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Parks and Recreation - 12/04/2000 UNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRIAIRE PARKS & RECREATION CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2000 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD PRAIRIE ROOMS A & B COMMISSION MEMBERS: Kim Teaver, Chair; Don Jacobson, Vice Chair; Susan Dickman, Ann Birt, David Larson, Paul Sodt COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director Parks and Recreation Services; Tria Mann, Arts and Special Events Coordinator; Laurie Obiazor, Manager Recreation Services; Stuart A. Fox, Manager Parks and Natural Resources RECORDING SECRETARY: Peggy Rasmussen I. ROLL CALL Chair Teaver called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Jacobson was absent. Student Representatives were welcomed. Corbin Hilgeman and Paul Hanna are visiting the various commissions as At-Large Student Representatives. Richard Greywitt, Jr., Jonathan Erickson and Benjamin Mathews are the Student Representatives for the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission. Members of the Commission introduced themselves to the students and students introduced themselves to the commissioners, and gave reasons for wanting to be student representatives. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Sodt moved, seconded by Dickman, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES —JUNE 5, 2000 AND AUGUST 7, 2000 MOTION: Birt moved, seconded by Dickman, to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission meeting of June 5, 2000. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Sodt moved, seconded by Birt, to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission meeting of August 7, 2000. Motion carried 5-0. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on Skateboard Park— Proposed Meeting with Kids PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES December 4, 2000 Page 2 Stuart Fox gave the update. As manager of Parks and Natural Resources, he is responsible for overseeing park development. Fox said, after being approved by the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Commission, the proposal for a skateboard park went to the Community Planning Board and was approved by that Board and then went to the City Council for approval and funding. The skateboard park is expected to cost $25,000, and would be funded through Cash Park Fees. These fees are charged to all developers and collected over the year for use by the Parks and Recreation Services. The skateboard park will be built at Round Lake Park just east of the tennis court. Originally it was proposed to put it across the road from the fire station. However, additional space may be needed in the future, and that location did not provide it. The company installing the skateboard equipment is True Ride, which built parks in Chanhassen and Hopkins. It is proposed that the Parks Department grade the site, prepare the pad and put down the asphalt, and the company would put in the equipment. Fox has contacted Eden Prairie High School, Central Middle School and Oak Point Middle School to invite students to an informational meeting at the Community Center on December 28, at which time the students can tell City staff what they want in the skateboard park. There are three basic layouts to choose from. The equipment will be no higher than 36 feet. Sodt asked if only students would be welcome at the meeting. Fox said anyone is welcome. Dickman said she appreciated how fast City staff is moving with this project. Mathews said kids have been anxious to have this skateboard park. He asked how students were to be notified of the meeting. Fox said notices have been sent to the head of student activities. Mathews thought it would receive more attention if it were included in the school's morning announcements. However, December 28 will be in the middle of the holiday break, and a lot of students go away over the holidays. Fox said students can contact him with suggestions by phone or e-mail. B. Update on Smetana Lake Park Plan Fox showed a layout of the proposed park. The property was deeded the land by Liberty Trust, the developer of three office buildings and Realife Valley View Cooperative housing development. This was a piece of land that could not be developed, and it will not be a typical neighborhood park. It is a very small park, about three acres, but it will be used mainly by people who live and work in this area of the City. Part of the trail had been built previously but not all the way around the lake. Liberty Trust is building the trail along Smetana and in front of the Realife development. The City will build the rest of the trail, and put in a park shelter and an overlook, fishing pier and boat access. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES December 4, 2000 Page 3 Birt said that at Bryant Park bituminous surfaces have been put down in place of the gravel, which she prefers. She asked what would be used on the trail around Smetana Lake. Fox said the trail will have a bituminous surface. Soft-surface trails are better to walk on but require a lot of maintenance, so bituminous surfaces are usually built. Also, people in wheelchairs or who have difficulty walking prefer the bituminous surfaces, and for winter maintenance they are easier to plow. The park is expected to be primarily used for picnics. There will be six parking spaces nearby, but additional places will be available for weekend parking. There will be a covered shelter, about 20 feet by 44 feet, available for picnic rental. As there will not be a sewer installation, portable toilets will be made available. In order to regulate usage of the lake because of its size, Fox said the City might put out a surface-use ordinance, restricting use of motor boars, but this would have to go through the DNR for approval. Hilgeman asked how big the lake is. Fox said it is about 35 acres. Mathews asked how long the trail is and if it will be available for both biking and walking. Fox said it is about one-and-a-quarter miles long and would be for both biking and walking. Mathews asked if there would be a marina where canoes could be rented. Fox said there would not be a marina. There will be space for five trailers to park near the lake access. With regard to the timing of the project, Fox said he is meeting with the consultant this week to put together plans and specifications, which will then go out to bid. The intention is to have the project done sometime next summer. C. Update on 0-of July 1. Ideas for Activities and Entertainment Tria Mann said the Council approved the move to Round Lake Park for the 4h of July 2001 celebration. Staff is beginning to make plans. As part of the process, staff wants input from the Commission on ideas for activities. It is four years since the celebration was held at Round Lake Park. They used to have mini-triathalons there. This year they had a 4-K run. Next year they plan to have both. The City hires a big band each year to play from 9-10 p.m., and then after the fireworks until 11 p.m., so people don't all leave the park at once. The police are working on a plan for parking, traffic, etc. Hilgeman said the company that put on the fireworks did a good job. Mann said she was glad to hear that. It is the same company the City has had for four years. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES December 4, 2000 Page 4 Regarding swimming in the lake, they have never had to close it prior to August, so it should be all right on July 4. It is already a lot cleaner than it has been. Birt asked if there will be sand sculptures again. Mann said they probably would have that activity again. Hilgeman said he was glad the event is being moved back to Round Lake. Teaver asked if it will be held there every year from now on. Mann said they are going to evaluate it year to year, because it draws a lot of people and they have to consider where they can accommodate the most people. They may try having it across from the Southwest Metro station in a few years, pending development in that area. Sodt asked about the reaction of merchants at Eden Prairie Center to moving the fireworks event. Mann said they were disappointed, of course, but knew that was going to happen because of not having a drop zone due to construction. In her last conversation with the merchants, they are thinking about "bringing the mall" to Round Lake, working in cooperation with the City. Mann said last year they had a kiddie parade that was very popular, so they will be doing that again. Also moon walks, using big inflatables, were very popular, as well as an obstacle course and bungie runs. They will have kids games again. Birt asked if community service organizations get involved. Mann said they do; they will ask them again this year and will send out a letter to service organizations. Some businesses set up booths at the Eden Prairie Center, and the City charges them a fee. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Community Survey Update Mann said 97 people participated in the Community Forum at the end of October. The forum was put together to gain insight from residents on parks and recreation services. The City needs to update its Park and Open Spaces Plan and the Metro Council wants input from residents. The forum had four age groups represented in the four sessions conducted. It was all done on laptop computers. On December 5, at a Workshop prior to the City Council meeting, Council will be receiving an executive summary of the forum from the company that was in charge of conducting it. The survey, with questions based on the results of the forum, will be mailed out to all households with the City Planner at the end of December or beginning of January. The City is asking residents to look ahead 15 to 20 years to help plan out park services; and then the answers to the questions will be compiled. Residents PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES December 4, 2000 Page 5 will be asked to check an answer indicating how strongly they support open spaces, trails, historic homes, providing maintenance of parks, a City-owned outdoor pool, having a buffer around Flying Cloud Airport, etc. There are 25 questions. The City will be doing a separate written survey with children at the high school. Birt expressed concern that people may not open the envelope containing the survey, and suggested that this information be printed on the outside of the envelope. Mann agreed that was a good idea. Larson thought some people wouldn't take the time to answer 25 questions. Mann said it took staff an average of 10 to 13 minutes. Dickman said usually only a small percentage of people return surveys of any kind. Birt asked if there is a way for the City to alert different clubs and organizations that this survey is coming; perhaps it needs some publicity. Dickman said to let staff know that the Commission is very concerned about publicizing the survey. Larson asked if the City had thought about putting the survey on the Internet. He believed there would be a better response. Mann said she would find out if that was being considered. VI. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Arts and Special Events Specialist 1. Promotions a. Video on MN Parks & Recreation—Your Best Investment Mann explained that some department employees are members of the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA), which works with other states' park and recreation agencies and facilities. The annual conference was held the first week in November, which Mann attended. She showed the video prepared by the MRPA to the Commission and student representatives. b. Video on U.S. Parks & Recreation—All the Pieces Fit Mann said some employees are also members of the national association. The video helps to educate the public about open spaces, supporting and taking care of what the country has. C. Santa Flies Into Eden Prairie PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES December 4, 2000 Page 6 Mann showed footage from the annual helicopter fly-in by Santa on Sunday, December 3, shown on Channel 11. Mann said it was a great success, with 800 to 900 attending. Inside the Elliott Aviation hangar, 130 family photos were taken of Santa and children. There were activities such as face-painting, coloring, live music, etc., which kept people at the event longer this year. 2. Update on Historical Programs at the Cummins-Grill Homestead a. Ideas for Historical Programs Mann called attention to the flyer from the winter edition of the City Programs brochure, showing the first four programs planned for the Cummins-Grill Homestead. This year the City is planning to have a monthly event or program. The first event is "Cummins House Christmas" on Sunday, December 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be stories, holiday crafts, sleigh rides and refreshments. People are being asked to bring food donations for PROP. The Commission members were asked if they knew of any resources or had any ideas for programs or classes that could be held at the house. Birt recommended asking Stan West to speak about the 50s in Minnesota. Sodt suggested a tour of the historic sites and houses in Eden Prairie. Teaver suggested prairie crafts, such as making candles and soap. People selling these could set up booths outside, and pay a percentage of what they make to the City. Mann said that eventually the City will be putting on programs at the Riley-Jacques Farm. They would probably be recreational- type programs. Sodt suggested having something in recognition of Veterans Day. 3 A. Doors at the Community Center Hockey Rink Larson said there have been many complaints about the doors leading to the rink on either side of the goalie nets on the first sheet of ice. They would like to see them moved before someone is hit with a puck. Mann said she would tell Joel Klute. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Birt moved, seconded by Sodt, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Teaver adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.