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2003-08-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2003 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Missie Hickey, Dave Libra, Stan Linnell arrived late. Commissioner Raymond Morris 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. This meeting was televised by NDCTV and replayed the following Friday at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The following people were present in the audience: Scott Miller 1021 Wagon Wheel Trail Richard Bebel 1011 Wagon Wheel Trail Mary Bebel 1011 Wagon Wheel Trail M. E. Sterling 810 Wagon Wheel Trail Sue Light 970 Wagon Wheel Trail Paul Dreelan 881 Wagon Wheel Trail Carolyn Dreelan 881 Wagon Wheel Trail Ralph Dumond 2247 Swan Court Courtney Pince 945 Wagon Wheel Trail Helyse Pince 945 Wagon Wheel Trail Roseanne Eschle 901 Wagon Wheel Trail Darlyne Metzger 2255 Swan Court Jamie Lerbs 2254 Rogers Court Jane Lerbs 2254 Rogers Court Jack Lambert 2237 Rogers Court Joe Igo 862 Wagon Wheel Trail Lois Nawlin 900 Wagon Wheel Trail MINUTES Commissioner Hickey moved to approve the June 10, 2003 minutes with revisions. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Mr. Hollister explained that Ms. Gangelhoff was not available to present the Recreation Programmer's Update in person this evening because she was too busy with Safety Camp. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Hollister to commend Ms. Gangelhoff on her excellent work this summer. WAGON WHEEL TRAIL/ROGERS LAKE IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Kullander provided an overview of the proposed project for fishing improvements on Rogers Lake. Mr. Kullander explained that Wagon Wheel Trail is a Municipal State Aid Road and that when the road is eventually reconstructed, it will have to meet MSA standards to maintain funding support from the state. Mr. Kullander said that he had provided to the Council three options. The first option was to widen the entire length of Wagon Wheel Trail. The second option was to widen and straighten out the "S" curve portion of Wagon Wheel Trail, and the third option was to only widen the short stretch of Wagon Wheel Trail necessary to accommodate the fishing improvement. Mr. Kullander said that the Council chose the third option. Mr. Kullander said that the third option involves no assessment on the properties along Wagon Wheel Trail. Mr. Kullander said that the City has applied for a Conditional Use Permit for over 400 cubic yards of fill and a wetlands permit as part of this project and that the Planning Commission would be discussing this application on August 26. Chair Spicer invited the audience to comment. Mr. Richard Bebel said that he was opposed to widening Wagon Wheel Trail. Ms. Roseanne Eschle asked if a traffic study or an EIS had been performed. Mr. Kullander said that traffic counts are performed regularly on all roads, but that this project did not rise to the level of requiring an EIS. Ms. Eschle said that she was opposed to the widening of Wagon Wheel Trail, and that if this project is approved, the speed limit on Wagon Wheel trail should be reduced. MS. Eschle said that children frequently walk across the road, and that there are problems with litter. Mr. Jack Lambert said that he was against the widening of Wagon Wheel Trail. Mr. Lambert said that the speed limit on Wagon Wheel Trail should be enforced. Mr. Lambert asked for clarification of who would be assessed if the road were widened. Mr. Kullander said that all properties that face Wagon Wheel Trail would be assessed when the roadway is reconstructed under a future project. Mr. Scott Miller said that he was against the project as currently proposed. Mr. Miller said that fishing should be encouraged on the south side of Wagon Wheel Trail, not on the north side. Mr. Miller said that two -year -old children of people fishing are often crossing Wagon Wheel Trail unattended and that this is a dangerous situation. Mr. Miller suggested installing an aerator on the north side of the lake, widening the south side of the S-curve, and placing a fence on the north side of the S-curve. Ms. Mary Bebel said that she is against the project and wants her neighborhood left as it is. Ms. Mary Sterling asked for background information as to why the Parks Commission is discussing this item. Mr. Hollister provided an overview of the history of the project thus far, including Mr. Clifford Timm's donations and the planning application to be discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on August 26. Ms. Sterling said that she is opposed to curb and gutter along Wagon Wheel Trail Ms. Sterling agreed that fishing should be discouraged on the north side of Wagon Wheel Trail. Mr. Ralph Dumond said that he was concerned about traffic and unattended children on Wagon Wheel Trail. Mr. Dumond said that there is a lack of sanitary facilities for the people who are fishing, and that often they are forced to relieve themselves out in the open. Mr. Dumond said that he is not opposed to the project, but that there should be amenities added such as sanitary facilities, trashcans, and signage. Mr. Dumond said that it would also be good to enforce the rules about fishing licenses, catch limits, and litter. Clifford Timm said that the north side of Wagon Wheel Trail was not suitable for a second aerator due to the lack of depth on that portion of the lake. Mr. Timm said that litter was unfortunate and encouraged stricter police enforcement. Commissioner Li ell asked Mr. Kullander why it was anticipated that the trail and parking would be on the north side of Wagon Wheel Trail. Mr. Kullander said that parking was currently restricted on the south side, that the north side had fewer driveways, and that a trail on the north side would provide a direct connection to Mendakota Park. Ms. Darlene Metzger said that she was opposed to the entire project. Mr. Paul Dreelan said that he was also opposed to the entire project. Mr. Miller said that he was opposed to the project as proposed. Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that project as currently proposed. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: 3 (Libra, Linnell, Craighead) NAYS: 3 (Hickey, Spicer, Portz) Commissioner Craighead moved to recommend that if the Council approves the project, there should be a path installed along that stretch of Wagon Wheel Trail, Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS 1 (Hickey) BOAT UNDERPASS —IRA KIPP Mr. Ira Kipp said that after hearing the discussion this evening with the neighbors, he hereby withdrew his request for a boat underpass. MENDAKOTA FOOTBALL REQUEST Mr. Kullander explained that the Recreation Programmer had received a request for the use of Mendakota fields for K-2 flag football. Mr. Kullander said that the Mendakota fields were exclusively for softball and baseball and that Parks Leadperson Terry Blum advised against using them for flag football. Mr. Kullander said that the parks crew had suggested the use of Ivy Falls Park for this purpose instead. Chair Spicer said that in light of the parks crew's comments. It would be better to host the flag football at Ivy Falls Park. Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that the flag football occur at Ivy Falls Park. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 ROGERS LAKE SKATE PARK Mr. Kullander said that despite numerous attempts to contact the contractor for the Rogers Lake Skatepark, there has been no response. Mr. Kullander added that fortunately no payment had yet been made to the contractor, and that the City could still decide to use a different contractor. Patrick O'Leary, 98 / Wagon wheel Trail, said that he was concerned that the future skate park not become a hangout for older kids or a source of problems. Chair Spicer said that the park is a tier -one skate park, which only appealed to smaller kids ands that there should not be a problem. Mr. O'Leary said that the police should monitor the park so that it does not become a problem. Chair Spicer said that the police would be monitoring the situation but that right now the main problem was that the contractor who is supposed to supply the ramps is not responding to the Mr. Kullander's phone calls. Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that the Council authorize Mr. Kullander to switch to an alternate bid proposal from TrueRide, Inc. in Duluth to build the skate park. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: DRAFT 2004 PARKS MAINTENANCE BUDGET Mr. Kullander said that next year's proposed parks maintenance budget retains $20,000 for trail maintenance. Commissioner Craighead said that there are places along the City's trail system that are in need of either crack filling, branch trimming, or other maintenance. Commissioner Craighead said that he noticed these problems along Marie Avenue and in Valley Park. Mr. Kullander said that he would be willing to work with the parks crew to develop trail maintenance standards and bring them back to the Commission for review. Commissioner Linnell moved to recommend that the parks budget have a line item of $7000 annually for the removal of invasive species. Commissioner hickey seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: SPECIAL PARK FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2004 (Commissioner Linnell left at this point.) Commissioner Libra moved to recommend approval of the CIP for budget purposes. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: PARK RESERVATION FEES Chair Spicer asked Staff to continue this item to next month's meeting so that Teresa can participate in the discussion. Chair Spicer said that he was interested in what other cities or the school district did for reservation fees. STATUS OF COUNCIL -APPROVED PROJECTS Mr. Kullander said that the Hagstrom-King playground equipment is now up and that it is receiving a lot of use. HIGHWAY 149 ROW ADJACENT TO FRIENDLY MARSH PARK Mr. Kullander said that Commissioner Libra had requested information on the excess MnDOT Right -of --Way near Friendly Marsh Park. Mr. Kullander presented a map of the Right -of -Way. PARK DEDICATION FEES The Commission asked Staff to continue this item to the next meeting to give the Commissioners more time to think about the issue. OTHER COMMENTS Mr. Ira Kipp asked if it would be possible to pave the parking lot a Rogers Lake Park. Mr. Kipp also asked if it would be possible to put gates across the entrance of the park and prevent cars from entering the park after hours. Mr. Kipp also commented that it appeared that purple loosestrife was making a comeback at Rogers Lake Park. Or. Kullander said that he would look into these issues. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Libra and seconded by Portz. AYES: NAYS: The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.