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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 04/19/1999 i l APRIL 19,1999 MINUTES � PARKS RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION AGENDA PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,APRIL 19, 1999 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 STUDENTMEMBER: Ben Christian COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A.Lambert.Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources; Stuart A. Fax, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources;Laurie Helling,Manager of Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL I1. APPROVAL.OF AGENDA t t III. APPROVAL OF MIN T -March 15. 1999 IV. PETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. None f V. DEVELOPMENT PRO POSA S i A. Hallett Addition 1 V1. OLD BUSINESS A. 1999 Park D v iopment P offal I. Round Lake Park Plrl ro ind and Stor oe Bt_ Mine Renovation ' 2 Richard 1'. An Icr nn onservation Area Management 3. Preserve Park Renovation 4. Riley Lakc Park Shelter 5. Millcr Park Shelter 6. Flying cloud Fields Accwv and pnrkinL Itanrovements V11. NEW BUSINESS A. Unncccssary mowine i 9t t �4 B. Recommendation to Eliminnte Lifeguard During Lap Swim I Vill. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Director of Parks and Recreation Services I. Osprey Nesting Proicet 2. Ice Arena Survey IX. ADJOURNMENT 4 I a APPROVED MINUTES PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,APRIL 19, 1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pichard Brown, Chair: Claire Hilgeman, Frantz Corneille, Don Jacobson, Vicki Koenig, Glenn Stolar,John Wilson s STUDENT MEMBER: Ben Christian COMMISSION STAFF: Robert Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Lyndell Frey, Community Center Manager; and Rita Maiser, Recorder 1. ROLL CALL Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Glenn Stolar was not present. 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Koenig moved,seconded by Wilson,to approve the agenda as published. Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—March 15,1999 Hilgeman asked for clarification in the minutes, page 6, "Eden Orchard Update', in the last sentence of the first paragraph. She asked if the phrase,which refers to a conservation buffer, and doesn't have funds to purchase one"pertains to the DNR not having funds or to the City not having funds. Lambert said that this phrase refers to the DNR,not the city,although it is true for both. MOTION: Wilson moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Wilson seconded the motion.Approved 6-0. IV. PETITIONS,REQUESTS,AND COMMUNICATIONS A. None �1 Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes April 19, 199 { Page 2 i V. DEVELOPMFNTAL PROPOSALS 1 1 A. Hallett Addition { f The proposed project is to develop 21.09 acres of land located south of Pioneer Trail and east of Cedar Forest Road into 32 single-family lots. Dan Blake of Centex Homes was f present to discuss the proposal. The developer is in agreement with the staff recommendation,but has an issue with the sidewalks. The staff is recommending sidewalks on the west side of Street A and the north side of Street C. Until the utility work is done for the Cedar Forest subdivision, the city wants the developer to hold money in escrow for the sidewalks. If the sidewalks arc not built,the funds would be returned to the developer. k Blake doesn't believe the sidewalks are necessary, due to the lack of dominant f pedestrian flow. He said if Cedar Forest gets sidewalks, then installing sidewalks in Hallett R Addition makes sense,because the sidewalks would connect the two developments. Installing sidewalks later can be difficult, and the wooded nature of the south side allows little flexibility. He said that cost is an issue and that the city has subsidized sidewalks in the past. He agrees with holding money in escrow. a e Stuart Fox talked about the loss of trees, which amount to a 32% loss of significant I trees. Average tree loss in new developments is 30 to 35%. There will be a tree butler along Pioneer Trail,and each lot will get one tree. There will be a NURP pond for street run-off, which will flow southward into Riley Creek, Fox recommends putting money in escrow for the sidewalks, and the Planning Commission has agreed with this plan. The sidewalk for Street A lines up with Braxton Dr., which sines up with the school crossing on Pioneer Trail. if Cedar Forest sidewalks are not put in,the city does not recommend putting sidewalks here either. s Koenig asked if the buffer trees would be mostly coniferous or deciduous. Blank j responded there would be more deciduous trees,due to cost,but the coniferous trees would be larger. Hilgeman asked about the amount of caliper inches of trees the developer will need to t replace. The additional caliper inches can be made up but installing one or two trees per lot. Jacobson asked if'Cedar Forest will need a NUPR pond. Fox said Cedar Forest has catch • basins into Riley Creek. { MOTION: Wilson moved to approve the Hallett Addition project based on the recommendations of the April 9, 1999 Planning Staff Report. Jacobson seconded, with an addition to the motion that would include"the recommendations of the April 14, 1999 staff report." Wilson accepted this addition to his motion. Approved 6-0. