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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks and Recreation - 05/07/2018 APPROVED MINUTES PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road PRNR COMMISSION MEMBERS: Larry Link, Chair; Debra McBride, Vice Chair; Patrice Erickson, Donald Jacobson, Andy McGlasson, Leonard Pesheck, John Rahman, Kirk Spresser CITY STAFF: Jay Lotthammer, Parks and Recreation Director Matt Bourne, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Lori Brink, Recreation Manager Valerie Verley, Community Center Manager GUEST: Doug Boonstra, EPHS Cross-Country Ski Coach RECORDING SECRETARY: Jodie Fenske Prior to the meeting, Commission members were invited to a groundbreaking ceremony at Staring Lake Park in partnership with the Southwest Metro Pickleball Club Board, followed by the ceremonial "Mayor's First Pitch" at the recently reconstructed softball fields at Round Lake Park. I. INTRODUCTIONS Chair Link called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Roll call was taken. Commission Member McGlasson was absent. Link acknowledged several audience members in attendance, including those interested in the Staring Lake off-leash dog park discussion. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Spresser moved, seconded by McBride, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF PRNR MINUTES Motion: Erickson moved, seconded by Jacobson, to approve the April 9, 2018 minutes as presented. Motion carried 7-0. IV. REPORT OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lotthammer reported on several actions recently taken by the Council. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 2 A. FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS A contract was approved with RES Specialty Pyrotechnics to provide fireworks at the 4th of July Hometown Celebration at Round Lake Park. B. TAX FORFEITED PROPERTY A Resolution was adopted regarding the purchase of four tax-forfeited properties within the City. These undeveloped land parcels have been pronounced tax forfeited to the State of Minnesota for non-payment of property tax. C. ARBOR DAY RECOGNITION At the April 17, 2018 City Council Meeting, Mayor Tyra-Lukens read a proclamation proclaiming April 28, 2018, as Arbor Day in the City of Eden Prairie. Lotthammer noted this is the 36th year Eden Prairie has been recognized as a Tree City USA. The Arbor Day Walk and Green Fair event was well attended on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Staring Lake Park. D. DONATION TO KIDSTOCK FROM SCHOOL OF ROCK A Resolution was adopted accepting the donation of$1,000 from School of Rock to go towards KidStock, a summer-long kids concert series, free to the public. E. HIDDEN PONDS PARK COURT REHABILITATION PROJECT A contract was awarded to Minnesota Roadways Co. for the tennis and basketball courts rehabilitation at Hidden Ponds Park this summer. F. MILLER PARK FIELD 11 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Council approved an administrative agreement with Hansen Thorp Pellinen Olson, Inc. (HTPO) for construction administration, observation, and staking for the reconstruction of Soccer Field 11 at Miller Park. G. RILEY LAKE PARK PARKING LOT RECONSTRUCTION A contract was awarded for the upper parking lot rehabilitation at Riley Lake Park to Bituminous Roadways, Inc. The parking lots were originally constructed in 1994 and have numerous structural cracks and surface flaking. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 3 H. STARING LAKE PARK COURT IMPROVEMENTS Council approved an administrative agreement with HTPO for civil engineering and surveying services for the construction phase of the Staring Lake Park play court improvements project. Lotthammer expects the courts will reopen for play by August. I. BIKE RACK DONATION FROM TROOP 17155 A Resolution was adopted accepting a donation of$1,500 from Girl Scout Troop 17155 to go towards bike racks at Miller Park and Homeward Hills Park. The donation was raised as part of two troop members' Silver Award Project, which included a survey of residents on their biking habits. Two of the top responses to a question regarding where the City could use additional bike racks were Miller Park and Homeward Hills Park. J. RED ROCK LAKE PARK PARKING LOT A contract was awarded for the parking lot rehabilitation at Red Rock Lake Park to Bituminous Roadways, Inc. The parking lots were originally constructed in 1987 and have numerous structural cracks and surface flaking. K. OAK POINT POOL—JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT Council moved to waive the twelve-month notice provision and terminate the Joint Powers Agreement for Oak Point Pool on June 1, 2018. In February, Community Education Director Shawn Hoffman Bram, Executive Director of Business Services Jason Mutzenberger, Community Center Manager Verley, and Parks and Recreation Director Lotthammer met to determine the best method to revise or eliminate the agreement for the Oak Point Pool Joint Powers Agreement. The consensus was to eliminate this specific Joint Powers Agreement and let Oak Point Pool operate under the Master Joint Powers Agreement between the City and the District. V. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION Bourne reported a proposal has been made for a Hampton Inn on the site of the former IHOP. The trail around Lake Idlewild behind the property will be preserved and shifted slightly, which fits into the City's plan to connect the loop all the way around the lake. Staff has been working with the Watershed District and the applicant to determine how best to accomplish completion of the trail which will be modified to aglime to fit in with the nature area feel of the space. VI. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATION PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 4 A. STARING LAKE OFF-LEASH ANALYSIS Lotthammer reminded the Commission a group of residents made a request at the April 3, 2017 PRNR meeting to move the cross country ski trails and storage shed out of the Staring Lake Park dog park area and make it available for off-leash dog use year-round. The Commission decided to review the use of the dog park area and ski trail use over the winter of 2017-2018 and to gather additional information from past winters for consideration. Staff has since reviewed several options for a potential compromise and determined costs for these options. Commission members were presented with letters from April 2017 provided by EPHS Nordic Ski Coach Doug Boonstra and Eden Prairie/West Bloomington residents who use the off-leash dog park area at Staring Lake Park. Bourne gave a PowerPoint presentation describing the extensive ski area available in the winter, the location of the dog park area, and three potential compromise options. He explained the history the EPHS Nordic ski team has with the trail and shed. There is an open training area near the shed with inclines and declines where the skiers can be videotaped, ski right into the shed to review their techniques, and ski right back out to practice what they learned on the tape. The shed also houses the snowmobile and grooming equipment. A partnership exists whereas the City provides the trails and the ski team performs grooming of the trails for the City. During the non-skiable months, gates provide a fully enclosed off-leash dog park area until there is skiable snow. Once it snows, the gates are opened and dog park use is no longer allowed. A slide displayed the length of closure for dog-park use in the last four years, ranging from 70 days to 81 days. Option 1 is to continue to operate as a seasonal dog-park which is not optimal for either party. Since many dog walkers continue to use this area when it is closed, the walking traffic is harmful to the groomed trails as a combined use. Option 2 is to move the ski shed to a different location up the hill by the baseball fields. This area is much flatter and not as conducive to ski training. This option is expensive due to the need to install electricity,pour a new pad, and move the shed. Relocating the shed to other areas within the park would not be any less expensive and would not meet the needs of the ski team. Option 3 is to add fencing within the dog park to split the activities into separate ski and dog park areas. Within Option 3, Bourne provided three alternatives for dividing the activities. Option A is to keep the shed where it is but skiers would lose the use of the meadow area for training. At approximately $3,000, this option is the least expensive due to the least amount of fencing but not conducive to skier use. Option B is to add some fencing and allow skiers to use the meadow area and keep the shed where it is. A bit of the ski trail would be lost with this alternative. This PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 5 option is similar to what is being done now but adds fencing and two or three gates at different areas. The gates would be opened and closed during different times of the year based on skiable snow. Option B would cost approximately $13,250 due to the large gates. Option C is similar to Option B but adds even more fencing to section off the entire ski trail area. This alternative allows skiers to use the entire trail and still leave a large area for dog park use. The cost for Option C would be approximately $18,000 due to longer fencing. Rahman inquired if there is any ability to expand the back end of the area to enlarge the dog park area. Bourne responded the grades, terrain, trees, and ravine would make equipment access for fence installation difficult. Spresser shared concern with moving the fencing but still having the same frustrations as exist now. He asked if the City would be able to enforce access since the option is still available to use the area as a dog park. Bourne responded he is hopeful that since a designated area is available, it would be easier to enforce no walking on the ski trails since there would be somewhere to direct dog walkers within the same park. Spresser inquired and Bourne responded, his recommendation, if any, would be Option B since it's less expensive and still provides the ability to maintain priority uses. Rahman inquired how much the dog park area is used in the winter. Bourne