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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 12/02/1996 iY r (1 a a j 1996 December 2 MINUTES Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission r CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE i t ( AGENDA ' i PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION i MONDAY,DECEMBER 2,1996 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER I, 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS j COMMISSION MEMBERS: Claire Hilgemnn, Chair: Bruce Bowman, Richard Brown, Don Jacobson,Vicki Kocning,David Kracum,John Wilson STUDENT MEMBERS: Jennifer Freemyer,Melody Hasse COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and { Natural Resources; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Laurie Helling, Manager of Recreation ' Services t I. ROLL CALL 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4 t 111. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-NOVEMBER 18, 1996 t IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS i A. Petition from Residents in Wyndham Knoll Neighborhood for Developing Trail System in the Edenbrook Conservation Area B. Request from the Edcn Prairie Baseball Club s V. pFVrl,OPMENT PROPOSALS t� A. ND= VI. 01.13 13USINESS re.. A. Staring Lakr.Playground Renovation B. Marilyn Schoonover Property C. Klein/Peterson Property-Onion#1 V11. N E W BUSINESS A. N= I I i Agenda Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 Page 2 t VI11. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF 'r A. Reports of Staff l. imports of Manager of Parks and Natural Resources a. Approved Winter Permits- L.RT Corridor B. ADJOURNMENT :Litt: a i I APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES MONDAY,DECEMBER 2, 1996 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD Council Chambers COMMISSION MEMBERS: Claire Hilgeman, Chair; Bruce Bowman, Richard Brown,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,David Kracum, John Wilson STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Jennifer Frcemyer,Melody Hasse COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert,Directorof Parks,Recreation and Facilities; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources: Barb Cross, O; Elinda Bahley, Recording Secretary !• ROLL C'ALI, The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m by Vice Chair Bowman. Commissioners Brown and Hilgeman were excused;all other members were present. I1. APPR0VA1,DE AGENDA r MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Wilson, to approve the agenda as { published. Motion carried 5-0. i r 111. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-NOV MB R 18 1996 i ti Koenig noted on page 9,the first paragraph should include the sentence...Still she hates to sec another hill lost, f i MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Koenig, to approve the Minutes of the h November 18, 1996 Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources 1 Commission as amended. Motion carried 4-0-1 with abstention by Kracum. IV. PETITIONS R• UESTS AND CO7•:MUNIC`AM A. PRIWOn from Residents In Wyndham KDeveloping Trall Sys noll N iahborhood for ktion Area Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 26, 1996,from Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities; a letter dated August 19, 1996,from Jeff Thomas and Joe Kaye;and a letter dated November 25. 1996,from George and Diane Kissinger. i s t Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 Lambert explained that in August of this year the City received a petition from residents of the Wyndham Knoll neighborhood requesting a number of improvements to their park. The residents met with the Commission and the Commission discussed the timing of any improvements on Wyndham Knoll Park and where the priorities stood. The Commission supported the recommended improvements to the trail system along Dell Road and to start the review process for a trail system within the Edenbrook Conservation Area. The trail system within the Edenbrook Conservation Area has been in the Capital Improvement Plan(CIP)for about 15 years. It keeps getting set back each year mainly because the City has not received a petition from the residents and the City always has more requests for projects than they have money for projects. This trail system is scheduled in the CIP for 1998. The residents have requested that it not be pushed back any further and to initiate this review process. Notices were sent out to residents within about a half mile radius of the Edenbrook Conservation Area notifying them of the process. The purpose of the meeting is to simply review the possible locations for trails within the Edenbrook Conservation Area based on where the high ground is, where they have provided for possible accesses to neighborhoods as those neighborhoods developed over the last 10 to 15 years, and where the wetlands arc that will have it)be bridged with floating boardwalks. Staff will take the input from the residents and draft a proposed plan depicting where they want and don't want trails,and the Commission would then review it. The Commission would make a recommendation to the City Council and they would make a final decision. 