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. 1999 Park Development Proposals Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes April 19, 199 Page 3 1. Round Lake Park Playground and Storage Building Renovation The plan calls for replacing the existing storage building with a new building, and installing new playground equipment. Greg Ingraham and Wendy Anderson of Ingraham & Associates Landscape Architecture presented three playground options. All three options include a toddler area,a school-age area,and swings,and all have a covered shelter area. Plan A is the "Lighthouse" plan, estimated at $98,802. Plan B is the "Beach Slides Plan", estimated at $85,996. Plan C is the "Tree I-louse" plan estimated at $80,727. The storage 1 building for marina storage would be 24'x24"and would be located near the boat docks. t 3 Discussion: Hilgeman asked if trees would be removed to accommodate any of these j plans. Lambert said the willows are in bad condition and would be removed for safety !I reasons. Corneille was concerned about Plans A and C that have the bituminous path y separating the toddler play area from the school-age area. Jacobson believes that separating 1 the play areas on by the path raises safety issues and is"asking for trouble". Bikers, roller- bladers and people walking dogs all use this path, which is in route to the boat dock area. Brown agreed with Jacobson on the safety issue,and saw no reason to have a path separate the equipment. Hilgeman wants everything to be on one side of the path, including the swings. Brown asked about the price differences in the three plans. y s Brown asked if anyone in the audience wanted to comment on the playground plans. �. Jackie Eisenbright spoke against the play areas being separated by the path. Hilgeman feels , there should be at least one ADA accessible swing. Anderson said "the jury is out" on whether the ADA swing is actually accessible. Lambert said that the swings could be eliminated entirely. Ingraham suggested that the path could be moved. Lambert said the volley ball court is coming out, which will provide more space. Also, the site should be looked at to see if the trail could be realigned. Brown wanted to know what the major difference is between plans A and plans C, beside the $13,000. price difference. Lambert said the staff recommends Plan A because it has more play value,and would give 15-20 years of use. hlilgemen prefers Plan A, but with an ADA accessible swing.Jacobson asked if the plans were concept plans only. Lambert said bids would be let on the individual components of the plan that is selected. MOTION: Hilgeman moved to recommend the Plan A concept for the playground equipment,and that the consultants work with the city staff to Hiclude swings on the west side of the path,and that the city proceed to bid this project according to the recommendations of the April 7, 1999 staff memo. Corneille seconded the motion. Approved 6-0 2, Riehard'I'.Anderson Conservation Area Management Plan Ingraham and Associates and Batt Engineering developed a park management plan for this area. Greg Ingraham presented the plan, which would be implemented in phases over a Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes j April 19, 199 Page a period of time. The Settler's Ridge development along the north boundary is under construction,and road access and parking for the park will have to be completed within the development's time frame. The park would be designed for low impact use and to enhance the community and preserve it's natural resources. The present farm road would be paved, and would require retaining walls. Pred Rozumalski of Barr Engineering spoke on how native plant communities would be restored. He talked about the types of vegetation found in the areas of savannah, prairie, and woods. Invasive species would be removed. Prairie areas would need to be protected from predatory species through periodic burning. Koenig asked if there was a plan to control the deer population. Fox said no deer reduction plan is included, but there may be hunting in some areas. Hilgeman asked about volunteer help in the park. Lambert said that groups such as the Boy Scouts and the High School Ecology Club are likely volunteers. Brown asked about present erosion control. Lambert said only $60,000 is budgeted for the restoration and development in 1999. This amount would not include erosion control. MOTION: Wilson moved to accept the park management plan of