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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 05/04/1998 I 1998 May 4, 1998 Minutes Parks, recreation & Natural Resources Commission CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE i t, AGENDA i Y PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION i MONDAY,MAY 4, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD i COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown, Chair; Frantz Corneille, Claire Hilegman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar, John Wilson STUDENT MEMBERS: Elizabeth Cook,Stacy Enger 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 1. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL.OF AGENDA 111. APPROVAL.OF MINUTES-APRI ')0 1999 IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS t A. Goose Removal Request-Duck Lake Area Residents B. Figure Skating Club RcQucst V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. Fuller Road Business Center i B. Charlso .Brown,and Stan dal Pro2griju VI. OLD BUSINESS �.. A. 1Y411G ` VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommendation to Name Staring Lake Park Playground Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF I ( A. Reports of Manager of Recreation Services r 7 -�1 1. Proclamation for Senior Awareness Week t B. Reports of Community Ccntcr Manager I. Recommendation to Award Bid forgel2lacing Lockers nt Community Ccnter V VI11. ADJOURNMENT I r APPROVED MINUTES PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,MAY 4, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7 COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair,Frantz Corneille,Claire Hilgeman, Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson STUDENT MEMBERS: Elizabeth Cook,Stacy Enger i 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, and Barbara Anderson,City Recorder 1. ROLL CALL Franz Corneille and Elizabeth Cook were absent. j I 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Hilgeman noted her name was misspelled on the Agenda. Koenig requested that the representative from the Parks,Recreation,and Natural Resources Commission to the[-lousing Transportation and Human Services Board be added under New Business. 1 MOTION:Wilson moved,seconded by Koenig,to approve the Agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. y Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-APRIL 20, 1998 Koenig noted two changes on Page 2,in the second paragraph, in which she wished to change"clean up that" to make it a viable" in reference to the wetland, and in the last sentence she wished to add"on the sidewalk"after droppings. Stolar commented lie abstained from the vote in approving the Minutes on page 1. MOTION: Hilgeman moved,seconded by Koenig, to approve the April 20, 1998 Minutes of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission as amended. Motion carried 4-0-2. Jacobson and Wilson abstained. IV. PETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Goose Removal 12equest-Du It Llike Areg liesidents Fox reviewed the staff report and noted that the request had come through the Animal Control Department as they have had complaints regarding the goose problem on Duck Lake, Andrea Adamson, 17020 South Shore Lane,stated their goose population has been increasing and they have tried different measures to deter them. She was concerned about the damage the geese are I PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May#, 1998 age 2 doing to the lake,similar to what has happened at Round Lake. The lake is quite shallow and it will turn the lake into a swamp eventually, and this problem is accelerated by the large population of geese. They are requesting permission to reduce the goose population. Robert Sommers stated that they have used Mylar tape with moderate success but it is very expensive and only works for about a week before the geese ignore it. +t Hilgeman noted that Duck lake is a cyclical lake and it was dry for seven years in 1929. She asked if the aeration system was going to be installed and Fox responded that it has not yet been approved but it has been applied for. It will not help with the goose problem but is designed to help fish kill during the winter months when the lake is covered with ice. Hilgeman commented the numbers of geese are also cyclical on this lake and site was opposed to removing geese from Duck Lake. Brown commented he was there last Sunday and saw one goose. One neighbor complained about the geese this year. They tried something called grape slurry which kept the geese off her property. Some residents have been feeding the geese which attracts them to the lake. He concurred with Hilgeman that removing the geese was inhumane and he would not support it, He felt that people who wanted to live on lakes should accept the fact that the wildlife go along with that as part of the environment. Wilson stated the Humane Society had sued the State for clipping the wings of geese and removing I them because it is actually illegal. He concurred with the other Commissioners. Koenig stated the resident that used the grape slurry was every emphatic about its effectiveness and while it was very expensive, it does work. Also, most residents in this vicinity have grass down to the lake and fertilizers also grow algae and weeds. Hilgeman asked for a full statement regarding what would happen to any geese that were removed and whether they would be slaughtered or something else was done with them. Koenig asked for more information regarding grape slurry and how e8ective it was and other deterrents that were available. Discussion ensued regarding the issue of goose removal by people who wanted to live on lakeshore properties but did not want to contend with the wildlife that surround such areas. Brown asked staff to develop a policy for geese as they have done for the deer population because he felt the geese belonged in Eden Prairie as much as the deer do,and the Commission needed to ;?r have some guidelines regarding this issue. y MOTION:Brown moved,seconded by Wilson to develop a policy for the City regarding the issue of removal of geese. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION: Hilgeman moved,seconded by Koenig, to deny the request for goose removal for the Duck Lake homeowners. Motion carried 6-0. Discussion ensued regarding pursuing this further next year. i i i PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May JV,1998 age 3 B. Figure Skating Club Request Joe Klute reviewed the proposal and noted that they are serving most of the Eden Prairie kids and they are requesting that the resident rate be lowered form 95%to 65%for the Eden Prairie Figure Skating Club. This will give the Eden Prairie Club more ice time and a greater priority in obtaining ice time. Hilgeman asked why 65%and Klute responded that figure was to keep it in line with the swim club and this was agreeable with Mrs.. Munson. Wilson inquired if there was adequate ice available to satisfy both the hockey club and the figure skating club and Klute responded the figure skating club will use most of it's time in the summer as the winter is their slowest time. Stolar commented the hockey association was a Priority 3 and this will make the figure skating club also a Priority 3. He was concerned that the hockey association would complain if they didn't get the ice time. Klute stated the groups work very well together and ifthere is a conflict they work it out. MOTION:Jacobson moved,seconded by Wilson,to recommend approval to lower the resident rate from 95%to 65%for the Figure Skating Club. Motion carried 6-0. i Fox noted the ranking needed to be adjusted to stay in line with other communities and to preserve the balance throughout the City's organizations. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. huller Road Business Center Bob Sofelt, 10508 Bluff road,representing Mount Properties,reviewed the proposal for the Fuller j Road Business Center. He stated they are in agreement with the recommendations made by staff and requested approval of the project. Fox reviewed the staff report and noted that staff recommended approval based on the recommendations listed in the staff reports. He noted there has been an offer by the developer to work with the adjacent property owners to improve buffering between their properties and to select i the best locations for the trees to provide the best screening possible. Koenig asked about the other four projects that the proponents have developed in Eden Prairie and Sofelt described them and their locations. Wilson asked about the total number of caliper incites that would be on the site and if there will be 247 mitigation caliper inches and 495 caliper incites in the landscape plan. Fox responded that was what was proposed. Hilgeman asked for replacement cottonwood trees in the landscape plan because they were native to Eden Prairie. Fox stated that cottonwoods are in this area because the seeds grow well in disturbed soils and they came from windblown seeds. They are basically a lowland tree and he felt that there was an issue of / maintainability and whether this type of tree was suitable in a maintained area. He noted that the '1 roots break up curbs and driveways,and grow through lawns,etc. making them difficult to maintain. He felt there were other trees that were more suitable for these types of areas. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May, 1998 age 4 Stolar asked if it was worth it to replace these trees to code requirements if there was a chance that many of them would not survive. Fox responded that these trees often become hollow because they are planted too close together but it was a judgement call regarding whether they will provide the screening level desired. Discussion ensued regarding the different types of trees that could be planted in the buffer strip. It was noted that all the trees between the homes and the subject property will be preserved. Flilgeman asked if Sofelt was willing to put in a few cottonwoods and Sofelt responded that their plan was developed by a landscape architect and staff recommendations but if the City required them to plant cottonwoods,they would consider it. MOTION:Stolar moved,seconded by Wilson,to recommend approval of the Fuller Road Business Center based on the details of the April 23, 1998 staff report by the City Planner and the additional information contained in the supplemental Staff Report dated April 28, 1998,with a preference for some replacement trees similar to those presently existing on the site. Motion carried 6-0. Brown commented the Commission had required the proponent to meet the tree ordinance and he I did not want to tell them what trees to plant where. Stolar commented that the plan was a diverse one,and he thanked the developer for presenting such a good plan. I �. B. Charlson,Brown and Standal Properties Brett Hope introduced Tracy Hope and he gave an overview of tite project. He described the proposed roadway configurations and the proposed guiding for each property. He noted there were park issues involving the remainder of the bluff creek corridor and a neighborhood park. These have been addressed within the plans. Fie offered an alternative to the location of the neighborhood park site in view of MAC acquiring adjacent land. He illustrated the alternative site they propose and discussed the grades in the vicinity. I i Fox gave the staff report and noted the inclusion of Minutes from previous meetings. The City is still waiting to find out if the City can use any part of the"B"zone for a park. This plan is