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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070521 - VIII-A-1VIII-A-1 MEMO To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Tom Montgomery Date: May 15, 2007 Re: Remembering With Dignity -Thomas Avenue Access Request Remembering with Dignity has requested that the City remove the barricades from the north end of Thomas Avenue and extend a gravel drive approximately 75 feet north to connect to the existing State Hospital Cemetery access trail that runs along the perimeter of the DNR Wildlife Management Area. Remembering with Dignity has received a grant to place headstones on approximately 500 of the 900 unmarked grave sites and would like to open up the cemetery site to public visitation. Remembering with Dignity has distributed a flyer to the neighborhood explaining their plans and goals for the cemetery site. I received two comments from residents in response to the flyer; both homeowners were concerned about ATV or snowmobile traffic in the area. Remembering with Dignity also coordinated a meeting between the DNR, the Hastings Veterans Home and City staff. The DNR announced plans to convert the Wildlife Management Area to a Scientific and Natural Area, which will result in a hunting prohibition and more restrictions on motorized vehicle use. The DNR also expressed concerns about illegal motorized vehicle activity within their property and noted that they were taking additional steps to coordinate enforcement with the DNR Conservation Officer and the Dakota County Sheriffs Department (the DNR property is outside of the Hastings city limits). The DNR will provide the City signage prohibiting unauthorized motorized vehicle access as part of the proposed Thomas Avenue access construction. The DNR will also be investigating the feasibility of installing fencing along the cemetery access to further prevent unauthorized motor vehicle access to the remainder of the site. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Council is requested to authorize City staffto remove the existing barricades at the north end of Thomas Avenue and construct a 20 foot wide gravel access to connect to the existing cemetery access trail. •>,r . t -- Cn'YOF NASTINfiS ~It~1 n REMEMBERING KITH DIGNITY Honoring those who lived and died in Minnesota's state institutions by telling their stories and j preserving our dignity. Participating Organizations: Tom Montgomery, Director Public Works Department Advocating City of Hastings Change 101 E. 4t'` St. Together Hastings, MN 55033 Alliance for the December 5 2006 Mentally !Il of , Minnesota Arc Anoka, Dear Mr. Montgomery, Ramsey, Suburban Enclosed is a request for street improvements to Thomas Drive, with the purpose of improving public access to the Hastings State Hospital Cemetery. We have previously Arc Minnesota met with John Zgoda at the site and spoken with him about this matter. Disabled Student Please inform me about the process this request will undergo. If I can be of assistance Culture! Center with more information or to answer questions, please call me at 651-641-0297. Disability Sincerely, Law Center _ ~~ ! MNASH < Disability Advocacy J' Fassett-Getman emembering With Dignity People First Advocating Change Together Central 1821 University Ave W, Suite 306 S St. Paul, MN 55104 People First 651-641-0297 xandiyohi rwd@selfadvocacy.org People First Minnesota People First Ramsey People First Suburban .. Remembering With Dignity is housed at Advocating Change Together: 1821 University Avenne Went, Suite 306-Booth Saint Pant, Minnesota 55104 Telephone 651/641111297 Fax 651/64L4053 E-mail RWDC~seltadvocacv.or¢ Web Site wwwselfadvocat:v.or¢ ~~EMEMBERING v~ITH DIGNITY Honoring those who lived and died in Minnesota's state institutions by telling their stories and preserving our dignity. Date: December 2006 To: City of Hastings, Public Works Department participating From: Remembering With Dignity Organizations: . Proposal: Improved Public Access to Hastin¢s State Hospital Cemetery Advocating Change Together Remembering With Dignity Alliance for the In 1994, Remembering With Dignity (RWD) -- a coalition of disability rights, advocacy, and Mentally Ill of volunteer organizations --was founded to address the unmarked graves at Minnesota state Minnesota hospital cemeteries and the injustices they symbolize. Arc Anoka, R~~' RWD is a coalition of organizations, supported by Advocating Change Together and directed Suburban b le with develo mental and related disabilities, man of whom identif as "self- Y PAP P Y y advocates", and their allies. RWD develops community leadership through grassroots Arc Minnesota organizing around this issue of wmmon concern. By working together to mazk graves, we are increasing public awareness about the past and present roles of institutions, preserving our Dtsabted history, and building sustainable leadership within the disability community. student Cultural Center RWD has worked for over 12 years to honor those who lived and died in institutions by Disability replacing the anonymous numbered grave markers at state cemeteries with proper headstones taw Center indicating full names and dates of birth and death. RWD has a track record of achievement and has shown that it can effectively bring individuals and groups together to promote the goals of n~1vASH leadership development and community integration for people with disabilities Disability . Advocacy Hastings State 13osoital Cerr~terv People First Central The Hastin s State Hos ttal o rated a cemete on its ounds between 1901 and 1965. In g P Pe ry gr 1978, the Hastings State Hospital closed and the Minnesota Veterans Home (MVH) acquired