Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 02/07/1994 "... . :. .. ._.�;:. ..� _.'Js ._. v,,. .�. ,..��. � ... .'.-� _..,� i'..�.,•.. �.. 5.,.. ,_:.. .4'..... ........�.? _... .. n:.�..,.,.,. .i,...yS',.i�.... t?5 ._1nlc�(rtrc.4ear;,: 1994 : - FEBRUARY 7 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAII%AE AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1994 7:00 P. M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pat Richard, Chair; Bruce Bowman, Richard Brown, Claire Hilgeman, Joanne Kube-Harderwijk, David Kracum, Diane Popovich Lynch STUDENT MEMBER: Mark Bremer COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; Barbara Penning Cross, Landscape Architect; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Laurie Helling, Manager of Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 1994 IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Request from Steve Schultz re: Dedicated Wall Space at Community Center for High School Trophies, Etc. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. None VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Resolution Pertaining to the Future Use of the Glen Lake Hennepin County Property (continued from January 1) B. Park and Open Space System quisition Update l VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommendation Regarding Park Bond Referendum for Acquisition of Conservation Areas B. Elect Chair and Vice Chair of Commission for 1994 C. M=e na Date with City Council - June 21. 1994 - 6*15 pm. f 1: VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Community Center Mang= 1. Possible Funding_Alternatives to Expand Locker Rooms at Community Center IX. ADJOURNMENT parkag/Bob60 b I APPROVED MINUTES `.. EDEN PRAIRIE ,'ARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDA.Y, FEBRUARY 7,1994 7:00 P. M. CITY CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Richard, Chair; Bruce Bowman, Richard Brown, Claire Hilgeman, Joan Kube-Harderwijk, David Kracum, Diane Popovich Lynch STUDENT MEMBER PRESENT: Mark Bremer COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources; David Black, Community Center Manager I, ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by chair Pat Richard. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Lambert requested that item VI. A. be moved to the first issue, as Colleen Carter had to be at another meeting. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JAN TRY 31, 1994 Lambert stated that the minutes for January 31 were not ready for review at this time. i VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Resolution Pertaining to the Future Use of the Glen Lake Hennepin County Property (continued from January 31) - Lambert introduced Colleen Carter, a Board member of the "We Can Ride" program that represented that program on the golf course study. Lambert reminded the Commission that they continued this item because they were uncomfortable making a recommendation until they had heard from someone representing the "We Can Ride" program. Richard requested Ms. Carter to explain the position and concerns of the board members j responsible for the "We Can Ride" program. J Ms. Carter explained that they pay rent to Hennepin County to use the Hennepin County Home School equestrian facilities. They provide services to the disabled of all ages. She indicated any development that would remove them from that facility would affect eliminate that service. They don't have the funds to purchase their own facilities or develop a similar facility. In 1993, 92 students ( rode in their program, all but six to eight were from Hennepin County. Another SO were on a waiting list. 1 The goal of the board and staff is to insulate and heat the indoor arena to allow them to operate their program later in the fall and earlier in the spring. She indicated that several proposals for the golf course varied the amount of property remaining for the Home School and their program. In her opinion, if the east pasture is eliminated or significantly reduced it would increase the cost to the County to operate the program to the point that they would probably eliminate the program. Without the pasture they would be forced to provide hay and grain for those horses on a year round basis. Their program is privately funding and generates revenue from memberships, lesson fees and grants. Fees are generally $65/session (a four week session) and seven sessions are offered throughout the year. There are also two preschool sessions that cost$70. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford it. Lynch asked for additional information regarding the volunteers used. Carter stated that from one to three volunteers are used for each rider depending on the rider's ability. The individual leading the horse is generally from the Home School. Bowman indicated that he was very uncomfortable having to make any kind of decision on the concept plan when the Commission does not have a concept plan to review. Richard stated that all of the Commission members are frustrated with this request to take action on a plan without a plan. Lambert indicated that the Council had already approved the resolution supporting the concept of the golf course on the site upon the condition that any plan for a golf course would require a master plan that would would include how Birch Island Park, Camp Edenwood and the open space land owned by Hennepin Country in Eden Prairie would be incorporated into the golf course and surrounding open space. Lambert also indicated that the Council did not believe that supporting a golf course at this point necessarily meant eliminating the equestrian program, but simply stated that the City of Eden Prairie generally approved of the concept of trying to provide a golf course in this area. MOTION: Moved by Lynch, seconded by Kube Harderwijk that the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission support the concept plan for a golf course under the