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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 01/28/1974 i 1974 JANUARY 8 ,, 141.5 28 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING C TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1974 6:30 p.m. Village Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Secretary Frances Blacklock, Paul Enblom, Richard Anderson, Dean Holasek, Jan Berkland, Steve Eisch. 4 MEMBERRS ABSENT: Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Terry Field . i STAFF PRESENT: Marty lessen, Community Services Also Present: Bruce Brill and Don Sorensen representing Kingdale Kennels. t The meeting was called to order by Secretary Blacklock at 6:45 p.m. I. CONSIDERATION OF "NEW INFORMATION" RELATING TO KINGDALE KENNELS REQUEST TO LOCATE DOG KENNEL OPERATION ON RIVERVIEW ROAD ON THE ~� MINM SOTA RIVER VALLEY BLUFFS. lessen presented copies of, and reviewed, the letter dated December 27, 1973, from Mr. Ray Haik, attorney for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District. He also distributed copies of a letter to the Village Council from Mr. William Stanley, a land owner adjacent to the property proposed for the kennel. lessen stated that he; Dick Putnam, Village Planner; Marty Grill, land owner of the property involved; and Bruce Brill and Don Sorensen from Kingdale Kennels had met last Friday to discuss this new information. At that time, the possibility of locating the kennel operation at Bryant Lake Park in the vicinity of the Rock Isle stable operation was suggested. Mr. Sorensen, attorney for Mr. Brill, suggested some possible problems with this type of an arrangement, including insurance, liability problems and other legal entanglements, and most importantly perhaps,the ability to get financing for the construction of a facility to be built on property leased from the Village. lessen indicated that these concerns needed to be studied further before any recommendation could be made but that it was his opinion that this might be a feasible location for the kennel operation. ?� lessen stated that he had talked to Mr. Haik concerning the Watershed District's interest in this area, and that Mr. Haik had indicated that the Watershed District would purchase this property using monies available to them with the under- standing that the Village would repurchase the property from the District at a later date at a pre-specified percentage and price. Generally, it was Mr. Haik's feeling that the District would pay 50% of the final purchase price of the property provided the Village would repurchase to a 50% interest at a later date. lessen indicated that he had suggested a "5 year payback" for the Village's interest in this particular area. It is clearly the Watershed's intention to only purchase those areas under immediate development pressure at this time, and to not proceed with the acquisition of all of the land in this stretch of the bluffs in 1974. Blacklock asked lessen to explain the role of the Park and Recreation Commission in the Village policy decision process. Specifically, she asked if it was the Commission's responsibility to be concerned totally with finance and.implemen- r Park & Recreation Commission -2- 1/8/74 Special Meeting ltation programs or more with recommending to the Council the best possible solution and leaving the implementation methods to the Council. Jessen indi- cated that he felt it was primarily the Commission's responsibility to advise the i Council on the best course of action for the Village to take in park and open space acquisition and protection and in leisure service programming for the community. He felt that it was primarily the Council's responsibility to decide specifically how to accomplish the recommendations, once accepted. He further indicated that he felt that the Commission ought to be aware of the financial constraints generally of the Village but that they should not compromise a very worthwhile project for economic reasons in making recommendations to the Council. A certain priority assignment ought to also be made by the Commission so that the Council can understand more clearly the relative importance of different com- ponents of the park and open space plan. M/Anderson, S/Eisch that the Park & Recreation Commission reconsider their recommendation to the Council on the Kingdale Kennels proposal and at this time recommend that the Council taxe advantage of the Watershed District's offer to purchase the property as exemplified in Mr. Haik's letter of 12/27/73. Motion carried 4-1, with 1 abstention. II. DISCUSSION OF VILLAGE SKI CLUB PROGRAM. Jessen indicated that no one had attended the November 14, 1973, Ski Club C organizational meeting and that he along with last year's Ski Club supervisors, Byron Anderson and Carl Dirkes, had proceeded to outline a program of ski activity for the '73-'74 season. The program is divided into four categories: downhill, team skiing, cross