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Parks and Recreation - 10/03/1977 f 1977 OCTOBER 3 MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE ,i AGENDA EDEN PRAIRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1977 7:30 P.M. , CITY HALL COMMISSION MEMBERS: Richard Anderson, Steve Fifield, William Garens, Jerry Kingrey, Robert Kruell, George Tangen, Mary Upton COMMISSION STAFF: Marty Jessen, Director of Community Services Approx. Time to Begin Item 7:30 I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA III. MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 192 1977 MEETING IV. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS 7.45 A. Notification of Bike Funding Available Thru MN DOT B. C V. RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Reports of Commissioners 1. 2. B. Reports of Staff 8:00 1. Inventory of Park a Recreation Areas and Facilities 8:30 2. Forestry Program 8:45 3. Construction Street Maintenance 4. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. B. 9:00 VIII. ADJOURNMENT ti APPROVER MINUTES IDEN pRA,IRIE PARKS, RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOIIRCES COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1977 7130 P.M., CITY HALL k. E ConaSSION MR1BER.S PRESENT: Chalrman Richard Anderson, Steve Fdifielgde William Garens, Jerry Kingrey, Tangen COD4AISSION MDME-RS ABSENT: Mary Upton ==MISSION MEMBERS EXCUSED: Robert Kruell STAFF PRTSEI3Ts Chris Enger, Park Planner OTHERS PRESENTS Tom Bartel, Eden Prairie News II. APPROVALOF.AGENDA Addition of VII. A. Communication from Riley—Purg tor_Y Greek Watershed ti District, " VII. B. Next meeting MOTION: Garens moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Tangen seconded, motion carried unanimously. k i' III. MINUTES OF TEMBER 19 1977 MEETING_ P1 2, pare. 2, sent. 2, delete t1po"lots located street"; add u u " 7, " 3, ° " "City Hall site purchase". �r Pg. 5, para. 4 sent. 1, add "not" after "should". It 7, " 7, add "(a. Acquire neighborhood park sites in service area; b. Acquire neighborhood park sites in other service areas with monies in access of above; c. Develop neighborhood park site in service area; and f d. Acquire and/or develop community park areas and facilities with monies t. in access of above.)" after "July 18, 197711(line 4) ' Pg. 8, para. 6, sent. 2, add it, generally," after "Council as to' It 11 to 6, 11 3, delete "specifically". MOTION: Kingrey moved to accept the Minutes of the September 19, 1977 meeting as published and amended, seconded by Fifield. Motion carried unanimously. h IV. PETITIONS. REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS r A. Notification of Bike Funding Available Thru MN DOT Enger spoke to the communication received from the Minnesota Depart— ment of Transportation (MN DOT), explaining that- we have been looking for a source of funding specifically for bikeways. He summarized the leng#y process the City had to go through to meet the criterea for FAU funding, adding that the FAU funding source was not geared for C bike trails, but for freeways, and 'than the City ran into various land restrictions and other requirements. He added that the Co. Rd. 4 trail e a Minutes - Parks, Rec. and .approved Natural Resources Commission - 2 - Monday, October 3, 1977 C A. Notification.......MN DOT (Continued) was completely designed and feels it is ready to be approved because of the stringent process required under the FAU funding program,, and that he recommends applying for funds under the new MN DOT program,as outlined in his memo, for the Co. Rd. 4 segment and other routes that might be eligible for this funding. r Anderson expressed concern for the lack of easy access by bike or walking to Bryant Lake park, and suggested that this be considered* along with Co. Rd. 4 and Valley View Rd.. Enger spoke to the Metropolitan Council's Trail Plan, and agreed to check into the trails previously approved, if it was the intention of the Commission. MOTIONS Kingrey moved to recommend to the Council that the City apply for the MN DOT funds as available. Tangen seconded, motion carried unanimously. V.RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPORTS A. Reports of Commissiozlgrp - None C B. Reports of Staff 1. Inventory of Park & Recreation Areas and Facili jes Enger summarized the present status of the park system, explaining that some priorities had to be changed because of funding. He said that mini parks are necessary in town house complexes and condiminiums because of the"zerol' lot lines, and that they replace traditional back yards. Anderson pointed out the need to require that the developers agree in writing their intention to include a mini park. Enger spoke to the City's process of planning a neighborhood park--that the park should be within the walking radius of one-fourth to one-half a mile; it should service four thousand to five thousand people; that cost estimates and development be as specific as possible; and that after the completion of the Preserve and Edenvale parks, the City will be more eligible for funding to acquire and develop additional sites. Kingrey expressed appreciation for the presentation, and suggested that this kind of presentation be made yearly. Anderson reauested that a map of park sites that we have today and their location be made available for use by the Commissioners for reference and discussion purposes. Enger spoke to request made by Jessen for this map, explaining that he has hesitated outlining the twenty-one suggested sites because of its effect on land values etc.. He briefly summarized the situation at each i Minutes - Parks, Rea. and approved Natural Resource Commission - 3 - bbnday, Oct. 3, 1977 1. Inventory of Park.....Facilitiea (continued) of the proposed sites, using site drawings, and spoke.to the appraisal of land presently occuring at the lochanburn, Red Rock and Topv.'iew sites, and to the various funding sources that have appeared without