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Parks and Recreation - 05/20/1974 i 1974 MAY 6, 20 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 6, 1974 10:45 p.m. , .City Hall C COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Dick Anderson, Wolf Penzel, William Bye, Paul Enblom, Francis Helmer. COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Janet Berkland, Richard Bren, Jr. COMMISSION STAFF PRESENT: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services Chris Enger, Landscape Architect Robert Heinrich, City Manager Jodi Gelling, Student Intern Dennis Dallman, Student Intern The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:45 p.m. by Chairman Marvin Erickson. I. MINUTES OF APRIL 15 , 1974, MEETING. M/Penzel, S/Garens that the minutes of the April 15, 1974, meeting be approved as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Bye pointed out that the high school Tennis Team is raising havoc at the tennis courts and is kicking people off the courts so they can practice at any hour of any day, and suggested that Jessen contact them to impress upon them the Commission's desire to adhere to the rules adopted at the last , meeting. II. PETITIONS REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS: A. Communication from Lorman Jarrett about his desire to sell 20.33 acres to the City. Jessen stated this item would be on the next City Council agenda and felt that the extent of the acquisition in this area would be better known as a result of the Purgatory Creek Corridor Study being conducted by Brauer & Associates. No action required. r r B. Communication from State Planning Agency and Bureau of Outdoor Recreation ,concerning status of Bryant Lake Park Funding. Jessen reviewed the letters quickly and pointed out the problem with the upcoming Contract for Deed payment due for the Holasek property at Bryant Lake Park. M/Helmer, S/Garens that Jessen contact Senators Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale and Congressman Bill Frenzel to solicit their assistance in assuring approval of this project prior to the July 1 deadline. Motion carried unanimously. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -2- May 6 , , 974 C. Notice of Symposium on Environmental Legislation. - lessen pointed out the information included in the Commissioner's packet and suggested if anyone is interested in going, they could contact him for arrangements, etc. No action required. III. RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS; A. Crosstown Playground Report. lessen reviewed the problem which had arisen when staff went out to stake out the location for the proposed Crosstown Playground Ballfield and that the residents of Minnetonka were very much against this suggestion and had filed a petition with the Commission urging them not to proceed. lessen alluded to the report which was distributed to the Commission and suggested that the other two alternatives of development at Birch Island Park or the acquisition and development of land in the Shelter Corp.'s Eden Farms pro-. posal be considered at the next meeting. No action required. B. Lions Picnic Pavilion Report. lessen reviewed the report which was distributed to the Commission con- cerning the $15,000 pavilion and the Lions Club letter to the City urging them to take speedy action in this regard. lessen also highlighted the proposed Capital Improvements adjustments included as a final sheet on this report. M/Garens S/Erickson that the e Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the City Council that they approve the Capital Improvements adjustments as presented with the deletion of the $1,000 for the sailboat for Bryant Lake Park. Included in this recommendation is the appropriation of $7,000 for the construction of the picnic pavilion in conjunction with the Lions Club and an additional $535 for hard surface play area to be constructed at Round Lake this summer to be used for Schooner Days. Motion carried unanimously. a. 0. Council Action on Communication from Dutch Schaitberger on Riley Lake Park Planning Process. lessen reported that the Council had directed the Commission and staff to r study this area and come forward with a recommendation as to a course of +# action at the June 11th Council Meeting. He said that he was meeting with some of the Riley Lake Homeowner Association members on Thursday,. May 9, to inform them of the Council action in this ri:gard as there seemed to be much misinformation out about the City's intention in this area. No action ' required. ' s D. Tree Nursery Report. Chris Enger reported that he had met with approximately 20 homeowners last week to review this proposal and that they were primarily concerned about the need for good maintenance if the City was to go ahead. They seemed to be in favor of the tree nursery as it will provide a desired buffer strip between the par}; activity and their homes to the south. He stated that many j of the residents were under the impression that the City had committed to Park & Recreation Commission Minutes -3- May 6, 1974 construct a windbreak five years ago at the time the first park acquisition took place in this area and that the neighbors wanted the City to proceed with the nursery. I Enger also stated that the City had had problems in securing Vo-Tec students to work in this area and that he was now talking to representatives of the North Campus of Vo-Tec School to see if some of their second year students might undertake this project for us. M/Anderson, S/Erickson that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Council the approval of the Tree Nursery project to be undertaken in the summer of 1974. Motion carried unanimously. E. 1974 Summer Recreation Program Report. jessen referred to the report which had been distributed to the Commission in their packet and suggested that this was the program which would be implemented unless the Commission had any changes which they wish to make. M/Garens, S/Erickson to adopt the program as presented and direct the staff to proceed with implementation. Motion carried unanimously. F. 1974 Beach Season/Park Program Report. a jessen reviewed the report distributed to the Commission, highlighting the changes in fees and some of the policies relative to the personnel. M/Garens, S/Bye that the Park and Recreation Commission adopt the program