country team skiing, cross country club skiing, and downhill club skiing. The estimated cost of the total program for a 7-8 week period is approximately $800-$900. Jessen estimates that fees of $3 per participant would generate revenues in the neighborhood of $300 leaving a net cost of the program somewhere in the neighborhood of $600. Anderson expressed his feeling that this was a very worthwhile program for the Village to promote and that he felt we ought to underwrite the program for the $600 cost for the 1974 season, in anticipation of building up better partici- pation in the future. Anderson further suggested that perhaps we could get students to assist in "brushing out trails" for future cross country ski locations. Jessen stated that it was his suggestion that the $600 for this program come out of the teen activities account, as budgeted by the Village Council, and that most of the remaining money in the teen activities budget would be used for a summer teen work program and that this type of project could easily be incorporated into the teen work program for 1974 . Anderson stated that he felt the Village should designate cross country ski areas in the future , and absolutely prohibit snowmobiling in those parts of the Village so that those people interested in ski touring could have an opportunity to do so in a verydestrable setting. r Park & Recreation Commission -3- 1/8/74 Special Meeting M/Enblom, S/Berkland that the Park & Recreation Commission approve the ski program as outlined for 1974. Motion carried unanimously. III. OTHER DISCUSSION. Blacklock asked about the status of the Snowmobile Trail, and jessen reported that the snowmobile clubs were not going to proceed to acquire ease- ments for the use of property north of Staring Lake for 1973-'74. The Metro- politan Airports Commission staff has expressed a feeling that the present State law prohibits their providing a snowmobile trail across their property that they own and/or'control for airport purposes unless they are to work out some kind of a lease arrangement with the Village. Meetings will be held with them in 1974 in an attempt to implement snowmobile trail plans for the 1974-'75 season. Anderson expressed concern over the number of snowmobiles using public park areas not designated for snowmobile use, particularly he questioned why no enforcement was taking place in the Bryant Lake and Forest Hills- School/Park areas where a number of youngsters were using the skating facilities. jessen responded that "No Motorized Vehicles Allowed off Park Roadway" signs were up in both areas , but that it was a problem of catching violators on the park areas. Anderson suggested that the Public Safety Department be requested to provide a very thorough enforcement of the Snowmobile Ordinance within the Village in an attempt to reduce the running at large problems that presently exist throughout the community. jessen indicated that he would forward this request to the Public Safety Director and the Village Manager. Anderson asked about the status of the road to the Forest Hills rink and expressed his feeling that it was too narrow and too slippery and dangerous in light of the number of young people using the park area for skating. jessen indicated that he had recently sent a memo to the Public Works Maintenance people to try to improve this situation so there is less danger to the park users. IV. ADJOURNMENT. M/Holasek, S/Enblom that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION l i Monday, January 14, 1974 7:30p.m., Village Hall Commission Members: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens,, Frances Blacklock, Janet Berkland, Dick Anderson Francis Helmer, Steve Eisch, Paul Enblom, Wolfgang Penzel Commission Staff: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services Chris Enger, Landscape Architect ROLL CALL I. MINUTES OF DECE14BER 10 1973 MEETING - MINUTES OF JANUARY 8 1974 SPECIAL MEETING. i II. PETITIONS, REQUESTS, AND COMMUNICATIONS I I A. Letter from Lower Minnesota River Watershed District concerning Bluff Acquisition. ! B. Letter from Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District regarding regulation for upland marshes, and wetlands. 4 C. Letter from Jim Solem, Director of the Office of Local and Urban Affairs, regarding Staring Lake Park Grant Application. D. Letter from Jim Solem, Director of the Office of Local and Urban Affairs, regarding grant money programmed for Anderson Lakes Park, III. ­*RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Agency Liaison Reports B. Ordinance No. 246 - Regulating Recreational .Use of the Anderson Lakes Area. C. 1974 Winter-Spring Recreation Program Report. D. Crosstown Highway Extension Review and Report. E. Smetana Lake Sector Study Report. F. Report on Purgatory Creek Park Planning Seminar. G. Report on Hiddens Ponds School/Park Site - Discussions with Len Swedlund } IV. DISCUSSIONS I A. Discussion of Metro Open Space Program. i V. ADJOURNMENT f f i MINUTES . EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION Monday, January 14, 1974 7:30 p.m. , Village Hall CMEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Wolf Penzel, Francis Helmer, Dick Anderson, Frances Blacklock. MEMBERS ABSENT: Paul Enblom, Jan Berkland, Steve Eisch. STAFF PRESENT: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services. Chris Enger, Landscape Architect. Joe Sullivan, Student Intern. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 7:40 p.m. r jessen introduced Joe Sullivan, a Student Intern from Mankato State College, Who will be working with the Village until about mid-March. I. MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 26, 1973 , MEETING. M/Blacklock, S/Garens to approve the minutes of November 26, 19738 as- presented. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 1973 , MEETING: M/Blacklock, S/Anderson to approve the minutes of the December 10, 1973, meeting as corrected, the correction being the deletion of Rita Kooiman from the list of members absent. MINUTES OF JANUARY 8, 1974, SPECIAL MEETING. , Anderson suggested that an addition be made to the minutes to reflect the _ discus3i.on of snowmobile enforcement which took place and also the discussion about the role of the Park & Recreation Commission which took place at the meeting. The approval for the minutes of January 8, 1974, Special Meeting is tabled until these additions are made and presented to the Commission. Jessen suggested that the Commission might want to consider meeting on the a 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month rather than the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. The basic reason for this would be that this would give jessen adequate time to prepare recommendations from the Commission to the Village Council. Presently the Council meets the day after the Park & Recreation Commission, and it makes it very difficult to prepare good reports and recom- mendations on Commission action. One possible problem with change of dates is the possibility that the School Board meets on the 1st Monday and the 3rd Thursday of the month. M/Blacklock, S/Garens that the Park & Recreation Commission change the date of its meetings to the 1st and 3rd .Mondays of the month and request that the Council publish official notice of this change of meeting dates, jessen is first to check on the meeting times for the School Board and if there are no conflicts, this change would go into effect with the first meeting in February. Motion carried unanimously. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -2- January 14, 1974 IT. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS. A. 1,etter from Lower Minnesota River Watershed District concerning bluff acquisition. Clessen merely indicated that this letter was the one used as the basis for reconsideration of action taken on the Kingdale Kennel request for development along the Minnesota River bluffs . Garens asked if donated lands by Hustad and Waste Management could be used as a Village share in the entire bluff protectien.ptogram. lessen indicated that the Watershed District's legal counsel had specified that the District offered to buy the land under immediate develop- ment pressure and would participate in half the cash costs of land acquisition in the area. Helmer asked about the potential recreational use of this area, and lessen indicated that it was primarily a scenic area but that the prohibiting of development along the bluffs would leave the Village the option of closing Riverview Road at a later date and using it as a trailway. Jessen stated that he has requested the Engineering Department to provide information about the cost of trail construction along Riverview Road if it were left open-for auto- mobiles and also cost information for the upgrading of the intersection of 169 and Riverview Road. No action required. B. Letter from Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District regarding regulations for upland marshes and wetlands. - lessen reviewed the letter referred to the Commission by the Council and indicated I that the staff would conduct some preliminary research and work in this area and report•back to the Commission at a later-date. No action required. C. batter from Tim Salem Director of the Office of Local and Urban Affairs regarding Staring Lake Park Grant Application.