the City's anticipation of those sources. Anderson expressed appreciation from the Commission for the presentation and inquired whether site drawings were available of the trail plan. Enger agreed to provide the Commissioners with a park system plan, incor- porating the present park sites and the status of trails in that plan. Kingrey left at 9s00 PM. 2. Forestry Program Enger introduced Stuart Fox, City Forester, to present the Forestry pro- gram for this year and the results of the past year. Fox addressed the Commission, speaking to the report made to the Council on the Forestry program. He said that five tree inspectors have covered the City as thoroughly as possible, that they have worked out a new ordi- nance to help inact certain thinking and clear up past problems. Fox spoke to 9,000 diseased oak and elm trees, and to the biggest problem facing them, which was that of pick-up. He explained that they have work- ( ed with burning permits on large properties rather than transporting to the land fill, and they have talked about getting sawmills interested in pur- chasing logs to make into a usuable product, using a chipping site in con- junction with the sawmill. Anderson, at the request of Kingrgybefbre he left, questioned whether there was a feasible method that when these trees were taken down, they could i. be marked and used for firewood. He spoke to large land acres and that 3 some trees are partially de-barked and suggested these be used for that purpose. Fox responded that in the past, they have marked trees by a yellow band with a metal tag, and when a tree with bark Bluffed off came } up, it was noted on the card as a windfall. He spoke to the lack of possi- bilityofusing the trees as firewood bedause.they are difficiat:-to split, and that they would have to be marked specifically for that purpose. Enger added that people have been informed that they can use the elm trees for firewood if they we de-barked, adding that from October 1st to April 1st wood can be burned without de-barking except when it is green out. He said that oak does not have to be de-barked, but out and split so it dries u, quickly. Anderson spoke to a recent newspaper article regarding the demand for burn- able wood and the certain increase of that demand, and felt that wood which could be made available should be used for that purpose rather than chipping. Fox responded that he has discussed the problems of splitting the elms with various people and there is no interest, and he is suggesting that we talk to the large land owners about going into logging, and that the City would work with them. Minutes - Parks, Rec. and approved Natural Resources Commission - 4 _ Monday, Oct. 3, 1977 t 2. For sIry Program (continued) Garens commented that he did not feel that was a solution to the elm tree disease, and asked whether Fox saw any hope for saving the trees. Fox responded that history was pretty specific as far as control by good sani- tation procedures, and he spoke to the stretching of losses over a thirty year period as being desirable. He spoke to the research program grant. for which the lower Purgatory Creek area was proposed as an experimental area, because of the heavy concentration of disease present. Enger agreed that large tracts would have to be written off because we can- not hope to save these woods, and pointed out the differencein land forms in various areas such as the Lower Purgatory Creek compared to the Preserve. He spoke to the hope of some utilization of large areas, and to the good cooperation being received this year in sanitation program of neighborhoods. Garens felt that the Citp should stress re-forestation. Anderson inquired about the oak wilt disease problem. Fox responded that five hundred to six hundred trees have been lost to that disease, and that It can be a serious problem until it is diagnosed, adding that treatment with ligna.son has been 75% successful. Fifield left at 9235 PM• Anderson asked what was being done on City owned land with the problem of oak wilt. Fox answered that they have diagnosed only six oaks with the disease, and that vapem is being used to prevent the spreading of the pro- blem. Enger summarized that the Forestry Budget is before the Council, and that it reflects the same program as last year, with emphasis on re-forestation and additional money for maintenance. Anderson expressed appreciation from the Commission for the report. fi 3. Construction Street Maintenance Enger spoke to the siltation problem, explaining that he has checked with both the Watershed District and Engineering Depo vartmenet, and'� n eWatershed 1 District reviews such questions based upon one Year i After a 200 year storm, there would be an overflow of erosion devices, he further explained, and briefly Districtdescribed did not feel process itwas as hthis big happened. He added that the Watershedbig of aproblem C� as it looked. VI. OLD BUSINESS - NONE VII. .NEW-03TNEss ` A.Cominunication from Riley-Purgatory Creek Watershed District _ Deferred. B. Next meeting - November 7, 1977. VIII. ADJOURNI Garens moved to adjourn at 9850 PM, seconded by Tangen. Motion carried unanimously. rr Submitted by Donna Stanley, Recording Secretary .1� MEMORANDUM TO: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission FROM: Dick Anderson, Chairperson SUBJECT: October 17, 1977 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Meeting DATE: September 7, 1977 The anticipated topic of discussion for this meeting was to be year round school. However, the Commission members present at the October 3 meeting felt that because the subject of year round school had not been fully decided as of that date, any discussion of its merits might be premature. Because of this, and the fact that Marty Jessen will be out of town for the meeting, the Commissioner's decided to cancel the meeting for October 17, 1977. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on November 1, 1977.