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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 05/01/2006 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 1, 2006 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: John Brill, Chair; Geri Napuck, Vice Chair; Rob Barrett(left at 8:20 p.m.), Tom Bierman, Lee Elliott-S toering, Jeffrey Gerst, Randy Jacobus (arrived at 7:05 p.m.), Ian Mackay, and Michael Moriarity COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: None COMMISSION STAFF PRESENT: Bob Lambert, Director of Parks and Recreation; Stu Fox, Manager of Natural Resources; Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Manager; and Carol Pelzel, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Danny Crichton and Ali Neugebauer I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Brill at 7:00 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Bierman asked that an item regarding acquisition of property at Riley Lake be added under Reports of Staff. Brill asked that they also discuss conducting a tour of City properties some time this spring. Motion: Gerst moved, seconded by Elliott-Stoering, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried, 8-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —April 3, 2006 Barrett pointed out that the last three sentences of the first paragraph on page 8 makes it sound like this Commission is bound by action taken by the previous Commission and City Council in 1998 with regards to building a third hockey rink. A lot has changed since that approval. Lambert explained that this Commission and City Council approved a third rink study in 1998. A third rink was to be added to the Community Center with the City providing land and revenue bonds. The Hockey Association would provide the balance of funds. Barrett said the statement makes it appear as though this Commission approved the third rink. It is unfortunate that the City Council again reviewed this item without this Commission reviewing it first. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 2 Napuck asked if this item was approved in 1998 why was it before the City Council again. Lambert explained that they have been discussing this project since 2000. The original approval is still standing and they could put a rink up as long as there are no tax dollars required. This request went to the Council because the Hockey Association wanted to change the "deal". Barrett said he feels they bypassed the public process and did not allow the residents to speak in favor or in opposition to this project. Barrett asked that the last sentences of the first paragraph on Page 8 read as follows: "In 1998 the Parks Commission and City Council approved a third rink study that authorized construction of a third rink at no cost to the taxpayers. The Hockey Association proposal was significantly different in that they are requesting $1 million in tax dollars. Barrett does not necessarily feel that actions of a 1998 Parks and Recreation Commission are binding to the 2006 Parks and Recreation Commission. Barrett also feels this Commission should have reviewed the third rink project. Barrett stated that approving $1 million of park fees without the Commission recommendation concerns him." Motion: Barrett moved, Napuck seconded, to approve the April 3, 2006, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission minutes as amended. The motion carried, 7-0-2 with Gerst and Moriarity abstaining because of absence from that meeting. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION—April 18, 2006 Lambert reported at their April 18 meeting, the City Council took the following action: • Authorized Friendship Ventures to proceed with construction project at Eden Wood Center(Glen Lake Children's Camp). • Awarded bids for reconstruction of Homeward Hills Road and Staring Lake Park trails. • Approved Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation on Red Rock Hills Park and Red Rock Trail System. • Approved the Community Center concept plan. • Approved Edenvale and Forest Hills park concept plans. V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION—April 10 and April 24 Fox reported that the Planning Commission did not meet on April 10 and at their April 24 meeting they approved a 12-unit town home development in the southeastern part of the City off of Lee Drive north of Franlo Park. They also approved a two-story building for Gander Mountain with underground parking on Technology Drive. Bierman said this information is helpful and he appreciates hearing what the Planning Commission has approved and its impact on green space. He asked if these projects would be dedicating land for parks or improvements to open space. Fox responded that the City would be receiving cash park fees from both of these projects. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 3 VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION VII. OLD BUSINESS VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. BIRCH ISLAND PARK Lambert explained that staff is asking this Commission to recommend that staff initiate the process for developing plans for improvements to Birch Island Park. The last time they talked to the neighbors was in 1979 or 1980. Of the few neighbors that showed up at these meetings, they agreed that there need be no improvements to the park until trails were provided adjacent to both sides of County Road 4, for safe access to the park. Since that time, the neighborhood has turned over and there are younger families living there and a new subdivision was added. Lambert stated that now with the referendum approval and the awarding of a contract for the design of a trail system on both sides of CR 4 up to Crosstown, staff felt this would be a good time to make improvements to the park, should the neighborhood want them. They will be cutting through the park to make a connection to the trail and this process will help them determine where the trail should go. Staff feels this is the time to make park improvements should the neighbors want improvements. Lambert said staff would like to start the process by sending out notices to the adjacent neighbors. Once they have a safe access to the park people will have the opportunity to provide staff with their thoughts on what they think should happen in that park. Based on that input, a concept plan will be drafted and staff will again meet with the neighbors. Once everyone agrees on a plan, it will be presented to this Commission and will go through the normal process. Bierman asked what the timetable would be for the first neighborhood meeting. Lambert responded that it would be within the next 60 days. In response to a question from Elliott- Stoering, Lambert explained that the trail would be an eight-foot asphalt trail. Brill asked if there is a beach on Birch Island Lake. Lambert answered that there is a beach within Camp Eden Wood. The City does own it,but leases it out. This is not a public beach. The lake has dropped seven or eight feet and Barr Engineering believes they have found why the level has gone down. They feel it is related to the Crosstown construction and they think they will be able to stop the water level from dropping and hope it will slowly come back up. Napuck asked what the timetable would be with regard to getting the lake level back up. Lambert said he believes there will be some cost involved and the City recommendation was that Barr Engineering initiates action to complete the project and request that the County pay for a majority of the repair. Staff has not received any further information on this but Lambert said he would check to see where they are at. Elliott-Stoering asked if there is a Committee that helps develop trail placement. Lambert explained that the trail goes along the right-of-way so there are no decisions to be made with regards to placement. The only decision to be made is where the trail will go through the park. Staff does know the best alignment for the trail but if playground equipment, a park shelter, etc. is to be added to the park, that may dictate where the trail goes in the park. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 4 Bierman asked if the meeting is a public meeting or just for the neighbors and he asked how the general public is made aware of this meeting. Lambert responded that they publish notice of this meeting through this agenda and notices are mailed out within a one-half mile radius of the project. Brill asked where funding would come from should improvements be made. Lambert answered that park dedication fees would be used. Motion: M/Mackay, S/Jacobus, to recommend initiating the process for developing plans for improvements to Birch Island Park. Bierman asked if they should tie in some kind of time schedule as to when this process would be completed. He asked that the motion be amended to read "Recommend initiating the process within 60 days for developing plans for improvements to Birch Island Park with completion of the plans within 180 days." Mackay and Jacobus accepted Bierman's suggestion as a friendly amendment to the motion. The amended motion carried, 9-0. B. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LIMITED-USE PERMIT FOR NON- MOTORIZED RECREATION TRAIL Lambert reported that as part of the Staring Lake Outlet Project, the City has petitioned the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District to construct a trail connecting the trail around Staring Lake easterly along the north side of Purgatory Creek, then under Highway 212 to the sidewalk on the north end and west side of Sunnybrook Road. This trail connection will allow residents living east of 212 with a direct trail access to the trail around Staring Lake. Lambert stated that in order to construct a trail under Highway 212, the Minnesota Department of Transportation requires a resolution from the City authorizing a limited use permit for non-motorized recreational trail within their right-of- way. Staff is asking that this Commission recommend to the City Council approval of this resolution. Motion: M/Gerst, S/Napuck, to recommend the City Council approve the resolution authorizing limited use permit for non-motorized recreational trail. Bierman asked if they need to add the title of the project to the Resolution. Lambert responded that the format they used for this resolution is one they received from the Department of Transportation. Bierman asked that staff review this further to determine if a title should be added. The motion carried, 9-0. C. ROUND LAKE BEACH OPERATION FOR 2007 Lambert explained that City staff is recommending that they consider reopening Round Lake Beach in the summer of 2007. In order to do this, funds need to be budgeted for the reopening. The total estimated costs for reopening the beach will be approximately $46,000 for the first year and approximately $35,000 per year in operational costs for future years. Staff is asking that the Commission recommend reopening the beach in 2007 as per their recommendation. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 5 Crichton asked that since Bryant Lake and Riley Lake beaches are already open, is it necessary to have a third beach open in the City. He asked if there is a high demand for the other two beaches. Lambert responded that when the City had a population of 20,000 people they would get 300 to 400 people per day at Round Lake Beach while Riley and Bryant Lakes only had 50 to 60 people. Since the beach is there and the City has invested millions of dollars in this park and the City made the statement that this is a temporary closure, staff feels it is important that they reopen it when the water quality meets standards. Jacobus asked if it wouldn't make sense to see what the water quality is for this summer before they decide to reopen the beach next year. Lambert explained that if the water quality this year is not as good as last year they may decide to wait. It could be five years or ten years before they reopen. Staff is following the City Council's direction to get Round Lake Beach open as soon as possible. Lambert said that based on the consultant's recommendation,he feels that they should be able to reopen next year. They will continue to monitor the water but they need to put money into next year's budget so that funding is available should they be able to reopen the beach. This does not mean they have to spend the money. If there is no money budgeted, they would not have the option to reopen the beach. Jacobus said he would not want to open the beach and then have to close it that same summer. Lambert said if this Commission recommends that they wait and not open the beach next year he will forward that recommendation to the Council. Brill asked if there is any incentive to make Round Lake Beach more like Shady Oak Beach creating more of an environment to bring people to the area other than just for the lake. Lambert responded that eventually the City might decide to do something like that and invest the money. If they have a track record of 10 to 15 years of good water quality and it is only getting better it may make sense to add other things to this beach area. At this point, it is too premature. Lambert said they also need to decide if this is too soon to reopen the beach. They could wait longer for a more consistent pattern of water quality. Mackay said he feels it is a good idea to reopen the beach and to add something to it to create a fresh new image. He suggested they add something like barbecue pits, picnic tables, etc. Lambert said they would be adding some colored umbrellas which would create a more festive atmosphere and the proposed large floatables in the water. Mackay said if the water quality goes away they can still make use of those things. Jacobus said if there is any question in his mind regarding the water quality,he would not use this beach. They need to educate the community that the water is good and he feels they need more than a two-year track record. Lambert said the beach would be opened after three years of good water quality, assuming 2006 is as good or better than the last two years. Barrett said he wonders if waiting longer to open the beach wouldn't be more helpful. This would allow them to distance themselves from the closing. They take the risk of having to close the beach again and this could be devastating. Barrett said he feels if they wait it would be less risky and it would be helpful for public perception. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 6 Moriarity suggested they monitor the water quality for this year and because of the budgeting process they plan as if they will open the beach for 2007 with the message of caution. Napuck said she feels they need to budget the money for 2007 giving them the option of reopening the beach not only be based on water quality but also on the completion of the storm pond work. Lambert said they may decide to wait longer but by budgeting this money they have the flexibility of opening the beach next year. Without the budgeted funds, they do not have the option to reopen in 2007. They are paying a consultant to monitor the water again this year and this information will not be available until after budget approval. Bierman said to help with the public's perception, he would urge staff to be more aggressive in goose management. They have to sell this beach to get the people to come back and when people drive by and see the geese sitting there they will think there is a problem with the water. Lambert explained that in May and June there is a small goose population at Round Lake and they are removed by the end of June. Fox said that typically they remove between 20 to 30 geese from Round Lake. The water quality is clarity of the water, swim ability is the bacteria count. Fox said staff could put together a program about what is going on at the beach and how they are monitoring the water quality to ensure safe water. They could promote this as an informational piece. Bierman said they need a selling campaign and the residents need to know that the lake can change within two