* lessen reviewed the letter which indicates that the Staring Lake project will not receive any LAWCON or State Natural Resource fund assistance in 1974 appropriations. No action required. D. Letter from Jim Solem, Director of the Office of Local and Urban Affairs regarding grant money program for Anderson Lakes Park. lessen reviewed the letter, stating that the Village of Eden Prairie would s receive grant assistance of $550,000 from the LAWCON and Natural Resource Programs for acquisition of lands at Anderson Lakes. lessen reviewed quickly the potential funding sources and programs open to the Village and the grants that had been received in the past as a background for Mr. Helmer. This included a quick review of the LAWCON and State Natural Resource and County I,ake improvement and local shares of land purchases to date. A written summary of acquisitnn to date will be developed in the near future for the Commission's reference . No action required. ML Park & Recreation Commission Minutes --3- January 14, 1974 III. RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS. A. Agency Liaison Reports. ( Blacklock stated that she had received a communication from Elaine Mellot Chairman of the Lower Minnesota River Citizens Committee, indicating that this group had developed a proposal to use Bureau of Sport Fisheries duck stamp funds for the purchase of lands in the Minnesota River Valley. This proposal has received the support of the Bureau office in Minneapolis and is presently on Nathaniel Reed's desk in Washington, D.C . Elaine Mellot indicated that the report had been on Mr. Reed's desk for some time and she fears a negative response as Mr. Reed apparently thinks that it is a provincial project. Blacklock stated that the Citizen's Committee recom- mendation is the acquisition of 9, 000 acres of wetlands, flood plain, and waterfowl habitat which also serves as a major deer wintering and migratory flight stop. She suggested that the Commission might write a letter in• support of this project•and distributed letters giving names and addresses Qf people to contact about this. M/Garens, S/Blacklock,that Jessen be'directed to send a letter on behalf of the Park and Recreation Commission in favor of this effort and, further, that he secure a news release in the Eden Prairie Sun Newspaper about this project. Motion carried unanimously. B. Ordinance No. 246, regulating recreational use of the Anderson Lakes area. ( Jessen reviewed the ordinance and indicated that the Council had approved the second reading of it at their January 8, 1974 , meeting prior to Park and Recreation Commission review because of the length of time.between Commission meetings. Some Fliscussion took place concerning the fact that this limited all use of the . Anderson Lakes area. It was pointed out that hiking, showshoeing, and ski touring were permitted under the provisions of the ordinance as recreational use not inconsistent with the wildlife management objective. Helmer asked about limiting canoeing on the lakes.- He felt this was not particularly detri- mental to the wildlife management idea. Blacklock responded by indicating that water craft disturbs the waterfowl on the lake and any canoeing would greatly diminish the impact of the lake as a waterfowl habitat. Penzel further indicated that he felt there is a real danger in the craft getting onto the water• without any proper control and that this would be destructive to the marshy edges of the lake. Blacklock asked about the Bloomington portion of the North Anderson Lakes. Jessen indicated that he will be sending a copy of the ordinance and a letter to Bloomington, requesting them to adopt similar action. It was pointed out that motorcycles and other off-the-road motor vehicles C were not specifically prohibited in the ordinance. There was a good bit of discussion about Section 4 and whether or not that precluded all use of the area or just the use of water craft. Part: & Recreation Commission Minutes -4- . January 14. _y74 M/Garens, S/Blacklock that Section 2 be amended to read: "Ice boating, snowmobiling, and other off-the-road motor vehicles, shall be prohibited in order to preserve . . ." . Motion carried unanimously. C. 1974 Winter/Spring Recreation Program Report. f Jessen had available copies of the program for distribution; however, all members of the Commission except Helmer had received a copy. Helmer, due to living in the Minnetonka School District, had not received a copy and Jessen indicated he would see about getting copies to all of the people outside of the Eden Prairie District. The Eden Prairie School District computerized mailing list was used for distribution and this is the first time that their mailing list has not included all of the Village. Penzel• suggested that the map in the brochure ought to be more up to date than the one included, as it is a very old map which does not accurately reflect the roads and development within the Village. Erickson asked if the plans were being developed for the Eden Prairie Cooler. Jessen indicated that his tentative plan was to hold the Cooler sometime around April 15th although he had given consideration to having it later in the year, perhaps in May when the weather is warmer and may be a change for residents. No'comments from the Commission were expressed either toward the earlier or later date. Jessen indicated that the skating season had been progressing quite well. ,The rink maintenance has been quite good since the colder weather set in after the first