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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 04/24/2001 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PROGRAM BOARD TUESDAY,APRIL 24, 2001 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Heritage Room 2 8080 Mitchell Road BOARD MEMBERS: Chair Munna Yasiri, Dick Brown, Therese Benkowski, Harry Davis, Jr., Jeffrey Gerst, Harry Moran, Susan Oswald and Kim Teaver, BOARD STAFF: Laurie Obiazor, Staff Liaison and Carol Pelzel, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Natalie Swaggert, Director of Management Services Bob Lambert, Director of Parks and Recreation Services CONSULTANTS: SRF Consulting Group, Inc. —Barry Warner, Senior Vice President and Ken Grieshaber, Associate PARKS AND RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS: Rob Barrett, Ann Birt, John Murray, II and Phil Wright COMMISSION STAFF: Tria Mann, Arts & Special Events Coordinator I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Yasiri called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Board members present included Munna Yasiri, Dick Brown (arrived at 7:40 p.m.), Harry Davis, Jr., Therese Benkowski, Jeffrey Gerst, Kim Teaver(arrived at 7:15 p.m.) and Susan Oswald. Board member absent was Harry Moran Chair Yasiri introduced new Board member Jeffrey Gerst who will serve a term expiring March, 2004. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Benkowski moved, seconded by Oswald, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried, 4-0. Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 2 III. APPROVAL OF FEBRURY 27, 2001 MINUTES MOTION: Davis moved, seconded by Benkowski, to approve the February 27, 2001, minutes as published. The motion carried, 4-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Purgatory Creek Recreation Area Programming Alternatives Bob Lambert, Director of Parks and Recreation Services, explained that the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission was invited to attend the Community Program Board meeting to hear a presentation being made this evening regarding the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area. Lambert explained that they are asking both groups to review the program ideas that have been developed and to provide staff with feedback. It is hoped that a consensus from both the Board and the Commission can be reached as to the priority program needs of this area to give the planners and the Task Force direction as to how that site should be developed. After this meeting, the plan will go to the City Council for their input. After that process, a concept plan will be developed and presented to the Task Force and all parties involved prior to final adoption. Barry Warner, Senior Vice President of SRF Consulting Group, Inc., presented an overview of the work that has been done to date and where they are going. Warner explained that there is a storm sewer system through this site. They are proposing a trail that will circle the wetland. Because of the soil limitations, it will likely be a soft surfaced trail. They will also assist in providing access locations for this trail. Warner explained that their real focus of work is on the park parcel. Their ultimate assignment is to assist the City with a schematic design for this area. They need to determine what kind of design, program activities and level of maintenance is wanted for this site. Warner explained that there are four programming alternatives. They need to have a solid understanding of programming before they can get to a design. The largest variable for the four alternatives is the number of parking spaces. The site is approximately 6.5 acres in size and is flanked by a roadway on two sides, a building on one side and a water basin on the fourth side. Warner explained that another consideration would be when this site is most active; noon, evening hours, weekend hours or throughout the day. This will be a determining factor for parking. Ken Grieshaber, Associate with SRF Consulting Group, Inc.,presented the four alternatives. The site constraints were identified as well as the access points to the park. Grieshaber explained that the wetland boundaries are important in terms of pathway locations. Alternative A is a passive/natural program. This would allow them to retain the existing storm water drainage way with parking requirements being 20 to 30 spaces. This would be the lowest program type park. Alternative B is an education/interpretation program. This would include meeting rooms, a fireplace lounge and would require filling in a portion of the wetland drainage way. There would be provisions for bus parking and spaces for approximately 30-50 vehicles. This program would be more enhanced with vegetation. Grieshaber explained that Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 3 Alternative C is a performance/events program and is more intense. Parking requirements would be for 200 spaces and would require more of a gateway to the park. It could include an open lawn seating area, amphitheater or bandshell. Approximately 100 to 200 parking spaces would be required. The fourth and final alternative, Alternative D would be an urban plaza program. This would require some type of anchor close to the water. It would result in more of a streetscape urban feel. This program would be the most intensive form of park development. In response to a question from Yasiri, Warner explained that this park entry would be comparable in size to a small neighborhood park, 6 to 7 acres. Lambert added that the entire site is about 200 acres. They are looking at developing the entryway, which is similar in size to the park at Prairie View School. Wright explained that he has had an opportunity to study this body of water and has found it to sometimes