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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 05/10/2010 - Joint Meeting APPROVED MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION & EDEN PRAIRIE ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010 7:00 P.M. ART CENTER 7650 Equitable Drive PRNR COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Geri Napuck, Chair; Hutch Coburn, Vice Chair; Lee Elliot-Stoering, Derek Gunderson, Larry Link, Joan Oko PRNR COMMISSION STUDENTS PRESENT: Spencer Lasley, Pranay Rao ARTS COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Ann Rorem, Chair; Farida Kathawalla, Vice Chair; Ana Armstrong, Julia Ramos CITY STAFF: Jay Lotthammer, Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Stu Fox, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Wendy Sevenich, Community Center Manager Lindsey Danhauser, Recreation Coordinator—Arts RECORDING SECRETARY: Katie Hood I. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS Rorem called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Bivins and Petry-Lee were not in attendance. Ramos arrived at 7:05 p.m. Elliot-Stoering arrived at 7:28 pm. Kathawalla arrived at 7:30 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Oko moved to approve the Agenda, seconded by Gunderson. Motion carried 8-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES —APRIL 5, 2010 MOTION: Oko moved to approve the April 5, 2010 minutes, seconded by Link. Motion carried 6-0. IV. APPROVAL OF A&C MINUTES —APRIL 12, 2010 MOTION: Ramos moved to approve the April 12, 2010 minutes, seconded by King. Motion carried 8-0. Parks, Recreation And Natural Resources Commission & Arts & Culture Commission Joint Meeting Minutes May 10, 2010 Page 2 V. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer said at the April 20 City Council meeting there was an Arbor Day Proclamation read. The work on the trails was approved to be started. The Miller Park play area was approved to start the bidding process. Mayor Young received a response from the Department of Interior confirming that the federal law for acquiring property mitigation must be followed. The acquisition of property around Riley Lake is being worked on. At the May 4 City Council meeting, the Senior Awareness Proclamation was read. VI. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Fox said there will an update in the near future. VII. EDEN PRAIRIE PLAYERS AND COMMUNITY BAND Danhauser said Music Man is a free event and has 53 people in the cast. The Community band is the pit orchestra for the play. The Children's play will be at Riley-Jacques Barn. There are 27 people cast and 13 princesses instead of 12. There is talk about adding a second children's theatre workshop next summer for children who are not as serious in theatre. There are four different jazz bands set to perform on June 13 at Staring Lake Amphitheatre. RibFest will be at the same time. VIII. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION None. IX. OLD BUSINESS A. Miller Park Update Fox said planning for the Miller Park improvements is being worked on. On June 15, the bids will be discussed at the City Council meeting. There are five sections of Miller Park. 1. Soften the space between the parking lot and the park with landscaping 2. The picnic shelter and sand/water play table with diggers Parks, Recreation And Natural Resources Commission & Arts & Culture Commission Joint Meeting Minutes May 10, 2010 Page 3 3. The interconnecting sidewalks and a variety of ground surfaces in the playground. The swirls on the ground are made of a rubberized material and the brown sections are made of woodchips. The rubber ground surfaces enable wheelchairs access to the play equipment. There are swings and a large swing for individuals with disabilities. 4. Tire swing 5. This is the new section with a boulder and net climber, elevated picnic area, spritz pad, sensory panels, cozy dome and a large play structure. The boulder and net climber will be made of fiberglass and nets. The spritz pad will be a water mist with the intent for children to not get soaking wet clothes. The sensory panels and cozy dome are located where the pirate ship is now. The pirate ship will be removed to make room for the new play equipment. The large play structure will stay the same with enhancements including bigger slides. The playground construction will start in the beginning of August until the beginning of September. $350,000 is budgeted for improvements and $90,000 for the playground. The final items included in the playground improvements may change once the bids are received. Elliot-Stoering arrived at 7:28 pm. B. Public Art Kathawalla arrived at 7:30 pm. Danhauser said there are four identified areas for public art: Public Transit, Parks and Open Space, Indoor Gathering Spaces, and Gateways to our Community. There are five proposed light rail stations. Ramos said she'd like to make sure the ideas are not set in stone and the ideas weren't agreed on ideas with a vote. Ramos said she'd like to revisit the ideas. Lotthammer said this idea is a great reason for the Commissions to have joint meetings. Great examples could be bike racks and benches. Public art ideas could be fit into future park plans. Lotthammer said he'd like the groups to continue to meet once a year. Ramos said there isn't a budget for public art and recommends some funding be allocated for public art. Napuck said benches in the parks could be a coordinated effort between the Commissions. Ramos said there is not a budget for placing art in the community and $1,000 could have a great impact. There could be an annual display, similar to the arboretum concept of annual displays. Rorem said another idea would be to display sculpture around the city. The sculptures could be changed on annual bases. There is a similar program in North Carolina. Ramos said adding art around the City would bring a little charm and personality into the city. Elloit- Stoering said Staring Lake Amphitheatre could be a place where art could be added. Napuck mentioned having another joint meeting in the fall. Parks, Recreation And Natural Resources Commission & Arts & Culture Commission Joint Meeting Minutes May 10, 2010 Page 4 C. MAC Update Lotthammer said the lease is getting closer to being finished for the fields. The city would have