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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 03/26/1973 1973 MARCH 12 ,, 26 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE 'a AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION Monday, March 12, 1973 7:00 P.M. Village Nall ROLL CALL I. MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 26, 1973 MEETING. II. ORGANIZATION: A. Election of Officers. 1. Chairman 2. Vice Chairman 3. Secretary - Treasurer III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS: A. Agency Liaison Reports. B. Mini-Bike Areas Task Force Report - Chairman Erickson. C. Minnesota River Trail System - Progress Report. D. Park Acquisition Status Report - Anderson Lakes/Bryant Lake. E. Metropolitan Open Space Guide Chapter - Report on Public Nearing and Legislative Program. F. Development Proposals. IV. ADJOURNMENT. r , MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COPrMISSION MEETING Monday, March 12, 1973 7:00 P.M. Village Hall . Members Present: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Roger Boerger, Bill Garens Dick Anderson, Dean Holasek, Rita Kooiman, Frances Blacklock, Terry Fields; Harty Jessen, Director of Parks and Recreation; Jan Studley, Recreation Intern; and Dick Putnam, Village Planner. Members Absent: Marge O'Ryan, Jan Berkland, and Steve Eisch. Gale Podratz from the League of Women Voters was also in attendance at the meeting. The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Marvin Erickson. I. MINUTES M/Blacklock, S/Anderson, to approve the minutes of February 26, 1973. Motion carried unanimously. II. ORGANIZATION A. Election of Officers. CM/Anderson, S Fiel s that the officers of 1972 remain in office through 1973. The officers are as follows: Marvin Erickson, Chairman, Bill Garens, Vice-Chairman, Frances Blacklock, Secretary. Motion carried unanimously. III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. ASency Liaison Reports. ulaMocK reported on the Metropolitan Open Space Information Project. There is a workshop scheduled for March 17, 1973 at Bethel College from 8:45 a.m. until 3:30 in the afternoon. Speakers for the workshop are Dr. John Sorchard, Iir. Charles Little, Mr. Robert Einsweiler. Garens reported that the Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed district will s be holding a public hearing on their overall plan on Friday, March 16, 1973 at 9:30 a.m. at the Eden Prairie Village liall. Anderson questioned why the Purgatory Creek planning proposal was not approved by the Council at their last meeting. Jessen explained that a second proposal was being solicited to be sure that the scope of services as outlined was adequate to produce the kind of product that we are looking for. He also explained that the staff was doing some work in determining exactly how much base mapping was necessary to provide good data for the study and it appeared that there was a need for several thousand dollars worth of two foot contour maps prior to the commencement of the planning process. Fie stated that the proposal would go to the Council for their consideration, and hoped for approval, as soon as this necessary background work was completed. r MINUTES (larch 12, 1973 Page 2 B. ilini Bike Areas Task Force Report_ Chairman Erickson voiced his personal concern for the need for neighborhood involvement if anything meaningful is going to be done in providing mini bike areas in Eden Prairie. He distributed copies of the Edina bike trail article from last week's Minneapolis paper and also an article from the- Rochester Post Bulletin about off road vehicles. He asked the entire commission to review these articles and be prepared to discuss mini bike areas at the next commission meeting. He said that the task force would then meet following the March 26 meeting to develop a preliminary plan based on the commission's input. Boerger suggested that we be certain to involve Jack Hacking, Public Safety Director as an ex-officio task force member. It was suggested that the staff get copies of ordinances and regulations , from other communities who have them at this time. • F C. Minnesota River Trail System Progress Report This item was tabeled until the next morning. D. Park Acquisition Status Report - Anderson Lakes Park/Bryant Lake ' CJessen reported that he was going to appear at the Minnesota Resources Commission fleeting on Harch 13, 1973 and hoped, at that > time, to be able to present Eden Prairie's 'case" for regional park funding for the Anderson Lakes and Bryant Lake Park projects. He indicated that there was a possibility that this would not be ; . heard at the i-larch 13th meeting but would be coming up at a subsequent meeting later in the month of March. Jessen presented a map indicating the status of the various parcels within the Anderson Lakes park area showing those parcels for which development proposals are pending, those that the village has options on, and those that they have previously acquired. He stated that the total estimated - value of all of the land in the Anderson Lake Park project was approx. $4,100,000. He reported that Mayor Paul Redpath has sent letters to Senator Hubert Humphrey, Senator Walter ilondahl , and Representative Bill Frenzel requesting their support in our efforts to secure funding for these projects. Garens