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Parks and Recreation - 08/02/1999 ;3 AUGUST 2, 1999 MINUTES a C. PARKS RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION C i ily {r. k •i AGENDA J PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 2,1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair,Frantz Corneille,Claire Hilgeman,Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A.Lambert,Director of Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources, Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources.Laurie Helling,Manager of Recreation Services I. ROLL CALL �3 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-June 21 and July 19. 1999 IV. PETITIONS.REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Communication from Linda Peterson Regarding Reduction in Mowing V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 1. Bluff Country Village 2. Shady Oaks Estates VI. OLD BUSINESS 1. Recommendation to Establish Parking fees at the Community Center and Round Lake Parking Lots During School Hours on School Days 2. Bid Summary for Round Lake Park Playstructure VI1. NEW BUSINESS r 1. Proposed Amendment to the City Code Regarding Use of Parkland I Vill. ADJOURNMENT APPROVED MINUTES I PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 2,1999 7:00 P.M.CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Brown,Chair;Frantz Corneille,Claire Hilgcman, Don Jacobson,Vicki Koenig,Glenn Stolar,John Wilson COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A.Lambert,Director of Parks and Recreation Services;Stuart A. Fox,Manager of Parks and Natural Resources;Laurie Helling,Manager of Recreation Services;Rita Maiser,Recorder E 1. ROLL CALL Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Jacobson was absent. Hilgcman s was present at 7:30 p.m. -` q. x 11. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A Koenig asked to add an item to new business in regard to the programs at Staring Lake Park. Lambert asked to add an item in regard to Open Skate hours at the community center. MOTION: Stolar moved to approve the agenda with Koenig's and Lambert's requests. Wilson seconded the motion.Approved 5-0. Hilgcman was absent for this vote. 7 Ill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. .Igne 21,1999 Minutes v The June 21 meeting minutes have not been approved. Due to the lack of a quorum at ) the July 19 meeting,approval was postponed. With Jacobson absent,there is still no ` quorum of the members present at the June 21"meeting.. The June 21 minutes will j be brought up at the next scheduled meeting. 2. .luly 19,1999 Minutes MOTION: Koenig moved to make a correction to the minutes on page two, paragraph two, under the subject of "Crosstown Circle Remote Parking', which would delete the third sentence. Corneille seconded the motion. It was approved 4-0, with Wilson abstaining. 4 l A r Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 Page 2 MOTION: Corneille moved to make a correction to the minutes on page five,to the first motion on the page, under the subject "Water uality in Eden Prairie Parks", to add the phrase"... and have the results of their reviewal returned to the commission". Stolar seconded the motion. Approved 4-0 with Wilson abstaining. IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Reduction of Mowing at Round Lake Tom and Linda Peterson of 7431 Harries Way sent a letter to the Director of Parks expressing health concerns in regard to the cutback in mowing on the West Side of Round Lake Park, They are concerned about diseases that could be spread to humans from mice living in the tall grass. Lambert said staff met with some of the homeowners at Round Lake Park to discuss ; the mowing cutback on the west side of the park This area is like a neighborhood park for these residents, who use the area to :lay ball, ctc. It was agreed among the residents and the staff to extend the area being mowed. Staff does not have an answer for Ms. Peterson's health concerns. The City has several thousand acres of unmowed land adjacent to residential homes. All of these homes have potential for field mice from adjacent property. V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 1. Bluff Country Village The proposed development is located north of Pioneer Trail and west of Highway 169, The project includes three separate areas, including two commercial subdivisions and one residential subdivision. Paul Quarberg of Hustad Development was present to speak for the developer. He p explained that there would be 113 townhomes on the perimeter of a 50,000 square foot commercial use area. There will be a park and ride lot with 3,600 square foot commercial space.There will be a sidewalk connection to Shadow Pond Drive. Stu Fox explained tree loss and a landscaping plan. There are now a total of 207 significant trees on the project site, with a total of 3,561 diameter inches. Tree loss would be 1,387 inches,which is a 35.9%loss of significant trees. Mitigation requires 709 inches of landscape material, 507 trees will be planted, with mostly coniferous trees on the north. Fox said storm water drainage would utilize an existing NURP pond on the East Side of Hennepin Town Line Road.There will bean eight-foot wide trail on the West Side of Hennepin Town Line Road. The staff is recommending that the open space ! corridor for the internal sidewalk and trail system expand from 20 feet wide to 40 feet Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 Page 3 wide. There is a need to interconnect sidewalks and provide access to the neighborhood park. The sidewalk should connect with the five-foot wide trail that will be built when the county updates Pioneer Trail. Discussion: Brown asked why all senior housing was cut out in the revised summary plan. Quarbcrg said that the townhomes would be a combination of two-level and one-level,and while the one-levels can accommodate seniors, they are not classified as"senior housing". Quarbcrg said that in the initial plan, the senior housing would have been an apartment building,but