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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 09/21/1998 .f � dr 1998 1 September 21 1998 J 9 Minutes Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission CITY Or EDEN PRAIRIE rid a 4 AGENDA PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,September 21, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair.Frantz Corneille,Claire 1-lilgcman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A.Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources-, Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources;Laurie Hclling,Manager of Recreation Services i 1. ROLL CALLi II. APPROVAL-OF AGENDA "1 j Ill. APPROVAL-OF MINUTES-August 17, 1998 IV. PETITIONS, REOUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS ` A. Rcjjucst for Disc Golf Course in Staring bake Park y V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS a A. Rest Buy Carnpu,;Phase IV t f ' VI. OI.D BUSINESS Y VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Field Improvement Reguests for Softball and Baseball VIII, REPORTS OF COMMISSIONFRS AND STAFF r A. Reports of Manager of Parks and Natural Resources I. Round Lake Beach Closing IX. ADJOURNMENT t APPROVED MINUTES f PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,SEPTEMBER 21, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD i COUNCIL CHAMBERS i COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair,Frantz Corneille,Claire Hilgeman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson 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 Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7 00 p.m. Glenn Stolar and John Wilson were absent.. I1. APPROVAL OFAGENDA MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Hilgeman, to approve the Agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0, III. APPROVA1,OF MINUTES-August 17, 1998 Koenig noted it change on page I, under the motion approving the Minutes, the person j making the motion should be Corneille i MOTION: Hilgeman moved, seconded by Corneille, to approve the August 17, 1998 a Minutes ol'the Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission as amended. Motion ' carried IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Request for Disc Golf(ourse in Staring Lake Park I lia Avaz,Lach Perkins,and Matt Smctana introduced themselves to the Commission C and outlined their request to install a disc gold course in Staring Lake Park, Ayaz described the game of diS':,golt; which is also known as"frisbee golf'and explained i PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 21, 1998 Page 2 how the Same is played. He netted that it is very similar to the game of golf except y that the ball is played using a frisbee or disc and the hole is a metal basket rather than a small cup in the ground. He noted it was much less expensive to play than regular golf and the courseS are much less expensive to construct and maintain. 1 Zach Perkins and Matt Smetana showed a video and illustrated the locations of each of the proposed nine holes All the holes will be a par 3 and there will be two levels on several holes to allow flor beginning and more advanced players. They will be removing a few Buckthorn trees and some underbrush in a few areas but he noted that the existing oak and other hardwood trees will be left on the site. The grass will be mowed and some of the dead lower branches on some of the trees will be removed. Mowing will occur once or twice a month when the rest of the parkland is mowed. Smetana discussed the costs of construction of the course and the equipment needed to keep the course in good shape during the year. Lyle Jensen,an Eden Prairie resident, stated he had been playing disc golf for a long time and he was very excited!it the prospect of having this course in Eden Prairie and the possibility of'his being able to host a tournament here. He stated the proposed course was a championship quality course and would be a good use of the land and y resources. Koenig asked how many act'CS would be used and Lambert responded it would about 6-7 acres and if the course was eventually expanded to 18 holes they would become y a little tighter together but would be located within the same area. He noted this was an area of the park that was not used for other purposes and it was the best site available for this type ofcourse. He noted that additional land was available in the area for future expansion should that occur later on. The site was not close to the trail and it would be ditticult to throw a frisbee or disk far enough to hit pedestrians using it The nail along Pioneer Trail was the most vulnerable and the course will be monitored tin•any problems that may occur. The City will begin to promote the disc golfcourse in the Spring Brochure,with ditlerent age and skill levels being delineated, r wtd possibly Some leagues will be turned. Jacobson commented he thought this was a great addition to Eden Prairie and he asked if anv thought had been given to punting in a putting green. Ayaz responded Ihev woe reluctant Ili ask the City for more than the basic course,but that would be it Most desirable element if the Commission wished to include it. hie noted they had not considered renurving the circular driveway,but noted it might be good to use it during tournaments for entrants to sign up at it tent which could be pitched at the end tot'it When not used, the driveway could be chained off. i a PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION NIINIITLS September 21, 1998 Page 3 Perkins noted he had played with many ages of