1 Staff believes the development of the trail system would have to be done in phases and the first phase may be in 1998. The second phase may not happen until 5 or 10 years later depending on what the demand is and the use is. Lambert referred the residents and Commission to the atrial view of the Edenbrook Conservation Area and reviewed where the proposed trails would be located which was mainly the cast west connections across the marsh. A trail was proposed along Duck Luke Road connecting up to the trail along Dell Road and a 10 to 15 car parking lot. The trail itself is intended to be a pedestrian trail, more of a nature trail made out of(aglime?'?'??) The boardwalks Lire plastic about 7 feet in width and arc laid right on top of the marsh. They will be there for a very long time and make a very nice trail system with very little impact during the installation system. Boardwalk trails cost about$65 a running foot. Stafl'believes this trail system does it couple of things. It makes very good connections for kids and neighborhoods across that marsh so they don't have 2 i 1 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 to go all the way down to Duck Lake Road. Another desirable trail would connect to the Minnetonka trail system which adds another 20 miles of trails. It also provides an cast west connection across the marsh and allows people to get out there to see what's in the marsh. Staff received about 20 phone calls from people that were not able to make the meeting. The vast majority were supportive of the trails but had questions. They wanted to know where the trails were going to be and wanted to make sure there is not going to be negative impact on the;marsh. Any trail system out there has to have DNR and Watershed District approval The public hearing wits opened. Diane Shaken,6689 Almhurst Lane,commented that her home overlooks the hill where the proposed parking lot would be and was concerned about the visibility of it. She doesn't feel there is a need for that when there is a parking lot in the Wyndham Knoll Park just a short distance away. She was also concerned about the parking lot disturbing the view. Lambert noted that there is no controlled access crossing of Dell Road so staff would not recommend that. The proposed parking lot would be on the south side of the hill on the cast side of the row of trees. It would be about 100 feet long. The parking lot would not be very visible in the summer but would be in the winter. Shaken was concerned about access in and out of the parking lot and { asked if there would be a traffic light. Lambert replied there would be no ' traffic light because this is only a 10 to 15 car parking lot and would not require a traffic light. j Site Scott, 18453 Chermault Way,expressed concern about the wildlife and 1 nature being preserved. If trails arc put in with it lot of people using them, it will scare oft'a lot of the animals. She wants the natural habitat protected. It would not be an inconvenience for anyone to use it the way it is. She was especially opposed to connecting Eden Prairie to Minnetonka. She id not sec any benefit connecting Eden Prairie trails to other cities trails. Marty Segal commented he lives close to the property line and said he would like to sec the trails as far away from the property lines as possible. He was opposed to the proposed parking lot and believes the one in the Wyndham Knoll Park is sufficient. That parking lot is barely ever used. The goal is to preserve the wildlife and this proposal would only remove wildlife space. Jim ( ),6697 Almhurst Way,commented there is about 65 miles of trail system in Eden Pmiric and he doesn't feel there is a need for any more. His a 3 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 house faces the proposed parking lot. They bought their house four years ago because of the conservation area which is across the road. They were told by the City office that area would be left the way it is as a conservation area. There is also another parking lot by the water tower in Hidden Ponds Park which is another access point as to where people would be able to park and walk the sidewalks as they do now. Fie doesn't think there is a need for the proposed trail on the cast side of Dell Road because there is already a sidewalk on the other side of Dell Road. There would not be a need for two of them and it's a waste of money. The trails in the conservation area would disturb the wildlife habitat and the existing deer trails. The deer would have to find another trail. Mary Johnson, 18200 Ginavale Lane,said when she first received the notice she was against the proposal and wanted the conservation area to stay the same. Everyday she drives over to Minnetonka and walks around the trail system for an hour. She sees the deer and all kinds of animals. She thinks this is now a wonderful idea for people to really enjoy how beautiful it is. After walking the Minnetonka trail system within the creek valley for three years,she doesn't think this new trail system will ruin anything. Denise Johnson, 18407 Avon Court,commented that she and her 15 year old son hike out in the preserve and it's very important to see nature as nature is. They live right across from where the parking lot would be and it would hinder a nature experience right across from their home. She was opposed to the parking lot because it would be right across from her house and for 1 fear of people crossing Dell Road. i Steve Vino,6242 Cranberry Lane,commented that you can't even go in the marsh area in the summer because of the mosquitoes