responded even with other dog park areas available in the winter, there is high demand for dog walking at Staring Lake Park. Lotthammer invited users to share their perspectives for Commission consideration. Link referred the audience to the printed guidelines they had previously been provided. He announced the guidelines of limiting the total time and providing each speaker five minutes. Barb Hanson (14204 Westridge Drive) stated she and a friend initiated the discussion last year with the goal of a compromise. She stated the dog park is not even a third of the total area. She challenged if the shed is actually where skiers watch training videos and how often the shed and trails are used by skiers. She questioned how long ago the land has been used as a dog park since she has been using it for at least eleven years. Link inquired and Hanson responded she is asking for a compromise with which everyone is happy and that the dog park be open year round. Garth Dietrich (8615 Hiawatha Trail) stated although he has been a resident only a year,he uses the dog park extensively, usually walking the perimeter of the fence. He understands and appreciates the ski team needs and uses the area and hopes a PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 6 compromise can be reached. He stated Option B would be acceptable to him. Spresser inquired and Dietrich responded Option C would cut to one-fourth the use of the walking trail and leave the wooded area and steps which are icy in the winter. Doug Boonstra, a Chaska resident and EPHS Nordic ski coach and EPHS teacher, referred to his letter to the Commission from March 2017 (a copy of which was provided to the Commission at this meeting). The Staring Lake Park ski trails have been available for high school use approximately twenty years. At the same time, the partnership of the team grooming the trails began. The team had approached a previous Parks and Recreation Director to expand the trails in the past. The request was approved and the ski team fundraised for the shed and also for a bulldozer to expand the trails. Many ski team volunteer hours of labor and sweat equity have been provided through the years. About twelve years ago, City staff approached Boonstra about adding off-leash dog park use in the park. He was hesitant at the time and stated it has remained a frustrating experience as a shared-use area. Boonstra confirmed skiers use the entire meadow area where the dog park is located. The team films skiers and reviews the film in the shed on a donated screen. He stated he does not consider moving the shed an option and Option C is the only option he would consider. Even if a woodchip trail was built to allow access to the dog park area, he feels people would still use the trail since it's wider. He shared frustration that as a teacher his job is to instruct children to follow rules and not disobey them because they don't like the rules. He frequently experiences dog walkers using the trail when the team is trying to groom them, despite the signage stating walking is not allowed. He added the shed and trails are used on Sundays by the Minnesota Youth Ski League teaching community children ages four to ten years old how to ski. Boonstra responded to a previous question regarding how often the team uses the area. The team typically has one race per week and all other days are spent practicing at Staring Lake Park when there is skiable snow. It is the most economical practice area due to bussing costs for skiers and equipment to other locations. Link reiterated the Commission has three options to consider in addition to continuing the use as is. McBride stated concern over spending money for fencing to create a dedicated winter dog park if rules continue to be ignored by walking on the skiable area. Pesheck inquired if any deterrent or fines could be issued for not obeying posted signs to stay off during winter months. Lotthammer responded there hasn't been historically and it is not considered an enforcement priority. Commission members shared other thoughts and discussion. Rahman inquired and Commission members shared that most dog owners use the dog park area when it PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 7 is open and find alternatives for dog walking in winter months. It was decided additional time was needed to take into consideration users' input shared tonight, as well as options provided by Bourne. Pesheck suggested Commission members tour the area during the already scheduled bus tour in August. Spresser inquired if timing would allow for fencing to be completed prior to next winter. Lotthammer stated, although not guaranteed,he felt a proposal could be made to the Commission in September and still allow time for fencing to be installed prior to winter. B. HANDOUTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS Brink and Verley provided handouts on the following upcoming events: Mother/Son All-Star Evening, Arts in the Park, Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie, Starring at Staring Lake Concert Series, Fitness in the Parks, Beauty and the Beast Broadway Musical, July 3 and 4 Hometown