HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 10/05/1998 1998
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October 5 , 1998
Minutes
Parks, Recreation & Natural
Resources Commission
CITY Of EDEN PRAIRIE
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AGENDA
PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MONDAY,OCTOBER 5, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER
8080 MITCHELL ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
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
1. ROLL CALL
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11, APPROVAL.OF AGENDA
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Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-SEPTEMBER 21. 1998
IV. PETITIONS RFOUESIS AND COMMUNICATION
V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
A. Camp Edenwood
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VI. OLD BUSINESS
VII. NEW BUSINESS
Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
A. Reports of Director of Parke Recreation and Nnteral Resources
l. Policy on Establishing Fees(October 6th Council Workshop Subiect)
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IX. ADJOURNMENT
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APPROVED MINUTES
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PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
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MONDAV,OCTOBER 5, 1998 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER
8080 iv1ITCHELL ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair,Frantz Corneille,Claire
hlilgeman,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 f
1. 1101.1,CALL
Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Wilson arrived at 7:10 p.m. 3
IL APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Brown requested the addition of an item under New Business regarding student parking in
the Community Center parking lot.
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MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Jacobson, to approve the Agenda as amended.
Motion carried 6-0. I
Ill. A11PROVAL OF MINUTES-September 21. 199
MOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Koenig, to approve the September 21, 1998
Minutes of the Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission as submitted. Motion •r�;s
carried 5-t1-1. Stolar abstained..
IV. PETITIONS.REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
V. DF.VELOI'MENT PROPOSALS
A. S1tmu Edenwood
Ed Stracke, President of Friendship Ventures, discussed the rationale f'or the
relocation of the new dining hall facility to it's proposed site. The existing dining hall
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PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES
October S, 1998
Page 2
and dormitory will stay as they presently exist. This decision was made based on
costs of renovation and the feasibility of achieving that goal. They plan to use the
present parking area for program space and they will have a new parking area located
adjacent to the new building. "This will change the traffic Flow on the site. They are
also proposing a ropes course on the site which will be a simple course which will be
located close to the center of the site. Stracke explained the way in which the course
will be secured. They have been successful in securing the site at Friendship Camp.
They hope to access the City trail system but this will not be implemented immediately j
as they are not sure of the City's time 1ramc to construct this trail segment. They
would like to put a kiosk detailing some of the history of the site at the junction of'tile
trail with their property in the future.
Pox reviewed the staff'report and noted there is significantly less tree loss with this
plan than with the previous plans. 'There will be minor grading occurring on the site
and no stone water drainage pond is proposed. Stall recommended approval of the
project.
CBrown asked if the Commission was approving the trail segment at this time, and
Lambert responded negatively,but noted there will be a trail in this area at some time t
in the Inure. lie discussed the problems with trail construction in the wetland areas, j
and noted staff has not located the trail precisely in this area at this time. The
Commission is only approving the dining hall and staff is requesting a master plan in
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the inure which will show the trail location.
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Koenig asked ifthe preservation and restoration ofthe old dining hall was dependent
on a grant. Lambert responded that an application was being filed to get these
buildings placed on the National Register of Historic Places and once that occurs,it
becomes much easier to obtain grants to find restoration. This will achieve
recognition of the historic significance of the site. When this occurs, the Heritage
Preservation Commission will give the City guidance as to how these buildings must
be maintained Koenig asked if matching rinds for grants would be required and s
Lambert responded that Rinds from the Heritage Preservation Commission have
traditionally come from the Park Maintenance budget because they did not have their
own budget. I lowever,next year they arc submitting a budget tier all the historic sites
in hden Prairie so matching grant finds would be coming out of'that budget.
MOTION: Koenig moved, seconded by Corneille, to recommend approval of the
request of Friendship Ventures fir Camp ldenwood based on the supplemental staff
report dated September 30, 1998, Motion carried 7-0.
PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES
October 5, 1998
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V1. OLD BUSINESS
Koenig requested stafl'to look at Purgatory Creek in the vicinity of St. Andrews Lutheran
Church to ensure that the construction was not interfering with the natural habitat and
vegetation in that area. Lanibert stated stafl'would look at that area and report back to the
Commission at the next meeting if anything was being done incorrectly.
%'If. NEW BUSINESS
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A. E:1'IIS Student P1lrking at the C onuuunity centel.
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Lambert noted there are limited parking spaces at the high school for student parking S
due to the construction which is occurring and students who do not have permits have ?
been parking in the Community Center parking lot. This has become a problem,
because they have sonic spaces which are designated for two hour parking only and {
intended for use by people using the Community Center, but students have been using }
these illegally. 'there is also a problem when school gets out because the access onto
Valley View Road becomes extremely congested and dangerous. Staff is concerned
about mothers with young children in the parking lot around 3:00 p.111. when students
are leaving school. This problem will worsen as the school enrollment increases and '
the numbers af'students with drivers licenses increase.
Stall'has contemplated recommending parking in the Community Center parking lot +
by permit only, but this creates its own problems. It is difficult to issue citations in
parking lots, but parking without it permit becomes a towable ofTense. Another
solution might be to run it cable across the hvo-11OUr portion of the parking lot which
would tierce people to go out onto Valley View Road. Presently, there is a police
ollicer present in the parking lot when school gets out and this slows trallic
somewhat.
There is It police oficer in the budget i1ir next year who will be assigned to Parks and
that officer could be at the Community Center at 3:00 p.m. nearly very day. Stalywill r
keep the Commission infonned ofthe solution process. Discussion ensued regarding
who will be allowed to use the Community Center parking lot and how it could be
regulated. The parking by permit only solution causes it lot of problems fir
Conutlunity Center patrons. It was also believed safety issues in the parking lot and
on Valley Vicw Road need to be resolved.
MOTION: Stolar moved,Jacobson seconded, to ask statl'to collie up with some
recommendations resolving this problem.
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PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES
October 5, 1998
Page 4
Corneille commented perhaps the Community Center parking lot should be reserved
for members of the Conununity Center only. The high school has a serious problem
with cars and this issue needs to be resolved. He believed it was an unfair burden to
place on staff to resolve this issue at this time,when it was something that would be
ongoing.
Stolar withdrew his motion.
MOTION: Stolar moved to ask staff to come up with some recommendation to
improve the safety around the Community Center. Motion failed for lack of it
second.
Lambert commented the Commission should refer this issue to the City School
Facility Use Advisory Commission for recommendations on a solution. The
Commission agreed and requested staff to forward their concerns.
Vill. REPORTS Or COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
A. Reports of Director of Park. Recreation and Natural Resources
1. Policy on Establishing Fees
Lambert noted this was an FYI item which would be reviewed by the City
Council at their next meeting. Lambert discussed the bill for use of the Oak
Point pool and explained staft's reasons for not paying it. They have to find
a more equitable tbrnuda before the City will pay it,and the School District
has agreed to reevaluate it.
I\. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Ililgeman moved, seconded by Jacobson to adjourn the meeting. Motion
carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.