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Parks and Recreation - 09/10/2001 UNAPPROVED MINUTES PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 7:00 p.m., CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Kim Teaver, Chair; Rob Barrett, Ann Birt, Susan Dickman, David Larson, Trisha Swanson, Philip Wright COMMISSION STAFF: Tria Mann, Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary SUPPORT STAFF: Bob Lambert, Director, Parks and Recreation Services Laurie Obiazor, Manager of Recreation Services Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources Lyndell Frey, Community Center Manager I. ROLL CALL Vice-Chair David Larson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., in the absence of Chair Kim Teaver. Commissioner Barrett had an excused absence. Tria Mann and Bob Lambert were present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Birt added one item about a symposium: “Sculpting Space in the Public Realm.” MOTION: Dickman moved, seconded by Wright, to approve the agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 2, 2001 MOTION: Birt moved, seconded by Swanson, to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission meeting held on April 2, 2001, as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS A. Baseball Association Request Lambert introduced Drew Bartley, President of the Eden Prairie Baseball Association (EPBA). Bartley referenced a letter he wrote to Lambert, dated August 15, in which he stated the EPBA had formally committed to provide $150,000 to the City for a joint, co-funded project to construct a baseball building at Miller Park. These funds were raised over the past six years through the sale of coupon books, with 75 percent being set aside for the building, and the rest being spent on various improvements to baseball fields. PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 2 Bartley said the baseball building would be located on the plaza between baseball fields 1 and 2 at Miller Park, and would provide bathrooms, a concession stand, a sheltered area, field equipment storage and trophy cases on the first level, and baseball equipment storage on the upper level. Lambert said City staff supports the request for this project and for the use of cash park fees to fund the project. Total estimated cost of the project is $350,000. The City would provide $200,000 and the EPBA would provide $150,000. Staff is requesting that the Commission recommend approval of this project and the $200,000 expenditure. The Six-Year CIP has anticipated this project for several years and has set aside funds for the project to be completed in 2002. Lambert explained that when the referendum was done for Miller Park, City Council decided it could not afford to put in all of the buildings the park would eventually have. Different athletic associations said they would attempt to raise money to help pay for these, with no commitment regarding the percentage of the cost. This building was originally estimated to cost $250,000. The EPBA said they would try to raise $100,000 of that amount. Recently, the City received an updated cost estimate of $350,000, and the EPBA has increased its commitment to $150,000. If approval is recommended by the Commission, the request would go to the Program Board for review and, if approved, would go to the City Council, which would have the ultimate decision on funding this project. The final design would be drawn up by an architect, and he hoped to have approval from the Planning Board and the City Council this fall, in order to be ready for bids by February and construction in the spring and summer of 2002. Larson asked if the Commission’s obligations would be done after voting that evening. Lambert said the building plans and bids would come through the Commission again in about February, and the Commissioners will know about the progress of construction, but their obligations would end that evening. Dickman asked if the soccer and football associations would have different buildings. Lambert said a building would eventually be constructed along the plaza that serves the soccer and football complex. If and when they come forward with funds, the City will provide the matching funds for them as well. Birt asked how the money is raised. Bartley explained that primarily the funds are raised through selling coupon books. Each participant initially takes and pays for three books and then sells them for $8 each. The coupons are for restaurants, stores, car washes, etc. Another long-range plan is to build a small baseball stadium at Miller Park that would have restrooms and a concession stand. Lambert said the City would maintain the restrooms. The baseball association would take care of the storage areas, concession stand, etc. The building would only be open when a baseball association activity is taking place, and the EPBA would be responsible for locking it up afterward. PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 3 MOTION: Birt moved, seconded by Wright, to approve the Eden Prairie Baseball Association’s request. Motion carried 5-0. B. City Council Approval of David Larson to the City and School Facility Use Advisory Committee Mann explained that at the July 24 joint meeting of the Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Commission and the Community Program Board, each group nominated one representative to serve on the City and School Use Advisory Committee. The Parks Commission nominated David Larson, and the City Council made this appointment at its August 7, 2001 meeting. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Crestwood Park Plan (revised) Fox said the Commission approved a concept plan for the park at its April 2, 2001 meeting. However, in the process of public meetings, wetlands were found to be on the site. The City hired a consulting firm, which found four distinct wetlands. As a result, the City has revised the plans for the park to mitigate any wetlands that have to be displaced and to accommodate the remaining wetlands. The proposal is to mitigate two wetlands on the site. Crestwood Park is 11 acres in size. It is one of two neighborhood parks remaining to be built. It would primarily serve the neighborhood of 1,200- to 1,500 people and would also have use by athletic associations. The revised park design moves the parking lot and access to the south. There would still be 60 parking spaces. The hockey rink would be moved farther to the south, and the playground area, tennis court, basketball court, two soccer fields and sand volleyball court would be moved toward the center of the park. On the south boundary, the City proposes natural-type plantings that would not be mowed. The majority of the park would be screened by berms and landscaping material. The storm water treatment pond will be developed in the northwest corner of the park. Lambert said the wetlands developed over the years the City has owned the land. It was formerly farmed, but the City had allowed grass and other vegetation to grow, and because there are natural depressions, the land reverted to what it probably was like before it was farmed. The City will follow state law regarding mitigation of wetlands. Lambert explained that the Commission was asked to listen to the neighbors’ comments and then take whatever action it feels is appropriate. After being reviewed by the Community Program Board, the plans would go to the Community Planning Board and then the City Council, which would make the final determination on approval of the plan and the park. This park is planned for construction in the spring and summer of 2002. The landscaping would be done PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 4 both in the fall of 2002 and the spring and fall of 2003. It is hoped to have some use of the park in the summer of 2003 and have the winter facilities operational for the 2003-2004 season. Larson opened the meeting to those in the audience who wished to address this proposal. Greg Brown, 9701 Crestwood Terrace, said he originally received a plan for this park about seven years ago. The original plan had space for 16 cars in the lot. He wondered if 60 spaces would be enough to accommodate the number of people who might be using the playing fields at any one time. He lives behind one of the soccer fields and was concerned people would park on the street near his house and walk across his property because of insufficient room for parking in the park. Another concern was whether there would be drinking fountains in the park. He also noted the amount of brush on the property currently that should be cut down. Lambert responded that the original plan showed basically the same facilities except there was originally one soccer field and one baseball field, and now there are two soccer fields. The reason for the larger parking lot is that athletic associations will use these fields, and they need to be accommodated in the park rather than having them park on the street and cause the problems Mr. Brown was concerned about. The City has established a standard of 30 cars per athletic facility, based on experience over the past 20 years. It is expected that both the football and soccer associations will use these facilities, and probably lacrosse in the future. With regard to drinking fountains, they will be in the plaza to the west of the building and also inside the building. As far as Mr. Brown’s concern about how to keep people from coming through his yard to reach the park, the City plans to build a trail on the north that will connect to Crestwood Terrace. People would walk south along Dell Road to the park entrance. The City would have to secure an easement over private property to the north in order for that trail to be built. Fox said the berm would be 14 feet high on the south side, with six- to eight-foot conifers planted on the side and top of them. They are proposing to provide almost continuous screening on the south and west sides of the park. The conifers would be planted 12- to 25-feet apart in order to allow room for growth. Stan Hammer, 9624 Jonathan Lane, asked if the NURP pond counted toward wetland mitigation. Lambert replied it does not. Mr. Hammer said he wanted to compliment the park people for the planning they have done for this park. The proposed screening around the property should encourage people to use the trails rather than cutting through someone’s property. Putting lower-use facilities like the hockey rink away from the home near the north end was a good idea. Bert Rogers, 9836 Crestwood Terrace, said he farmed that land more than 50 years ago. There was no wetland to worry about then because it was tiled. He asked what kind of grasses would be planted on the berm and if it would be mowed. He also asked if there were bathroom facilities in the warming house. PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 5 Fox replied there would be restrooms in the building that will serve as a warming house and also a covered shelter of 600 square feet for picnics. With regard to the natural planting area, the DNR has come out with a good combination of ornamental grasses and flowers, and the City will plant those. Lambert added that ornamental grasses are native prairie varieties. Carolyn Luehmann, 9877 Crestwood Terrace, said her understanding is that prairie grasses need a natural burn every few years. She was concerned about the lights and the noise in the parking lot. She asked where the lights would be located and how late the park would be open, as her bedrooms are on that side of the house. Lambert replied burning is the most desirable way to manage prairie grasses. However, when there is a situation where burning is not desirable, recent studies show if you mow the grass every year you can manage them well. With regard to the lighting, the only facilities lighted year around will be in the parking lot, and they will be downcast, shoebox-type lights. The