an opportunity to expand the fields on an additional 25 acres in the agreement. MAC wants to keep two to three acres for commercial property. This commercial property is across from Grace Church. Mac didn't want to lease the land the fields are on at the previously agreed upon price. There wasn't a lot of cooperation for a while on finalizing the lease with MAC. The terms of the lease are now in agreement. The property for the commercial business is being left out of the lease with the city, in order to not hold up the lease for the fields. Before the lease is signed, the lease will come back to the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. The land will most likely start to be prepared in April 2011. The idea of the commercial property is there would be a gas station and/or a strip mall. The city is not recommending MAC should or shouldn't have commercial business on their property. The new fields move a little south due to the commercial property. Fox said the land has not been studied to determine if the soil on the land can be graded and if there is enough soil to the land to be balanced. Oko said it is good the lease for the fields and the commercial property are not tied together, but is unhappy MAC is considering a commercial site. Oko said she hopes the commercial site doesn't happen. Lotthammer said with the land in the control of MAC the city doesn't have a lot of control or say in what should be done with the land. It appears MAC doesn't have to go through the same process as a private developer to develop the site. Oko said she hopes the city attorneys are taking a good hard look at the potential for commercial on MAC's property. What would be stopping MAC from placing a strip club or pornography store on their property, if they don't have to be held to the same process as a private developer? Lotthammer said there should be a time for some public input in the development of the commercial property. Lotthammer said the access to the commercial property will not have access on Pioneer Trail. MAC could try to have a separate entrance further north. Fox said we could have some say in the other entrance. Link said the commercial property bothers him because MAC doesn't have to follow the same process as private developers. Lotthammer said MAC has been advised the commercial property on their property, may not sit well with the community. Fox does not think MAC could sell the property. Napuck said she recommends the lease protect our renewal time for the lease to prevent from the expansion of the commercial property. Lotthammer said the lease is a three year lease and there is a significant amount of money into the fields. The city has been told MAC won't have a change of heart about the lease and property. Napuck asked if there could be compensation to the city if MAC wants to change any of the land for the fields to commercial property. Elloit-Stoering said there could be only two years of usage. Lotthammer said the City was told the FAA restricts MAC to three year leases. Napuck said the lease should be three years after the construction is finished. Lotthammer said there was a letter drafted, but wasn't sent about MACs lack of corporation in the lease process. MAC asked if the city could wait on sending it and then the city received more cooperation with MAC. Parks, Recreation And Natural Resources Commission & Arts & Culture Commission Joint Meeting Minutes May 10, 2010 Page 5 X. NEW BUSINESS A. Art Center lst Anniversary Celebration Danhauser said the first year anniversary of the Art Center will be on Sunday, May 23 from 2-4 pm at the Art Center. XI. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Community Center Manager FYI: Step To It Challenge The Step To It Challenge will be held May 17 through June 30. The City hopes to get lots of residents to participate. The website is www.steptoit.org. B. Recreation Services Manager None. C. Parks and Natural Resources Manager None. D. Art Center Coordinator 1. Arts in the Park Update Danhauser said Arts in the Park is May 15 from 10 am to 5 pm. There will be 23 vendors, entertainment all day, face painting and henna. There will be an Art Center booth with put-put golf art. There will be punch cards with discounts for Santorini, Culvers, and Chipotle. 2. Art Center Update Danhauser said 2009 was a good year for the Art Center. The revenue was 222% above projected. Part of this was due to grants, the Friends of the Art Center group, registration, and the Sampson family. The birthday party program has had 30 parties year to date. Adult birthday parties are starting to be experimented with. In 2009, there were 48 registrations on first days. In 2010, there were 101 registrations on the first day. Ramos said there is publicity at the Ridgedale Mall promoting the Minnetonka Art Center. Danhauser said there is studio space at Ridgedale Mall. The Ridgedale Parks, Recreation And Natural Resources Commission & Arts & Culture Commission Joint Meeting Minutes May 10, 2010 Page 6 Mall and the Eden Prairie Mall are owned by the same groups. Ramos said she'd like the topic added to a future agenda for the Arts & Culture Commission. Link said teambuilding for corporations and groups could be another focus for the Art Center. Danhauser said there is someone who is interested in developing this program. FYI: Art Crawl—September 25-26 Rorem said the Art Crawl is September 25-26. The applications are due on May 21. On May 28 the artists will be notified. They are looking for sponsors and for signs for the event. FYI: Friends of Eden Prairie Art Center Fundraiser Rorem said there will be a wine tasting and art auction on Thursday, May 13 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. The event will be held at The School of Wise IL Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at the door. E. Parks and Recreation Director 1. 2010 PRNR Work Plan XII. NEXT MEETINGS Next PRNR Meeting—Monday, June 7, Council Chamber Lotthammer said the July meeting is the traditional park tour and would like the Commission to think of places to visit. Oko said Staring Lake, the new dog faucet, and the fields would be good places to visit. Next A&C Meeting—Monday, June 14, Prairie Room XIII. ADJOURNMERNT MOTION: Gunderson moved, seconded by Napuck to adjourn the meeting. Rorem adjourned the meeting at 8:51 p.m.