Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 06/02/2003 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2003 7:00 P.M. City Center 8080 Mitchell Road Heritage Room III COMMISSION MEMBERS: Rob Barrett, Chair; Jeffrey Gerst, Vice Chair; John Brill, Tom Crain, (late) Randy Jacobus, David Larson, Ian MacKay, Bruce Schaepe, Trisha Swanson COMMISSION STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director, Parks and Recreation Services; Laurie Obiazor, Manager of Recreation Services; Stu Fox, Manager of Natural Resources; Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary I. ROLL CALL Chair Barrett called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Jacobus was excused. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Swanson added her departure from the Commission. Barrett added a report on the Cedar Hills Plan, under VIL A. "Reports of Staff." MOTION: Larson moved, seconded by Gerst, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —May 5, 2003 Schaepe made two corrections to the last paragraph on page 6. The word "pervious" in the first line should be "previous", and Rawerts name was misspelled in the last sentence. MOTION: Schaepe moved, seconded by Larson, to approve the minutes of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, held on May 5, 2003, as amended. Motion carried 7-0. IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION V. OLD BUSINESS Franlo Basketball Court (continued from May 51h Meeting) Lambert stated that at the last Commission meeting, there were two motions passed with regard to the basketball court. One was to change the hours back to the original time of closing at 10:00 p.m., keep both basketball hoops, if feasible, and honor the 30-foot PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 2 setback from the property line. The second motion was to have staff to look at other options to accommodate a full-size basketball court, and to consider eliminating one of the tennis courts. Staff decided not to eliminate one of the tennis courts. Instead, staff recommended removing eight feet of the court space along the south property line, so that the court meets the required setback for a rural zone, and rotating the court 90 degrees. If the basketball court were rotated east-to-west, the required space can be kept for a full-size court with the same dimensions. Lambert said that moving the court eight feet north won't solve any noise issues but it does address the legal requirements regarding recreation structures being 30 feet from the side of the property. Lambert said he has received mostly negative feedback on the above recommendation. The City received a letter from Charles and Joan Stone, residents at 10329 Franlo Road, stating they were not impressed with the petition having five-to-seven names of adults in some households. In addition, they didn't believe the City was addressing the needs of the neighborhood with its recommendation. Lambert discussed this matter with the McNee's attorney, who suggested looking at the option of moving the basketball court to a different location in the park. Lambert looked at several locations. There is room east of, and toward the north end of, the tennis courts. The problem with that option is it would move the basketball court near people who did not expect to have one there and would be about 60 feet from their property line rather than 30 feet from the existing line. This park was in place five years before any homes were built. Lambert pointed out that parks generate noise. It is unfortunate that basketball noise bothers the neighbors closest to the court. The only feasible options would be to eliminate the basketball court or turn it in an east-west direction. Swanson asked if the basketball court had always been there. Lambert said it had. Pat Peterson, 10308 Franlo Road, said, in response to the letter from the Stones, she believed only adults signed the petitions. There are as many as three adults per household if they have a child 18 years or older living there. Barrett asked if the cost of work on the basketball court would be $5,000-$6,000. Lambert said that was correct. Among other things, they will be installing acrylic plastic backboards, and he believed the basketballs would make less noise hitting them. MacKay asked if the court could just be moved back farther from the property line. Lambert replied that could not be done,because it is as close to the access road as we can safely move the court. Barrett asked if there would be room for a basketball court between the softball diamond and the soccer field. Lambert said it would require major grading, tree removal and would be in the foul ball zone of the softball field. Swanson asked if staff was not able to reach any agreement with the homeowner. Lambert replied the homeowner would prefer to keep the closing time to 8:00 p.m. The PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 3 eight-foot additional setback from the property line will not solve the noise problem, but it has to be done to meet legal setback requirements. Schaepe said he had a couple of ideas. He wondered if the basketball court could be located farther east of the tennis courts than previously discussed. Lambert said that is a possibility; however, the terrain is such that retaining walls would be needed and the court would only be a few feet further away from people who did not expect to live next to a court. Schaepe wondered if the court could be