be high and sometimes low. He asked if it is a clean, clear body of water. He also asked if the water could have a cooling affect on the park. Warner responded that the basin will change. The Watershed District did control this structure and it is not working as intended. It was their vision that it should maintain a more consistent water level and have a more consistent vegetative grow. The smaller basin will have more open water. It is not someplace where you could go swimming but you could use it for canoeing. It is not a large basin of water. Lambert explained that this project has been on the City's books since 1981. The City approved a concept plan at that time. It is a $4 million project. Of that, $3 million will be received from the Watershed District and $1 million will be tax increment financing district money. The $4 million will be used for water quality improvements. This is intended to improve the water quality in Staring Lake, and eventually the water to the Minnesota River. Benkowski asked that they explain what is happening with the neighboring Southwest Metro Transit property. Warner displayed a diagram received from Southwest Metro and identified some of the development that will be undertaken adjacent to the park. He explained that this entire campus of development will see much more density in the future. One of the objectives they feel needs to happen is a much better pedestrian access to the area from the Southwest Metro site. Davis pointed out that the City recently completed an intense community survey and that survey showed that the residents want more recreational walking paths. They also have a great concern about traffic congestion. When they review these plans, they need to keep in mind traffic congestion and the natural walking paths. If they go from 20 parking spaces to 200, they are creating additional traffic. Davis said he feels there needs to be more natural access to the walking paths and recreational area. He explained that everyone in this room knows that Eden Prairie's traffic congestion is a challenge and that Technology Drive cannot handle much more traffic. Yasiri said she likes the urban plaza plan. She said she feels the City has a lot of the passive type park systems and she is not sure that this site is suited for an education/interpretation program. This might be an opportunity to do something in the Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 4 downtown area. They may want to do something about having pedestrian bridges that go to the park to eliminate foot traffic in congested areas. The 100 to 200 parking spaces required in the urban concept addresses evening and weekend uses. Yasiri asked in terms of maintenance, which program is more expensive. Warner responded that as you increase intensity of use, maintenance costs would increase. The building size and function would increase and the landscape would be more manicured. He explained that maintenance costs are associated with any development and the City needs to address those costs once a concept is in place. Benkowski pointed out that there is a wetland ordinance in place in the City of Eden Prairie. She explained that the urban plaza program does not meet that current ordinance and programs C and B are questionable. Programs A and B are the closest to meeting the current ordinance. Benkowski said the City needs to set an example at the same time as trying to implement and enforce the City's laws and ordinances with other developers around this wetland. She stated that she is concerned that they are bypassing and ignoring the current ordinance and this may result in problems with other developers. They need to set an example for the City and she feels they should look at the ordinance and comply with it the best they can in developing this area. Benkowski said she prefers Program B, education/interpretation program which results in a more natural setting. She suggested that they pool some of the ideas from the other concepts into B. Lambert explained that even Program B would not comply with the existing ordinance. The wetland ordinance refers to what type of buffers they have to protect that wetland. If they followed the wetland ordinance to the letter they would not be going through this process. When this process was started 20 years ago, the wetland looked a lot different. Lambert explained how this wetland area was developed and said they feel that spending $4 million of public money on water quality improvement is very important. They are going through the permitting process now. Lambert further explained that just because there is a wetland ordinance does not mean it is cast in concrete and variances may be granted. It is important to look at the big picture. Will water quality be better strictly following the ordinance or developing this $4 million water quality project which includes a hard edge to a portion of a NURP pond? They have 200 acres with 2 1/2 miles of edge and they are talking about a hard edge on less than 600 feet of it. They realize they will not be following the ordinance but they do have some significant rationale for a variance. He explained the City Council and Watershed District must determine if the plan will be worth the variance. They need to look at what the best use of this site will be. Davis asked if staff is confident that they will receive approval for the variances requested. Lambert responded that there might be modifications made to the plan but they are confident that the plan itself will not be denied. Lambert said they are asking that this group provide them with input for program needs. Davis said that is why they have the community survey. The residents of Eden Prairie said what they want to see in this community. They have to listen to what the community wants. Birt