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2004-11-09 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 9, 2004 The November 2004 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Thursday, November 9, 2004 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Dave Libra, Missie Hickey, Stan Linnell, Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, and Raymond Morris. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr, Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Commissioner Libra moved approval of the October 12, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes, Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoff updated the Commission on winter recreational programs. Mr. Hollister asked for clarification of whether or not the Parks Commission would be discussing City Ice Skating Facilities this evening, and if so, whether Ms. Gangelhoff needed to be present for the discussion. Chair Spicer said that Councilmember Schneeman had informed him that she would not be present this evening, and therefore the discussion of skating facilities should be tabled until next month's meeting. PAR 3 GOLF COURSE Mendota Heights resident Robin Ehrlich, 1656 Gryc Court requested permission to address the Commission regarding a petition by residents in support of saving the Par 3 Golf Course. Chair Spicer said that although discussion of Par 3 was not on this evening's agenda, he would recognize Mr. Robin Ehrlich and allow him to address the Commission briefly. Mr. Ehrlich presented a petition of Mendota Heights residents supporting the preservation of the Par 3 golf course (attached). Mr. Ehrlich said that almost everyone he talked to was eager to sign the petition, even after he informed them that preserving the golf course could potentially raise their property taxes. Commissioner Portz thanked Mr. Ehrlich for coming to the meeting and said that even though Par 3 was not on tonight's agenda for discussion, he called Mr. Hollister on Monday and asked him to get copies of the petition regarding Par 3 that had been circulating among the residents. Commissioner Portz said that Mr. Ehrlich should also present this petition to the Council. [Councilmember Schneeman arrived at this point.] Commissioner Portz said that the Council should appoint a Task Force to study this issue. Commissioner Libra agreed with Commission Portz, saying that it appeared that the residents in Mendota Heights were willing to "vote with their pocketbook" to save the golf course. Commissioner Portz moved to recommend that the Council appoint a Task Force to study bonding, passage of a referendum, and operation of the golf course. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 CITY ICE SKATING FACILITIES Chair Spicer acknowledged Councilmember Schneeman in the audience. Councilmember Schneeman said that she had just come from a Gun Club Lake Watershed Management Organization presentation to the Eagan City Council. Councilmember Schneeman said that it is a fascinating topic and that the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area has 45 watershed districts. Councilmember Schneeman asked the Commissioners to each choose a rink and observe its usage over this winter's skating season. Councilmember Schneeman said that it costs money to operate each rink. Councilmember Schneeman said that last winter she visited the various rinks and met the rink attendants, and that half the people at the rinks do not even have skates on. Chair Spicer said that some of the people without skates on might be playing boot hockey. Chair Spicer said that the City is spending about $20,000 per year for ice rinks, and that in his opinion the City did not provide much recreation to the community. Councilmember Schneeman said that times change and that more kids are skating indoors today. Councilmember Schneeman said that she did not agree with the rink attendants' recorded numbers of rink users. Councilmember Schneeman acknowledged that she did not represent the Council on this issue, and that she seemed to be alone in her concern. Chair Spicer said that the City would proceed with this year's skating season as usual, and monitor the skating activity for further discussion next year. Commissioner Portz said that Ms. Gangelhoffls numbers of skaters are the best information that the Commission has available on usage. Chair Spicer asked Staff to put this item on the Parks Commission agenda in March after the 2004-2005 skating season is over. AL SINGER, DAKOTA COUNTY FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS Chair Spicer asked a gentleman in the audience who he was and what he was at the Parks Commission meeting for. The gentleman identified himself as Al Singer, Director of the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program. Mr. Singer said that he was invited to speak to the Parks and Recreation Commission by Councilmember Ultan Duggan. Mr. Singer said that he was surprised when he arrived at the meeting this evening and discovered that he was not on the agenda. Mr. Singer said that he assumed that because Councilmember Duggan invited him to speak at the Parks Commission meeting he would be on the agenda. Chair Spicer said that apparently Councilmember Duggan had not informed the Parks Commission that he had invited Mr. Singer to speak at the meeting. Chair Spicer said that despite the fact that Mr. Singer was not on the agenda, he would allow Mr. Singer to speak. Mr. Singer gave an overview of the Farmland and Natural Areas program. Mr. Singer said that the program grew out of citizen surveys that indicated that residents of Dakota County wanted the County to take an active role in the preservation of some of the County's remaining farmland and natural areas. Mr. Singer said that in response the County launched a two-year planning process involving 70 different meetings with willing landowners. Mr. Singer said that the land preservation is occurring through a combination of private easements and public acquisition. Mr. Singer said that only 3% of original natural land remains in Dakota County. Mr. Singer said that agricultural is still a significant part of the Dakota County economy and that raw agricultural land is going