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1993-07-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesPARRS AND RECREATION COMbIISSION JULY 13, 1993 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, July 13, 1993 in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Kleinglass, Libra, Damberg and Linnell. Commissioners Norton, Katz and Spicer were excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander. Guests were Keith Campbell of Sibley STING Soccer Program. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Kleinglass moved to approve the June 8, 1993, Minutes. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 RENSINGTON PARR SOCCER FIELDS Administrative Assistant Batchelder introduced this item by stating he had received memos and letters from Mend -Eagan Soccer and Sibley STING Soccer regarding the new soccer fields at south Kensington Park. Batchelder referred the Parks Commission to a letter that the City had received signed by 36 families involved in the Sibley Sting Soccer Program regarding their concerns with the new fields and the power lines at Kensington Park. Batchelder stated he had met with Commissioner Libra and Mr. Keith Campbell of Sibley Sting to discuss their concerns and to provide some information on the landscaping and construction of the park. Batchelder stated it was his understanding that the primary concern of the soccer groups is to maintain the size of the fields and maximize the size of the fields in the park. Batchelder stated the soccer groups desired to address the issues which might inhibit or reduce the size of the fields. Batchelder stated these issues were: 1) the location of the power lines; 2) landscape screening for stray soccer balls; and 3) proper grading and drainage for safe play. Batchelder reminded the Commission that on January 21, 1992 the City Council had earmarked $25,000 of Referendum money to move the power lines, if experience deemed it to be necessary. Batchelder stated the soccer groups were concerned that competing projects may extinguish the Referendum money before the power line issue could be revisited. Parks and Recreation Commission �7uly 13, 1993 Page 2 Commissioner Libra stated that as a Parks Commissioner he is continuing to see funding commitments and was concerned about what the final Referendum money would be spent for. Libra stated the soccer groups have been visiting the field and it looks like it will become a great facility for Mendota Heights. Libra stated he had discussed some of the fine tuning of the fields with City staff including drainage, grading and seeding. Libra stated there were two primary items that concerned the soccer groups, one being the townhouses on the western border which may be at risk from stray soccer balls hitting the windows. Libra stated it would be an unfortunate incident if the homeowners sue individual soccer players for broken windows and wants to avoid these problems if possible. Libra stated he believes the landscaping currently in place will ultimately provide adequate screening but it is many years away from maturing to that point. Libra stated the other primary concern was the power lines and after reviewing the issue with City staff he understood that City Council's intent was to revisit the soccer field/power line issue after a year of experience on the fields. Commissioner Libra stated the soccer groups were interested in getting a commitment from the City to review this issue and to hold onto the earmark money for another year. Commissioner Libra stated the soccer groups do not believe there is a real need to make a decision at this point in time to spend or not spend the money and that it would be reasonable to wait for a season and examine the power line issue at that time. Libra felt that instead of lobbying for a decision on expenditure of this money that it was his intent to present this information to the Parks and Recreation Commission for their awareness and so the City Council could see that this item had been discussed at the Park meeting. Mr. Keith Campbell addressed the Parks and Recreation Commission and stated it is his primary objective to maintain full size soccer fields at Kensington Park. Mr. Campbell stated the result of smaller soccer fields are more physical games that the kids do not enjoy as much. He stated the larger sized fields are needed for those children seventh grade and up to enjoy a less physical game. Mr. Campbell stated the soccer fields look like they are coming in as really nice fields and he is worried that limitations might reduce the size of the fields. Mr. Campbell stated the soccer groups felt that they need these two full sized fields as originally planned. Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 3 Mr. Campbell stated the field on the east side of the park could be moved further to the east if the power lines were raised and then this would provide some cushioning between the two fields. Mr. Campbell stated approximately 200 soccer coaches held a rules meeting at the beginning of the year and that if Mendota Heights had a house rule regarding replay of any soccer balls that hit the power lines this would be embarrassing. Mr. Campbell stated he is hoping at this point that the fields will work and that corner kicks will not be affected by the power lines. He stated his young son had practiced corner kicks underneath the power lines and that three kicks had gone over the wire and seven kicks had gone under the wire out of the ten kicks tried. Mr. Campbell reiterated his objective of receiving some commitment from the City to maintain the fields at these large sizes and to revisit the raising of the power line issue and earmarking the money. Commissioner Damberg stated when money is earmarked through a Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation and City Council approval it is a promise that that money will be there. Commissioner Damberg stated she was willing to re- emphasize the Parks Commission's commitment to earmarking the $25,000 at Kensington Park. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired if there was a danger to the kids with soccer balls hitting the power lines. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated there is no danger to children and that NSP has stated that a soccer ball will not cause any electrical concerns or mechanical concerns as far as the power lines. Batchelder stated that he had begun contacts with Mr. Dan Blake, of Centex Homes, to discuss additional screening along the western edge of the soccer fields on the townhome property. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated he identified those areas on the field that need additional fill and re -seeding and a contractor will work on this when the fields are dry enough to support heavy equipment. The Commission discussed screening along the western boundary of the soccer fields. Commissioner Kleinglass moved to recommend that City Council reconfirm their commitment to earmark $25,000 to raise the power lines if deemed necessary after a year's play on these fields, to keep the fields as large as possible, and to explore screening options around the soccer fields. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 4 Commissioner Damberg stated the City of Mendota Heights has done a lot for the baseball and softball groups in the town and that the City needs to support the soccer groups. Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated this item had been discussed at the May and June Parks and Recreation Commission meetings after staff proposed to construct a new bridge in Valley Park and to replace three bridges with culverts in Wentworth Park. Batchelder stated the Commission was concerned with the funding of this proposal and directed staff to look at alternatives. Batchelder stated City park crews and the Parks Project Manager feel these bridges are not safe and represent a higher level of liability. He also stated that as wood structures they are targets for vandalism and are an ongoing maintenance problem. Batchelder stated the Parks crews can only make temporary improvements to the current wood bridges and this needs to be done on a continuing basis. Commissioner Libra inquired if it was possible for the City to fund the Valley Park bridge in 1993 and to do the Wentworth culverts in 1994. Parks Project Manager Kullander responded affirmatively. Commissioner Libra stated he feels two of the three bridges at Wentworth could be replaced with culverts and it would be nice to have one bridge installed for its aesthetic value. Libra stated he believes the bridge in Valley Park was recently hit by a vehicle and damaged. Commissioner Linnell stated some neighbors had indicated a desire to keep one of the crossings in Wentworth Park as a bridge. Kullander estimated it would could approximately $5,000 to do an eight foot (8') wide bridge in Wentworth Park. The Parks Commission discussed maintenance and efficiency in Wentworth Park. Commissioner Libra stated that ultimately these bridges should be replaced and the concern was whether it was done this year or next or at some time in the future. Libra stated we need to maintain these items in the park in order to provide an appropriate level of service. Kullander stated the $25,000 represented in the Budget for 1993 was a rough estimate to complete this project. Commissioner Damberg opened a discussion on the need to retain the Special Parks Funde Ramberg stated there were lots of projects on the horizon and the Parks Commission had to balance this with the need to maintain the parks system. She stated that maintenance items should be funded through the Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 199a Page 5 City,s General Fund and allocated through a Capital Improvements Plan. The bridge in Valley Park was discussed. The Commission discussed the appropriateness of using the Special Park Fund to pay for the bridge in Valley Park. The Commission desired that Parks Project Manager Kullander look at the cost difference between bridges and culverts at Wentworth Park. The Commission directed Parks Project Manager Kullander to get detailed specifications and quotes for construction of bridges and culverts at Valley and Wentworth Parks for recommendation to the City Council at their August meeting. Parks Project Manager Kullander introduced this item by stating the Parks and Recreation Commission had been presented an overview of the Ivy Falls Stormwater Project in March by Assistant City Engineer Klayton Eckles. Kullander stated at that time the Commission had requested that he bring back some landscaping and aesthetic recommendations around the new pond. Kullander stated the new pond will be deeper than the old pond and that during peak storm events this pond is designed to have the capacity of holding 11 acre feet of stormwater. Kullander stated during storm events the pond would be significantly larger than the existing pond but only for a short period of time. He stated the normal volume in the pond will be approximately one acre feet of water. Kullander described those areas where trees would be removed and replaced. Kullander described the trail realignment. Kullander described his proposed landscape plan including the relocation of six trees and the planting of twelve new trees out of the contract. Kullander stated the relocated trees will be placed in the open area along the trail. He stated the berm would be approximately 10 feet high and would have a 3:1 slope and probably should not have too many trees on it as they would create obstacles for the City mowers. Kullander showed some areas that could include benches on concrete pads and picnic tables. He stated it would cost approximately $1,000 to do a wildflower project on the berm. Kullander stated wildflowers would need to be mowed once a year in the Fall and would need to be burned every other Spring and possibly re -seeded on an occasional basis and that this berm area is approximately one acre. Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 6 Kullander stated the benches and picnic areas are extraneous to the stormwater project and would need to be funded from the Special Park Fund if the Commission desires to have those extras. Commissioner Damberg felt that if no one was requesting these extra amenities, the Commission should wait until it receives those types of requests and then can look at funding those types of amenities in the future. Parks Project Manager Kullander described a swale project that would help the drainage on the ballfield in Ivy Park. Kullander stated this project could be done by City crews in the Fall. Commissioner Libra was excused at 7:35 o'clock P.M. Commissioner Linnell stated he likes the idea of wildflowers on the berm but he would like to see some trees planted on the berm, especially Burr Oak trees as they would do well on the berm. Kullander stated three of the twelve trees could go on the southern edge. Commissioner Linnell inquired if cattails would be planted around the new pond. Kullander stated the black dirt and sediment from the pond area will be saved to be used around the final grade of the pond area and that this would re-establish the cattails in the new pond. The Commission directed Parks Project Manager Kullander to proceed with the proposed landscape plan that would include six trees being moved and nine balled and burlap trees to be located along the trail on the east side of the park. This recommendation also requests that three Burr Oak trees be planted on the south slope of the berm at fifty foot (50') spacing and approximately ten feet (101) above the toe of the slope. This request also includes the planting of wildflowers from the existing trail westerly to its connection to the existing berm a distance of two hundred feet (2001) and approximately one acre in size. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN FOR THE PARR SYSTEM Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated at their June meeting the Parks Commission provided staff with some ideas that might be incorporated into a Capital Improvements Plan and requested that staff begin work on putting together a Capital Improvements Plan that would be comprehensive for the City's park system. Batchelder stated that such a plan would have to look at the whole park system, to look at desired new facilities, facilities that would need to be replaced and facilities that would be needing maintenance in the near future. Batchelder stated such a project would need to project for a five or ten year period, all the capital Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 7 improvements needed in the park system and identify the funding source and identify the project year. Batchelder stated in his memo he had proposed a planning schedule for a thorough review of the capital improvement needs of the park system and this proposed schedule will take to approximately next April to complete. He stated the Commission could then individually review each park, trail system and the City's open space system with an end product being a complete plan that would project capital improvements over five to ten year, identify funding sources and schedule priorities. Commissioner Damberg stated it would be important for the Commission to have a thorough discussion of the intent and purpose of the Capital Improvements Plan and that City Council will have to think about maintaining the Special Park Fund if it is desired that this be the primary funding source for capital improvements. The Commission discussed Americans with Disability Act improvements, seal coating trails, and other anticipated capital improvements. The Commission directed staff to proceed with the schedule for the planning of a Capital Improvements Plan for the City park system and to begin this at the August meeting. VERBAL UPDATES Administrative Assistant Batchelder passed around a Mend -Eagan Baseball Association brochure from the Thirteen Year Old Baseball Tournament held at Mendakota Park on June 5th and 6th. He stated this program included a nice note of recognition to the City and staff involved in putting on this tournament. Batchelder stated the Celebrate Mendota Heights Parks! planning was reaching a feverish peak. Batchelder invited all of the Parks and Recreation Commission members to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that would be held at Kensington Park at 11:30 A.M. on July 24th. Batchelder distributed a Dakota County Resolution on the Pilot Knob Road trail funding that includes funding fora bike trail section from Mendota Heights Road north along Pilot Knob Road to the intersection of the newly realigned Trunk Highway 13. Batchelder stated this new section would connect the City trail system to the proposed Soo Line railroad trail. He also stated the County is looking at reevaluating the safety of the off road trails from Northland Drive south into Eagan and that there would be a connection of the new Pilot Knob trail to the regional trail corridor. Batchelder stated the County hopes to do this with 1994 Capital Improvement Program funding. Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 8 Batchelder stated the City Council had asked the Parks Commission to review the parking in the park system throughout Mendota Heights. Batchelder also stated that at the last Council meeting City Council had discussed the acquisition of the Burows farm and had decided that due to the number of serious liability concerns it would be better for a non-profit organization such as the Dakota County Historical Society to be the title holder of this property. Batchelder stated, in concept, the City believes the non-profit should hold title to the property, consent to the filing of an irrevocable conservation easement across the entire property, agree to maintain the subject structure and grounds in a safe and historically sensitive manner and agree to open the property to the public and provide interpretive programs to visitors explaining the historical significance of the Burows farmstead, He stated the City would remain willing to financially support the preservation of this property. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired if the Victoria Road/Highway 13 trail is going to be completed this Summer. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated the contract time frame had been extended on this project and that it is being delayed due to the wet weather. Commissioner Damberg stated she feels a striped crosswalk across Victoria at Highway 13 would be necessary. Kullander stated this crosswalk will be striped and maintained by the State of Minnesota, T here being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:40 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant