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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 01/15/1987 - Joint Meeting APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL PARKS , RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION PARK BOND REFERENDUM COMMITTEE THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 , 1987 7:30 PM, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BOARDROOM COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Gary Peterson, Richard Anderson, George Bentley, Jean Harris , Patricia Pidcock PARKS , RECREATION & NATURAL EESOURCES COMMISSION Pat Breitenstein, Chairperson; Raiford Baker, Moe Cook , Gary Gonyea, Karon Joyer, Brian Mikkelson, Charles Shaw REFERENDUM COMMITTEE MEMBERS Paul Salentine , Co-Chair; Pat Richard , Co-Chair; Dee Anderson, Jane Anderson, Larry Blagdon, Curt Connaughty, Moe Cook, Dick Emahiser, Doug Fell, Kathy Holcomb, Jon Jansson, JoAnnice Jensen, Tom Jenson, John Parrington, Jim Osten- son, John Reedy, Bill Schroedal, Lynn w Seppman, Gary Soderberg, Dave Sundeen PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: Councilmember Anderson arrived at 8: 05 PM. s I . APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Pidcock moved, seconded by Bentley, to approve the Agenda as published . Motion carried unanimously. s II . REPORT ON PARK BOND REFERENDUM PROPOSAL A . Report from Co-Chairs Salentine and Richard Director of Community Services Lambert said the members of the Parks , Recreation & Natural Resources Commission and some of the members of the Bond Referendum Committee were here tonight to present to the Council the report regarding the proposed park bond referendum. He then introduced the Co-Chairs of the Park Bond Referendum Committee, Paul Salen- tine and Pat Richard . i Pat Richard reviewed the process gone through by the Com- mittee to date . He noted that the continued growth of the community programs with the growth of the City has brought City Council Minutes -2- January 15 , 1987 requests for more facilities . He said they developed a proposal for the Community Center addition, for the Miller Park acquisition and development , and for some other smaller projects, all of which would require $8,630, 000 in funding. He said they tentatively proposed that $730, 000 would come from cash park fees and $7 .9 million would be funded by a referendum. i Mr . Richard said the Committee then conducted four meetings in different quadrants of the community to solicit input w from residents . As a result of those meetings he said they added a running track and a multi-purpose aerobics room y to the Community Center expansion and some improvements to Prairie East Park . He said these three items would require an $8 .4 million referendum or an increase in the commitment from cash park fees to $1 ,230,000 with the $7 .9 million referendum. Mr. Richard then introduced Wally Daniels , architect with Setter, Leach & Lindstrom, who addressed the proposed addi- tion to the Community Center. Paul Salentine introduced George Watson of Brauer & Associ- ates who addressed the proposed development of Miller Park . COUNCILMEMBER ANDERSON ARRIVED AT 8: 05 PM . Lambert reviewed the other items proposed for the referen- dum which included the following: add a skating rink and a new park shelter/warming house at Preserve Park; put in two skating rinks , a park shelter/warming house and tennis courts at Red Rock Park; upgrade the existing softball field , expand the playground facilities and add a parking lot and rrnnr1L o1,01+or. e,+ Prairie East Park: acquire and devel.on- ment of approximately 30 acres somewhere in the southwest area for an adult softball complex ; acquire two acres for a major access to the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area in { order to preserve that access for future development of a complex; and add four sections of trails to the existing trail system. Mr. Salentine then summarized the recommendations from the Park Bond Referendum Committee, as follows: 1 . A single question referendum of $7.9 or $8.4 million on Thursday, March 19, 1987 . 2 . The City to commit to the scheduling of open gym during prime time at the expanded Community Center, similarly to the current policies regarding open swim and open skate . T City Council Minutes -3- January 15 , 1987 3 . Approve a concept plan for the future expansion of Prairie East Park to upgrade that facility to neighborhood park status . 4. If the referendum is approved , the City to commit to paving of the parking lots and park roads in Miller Park and the addition of three racquetball courts at the Community Center, as deduct alternates should the City obtain favorable bids . B. Report from Parks , Recreation & Natural Resources Commission Pat Breitenstein, chairperson of the Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission, reviewed the recommendations of the Commission, noting that the Commission was unani- mous in its approval of all four reconnnendations . She asked the Council to approve the recommendations of the Parks Commission which concurred with the Committee ' s recom- mendations and set the amount of the referendum at $7 .9 million. Pidcock asked that the Committee members resent stand and introduce themselves . Those Committee members in attendance did so. Bentley asked Lambert to clarify the issue of a $7 .9 mil- lion referendum versus an $8 .4 million one . Lambert referred to his memo of January 2 , 1987, regarding the status of the cash park fees fund and noted that the fund is fairly healthy . He said he would feel comfortable in recommending that addi- tional funds be spent from the cash park fees so that the 1 referendum amount could remain at $7.9 million. Bentley