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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 04/01/2002 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,APRIL 1, 2002 7:00 P.M. City Center Council Chambers COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Munna Yasiri, Chair; Dick Brown, Therese Benkowski, David Larson, Jeffrey Gerst, Trisha Swanson COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Rob Barrett and Kim Teaver, Philip Wright COMMITTEE STAFF PRESENT: Bob Lambert, Director of Parks and Recreation Services; Laurie Obiazor, Staff Liaison; Lyndell Frey, Community Center Manager; John Gertz, Historic Preservation Specialist and Carol Pelzel, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL A. Introductions The meeting was called to order by Chair Yasiri at 7:05 p.m. The members introduced themselves. B. Board and Commission/Intergovernmental Organization Structure Obiazor explained that a roster of the Commission members was included in the agenda and she asked that any corrections to the names, addresses, telephone numbers or e-mail addresses be forwarded to her. The Commission was also provided with the City's Board and Commission Intergovernmental Organization Structure. C. Charter Statement Yasiri read the Commission's Charter Statement and reviewed their role and responsibilities. D. City Code Chapter 2, Section 2.23, Subd. 2.C. A copy of City Code Chapter 2, Section 2.23, Subd. 2.C. regarding the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission was included in the Commission's agenda information. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION April 1, 2002 Page 2 II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Brown asked that the agenda be amended to include an item under future meetings, visits to properties the Commission will be discussing at future meetings. Motion: Brown moved, Gerst seconded, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried, 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Commission was asked to consider approval of minutes from the January 22, 2002,joint meeting between the Eden Prairie Community Program Board and the Parks & Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission. Motion: Benkowski moved, Brown seconded, to approve the January 22, 2002,joint meetinz minutes of the Eden Prairie Community Program Board and the Parks & Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission as published. The motion carried, 6-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS V. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommend to the City Council the Relocation of the Dorenkemper Log Home to Riley Lake Park for City Program Use John Gertz, the City's Historic Preservation Specialist, explained that a local developer, Dan Herbst, indicated a desire to preserve a log house and has committed to placing the house on a site approved by the City. The log house was obtained as part of a development project on Settlers Ridge. Gertz stated that the house had to be moved from the existing location by April 1. It was suggested that Riley Lake Park be a temporary location for this house with the idea to move it permanently between the paddock and lake shore. Gertz stated that it is their plan to develop an ADA accessible trail and parking to the house. Development of the site itself would be minimal to keep with the 1850's building. All expenses incurred for the replacement of the damaged logs,replacement of the roof and windows and to place the home on permanent footings on a site approved by the City would be paid for by Mr. Herbst. Gertz explained that the Heritage Preservation Commission recommended approval of the Heritage Preservation Site Alteration Permit to relocate the Dorenkemper Log Home to the Riley Lake Park farm site. Should this Commission approve the relocation of the log home, the request would go to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals for permits to relocate and then to the City Council for their approval. Gertz indicated that the end use of the building is unknown. It is important to get the Park staff together to discuss the uses for the building once it is restored. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION April 1, 2002 Page 3 Yasiri asked what Mr. Herbst's connection is to this building and what incentives there are for his incurring the costs. Gertz answered that Herbst is interested in the historic value of the building. He has done a number of projects in the City and he has been excellent to work with when it comes to historic resources. Lambert explained that this is an individual who appreciates the money he has made in Eden Prairie and truly wants to give back to the community. Lambert said that the building would be renovated to look like it did in the 1850's. He stated that it is this Commission's responsibility to review this request because it is on park property. The property was purchased with State and Federal money and there are limitations on how this site can be used. The City has defined this as a historic interpretation recreational program. It is staff's opinion that if the developer is going to spend a lot of money in the installation of this building and it is put on City property, we should understand that an ongoing investment will have to be made to keep the building intact. It would be a major mistake to accept this building unless the City figures out how to use the building and commit to using it. Lambert said he would recommend that this site be used as a recreational site and they need to determine what would be the best use for this building. Lambert suggested that this Commission, the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Recreation staff have a joint meeting to discuss the options for the use of this log home and to determine the best use for it. Swanson mentioned that several activities have been scheduled in the Cummins Grill house and she asked how attendance was for those activities. Lambert responded that this was an example of a historic site that was not used for many years. There was very little money for keeping this facility up. Once the lower level was made usable, staff developed one program a month to be held in this facility. The recreation staff have done a remarkable job and they have received a great response. Motion: Brown moved, Benkowski seconded, to thank Mr. Herbst for hisizenerosity in providing_ this home to the City, to recommend to the City Council the relocation of the Dorenkemper log home to Riley Lake Park for City programs and to recommend a joint meetinz between the Historic Preservation Commission and