and horseflies and was concerned if the area would be sprayed. Fie didn't understand the reasoning of building boardwalks across the wetland with the bugs. He was also concerned about all the trash left from kids and was concerned about the area being patrolled, lie has also seen where kids have tried to start fires, Gene Bantoff, 18573 Tristram Way, shared the same concerns with Mr. Segal about the property lines. Behind their house is going to be the property line and he wants the trail to be at least 150 to 200 feet away. He was concerned about the screening between his home and the tail. He was also concerned about the area staying clean after dogs have been there and reople littering. He believes the trails would be very congested which would result in a traffic situation. Lambert replied he would meet with him on the site to talk about the screening once when the trail is loca.ed. They always do whatever is needed to screen homes from trail systems They try to keep 4 I I Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 them as far away as possible and try to have elevation differences if possible. He explained that when people have walked the trails in the past and seen kids having parties,they would call the police who would chase them away. Staff believes that would continue. There arc dog ordinances but people don't always follow it. There will be some patrolling of the area and they will enforce the laws. Lambert commented about the fears that the residents have on the impact of the wildlife and the deers having to move. Fie referred to a similar situation in the early 1960's in Richfield where the residents had the same concerns regarding the Woodlake Nature Center.They found there was no negative impact and there was very little movement of where birds were nesting within 15 to 20 feet of that trail. It's been found in other wooded park areas in Eden Prairie that the deer do use the manmade trails and they don't have to make another trail. Most deer movement is at night when people arc not on the trails. A resident residing at 18297 Tristram Way commented that he shares all the earlier concerns. It's a great way to enjoy nature and was not sure they need more paved manmade trails. He expressed concern about tree loss if this trail system goes in and about the wildlife not being disturbed. He asked what kind of usage would be on the trail along Dell Road. He was also concerned about illegal snowmobiling. Lambert replied there would be no tree removal for trail construction. He said the trail would be for pedestrians but they would not keep bicycles off it. It's a soft surface trail so it would accommodate mountain bikes. There is illegal snowmobiling in different parts of Eden Prairie now,but staff believes this is not likely to happen here because there would be more of a chance of them getting caught with so many people using the trail. t t Mike Keenan, 18629 Chanel Way,was concerned about the wildlife in the area and the deer being hurt by the additional cars. He noted that his taxes are high now and this projc;.t would only make them higher. Lee Elliot commented that the access off Tristram Way already has been paved back to the nature trails. They arc natural and that's the experience people are looking for. It's there and available right now. This proposed trail system is not necessary. Nancy Wcstby,6734 Boyd Avenue,noted she moved to the area because of the nature and this proposal will increase her taxes. She has taken Girl Scout troops out there and it's great to see nature in the form that it is. She was concerned about the environmental impacts on the area. 5 1 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 Mike O'Neill, 18897 Joseph Curb, recommended having an educational i center to educate people about what is happening in the area. He would like to see information as far as what's going on in the ecosystem. Mark Story, 19309 Tristram Way,was concerned about the financing of the trail system and the assessments. In the seven years he has lived there his property taxes have increased substantially and was concerned about how they spend tax dollars and how much they tax the citizens. Lambert replied the proposed financing is with cash park fees which are charged to developers for single family and multi family housing,as well as commercial development. Nobody will be assessed because they were already assessed when their houses were originally built. The developer that built the house paid,as part of his building fees,cash park fees for building a park system. JD Ryan,6792 Wakefield Drive,commented he has seen two big fires and the trucks go anywhere they can to get out the fires. Fie also saw the big flood hit the area where it was 12 to 15 feet deep. He was concerned about whether money would be set aside to repair all this damage should it happen again. He was not concerned about the wildlife. He was concerned about the 30 mile an hour speed limit on Dell Road because nobody goes 30 miles an hour. He had concerns about the plastic boardwalks because it would not r be level for bicycles and this would bring on lawsuits. Lambert explained what the boardwalks look like noting that you would drive perpendicular to where the boards are for stability. The general fund would have to pay for any repairs. } Roger Martin,6752 Wakefield Drive,said tic has been hiking in this area for 12 years and it's a beautiful wooded area. He likes it the way it is now and I wants to see it stay that way. { Bill Morris, 6510 Grandview Drive, commented his home overlooks the wildlife area and he knows that people who wish to walk out there do so. It t is accessible to those who want to get out there. If the trail system is built he , probably will use it and enjoy it. He doesn't think you can call it an improvement because you can't improve on what's there already. The City should make a distinction between things that arc nice to have and things that they need to have, Todd Ellison,commenting from a teenager's prospective,expressed concern that if there's a trail back there it will give teenagers another place to go and smoke,and give them a chance to drop matches and let another fire start. 