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City Council - 01/10/1989 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, January 10, 1989 8:00 p.m. , City Hall 7600 Executive Drive COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT Mayor Gary Peterson, Richard Anderson, Patricia Pidcock, Douglas Tenpas COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Jean Harris CITY COUNCIL STAFF: City Manager Carl J. Jullie, Assistant to the City Manager, Craig Dawson, Director of Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources, Robert A_ Lambert I . CALL MEETING TO ORDER i The meeting was called to order at 8:00 p.m. Mayor Peterson requested that Item VI . be moved up to Item I . MOTION: Pidcock made a motion to move Item VI. on the agenda to Item I . Anderson seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. a MOTION: Pidcock made a motion to approve the agenda fi as amended . Tenpas seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. j II . REQUEST TO FLOOD PRESERVE HOMEOWNER' S ASSOCIATION POND Refer to memo dated January 6, 1989 from Bob Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. Lambert said this pond is located in Outlot C of Amsden Hills Second Addition and is owned by the Preserve Homeowner 's Association. In order to flood the pond, the City would have to acquire a lease from the Board of Directors of the Homeowner' s Association. He added that the City would be unable to get its equipment to the pond, but said that the snow could probably be moved with a snowblower . The pond could be flooded from a 2000 gallon tanker# but the nearest hydrant is across Anderson Lakes Parkway which would require running a hose over the road. Lambert added that flooding the pond can be done, but he doesn ' t want to recommend doing so unless the pond will be maintained. Lambert said that there were 24 of these rinks in the City several years ago, but when rinks with warming houses and lights were built , these areas were not used. The City has not flooded a pond of this type for three years. If a pond was on a four-day flood schedule and the pond was not used, flooding was discontinued. The nearest skating rink to this neighborhood is at Preserve Neighborhood Park which is almost a mile away. Lambert said he understands the need for this rink and staff would be willing and able to flood it. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Jan. 10, 1989 "4. -2- Anderson said that at the time Lambert was referring to, the City attempted to provide rinks before the other rinks were built. Some of these rinks were used only 1 or 2 times per season and others were used for only a couple of years . He believed that the flooding of rinks should be planned for a year in advance since it would be the end of the month before this rink was done and there would be only about 20 days of skating time left in the season. He also believed that lighting these rinks should be considered. Because of past experience and timing , Anderson said this issue should be considered by the Parks and Recreation Commission next year. i Tenpas asked how often this rink is used. Mr. Nelson, the resident who requested that the pond be flooded, a said that his family started to clear the rink several weeks ago and were assisted by some neighbors. On parts of the pond, the ice was good and on other parts it was not. Since the area on the pond was cleared, someone had provided two benches and he did not believe it was necessary to light the area. The closest rink to this neighborhood was located in Bloomington approximately six blocks away . Pidcock commented that she lives on a pond and has noticed that there are more kids skating this year. She questions the liability the City would have if they flooded this pond . Lambert said that the City would have to acquire a lease from the property owner and the City would then accept liability for the pond. Peterson asked if the City could flood the pond only once. Lambert said that if the City floods the pond once, it should be maintained for the rest of the season. Pidcock suggested that perhaps flooding could be done this year only to see how it works out . Mr. Nelson added that there is a hydrant located on Garrison Way which could be cased to flood the pond. Peterson said that this request would normally be handled by the Parks and Recreation Commission and then by the City Attorney and City Council , but because timing is so important this process has been altered. Peterson asked if the City could stay out of the issue and just lend the residents a hose to flood the pond. Lambert said they would not be allowed to open a hydrant. Anderson said he did not like the direction this issue was going . He was concerned with the possibility of parties on the rink, noise, etc. and nobody having control over it. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Jan. 10, 1989 -3 Peterson said he believed the City should be involved if there is a way to do it . Tenpas thinks this would be fine on a short-term basis and the regular process could be followed next year. Mr. Nelson added that the snowblower the City used for clearing sidewalks would work well to keep the pond clear of snow. Pidcock does not want to set a precedent for other neighborhoods , but would like to see the pond flooded for the kids . Anderson said the City has had this experience before and it did not work out . This will definitely set a precedent for other neighborhoods and he is opposed to it for this reason. Tenpas asked if there is anything that can be done right now. City Manager Jullie said that some minimal things can be done without a liability problem. For instance, the City could sell the water and supervise the flooding of the pond. Peterson said that he does not know how the City would deal with other requests of this type. City Manager Jullie said he feels it is important that the residents maintain the pond. f Lambert said that unless City equipment removes the snow from the pond, discussing the issue is a waste of time. MOTION: Pidcock moved to deny regretfully the request to flood the Preserve Homeowner 's Association pond, but the issue will be brought up for discussion again next year . Anderson seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. MOTION: Anderson moved to request that the Director acqu ce a list of neighborhoods that are greater than one mile away from a skating rink. Pidcock seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. MOTION: Pidcock moved to request that the Director report on the average cost to flood a neighborhood pond. Tenpas seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. Tenpas asked if this type of request should be directed to the City staff or if it must go thru this process . Anderson said that this is the correct process to follow. III . INTRODUCTION OF BOND REFERENDUM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Mayor Peterson announced that Pat Breitenstein has agreed to be the chairperson of the Bond Referendum Committee. APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Jan. 10, 1989 _ -4- MOTION: Pidcock moved to nominate Pat Breitenstein, present chairperson of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission and former President of the Chamber of Commerce, as the chairperson of the Bond Referendum Committee. Anderson seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. IV. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO BOND REFERENDUM COMMITTEE Bob Lambert distributed a rough draft of the proposed members of the Boad Referendum Committee. Sixty-three or 64 people have been contacted to date. Lambert feels it is important that the 14 block captains from the neighborhood crime watch program be contacted. Mayor Peterson and Pidcock agreed to contact these block captains. The members of the Council and Bob Lambert reviewed the names on the list. MOTION: Anderson moved to nominate the persons on this list subject to their Consent. Pidcock seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. Lambert said that there were a number of people who did not return phone calls. He asked if they should be contacted one more time. After discussion, it was 3 decided that the number of people on the committee is y. sufficient and those people that did not return the calls are probably not interested in serving on the committee. d Peterson asked if there are particular reasons why some of these people are on the committee. Lambert said some of these people volunteered and others are active in the recreation programs in the City. V. APPROVE GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT FOR, STUDY OF SITE FOR POTENTIAL COMMUNITY PARK AND GOLF COURSE Refer to memo dated January 6, 1989 from Bob Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. Lambert said he realizes that there was a substantial difference in the fees for the two architects, but he said he was disappointed in the Brauer and Associates propoaal and they cannot compete with the experience that Barton-Aschman and its golf course consultant have with golf courses. MOTION: Anderson moved to approve Barton-Aschman as the consultant for the proposed community park and golf course. . Tenpas seconded the motion. Pidcock said that the difference in cost is 35%. Lambert a said that the City will be receiving a plan for park use and adjacent land use, in addition to a golf course plan . ' APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Jan. 10, 1989 -5- Anderson said he would like to refer to this area as a recreation area, not only a golf course, and stated the City should hire the best people possible to work on its design. 8 The motion passed 4-0. VI . SET JANUARY 31 , 1989 AT 7: 30 P.M. AS SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING FOR CITIZEN INPUT REGARDING PARK AND RECREATION FACILITY NEEDS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE 1989 REFERENDUM MOTION: A motion was made by Tenpas to approve the January 31 public hearing. Pidcock seconded the motion. Lambert noted that there is also a special City Council meeting on January 24 at 7 :00 p.m. with the bond referendum committee and a Southwest Area Study meeting on February 14 at 8:00 p.m. The motion passed 4-0. V I I . ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Anderson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p. en. Tenpas seconded the motion and it passed 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Lois Boettcher Recording Secretary I