for $5,000 to $7,000 per acre. Mr. Singer said that the main factor driving the price of land up is the need for building sites. Mr. Singer said that when the County opened up the process it received 29 applications from willing landowners. Mr. Singer said that the County approved $3 million and attracted federal matching funds, at a cost to Dakota County of $1.2 million. Mr. Singer said that the program had to be credible with farmers. Mr. Singer said that the $10 million allocated for the preservation of natural areas received 22 applications, of which seven were approved for projects. Mr. Singer said that the seven projects are worth a total of $17 million, and that the goal of the process was to try to leverage other sources of funding. Mr. Singer said that two applications came from the City of Mendota Heights, one from Mr. Kipp on Wagon Wheel Trail, and one pertaining to Pilot Knob, Mr. Singer showed a map of Dakota County showing areas marked in orange and green. Mr. Singer explained that the orange represents farmland available for preservation, and the green areas represent natural areas available for preservation, with the goal of making a "greenway" connecting the pinewood bluffs. Mr. Singer said that Dakota County is trying to work with different communities within the County to achieve this goal. Mr. Singer paused for questions from the Commission. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Singer if he had any advice for the City for preserving the Par 3 golf course. Mr. Singer said that the task is to raise public awareness and support for preservation. Mr. Singer said that there is an organization called the Trust for Public Land that is involved in this type of preservation. Mr. Singer said that the City might wish to survey the residents to determine the level of interest in preserving the golf course. Mr. Singer said that he would be happy to provide feedback or advice if the City decided to pursue this process. Commissioner Portz commended Mr. Singer on the good work that he was doing with the Farmland and Natural Areas program. Commissioner Portz as if Mr. Singer had any advice he could provide this evening on preservation of the golf course. Mr. Singer said that it is important that the Citizens understand the issue. Mr. Singer said that the three factors that have to be balanced are community rights, property rights and public interest. Mr. Singer said that it does not have to be an either-or decision between the three factors. Mr. Singer said that adjacent landowners also have a stake. Mr. Singer said that the City has to look into the additional service costs, and whether the land in question ties into other properties. Mr. Singer said that it is also possible to do "conservation development", in which some of the land is developed but some of it is preserved. Mr. Singer said that the various possibilities would need to be examined. Commissioner Portz asked Mr. Singer if he would like to be on the Council's Task Force. m Jr. Singer said that he was willing to provide some advice, but that he would not be able to make a substantial time commitment. Mr. Singer added that he also has a power -point presentation that presents the information in visual terms. PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS Chair Spicer recognized Mr. Bach from EFA (Earl F. Anderson, Inc.) and apologized for making him wait, even though he was on the agenda, until the Parks Commission had finished with two items that were not on the agenda. Mr. Bach accepted the Chair's apology. Mr. Bach presented his designs for playground equipment at Wentworth and Marie Parks. Commissioner Craighead asked how long this equipment would be expected to be used. Mr. Bach said that the life expectancy would be 15-20 years. Chair Spicer asked for a motion on the playground designs. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council approve construction on the playground equipment at Marie Park and Wentworth Park as presented by Mr. Bach of EFA. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 ROGER5 LAKE SKATEBOARD PARK Mr. Kullander presented two designs for improvement to the Rogers Lake Skateboard Park submitted by Tru-Ride. MR. Kullander said that Option A costs $123000 and Option B costs $27,000. Mr. Kullander's memo recommended "Option A" at $12,000. Commissioner Morris said that the skateboard park was probably the Parks Commission's biggest success since he has been on the Parks Commission. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council approve the expenditure for "Option B" for $27,000. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 Chair Spicer commented that even thought Option B costs more than Option A, when one looks at the expenditures for Wentworth, Marie, and Rogers Lake combined, the total of the three projects is near the Parks Commission's working budget of $110,0000 Chair Spicer also said that unless the Council agrees to identify some additional funding for the Special Parks Fund, he will not support any more expenditures from the fund in 2006, and that he considered $200,000 to be the minimum balance for the Special Parks Fund. Chair Spicer said that he was under the impression that there was at least some support for supplementing the Special Parks Fund on the Council. VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided the following updates: Buckthorn Management: The Council approved of 2005 contract for management services. • Lexington Bike Trail: Construction is in progress and completion is expected this year. • Police Report OTHER COMMENTS Commissioner Linnell said that based on a call from a resident, he would like to see if there could be a solution for the problem of runaway basketballs from Hagstrom-King basketball court. Mr. Kullander said that a berm or a fence would need a wetlands permit. Commissioner Linnell said that the solution might be to just move the basketball court. Commissioner Linnell said that perhaps the top of a hill was not the best location for a basketball court. ADJOURN Commissioner Hickey moved to adjourn. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Please see the attached petition from Mr. Ehrlich relating to the Par 3 Golf Course. 0