People First the facility.. The MVH also acquired the responsibility of cemetery maintenance. Over the xandiyohr years, parcels of the state hospital property have been sold, creating the situation where the cemetery is no longer adjacent to the MVH property. The cemetery is now 1.25 miles People First southeast of the MVH and surrounded by DNR Wildlife Management Area and private Minnesota housing. Re~p[e First There are 901 people buried at the site. To our knowledge, grave markers were not used for ~ individual raves. Perimeter markers indicate the location of g grave rows. There are only four People First headstones in the cemetery, two placed by families and two placed by Remembering With Suburban Dignity at a family's request. A survey of the cemetery was completed in 1967, which produced a plat map detailing the location of each grave, indicating a grave number distances, in feet and inches, from row mazkers. Remembering With Dignity is housed at Advocating Change Together: 1821 University Avenue West, Suite 306-South Ssiat Paul, Miuuesota 55104 Telephone 651/641/0297 Fax 651/641/4053 E-mail RWDla~selfsdvocacv.or¢ Web Site www.selfsdvocacv.org In May 2006, RWD received a grant from the State of Minnesota to install named headstones at state hospital cemeteries in Hastings, Rochester and St. Peter. Beginning in May 2006 and concluding by September 2007, RWD will oversee the manufacture and placement of approximately 525 grave markers in the Hastings cemetery. In addition, RWD, in collaboration with various community organizations, businesses, people with disabilities, family members, former state hospital employees, elected officials and the MVH, will organize related activities, including cemetery research, public awareness events, fundraising events and cemetery grounds improvement projects. In the spring and summer of 2007, RWD and the MVH will oversee the installation of the headstones, as well as improvements to the cemetery grounds including brush removal, possible fencing, signage and improved public access to the cemetery. Braham Monument Company has been selected to manufacture and install the headstones in Hastings. Cettteterv Access The current entrance to the state cemetery is on 315` Street, just east of the intersection of 315` Street and Meggan Drive. This entrance is gated and locked. The gate opens to a dirt track into the DNR Wildlife Management Area, and runs 4/5 mile to the cemetery. The dirt track is long and narrow, with ruts and potholes in places, and overgrown. Currently, the locked gate prevents public access. The poor condition of the dirt track prevents most vehicles from being able to navigate the road. The distance from the 315` St. gate is long and is not suitable for wheelchairs or walking. The cemetery property is a beautiful site. It is a quiet tract of land, filled with oak trees and with a gorgeous view over the Sand Coulee valley to the east and south. It is our intention to allow open and public access to the state cemetery. For too long, people with disabilities have been relegated to the outskirts of society. We believe that by improving the cemetery grounds, giving people the dignity of their name, making the cemetery a public and welcoming place to remember loved ones, that society will be improved and see people with disabilities in a more positive light. A closer and more convenient access point to the cemetery exists at the north end of Thomas Drive, just north of the intersection of Thomas Drive and Tuttle Drive. Thomas Dr. dead ends into the same dirt track on the DNR WMA, only about the length of a city block to the cemetery. Tn order to improve public access to the Hastings State Hospital Cemetery, Remembering With Dignity recommends the City of Hastings Public Works Dept. make the following changes to the dead-end portion of Thomas Drive: 1. Removal of the existing barricades. 2. Moving the fire hydrant out of the center of the blocked off portion of Thomas Dr. 3. Extending the pavement, or wheelchair accessible surface, north on Thomas Dr. the remaining 60 feet to the DNR property line. In conjunction with this request to the City of Hastings, Remembering With Dignity has submitted a proposal to the DNR, recommending improvements to the dirt track on the DNR WMA, to provide improved vehicular, whcelchair and pedestrian access from Thomas Drive to the cemetery, vehicular turnaround space adjacent to the cemetery, and regular maintenance of the road. Installation of the headstones will occur in the spring and summer of 2007. Monument company trucks and equipment will need access to the cemetery for delivery and placement of the headstones. We anticipate a lazge community event in the cemetery in late summer 2007 upon completion of this initial headstone installation. If possible, it would be beneficial for the proposed improvements be made to Thomas Dr. and the DNR road prior to the installation. Community Sunnort Remembering With Dignity has the support of individuals and organizations in Hastings. Many individuals, including community members, elected officials, families of the former residents, self-advocates, and former state hospital staff have attended meetings and volunteered to help. The United Way, the MVH, and numerous other groups and businesses have expressed great support for Remembering With Dignity and the proposed improvements to the Hastings State Hospital Cemetery. "The Hastings community appears to be very interested in this project and we would like to move to the next step of renovation and restoration." Tara Donohue Weiss, Director, United Way of Hastings For more information: Jim Fassett-Carman, Remembering With Dignity Advocating Change Together 1821 University Ave. W, Suite 306 S, St. Paul, MN 55104 Phone: 651-641-0297 Email: rwd@selfadvocacy.org Minnesota DNR - WMA Compass ~v~~~~~~ ~~/ /~C l~ ~~I f /pJ~geD1 of~1~ L 7" (~~ l~~t, ~yr~ie~ MAP tEQEfa1D ®axr ~~~ ®~ r ~ PRA ~s~a~ FSA Digital Ortho Photos 3~4s~'~, eb ~~ ~ ~ ~y~~ ~ ~, ~,g ~(~.