moved closer to the street on the west. Even though a fence would probably have to be put up between the court and the street, noise would be less of an issue for the neighbors. Lambert replied that would put the court within the required setback from Franlo Road. Fox added there is a 50-foot setback required from the right of way. Lambert said eliminating some parking had been suggested but the park is short of parking spaces already. Randy Brewer said he would like to address the fact that the notice he received from the City inviting him to attend the meeting in 1997 did not mention the change of time for the basketball court. Lambert replied that is true; however, a number of people at the meeting wanted to change the court hours to 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. so that was the recommendation of the Commission. Gerst asked the audience if they would rather have the full-size court in an east-west configuration than just having one basket to use. An unidentified lady replied yes, she would rather have the full-size court. She suggested planting some spruce trees to give some visual and sound barriers for the neighbors. Lambert responded that there is already a privacy wall. Any kind of landscaping would help to improve privacy, but the noise issue would not be significantly improved. Schaepe suggested building a berm. Lambert replied a sound barrier would require a berm at least eight feet high. There is not room for that high a berm in 30 feet. It would probably be better to put in a highway noise wall than a berm that high. Barrett said he believed as many people as possible would be pleased by a decision to rotate the basketball court 90 degrees. Casey Quinn, 10317 Franlo Road, stated that when they bought their house they thought a park was a good thing, until they realized the sound of the bouncing basketball can be heard in their bedrooms, as do the sounds of voices and cars, some of which have loud music playing. With the closing time being extended, she encouraged the City to have police on hand at 10:00 p.m., in case anyone uses the court beyond the posted hours. Everyone ignores the closing time now, and if they stay too late, she calls the police. On the previous night people were playing until 9:15 p.m. Her neighbors believe she is the one who always calls them, but that is not the case. Ms. Quinn asked the Commission to please move the basketball court to a location that satisfies everyone. Money should not be an issue; they have paid their taxes. She said they want a nice park facility and peace in their home. Lambert pointed out the Commission already approved changing the hours at the court is to open from to 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the last meeting, unless they want to rescind PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 4 that motion. Barrett said if they align the hours at Franlo with the hours at other parks in the City, they would be open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Schaepe asked if staff had decided that taking out one of the tennis courts would not solve anything. Lambert replied that is correct, and it would also create additional problems because the tennis players say they are already waiting to use the courts. Money has never been an issue in trying to solve this problem. The question is whether there is another place in this park for the basketball court that would solve the issue of noise. However it would then be in front of someone's house that didn't expect it to be there. Lambert advised the Commission to either eliminate the basketball court or rotate it 90 degrees. MacKay asked if moving the basketball court between the easternmost parking area and the soccer field would work. Barrett replied he walked the area and didn't believe it would fit in there. MOTION: Gerst moved, seconded by MacKay, to cut eight feet off the basketball court and change its rotation to an east-west alignment. Motion carried 7-1, with Schaepe voting nay. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Director of Parks and Recreation Services 1. Review of 2002 Annual Report Lambert referenced the report Commissioners received in their packet of information. It is a working document for City staff. When people ask questions about the parks, when a park was built, or what programs the City offers, the answers are in this document. It provides a summary of the accomplishments of the various divisions within the department, park use information, a copy of the Six Year CIP, etc. In terms of expenditures, it has information on what was done last year and plans for next year. In addition to the Commissioners, City Council members and staff receive copies. The Commissioners were not asked to take any action. MacKay asked if the City has an ongoing responsibility for the Pleasant View Cemetery. Lambert replied that it has. The cemetery had been operated by a cemetery association until 15 years ago. Because no one wanted to take it over, the association followed their bylaws regarding disposal and asked if the City wanted to assume responsibility for it, which the City Council decided to do. A staff person is assigned to sell plots and maintain the cemetery. The interest on money in the fund pays for its maintenance. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 5 Schaepe noted that on page 16 the year 2001 should be 2002. Barrett asked where revenue from rental of the Community Center pool is listed. Lambert found it under "Pool Operations Revenue" on page 20. It totaled $70,150 in 2002. Schaepe referenced athletic subsidies on page 35. He noted that revenue from volleyball exceeds expenditures, and he asked if the City would consider improving the volleyball facilities. Lambert replied that is what the City does with adult softball and volleyball. Revenues are put in a dedicated fund, and programs are subsidized with the money. The revenues pay for replacing nets and putting in new standards on the volleyball courts. Gerst asked where he could play boccie ball. Lambert replied there is boccie ball court right behind the amphitheater in Staring Lake Park. Schaepe said he wondered if park facilities could be used by leagues and associations and did not find a reference to that in the report. He would like to see information included about how many fields are being used every night and how many are not being used. He also wondered how the Commission could get an idea of the number and kinds of violations the police deal with in the parks. Lambert replied he would talk to the Police Department and find out if they can pull that information up on the computer for the Commission. Schaepe said he would like to know if there are any crime trends that affect parks. Lambert responded he was certain there are many violations of a minor nature. However, if any of the Commissioners hear that there is something going on in the parks that makes them dangerous, the City should know about that. 2. Review of the Updated Park and Open Space System Plan Lambert explained the plan was last updated in 1988; it is supposed to be done every ten years. The plan is now on computer discs, and the maps are also computerized. The City's Web site is adding new information about the parks, and in another year is expected to have the capability of including park maps and the trail system. Lambert asked if the Commissioners would like to review the plan on a chapter-by-chapter basis at future meetings. They could find out how the park system was developed, where trails are put down, what a conservation area is, etc. The Metropolitan Council reviews the City's plan and shows it to other cities as a model to follow. MacKay asked if the Park and Open Space System Plan could be put on the Web site. Lambert said that could be done. It would be appropriate for the Commission to recommend to the City Council that this document be put on the Web site as soon as feasible. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 6 MOTION: MacKay moved, seconded by Crain, to recommend to the City Council that as soon as feasible the Park and Open Space System Plan, as updated,be put on the Web site. Swanson recommended having the Parks and Recreation brochure on line so people could register on line. Lambert replied that is coming on line this fall. Swanson wondered if putting all this on the Web site is too heavy a workload for the one staff person in charge of doing it, considering how many citizens would utilize the information. Lambert said if the motion is passed, at least it will be on record, and it will get done at some time. Motion carried 8-0. Gerst said he believed the Commission's meetings are listed at the wrong time on the Web site. Lambert said he would check into that. MacKay asked the Commissioners if they wished to discuss the plan chapter by chapter. The consensus was that they should understand it, but would not have to go over every chapter at the meetings. 3. City Council Actions—May 6`—`'and Mav 20`—`' Meetinus Lambert said the Council would be going over the dog off-leash park locations at its June 3 meeting. He talked with Three Rivers Park District, and they recommended three additional sites within the park system. One is Bryant Lake Park. The location being considered is adjacent to the International School property. There would probably be ten acres, depending on where they decide to run the fence. If so, Eden Prairie would have more off-leash areas than anywhere else in Minnesota. 4. Cedar Hills Park Plan Lambert said the City Council would be reviewing this plan at their June 3 meeting, when the Council could rescind or overrule the Commission's recommendation to remove the off-leash area from the plan. Lambert said he would bring the results of the Council meeting to the July 7 meeting of the Commission. The neighbors will be notified prior to that meeting, and the revised plan presented would be the same, without the off-leash area, if the Council approves the Commission's recommendation. Lambert met with representatives from the neighborhood after the May 5 meeting. They wanted to know if some trees could be planted in the conservation area and make it a better place to walk and play. B. Resisnation of Commissioner Swanson PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES June 2, 2003 Page 7 Commissioner Swanson said this would be her last meeting because she is moving to Portland, Oregon. Barrett thanked Swanson for her hard work in helping to make some difficult decisions. Lambert said the women who were on the list of applicants expressing an interest in serving on this commission have been appointed to other commissions, leaving only men on the list. Lambert said if the commissioners know of any women who would like to apply, they should submit an application soon. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Barrett moved, seconded by Gerst, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.