asked.which lands Bloomington presently owned in the Tierney Woods Area. Jessen stated that Bloomington owned the entire Tierney's tloods Area.as such and their LAI•ICON contingency application was primarily one of filling in the holes between Tierney s Woods, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, and Bloomington's existing Bush Lake Park. Erickson asked hoar long before Eden Prairie will know the decision on C these projects. Jessen replied that he really didn't know and that it could happen at any time. r U NUTES [larch 12, 1973 r Page Three l Jessen reported that he ap peared ppeared at the Hennepin County board meeting on Monday morning, [larch 12, 1973 and at that time Eden Prairie's request for County Lake Improvement monies for Park acquisition at Bryant Lake and Staring Lake were considered by the Board Ways and Neans Committee and that the committee recommended unanimously to the County Board that they allocate $95,679.06 for acquisition of land at Bryant Lake and Staring Lake. This amount is estimated to be 622% of the local share of the acquisition costs of those parcels at Bryant and Staring Lake which are eligible for county lake improvement funding. E. Metropolitan Open Space Guide Chapter - Report on Public Hearing in the Legislative Program Jessen reported that most of the testimony given at the Metropolitan Open Space Guide Chapter Public Hearing seemed to be in favor of the plan, outside of testimony given by land owners at the specific sites proposed for recreational open space use. He said that several other of the people appearing at the hearing voiced the same concern that Eden Prairie did about the need for some source of. funding for municipal units of government for recreation open space of local significance. He stated that he recently had had a conversation with Mr. Gene Franchett, Executive Director of the Metropolitan League of Municipalities, about working on a committee with the (Metro Leqgue in attempting to develop legislation to alleviate this problem. Jessen said that he would continue to work with the Metropolitan League and other interested municipalities in developing � a solution to funding of the total recreation system, both local and regional projects. F. 1973 Winter-Spring Recreation Report Jan Studley presented and reviewed the report for the 1973 Winter- Spring Recreation program season (copies of the report attached). Garens asked for a survey or other means of gathering information from past participants as to why the recreation clubs and some of the other programs which were so successful in the fall season had fallen off so drastically in registrations for the winter-spring season. A good bit of discussion occurred about the Teen Special Trips program and the wide variance in the registrations and participation for the various activities offered. Boerger stated that he felt that this was rather typical of students. They initially complain that there is nothing for them to do and then when programs are offered, they don't take advantage of the opportunity to participate. Anderson stated that he felt there was a need to get this type of information to the parents so that they could have an opportunity to encourage the youngsters to take part. Boerger said that he agreed fully with the need to get the information to the parents. Boerger also suggested that perhaps there was a method of working with the student council or the school clubs to promote various trips in anticipation of making some money for their various activities. MINUTES C March 12, 1973 Page Four G. Development Proposals 1. Eden Farms - Environmental Concerns Dick Putnam, Village Planner, reviewed the happenings to date concerning the Eden Farms development proposal along Purgatory Creek and County Road 4. He stated that the Village has received expert -pinions from many people concerning the possible detrimental environmental effects of this development. Included among these people are the Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District Board of Managers and their engineers, the Soil Conservation Service, private consulting firms and the lietropolitan Council 's Open Space Staff. After a rather lengthy discussion on this topic, during which the commission reaffirmed their positive position on the Eden Farms proposal and again voiced their• strong agreement with the plan for preserving the open space along the creek, the wooded knolls and the other features of the plan which they have commented on earlier. Followina this discussion, it was IH/Garens and S/ Holasek that the Part: and Recreation Commission, having reviewed the "Expert Opinion" given by the various agencies ►•rho have been asked to comment on this plan, feels that the Eden Farms proposal is a good plan for the use of the land adjacent to Purgatory Creek in this area. The Commission feels that, based on the opinions received and the open space features of the plan, they feel the environmental effects of this development will not be detrimental and that the dedication of approximately 65 acres of open space is a very desirable feature of the plan. Motion carried unanimously. H. Prairie View Park Acquisition Report Jessen reported that he had been contacted by a realtor representing the land owner just west of Prairie View Schocl to