~-~7 inn tlfv~/v~,-~, ~2_ 1~ ~ ~'~~ ~~ a~~ ~L~~ce, ~~ ppp ^ ~"'"'"_ - ~~~~- ~ ~~~~~ http://maps.dnr.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/rnapserv48?layer=roads&layer=pls&layer=ctype_wma... 12/S/2006 Hastings State Hospital Cemetery Access Comments 5/17/07 -Keith Keller 527 Tuttle Court He is extremely concerned about a road going in and that it maybe the first step for the land to be developed in the future. He purchased a prime lot surrounded by wildlife with the knowledge that nothing would be developed behind it, they do not want the value of the property to decrease nor do they want excess traffic behind them. He understands and supports the need for visitors to be able to access the cemetery, but says they only see 1-2 visitors a year actually going into the cemetery now. He is very concerned that this is the start of changes to come, and does not want to see buildings or residential units developed, especially if the DNR ever decides to sell the property. He said if Remembering with Dignity needs help he would be willing to extend his driveway and give them a hand placing headstones. 5/17/07 -Kristin Porrez 529 Tuttle Court 651-438-3522 She had questions she would like to be answered at Monday night's meeting: In which direction will the dirt road leading from Thomas Ave to the cemetery be widened the 20 ft? That is more than double its width now. Will any part of it be widened into our property? Where will there be parking for the cemetery? Several months ago, when they held a ceremony in the cemetery, people parked in our yard and turned their cars around in our yard. Why is the entrance coming from the South Pines side, rather than from Glacier Way? There is less traffic and housing off of 31st St and Glacier Way. There would be less disruption. Who owns the plat of land from the cemetery west to the trailer park (between 31st St and Tuttle Dr)? Is it still the state's land or does it now belong to the city? Is this leading to the eventual development of this plat of land? • If it is strictly "no motorized vehicles", then why will automobiles be allowed? How will our property values be affected? Obviously, our property values will decrease as our backyards become less secluded. What type of "compensation" will the city, or state, award the homeowners to make up for this property value deficit? What is to keep people and vehicles from being back in the cemetery area or on the new widened road at all hours of the night? Years ago, there was a problem with partiers in the ponding basin area throughout the night. What is to stop that from starting up again once this area becomes more accessible? Where is the funding coming from to develop this road and cemetery? Why now? No one has seemed to care about it for the past 60-70 years. With the state of today's economy, couldn't this money be better spent on more crucial problems in our city, and used more constructively on such things as homelessness in Hastings, the recent rise of foreclosures in Hastings, drug use in our schools, etc? We are not opposed to the public visiting these gravesites. We are opposed to the public driving behind our homes, scaring off the wildlife and endangering our children's lives as they play in our backyards, as well as our pet's. There are several daycares whose play areas back up to this road, as well. If the public would like to visit the cemetery, let them park on Tuttle Drive or Glacier Way and follow the path to the cemetery. I can push a double stroller on that path and pull a wagon on that path, a wheelchair is capable of using the existing path. A wide "developed" dirt road will take away from the cemetery's beauty and nature and blissfulness. 5/17/07 - Ray Yaeger 557 Tuttle Drive He is in favor of the access being constructed. He would like to be able to get on the path & walk back to the cemetery. He doesn't think ATV's would be a big problem, if it were they would be coming from neighboring homes and easily tracked down. He wants people to know that once the DNR changes the land to a Scientific and Natural Area this will result in absolutely no hunting, gun (which he agrees with) or bow (which he wouldn't have a problem with). 5/18/07 -Carla Brown 503 Tuttle Drive (612) 671-0992 She left a message stating if the trail is only for foot traffic and no motorized vehicles will be allowed, it shouldn't be constructed to 20'wide it should be more along the lines of a walking path, 5'-7' wide. They should place curb and also pave it instead of putting down gravel. If the trail is to be wheelchair accessible, it would be extremely difficult to travel by wheelchair along gravel. 5/21/07 -Mike Bernard 486 Tuttle Drive He is concerned about partying and unauthorized vehicle use and questions why the City would expend funds for a small convenience as an access to the cemetery site from 31St Street already exists. 5/21/07 -Dale Schroeppner 363 Tuttle Drive He is questioning what will happen to the existing path west of Tuttle Drive. 5/21/07 - Ryan Foster 405 Tuttle Drive He contacted Peggy Booth with the DNR about the status of the conversion to a Scientific and Natural Area and was told the west half of the property does not generally meet the requirements for a SNA designation. 5/21/07 - Terry Ecker 351 Tuttle Drive Concerned about unauthorized access to the DNR property and partying at the site.