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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 10/03/2005 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Rob Barrett, John Brill, Randy Jacobus, Michael Moriarity and Geri Napuck COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Bierman, Tom Crain, Jeffrey Gerst and Ian Mackay COMMISSION STAFF PRESENT: Bob Lambert, Director of Parks and Recreation; Stu Fox, Manager of Natural Resources; and Carol Pelzel, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Danny Crichton, Graham Kist, Ali Neugebauer I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Barrett at 7:10 p.m. Lambert reported that Bierman, Crain, Gerst and Mackay did call and indicated that they would not be at the meeting. Barrett welcomed the new student representatives and asked them to introduce themselves. Lambert explained that the City had received over 50 applicants for 30 openings on the various Commissions. This is not a class requirement and the students applied because they want to learn about City government. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Barrett asked that item VIL B. Review of Park Sign Designs be continued to the November 7 meeting when more Commission members are present. Motion: Brill moved, seconded by Moriarity, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried, 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —AUGUST 29, 2005 Motion: Barrett moved, seconded by Brill, to approve the minutes of August 29, 2005, as presented. Motion carried, 4-0-1 with Jacobus abstaining due to absence from the meeting. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 2 IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION—SEPTEMBER 6 AND SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 Lambert reported that at the September 6 City Council meeting the Council: • Approved guidelines regarding responsibility for fallen trees. • Approved the initiation process to revise wetland permit application for mitigation of wetland at Crestwood Park. • Rejected all bids for the Purgatory Creek access road reconstruction. • Awarded the bid for Round Lake Park trail construction At their September 20 meeting, the City Council approved the Lower Purgatory Creek Conservation Area trail plan. V. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION A. BRYANT LAKE SKI TEAM REQUEST Joe Docter, representative from the Bryant Lake Ski Team, 7032 Willow Creek Road, said they are requesting approval to install a submersible slalom ski course on Bryant Lake. Since speaking to the Three Rivers Park District representatives, it became obvious that their original requested location for this course was not acceptable to the District or City because of environmental impacts. The ski team felt the original proposed location was the most out of the way place. They have since tried to select a new location for this course that is environmentally sound and out of the way for fishing. The new proposal locates the course about five or six hundred feet from the east and west shore of the lake and seven or eight hundred feet from the north shore of the lake. This new location would result in minimal impact on the lake and meets the needs of the ski team. The total depth of the course is approximately 25 feet at both the north and south ends of the course and the course length is approximately 850 feet and the width is approximately 75 feet. Docter further explained that when the course is in the down position it sits on the bottom of the lake in 25 feet of water. The substructure of the course needs to be four feet below the water with the buoys sitting on top of the water. Docter stated that the Bryant Lake Ski Team will fund and maintain the course and team members will operate it. The course will be open for public use, however, they do not anticipate any additional boat traffic on the lake as a result of this course. The Bryant Lake Ski Team consists of 23 families who are already using the lake. This proposed course would raise their level of skiing up a notch. The hours of operation will be from sun up to one-hour after sunset. If there are waves on the lake created by wind or other boats, the course is not usable. They anticipate using the course a couple hours a day, a couple days a week. Docter explained that they polled the Bryant Lake lakeshore property owners to find out if they were in favor of such a ski course. They did obtain signatures from everyone on the lake except for three people indicating they were not opposed to PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 3 a ski course. Of the three people who did not sign, one was indifferent to the request and they were unable to contact the other two residents. Napuck pointed out that the original location for the course was selected because it was out of the way. She asked if this new location would present any safety hazards. Docter said it would not and that it is the easiest proposal to get approval for. If other boats were operating on the lake, the slalom course would not be used because of the waves being created by those boats. Napuck asked if the information provided to the neighbors that signed the petition included the layout of the first proposal. Docter responded that no proposal was included in the information. They were just asked if they would be in favor of a course on Bryant Lake. Jacobus questioned how this course would be available to the public. Docter explained that the Bryant Lake Ski