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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 08/09/2011 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TUESDAY,AUGUST 9, 2011 8:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Prairie Room COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Geri Napuck, Chair; Hutch Coburn, Vice Chair; Tom Bierman, Larry Link, Derek Gunderson, COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Joan Oko and Dave Rosa CITY STAFF PRESENT: Jay Lotthammer, Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Obiazor, Recreation Services Manager Stu Fox, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Wendy Sevenich, Community Center Manager RECORDING SECRETARY: Julie Krull I. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS Chair Napuck called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Motion was made by Gunderson, seconded by Coburn, to approve the agenda. The motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES —JUNE 6, 2011 Motion: Motion was made by Gunderson, seconded by Coburn, to approve the minutes. The motion carried 5-0. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on the June 14 City Council Meeting. • The Smith Douglas More house, which is occupied by Dunn Brothers, has a shed behind it set to be demolished. • The City received contributions for the Eden Prairie Soccer Club in the amount of $4,000. This will fund goals at Miller Park. • Friends of Eden Prairie Art Center took the account money and turned it over to the City; which was $10,368. They met their mission of start-up and thought it was a good time to step back. • The contract for the park behind the Senior Center is complete. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 9, 2011 Page 2 IV. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Fox stated at the July 11 Planning Commission meeting there was a discussion of the Roger's property. This is a 9 acre parcel of land to be developed into single family homes. The Commission asked them to come back with a better plan. The August 8 meeting consisted of preliminary planning for rezoning of the United Health Group. They will be developing their largest complex in Eden Prairie, constructing 4 buildings to house 6,500 employees. There will be four phases to this development. The 15 acres of hillside on this project will be preserved. It will be under a conservation easement. V. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Round Lake Park Lotthammer stated Round Lake Park has been on the radar for the last couple of years. In the past few months they have done studies on this area and what they are purposing is to engage a landscape architect. The site meeting with the architect would consist of base mapping and they would then supply the Commission with three drafts for review and recommendation. Lotthammer commented the play structure is wearing out and that is the reason for the $750,000 cost. The whole area warrants a good look at the master planning. He stated they would like to come back in a few months with architectural drafts. Because of funding, the project would start in 2013 and not in 2012, as initially stated. The project may also be completed in phases. They would like to add an outdoor fitness area to this park like they did with Pioneer Park. This would consist of an exercise bike and elliptical machine. They are also considering having fitness classes outside. Lotthammer stated he is jumping ahead to new business. Lotthammer stated they will be comparing other cities in regards to their outdoor fitness areas and will be reporting on that in the next few months. Chair Napuck said she liked the idea of having Round Lake known as a fitness lake and feels going forward with the architect is appropriate. Lotthammer stated with the splash pad at Miller Park, it would be a good idea to explore the concept at Round Lake Park. Chair Napuck asked what the cost would be for that. Lotthammer said the development would be done in phases and it is just dependent on the redesign process. Gunderson asked if lighting could be put on baseball field#1. Fox stated lighting on the fields is dependent on the neighbors in the area. There is a concern with lights in homeowners' backyards and it could be an inconvenience for them. Gunderson said he would also like to see the sand volleyball court moved closer to everything. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 9, 2011 Page 3 Bierman asked if the $750,000 was for the play structure only. Lotthammer confirmed it was for the play structure area. Bierman stated that he thought that amount was very high and asked if treatment of the water was included in this amount. Lotthammer stated the water was not included in the $750,000. Bierman asked if fountains could be included in this figure and stated he likes the fountain at Purgatory Creek and would like to see something like that at Round Lake. Lotthammer said it could possibly be included in that amount. Fox pointed out it is very expensive to run fountains and they are very problematic. Gunderson asked, given the timeframe, what would be happening in 2012, given the project has been pushed back to 2013. Lotthammer stated they would be working with the construction documents. Link asked if environmentalists would be looking at this project. Lotthammer said that since they are not changing anything environmentally, they would not be looking at this project. Lotthammer also confirmed that right now the lake is safe to swim in. Gunderson asked if signs could be put up that say, "No life guard on duty". Lotthammer stated there are two signs currently up; one that states no life guard on duty and one that states if the lake is safe to swim in or not. Gunderson commented when addressing this project, given the fact it does not include the water quality at Round Lake, this should not be brought up in this project. The prime concern should be the playground construction. Motion: Motion was made by Gunderson, seconded by Coburn, to initiate a contract with a landscape architect firm to begin concept plans for Round Lake Park. The motion carried 5-0. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Outdoor Fitness Fox showed some pictures of outdoor exercise equipment at Pioneer Park and stated the reason the equipment is so close to each other and the playground facility is so that people could go from one piece of equipment to the other and also be close to the playground if they had kids playing there. VIII. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Parks and Natural Resources Manager B. Community Center Manager PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES August 9, 2011 Page 4 C. Recreation Services Manager FYI: First Day of Registration FYI: Senior Center BBQ FYI: Sunbonnet Day D. Parks and Recreation Director 1. 2011 PRNR Work Plan FYI: Labor Day: Monday, September 5 - All Buildings and Offices closed IX. NEXT MEETING Next PRNR Meeting —Monday, September 12, 7 p.m., Heritage Rooms X. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Motion was made by Coburn, seconded by Link, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 5-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.