and policies as presented and direct the staff to implement them. Motion carried unanimously. G. Teen Work Program Report. jessen reviewed the report distributed to the Commission and stated that the staff was working with a Steering Committee in deciding whether to proceed with the all-recreation alternative or to include some payment to s the students for participating in the program. He indicated that the YMCA was considering providing the free trip to Camp Warren for the participants ; in lieu of paying the City of Eden Prairie a rental rate for the use of Bryant Lake Park for their Campaway Program. A further report on this will be 4 presented at the next Commission meeting. M/Lye, S/Anderson that the Park and Recreation Commission adopt the k Summer Teen Work Program as presented and authorize the staff to implement it. Motion carried unanimously. Y H. Recreation Program Supervisor Discussion. Bye suggested that he felt there was a real need to insure that the Recreation Program Supervisor be employed so that better program service can be given, and apparently the rest of the Commission felt likewise. He recommended Park & Recreation Commission Minute s -4- May 6, 1974 that in light of this need and the fact.that some liquor license proceeds ' were available for programs that this was the place to spend some of that money for today's residents. ' • i M/Bye, S/Erickson that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Council that the liquor license fees be committed to the Park and ` Recreation Program areas. Motion carried unanimously. M/Bye,S/Erickson that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend to the Council that the first program to be undertaken with the proceeds from ! these fees be to employ a Recreation Program Supervisor as recommended by the Commission to the Council on March 4, 1974. Motion carried unanimously. Bye actreed to appear at the next Council meeting to represent these views to the Council so that these programs can be implemented. IV. ADJOURNMENT. I M/Garens, S/Erickson that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously. • i i C • t r AGENDA JOINT MEETING: EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL AND EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION Monday, May 6 , 1974 7:30 p.m. , City Hall (� COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor D.W. Osterholt, Joan Meyers, Wolfgang Penzel, John + McCulloch, Sidney Pauly PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chairman Marvin Erickson, Richard Anderson, William Garens, Janet Berkland, Steve Eisch, Paul Enblom, William Bye, Richard Bren, Francis Helmer, Wolfgang Penzel I. DISCUSSION OF ANDERSON LAKES PARK CONCEPT. II. DISCUSSION OF NEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND AREAS & FACILITIES, ; r III. DISCUSSION OF RECREATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR POSITION REQUEST. --------- -------- I AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION ROLL CALL. i ,i I. MINUTES OF APRIL 15 , 1974, MEETING. i C_ i. PETITIONS, REQUESTS & COMMUNICATIONS. A. Communication from Lorman Jarrett about desire to sell 20.33 acres to the City. (Land just north of Valley View Road adjacent to Purgatory Creek.) B. Communication from State Planning Acrency and Bureau of Outdoor Recreation concerning status of Bryant Lake Park Funding. C. Notice of Symposium on Environmental Legislation. III. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS. A. Crosstown Playground Report. B. Lions Picnic Pavilion Report. C. Council action on Communication from Dutch Schaitbercrer and Riley Lake Park Planning Process. D. Tree Nursery. E. 1974 Summer Recreation Report. F. 1974 Beach Season/Park Program Report. G. Teen Work Program Report. IV. ADJOURNMENT. f i r MINUTES JOINT MEETING EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL Sc PARK ScRECREATIODT COMMISSION 7:30 p.m. , City Hall MONDAY, MAY 6, 1974 PRESENT: Council Members Mayor D. W. Osterholt, John McCulloch, Joan Meyers, Sidney Pauly, Wolfgang Penzel. Commission Members Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Dick Anderson, Wolf Penzel, William Bye, Paul Enblom, Francis Helmer. Absent: Janet Berkland, Richard Bren, Jr. n Staff Members - Robert Heinrich, City Manager; Marty jessen, ty Director of Community Architect1chard Putnam,Jod Gelling andiDennis Planner; , Chris Enger, Landscape Dallman, Student Interns. Others: Les Blacklock; Don Fondrick; George Carter; Jeff Peterson, Eden Prairie Sun Newspaper; Betty Anderson; Mike Gust. The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Chairman Marvin Erickson. I. DISCUSSION OF ANDERSON LAKES PARK CONCEPT. jessen crave a brief summary of the evolution of the Anderson Lakes Park Concept from that proposed in 1968 and as it The originals sugested now by plan avast o include some e Park and Recreation Commission. active spaces, including community re taels anlmostt he entirean ice ena and area for swimming pool. The present plan is to use a environmental education and conservation purposes with a limited area for group and individual picnicking. Les Blacklock, a residen consultingea and about his living on he land for the naturalist, then gave a presentation past 20 some years and also the advantages and planning constraints for a nature center. He stressed the point that Anderson Lakes has all of the habitats desirable for wildlife management and nature center use, including G open water, marshy edges, eforna nature ods, and center becaiuse. He said it is he likens nature important to have a large area centers to a theater where you have performances on the stage but you need a crreat deal of backstage area so that the performance can be seen and enjoyed by from which to see wildnests and s but youther words, you have a can t and don't intrude vantage Point from �. on this wildness or it moves away from you. Blacklock talked briefly about the history of Anderson Lakes when it was proposed for a Hennepin County Park Reserve District parkreserve area. - F,Dllowing the Park Reserve District's moving away from this site to Carver Park, the Metropolitan Park Board became interested in Anderson Lakes Joint Mtg.:City Council & -2- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes and it was placed as a No. 1 priority in the metropolitan area. However, because of a lack of