see if the Village was interested in acquiring this land for neighborhood playground purposes. lie stated that the Village had ordered an appraisal on this property and made a tentative offer to the realtor based on the appraised value of the property. The 19G8 Park Bond Issue included the acquisition of a playground site adjacent to Prairie View School. This is the only site in the 1968 Bond Issue that the Village has not implemented to date. No action was taken on this particular item at this time pending the land owners consideration of the proposal . IV. ADJOURN[ic"WT fi/holaselc and S/Kouiwan tii,,t t;ic'mdetirig :jC adjourned. Potion carried. AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION Monday, March 26, 1973 7:00 p.m. , Village Hall ROLL CALL I. MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 1973 MEETING II. ORGANIZATION A. Appointment of Golf Course Task Force III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Agency Liaison Reports B. Park Acquisition and Funding -- Progress Report C. Purgatory Creek Park Planning -- Status Report & Recommendations D. M.C.A. - Environment Sub-Committee -- Progress Report s E. Legislation for Parks & Recreation -- Status Report F. Prairie View Park Acquisition -- Recommendation G. Development Proposals: 1. 2. H. Explorer Post 231 -- Activity Report IV. DISCUSSIONS I� A. Round Lake/Duck Lake Sector Plan B. Mini-Bike Areas p s , j ( MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 26, 1973 7:00 PX. Village Hall Members Present: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Roger Boerger, Bill Garens, Dean Holasek, Frances Blacklock, Steve Eisch. Members AL•sent: (large O'Ryan, Jan Berkland, Terry Fields, Dick Anderson and Rita Kooiman. Staff Present: Marty Jessen, Director of Park and Recreation. The meeting was called to order by chaim.an, Marvin Erickson, at 7:00 P.M. I. MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 1973 MEETING M/Holasek, S/Garens to approve the minutes of March 12, 1973. Motion carried unanimously. II. ORGANIZATIONS l C A. Appointment of Golf Course Task Force. Jessen reviewed the memo dated March 26, 1973 to the Park and Recreation Commissioners about the Eden Land Corporation offer to sell Edenvale Golf Course to the Village. (Copy attached). Chairman Erickson appointed Dean Holasek to chair the task force and Roger Boerger and Steve Eisch as other members from the Park and Recreation Commission. Jessen will request Norma Schee, Chairman of the Planning Commission, to appoint one member to the task force and the addition of any other citizens to the task force will also be considered. The specific charge for the task force is to evaluate the Edenvale Golf Course offer, in light of overall golf course planning in Eden Prairie. IYI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Request from the Southdale Branch of the Y(-1CA for the Use of Soft a I I Fie I as at Round Lake Park for -Ora nized -Athl etics. Jessen indicated that the Southdale YMCA has requested the use of the two fields at Round Lake Park for their Church Athletic Association Slowpitch Softball league play on Monday nights. He indicated that the Village last year had organized league activity at Round Lake on four nights of the week with only Friday open, but C that there was a possibility of rescheduling some of the leagues to accomodate this request. A staff report will be presented at the next Park and Recreation Commission meeting. MINUTES Page 2 IV. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Agency Liaison Reports. r Blacklock reported on the March 17 workshop with the Metropolitan . Open Space Information Project. She indicated that the Hennepin COUnty sub-group of this information project will meet on Thursday, March 29„ 1973 and that the next general Metropolitan Open Space Information Project meeting will be on Thursday, April 5.. R. Park Acquisition and Funding. Progress Report. Jessen distributed and reviewed the park acquisition and funding progress report dated March 26, 1973. (Copp of report attached). He stated that if the state legislative advisory committee approved the Bryant Lake Project as anticipated, Eden Prairie will .receive "advance grant" funding for the project and should receive the $542,115.00 within a month or so. This advance grant will enable Eden Prairie to complete the acquisition of the Bryant Lake Park before the options expired on July 1, 1973. Jessen stated that the Council at their March 13, 1973 meeting authorized Mayor Redpath and Jessen to travel to Washington, D.C. to support the Anderson Lakes Project if it was felt that this would "speed up" the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation action. tie stated that this would be done if the Village has not heard of progress . on the project by April 5. No action required. C. Purgatory Creek Park Planning Staff Report and Recommendations. Jessen reviewed the memo to the Mayor and members of the Village Council recommending that Brauer & Associates be engaged to perform the park planning services along Purgatory Creek (copy of report attached). No action required. D. Major Center Area - Environment Sub-Committee -- Progress Report. Jessen reviewed the Major Center Area Sub-Committee Goals Policies, and Procedures dated March 26, 1973. (Copy+W+report