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1994
: - FEBRUARY 7
MINUTES
CITY OF EDEN PRAII%AE
AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1994 7:00 P. M. CITY CENTER
8080 MITCHELL ROAD
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pat Richard, Chair; Bruce Bowman, Richard Brown,
Claire Hilgeman, Joanne Kube-Harderwijk, David
Kracum, Diane Popovich Lynch
STUDENT MEMBER: Mark Bremer
COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation and
Natural Resources; Barbara Penning Cross, Landscape
Architect; Stuart A. Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural
Resources; Laurie Helling, Manager of Recreation
Services
I. ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 31, 1994
IV. PETITIONS REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A. Request from Steve Schultz re: Dedicated Wall Space at Community Center
for High School Trophies, Etc.
V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
A. None
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Resolution Pertaining to the Future Use of the Glen Lake Hennepin County
Property (continued from January 1)
B. Park and Open Space System quisition Update
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VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Recommendation Regarding Park Bond Referendum for Acquisition of
Conservation Areas
B. Elect Chair and Vice Chair of Commission for 1994
C. M=e na Date with City Council - June 21. 1994 - 6*15 pm.
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VIII. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
A. Reports of Community Center Mang=
1. Possible Funding_Alternatives to Expand Locker Rooms at Community
Center
IX. ADJOURNMENT
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APPROVED MINUTES
`.. EDEN PRAIRIE ,'ARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
MONDA.Y, FEBRUARY 7,1994 7:00 P. M. CITY CENTER
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Pat Richard, Chair; Bruce Bowman, Richard
Brown, Claire Hilgeman, Joan Kube-Harderwijk,
David Kracum, Diane Popovich Lynch
STUDENT MEMBER PRESENT: Mark Bremer
COMMISSION STAFF: Robert A. Lambert, Director of Parks, Recreation
and Natural Resources; David Black, Community
Center Manager
I, ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by chair Pat Richard.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Lambert requested that item VI. A. be moved to the first issue, as Colleen Carter had
to be at another meeting.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JAN TRY 31, 1994
Lambert stated that the minutes for January 31 were not ready for review at this time.
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VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Resolution Pertaining to the Future Use of the Glen Lake Hennepin County
Property (continued from January 31) - Lambert introduced Colleen Carter, a
Board member of the "We Can Ride" program that represented that program on
the golf course study. Lambert reminded the Commission that they continued this
item because they were uncomfortable making a recommendation until they had
heard from someone representing the "We Can Ride" program. Richard
requested Ms. Carter to explain the position and concerns of the board members j
responsible for the "We Can Ride" program. J
Ms. Carter explained that they pay rent to Hennepin County to use the Hennepin
County Home School equestrian facilities. They provide services to the disabled
of all ages. She indicated any development that would remove them from that
facility would affect eliminate that service. They don't have the funds to
purchase their own facilities or develop a similar facility. In 1993, 92 students
( rode in their program, all but six to eight were from Hennepin County. Another
SO were on a waiting list.
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The goal of the board and staff is to insulate and heat the indoor arena to allow
them to operate their program later in the fall and earlier in the spring. She
indicated that several proposals for the golf course varied the amount of property
remaining for the Home School and their program. In her opinion, if the east
pasture is eliminated or significantly reduced it would increase the cost to the
County to operate the program to the point that they would probably eliminate the
program. Without the pasture they would be forced to provide hay and grain for
those horses on a year round basis.
Their program is privately funding and generates revenue from memberships,
lesson fees and grants. Fees are generally $65/session (a four week session) and
seven sessions are offered throughout the year. There are also two preschool
sessions that cost$70. Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford it.
Lynch asked for additional information regarding the volunteers used. Carter
stated that from one to three volunteers are used for each rider depending on the
rider's ability. The individual leading the horse is generally from the Home
School.
Bowman indicated that he was very uncomfortable having to make any kind of
decision on the concept plan when the Commission does not have a concept plan
to review. Richard stated that all of the Commission members are frustrated with
this request to take action on a plan without a plan.
Lambert indicated that the Council had already approved the resolution supporting
the concept of the golf course on the site upon the condition that any plan for a
golf course would require a master plan that would would include how Birch
Island Park, Camp Edenwood and the open space land owned by Hennepin
Country in Eden Prairie would be incorporated into the golf course and
surrounding open space. Lambert also indicated that the Council did not believe
that supporting a golf course at this point necessarily meant eliminating the
equestrian program, but simply stated that the City of Eden Prairie generally
approved of the concept of trying to provide a golf course in this area.