that building was eliminated. Corneille asked about the sidewalks and trail and the reason for the 40-foot casement. Fox said that a water connection will be underneath the sidewalk, and the casement must be wide enough for a water main. He also said that 40 feet is the minimum distance needed to reduce privacy issue concerns with adjacent residents. Koenig asked if the 15 "live-work" units would be like a home office situation. Quarbcrg said the units would have an office environment, and could accommodate such businesses as insurance,accounting,or law offices. Brown asked Fox if there would be a problem with these types of businesses operating in a residential area. Fox said it should not raise any problems. MOTION: Corneille moved to accept the proposal of the July 29,1999 staff report with staff recommendations. Stolar seconded the motion. MOTION: Corneille moved to amend the motion to add language stating that the entire sidewalk and trail system, including the landing point, would be privately maintained. and that the entire system would be subject to a public use casement. Wilson seconded the amendment.The amended motion was approved 6-0. 1. Shady Oak Estates The proposed project is located on 14.64 acres of land west of Old Shady Oak Road and north of Cherokee Trail. The proposal would create nine single-family lots. Bruce Nelson is the owner and developer of the land. Nelson said the development is being planned with as little impact as possible on the environment.Lot sizes arc large, r and the street system will be private. The plans call for replacing 100 trees. There will be some loss of wetlands,as fill will be needed to build the streets. Monument markers will indicate where the protected wetlands lay. Fox said there are 387 trees on the site,of which only 129 meet the criteria of being "significant". 31%of these significant trees will be removed for a total of 41 trees. The tree mass being removed is large, but these trees arc box elder, clm, aspen and willows.A landscape plan has not yet been submitted. i 1 t t r � Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 Page 4 Fill will be needed in the wetland area in order to widen out the street entering the davelopment. .27 acres will be filled. A NURP pond will be constructed on the eastern side of the private street. To protect the shoreline, monuments will mark the wetlands.Signagc will be placed 200 feet apart and 25 feet upland from the edges of the wetlands. Discussion: Koenig asked what type of trees would be planted. Nelson said they would be mostly hardwoods. Brown wanted to know if there would be penalties for homcowners who fill in, or infringe on the wetland area. Fox said that the wetlands would be a part of the homeowners' backyards, and no penalties have been set for dumping trash,grass,ctc.into the wetlands. y Stolar asked if there will be a homeowner's association,and if covenants will be put into the association's documents addressing the issue of infringement into the r wetlands. Nelson said there would be an association to cover maintenance of the i I streets. i Brown asked why the staff report does not mention cash park fees being charged the developer. Lambert said this is an oversight,and that the city code does require cash park fees for this development. Corneille was concerned about the number of trees being removed. Koenig asked if some of the willows and the native species would be saved.Fox said most of the trees are being removed to build the streets, but not all willows or native species will be removed Brown asked when the landscape plan would be approved. Koenig wanted to know if the commission would have input into the landscape plan. Fox said the staff will review the landscape plan and the council will approve it. Koenig asked how the native species are expected to do after the soil content has changed. Fox said the new trees in the landscape plan would be site appropriate. MOTION: Corneille moved to approve the Shady Oak Estates development N proposal as recommended in the staff report of July 9, 1999. Stolar sccondcd the motion. MOTION: Koenig moved to amend the motion to recommend that as many native trees and deciduous trees as possible be saved. Hilgeman seconded the amendment. MOTION: Stolar moved to amend the motion recommending that it bo communicated in the homeowner's association documents that the wetlands arc to be protected from till or dumping by the homeowner. Kocnig sccondcd the motion. The ! I Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 l Page 5 motion with the Koenig and Stolar amendments was approved 5-0. Hilgcman abstained. Brown would like the commission to have input on the kind of trees that will be planted. Koenig requested that the staff share the landscape plan with the 1 commission before it is approved by City Council. Stolar also would like to review of the landscape plan. Fox said the plan goes to council on August 17. VI. OLD BUSINESS 1. Proposed Community Center and Round Lake Parkine Permits Lyndell Frey explained the staff proposal that parking permits be required for daytime parking in the Community Center and Round Lake parking lots. These daytime permits would be in effect form 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday from the first day of school until the final day of school. The suggested parking permit fee would be$100 for the school year. The rationale for this proposal is it safety issue. High school students leaving these lots at end of the school day and rush to get out of the lot and on to Valley View 1 Road. There have been complaints from users of the Community Center about speeding and careless driving in these lots before and after school. There have been a number of incidents, with over 400 tickets being issued in this area last year. Additional patrolling is needed to keep the lot safe,especially from 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.,when school Icts out. Frey explained that right now students have to pay$40 to$80 for a parking permit at the high school,while the community center lot is free,resulting in many high school students using the community center lot. The $100 parking fee would encourage ' more students to purchase permits for the high school lots. Revenue from these parking fees would be used for additional patrolling in the community center lot. Wilson said he believes many students will opt to pay the $100 fee for the convenience of parking in the Community Center lot. _ 1 Corneille questioned the fairness of charging the $100 fee to only a certain segment ?