the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission on April 15 to discuss active programming for the Dorenkemper log home. The motion carried, 6-0. B. Recommend to the City Council the revised Oak Point Pool Joint Powers Agreement between Independent School District 272 and the City of Eden Prairie Obiazor introduced Lyndell Frey, Community Center Manager, and explained that he oversees the Community Center as well as Oak Point Pool for the City. Frey referred the Commission to a memo dated March 13 from Bob Lambert that was included with the Commission's agenda requesting a revision to the existing Joint Powers Agreement between the School District and the City for rental of Oak Point Pool. This Agreement has been in effect since 1995. Staff is requesting that the Agreement be revised so that the School District charge the City for the use of Oak Point in the exact manner that the City charges the School District for the Community Center pool. Frey stated that their biggest hurdle in PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION April 1, 2002 Page 4 dealing with this Agreement is that the School is on a different calendar than the City. Different cut-off dates are used for processing payments. The revised Agreement is being recommended by both City and School District staff. Yasiri asked if both the City's and School District's legal counsel has reviewed this Agreement. Frey responded that they both did work on the revised Agreement. Swanson asked if the new Agreement would affect programming. Frey explained that the largest affect would be not operating Oak Point pool on Sundays. With the School's failed referendum, they looked at Oak Point pool to cut costs. The pool may be rented to outside groups but the City would no longer use it on Sundays. Typically they have open swimming but all of that will be moved to the Community Center. It is more expensive to operate Oak Point than the Community Center pool for several reasons, the main reason is the number of staff required to operate Oak Point Pool. Motion: Brown moved, Larson seconded, to recommend approval of the revised Joint Powers Agreement between Independent School District 272 and the City of Eden Prairie bX providing a notice of termination of the agreement dated October 29, 1995 as per terms of the agreement and recommendiniz the School District and the City Council agree to the revised Joint Powers Agreement dated April 2002 approving revisions to the rental rates and hours of operation. The motion carried, 6-0. VI. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Request for Volunteers 1. Environmental Fair on Monday, May 13 Obiazor reported that Leslie Stovring, Environmental Coordinator, is requesting volunteers for three programs that the City is offering. The first is the Environmental Fair to be held on Monday, May 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This would involve no more than two or three hours. Benkowski spoke about the event, explaining that there are some wonderful presentations sponsored by various environmental organizations. Benkowski said she would be happy to volunteer. 2. Compost Bin Distribution on Saturday, May 18 Obiazor explained that the compost bin distribution will be held at the Eden Prairie Education Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They will be providing compost containers to residents for$20. 3. Clean Up on Saturday, June 15 Obiazor said this event includes clean up of various park sites throughout the City. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION April 1, 2002 Page 5 Obiazor asked that any Commission members interested in volunteering for any of these events either contact her or Leslie Stovring. B. Parks and Recreation Services Update Lambert presented a brief update on what the Parks and Recreation Department have been doing over the last year and what their goals are for next year. He distributed pages from their annual report. Copies of the complete annual report will be distributed once it is published. C. Update on Progress of Various City Task Forces Lambert presented a brief update on the various task forces that have been created. He explained that the Third Rink Task Force was formed to evaluate all of the information gathered on the third ice rink. It was decided that approximately $80,000 would be required to operate another rink. The task force thought it would cost approximately $3.5 million to build the third rink and would require raising approximately $2 million. The Hockey Association is doing fundraisers right now and this should end in April. They will be coming to the City Council with their report indicating the amount of money they have raised or have committed to the project. Lambert explained that another group of ten or twelve people called the Jean Harris Memorial Task Force would be working with City staff and different consultants to develop an appropriate method to remember Jean Harris and all she accomplished. A third group called the Birch Island Woods Task Force was formed to look at developing a management plan for those woods. Their goal will be to develop a management and development plan for that conservation area. Lambert reported that an Athletic Programs Task Force is scheduled to meet on April 10 with City staff and a consultant to help up date the park and open space plan. They have approximately six months to decide what land the City will acquire for its park system that can accommodate athletic fields. This task force should have a recommendation by May 8 after which it will be forwarded to this Commission for consideration and then to the City Council. VII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS Brown pointed out that it is important that this Commission know what they are talking about when considering an item and he is recommending that they develop teams to go out on a Saturday or Sunday morning to look at the properties they will be discussing at their Monday night meetings. This would be a once a month commitment. He asked that the Commission members think about this and decide at their next meeting if this is something they would want PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION April 1, 2002 Page 6 to do. Lambert indicated that they usually take one meeting in the summer and tour the various parks throughout the City. This is generally done in June or July. The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission is scheduled for Monday, May 6. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Gerst moved, Benkowski seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The motion carried, 6-0.