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City Council - 11/21/1988 - Special Meeting EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING APPROVED MINUTES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1988 5: 30 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7600 Executive Drive COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Gary Peterson, Richard Anderson, Jean Harris, Patricia Pidcock, and George Bentley CITY COUNCIL STAFF: City Manager Carl J. Jullie, Assistant to the City Manager Craig Dawson, City Attorney Roger Pauly, Director of Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Robert Lambert, and Recording Secretary Deb Edlund PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: All Members Present I . DISCUSSION OF REPORT QN COMPREHENSIVE PARK PLAN i Lambert reported that the purpose of the discussion was to obtain input from the Council on the plan. The Comprehensive Park Plan would become a working document as a chapter of the City's overall Comprehensive Guide Plan. The focus of the report was on land acquisition and setting a policy for the development of the parks and the trails within the City. Lambert noted that the policies were not new to the City ; they had all been approved over the years, but had never been written in this type of a document. Staff wished to have the Council make any recommendations for changes in the document before the final draft would go to the Metropolitan Council For its approval. Bentley believed that something was missing from the report. He stated that this was simply a schematic outline. Bentley added that the City would reach a peak in population and questioned how the City would know if it had over-built the parks . He asked what criteria could be established to determine how many parks and trails were the right number for the City. Barry Warner of Barton Aschman Associates, consultant on the study, replied that this particular document was based on the predictions for the years 1995 and 2000. Warner stated that the report was written based on current trends, which may or may not hold true in the future. He added that Eden Prairie has not had the number of athletic facilities for the level of current demands. Neighborhood parks were used heavily at this time; however, at some point f in the future that use would be relieved. Warner stated that t. there was no exact science to make these types of predictions. City Council Minutes 2 November 21, 1988 Lambert stated that Eden Prairie was still in a growth period and as the City becomes older, some of the parks will not be used for their original design and will need to have alterations. Bentley said that while the report made allowances for all of the above-mentioned factors, they were not specifically outlined in the document. Lambert replied that the City would definitely need Miller Park, Flying Cloud ballfields, and neighborhood parks. Bentley believed that criteria should be established and a policy set on what level of service for City Parks the City wanted to provide. Peterson asked how the level of need was determined. Lambert replied that two measures were used to determine the level of need: the City' s level was compared to the national norm and was then compared to what the City of Eden Prairie had provided in the past. Lambert questioned where to draw the line. He added that every athletic association would tell the City that more facilities were needed for its particular sport. Staff had conducted a study for the last referendum on facilities in other cities and Eden Prairie was not in line with what other cities were providing. r Bentley asked if the document was in a stage which would allow for discussion by the residents be changed if needs were determined. Lambert replied that the document had to be 1 somewhat flexible and changes would be made annually. The format was written to be flexible and provided broad definitions. Warner added that this was a public policy issue regarding what level of quality the City wished to provide. Harris asked what evidence had been established that a golf course was something that the City should investigate at this time. Warner replied that a golf course is an expensive proposition; however, it could carry itself financially, once constructed. Based on per capita figures, approximately 8 courses could be supported in adjacent areas. The demographics of Eden Prairie had shown a higher level of golfers and, therefore, the market would be favorable for a golf course. The courses in surrounding communities were all doing well. Doug Tenpas, Councilmember-elect, believed that a golf course would be successful and added that it should be part of a City park system. Warner stated that various means were available to offset the initial capital outlay for a course. Anderson believed that parameters needed to be established / regarding the extent to which the City wanted to become involved in golf. Anderson questioned if the City wanted to begin talking about the recreational needs for which the i City Council Minutes 3 November 21, 1988 private sector also provided facilities. He noted that many municipal courses offered special activities for youths and senior citizens which were not met at the private courses. Anderson questioned what activities the City provided presently for the senior citizens. Peterson asked what the possibility was for redefinition of the use for the Community Center. Warner replied that the adult uses available at the center had been captured by the private sector and added that different activities for the youth and young families should be established because this was the market for which the private sector could not afford to provide facilities. Pidcock asked what trends Staff saw coming in the future which were not being addressed by the report. Lambert replied that the last chapter of the report addressed the trends for the future. Pidcock stated that the City should be prepared to convert some of the present facilities for other uses. Bentley believed that incentives should be provided to the private sector to provide for recreational activities which were outside the City's sphere. Anderson believed that it was important for the City to look into providing a place for the youth of the community to have a place to go for entertainment with a good environment. r Peterson stated that each athletic association had a different set of needs and many would say that the City was failing in providing adequate facilities. Peterson believed that it would be beneficial to provide some method for a community forum over a designated period of time. Lambert stated that Staff at some time had talked with all the associations and could predict what would be said at a public forum meeting. The vast majority of the associations were indifferent to the needs of other associations and due to the different levels of participation it was difficult to meet the needs of all of the groups. Lambert believed that the best way to meet the community needs was to provide a wide range of facilities. Peterson questioned if Staff could actually predict what would be said at such a meeting. Peterson added that many residents feel powerless because of the lack of a platform to address the issues. Anderson replied that a forum had been provided in 1980 when the City was building the Community Center, a survey had been conducted. Anderson believed that it was important for the City to determine where it wanted to go related to recreational facilities and to set a philosophy. Bentley believed that something should be added to the report to outline the process used to determine the needs. City Council Minutes 4 November 21, 1988 Warner stated that a survey had been conducted as part of this report, neighborhood meetings were conducted to gain information, and the associations had input into the report. Anderson believed that the future of the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge was an issue which needed to be addressed as part of this Comprehensive Park Plan, as the river ran the entire length of the community. Anderson had questions about what was necessary to begin the process to preserve some of this area and believed that it was important for the City to formalize a policy related to this issue. Lambert replied that the City was responsible to acquire 161 a acres of the river bottoms as part of a State plan for a preserve. Lambert concurred that a specific goal statement should be established. Anderson stated that a trail had been started. Anderson added that there was no facility at the present time to launch a boat on the river. a Anderson stat-ed that other trends which should be addressed would be mountain and trail bikes and batting cages at the ballfields to provide for better utilization of the ballfields. 8 i Bentley believed that once the document was in place the a process toward a Park Bond Referendum should begin. Bentley stated that it was an excellent document and complimented a Barry Warner and his staff. Warner stated that the document was basically policy based and should provide the City with a guideline for making future decisions. f Pidcock asked if skeet and trap shooting should be included in the report. MOTION• Bentley moved, seconded by Anderson to approve the draft of the Comprehensive Open Space Plan with the addition of the recommendations of the Planning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Bentley asked Lambert when discussions should begin regarding a bond referendum. Lambert replied that the document would be reviewed by the Metropolitan Council ; however, the City should begin setting up a committee and begin informing the community. Peterson stated that the Council also needed tc discuss a similar process for City Hall. City Council Minutes 5 November 21, 1988 MQJJQN: Anderson moved, seconded by Bentley to begin the process for a bond referendum based on the memo from the Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources staff. Motion carried unanimously. Anderson commented that several years ago a Hikeway\Bikeway Task Force had been established. Anderson was concerned about the needs of joggers, bikers, and walkers not being met. Anderson recommended that this task force be reinstated. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.