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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 02/01/2010 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Geri Napuck, Chair; Jeffrey Gerst, Vice-Chair; Commissioners; Tom Bierman, Hutch Coburn, Lee Elliott-S toering, and Joan Oko COMMISSION MEMBER ABSENT: Derek Gunderson STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Spencer Lasley, Pranay Rao CITY STAFF: Jay Lotthammer, Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Stu Fox, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Wendy Sevenich, Community Center Manager Lyndell Frey, Recreation Coordinator RECORDING SECRETARY: Sandra Eastling I. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS The meeting was called to order by Chair Napuck at 7:02 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Oko moved, seconded by Gerst, to approve agenda as published. Motion Carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —January 4, 2010 MOTION: Gerst moved, Bierman seconded, to approve the January 4, 2010 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting minutes as presented, with the following correction made by Chair Napuck: Page 5, Item XI. B. —replace "a mother/son dance" with "mother/son activities". Motion carried 6-0. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported January was a quiet month,but February will be busy. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 2 of 7 V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Nothing to report. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION VII. OLD BUSINESS A. Budget Update Lotthammer reported they've found good, creative ways to manage the budget. Referred to email sent to commission members for details. B. MAC Lease Update Lotthammer reported there have been a couple meetings with JAZB. They are charged with looking at safety vs. land use risk analysis. There may be a need to consider shrinking or stretching safety zones,but only the south end has flexibility,because the site is bound on the west by Grace Church, north by Pioneer Trail, and on the east by fields. Acreage calculations have been run showing where safety zone lines need to be; this needs to be submitted to MAC for approval. There's no word yet on lease prices, but the appraisal is in. The attorneys have asked for another appraisal method. Lotthammer is uncertain how many more meetings will be required. The city is responding quickly to each MAC request, MAC is not operating as quickly. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. Athletic Association Packets Lyndell Frey explained the packets were developed to serve as a guideline for Athletic Associations in Eden Prairie. There are 14 parent-run volunteer Athletic Associations, nine of which use City facilities. The Association board members change, so the City decided it would be beneficial to have a go-to packet for Associations to refer to regarding City-Association interaction. About 12,000 youth are served by the Athletic Associations. Some Associations, such as boys' and girls' baseball, interact heavily with the City, while others, such as boys' and girls' basketball, utilize school facilities. The City is including two newer associations, the Youth Rowing Club and Aquajets, in the recreation brochure. The information packets have been distributed to five youth Athletic Associations, and met with very favorable feedback. The packets will be distributed to all Association Boards. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 3 of 7 Features of the Packets include: • Letter from the City • Information regarding the Associations to which City Staff can refer the public • Contact information, including school contacts • City services available • City policies regarding facilities usage • Available promotion in conjunction with the City • Fund-raising opportunities and procedures • Scheduling of Board meetings (Community Center meeting rooms are made available to Association Boards free of charge, one time per month) • Field scheduling—baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse. More than ninety sports fields are involved • Maps and locations of City parks • Other materials specific to that Association Lotthammer stated the three-ring-binder format for the packet makes it easy to update and organize the material. He credited Brenda Uting for her excellent help in materials organization and presentation. The Associations have been very positive in their response to the materials. This packet will be available in pdf format for the associations to distribute. Bierman suggested including emergency contact information for Park Rangers in the packet as well. Feedback from the Commission was favorable. B. 2009 CIP Project Review Stu Fox presented a review of park maintenance projects. • Miller Park - barrier free play area was expanded in the sand area and soft surfacing for swings. • Round Lake Park - tennis court reconstruction—the tennis courts have been totally rebuilt, including quick start tennis lines and ADA accessibility. • Staring Lake Park—west ball field fencing was reconfigured due to Pioneer Trail upgrading to four lanes; the Outdoor Center observatory work is ongoing, and the multi-year amphitheatre project is completed. • Birch Island Park—the oldest park in Eden Prairie has a new play area and a new picnic area. • Homeward Hills Park—rather than having to replace the playground equipment, the City was able to work with the manufacturer to retrofit and add equipment; an old retaining wall was replaced. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 4 of 7 • Trail Projects —the trails are worked on every year. Two projects were put on hold in October due to weather conditions, and two projects —Prairie Center Drive and Amsden Way sidewalk - were worked on. • Pleasant Hill Cemetery— a new more, traditional perimeter fence was installed in place of the old fence. C. Three Rivers District Master Plan Jay Lotthammer presented the Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve Draft Master Plan, a collaboration of the ThreeRivers Park District and the City of Bloomington. They are asking the City of Eden Prairie to review the Draft Master Plan and voice their support of the plan concept. The Three Rivers Park District and City of Bloomington are trying to make connections eastward, to connect with Hyland-Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve (H-B-A). Lotthammer reported they have done a good job of communication with the City of Eden Prairie regarding their proposals. The park reserve experiences heavy use,but the Park District has committed to a 80/20 proportion of natural state vs. developed land. Their emphasis is on land stewardship. The City of Eden Prairie does not own any land in conjunction with ThreeRivers Park District,but the City of Bloomington does. One goal is to extend the hard surface trail by Jerry's at Anderson Lakes Parkway, making it a loop trail to go by the more "natural" area. Also, they would like to develop an underpass crossing of Highway 169 to Hyland because access is currently difficult due to traffic. Eventually, the goal is to develop more trail connections to Bloomington. There is no timeframe set for storm water management. There is no change in acquisition plans from the original 1983 plan. At Hyland, there are plans to upgrade the ski chalet and other structures, as well as remodel the play area. The 80/20 natural vs. developed land rule will still be maintained, even with the proposed development. This plan potentially impacts the City of Eden Prairie due to the trails and connection with roads. The next steps in the process include Open Houses within the City of Bloomington. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 5 of 7 The City Council of the City of Eden Prairie is being asked to make a resolution in support of the H-B-A Draft Master Plan. Oko asked what funding the City of Eden Prairie has to provide. Lotthammer indicated no City funds are involved; this is funded by the ThreeRivers District. Gerst asked what a city resolution would involve. Lotthammer explained the District presented the Draft Master Plan to the City of Eden Prairie as a courtesy and in the spirit of cooperation. The City resolution would be a show of support and understanding, with no objections to the current Master Plan. Bierman commented he felt there should have been more opportunity to review the plan prior to making a recommendation about a resolution. He felt the trail and underpass at Highway 169 would be a great benefit,but the draft plan is not detailed. Lotthammer explained this is a Master Plan and therefore very general, with more detailed plans and processes to be hammered out in later meetings. The idea is to get a general overview to give an idea of what the Three Rivers District and City of Bloomington envision. The presentation given tonight is a general overview of the Draft Master Plan, which is an update to the 1983 Master Plan. The entire Master Plan can be downloaded from the internet. The Three Rivers Park District operates much like a city council, with processes and procedures. They will be coming before the Eden Prairie City Council in the future and on Environmental Night. At that point, the ThreeRivers District will have staff present. Oko asked if there has been an Environmental Impact Statement. Lotthammer replied not, but there is a very detailed inventory of the land and cover along with the 80/20 rule about natural vs. developed land. MOTION: Oko moved, second by Gerst to recommend the City Council pass a resolution supporting the draft concepts for the ThreeRivers Park District Hyland- Bush-Anderson Lakes Regional Park Reserve Master Plan as it affects land situated within the Eden Prairie borders. Motion Carried 6-0. IX. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Community Center Manager B. Recreation Services Manager FYI: Last day for Warming Houses —Feb 15 FYI: Senior Center Valentine Breakfast— Feb 12, 70 people signed up FYI: "The Mousetrap" by Eden Prairie Players —Feb 12, 13, 19, 20, 21 — buy one, get one 1/2 off coupons are available through the City. FYI: Sweetheart Dance —Feb 6 PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 6 of 7 C. Parks and Natural Resources Manager 1. Skate Park Task Force Update Lotthammer reported the first task force meeting was held February 1. The meeting goal was to solicit information from the youth about what they liked and didn't like in skate parks. The 9-17-year-olds gave valuable and thoughtful input with lots of great ideas and creative yet practical ideas. The next steps are to consolidate the ideas, work with a designer, develop a couple versions and solicit feedback. 2. Grant Money $100,000 in grant money is still available from the County for baseball fields. The second round grant-making decisions will be made in late Spring, still in time for Summer construction. D. Parks and Recreation Director 1. Visioning Lotthammer discussed having a workshop to talk about concepts and vision for the City's Park System. In May, Lotthammer will try to bring Park & Recreation trends to the Commission, a big-picture extrapolated to US trends. Lotthammer said Lori Obiazor has been working with her departments regarding a five-year vision. Lotthammer would like to contact someone at the University of Minnesota to act as a facilitator to establish a process and put more structure to developing a vision, not only for Parks & Recreation,but to encompass demographics and future expectations of residents. The City Parks & Recreation staff would gather the local trends and thereby gain and bring value to the Commission for the greatest balance of structure and creativity in visioning. Oko wondered about the possibility of having resident input in an open-mike format. Bierman felt, in the proper format, an open-mike session could be beneficial. Students Lasley and Rao felt that while visioning would be speculative, it would be good to involve the public in case something the public really wanted was overlooked. The visioning workshop will probably take place in four to six months, after the May trends meeting, giving everybody enough time to think about and prepare for the workshop. 2. 2010 PRNR Work Plan The March and April meetings will be traditional meetings. A joint meeting is scheduled with the Arts and Culture Commission in May. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES February 1, 2010 Page 7 of 7 X. NEXT MEETING Next PRNR Meeting—Monday, March 1, City Center, 7 p.m. —Council Chambers XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Bierman moved, seconded by Oko to adjourn meeting at 8:47 p.m. Motion Carried 6-0.