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2001-12-11 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 11, 2001 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, December 11, 2001, in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Commissioners Stan Linnell, Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Raymond Morris, Dave Libra, and Jay Liberacici. Chair Richard Spicer was excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Commissioner Craighead moved to approve the November 13, 2001 minutes. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 TOWN CENTER Ms. Carolyn Krall and Mr. Don Colberg of Landform presented the Town Center Concept Plan to the Commission. Ms. Krall said that the road previously intended between the west neighborhood and the pond had been eliminated. Ms. Krall also said that MnDOT had agreed to a right-in access to the Town Center from Highway 110. Ms. Krall said that the number of housing units on the site had been reduced from 145 to 132. Ms. Krall said that further refinement had been made to the senior housing footprint and that the bus stop had become larger. Ms. Krall added that the "village green" had disappeared but the "town square" had become larger with the elimination of the second row of parking. Ms. Krall said that the City standards are for 25% green space and that Town Center currently stood at about 28% green space, excluding the MnDOT right-of- way. Ms. Krall said that she had a goal of 100% retention of storm water on the Town Center site. Ms. Krall also reviewed briefly the current thinking on signage, lighting standards, and park bench design. Mr. Colberg displayed the design details of the Town Square site and the northeast tot- lot/playground area. Mr. Colberg said that currently four historical markers and four ecological/geographical markers are planned for the development. Commissioner Craighead complemented Landform on producing a very nice plan. Commissioner Craighead asked about the bus stop and whether or not there would be sufficient turn around space for a bus. Ms. Krall said that there would be sufficient turn- around space for a bus. Commissioner Craighead asked if there would be 6' wide trails or 8' wide trails. Commissioner Craighead noted that 8' wide trails are the standard in Mendota Heights. Ms. Krall said that the trails would be 8' wide, and that the numerous sidewalks that ran through the development may be as much as 6' wide in some areas. Commissioner Craighead said that the current plan showed a good trail alignment. Commissioner Linnell asked about the reasoning behind the trail alignment in the area of the Dodd/110 intersection. Ms. Krall said that MnDOT would want some distance between the trail and the intersection in case they wanted to make modifications to the intersection in the future. Commissioner Linnell asked in what form the development would be paying its park dedication. Commissioner Morris said that he presumed that the Council would accept the trails through the development as part or all of the park dedication. Ms. Krall discussed briefly with the Commission the design of park benches for the Town Center project. Commissioner Libra asked about Henry Sibley High School students driving through the development. Ms. Krall said that she did not think that Town Center would provide an attractive shortcut for high school students and reviewed the traffic design briefly with the Commission. PARK BENCH DONATION PROGRAM Mr. Kullander presented proposed wording for a park bench donation policy. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council adopt the proposed park bench donation policy language with modifications. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 REPLACEMENT PLAY EQUIPMENT Mr. Kullander presented the proposals he had received for the replacement playground equipment for Friendly Hills Park and Valley Park. Mr. Kullander said that he wished to present the Commission's recommendation on the equipment to the Council at their December 18 meeting in order to "lock in" 2001 prices. Commissioner Liberacki moved to recommend to the Council the designs provided by Earl F. Anderson. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 IVY PARK TENNIS COURTS Mr. Kullander informed the Commission that the Council wished the Commission to hold a public meeting on the removal of Ivy Park Tennis Courts early in 2002. Mr. Kullander suggested the March meeting because the timing of the meeting would work well with the issuance of the City Newsletter. The Commission asked Staff to place preparation for this public meeting on their January agenda. DNR AND FEDERAL GRANT APPLICATIONS Mr. Kullander suggested that the Commission recommend that the Council authorize the expenditure of up to $3000 for a consultant to prepare one or more grant applications to the DNR. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council authorize the expenditure of up to $3000 for a consultant to prepare DNR grant applications. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER LIBERACKI Mr. Hollister said that he was sad to report that Commissioner Liberacki had informed him of his intent to not seek an additional term as Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 2002. Commissioner Liberacki said that given his new position with a new company, he now has "Tuesday night meetings as far as the eye can see", and would not be able to attend enough Parks Commission meetings. The Commission thanked Commissioner Liberacki for his service on the Parks and Recreation Commission. UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: • Recreation Programmer Recruitment • Ridder Property Subdivision • Hockey Arena • Police Report OTHER CONCERNS Commissioner Liberacki said that he thought that the developer of the Ridder property should not have to provide a public park in the northeast corner of the development because it would invade the privacy of the adjoining homeowners. Commissioner Craighead said the he would like to discuss the 2002 Parks Five Year Capital Improvement Plan and the Parks Department budget for 2002 that was adopted by the City Council on December 4, 2001 at the next Commission meeting. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Liberacki and seconded by Portz. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.