funding for several years, it was not implemented and finally a four part agreement was reached between Eden Prairie, Bloomington, the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, and the Metropolitan Park Board. Blacklock talked about the other land uses proposed in and around the Anderson Lakes area in the past, including the landfill at Neill Lake, the mobile home court where Homart is presently building, and the 4 industrial development proposed on the north shore including the tractor test track. He pointed out how citizens in the area had led resistance to these developments and. the Council from Eden Prairie had agreed throughout because of the great value of the area as-an open space and natural park area. Blacklock stressed the need for fencing of the park area if it is to function as a nature center. This fencing would prohibit people from intruding on the wildness and forcing it away from the users. Don Fondrick,'the naturalist from the Wood lake Nature Center in Richfield, R next talked about their experiences in developing and operating the nature center at Woodlake. He pointed out how Richfield is a surrounded city in the middle of over 1 million people. At one time, Wood Take was a lake used for water skiing and other active recreation purposes. When I-35W was constructed along the western edge, it essentially "pulled the plug" and the lake drained dawn to - a swamp.. The lake area then set'virtually unused for 10 years, when Richfield looked at it and decided to investigate alternative recreational uses for the area and other land uses as well. A nature center, golf course, ice arena site, junior college site, library and cultural center, and lake and park beautiful such as Lake of the Isles t were all considered. Finally in 1967, it was decided to proceed with the nature center, and Brauer & Associates were hired to design and supervise the construction. The necessity for open water within the center was recognized and they proceeded to develop pockets of water within the nature center area. A well was installed to augment the level because it continues to drain out 't of the area from the highway construction, plus the evaporation of over 1 million gallons of water per day also necessitates the inclusion of a well. Wood Take has now been open for three years and they have many users, from school groups as well as the general public, families, etc. The a nature center is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Saturday. Programming is of major importance in the operation of the nature center. They try to help people feel comfortable in the natural environment through the interpretation of the environment. Many activities deal with relating man to his environment through the understanding of nature. joint Mtg. : City Council & -3- May 6, 1974., Park & Recreation Commission Minute s In 1973, over 70, 000 people, as a conservative estimate, used Wood Lake. Of this number, over 21 ,000 were people in groups of 15 or less who came on guided tours. Originally when they were considering the nature center concept, the question was asked of Fondrick if he thought he could get anybody to come to the nature center, and he said now the real problem is that they have too many people to do an .adequate job of interpretive work. Fondrick said that Wood Lake is fenced all the way around and he feels this is the most important element of the design. Prior to the fencing, they had snowmobiles, dogs, Volkswagons, and every other kind of use ' in the area and very little wildlife. Since the fence has gone up, the wildlife has returned and they are able to conduct much better interpretive program s. 4 Wood Lake has a staff of five full-time people, a number of part-time people, plus student interns and volunteers. Their annual operating budget is approximately $96 ,000. Mayor Osterholt asked how many acres were included in Wood Lake and how it was purchased and developed. Fondrick replied that it consists of about 150 acres and the City owned most of it at the time the freeway construction drained Wood Lake, as it was previously known. The land was developed using approximately$200,000 from the Hennepin County Lake Improvement Fund. The balance of the $800,000 total cost came primarily from liquor store proceeds of the City of Richfield. Over 50% of the groups using the nature center are from Richfield, and the Richfield Public Schools. Fondrick was unable to break down the percentage of people using it from Richfield in the general public use of the area. They have had visitors from 48 states and 17 foreign countries. Additionally, the movie, "I Hear A Whisper" , was produced at Wood Lake and is shown all over the world as indicative of the nature center program there. Mayor Osterholt asked Les Blacklock to address the no boating and no canoeing proposed for the Anderson Lakes. Blacklock stated that any boating on the lakes would drive all the water birds out. If the nature center concept is the aim, then you must do everything to minimize the disturbance caused to the waterfowl and, thus, the elimination of the t boating in the concept. Chris Enger, City Park Planner, next discussed the refinement of the concept plan as presented and adopted by the Park and Recreation Commis- sion and the City Council in the fall of 1973. He stated that each of the plans had been a further refinement of the previous one and the plan as now proposed limited the access to the area off of Amsden Road from the Amsden Road/Co. Rd. 18 intersection. The plan calls for fencing of the joint Mtg: City Council & -4- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes entire area so that control of use could be accomplished to maximize the potential for wildlife management. The only other use proposed in the park is a picnic area just north of Amsden Road which would be available for group and family picnics, and a small field game space right along the East/West Parkwayon a portion of the Moorings site --outside the fence. Mayor Osterholt asked if there was any alternative to the fence which would accomplish the objective of limiting access. Blacklock stated that he felt the fence was the only alternative and that it sets up the require- ments upon which people will use the facility and they clearly understand that they are not to go tromping through the brambles and brush