days. Barrett said he feels the problem they have to overcome is the people's feelings towards the goose feces. He suggested that City staff write a letter to the editor explaining their goose management program and explain what they will be doing to improve the water clarity and explain water quality. Neugebauer explained that she was a lifeguard at Round Lake in 2003 and no one came to use the beach. If this Commission feels that the water is clean enough to open the beach, they should be the first to use it. Residents need to see other people use it first. Napuck said she is not opposed to the idea of allocating money to the opening of the beach with the option to review whether or not it should be opened at a later date. If tests come back that show that the water is not safe the decision to not open would be easier. If they can open the beach they will then need to decide how they will make residents feel it is a great lake. By budgeting funds, they are giving themselves the option to open the beach. Motion: M/Moriarity, S/Bierman, to approve the staff recommendation to reopen Round Lake Beach in the summer of 2007 as per the staff recommendation concerning hours and budget assuming continued improvement of water quality and other factors to be reviewed by this Commission and City Council at the end of 2006. The motion carried, 8-0. (Barrett had left the meeting during discussion of this item.) PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 7 IX. REPORTS OF STAFF A. DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES 1. Community Gardens Lambert explained that information concerning the City's community gardens had been included in their agenda material for information only. 2. Riley Lake Property Lambert explained that the City Council decided not to purchase the property located on Riley Lake. The property owner has put the property on the market. Staff did discuss trading other park land for this parcel but that did not work out. 3. Tour of the City Lambert said they would schedule a tour of the various projects in the City some time this summer. The Commission agreed that rather than have a July meeting they would take a tour of the various City projects and facilities on July 10 starting at 6:00 p.m. B. MANAGER OF RECREATION SERVICES 1. Service Area Report—Nicole Weedman—Youth & Family Programs Weedman presented an overview of Youth and Family Programs in the Parks and Recreation Department. Programs are provided for preschool, youth, teen, adult and family. In 2005, 13,163 people took advantage of the outdoor skating rinks and Staring Lake sledding hill. There were over 100 programs, events, camps or lessons offered in 2005 and 4,005 participants attended a class, camp, trip or program. Seventy-five summer seasonal staff were hired and trained for these programs. Weedman introduced Teresa Dahlman who has been an intern in the Parks Department since February and will be coming on staff this summer. 2. Survey of Ice Arena Rates Staff provided the Commission with a survey of ice arena rates in surrounding communities. Lambert explained that this survey shows Eden Prairie's pricing not at the top,but not at the bottom either. Eden Prairie is fairly competitive with the surrounding cities. 3. Kite Fest Kite Fest will be held at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area on Saturday, May 6, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION May 1, 2006 Page 8 4. Riley-Jacques Twilight Special Rile-Jacques Barn "Twilight Special" will be held Saturday, May 20, from 7 — 9 p.m. and will include a barn dance. 5. Springy Fun Run The Eden Prairie Spring Run for Fun will be on Saturday, May 20, at 9 a.m. at Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. 6. May Calendar of Parks and Recreation Events A calendar showing Parks and Recreation events for the month of May was included in the Commission's agenda material. C. MANAGER OF PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1. Arbor Day Lambert reported that the City has been designated as a Tree City USA. Fox explained that this is a national recognition by the National Arbor Day Foundation. In order to qualify for this designation, the City has to have a comprehensive forestry program, a recognized Board that oversees forestry and natural resources and spends $2 per capita on a forestry program. The City also has to hold an event such as the Arbor Day Walk. IX. OTHER Elliott-S toering said she had attended the town meeting in April and at that meeting a speaker brought up a concern of safety with regard to Homeward Hills' trail. Lambert explained that the concern was with regard to the widening of trails to 8 feet. The speaker had some concerns with the placement of the trail. Approximately 500 to 600 feet of a section of Homeward Hills Road has solid board fences and shrubs planted on the right-of-way. Staff will have to determine where the trail is going to be placed taking into consideration the fence and plantings. The fence blocks the intersection and corner views. City staff will be meeting to determine whether or not the fence has to be removed. They do need to move the trail as far back as possible. There will have to be some changes to what was originally presented. X. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Jacobus moved, Bierman seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.