of the year and the attendance has been fairly good considering the extremely cold weather. Jessen further indicated that the organized athletic leagues for which teams registered prior to the first of the year were well underway with eight teams in the Men's Volleyball League, six in Men's Basketball, and five in Women's Volleyball. No action required. D. _Crosstown Highway Extension Review and Report. Jessen indicated that copies of the information were in the packet that the Commissioners received. However, in light of the fact that most of them had not received them until today rather than Saturday, he suggested that this item be tabled until the next meeting so that all of the Commissioners would have an adequate opportunity to review the analyses prepared. No action required. E. Smetana Take Sector Study Report. Jessen indicated that his analysis of the report was not completely typed and therefore suggested that this item also be tabled to the next meeting. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -5- January 14, 1974 F. Report on Purgatory Creek Park Planning Seminar. lessen reported that the seminar had been held in December and that some 60 people turned out, most of them land owners along the creek. Most of the people invited to the seminar were these land owners, so many of them came in with a very strong bias against the open space corridor planning process which was underway. ,Many of them felt threatened by the fact that the Village was talking about this particular project, and apparently misinterpreted this discussion to mean that land acquisition was going to commence immediately and they would be run off theirland. Anderson stated that many of the people came in with a defensive position because of the misunderstanding as to the process that the Village is presently involved in. lessen indicated that further'meetings of the Task Force would be underway as soon as John Tietz returned from out of town on another assignment with Brauer & Associates. He stated that he hoped to have this study completed by mid-March or April 1st; 1974. No action required.' i ( G. Report on Hidden Ponds School/Park Site -- Discussions with Len Swedlund. lessen reported that he had met with Mr. Swedlund and his site planner; Dick K.�iutson, a short time ago and that Mr. Swedlund had indicated that he would sell 10.2 acres to the Village for $125, 000 in conjunction with his dedication to the Village of some additional acreage to provide a possible school/park site, in conjunction with trail access and other linear park areas within the Hidden Ponds development. While the price at first appears to be rather high, an analysis of the cost involved in this development by Carl Jullie, Village Engineer, and Jes•sen indicated that this is probably a very realistic asking price for this property. lessen will continue to analyze this offer in light of the value of the land and in light of the possibility of recovering this cost through cash in lieu of land dedication as land is developed throughout the service area of this proposed neighborhood park or school/park site. No action required. IV. DISCUSSIONS. A. Discussion of the Metropolitan Open Space Program. lessen distributed copies of the brochure, letters, and summary of legislation prepared by the Save Open Space. . .now group. He indicated that this was much the same legislation that the Commission and Council reviewed last year and on which a favorable position was taken. He suggested that the Commission might hold a public forum as a part of their January 28th meeting to invite civic groups, Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -6- January 14, 1974 legislators, and the public at large to hear the presentation by the Save Open Space. . .now group, and react to it. Penzel suggested that in light of the short session the Legislature is presently in, this should be done at the next meeting so that the proper position can be sent to the legislators. lessen is to promote this forum through the Village Happenings Newsletter and Sun Newspaper for 7:3 0 p.m. , January 28, 1974, at the Village Hall. B. Discussion of Liquor Licenses and Expenditure of Receipts. Anderson asked Penzel the amount of the Village liquor licenses and where. this money was going to be spent. Penzel stated that the amount for a liquor license is $7,500 and there had been no earmarking of expenditure of these funds at this time by the Council. He agreed with Anderson that the develop- ment of park and recreational facilities was a possible place for expenditure of these funds and indicated that if the Commission felt strongly about this, in the near future they ought to identify specific projects and make specific recommendations to the Council for this purpose. No action required. _ V. ADJOURNMENT. M/Garens, S/PenzeJ that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. r I .. C7V2 SPace ,��n . . . noYv 3E Lower Level 555 Wcbasho Snint Poul, Minnesota 