Celebration, KidStock, Senior Center Garden Party, Summer BBQ, The Pied Piper of Hamelin Town, Women's One Acts, and Movies in the Park. VII. NEW BUSINESS VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. PARKS AND RECREATION EXPERIENCES Commission and staff members shared recent experiences related to parks and recreation. Spresser was impressed with the progress already made on the pickleball courts at Staring Lake Park. Erickson attended the Arbor Day event and participated in the Park Clean-Up Day. Considering the amount of trash picked up, she suggested the possibility of adding a Clean-Up Day in the fall. Bourne estimates 500 volunteers participated in the event at several parks. IX. REPORTS OF STAFF A. COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER B. PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGER 1. Pedestrian and Bike Master Plan Pursuant to the Commission's request, Bourne provided an update to the Pedestrian and Bike Master Plan developed in 2014. Recommendations in the plan were created to provide a vision for the City's future walking and biking network. Included were approaches for making use of the City's extensive walking and biking assets while addressing the key barriers that existed at the time. The Plan addressed four main topics: existing conditions, current uses, problem areas or barriers, and recommendations. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 8 Bourne provided the Commission with a map displaying the walking and biking network, including sidewalks, paved trails and side paths, unpaved trails, and proposed Southwest Light Rail Transit(LRT) alignment. The map also indicated recommended new paved shared-use paths, upgraded sidewalks to shared-use paths, on-street bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and unpaved nature trails. He noted for all streets where on-street bicycle facilities are recommended and walking facilities are not present, sidewalks are recommended at least on one side of the street. It is recommended the Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail be paved. Bourne concluded his presentation with a prioritized list of new transportation trails. The list indicated the proposed year of completion if not already completed. Spresser inquired if the list is being completed in priority order. Bourne responded the easier items were completed first and now the more complicated projects are being tackled, along with negotiating for easements. Bourne stated the annual trail improvement budget of$200,000 in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)has been increased to between $300,000 and $400,000. Lotthammer added even if money were not an obstacle, it would still take several years to complete these improvements. Spresser requested the Commission be provided with an annual progress update. C. RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER 1. Seasonal Staff Spotlight Brink provided a breakdown of the part-time staff for summer parks and recreation programming. The majority of the 153 staff members will work in the youth camps/programs. Other areas requiring summer staff are aquatics,park customer relations (facility rentals assistance),park maintenance, and tree/boundary inspectors. Recruitment strategies include job fairs and other events at college campuses, Camp Preview Day at the Community Center, outreach to Eden Prairie Schools staff and students, social media, signage and flyers at the Community Center, City website, and employee referrals. Training ranges from eight to thirty hours per employee, depending on the position. PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES May 7, 2018 Page 9 D. PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR 1. 2018 PRNR Work Plan Lotthammer provided a reminder that Student Representatives and Commission Members are invited to the Board and Commission Banquet on Thursday, May 17, at 6 p.m. in the Garden Room. On Monday, June 4, Commission members are invited to the Cedar Hills Grand Opening with a Ribbon Cutting scheduled at 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., the Commission will meet at the Staring Lake Dog Park to view the fencing options. The Riley Lake Park Grand Re-Opening will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, with a Ribbon Cutting at 6:45 p.m. The Commission is invited to the annual PRNR bus tour on Monday, August 6. Meet at the City Center at 6 p.m. The next official Commission meeting will be Monday, September 10, at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. Anticipated topics will be the Staring Lake Dog Park, ice arena update, Community Center membership, and the mobile cafe. Lotthammer stated reminders of all events will be sent to Commission members via email throughout the summer. X. NEXT MEETING As stated above, the next gathering for the PRNR Commission will be the bus tour on Monday, August 6, meeting at City Center at 6 p.m. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Spresser motioned, seconded by McBride, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. Chair Link adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.