the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area,and to approve the master plan as recommended by staff in the memo dated April 7, 1999. Hilgeman seconded. Approved 6-0. i 3. Preserve Park Renovation The plan fix renovating Nesbitt Preserve Park includes replacing playground equipment, construction of a park shelter, and relocation of the skating facilities. Lambert explained the background of the park, which was built in 1978, and the need to replace the hockey rink,warming house,and playground equipment for safety reasons. There are springs 1 in the pond, which make the free skating rink usable for only about five weeks during the winter season. The staff recommends moving the lighted hockey rink and the free skating rink to the large level area in the northwest part of the park. The new playground equipment would be located where the hockey rink is now located. The rinks would have lights on until 9:00 pm on weeknights, and 10:00 pm on weekends. Trees and shrubs will be planted to screen the rink.Sewer and water will be stubbed in for future restrooms. Brown opened discussion to the audience. Martha Johnson of Northmark Dr. said that she and her neighbors along Northmark objecied to the obtrusive nature of the hockey rink lighting. She thinks the rink should be kept below the hill. Mary Beth Bachmann of Northmark Dr. also obiected to the lighting, and believes having the lights so close will afTect the property value of her home. She has concerns about locating the playground so close to the pond. She also said the trees and plantings on the berm are nearly all gone, with only live trees fell, and is concerned about the lack of r( maintenance in the park. i t I Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes 1 April 19, 199 Page s Another Northmark resident questioned how much the hockey rink will be used, and doubted the need for two skating areas. She believes the park has been poorly maintained, and that the rink should stay where it is now She was concerned about the playground being next to the swampy area,and suggested that the skating rinks be moved to where the soccer feld is now. i Lambert responded by saying the pond has not been a problem for 20 years and he doesn't anticipate it becoming a problem with the new design. There is a need for a family skating area. One option would be to rebuild the hockey rink in the area where;it is now and move the skating area to the west of the hockey rink, but this would require retaining walls j and would be very costly. Hilgeman suggested putting the skating rinks where the soccer field is now,and vice versa. Lambert said many different concepts were looked at,due to the poor j soil in the area below the hill,the plan presented is the best one Jackie Eisenstadt spoke in behalf of some of the southeast neighbors,and she supports the program. She would like to see the park better staffed and maintained,and requested that the playground equipment be in colors that blend with the landscape,rather than bright colors. t 7 Jim Beckman of Northmark Dr. suggested that with such few days of good outdoor I skating, the city could save money by eliminating the rinks altogether. Another resident t suggested moving the rink to Eden School, where it may be more accessible for the kids. f Lambert said what little space is left at the school is too marshy. This skating facility will be the only ones available in southeast EP, so it is important to keep the Preserve Park rinks i open. j There was discussion on how the new structures and the new hockey rink walls would look. Lambert said the boards would be kept painted,and the structures would be tan with forest green trim. The city will landscape around the rink,and will work with the Northmark Dr. area residents to place trees where they help screen the rinks from the houses. Everyone whose property abuts the park will be notified to help work out the landscape screening. Jacobson asked about the status of the grant application. Staff said that if given,the l: grant would come in about July. However,the plans would proceed whether the grant comes in or not.,with construction to start in the spring of 2000 or this fall if we are willing to lose a skating season due to construction MOTION: Corneille moved to approve the preliminary plans ror the renovation of Preserve Park us specified in the staff memo dated April 6, 1999. Jacobson seconded. Approved 6-0. 4. Riley Lake Park Shelter I Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes April 19, 199 Page 6 The Riley Lake Shelter is a 54' diameter structure proposed to be built west of'the parking lot near the playground. Cost is projected at $225,000. Staff has applied for a matching grant, which would reduce the cost to $112,500. If granted, construction would begin in the fall of 1999 or the spring of 2000. } MOTION: Koenig moved to approve the preliminary plans for construction of a shelter at Miller Park as recommended in the staff memo dated April 7, 1999. Hilgeman seconded. Approved 6-0. 