to allow the City to keep it's options open for the future. This is guiding only and will allow for greater flexibility tier future development, but it is not something that is set permanently. He discussed the roadway connections and noted there is a good deal of controversy. No alignment design has been developed and staff recommended that a study be done to determine the best way to get the connection made between Eden Prairie Road and Spring Road. Fie discussed the trail issues and reiterated that staff wants to keep as many options open as possible. MAC has to submit the Environmental Impact Statement within six months and this will have a large impact on this plan. Flilgentan stated the park site is only 8-9 acres in size and Fox responded it depends on how the adjacent land develops and what the uses are. Jacobson asked about the one mile radius requirement Cfir neighborhood parks and Fox responded that there is a small park behind the Senior Center and staffhas identified this area as the last neighborhood park vicinity. Discussion ensued regarding the airport expansion and the safety zone locations. Fox noted that this section of the supplemental staff report was carefully worded to reflect concert regarding the environmental impact of the proposed PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTE'S MayIA: 1998 age 5 Guide Plan Amendments and the roadway connections. Stolar stated he did not feel that the proposed roadway alignment was a good one and he did not have enough information to make a recommendation to the City Council on this issue. Fox stated there will be detailed plans for each site within this project as it occurs. There will be studies done regarding the roadway changes to determine the feasibility for the assessments and the impacts of the utilities that will need to be put in. Discussion ensued regarding what might be in a given area adjacent to the bluffs depending on what MAC does. MOTION: Wilson moved, seconded by Hilgeman to recommend approval of the Guide Plan Amendments based on the information included in the City Planner Reports,the December 11, 1997 stag report to the Parks, Recreation and natural Resources Commission,the December 15, 1997 approved Minutes of the Parks, Recreation and natural Resources Commission, and the Planning Commission staff report dated 4/20/98 with the option to have Eden Prairie Road connected to Highway 212 in some fashion. Motion carried 6-0. Fox stated staff will have the graphics changed prior to City Council review to make it easy for the Council to see what they were recommending. V1. OLD BUSINESS �. None. V11. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommendation to name Staring Locke Park Playgrounl{ Fox reviewed the staff report and stated that staff recommended approval of the name change. Hilgeman stated that Staring Lake was a historical site and asked if this change was being reviewed by the Heritage Preservation Commission. She felt they should be involved in this process. Fox responded that it was just naming the playground, not changing the name of the park. Hilgeman stated the playground had been known to residents as the Staring Lake Playground and she did not see the reason to change the name of the playground. She felt it would only create confusion,and thought perhaps a commemorative plaque should be installed on the playground instead. Fox stated there are areas throughout the City where things have been given to the park system by individuals and there are plaques all over the community denoting these gifts. It still does not change the name of the particular park in which these gifts are placed. Discussion ensued regarding retaining the same name for a playground as the park in which it is located. MOTION:Wilson moved,seconded by Stolar,to recommend that the Staring Lake Park Playground be named the"Paul Redpath Playground". Motion tied 3-3. Commissioners Brown,Wilson,and Stolar voted"Aye%Commissioners Koenig, Hilgeman,and Jacobson voted"No". Jacobson stated he voted no because he felt they would be establishing a precedent for naming all the { other playgrounds ifthey named this one. Hilgeman stated it would only add to the confusion within 'd M �µ A i PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES ay#, 1998 age 6 a the City if the name were changed. B. Housing.Transpgrtation and Human Scrvice9 Board Representative Koenig stated she has been the representative from the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission to the Housing,Transportation and Human Services Board for the past five years,and while she was willing to continue to serve in this capacity,her schedule was becoming busier and she was unable to attend all the meetings. She thought perhaps someone else from the Commission would be willing to serve for a while. Brown noted that Franz Corneille had said he would volunteer if no one else wanted to do it. The consensus was to leave the post vacant and think about it for the next couple of weeks and then discuss it again. Stolar asked to have more information on the Board and Fox said he would send it out that week. Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Manager of Recreation Services 1. Proclamation for Senior Awareness Week B. Reports of Community Center Manager I. Recommendation to Award Bid for Replacing Lockers at Community Center Fox noted the reports were included in the packet as FYI items for the Commission. Hilgeman noted there was dirt piled up at the Kindergarten Center around the large oak trees and Fox said he would visit the site and see what was going on there. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Hilgeman moved, seconded by Wilson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Tile meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p m.