because the fence is there also. He said he feels it sets the stage for the wildlife use inside of the fence and people will respect the fence line if it is a fence better than if it were any other form of barrier. Mayor Osterholt further asked if people wouldn't climb over the fence to gain access. Blacklock stated that he felt the fence tells them not to go in and most people will respect the message. Erickson asked if Wood Lake had a number of late night visitors who came in for beer parties and other things. Fondrick said yes, they have people in at night and that they'd like to get away from the fence idea but they have found the fence is the only things that works to minimize the number C_ of unauthorized visitors. Penzel asked Putnam to explain the situation as he knew it from the Hennepin County Highway Department as far as access off of Co. Rd. 18. Putnam stated that the City had proposed Amsden Road as the northernmost interchange for 18 and that we'd also suggested that the southbound lane of the new freeway be constructed on existing 18 alignment. Mayor Osterholt asked if it had not been considered that old 18 would serve as a frontage road in this area. Jessen stated that he'd recently met with repre- sentatives of the Hennepin County Highway Department to advise them of certain lands and houses that were sale in the Timber Trail Area and that they had talked about using old 18 as a frontage road to serve these people and that he'd advised them that we'd visualized the southbound freeway ,w lane as using the old 18 alignment and that all the houses in the area would be moved out at the time the freeway was constructed. Osterholt suggested that we ask the County about their plans -in mire detail so that we could clarify the situation. , Bye suggested that instead of asking the County about their plans, we tell them about our plans so that they can incorporate them into their road design. Anderson stated that he felt that the Anderson Lakes project has been around for a long time and that the Commission had recommended it to the Council last year and given it much support and wanted to know if the Council agreed with the Commission recommendations. Garens stated that he had heard Joint Mtg. : City Council & -5- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes some Council people say that the land is too expensive, but that it is his feeling and the feeling of the Commission that the land prices are not going down and we should finish it up quickly so we.can accomplish the overall goal of the nature center park area. Garens also said that he felt the Park and Recreation Commission was preparing to recommend another bond issue to the Council for additional land acquisition and park develop- ment of all kinds, including the nature center and neighborhood playground facility development. Betty Anderson, speaking for the League of Women Voters, said that the i League has always supported the Eden Prairie long range planning, parti- cularly the park planning and acquisition program; that each year for the last couple of years they have reaffirmed their support of these efforts; and wanted to be on record as continuing to support the City position, urges the acquisition of the remaining parcels within the Anderson Lakes area, and also supports undertaking whatever is necessary to maximize its potential for the use for which it is intended, and that in this case fencing so it can best serve as a nature center. She also stated that as a member of the Eden Prairie School Board, she is extremely excited about the concept and looks forward to the School District using it extensively for environmental education programs. Mayor Osterholt stated that the Council wanted to voice their appreciation to the Commission for its effort in developing the Anderson Lakes Park Concept and voiced his opinion that the Commissions are the real heroes of the effort and deserve commendation in this regard. George Carter from The Preserve stated that The Preserve is for the Anderson Lakes nature concept and that they want the barrier so that the concept can be implemented to the greatest degree of effectiveness. He said he has talked with Cliff French from the Hennepin County Park Reserve District and other people who are knowledgable in this area, and they all think that prickly ash or some such bramble and brushed will not work to effectively keep people out of the area so that the wildlife objec- tives can be reached. lessen stated that there was a need to build the fence as development in The Preserve occurs so that the encroachment into the area can be minimized throughout development. If The Preserve doesn't built the fence in conjunction with the Moorings offer, then the y City must act quickly to establish the rules for the use of this area. E, McCulloch asked if we have fully established the fence line along the west shore. Putnam stated that it had been established for the Basswoods area but it had not been detailed exactly on the northern part, and that this would be done as The Preserve brings in additional plans. Carter stated that he felt that this would be resolved within the next two months. Heinrich added that the City had just wrapped up the dedication line and barrier alignment with Gelco Corporation as part of their development pro- posal and rezoning for the north shore. joint Mtg. : City Council & -b - May 6, '1974 t Park & Recreation Commission Minutes There was no resolution of the park concept at the meeting. The Council stated that they would consider it at the May 14th meeting and take action on the recommendation to purchase the Moorings property. II. DISCUSSION OF PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION TO PROCEED TO IMPLEMENT RIVER BLUFFS AND RIVER VALLEY OPEN SPACE _y PROPOSAL. Anderson asked why the Council had not taken favorable action on the t Park and Recreation Commission's recommendation to proceed with the y bluffs and river area. He stated that he felt that the proposal was w reasonable and that it was crucial to proceed at this time inasmuch as the staff had talked to the Watershed District, and he felt there was a good possibility of getting their participation in funding the acquisition of the area. Mayor Osterholt responded by saying he felt the proposal was tied to the Kingdale Kennel development proposal which