5. Miller Park Shelter An open sided 80'diameter park shelter is proposed to built cast of the playground in Miller Park. Cost is projected at $337,000. Staff has applied for a matching grant, which would reduce the cost to approximately $168,000. The plans could be altered to include restrooms, a stage, and a hot plate area. Bids would be let in July 1999 subject to the grant being given. If the grant is not awarded, the project would not go forward. However, Lambert said the city would continue to apply for a grant. MOTION: Hilgeman moved to approve preliminary plans for construction of a park shelter tit Miller Park, per recommendations of the staff memo dated April 7, 1999, and ( subject to receipt of a grant. Koenig seconded. Approved 6-0. 6. Flying Cloud Fields Access and Parking Improvements I The City is proposing to improve road access and parking at Flying Cloud Balifields, Laurie Johnson, the consultant on this project, presented the plan that includes a loop drive j that goes Around the ballfields,and parking expansion to 700 cars. The plan culls for paving entrances to the trails, with rock driveways. An alternative would be to pave all driving surfaces. Cost of the project with limited paving is$800,000,and increases to approximately $1,000,000 if all roads And parking lots Arc paved. Lambert recommended proceeding with the P 6 permits, 10 Ob1Aln all approvals l0 AIIOW ; construction in 2000. The Miller Park And Riley Park shelters will not be built unless this ' grant is obtained. Improving the road access here is of high priority to the city. Due to they 1 fact that the city does not own the land,which is owned by Flying Cloud Airport,there is the question of putting funds into the additional paving. The city has a 90-day lease with the airport,but investing in the park is a safe bet,according to Lambert. MOTION: Jacobson moved to approve the plans and funding for improvements to the access and parking facilities at Flying Cloud Fields,as recommended by staff in the memo dated April 6, 1999. seconded by Corneille. Approved 6-0, The Commission further recommended the Council consider the feasibility of funding this project with it referendum at the general election in the your 2000. q� t t 1 �I A Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes j April 19, 199 f Page 7 VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Unnecessary Mowing The City recommends that unnecessary mowing be eliminated in city parks. This 1 would pertain to berms, hillsides, and other grassy areas not used for picnics and park activities. Lambert said the city can better spend their maintenance dollars elsewhere. The city would start not to mow certain areas in Miller,Riley Lake,and Round Lake Parks. There was some discussion on how the public and homeowners adjacent to these areas would respond. The plan would be tried and monitored for one year. j MOTION: Hilgeman moved that the staff be authorized to eliminate unnecessary mowing in the parks as recommended in the March 25, 1999,staff memo. Kccnig seconded. Approved 6-0. B. Recommendation to Eliminate Lifeguard During Lap Swim The staff is recommending eliminating lifeguards during the early a.m. hours for adult lap swim time, from 5:30 am to 8:30 am. It is increasingly difficult to find staff to work during these hours, The plan would result in savings of about $16,000. Lyndell Frey was present to explain the proposed changes,which include changing the signage around the pool to"no lifeguard"warning signs. The only option to this recommendation would be to shut down the pool during these hours. Brown was concerned about the city's liability in this situation. Frey said the city will need to go through the proper channels in regard to risk management. MOTION: Wilson moved to eliminate lifeguards during adult lap swim time according to the staff recommendations in memo dated April 1, 1999. Koenig seconded. Approved 6-0. VI. REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Director of Parks untl Recreation Services .'s I. Osprey Nesting Project Lambert reported ospreys are attempting to nest in the light standards at Miller Park. Minnesota Valley Electric Co. donated three 40-foot poles that were erected to provide altemative nesting sites for the birds. Volunteers will monitor these nesting sites. 2. Ice Area Survey :4 i Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes April 19, 199 Page s City Staff completed a market survey to determine ice time demand in the metro area,especially the areas surrounding Eden Prairie. Lambert said E.P. demographics are similar to Edina. Edina has generated about$192,000 in revenue for their newest ice rink. This would not be sufficient to sell revenue bonds f or construction of a third ri nk. VII. ADJOURNMENT: Corneille moved to adjourn at 10:15 p.m. Hilgeman seconded. Approved 6-0. i ;J