asked why they are developing this area now after having waited 20 years. She asked if it was because the water quality is so bad or the City feels they need the Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 5 development. Lambert responded that the water quality is continuing to deteriorate. The water quality of all of the lakes is getting worse. Barrett explained that this is only a 6.5 acre site and he questioned what people would do here. He feels that it would not be used for six months out of the year. The rest of the time it would mainly be used for a place to eat lunch for those people in the surrounding office buildings. Barrett said he didn't think the residents would make a special trip to this site to use the trails. Yasiri explained that this site is already in an urban development and corporate environment. She said she would like to see a pedestrian bridge over Prairie Center Drive and Technology Drive. Lambert explained that overpasses are not used unless they are at a convenient elevation. Warner explained that the at-grade crossing would be safe with lights and medians. Lambert also reminded the Board and Commission that the property could be planned for winter use depending on the program design. He also noted that some of the highest density housing in Eden Prairie surrounds this wetland or is within a half mile of the trail around the marsh. More mid-rise housing is planned in the area. Warner asked that each Board and Commission member indicate which program they would like to see developed on this site. Gerst said that he feels there should be some education parts included in this site such as points of interest being noted along the walkways. He would also like to see the performance/events program developed at this site incorporating some of the things that are included at Centennial Lakes and Lake Cornelia in Edina such as winter activities like ice-skating. Davis said he also likes the Centennial Lakes concept and would like to see Programs C and D combined. He indicated that he is not overly excited about serving the tenants in the surrounding offices but they do need to focus on community needs. Davis said he would like to see a family environment that embraces all parts of the community. Oswald said she favors Programs C and D and especially likes Program C from a family point of view. This would be a place for the entire community to gather for the 4"' of July Celebration. Teaver indicated that she prefers Program D with more restaurants and retail and feels this would be a good use of that property. Program D would be a great advantage to Eden Prairie. Benkowski said she likes Program B and sees it as an oasis. She said she feels Eden Prairie is so unique in that it has so much water. This facility could be used as an educational tool and she likes what Program B has to offer with possibilities of a gateway feature to draw people into it. Meeting rooms and a building with a fireplace would allow for year-round use. Brown explained that as a past member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, he Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 6 has been looking at this piece of property for eight years. He said he feels the most popular area the City has is Staring Lake which does not have stores or shops but only nature. Brown indicated that the City does have places for programs and meetings and he, therefore, favors Program A. He would like to see a natural resource area that users can walk through. This is what the community said they wanted; they are not requesting more restaurants or meeting places. Yasiri said she is in favor of Program D with portions of Program C being added into it. She would also like to see pedestrian access from all sides. Yasiri said the program should include picnic tables and a large square or band shell. She would like some type of water monument included on this site similar to that at Centennial Lakes. Yasiri said she would not like to see a restaurant on this property but some type of enclosure for classrooms or something that may be rented out. She is very much in favor of the street festival idea. Birt explained that she likes the idea of Centennial Lakes,however, she does not feel that something similar to that would be appropriate for Eden Prairie. Centennial Lakes is too manicured while Eden Prairie is more rustic or rural. Birt indicated that she is torn between having the site developed and not developed and feels that a development similar to Centennial Lakes is not suited for this community. Wright indicated that he likes Program D and cannot understand why people are so concerned about a natural site. This site is the most manmade site in the whole area. It is surrounded by two highways, restaurants and office buildings, and the entire site is fill that was placed here less than 20 years ago. Barrett explained that this is a small site and he favors Program A. Barrett said he thinks this site should be more like a City park. This site could never be a Centennial Lakes type of park. Murray said he is leaning towards favoring Program B for this site. He indicated that people could use this park during their lunch hour or while waiting to be seated for dinner at a surrounding restaurant. Murray said that residents would also use the trail system in the evening. He would also like to see a band shell for small community events and it could be rented out for corporate lunches. Murray indicated that he would like this site to be a natural draw rather than built to draw people. Warner expressed his appreciation to the group for their comments regarding this project. The Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission left the meeting. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Crestwood Park Plan Lambert reviewed the plan for Crestwood Park and identified where the park is located. He explained that Crestwood Park is one of the two remaining neighborhood parks to be built to complete the neighborhood park system requirements for the City. The land Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 7 for Crestwood Park was purchased a number of years ago and is 11 acres in size. The property is fronted by Dell Road on the east and single-family properties on the south, west and northerly boundaries. With the development of the Apple Orchard property, the Settler's Ridge development and future proposed residential development in the vicinity along with the upgrading of Dell Road, staff recommends the development of this park should proceed. This will be a small neighborhood park that will service approximately 800 to 1,200 people, plus the community athletic associations. Lambert further explained that they are proposing parking for 60 vehicles for two competition soccer fields. During the winter months there will be a hockey and free skating rink at this location and the only lights at this facility would be for the skating rinks. A warming house would also be provided during the winter months. Lambert explained that vegetation around the perimeter of the site would be used for screening along with berms. Lambert indicated that any development in Eden Prairie requires them to look at the water runoff and the need to treat that water before it goes into the storm water system. They will be creating a drainage pond on this site. They have determined that there is an area on site with cattails and the City's Environmental Coordinator will be looking at this site to determine how large of an area is affected by the cattails. They will have the engineers do a delineation to determine if there is a wetland and how large that wetland is. If there is a wetland, it will be necessary for them to go through the approval process. The permitting process will follow once the design is approved. In response to a question from Brown, Lambert explained that this is a typical neighborhood park and that it is surrounded by basically single family homes and is a young neighborhood. Brown asked if the basketball court would be placed away from the older existing homes. Lambert responded that it sits approximately 75 feet away from the houses. Adding basketball courts in neighborhood parks became a standard. Basketball is becoming a big deal in Minnesota and it does change from year to year. Benkowski said she likes the idea of the soccer fields. They are located so far away from the larger soccer facilities and she said she thinks it is a good idea to have more soccer fields in the area. Davis asked if the concept of combining basketball and tennis was ever explored. Lambert explained that they have put basketball courts on tennis courts but it does cause conflicts. When the land is available, they provide separate courts. MOTION: Brown moved, seconded by Davis, to recommend to the City Council the approval of the development of Crestwood Park per the staff recommended plan. Motion carried, 6-0. B. Water Surface Use Ordinance for Smetana Lake Lambert reported that City staff is recommending approval of an ordinance regulating surface use of Smetana Lake which would make it unlawful to launch or operate a motorboat on Smetana Lake except for boats powered by electric motors and boats operated by enforcement, emergency and resource management personnel acting in the performance of their duties. Lambert explained the process for adopting this ordinance indicating that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must review and approve the ordinance prior to the first and second reading. Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 8 In response to a question from Yasiri, Lambert explained that there will be no limits on horsepower but on the type of motor. The motors run on batteries and do not cause pollution. The ordinance will include the standard verbiage used by the DNR. Yasiri asked if they should include a miles per hour limit in the ordinance. Lambert indicated that they do not want to control speed, that is not an issue. They may eventually have to change the language to limit the size of the motor,however, at this point it is not an issue and not part of the DNR language. Brown suggested that a canoe rack be added at this lake. Lambert said if it is requested they could provide a canoe rack for rental. MOTION: Motion Benkowski, seconded by Davis, to recommend to the City Council the approval of an ordinance regulating surface use of Smetana Lake, amending City Code, Chapter 9. Motion carried, 6-0. VI. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Community Newsletter Swaggert explained that staff would like to use this group as a sounding board and review board for the City's communication programs. The City is beginning to work on a communication plan and would like this Board's comments regarding that plan. She explained that the City's communication goal is to provide its citizens with appropriate information in a timely and concise manner using communication tools available and to do it in the most cost effective manner as possible. Swaggert stated that they have developed strategies which include: (1) Maximize the use of technology by using the Web site more and by using technology in general. This would include the reader board. (2) Avoid duplication and respect the communication role covered by other publications and organizations. Staff will try to better utilize press releases and other avenues without spending additional City money. (3) Respect the reader's time. We do not want to become one more thing that the reader has to carry from their mailbox. Communications need to be clear and easy for the reader to locate information. This would require consistency in what is being mailed out by the City. (4) Centralize the City's communications internally. Staff will work as a team across the organization. This should result in less duplication. Swaggert reviewed with the Board the most recent publications explaining that a quarterly publication will replace the by-monthly newsletter. Each issue will focus on City events and critical information that pertains to that quarter. This will result in four publications replacing one planner and five newsletters. There will be a cost savings realized. Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 9 Swaggert explained that a second area of focus will be the Web site. The City currently does not have the internal technology or technical expertise to develop the next level which is interactive. We will be putting resources into that type of support on a contract basis. At a future meeting we will discuss more specifically what we plan to do with the Web site. Obiazor explained that the community brochure was previously distributed four times a year and have since been reduced to one in the spring/ summer, one in the fall, and one in winter. Staff is looking at incorporating similar graphics so that the public can readily identify it as a City publication. Obiazor indicated that their intent is to have a more unified look to all City publications. Swaggert explained that the color green will be carried throughout the publications as a means of supporting /promoting the City's new logo. Signage throughout the City will also be changed to incorporate the new logo. In response to a question from Davis, Swaggert explained that the City's logo is a composite of things that have happened in the community over time. Obiazor explained that they are making revisions to the programs brochure and hope to have that completed by this fall. The intention is to improve the readability and accessibility. Teaver said the programs brochure is a very important piece of information and she is able to tell which one is most current by its color. She said she likes the different colors of the brochure and hopes that they would continue to use the various colors. Swaggert said they would attempt to come up with something that is very distinctive for each season. Benkowski suggested that in some of the publications they condense the description and direct the reader to the Web site for additional information. Swaggert explained that by placing the Community brochure on the Web site they are working closer to being able to register on-line. This is where the City needs technical programming help. Swaggert reviewed with the Board the special newsletters or direct mailings. She indicated that they are working with the City's graphics person to get a common look to these mailings. They will be reviewing their content and will determine how often these publications should be sent out. They will also be offering in-house writing workshops with a professional to teach staff how to write for publications. Swaggert explained that there may still be some special publications from time to time. An annual report has been done in the past and they plan to put that on the Web site. Yasiri pointed out that not everyone uses the Web site. Residents over a certain age do not use the computer, they want to work with a person or have a document in their hands. Swaggert said it is their intent to include a statement on all publications mailed out that states it is available in other forms for the public who need them. They will eventually need to develop some types of materials for language barriers. Brown said he feels the City's cable station gives them an excellent opportunity to get information out to the residents. He suggested that they include less information, make Community Program Board April 24, 2001 Page 10 it interesting and use a larger font so that it is easily readable. Yasiri also suggested that they list when certain programs are on the cable channel in the publications that are mailed out. Swaggert said this information could also be included on the Web site. They do believe that they are under utilizing these resources. B. Status of Skateboard Park for Round Lake Park Obiazor reported that they have received two bids for the skateboard park. One bid was for a steel product and the second bid was a wood product, which met the specifications for the park apparatus. TrueRide was the wood bid and was for $25,000. This company will provide more apparatus than the company that bid steel. The City will work with TrueRide to install the skateboard park. Their goal is to have the park installed prior to the 4"'of July Celebration. VII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS Swaggert reminded the Board members of the joint meeting on May 1, 2001, at 5:00 p.m. with the City Council and Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission. It will be determined at a later date if their regular May meeting will be necessary. Benkowski asked if it would be possible for the Board members to receive copies of the new City map. Davis asked if new Board members will receive a City tour. Swaggert explained that a tour had been conducted today and that the next one would probably be held in the fall. Gerst asked if it would be possible to have the tour on a Saturday. Swaggert said she would check into this to see whether or not that would be possible. Yasiri suggested they have a tour that covers all of the City parks which is more relative to this Board. Benkowski said she would like to see historical sites included in that tour. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Teaver moved, Benkowski seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried, 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.