attached). essen aSKed for Commission response to the report, specifically in the area of the general procedures calling for a reduced tax and no assessment policy on identified open space areas within the Major Center Area. No action required. E. Legislation for Parks and Recreation -- Status Report. Jessen reported that he and Mayor Redpath attended the Metropolitan League of Municipalities Open Space Committee meeting on March 21, 1973. The committee discussed need for legislation for municipal parks and open space acquisition and development in the metropolitan area. The Open Space Committee recommended to the Metropolitan League of Municipalities v r MINUTES Page 3 Board of Directors that the league support the Metropolitan Council proposal for regional open space and that they also attempt to implement legislation creating monies for local park projects as well. Jessen will be working with the staff from the Metropolitan League and other municipalities in developing legislation to this effect. No action required. F. Prairie View Park Acquisition Recommendation. Jessen reviewed the memo to the Mayor and Village Council concerning the recommended purchase of land adjacent to the Prairie View School for nei hborhood playground uses (copy of memo attached). M/Garens, f S/Black?ock that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Council the acquisition of the land adjacent to Prairie View School for neighborhood use consistent with the 1968 Park Bond Issue. Motion carried unanimously. G. Development Proposals There were no development proposals to come before the Commission at this time. C N. Explorer Post Number 231 Activity Report. Jessen presented copies of the Explorer Post 231 Activity report dated March 26, 1973 (copy of report attached). ' Garens asked how many people were in the post and Jessen replied that 17 young people are presently members. No action required. ;Z V. DISCUSSIONS A. Round Lake/Duck Lake Sector Plan. Jessen presented the Round Lake/Duck Lake Sector Plan and reviewed the open space components of it. Major Areas of open space in the sector include Round Lake Park, The Purgatory Creek Wetlands area in the northwest corner of the Village, the Purgatory Creek Valley in the north central part of the Village, and the wetlands north of Mitchell Lake. The sector plan is predicated on the concept of linked open space providing for pedistrian and recreational use. The recreation system begins with a series of mini-parks similar to the Sterling Field playground area. It includes neighborhood r playground facilities such as the one adjacent to Prairie View School and the one in the Eden Farms proposal along Purgatory Creek. Community playfield and park activities will take place primarily at the Round Lake Park site. Jessen indicated that a narrative to accompany the map was being prepared and would be presented for Park and Recreation Commission review at a later time. No action required. I . r MI MUTES Page 4 B. Mini-bike Areas. Mini-bikeTask Force Chairman Marvin Erickson asked for comments from the Commission about the need for and location of facilities for mini-bike uses in Eden Prairie. Garens expressed sentiments that the landfill and airport are the only possible sites because of their remoteness from most of the developed areas in town, and thus the noise and other intrusive effects from the mini- bikes will not be forced on to any residents. Garens suggested that the Park and Recreation Commission take a "no action" position at this time and wait for citizens to come foniard with a documented need and some plan for implementation. Holasek stated that he felt there was no way that the Village could handle mini-bikes on park areas. Boerger stated that he felt that this was an item that the Park and Recreation Commission should not presently be concerning themselves with and that perhaps a metropolitan wide or state wide tax or registration fee on mini-bikes might be a F method for raising money to implement mini-bike areas. He further stated that he felt that if Eden Prairie provided public areas for mini-bike use, we would be "overrun" with users from outside the community. Erickson suggested that the Village post all park areas with no motorized vehicles signs for the 1973 season. He stated that several cars have driven to the Forest Hills school park area and unloaded mini-bikes from their trunks for people to use in the park area and thd't he felt this was an inappropriate use of the neighborhood site, ti M/Holasek, S/Garens that the Village post all park areas for no motorized traffic. Motion carried unanimously. M/Garens, S/Eisch that the Village's position on mini-bike areas be one of waiting for user groups to come forward with documented need and with specific recommendations. That the Village's position be one of not wanting mini-bike use in public park areas because only a small minority of residents really want mini-bikes in the parks and that providing mini-bike areas should not be a high priority Village responsibility. When residents come forward with requests for areas, the Village ought to encourage them to pursue Metropolitan or State wide funding for the provision of areas specifically for mini-bike use. Motion carried unanimously. VI. ADJOURNMENT M/Holasek, S/Eisch that the meeting be adjourned.