6 �I Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 Jody LaRue,6486 Grandview Drive,commented they have lived in the area for 1 I years. It's been real nice and peaceful and they would like it kept that way. They don't want anything changed back there. It sounds from the comments that most people want it to stay the way it is. Joe Beckman asked where the people arc located who are on the petition and what their requests were. Lambert replied they arc located near Wyndham Knoll Park,right across from the park,and a little bit west of the park. They had a list of improvements they wanted for the park. They wanted a trail along the cast side of Dell Road and the trail system improved in the Edenbrook Conservation Area. Beckman commented that these arc separate i issues with a whole separate agenda. Lambert said the Commission did address them as separate issues. Beckman stated this is the best place in Eden Prairie to experience in the winter where the deer and other animals have been. Fie doesn't think kids are going to go through the conservation area to get from one neighborhood to another. He would not want his grade school kids riding through the park at night by themselves. He urged the Commission to look at the issues that were presented in segments to sec what's nice to do and what's a must to do. Mike Bartley commented he has lived here for six years and grew up in the south part of the state. Fie has learned to appreciate wildlife to its fullest. This trail system would only ruin a beautiful area. He suggested building some viewing areas instead of a whole trail system where people can look down in the marsh and sec what's going on down there. The only reason he lives where he does is because of this park system. If a trail system is put in he'll move away. Karen Lyndale,9241 Tristram Way,commented she would like to sec the j path finished. She likes to take her kids on bike rides and there's not a lot of way to get to Duck Lake. The sidewalks are not very wide and nobody trims i the hedges. It's very narrow and difficult with two bicycles side by side. It would be a nice connection up to Duck Lake and it would be a nice bike ride, s Danny( ),6614 Boyd Avenue,said when he built his house he was told nothing would ever go back there. He has been told by the City that his taxes are so high because of his privacy. He feels his taxes should be decreased because he will now lose that privacy. Steve Jenkins,6686 Boyd Avenue,stated when they moved there 13 years ago it was still a prairie. There is not much left of the prairie anymore. The area of the proposed parking lot has a hill that the deer used to shelter themselves behind from the bitter cold four years ago. They used the hill to i 7 �I 4 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 keep from the wind that came through there. He was very concerned about the fire issue occurring further into the marsh area because it would be harder to put out, Randy Nelson, 6818 Boyd Avenue, commcntcd this is one of the most unique areas he has ever seen and the City is going to throw it away by putting in a trail system. There is no way of doing this without sterilizing the area. Bowman thanked the residents for their comments which show how interested they are in their community, and very interested in what happens to the wildlife areas. tie was certain that the comments will be seriously considered. Koenig asked for a ballpark figure on how many feet of boardwalks will be needed. Fox replied they didn't calculate the whole thing yet. Basically this is it conceptual plan identifying where the high and low areas are where boardwalks are needed. Koenig asked how many parking spaces arc in Wyndham Knoll Park. Fox replied 20 spaces. Lambert noted that staff will forward this directly to the City Council and indicate that the overwhelming majority of people that showed up tonight ` think it's just great the way it is right now. He commcntcd that a lot of people may have assumed the trail would be going in aflcr seeing the ! notification. Therefore, if they think it's going in they don't feel they have to show up. People that don't want things show up. At this point he would 3 be inclined to keep it on the far end of the CIP until they get a lot more support from the residents. Staff would rather spend$50,000 on facilities that people want. Jacobson asked how many residents would like to see an 8 foot wide r bituminous trail along side Dell Road on the cast side if the trail system j within the conservation area doesn't go through. The record should reflect a little more than half of the