55101 339 - 7!59 222 - 6498 781 - 3608 RE Metropolitan Open Space Legislation � "r We have waited patiently; but the land has not. For the past three legisla- tive sessions, billa have been introduced and "almost passed" the Minnesota legisla- ture for a Parks and Open Space 'system in the seven--county metropolitan area. Because of urban development pressures and rapidly rising land prices, the legislature must act before it is too late for the public to acquire unique; natural land for ourselves and our progeny. ! Save Open Space Now (SOS Now) is an umbrella group of citizens, citizens? f groups and environmental organizations dedicated to the passage of metropolitan open space legislation this session. The group will be represented at the capitol by John Herman, Sierra Club counsel. Shirley Soll, long active in open space and parks issues with the League of Women Voters, will coordinate the k citizen effort. We support and urge the immediate passage of A.F. 1525 which embodies the recommendations of the citizens advisory coumittee to the Metropolitan Council on Open Space. H.F. 1525 was introduced by Ja=sa Casserly in 1973. To ensure passage •of Parks and Open Space legislation in 1974, we are asking concerned citizens organizations tot l 1i. Re-affirm your interest and support for Parks and Opan Space for the. metropolitan area by a resolution or letter, and send to us. We are enclosing ' a form, if you desire to use it. 2. Arrange a time ozi your January agenda for an 8 mute slide-show presentation and more information about the bill. 3. Ask yoV members to write or phone their respective legislators and directly communicate their interest in Parka and Open Space legislation. 4. Send us the nacre of a liaison person the can contact between our organization and yours. We need to be ready to act and react at strategic momer_te as this legislation moves through aiiittasn and the respective bodies of the legislature. Vie need legislation passed to acquire land now in the metro area before it is too late. The urgency we. face--dug to urban developr,.ent and rising land prices-- is unique in relationship to the rest of the state. That is why concerned metropolitan citizens must unite and concentrate on the first step--acquiring and saving the land while we can. We need your help. Sin//cc�rely yours, ?7 f Shirley Tc, So11 ' SOS Now of p ' ti••�a.:�1��t•Itlrl..4't�..:�l.,il`.�.t�tll.:Y.:�4.� ?U;A33 'TRIT"; A L3ErdIR TO )ACi:sl:vic,L R3-0 (;:*jt:2 carte»s to 3�n. 'i;altsr F. _io:ic? e, sec'-�tv office zip 20510y )n-I Ana-her Nelson. house zip 20515) AJIKIiiG 'Fort Its: �1 A FAVO &3L& R3''i:Ea OF THE P:-10POSALE TO 2Cr,g,71t?3 WD ,'Ft:S�ZITX TH& i.,Mi S,30rA RIVs'Z VULSY Bai'!EM-1 Cd' F' LL-ING, �=•. .�.5._A A;iD r. Si•i:, � AS D3ITZMOPED Br REU-IOir' 3, 3TREAiJ OF S?JRiS, FI33 AIM i;T.LDLIF:�, j i DEP P. OF I.HERIOR, MIN-i4I,'LOOLIS. ADDRE33: NA'THAIRI.4,, PERED, -ASSIS2ANT SECRE1TARj' DEx'T. OF I TBRIOR, DIV. OF FISH, WILDLIFE ,41,ID PA.V.3 WASHINGTON, D.C. 2024.0 KEY POI%T:• This 9,000 acres of marsh and f1oodplain is a prima waterfowl production habitat, and .a, major stopping; Point for marq species during migration. for ti It is a'major deer wintering- ground � the area, etc etc. It will Provide the proper satting for the proposed trail system. Cocmnient: Mr. Reed has had the proposal on his desk since Jan. 1 and local people have been advised that action will be unfavorable _.. that the proposal is considered provincial. Duck stamp money OR a bill could proride funds for purchase. T.ordale and Nilson have said they can gat a bill through Congrass. Our letters can give thee'. &-,munition. .PLEASE ;WRITS 1y0td1 AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK AND RECREATION CO?•UiISSION Monday, January 28, 1974 City Hall„ 7:3Opa*. COMMISSION MEMBERS: Marvin Erickson, Frances Slacklock, Wolfgang Penzel , Francis Helmer, ;J Richard Anderson, William Garens,Terry Rellds, I Janet Berkland and Steve Eisch i COMVISSION STAFF: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services Chris Enger, Landscape Architect PUBLIC FORUM ON METROPOLITAN OPEN SPACE PROGRAlf ROLL CALL I. CORRECTED MINUTES OF JANUARY 8 1974 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF JANURY T4,1974 MEETING II. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Agency Liaison Report CB. Letter to Nathaniel Reed regarding Minnesota River Open Space. C. Letter to Art Lee regarding possibility of leasing land for playground area. D. Crosstown Highway Extension. E. 1974 Winter/Spring Recreation Program Report. III. DISCUSSIONS A. Discussion of Leisure Activities Survey. C MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1974 7:30 p.m. , City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Francis Helmer, Richard Anderson, Wolf Penzel, Frances Blacklock, Paul Enblom. MEMBERS ABSENT: Jan Berkland, Steve Eisch. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Marty lessen, Director of Community Services Chris Enger, Landscape Architect Joe Sullivan, Student Intern. OTHERS PRESENT: Les Blacklock, Virginia Gartner, and David Gartner. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Erickson at 8:50 p.m.* following the Public Forum on the Metropolitan Open Space Program. I. MINUTES OF JANUARY 8 1974 SPECIAL MEETING. M/Blacklock, S/Anderson to approve the minutes of January 8, 1974, as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. f MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 1974, MEETING. M/Blacklock, S/Garens to approve the minutes of the January 14, 1974, meeting as presented. Motion carried unanimously. II. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS. A. Agency Liaison Report. lessen reported that Barr Engineering, consulting engineers for the Riley- Purgatory Creek Watershed District and the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, are now working on the flood plain mapping so that the proposed ordinance can be presented to the Council at their February meeting. No action required. B. Letter to Nathaniel Reed regarding Minnesota River Open Space. lessen presented copies of the letter to Mr. Reed and reviewed them with the Commission. No action required. C. Letter to Art Lee regarding possibility of leasing land for playground area. lessen distributed copies of the letter to Mr. Lee and indicated that this request came about as a result of the discussion with Penzel and Helmer following the January 14th Park & Recreation Commission meeting. It is intended that this will be a temporary playground facility for residents of the north area of Eden Prairie. No action required. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -2 January 28, 1974 D. Crosstown Hicrhwav Extension. Chris Enger, Landscape Architect, reviewed the mini-environmental assess- ment that he has completed for this stretch of the Crosstown. He indicated that while there were no good routes through this area for a freeway, the northerly alignment using the high bridge seemed to be the best of the possi- bilities available. Severe environmental damage will be done right next to the completed portion of the Crosstown just west of Shady Oak Road and an additional cut will have to be done in the high ridge just east of Rowland Road. This alignment does, however, take advantage of the fact that a substantial portion of the Rowland Road Valley lying west of Nine Mile Creek has already been graveled in Minnetonka. Blacklock expressed concern about the fact that the proposal before us still represented only a short portion of the highway and not the entire picture as had been requested earlier. Penzel indicated that the broader perspective is being studied through a Carver-Hennepin Joint Powers arrangement for trans- portation planning in this area. Anderson questioned the need to approve more freeways for the areaf particu- larly in light of the energysely crisis and the gasoline shortage which presently exists. Garens stated that it was his feeling that this section of the road had to be built to provide a logical connection between the existing deadend . at Shady Oak Road and 494. t . Jessen reviewed some of the recreational impact of the proposed extension, per his report distributed to the Commission. The northerly alignment is far more favorable in its impact upon the recreational use of Bryant Lake Park. It minimizes the noise encroachment on all of the recreational activity, parti- cularly the equestrian center, which would have been adversely affected by the southerly alignment. Of primary consequence to the park management program is the access presently available and to be available in the future after this road is extended. A possible solution to this problem is an east/ ' west road crossing 494 and linking the Forest Hills area of Eden Prairie with that part of the community lying east of the freeway. The proposed Crosstown Extension would effectively cut off access to Beach load for residents of that area and some alternate access needs to be provided. Quite a lengthy discussion followed concerning the problems associated with school bus access to and from this area and transporting children living on Beach Road to school. M/Garens, S/Erickson that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Planning Commission and the Council the approval of the boundary alignment for the Crosstown Extension. It is the Commission's feeling that this alignment causes the least negative environmental impact and also serves as a buffer between Eden Prairie's residential development and Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -3- January 28, 1974 Minnetonka's industrial area. In addition, the Commission feels an access Cacross 494 for automobile and non-motorized travel to provide access to the park and continuity between the eastern and western sections of Eden Prairie is of great importance in this Crosstown Extension. Thus, the need for another local street crossing of 494 needs to be considered further. Motion carried unanimously. i M/Garens, S/Erickson that the Park and Recreation Commission refer this item to the School Board for their review as it relates to the school transpor- tation planning. Motion carried unanimously. (It was agreed that Paul Enblom would ask to have this item placed on a School Board agenda and would contact lessen if any information were needed.) 