was denied, and that the Council must weigh all matters in proceeding on this action and they were concerned about any attention and publicity in this area which might lead to higher land prices, etc. He said he hoped it can be acquired at N. a later date but without the publicity attendant to official Council action on a proposal such as this. ' McCulloch stated that he thought if the Council authorized the acquisition of the 40 acres involved in the central area, particularly the Grill property, that the whole thing would snowball to more and more acquisition, and that we really didn't have any commitment from the Watershed District or others to help finance the acquisition. Anderson responded by saying he felt the staff had done a good job of communicating with the Watershed District E, and that this commitment could be secured from them before any acquisition commenced. Anderson also expressed concern that the Hustad Develop- ment Co. and Browning Ferriss might reconsider their commitment to dedi- cate the bluffs in light of the failure to proceed with the acquisition of the entire area as vm had talked to them about doing. Councilwoman Pauly indicated that this was considered in the Kingdale Kennel deliberations . but that it was the Council's opinion that commercial land uses were different than single family areas. She stated that everyone agrees that we'd like to proceed to acquire the river bluffs but that this is not the f right time. ix Penzel indicated that it was his feeling that while Hustad had some compensatory land uses on top of the bluff by dedicating the bluff itself, the 40 acres involved in the central portion of the river bluffs had no tradeoff and thus the City would have to acquire it. Mayor Osterholt said that he felt scenic areas can also occur in large lot development and that things change over time just as the Anderson Lakes Park Concept has matured to its present proposal. Penzel responded by indicating he felt joint Mtg.: City Council & -7- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minute s the City will. end up buying this area sooner or later anyhow. Anderson stated that the longer we wait, the more it will cost. III. DISCUSSION OF NEED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYGROUND AREAS AND FACILITIES. Mayor Osterholt said that he had been contacted by a number of citizens about the need for services of this type in the community and that it was his feeling that the Council should consider opening a municipal liquor store and dedicating the funds from it to park use. He suggested that the liquor store might occur next door to the Public Works facility on Hwy. 5 or in the Homart Center. He also said he felt the time had come for the City to get into this type of business. He also suggested the $7,500 liquor license fee is another source of revenue to earmark for park and recreation uses. He alluded to Richfield and Edina and the great amounts of money they make through the operation of a municipal off-sale store. Councilwoman Pauly asked if municipalities can really compete in this business, and would they be able to make as much money as the private sector does in the liquor store business. Bye responded by saying that he knows of nobody who loses in an off-sale liquor store and suggested that some profit, no matter how small, was better than no profit at all. Anderson said that he understood two licenses had been issued to date and wanted to know if the funds had been encumbered. Heinrich said no, they had not been encumbered and could be spent. Osterholt suggested that the City should proceed to option land for neighborhood park uses in an effort to hold down the prices while we generate money to proceed with the acquisition. He also suggested that perhaps some money could be spend from the Park Bond Issue or that the proceeds from the liquor fees could be earmarked for this purpose. He urged the Commission to identify needs in the community and request funding to meet these needs. Councilwoman Meyers suggested that another bond issue appeared to be i the only answer to generating enough money to proceed with any kind of a program. Garens also suggested that a referendum to increase operating and maintenance potential was crucial. Penzel suggested that the Jaycees have voted to work on just this type of project this summer, in line with the Park and Recreation Commission's action at their last meeting where they directed the staff to develop plans for both a bond issue and a referendum. McCulloch suggested that the Council needs a total plan so they can address all the needs of the community, not just bits and pieces of it. Anderson stated that the Commission is now starting to develop this total plan and would bring it to the Council at the earliest possible date. Meyers r joint Mtg.: City Council & -8- May 6 , 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minute s suggested that the Bikeway/Hikeway Task Force implementation program also be included in this bond issue development. Bye suggested that Eden Prairie has done a great job in planning for the future but felt there was a need to develop more facilities for today's residents as well as a continued emphasis on the long range planning and implementation. He also stated lie felt the bond issue will pass if the people are well informed and know they will get facilities that they can use immediately as well as facilities that will be of benefit to the whole i. community at a later date. i m. Helmer suggested there was a need for park maintenance as a separate c function in the Park and Recreation Department rather than being included in Public Works. He said he felt the level of maintenance would be improved and would be more attuned to the priorities of the program rather ` than just maintaining the facility. Heinrich stated that the staff in mainte- nance is sometimes used in an emergency on one program and at those times, park maintenance definitely does suffer. IV. DISCUSSION OF RECREATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR POSITION REQUEST. 