Team members would operate the course. When the course is up, it will be open to the public. People who are not familiar with the course will not be allowed to raise the course. Jacobus asked how much maintenance would be required of the course. Docter said there would be some maintenance involving the replacement of the buoys or air system. There is not a large amount of maintenance required and that would all be taken care of by the Ski Team members. Jacobus questioned if this ski course would draw more participants to this lake. Docter answered that they do not anticipate any additional draw. It might even reduce traffic. Right now they are skiing the lake end to end. Skiing a course is more physically demanding and they may only ski the course two times and be done. Jacobus asked if the City would be liable for this course. Lambert said they would not. Bryant Lake is on State public waters and final jurisdiction is the Department of Natural Resources. This request starts at the City level and proceeds to the State level. The Three Rivers Park District is the major owner and provides access to the public. Lambert asked what the length of the course is from the first buoy to the last and what the length of the run is so the skier can turn around. Docter said there is approximately 400 feet on each end, which gives them ample room to turn. Lambert said that the course is really closer to 1600 feet than 850 feet. Brill asked how they intend to enforce the operation of this course. Docter responded that this would not be a problem. They will take turns in using the course when it is up. An unidentified member of the audience explained that not just residents of the lake will be using this course but non-residents will also use it. There are more non-residents skiing on the lake than residents. Brill asked if the three people who did not sign the petition live on Beach Road. Docter explained that two do live on Beach Road,however, they were unable to contact them. The other person who did not sign lives on Willow Wood and they refused to sign but did not disapprove of the course but did not want to be part of it. Brill said it would be nice if everyone on Beach Road signed the petition. Brill asked if another location for this course could be on the west central part of the lake. Docter said that would work and would be their second choice. Ideally, they PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 4 would like to be as close to the center of the lake as possible. The proposed location would be less disturbed by other skiers. Napuck asked what the composition of members is on the Bryant Lake Ski Team. Docter explained that one-third of the members live on the lake and one-third of the members live near the lake. There are three families from Bloomington, one from Edina and one from South Minneapolis. David Beeck, 6621 Waterman Avenue, Edina, explained that he fishes Bryant Lake constantly and questioned which proposal they are trying to get approval for. Docter showed on the map the location they are currently proposing and will be asking approval for. Beeck said the current proposal is much easier to work with. The original proposal would affect fishing but the new proposal does not appear to be a problem. Lambert explained that this is the first staff has seen of this new proposal. The Commission is not being asked to make a final decision at this time. This new proposal does make more sense environmentally. City staff will submit this new proposal to the Three Rivers Park District and will also send it out to the residents around the lake for their review. A public meeting will then be advertised for December and then at that time input will be taken from the public. This evening's presentation is the beginning of the entire process and provides an opportunity for the initial reaction to the proposal. The biggest concern is environmental issues to the lake. Lambert asked that in their proposal, the petitioners address shoreline issues and how shallow the water is at that location. He asked that the petitioner submit a revised plan to the City and the City will then forward that request to the Three Rivers Park District for their comment. Jerry Judson, 9305 Blaisdell, Bloomington, said his biggest concern is that the group will be taking up a certain part of the lake for their use only. This lake is too small for this type of use. An unidentified member of the audience said that he has done musky fishing at this end of the lake and it appears that the water skiers will be pre-empting this area for their use. He asked what would happen if they are fishing there and the course is put up. He has some concerns regarding safety. There could be waves two-feet high hitting their boats. He also agreed that the lake is too small for this course. Docter said that is not the situation today and by putting this course in they will not change the traffic at all. They anticipate the same people that are skiing today will be using this course. They would like to elevate the level of this family sport. A resident of 1851 West Burnsville Parkway, Burnsville, said she also fishes on this lake and feels the lake is too small for the ski course. She feels they will be monopolizing the lake. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 5 In response to a question from Napuck, Lambert explained that the City would be sending out a notice to the residents explaining what is being proposed and informing them that there will be a public meeting to discuss this proposal. Moriarity asked if the DNR does grant a permit, what period of time would this permit be effective. Would it be for one year, two years, etc. Lambert said this is a question they would have to ask. He was not sure if it is done on an annual basis or once it is approved it does not have to be approved again. Moriarity asked the petitioner if they would be willing to expend the money if there is a chance that the course would not be approved after one year should complaints be received regarding its use. Docter said this is a risk they are willing to take. William Gibbs, 6921 Beach Road, said he is a skier and they do respect the people fishing. They are already using the lake for skiing and they will continue to ski on this lake whether or not they are allowed to construct this course. Neugebauer asked how long it would take to construct the course. Docter said it could be put up in one day. She also asked if it would affect the beach or swim area. Docter pointed out that the beach area includes a slow no-wake zone and there would be no impact to the beach. Crichton asked if it would be necessary to place any warning signs on the boat ramp explaining that this course is located there. Docter said they do not feel this is necessary since the course will only be up for a small fraction of the time and when it is up, it is difficult to cause harm to. Motion: Motion was made by Moriarity, seconded by Brill, to notify the Department of Natural Resources of this request and to hold a public meeting on December 5, 2005 in order to obtain input from neighbors on the lake as well as from other lake users regarding this request. The motion carried, 5-0. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. NEW BUSINESS A. MCA PLAN Janet Jeremiah, Director of Community Development presented an overview of the City's Major Center Area Study. She indicated that the area includes approximately 1,200 acres in and around Valley View Road and Prairie Center Drive. Jeremiah reviewed the process used in developing this Plan and presented the preferred plan to the Commission. She also presented a vision of what can occur in the future in the various areas. Jeremiah presented the major park amenities to be located in the Town Center. They also anticipate some kind of park feature at the north and south terminus that may include some art in the plaza or some unique visual feature for the community. They will attempt to develop a cohesive greenway system from Purgatory Creek Recreation Area to the park at Idlewood and complete the route along the north and south terminus. They anticipate that all of the existing and new PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 6 streets would be greener or more of an urban streetscape. They also plan for more green boulevards in the ring route. Jeremiah also presented a preliminary pedestrianibicycle plan. She said that the Planning Commission and City Council will be holding a joint meeting on October 18 to further consider this plan. Brill said when they discussed this plan in June they talked about 212 and how pedestrians would get over 212. He asked Jeremiah to discuss this further. She explained that one of the concepts is to depress 212 at 494 and Prairie Center Drive. If this occurs there would be no direct access to the local businesses on that segment. They also talked about Singletree aligning with 781h Street and elevating that. This would limit direct access but would reroute traffic north and south. There are pros and cons with both plans. Motion: Motion was made by Barrett, seconded by Napuck, to recommend to the City Council approval of the Major Center Area (MCA) Plan and Principles and initiation of appropriate detailed studies and Comprehensive Plan amendments to help facilitate implementation. The motion carried, 5-0. B. REVIEW OF PARK SIGN DESIGNS This item was continued to the November 7 meeting. VIII. REPORTS OF STAFF A. DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES 1. Referendum Flyer and Discussion on Progress Barrett said he feels the flyer reads upside down. Lambert explained that the City has received requests from various groups for presentations on the proposed referendum. A Get Out to Vote group has been formed and they are doing some fund raising. 2. Request Commission members to attend Town Meeting on October 11 Lambert asked Commission members to attend the Town Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the City Center. Moriarity said he would be out of town so unable to attend that meeting. 3. S.O.S. Flyer Lambert presented to the Commission, for information purposes only, a copy of a flyer developed by an Eden Prairie youth. He is attempting to raise money to help replace the Staring Lake slide. It is the City's intention to replace the slide next spring. Fox explained that there is only one company that has provided the City with a legitimate bid. There are concerns for liability PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES October 3, 2005 Page 7 because it is such a custom slide. They have to individually manufacture each component. B. MANAGER OF RECREATION SERVICES C. MANAGER OF PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES IX. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Monday, November 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Jacobus moved, Brill seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5- 0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.