residents raised their hands. Bowman said he agreed with Bob that people in favor of this proposal may not have seen a need for attending, tic liked the suggestion of viewing areas perhaps scaled back or maybe a minimal trail system proposal would have gotten it different response. Perhaps the City Council would want staff to come back with a second proposed plan to be reviewed once again. i 8 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 MOTION: Bowman moved, seconded by Koenig,that the results of this evening's meeting be submitted in a report by staff and submitted to the City Council for review. Motion curried 5-0. B. Request from the Eden Prairie Baseball Club Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 25, 1996,from Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks,Recreation and Facilities. Lambert explained that staff received a letter from the Eden Prairie Baseball Club suggesting that the City confirm their ability to reserve field space for the 13-year old team for the next baseball season. This has caused more than it little discussion at the City on whether or not they can accommodate another 13-year old baseball team. There are a number of different issues that need to be addressed. One issue is whether or not the City can accommodate another 13-ycar old team. He asked staff to review this and they arc in the process of reviewing all the fields that can accommodate 13- ycar olds,and what options they have to possibly accommodate a fourth 13- ycar old team. The City has had it workable arrangement in the past with the Baseball Association. They have 2000 kids and a limited number of fields and they divided it up among traveling teams and home teams. The City is put in a situation as to who is going to get first priority for the fields when parents form they're own association. One organization represents 2000 kids and another represents 20 kids. The question is does the City just automatically give it to the bigger organization or do they split it up. They have to develop policies that go far beyond what their policies are right now because they have all been addressed to single organizations providing services. The City hits to look at having standards that those organizations meet in order to get first priority, p' The Commission needs to address the issues that the group of parents have ! t brought up on why they split from the Eden Prairie Baseball Association. Same things were going on that they didn't think were fair. Staff would prefer to have the discussion between these two organizations and the City staff and the Parks Commission mcmbery not done at a Commission meeting. It's more ofa workshop kind of discussion. 'rhe recommendation is that the Commission appoint a subcommittee with at least two Commission members to serve with a couple of staff people and at least one representative from the Eden Prairie Baseball Association and the Eden Prairie Baseball Club. They would sit down and address those things issue by issue and scc if they can get this resolved. The Commission would then address some of the further 9 Approved Minutes Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 i standards or policies before they occur in the future, Commissioners Jacobson and Wilson, and student representative Melody Hasse volunteered to serve on the subcommittee, Daniel McDonald, 7602 Superior Terrace, representing the Eden Prairie Baseball Club,commented that his club agrees they should sit down and get this resolved. He also agreed this problem is not in the appropriate forum right now, The concern he has is that the process be expedited,the reason being is the season is coming up rather quickly. Jacobson asked what date does this have to be done by. McDonald said they would like to have some sort of resolution sometime in January. They're going to be starting indoor practice after the Christmas holidays and it would be nice to have that information to send to the parents, Andrew Bartley,president of the Eden Prairie Baseball Association,agreed with staffs proposal to discuss the issues. He encouraged it and would be willing to participate, Eden Prairie Baseball Association has always been interested in trying to find away to actually prevent this from occurring by virtue of working with Eden Prairie Baseball Association to make changes that this team felt was important. They would still like to work with them as much as possible and it's even possible for them to play in the Eden Prairie Baseball Association. Ed Lippert, 11290 Lanewood Circle, Eden Prairie Baseball Association, ' agreed with Mr. McDonald that time is of the essence primarily because Eden Prairie Baseball Association is having coach selection within the next two to three weeks and for travel team coaches,and Eden Prairie Baseball Club may have coaches they want to include. It is definitely their goal to reunite this group with the organization if at all possible. If they would like to have representation on the coaches then that needs to be resolved. ;? Lambert noted the discussion will take place 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. December 10, in the City Center. He said his major goal is to get these people back in the Eden Prairie Baseball Association. Wilson commented that if it's the goal of Eden Prairie Baseball Association to reunite this group,it seems to be fairly insensitive and inflexible of