6 Penzel stated that he wanted the Commission to have the opportunity to . address themselves directly to the Council relative to this request so that the Council could have the full benefit of their input prior to making a decision at the May 14, 1974, meeting. Anderson said he felt there was just too much work for one person to do in the Park and Recreation area, and suggested that this would help in meeting the needs of today's residents. He said he felt Jessen spends much time in planning and administration, that that was a good use of his time, and the hiring of a Recreation Program Supervisor would help do a better job of meeting today's needs. Erickson stated that interns help a great deal, but the timing isn't just right to develop and implement programs. He, too, said he felt there was too much work for one person. ' Osterholt asked if the Commission felt the staff was getting involved in x too many things, and perhaps recreation is more important than grants administration, etc. Erickson responded by saying he felt Jessen was doing a great job of securing funding and planning and administration, but that there was a need to have someone responsible for the day-to-day . program details. He further said he felt grants administration ought to be a higher priority on jessen's time than worrying what is going on on ; the softball field and that we ought to hire someone to worry about the t. second part of this. Osterholt said he felt more of Jessen's time should be spent on recreation and less in this other area. Meyers suggested that Eden Prairie was trying to do a very good job in the Park and Recreation program area but trying to do it -rith too small a staff and there was more work than one person could accomplish.'• By© r joint Mtg.: City Council & -9- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minute s suggested that the people of Eden Prairie will really benefit if another person is added to the staff because the recreation programs will be better supervised and this will develop support for additional facility development and programs which will in the long haul make for a better community. He said he felt that we're putting too big a burden on a one man staff but that he felt it was important to deal with both aspects, both the long range and the short range goals of the community. Osterholt i suggested that the assignment of priorities is really the key to the Park I and Recreation program area. Bye responded by indicating that if additional staff is provided, community growth will more than help to pay for the additional service. Meyers stated that she felt we cannot 4. afford to say that recreation is the only priority, that we need to have both recreation for today's residents as well as long range Park and r Recreation planning and program development. She suggested that we have big things happening in the long range area and need to continue to devote a great deal of time to that area to insure implementation, but at the same time, need to provide additional services to today's residents. She further stated that when jessen was hired for this position, Eden Prairie was in a small town situation; now it is reaching the point where we have many things going on that are big town in nature and we still have only one person to do all of the work. Anderson said he felt we were squeezing the staff too much, placing too much work on them and expecting too much, and we needed to develop additional staff capabilities so that we could retain people on the staff that he felt were very good. Garens added that he felt jessen was over- worked and that if we don't provide help, he'll leave the community. He stated that he didn't feel he could do all the things that were getting done and that jessen was expected to do, and that in his view it was critical that the Council address this question in a positive manner. Osterholt stated that the Council must look at all aspects of the City service, not just Parks and Recreation. Erickson stated that it was the Commission's view that we needed to have an additional staff person in this area right now so that we could maintain and expand the level of service. McCulloch asked what the joint meeting with the School Board brought about in the area of Community Education; Penzel stated that no reso- lution of the program had resulted. Meyers said she felt based on the meeting that Community Education will not be of any assistance to the City in the recreation programming area, that the emphasis of the program will be on community involvement, stimulating new interests, etc. and not on providing recreation services for today or tomorrow's residents. Osterholt said that Community Education is involvement and stimulating interest, not implementation of programs, and that they will not do the recreation programming for this City. Bye suggested that this was further joint Mtg.: City Council & -10- May 6, 1974 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Justification for the need for the Recreation Program Supervisor in that we need to have doers to carry out the programs for the citizens. V. ADJOURNMENT OF JOINT MEETING. MINUTES `�. EDEN PRAIRIE PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 20, 1974 7:3 0 p.m. , City Hall MEMBERS PRESENT: Marvin Erickson, Bill Garens, Dick Anderson, William Bye, Jan Berkland, Wolf Penzel. MEMBERS ABSENT: Richard Brent, Jr. , Paul Enblom, Francis Helmer STAFF PRESENT: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services Chris Enger, 'Landscape Architect Jodi Gelling, Student Intern OTHERS PRESENT: Jan Mavis, Sarah Heinbuch from Lochanburn Addition. „ The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Chairman Marvin Erickson. u I. MINUTES OF MAY 6, 1974, MEETING. M/Bye, S/Penzel that the minutes of the May 6, 1974, meeting be approved as presented. Motion carried unanimously. MINUTES OF MAY 6, 1974, JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL. This item was tabled in that they are not yet reproduced. II. COMMUNICATIONS A. Letter from Wally Ball - requesting neighborhood playground facilities for Topview Addition. Jessen reported that Mr. Ball had contacted him about providing a neighbor- hood playground service in that area and had expressed the possibility of the City purchasing a couple of lots from him for that purpose. These lots would also tie in to the overhead power easement and serve as a connector from the neighborhood playground area to the Nine Mile Creek system and the land dedicated by Northern States Power. Penzel asked an approximation `. of the cost of buying these lots and Jessen reported that Mr. Ball