asked if the drawings of the rnmm,;n; tv rP"+X%" ere the final renderings and if the plans and cost figures in- eluded accent brick or other material on the face of the structure . Daniels replied that consideration had been made for accent brick and that , while the drawings were not final, most of the discussion has centered around the renderings shown tonight . Lambert noted that there had been discus- sion among the Committee that the expansion and the existing # building should be covered in brick, the color of which should compliment that used in the nearby High School build- ing. Peterson asked if there was a relationship between the proposed exterior covering of the Community Center and the discussions with the previous contractor . Lambert said there is and that we can now request an arbitration board to settle the matter with the previous contractor. Lambert said our architects have indicated that the ultimate solu- tion to the water problems is to put a brick facade on the existing building. City Council Minutes January 15 , 1987 Bentley asked if there would be an appreciable cost differentia for using accent brick on the exterior. Daniels said if it was just a different color for accent there would not be an appreciable cost increase , but if it were recessed or protruded brick for accent there probably would be an appreciable cost increase . Bentley then asked Lambert what the long term budgetary impact would be for such items as staffing, maintenance , and utilities if the referendum passes . Lambert said the Community Center expansion would require one additional maintenance person and numerous part-time personnel . He added that they expect revenue at the Community Center to exceed expenditures by $50-$70, 000 so there should. be no impact on operating costs . As far as the impact on the parks , he said once all the facilities are operational, three additional full-time and 3-4 additional seasonal maintenance persons would be required . Bentley asked when the parks would be operational . Lambert replied that it would be 1991 before they are fully opera- tional . Bentley then complimented the Committee on their very thorough job on the specific issues and individual situa- tions to be looked at for this proposal . Anderson asked how we are going to compare with other simi- lar cities in the area when these facilities are completed . Lambert noted that in 1984 our standards were set and then compared with several other cities who had also set stan- dards . He said our standards were "right on" at that time . When the Committee began work, he said they determined what the projected needs were for 1990 and that these facilities will meet those needs in 1990 . IKe said this proposal will take care of us for the next seven or eight years but that after that additional facilities will be needed . i Harris commended the Committee for a very comprehensive report and asked what concerns or negatives were expressed at the neighborhood meetings . Salentine said that, while nobody questioned the need for the facilities, there was concern for the overall picture including the upcoming school bond referendum and the possible referendum for City Hall. He said he thought it will be important to stress the fact that the school referendum will not have a large cost im- pact on the individual taxpayer. Harris asked what the time frame is for the Community Center expansion. Daniels said it will be about 30 months for the entire project , including design and construction time . t�. 4 City Council Minutes -�- January 15, 1987 F Harris asked what the capacity of the current arena is . Lambert said it is 1150 maximum, and that there were about 800 at the recent Edina game . Harris asked if this pro- vides adequate seating for the arena. Lambert replied that this had been a concern of the Committee and that they had. done a study of Lake Conference schools which showed an average attendance of 800 with a peak of 1200 . He said they had also asked about the possibility of expanding the current seating and had determined that the only pos- sibility would be to knock out the northeast wall at the end of the building. Anderson said his concern is whether you build to the average attendance or to the maximum. Lambert reviewed the maximum capacities for several of the Lake Conference schools . Anderson noted that if, in the next ten years , we have a contending team we will probably be consistently packed . He said he was concerned after having seen the confusion at the Bloomington facility when the crowd ex- ceeded the maximum capacity. Lambert said they had looked at many alternatives to ex- q pond seating but the only possibility is the northeast end . Mr. Daniels noted that we are limited because the east and .Y.. west walls of the arena support the roof . A discussion followed as to whether there is a requirement to provide seating unless there is a return on investment . Pidcock commended the Committee on their outstanding job and asked how many residents attended the neighborhood meetings . Lambert said there were 10 or 11 at the most at each meeting. v;dcec?: nc-lrerl T.amhart to naTne the Qnacific rsra.nts for which we might be eligible . Lambert said he thought we might be eligible for a Lawcon or another state grant for the Riley Lake acquisition and development Pidcock asked how much he thought we could get . Lambert responded that if the $roject were to total $500,000 we could probably get $250- 300, 000 in grants . He also noted there are a lot of sources for grants for the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area proposal, such as state and federal Lawcon grants , Watershed District grants, or soil conservation grants . Pidcock