skating and hockey rinks will also be lighted when in use from approximately December 15 to February 15. Regular park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lights on the rinks are turned off at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and earlier on week nights. The City has generally not had a problem with people in parks after hours. Fox said the City would be maintaining about 16 feet of turf along the back side of the berm so grass would not grow into people’s yards. Lambert said most of the landscaping would not occur until 2003. It will be seeded in 2002 and the grass has to be established before the trees are planted. At that time, the City staff will be talking to each of the property owners living around the park and explain where the trees will be planted. By that time the neighbors will see where the buildings are, where the lights will be, etc. If they would like to have trees planted where they would block their view, the City will accommodate them. Sheila Johnson, 9695 Crestwood Terrace, asked if there would be a berm between her house and the park, and where the trees would be located. Fox showed her on the plan. The City has budgeted for 200 conifers for the entire park. Brown asked the Commission to reduce the size of the park. He would like the park radius to be about half the proposed size. He wanted only one soccer field and the parking lot cut back to 30 spaces. He has lived in the neighborhood for 12 years, and they have been waiting for a park. This would be nice as a small neighborhood park. Lambert replied this is a minimal size park, considering the size of the neighborhood it serves. If it were cut in half it would not accommodate the service area of about 1,200 people. The City will not have enough soccer fields with the growth in interest of this sport. Now lacrosse is becoming popular. The City cannot be short-sighted about the type of parks it needs to serve the residents in the service area. PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 6 Brown asked why parks weren’t built in the apple orchard property. He said he has never seen the neighbors polled or surveyed as to what they want. There is a real difference between 16 and 60 parking places. The soccer fields aren’t regulation size so tournaments could not be held there. Would the City give in and light the fields because people want more time to play during the evening? Lambert explained that the reason the City didn’t build any more parks in the apple orchard and Settlers Ridge was because the City had already purchased this property for a park in the mid-1980s. A half-mile service area was drawn around it. The City collected park dedication fees from the developers in that area. Neighborhood parks are from 10- to 40 acres in size, so Crestwood would be a minimal size. The City knows what the needs of kids in the community are for ball fields, etc. With regard to lighting the soccer fields, Lambert said the City’s policy is not to light them in neighborhood parks, but admitted that future City Councils could change that policy if needed. Hockey rinks are lighted because of the time of year they are used. That is not the case with soccer fields. Soccer and football are played in the spring and fall. Pam Olson, 9480 Dell Road, said she would like to see the hockey rink pulled back from the property where there are horses to the north of the park. She asked if City staff physically walked over the property or just looked at aerial photos. Lambert said the plan was designed by a landscape architect and an engineering consulting firm. It was probably done according to the topography of the site. Olson asked about the wetlands; if it is correct that nothing can be built 20 feet out from the edge of the water in the wetland. Lambert replied that the City guideline is to keep 25 feet of natural vegetation from the edge of the ordinary high water mark. On this property, there is no ordinary high water mark, but the City will try to maintain the vegetation within the delineated wetland. Birt asked what kind of trees would be planted. Fox said the trees would be evergreens that have different density rates, like white pines and blue spruce. Birt said she was amazed at how quickly evergreens grow in this state, but thought consideration should be given to planting those that grow the most quickly to obtain the best screening for the neighbors. Fox said spruce would be predominant, as it tolerates different types of soil and also grows close to the ground to become a living fence. MOTION: Birt moved, seconded by Dickman, to approve the proposal for the Crestwood Park revised plan, dated July 2001, as reviewed this evening. Motion carried 5-0. Lambert said this proposal will be reviewed by the Program Board at its meeting on September 25 in Council Chambers at 7 p.m. VI. NEW BUSINESS PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION September 10, 2001 Page 7 VII. FOR YOUR INFORMATION A. Oktoberfest Flyer B. Halloween on the Mall Flyer C. Sunbonnet Day Flyer Tria Mann referenced the above activities that are coming up soon. Flyers about them were given to the Commissioners. D. Symposium on Sculpting Space in the Public Realm Birt distributed a flyer on the above subject, which will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2001 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and invited everyone to attend. It is being held in conjunction with an exhibition of sculpture by Howard Ben Tre. As Eden Prairie is considering the construction of a park in the Purgatory Creek area, Birt thought this display by Howard Ben Tre may show sculpture that could be an inspiration for use there. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Dickman moved, seconded by Wright, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Co-Chair Larson adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Mann said the next meeting of the Commission would be on December 3, 2001.