indicated he would sell two or three lots for approximately $7,500 total. Jessen suggested that this communication be included in the Neighborhood f Facility Study and a course of action would be recommended based on the findings of that study. No action required. B. Communication from Congressman Frenzel's office advising approval of 4a of $150 ,300 of funding for Anderson Lakes Park. . Jessen reported that the City had received a call from Congressman Frenzel's office stating that the Anderson Lakes Park funding request for 1974 LAWCON monies had been approved. An additional amount of $145 ,300 will be received from the State of Minnesota Natural Resources Fund at the June meeting. These monies will be used to purchase the Brown, Blacklock, and Eleanor Holasek property at Anderson Lakes. No action required. Park & Recreation Commission -2- May 20, 1974 Minute s III. RECOMMENDATIONS & REPORTS. A. Riley Lake Park - Planning Report. { jessen reported that he had met with the Riley Lake Homeowner's Assn. to discuss the possibility of the City acquiring land in that area for community park purposes. Many of the people at the meeting feared that the City was coming to purchase the land right now, that they would be forced off their land in the near future, and much time at the meetina was spent informina them that no firm plans had been made by the City and that that was the basis of the study - to develop plans for future imple- mentation. Some aood input was received from the citizens as to the type of recreation they would like to see at the area and some interest was expressed as to where any acquisition ought to take place if the City b chooses to ao ahead. A group of three or four representatives of the Homeowner's Assn. was selected by that group to serve as a liaison between it and the City in its planning effort. No action required. w . B. Water Quality Report. jessen merely pointed out that the report prepared by the Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District was beina distributed for the Commission's infor- mation and reviewing recreational potential of the different lakes as discussion comes up. No action required. C. 1974 Summer Recreation Proaram Report. Gelling reported that the brochure had been mailed to all residents of Eden , Prairie in a packet that included the 1974 Summer Recreation Proaram Beach Season Ticket Application, plumbina information, and City Happenings Newsletter plus additional information. Registration dates have been established and she asked for Commission volunteers to assist in the first night of registration on Wednesday, May 29th. Several Commissioners expressed a willingness to help in this regard. Trainina sessions for the staff will be conducted in the next two weeks. Erickson suagested the need for a fence around the Round Lake beach which would minimize the number of people sneaking into the facility. He felt that this was causing a lot of ill will in the community inasmuch as some people are paying to use the beach facility and others are sneaking in because there is such minimal security there. Discussion followed con- cernina the pros and cons of this matter, and jessen indicated that the staff would take a look at ways of curbing the nwi.ber of people sneaking into the beach and attempt to solve the problem. Anderson questioned whether or not fees ought to even be charged for the use of this facility for community residents. Penzel suggested that this was a philosophical question that ought to be addressed at budcret time. No action required. Park & Recreation Commission -3- May 20, 1974 Minute s D. 1974 Teen Work Program. Gelling reported that she has met with the Steering Committee on several occasions as well as with Dick Anderson from the YMCA, and the program is well advanced. A total of 50 youngsters have filled out the sheet requesting their input as to the alternative for "payoff". Fifteen of the youngsters have indicated they favor the canoe trip while 35 have indi- cated they favor Option B which is $3 per day in lieu of the canoe trip. Recent communication from the school has indicated that 30 more young people are interested in getting into the program. Mike Rogers has been employed as the program director for the summer. The YMCA has agreed to provide Camp Warren on June 7, 8, and 9 for the grand opening of this program if the City will in turn provide the use of Bryant Lake Park for the summer at no cost to the YMCA. for the Campawayaday Program. M/Garens, S/Anderson that a reciprocal arrangement between the City and the YMCA be approved which would enable the YMCA to use Bryant Lake F for the summer of 1974 at no costbr the Campawayaday Program'provided F they allow the City to use Camp Warren for the weekend of June 7, 8, and 9 for the Summer Teen Work Program at no cost. Motion carried unanimously. E. Lions Club Picnic Pavilion Report. jessen reported that the staff is now developing specifics on two alternatives, one having the Lions Club provide the manpower to build the picnic pavilion at $15 ,000 and the other having the pavilion built for a total of $15,0 00 material and labor. There still is some question in the minds of some Lions Club members as to what they would like to do in this matter. No action required. F. Olympic Hills Golf Course Report. jessen reviewed the report distributed to the Commission on the feasibility of acquiring the Olympic Hills Golf Course for municipal golf purposes (copy of the report attached'to the minutes). He stated that Bloomington recently completed the purchase of the Hyland Greens Golf Course in r' southwest Bloomington. This course is an 18 hole, par 3 course without an irrigation system, with a poor maintenance and clubhouse facility, and only including 60 acres of land. The total consideration for this purchase by Bloomington was $920,000. Considering this and the Apple Valley comparison, it would appear that the'Olympic Hills price is certainly reasonable. jessen also reported that he has had some further discussions with repre- sentatives of the Golf Club and they have expressed a willingness to accept municipal revenue bonds as well as municipal G.O. bonds. The only disad- vantage of the revenue bonds in this case would be a higher interest rate in that the board members stated they would take a reduced interest rate General Obligation