that organization not to put off tlhcir coach selections for a week. Bartley replied this has been published in the newspaper already and letters mailed to the members of the team. This has been done at this same time for the past eight years. The only reason for mentioning it was if they have somebody they I 10 I� Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2,1996 want to go into the interviewing process,it's this week,and the meeting is next Tuesday. MOTION: Jacobson moved,seconded by Wilson,that the subcommittee be made up of two Commission members two staff members from the City,and two members from each of the organizations.and the first meeting will be at 7 p.m., December 10,in the City Center. Motion carried 5-0. Bowman commented that by virtue of this he would like to be able to resolve this in a meeting that everybody can at least live with for a year and then it can be revisited. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. None. VI. OLD BUSINESS i A. Staring grins Lake Playground Renovation i Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 25, 1996,from Robert A. Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Facilities. i Lambert explained that in 1995 City staff performed an evaluation of all of the playground equipment in City parks according to the newly revised } guidelines drafted by the National Recreation and Park Association for playground safety. Due to the rock walls and the setback of the playground structure at Staring Lake Park,this playground scored well above any other playground within the City as being the most hazardous playground according to the new safety guidelines. Staring Lake Playground scored the ± highest with 647 points and the second playground scored 510 points. Another problem staff faced was the erosion problem and the threat they have to the two major oak trees at the top of the hill because of the high traffic, steep slopes and the water on those slopes. They have to do something to catch that water, defer traffic, and put the traffic on hard surface. Staff has monitored traffic patterns for 12 years at this playground. This project gives staff a challenge because they have to first catch all the water that's draining to the site and fulling on the site,get it into a pipe and get it to the bottom of the hill. Staff wants to protect the large oak trees at the top of the hill and keep the fun of those slides on the slopes. They want to provide a lot of viewing area for parents and meet as much of thc.new i I 11 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 safety guidelines as possible and still be a fun place to play. It will be a challenge to get within the$275,000 budget proposed. Barb Cross reviewed the conceptual plan with the Commission noting that there a number of different places on the site identified as not being very safe. She explained how this plan corrects those problems as well as providing good accessibility from the amphitheater to the playground. The area of the three oak trees is a high spot for people who want to picnic and view the playground. The objective is to preserve those trees because it's critical to the atmosphere they are looking to create at the park. Staff tried to create something that is fun for kids and would blend in. Part of the design was to pavc and get people on hard surface where they wanted to be. One of the best ways to do this,to still allow the trees to have water, wits to pave it with brick so they looked at brick pavers. She referred to the Swiss Family Robinson concept which would be natural and adventurous and would include the ropes, slides and nets. They created a river with two different colored rubberized mats. There would be a play structure for every age from 2-ycar olds to 12-ycar olds. All the trees on the site have been saved. This first draft accomplished most of the goals staff wanted to and the budget for this was $275,000. Therefore, staff is now scaling back to get the playground equipment in there. The second plan eliminated the 8 to 12-ycar old play structure. They eliminated a lot of keystone wall and provided better access. They scaled down the size of the rubber surface. The 8 to 12- year old play structure will be moved temporarily and they will phase in new a play equipment as they can afford it. Pictures were shown of the different r play equipment to the Commission. ; Bowman asked if there would be another area for the 8 to 12-year olds. Cross replied that an 8-year old would love this but when you get to the 10 to 12-year olds, they're looking for a place to hang out. There is some playground equipment that is for 10 to 12-ycar olds and it's called, 10 Plus. It's really a hang out area. It isn't something that's necessary now,but if it's needed it can be added. I Bowman commented that the preliminary plan looks fabulous and it's correcting it lot of problems as well as creating it safe playground structure. I-Ic was concerned about explaining to people why it will be shut down for a year. 12 R ,1 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 Lambert noted that a good number of users are reservation groups. When they ask for reservations they will be issued a letter stating it will be shut i down for renovations,to please bear with them. The problem will be for the groups that show up with no reservations and arrive in bus loads. They arc f the groups that will not know about it but staff hopes to let everyone know ahead of time. However,the shelter will be open. Cross said that Miller r Park will help case having this one shut down. r MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Wilson, to approve staffs recommendations for the Staring Lake Playground renovation per the memo dated November 25, 1996. Motion carried 5-0. B. Marilyn Schoonover Property °.E Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 26, 1996, from Robert A. Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Facilities. j 1. Lambert stated that this house is right off Duck Lake Trail and is surrounded by the Edenbrook Conservation Area, The City owns the land on three sides of that house. The house was built in the late 1800's. Marilyn Schoonover talked with staff a couple of months ago about whether or not the City would be interested in buying her property as a historical site. At that time she was planning on making some renovations to the house itself so she could live there. She has bad knees and didn't want to go upstairs to the bedroom so {, she wanted to put an addition on to the house. 4 The Heritage Preservation Commission (HCP) went out on the site and looked at it. They said making those renovations really loses the historical value. Schoonover has now said that she's not going to live there and she's , going to sell the house. She's putting it on the market in the Spring. A memo was sent to the HCP so they would be aware of this.The City does not have the money in the budget for this and have never anticipated acquiring ' it. There is a concern about the barn on the site because it's caving in. It's hazardous and it should be removed. Y d Koenig commented that Hilgeman mentioned she would like the cupolas saved. i Wilson asked how big is the Schoonover property. Fox replied it's 200 by 130 so it's approximately 3/4 of an acre. Bowman asked what the market value is. Lambert replied that he didn't know. 13 1 Approved Minutes Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Monday,December 2, 1996 i Wilson asked what the City would do with it if they bought it. Lambert replied there's no real reason to buy it. It does not make sense for the addition to the Edenbrook Conservation Area for park purposes. The only reason to buy it would be if it's going to be preserved as an historic site. The City has three historical sites that they're struggling with now to be funded. Staffs recommendation is that the City can not afford it. Kocning commented she would like more information about it before she makes a decision about acquiring the property. She would like to know what the HCP has to say about it and how much it would cost the City to purchase it. Kracum agreed that they should have all the facts. Koenig asked if there would be disturbance to get the barn out. Fox replied they will have to take down the boxelder trees that have grown up there in the last 10 years. MOTION: Koenig moved,seconded by Kracum,to request City staff to remove the barn adjacent to Marilyn Schoonover's property, which is hazardous,as soon as possible,and save the cupolas. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Koenig moved,seconded by Kracum,to recommend that staff investigate the Marilyn Schoonover property regarding the condition of the house,the possible cost of acquisition,and also to find out what the Heritage } Preservation Committee feels about it. Motion carried 5-0. i C. Kiein/Peterson Property-Ootion#1 ; E Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 26, 1996,from Robert A. Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Facilities. Lambert noted that the City has received the grant for$145,000 for matchingt funds for the acquisition of Option Parcel HI. Staff requested that the r ' Commission recommend to the City Council to approve the option to secure the Klcin/Pctcrson property. The cost of the property is$281,200 for this 15.8 acre parcel. They have reduced the cost by one acre,$19,000,because one acre has serious erosion on it. The City said they didn't want to pay for that and the agreed to reduce the cost from$301,340 to$281,200. Wilson asked where the property is located. Fox said it's down on Flying Cloud Drive down at the very southwesterly corner. It's the last farm as you're exiting Eden Prairie on Flying Cloud Drive. t 1G 1 3 0 Approved Minutes I Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission i Monday,December 2,1996 i Bowman asked if the City had any plans to slow down the erosion. Lambert 4 replied that the Kleins and Mr. Peterson suggested that if they're going to reduce the cost by $19,000,the City should take that money and create a berm around the top of the area to help slow down the erosion. MOTION: Jacobson moved,seconded by Koenig,to authorize City staff to exercise Option#I,the Klein/Peterson property,as presented in the memo 4 of November 26. 1996. Motion carried 5-0. VI1. NEW BUSINESS None, Vlll. RrPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Staff 1. Reports of Manager of Parks and Natural Resources a. ApprovedWinterr Permits-LRT Corridor Staff referred the Commission to a memo dated November 26,1996,from Stuart A.Fox,Manager of Parks and Natural Resources. Fox indicated this was an FYI item. B. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Wilson moved,seconded by Jacobson,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m. I 15