 locations. Commissioner Goodwin said maybe the Police Department could make a mailer about e-bikes being on the rise. Chair Anderson said that now we have the ordinance, there will also be a social media campaign. He said education should be basic such as you can only ride on paved trails, and what you can ride on and what you can’t. Commissioner Stewart referenced bikemn.org as a resource for staff to use. Commissioner Goodwin asked where they would put the stencils on the trails. Chair Anderson said they could discuss where to start. Commissioner Loidolt said he thinks it should be simple or people won’t pay attention. Mr. Stremcha pulled up an example of a trail graphic on the screen of a person walking, a bike, an arrow, DRAFTPage 6 of 22