Bond but would require a fair market interest rate for a Park & Recreation Commission -4- May 20, 1974 Minutes revenue bond in that it would not be as marketable nor as secure an investment. The option also exists to have a short-term leaseback arrangement to the Golf Club if the City wanted to buy it at today's prices but not be in the position of operating it for from one to five years. Bye stated that he had had an opportunity to meet with jessen and jack Price from the Golf Club in order to gain more information about this idea. He said he felt that frankly it was a Lincoln at Ford prices as compared to. what other public golf courses have cost recently in the area. He said he felt that one of the reasons Braemar had been such-a successful public course was the fact that it was a cut above most public courses and that they now had more people than they could accommodate for public play, and he felt that the same kind of opportunity existed at Olympic Hills and even to a greater degree in that it is an outstanding course and has a very good reputation. As an example, if they opened Interlachen to public play, no doubt they would have people standing in line forever at whatever the green fee was dedided upon and he felt that much the same thing applied in considering Olympic Hills. jessen reported that the Council has asked Brauer & Associates to do an overview of this feasibility study and that he had talked to Brauer's office and they would have this completed by the week's end so it could be included on the May 28th City Council agenda. Penzel stated he was sure the Council would then refer the matter to the Park and Recreation Commission for their consideration and recommendation to the full Council. No. action re quired. G. Eden Farms P.U.D. jessen reported that the Planning Commission was to hold a hearing to rezone this property back to Rural from its P.U.D. approval on Tuesday, May 21, 1974. When considering providing service for the residents of the Edenview area, the idea of acquiring land from Shelter Corporation at ? Eden Farms was studied and a contact was made with them about the possibility of their dedicating the land which is committed to open space in their P.U.D. to the City at this time. At that time, jessen was told by a representative of Shelter that they were interested in selling the land and not interested in dedicating any part of it. Some sentiment was expressed as to the desira- bility of their dedicatingland and perhaps not rezoning it in exchange for this dedication would be appropriate. No action required. IV. DISCUSSIONS. A. Neighborhood Facilities Study. Chris Enger reviewed the graphics which he had prepared which show needs for some neighborhood facilities in different parts of the community, based on the small groupings of houses throughout Eden Prairie. He also showed several alternatives which have been developed for park construction at Parka Recreation Commission -5- May 20, 1974 Minutes Prairie View School/Park site,and a review of the overall park system map was presented as well as a handout of a preliminary park system plan prepared in October, 1972. A question was asked about the Park and Recreation Commission's feelings as to whether or not the minimums developed for the 1.972 Open Space System of 10 acres for neighborhood playgrounds was appropriate orwhether .we ought to be looking at something smaller than a 10 acre minimum. As an example, the Sterling Field Homeowner's Association play area, which they developed and maintain for their own exclusive use. The general consensus of the Commission was that the staff ought to study this further and make a specific recommendation to the Commission as to a course of action and the standards for sizes and the types of facilities to be included in neighborhood facilities throughout the community. Jan Mavis and Sarah Heinbuch,re presenting the Lochanburn Addition,* said r they felt there was a need for facilities and perhaps the smaller and perhaps interim facilities ought to be constructed rather than waiting for the ultimate solution to be realized. The staff will conduct the review suggested and report back at the June 3, 1974, meeting. Tjo action required. B. Discussion of Bond Issue - Procedure, Publicity, etc. Jessen reported that he had met with the volunteer committee of Mike Scherer, Tim Pierce, Bruce Brill, and John Olsen about petitions and information for Bond Issue and Referendum as directed by the Park and Recreation Commission at a recent meeting. Feedback from this group will, be used in developing the Neighborhood Facilities Study and also for developing more specifics about the Bond Issue proposal. Any additional discussion on this item was put off because of the late hour of the meeting. No action required. p C. Purgatory Creek Steering Committee Dick Anderson reported that the Euraatory Creek Steering Committee had met and that the preliminary report for this study will be ready in the next two weeks. Anderson also suggested that in the discussion at that meeting, Fred Richards, attorney for the Watershed District, suggested that the City of Eden ' Prairie develop alternatives for tying up land for future acquisition, utilizing options, zoning, tax advantages, etc. No action required. D. Renaming of Anderson Lakes Park/Nature Center Bye suggested that in light of the Council action last Tuesday approving the 4. acquisition of 42 acres from The Preserve known as the Moorings and in light of the fact that Les Blacklock has spent many years and much energy Park & Recreation Commission -6- May 20, 1974 Minutes supporting the passive park area at Anderson Lakes and further that he is an internationally known naturalist and wildlife photographer that consideration ought to be given to renaming the nature center portion of that park area the Les Blacklock Nature Center at Anderson Lakes Park. M/Bye, S/Anderson that this be recommended to the City Council Discussion followed concerning tim�nq and whether or not all of the park area could be realized and it was•sugcrested that the item be tabled until the next meeting at which time it could be reviewed further. M/Anderson, S/Berkland to table this item to the June 3, I974, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. V. ADJOURNMENT M/Penzel, S/Bye that the meeting be adjourned. Motion carried unanimously.