asked if the lighted fields at Miller Park would affect the nearby residents . Lambert said they had calcu- lated a distance of 600 feet from the fields to the closest residence so that shouldn't be a problem. Pidcock asked what additional effect the school referendum will have on the tax levy beyond what is anticipated for this referendum. Lambert responded that the School adminis- tration believes there will be no increase in the mill levy "x City Council Minutes -6- January 15 , 1987 from the school referendum because other school bonds are being retired . A discussion followed regarding the pos- sible effect of an increased assessed valuation on the actual increase in the tax levy for the parks referendum . Pidcock asked if they ever expect the Community Center to be cost effective or to pay its own way . Lambert said it currently pays its own way as far as operating costs and that it would more than pay its own way with the proposed addition . Pidcock asked what sort of access individuals will have to the facilities at the Community Center . Lambert said this question was raised at the neighborhood meetings and that is why the Committee recommended that open gym times be set up for the prime time hours . He noted that the Council now has to approve any changes to the opera swim or skate times and would have to approve changes to the open gym times . He also noted that they recently imposed hours on the Fitness Center to meet liability insurance requirements . Harris asked if the items described for Miller Park that were not included in the Phase 1 development plan would be additions beyond the $7 .9 or $8 .4 million cost figure . Watson said that was correct . Peterson asked if all the Miller Park traffic will have to be in and out on the same road for an indefinite period of time . Lambert said there has been interest from developers in the adjacent area so we may be very close to another connection out to the south by the time the facility is completed . a:adcr.:avi a iavtCtl Vi1Gi V W11C vi vy a luaaaa.a.aa�j aria cc.t.va. taut:J r7calta that we are now half built as far as residential is con- cerned , and asked where this proposal will put us as far as park and recreation facilities . Lambert pointed out the portions of the park system plan remaining, including the Riley Lake Park acquisition, a greenway corridor to Mitchel] Lake, neighborhood parks in the southwest quadrant, the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area, and the dump area. Ander- son then commented that it appears that we are 2/3 to 3/4 F done acquiring land for the park system and that we have done a good job of following the plan to acquire park lands before all the prime land is taken. Regarding the Park & Rea motion stating that if the referen- dum is approved there would be some specific items that would be included in the proposal as deduct items, Bentley asked if the items had been prioritized . Lambert said he didn't think they had been prioritized, but that the k s City Council Co Minutes - - January anuar 1 1987 7 Y 5. racquetball courts would cost about $200, 000 while the a paving and curbing would be $400, 000 , so the costs and/or revenue potential might tend to determine which would be included . Peterson asked if they would come back to the Council with recommendations on the deduct items . Lambert said they would . Lambert said he had met with the School Board to review the Community Center expansion since it will be on school property and noted that there were three of their staff people on the Referendum Committee . He said the proposal doubles the size of the High School hockey team locker room and that they included plans for an office/supply room for the High School Physical Education department so that the staff would use the facility more . He said there would have to be further discussion with the School staff before a final, decision is made as to who will pay for what . MOTION: Bentley moved, seconded by Anderson, to hold a Bond Referendum on March 19 , 1987, for an amount not to exceed $7 .9 million to provide funds for the acquisition and development of land, buildings and facilities for pub- lic recreation. Motion carried unanimously . MOTION: Bentley moved, seconded by Harris, that the paving of parking lots and park roads in Miller Park and the addi- tion of three racquetball courts at the Community Center be included as deduct alternates if the referendum is approved and if favorable bids are obtained to allow completion of the deduct items within the proposed budget . Motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Bentley moved , seconded by Anderson, to accept the recommendation of the Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission relative to regularly scheduled open gym time during prime time hours at the Community Center. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Bentley moved , seconded by Harris, to accept the Parks , Recreation & Natural Resources Commission recommenda- tion for approval of a concept plan for future expansion of Prairie East Park in order to upgrade that facility to the standards of other neighborhood parks . Motion carried unanimously . Anderson said the City has traditionally been ahead in park and recreation facilities and this proposal will bring us close to meeting our goal for a well-planned community as far as park and recreation facilities are concerned . i. : r w City Council Minutes -8- January 15, 1987 He cautioned that if the proposal doesn' t pass, we will be in a position of trying to catch up. III. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bentley moved, seconded by Pidcock, to adjourn at 9:30 PM . Motion carried unanimously. d R k 9 . F +ij1 1