7 E. 1974 Winter/Spring Recreation Program Report. Joe Sullivan distributed copies of this report indicating registrations for the program and reviewed it with the Commission. The following activities have been canceled: ballet, tap dancing, advanced figure skating, junior golf, macrame. No action required. F. Report on Grant's Program; i lessen distributed copies of the Grant's Processing Control Sheet received ( from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation for our 1968 and 1971 LAWCON Projects. He stated that he had been notified by the State Planning Agency that the request for increased grant assistance indicated on these sheets had been approved by the regional office of BOR and that the City then would be receiving approximately $95,000 additional grant assistance for the two project years. No action required. III. DISCUSSIONS. A. Discussion of Leisure Activity Survey. lessen said that he and Joe Sullivan had spent quite a bit of time discussing the possibilities of surveying the community as to their use of leisure time—The I; types of questions to be asked would try to assess how many people have second homes, have boats, have recreational vehicles, etc. and to what extent they use them, and further, to what extent the use of these things would be restricted by the gasoline shortage and other national trends. lessen then asked Sullivan to present some additional information that he's been developing for discussion this evening. Sullivan stated that in recent courses he has taken at Mankato where they've talked about gathering community information, a couple of points have come out rather loud and clear. One is that generally a survey is the last resort ( in attempting to gather this type of data. If possible, one should try to get information from other sources. The types of surveys which might be used Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -4- January 28, 1974 the face-to-face survey. here are the questionnaire, the telephone survey, •� We would like the Park and Recreation Commission to be actively involved in developing the survey aid conducting the survey so that they have additional ; Ccontacts with people in the community and can also begin to assess the community's feelings on topics of importance to the citizens and the Commission. Some of the specific qu estions or topics anticipated for the survey might be as follows: , 1. The physical accessibility of the City's parks and recreation areas, that is, how accessible are they by bike, by walking, by car. I . 2. Is there enough variety in the types of activities and facilities offered in the community. I '1 structure which 3. What impact is seen through the fees and charges I the Village uses. i. -; A number of other questions would be developed to try to get at the question of how well do the citizens feel the City is meeting their leisure needs.at this point, plus what do they anticipate those needs to be in the future. Jessen asked for comments from the Commission as to how they feel citizens would react to a survey of this type -- would they become defensive about the community trying to gather too much information or would they be receptive to the idea. Blacklock stated that she felt a good introduction would get the people in the right frame of mind to give good information and no make them feel that their privacy is being infringed upon. It was the general agreement of the Commission that this was a good idea and would provide very valuable information in both recreation programming and long range park and open space planning.' i Chairman Erickson appointed a sub-committee to work with the staff on developing the survey and outlining a method of implementation. This committee consists of Erickson, Blacklock, Berkland, and Anderson. No 6 further action required. �I. B. Save Open Spa ce. . .Now. Following the public forum held prior to the Commission meeting on Monday, January 28, 1974, the Commission felt that it was appropriate to take action on the information presented by Shirley Soll and Dave Durenberger. M/Blacklock, S/Anderson that Jessen be directed to send letters to Senator Keefe and Representative Growe (copies to all members of the Metropolitan and Urban Affairs Committees of the Legislature) indicating the Eden Prairie Park and Recreation Commission's support for H.F. 1525 and S.F. 1759 (the CRecreation Open Space bills). Motion carried unanimously. IV. AD OURNMENT. M Erickson, S/Blacklock that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. -