` ' of the population,that is,high school students. Lambert said that the Community Center and Round Lake parking lots have a ninety- minute parking limit for anyone. The permits would only apply only to individuals parking in the lot for the entire school day. He said there is a safety issue with students leaving after school and driving too fast to get out of the lot. There is also an issue with students using all available parking space for the Community Center unless controlled. 3 Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 Page 6 Stolar asked if the all-day permits for Metro bus parking would be separate from the student permits. Lambert said Lot D close to the fire station is &ee parking for Southwest Metro users,but safety officers have not been necessary for this lot. Corneille questioned there not being a traffic light at the entrance of the parking lot onto Valley View Road. Koenig questioned what number of students is really causing the problem. Hilgeman said that the high school views this as a city problem, not a school problem. Lambert said that this is viewed as a proposal partnership between the city and the school. The school has parking lots that are planned for the students' use, the Community Center and Round Lake Park parking lots are part of the nigh school"campus"and the available parking should be utilized by students but i not at the cost of eliminating access to the Community Center or park by the general public. Stolar asked what the cost is to hire a safety officer to police this lot, and suggested j that the city not charge more than the actual cost to patrol the lot. Lambert said if every parking spot were sold, $35,000 would be brought in. Brown said that at a $100 per permit,the cost ofa police officer would not be covered. Corneille does not j believe it should cost more to park in the Community Center lot than in the high school lot. There was a consensus among members Hilgeman, Koenig,Corneille and j Stolar that the permit fee should not exceed$80,the highest high school lot fee. .. MOTION: Stolar moved to recommend the staff proposal of July 29. 1999,that the city issue 350 parking permits for Round Lake and the Community Center parking lots for the 1999-2000 school year, with the following changes: that the city charge no higher than the highest rate charged for the high school lot,and that after the first year the city set the parking fee equivalent to the cost of patrolling, but no less than what the high school charges. Hilgeman seconded the motion. The motion was approved 6-0. 2. Bid Summary for Round Lake Park Playstructure Stu Fox explained the bids that came in for the Round Lake playground equipment. The budget for replacement is $100.000, with $80,000 for the playstructure, and $20,000 for removing the old equipment and preparing the site for new equipment. ° There arc three components to the structure, the ship, the lighthouse, and the swing ' set. The large play component is a lighthouse structure with a tower,the second play area is a ship structure, and third is a swingset area. Main issues are safety, accessibility,reliability,and maintenance. There were five bidJers on the project: Earl F. Anderson, Flanagan Stiles, Midwest Playscapes, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and Miracle. After reviewing all bids, Fox said that Midwest Playscapes best meets the desired criteria, along with uniqueness of I 1 r i Parks,Recreation and Natural Resources Commission August 2, 1999 Page 7 design,a higher number of play components,greater ADA accessibility, and greater built-in safety components. MOTION: Koenig moved to support the staff recommendation that the bid for the Round Lake playground equipment be awarded to Midwest Playscapcs. Stolar seconded the motion.Approved 6-0. bt VI1. NEW BUSINESS 1. Proposed Amendment to the City Code Regarding Use of Parkland y. Lambert said that staff is recommending amending the City Code under Section 9.04 f entitled"Rules and Regulations Governing Parks"to make it illegal to dig or excavate i soil in the city parks. Recently, someone from city stuff found an individual digging t for artifacts at the Cummins-Grill Historic site. There is no provision now to restrict this kind of activity in the parks. ) MOTION: Stolar moved to approve the recommendation of the July 27, 1999 staff report making it illegal to dig or excavate in city parks. Corneille seconded. Approved 6-0. t 2. Cancellation of Open Stake at the Community Center i Frey explained that there is a problem with sub-floor heating system in the ice arena. The main rink sub-floor coil will cost$6000 to$10,000 to replace.The ice needs to be removed to correct the problem and prevent further damage. 25 hours of labor is required at $135 per hour. This will result in closing down the arena, which means eleven hours of open skate time will be lost. The work is scheduled between August M 22 and September 11. t MOTION: Stolar moved to approve canccltation of eleven hours of open skating between August 22 and September 11 due to repair of the main ice rink. Brown seconded the motion.Approved 6-0. 1. Programs at Staring Lake Park Koenig wanted to know if the number of programs at Staring Lake Outdoor Center is the same this year its it has been in past years. Lambert said he believes the number of program hours to be about the same as in the past. Vlll. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Brown moved to adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Wilson seconded. Approved 6-0.