condition that it investigate ways of accommodating the "We Can Ride" program in the final plan. Motion passed unanimously. IV. PETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. RcQu st from Steve Schultz Regarding DedicatPd Wall Space at the Community Center for High School Trophies.Etc. - Lambert described the request by Schultz that the School District would like to provide a secure wall space in the hockey arena and swimming pool that would allow the school to display pictures, etc. of the team that is using the facility during that particular season. This is not meant ( to be a trophy case and this up to the school to pay for the installation of the display are and maintain them. Staff has also indicated that if the hockey team, 2 swimming teams, etc. that utilize the facility as their home ice or home pool win a State Championship or runner up they would be allowed to display a banner C similar to what they display in the gymnasium at the school. MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Lynch, to approve the request as per the staff recommendation. Motion passed unanimously. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. None VI. OLD BUSINESS B. Park and Open Space System Acquisition Update - Lambert indicated this is an information item only, and encouraged the Commission to members to review the memo and to keep it as it is important information to consider when there are other requests for funding projects beyond these proposed capital improvement projects. This update and service area maps also give the Commission and Council an idea what areas of the City are well served compared to what areas of the City could justifiably request additional services. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Recommendation_ Reaardi Park Bond RPf �Pnd m for Acquisition of Y,�n�Prvation_Areas - Lambert reviewed the memo recommending the City Council consider a May 24, 1994 park bond referendum in the amount j $1,950,000 for the purpose of acquiring conservation land in southwest Eden Prairie. Lambert explained the rationale for the proposed date of late May indicating that it is difficult to expect many volunteers to continue working on a j referendum after school is out and family vacations are planned. He further suggested that prior to late May several tours of the sites could be planned, which would allow interested voters to see the sites that are considered for acquisition. Commission members requested an explanation for wording of the proposed referendum question. Lambert suggested that the wording specifically states that the money would be used for acquisition of preservation property; however, due to the possibility of receiving a LCMR Grant the language cannot be specifically directed toward one or two sites. MOTION: Moved by Lynch, seconded by Kube-Harderwijk, to approve the staff recommendation for a 1994 referendum in the amount of 1.95 million dollars as per the staff memo, which also included the $4,000 budget for providing public information on this referendum. Motion passed unanimously. f B. Elect Chair and Vice Chair of Commission for 1994 - Various Commission members thanked Pat Richard for his excellent leadership and commitment to the Commission over the last six years. Richard stated that he had enjoyed serving ( on the Commission and would always be willing to come back and help the Commission on important issues. 3 I MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Bowman, to nominate Lynch as chair of the Commission for 1994. Motion passed unanimously. There were no other nominations for the chair and the Commission cast an unanimous ballot for Lynch as chair. MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Lynch, to nominate Bruce Bowman as vice chair for 1994. Motion passed unanimously. There were no other nominations for vice chair, and the Commission members cast an unanimous ballot for Bowman as vice chair subject to his appointment by the City Council. C. Meeting Date With the City Council- June 21. 1994 - 6.15 p.m. - Lambert indicated that this is any information item only and requested Commission members to put this date and time on their calendars and to think of items they wished to discuss with the City Council at the special meeting. Any issues that "I Commission members want included on the agenda should be forwarded to Lambert before June 1st. VIR. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF A. Reports of Community Center Manager 1. Possible Funding Alternatives to Expand Locker Rooms at the Community Center - Lambert indicated that he had requested Dave Black to prepare a report providing possible increases in fees by Community Center users to fund a locker room expansion over a five to six year period. Lambert indicated that this request had come from Commission member Richard , and Lambert supported the concept of initiating this project as soon as possible. Richard gave the background on the long standing concerns of residents regrading the lack of space in the locker rooms and the inadequate showers at the Community Center. Richard explained that he believed it should be an extremely high priority to make improvements to a facility that is serving thousands of people each year, especially when part of that facility is causing ill feelings by many of those users on a daily basis. Each of the Commission members concurred with the concept of making that improvement and requested staff to find tune the numbers and forward that request to the City Council. MOTION: Moved by Richard, seconded by Brown, that the staff fine tune the numbers an request and architect to provide a concept design and i a updated cost estimate to expand the locker room and entry control area, and provide the City Council with a proposed pay off program. Motion passed unanimously. IX. ADJOURNMENT 4 i 14 The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Robert A. Lambert Recording Secretary feb7min/Bob60 i j 5