people and the game could be played by both the very young and the older residents. Brown asked if the City would be asked to provide some monitoring and Lambert responded that staff does not anticipate any problems with the course. Koenig asked if the funds would come from Cash Park lees and Lambert responded he was unsure which funds would be used at this time. MOTION: I lilgentan moved,seconded by Koenig,to recommend to the City Council approval of the request to construct a disc golf course in Staring Lake Park as j recommended in the stafl'mentorandum dated September 15, 1998. Motion carried 5-lt, ua V. DEVELOPMENT PRO POSALS A. ]sst Blay Camllm,Phase IV d t Mark Viada, staff architect for Best Buy Company, reviewed the site plan and discussed the landscape plan. He noted that they have endeavored to blend the 4 landscaping with the existing natural vegetation. Fox reviewed the stall'report and noted the wetland mitigation had been done during earlier phases ol'the project. Staffrecommended approval of the proposal. 1-lilgeman asked why there were extra parking spaces being provided in excess of What was required by the City Code. Viada responded they have had the need for more parking on their other sites and this was a way to have more parking for their company. They have utilized such options as car pooling,staggered hours,and have some employees working from home. However, this building will be used by their accounting department which does not lend itself to staggered hours but their Human Resources Department is looking into the possibility of flexing their hours,at least a little. Brown asked about the dirt pile presently on the site and what would be done with it and Viada responded that it will be used in the soils correction process as there are some very poor soils on the site which will need to be removed. NrJOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Koenig,to recommend approval of Bast Buy Campus, Phase IV subject to the stipulations listed in the Staff Report dated September 11, 1998 and the supplemental staff report dated September 15, 1998. CMotion earricd 5-0. 1!r i PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES CON1I111SSION MINUTES 1 September 21, 1998 Page 4 VI. OLD BUS Ftiti i V11. NEW BUSINFSS A. rield Imnroveutcnt Requests for Softball and Baseball Lambert reviewed the requests for field improvements which are proposed to be done over the next three years. These improvements are needed to keep the fields looking good and because the demographics in Eden Prairie have changed,there are not as many adult baseball games being held, but there is a greater need for more youth teams, which need fields of different dimensions than the adult teams. Bob Lanzi, Athletic Program Coordinator,described the fields at Round Lake Park and the need to repair the fences there. Ile reviewed the improvements needed to Round Lake,Rilev Lake,and Staring Lake Parks and what would be improved each year for the next three years. "There is also a safety issue at Round Lake with cars in the parking lot being hit by home runs. 1-le noted bats and balls have become more expensive and Eden Prairie has kept its baseball leagues because of Corporate sponsorship. The City will use funds which have been collected from the teams over the years to pay for these improvements,but staff would prefer to spread the costs out { because it was not possible to complete all the work done within one year. He noted that any critical issues will be dealt with in 1998. z Discussion ensued regarding the construction of the fencing and how it would be repaired to increase its life. I filgentan asked why Eden Prairie was still charging the adult teases when we had not used the fiends we had collected thus far. Lambert responded that it would only take one major project to wipe out any surplus fiends and Y Fiden Prairie was not overcharging in comparison with other communities. He preferred to have a SurpluS on hand to safeguard against a shortfall if major repairs 1 become necessar7 0 y MOTION:Jacobson moved,seconded by Corneille,to recommend approval for the field improvements;is Outlined in the stafTmemorandunt dated September 15, 1998. Motion carried 5-0. Vill. REPORTS OF CONIINI INS ION ERS AND STAFF A. 13M01:12LU L.Ltunurl'of Parris and Natural Rc1u=cU tI• .hound latke Itcach 'I�ciug Fox noted that he had included a FYI memo in the packet delineating the reasons tin• closure of Round Lake Beach. lie also wished to inform the B PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL l RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES September 21, 1998 r Page 5 Commission that Dr. Cooper would be attending the October 19, 1998 meeting to discuss the issue of Urban Goose Management and devise a potential plan for addressing this problem. Corneille suggested perhaps staff should submit a letter in response to the letter in the paper regarding this issue. Brown commented perhaps the environmental fact sheet should be made public at some future time to let residents know that the City understands the problem and is addressing it. Lambert commented he did not respond to every letter published in the paper, but concurred perhaps this would be something to be considered. He noted that in the event Round Lake Beach wits not open during the month of August at all because of the fecal coliform problem, then perhaps it might be time to look at some form of alternative outdoor swimming facility for the City. IX ADIOURNMEN'1' MOTION:Jacobson moved,seconded by Corneille to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.