MOTION: Moved by Lynch, seconded by Kube Harderwijk that the Parks,
Recreation and Natural Resources Commission support the concept plan for a golf
course under the condition that it investigate ways of accommodating the "We
Can Ride" program in the final plan. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. PETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A. RcQu st from Steve Schultz Regarding DedicatPd Wall Space at the Community
Center for High School Trophies.Etc. - Lambert described the request by Schultz
that the School District would like to provide a secure wall space in the hockey
arena and swimming pool that would allow the school to display pictures, etc. of
the team that is using the facility during that particular season. This is not meant
( to be a trophy case and this up to the school to pay for the installation of the
display are and maintain them. Staff has also indicated that if the hockey team,
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swimming teams, etc. that utilize the facility as their home ice or home pool win
a State Championship or runner up they would be allowed to display a banner
C similar to what they display in the gymnasium at the school.
MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Lynch, to approve the request as
per the staff recommendation. Motion passed unanimously.
V. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
A. None
VI. OLD BUSINESS
B. Park and Open Space System Acquisition Update - Lambert indicated this is an
information item only, and encouraged the Commission to members to review the
memo and to keep it as it is important information to consider when there are
other requests for funding projects beyond these proposed capital improvement
projects. This update and service area maps also give the Commission and
Council an idea what areas of the City are well served compared to what areas
of the City could justifiably request additional services.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Recommendation_ Reaardi Park Bond RPf �Pnd m for Acquisition of
Y,�n�Prvation_Areas - Lambert reviewed the memo recommending the City
Council consider a May 24, 1994 park bond referendum in the amount j
$1,950,000 for the purpose of acquiring conservation land in southwest Eden
Prairie. Lambert explained the rationale for the proposed date of late May
indicating that it is difficult to expect many volunteers to continue working on a j
referendum after school is out and family vacations are planned. He further
suggested that prior to late May several tours of the sites could be planned, which
would allow interested voters to see the sites that are considered for acquisition.
Commission members requested an explanation for wording of the proposed
referendum question. Lambert suggested that the wording specifically states that
the money would be used for acquisition of preservation property; however, due
to the possibility of receiving a LCMR Grant the language cannot be specifically
directed toward one or two sites.
MOTION: Moved by Lynch, seconded by Kube-Harderwijk, to approve the
staff recommendation for a 1994 referendum in the amount of 1.95 million dollars
as per the staff memo, which also included the $4,000 budget for providing
public information on this referendum. Motion passed unanimously.
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B. Elect Chair and Vice Chair of Commission for 1994 - Various Commission
members thanked Pat Richard for his excellent leadership and commitment to the
Commission over the last six years. Richard stated that he had enjoyed serving
( on the Commission and would always be willing to come back and help the
Commission on important issues.
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MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Bowman, to nominate Lynch as
chair of the Commission for 1994. Motion passed unanimously. There were no
other nominations for the chair and the Commission cast an unanimous ballot for
Lynch as chair.
MOTION: Moved by Hilgeman, seconded by Lynch, to nominate Bruce
Bowman as vice chair for 1994. Motion passed unanimously. There were no
other nominations for vice chair, and the Commission members cast an
unanimous ballot for Bowman as vice chair subject to his appointment by the City
Council.
C. Meeting Date With the City Council- June 21. 1994 - 6.15 p.m. - Lambert
indicated that this is any information item only and requested Commission
members to put this date and time on their calendars and to think of items they
wished to discuss with the City Council at the special meeting. Any issues that "I
Commission members want included on the agenda should be forwarded to
Lambert before June 1st.
VIR. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
A. Reports of Community Center Manager
1. Possible Funding Alternatives to Expand Locker Rooms at the Community
Center - Lambert indicated that he had requested Dave Black to prepare
a report providing possible increases in fees by Community Center users
to fund a locker room expansion over a five to six year period. Lambert
indicated that this request had come from Commission member Richard ,
and Lambert supported the concept of initiating this project as soon as
possible.
Richard gave the background on the long standing concerns of residents
regrading the lack of space in the locker rooms and the inadequate
showers at the Community Center. Richard explained that he believed it
should be an extremely high priority to make improvements to a facility
that is serving thousands of people each year, especially when part of that
facility is causing ill feelings by many of those users on a daily basis.
Each of the Commission members concurred with the concept of making
that improvement and requested staff to find tune the numbers and
forward that request to the City Council.
MOTION: Moved by Richard, seconded by Brown, that the staff fine
tune the numbers an request and architect to provide a concept design and i a
updated cost estimate to expand the locker room and entry control area,
and provide the City Council with a proposed pay off program. Motion
passed unanimously.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
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The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert A. Lambert
Recording Secretary
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