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City Council - 10/11/2005 - Town Meeting APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE TOWN MEETING—PARKS REFERENDUM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2005 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER Council Chamber 8080 Mitchell Road CITY COUNCIL: Councilmembers Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Ron Case, and Philip Young. Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens was absent. PARKS, RECREATION,AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chair Rob Barrett, Vice-Chair Jeff Gerst, Commission Members Tom Bierman, John Brill, and Ian Mackay. CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Parks & Recreation Director Bob Lambert, Council Recorder Deb Sweeney. I. ROLL CALL/CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Councilmember Case called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed citizens and people watching at home. He explained the proceedings would be broadcast live and re- broadcast to help all citizens be informed about the referendum questions and the tax impacts. II. PARKS REFERENDUM INFORMATION Parks & Recreation Director Bob Lambert gave a short presentation describing the thought process behind offering a new referendum and giving details on the questions and their tax impacts. Following the failed parks referendum in May 2004, the City surveyed a random sample of yes and no voters to find out why it failed. Voters said they did not like having a single question, they did not want an outdoor aquatic center, and the referendum was too expensive. However, 69% of"yes" voters and even 44% of"no" voters supported the City coming back with another referendum within two years. Citizens said the referendum should be held at a November election in a year when there is no school referendum, should be for less money, not include a water park, target favored projects, and be broken into parts to permit choice. Favored projects included trails, the community center, replacing the warming houses, providing matching funds to athletic associations, improving the Flying Cloud fields, and acquiring parkland. As a result of this feedback, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council developed a four-question referendum, which will be put to the voters this November: Question 1 for Community Center Improvements at a cost of $6.6 million. Lambert explained many of these items had been in the original concept plans when the Community Center was built in 1979, but cut due to cost concerns. Lambert said many people had TOWN MEETING PARK REFERENDUM October 11, 2005 Page 2 regretted that decision ever since. The funds would install a walking and running track over one of the hockey rinks, improve the lobby and concession areas, expand the locker rooms, improve and expand team rooms, and add gym space. The tax impact would be about$25 per year for the average ($339,000)household. Question 2 for Community Center pool improvements at a cost of $3.3 million. Lambert explained the current Community Center pool does not meet the community's needs. Recent changes in national standards mean that its 3.5-foot depth is inadequate for swimmers diving off starting blocks. As a result, swim meets can no longer be held there. In addition, the current pool does not meet the needs of recreational swimmers. Competitive swimmers prefer a deep, cool, fast pool. Recreational swimmers are looking for warm water and a zero depth entry to accommodate small children and seniors. With the baby boomers entering their senior years, there is increased demand for water exercise that is easy on joints. The referendum would deepen the existing pool to 4.5 feet to accommodate competitive swimming and add a small, zero-depth entry warm water recreational pool. The tax impact on the average home would be $13.00 per year. Question 3 for Parks Improvements at a cost of $4.7 million. Lambert explained this question would provide updates for community and neighborhood parks. The biggest projects would be at Forest Hills, Edenvale, Prairie View, and Flying Cloud fields. At Forest Hills, the park would be reconfigured to better use the space. The warming house would be rebuilt nearer the road to prevent vandalism and the rink relocated next to it. A "cut-through"road would be eliminated to promote safety. A baseball field would also be added and more space created for playground equipment. At Edenvale, the park would be reconfigured as well. A new warming house would be built and the rink moved. The plan would also eliminate one of the two parking lots and add a soccer field and basketball court. The playground equipment would be updated. At Prairie View, the warming house would be replaced. Lambert explained the warming houses and park shelters had been subject to vandalism and had been temporary, "two-car garage" structures. Plans for Flying Cloud fields would add two baseball fields and four soccer fields. The cost for an average home would be about$16.00 per year. Question 4 for Trails Improvements at a cost of $2 million. Lambert explained that implementing the City's full trail plan would cost $5 million. This referendum, for $2 million, would make substantial progress toward completing the system. The first phase of trail construction in 1978 focused on creating trails along county roads, but in some "expensive" places construction was stopped. County Road 4 north of Purgatory Creek is one example. Sidewalks and trails in the Major Center Area are another area of need. Developers in recent years have been required to include sidewalks, but there are many older parcels that need to be connected to that system. With all the residential development in the area now, it is important to make the area walkable and safe. The City would also replace some old substandard trails that were put in by developers before the City had adequate standards and inspections. The cost for an average home would be $7.00 per year. TOWN MEETING PARK REFERENDUM October 11, 2005 Page 3 Lambert opened the floor for questions and comments from the public. Vicki Olson of 6510 Manchester Lane asked if the Forest Hills reconfiguration would generate any additional traffic on Tanager Lane. Lambert said if anything, traffic would decrease. The "cut-through" road would be eliminated. In addition, the new parking will be on the school side of the park and there will be no entrance or parking off Tanager. A resident asked what the impact on a $200,000 home would be. Butcher said the total tax impact for all four questions would be $35/year. Cameron Mackay of 17859 George Moran Drive asked where the new trails would go, and if there would be a biking trail. Lambert said there would be trails north on County 4 to connect from Purgatory Creek to Birch Island Woods, sidewalks in the Major Center Area, updates of trails in the southeast corner of Eden Prairie, and access to the Minnesota River Valley at Riverview Road with an underpass under Highway 212. Mackay asked if the gravel LRT trail would be paved. Lambert explained this is LRT property managed by the Three Rivers Parks District. There are no plans to pave it. Jan Anderson of 6519 Manchester Lane asked Lambert to explain why the warming houses were so expensive, almost as expensive as a house. Lambert agreed the cost seems high but that is what they cost. To withstand the use and abuse they get, the warming houses are built with rock base block. They are insulated and require public, ADA-compliant restrooms and access. They are designed to last 50 years. Lambert said the City often gets 14 or 15 bids so the cost is competitive. A resident from 14001 Chestnut Drive asked about operating costs for heating the warming houses. Lambert said the City anticipates heating costs will go up and has allowed for that in the budget. The City still wants to provide the service,however. XV. ADJOURNMENT Case invited citizens to contact Councilmembers with any questions about the referendum. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.