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1993-10-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAROTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARRS AND RECREATION COMbIISSION MINUTES OCTOBER 12, 1993 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, October 12, 1993, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:40 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Norton, Libra, Damberg, Linnell, Spicer and Katz. Commissioner Kleinglass was excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder, Parks Project Manager Kullander and Recreation Programmer Shelli Morgan. Guests included Mr. Tom Junnila and Mr. Weiner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Linnell moved to approve the September 14, 1993 minutes. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: ARNDT PLAT BIKE TRAIL RELOCATION REQUEST Mr. Tom Junnila, of 1024 Downing Street, appeared before the Commission to request their consideration of a change to the Location of the bike trail approved with the Arndt plat. The Arndt plat is a thirteen lot subdivision whose preliminary plat was approved in 1992 and the bike trail as approved runs along the north, east and southern boundaries of the plat to provide access to Ivy Park. Mr. Junnila stated his concern is that the path is near his back patio and that he would suffer from a loss of privacy. Mr. Junnila distributed some handouts showing different trail options for the Arndt plat. Mr. Junnila also stated that he had signatures from a number of his neighbors and that those signatures were submitted as a petition with his proposed relocation options. Mr. Junnila explained Option No. 1 as being a shorter bike path that would bisect Lots 2 and 3 on the Arndt plat and then go along the rear of Lot 3 and enter Ivy Park parking lot. Mr. Junnila explained that Option 2 is a straight shot between Lots 3, 4 and 12, 13 going from the end of the proposed cul-de-sac to Butler Avenue and then over to Ivy Park. Mr. Junnila stated that Option 1 is the shortest route and that Option 2 is probably unacceptable to the developer as the developer feels that Option 2 impacts four of the best lots in the subdivision. Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 2 Mr. Junnila highlighted the different options according to the following characteristics: 1, Impact on existing homes 2. Cost to the community 3. Safety 4. Developers 5. Other concerns Mr. Junnila stated the residents who signed the petition favor Option 1 as being the shortest, most direct and safest route. Mr. Junnila stated that Lois Makiesky, of 1044 Brompton Place, will be impacted with Option 1. Mr. Junnila stated City Engineer Danielson's report stated that any realignment of the approved trail for the Arndt plat would require some type of hearing process. Mr. Junnila submitted another handout showing Option 1 trail with the removal of the sidewalk along Butler Avenue but still maintaining the connection between Valley Lane/Kirchner Avenue and Butler Avenue. The Parks Commission felt strongly that the developer provide the trailway along Butler Avenue because an off street trail provides a safer level of service. The Commission noted the developer had already agreed to provide the trailway along Butler and the connection to Valley Lane/Kirchner Avenue. Commissioner Spicer stated he feels the Parks and Recreation Commission could go along with Option 1. Commissioner Linnell stated he feels it might not be desirable to do this. Commissioner Libra stated from the standpoint of the Parks and Recreation Commission the options for relocating the trail seem to be acceptable. Libra stated, however, he is reluctant to make any recommendation without notice to the public and any properties that might be impacted. He felt that the Parks and Recreation Commission should only state that they seem to agree these relocation schemes would be acceptable. Commissioner Libra felt any recommendations for revisions to a preliminary plat should be done at the Planning Commission or City Council. Commissioner Linnell stated he would object to Option 1 because the trail would be steep in this area and may not meet the maximum allowed five percent (5t) grade as required for handicap accessibility under the current Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Linnell stated that the developer should be providing a trail that is accessible to the whole community. Commissioner Norton inquired about the turn for Option 1 and whether that was considered a sharp turn. Commissioner Linnell replied it is not a sharp turn. Mr. Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 3 Junnila stated Option 1 has only one turn and if a child on a bicycle was to miss it he/she would end in someone's backyard. Commissioner Spicer stated that perhaps the Parks Commission was not the proper forum for revising a developer's agreement and that this matter should be referred to the Planning Commission or to the City Council for consideration. Commissioner Spicer moved that the Parks Commission should state that either alignment is acceptable for a pedestrian/bike trail and that any approval for a revised trail route should go to the Planning Commission or the City Council. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. Chair Katz inquired if a certain percentage of the City's trail system has to be handicapped accessible. Parks Project Manager Kullander responded that the City's goal should be to make all of the trail system accessible where ever possible. Commissioner Linnell stated that any trail should be built to standards that would be considered accessible. The Commission directed staff to look at the handicap accessible features of these different trail options as they are considered by the Planning Commission or City Council. VOTE ON MOTION: AYES: 6 NAYS: Recreation Programmer Morgan introduced the revised policy changes to the proposed park reservation policy. Morgan identified the revisions that had been made at the request of the Parks Commission meeting in September. Morgan described those changes as: Weekend field preparation to be negotiated based on a case by case basis with a standard set of rates for service. (See Iva and IVg) 2. Include Sibley Sting and Sibley Fast Pitch as resident user groups. (See IVg) 3. Reword policy to prevent reservation of ice rinks on weekends and holidays. (See IVc) Parks and Recreation Commission 9ctober 12, 1993 Page 4 Incorporate a priority system for scheduling of City fields. (See Exhibit C) Item IIIe reworded to °'without approval of Recreation Programmer°° The Parks Commission felt that Item Ib should state that churches, synagogues and other religious congregations in Mendota Heights or in adjacent communities whose membership consist of Mendota Heights residents will be considered resident private groups. Commissioner Damberg inquired about the notification of the Police Department for all reservations. Morgan explained the Police Department is made aware of the reservations which are made in our parks. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that City Council approve the resolution establishing rules and rental fees for the use of City parks and property, as revised. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. Recreation Programmer Morgan stated each City recreation program is evaluated at the conclusion of the program and that the information presented to the Parks Commission in the ice rink report is information based on this evaluation report. Morgan stated attendance was low at the Ivy Park ice rink and she was not quite sure what this was attributable to. Morgan stated that Ivy has pleasure skating only and the poor soils contribute to a shorter ice season. Morgan stated it is hard to bring the ice back at Ivy Park when there have been a few warm days. Morgan gave a brief presentation on the ice rink evaluation for the 1992/1993 winter. The Commission inquired about their earlier discussion of switching or moving the warming house at Ivy Park with the warming house at Wentworth Park. Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that this item had been discussed during the CIP at the August meeting and that it would be put on the CIP plan for consideration. The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the use of the Ivy Park warming house. Morgan stated that based on last anonth's discussion of the warming house, she is proposing that Ivy Park warming house be operated only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Morgan stated that this proposal was based on the low use of the Ivy Park ice rink and that it did not make Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 5 sense to staff this ice rink when documentation shows that only approximately 1 or 2 skaters per day are using the warming house. Commissioner Linnell inquired if Saturdays, Sundays and holidays were the days when Ivy Park saw use. Morgan stated to some degree yes, but it was hard to predict which days are used more often. Morgan stated the attendance taken by the ice rink attendants would indicate 3 or 4 skaters on one day and then may be 3 or 4 days in a row where there were no skaters. Commissioner Damberg inquired if there was a possibility of fixing the soils in the area of the ice rink to provide a better and longer lasting ice surface. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that yes it would be possible to grade and replace soils in this area. Kullander stated that different configurations of the hockey rink had been tried in the past with an east/west configuration or a north/south configuration. Kullander stated that despite the configurations there were still poor ice conditions. Kullander stated the costs estimates to do soil corrections would be included with the CIP list of projects for this park. - Morgan stated the City had a decent winter last year for ice conditions and that Ivy Park was open through January with a pretty good streak of cold weather. Morgan stated attendance was sporadic and that no trends on attendance showed that the weekend was the only time that was used. Kullander suggested that the Ivy Park ice rink could be converted to broom ball because broom ball does not demand as high of a quality of ice surface. Commissioner Spicer stated that staff should consider this suggestion in using Ivy Park as a broom ball rink. Commissioner Norton inquired if the low use at Ivy Park was due to demographics. Morgan stated she felt this could be the case or that it could also be that there is no hockey rink and therefore no skaters as a result. Morgan stated that with the construction of 13 new homes within the Arndt subdivision, young families may be purchasing the homes. Commissioner Ramberg repeated that the City should consider stabilizing the soil in this area with the regrading being done by the park crews as a summer project. Kullander stated this type of work was beyond City staff capabilities and consideration should be given to do this soil correction during the Ivy Falls Storm Sewer Project when regrading of the pond area would occur. Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 6 Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that City Council authorize staff to hire attendants to staff the warming house at Ivy Park on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from Noon to 6:00 P.M. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. Commissioner Norton stated the City should keep the option open that the Ivy Park ice rink may be closed on a permanent basis if there is a lack of use at this facility. Commissioner Damberg inquired about City publicity regarding ice rink hours. Recreation Programmer Morgan stated the City newsletter is always sent out with an article identifying the ice rinks and their location and hours of operation as well as press releases to the local media. Commissioner Libra commented that Ivy Park is hard to get to unless you know where it is and that this could also be a simple matter of demographics in the area. Chair Katz inquired if the ice rink attendants took attendance once a day or on an hourly basis. Morgan stated attendance is taken every two hours by the ice rink attendants at 2:00 P.M., 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Commissioner Libra inquired if any thoughts have been given about rinks in the Kensington Park area. Morgan stated she recently had one phone call from a resident inquiring if an ice sheet could be provided in the Hagstrom-King Park. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that the North Kensington Park design issue was on tonight's agenda and that any design of North Kensington Park would also include a good look at Hagstrom-King Park and the City could consider ice surfaces at this time. Kullander stated Hagstrom-King Park had an area graded for tennis courts and volleyball and that this area could be bermed and used as an ice surface. Kullander felt this would be the least expensive option in the Hagstrom-King and Kensington Park area. Kullander stated the real cost for ice rinks is the time by the park crews to flood and maintain the ice rinks which often has to be done in the evening. Chair Katz stated with the large number of new residents in this area the Park Commission should be considering ice surfaces here. Commissioner Spicer inquired about the hockey boards which had been removed from Ivy Park last year. Kullander stated that Parks Leadperson Terry Slum has been using these boards to replace deteriorated boards at the other three ice rinks. Parks and Recreation Commission 9ctober 12, 1993 Page 7 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLANNING Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that tonight the Commission was going to consider Victoria Highlands Park, Marie Park and Valley Park for infrastructure and replacement needs in the capital improvements planning process. Batchelder stated he has not asked the City Attorney for an opinion on ADA requirements in the park system as discussed at last month's meeting. Commissioner Linnell stated he had discussed this with his boss at the DNR and they believe the City would be able to target certain geographical locations for handicap improvements without having to make the whole City wide park system accessible. The Commission felt Wentworth Park may be the Park to target for these improvements to serve the areas north of Highway 110. Commissioner Linnell stated in regards to Wentworth Park, City staff should consider moving the grills and tables down by the pond, which would be a more aesthetic location than the island in the middle of the park. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that fire pits and barbecue grills had been discussed for Wentworth Park and would be a part of the CIP plan. Commissioner Spicer inquired how much would it cost to construct a block picnic shelter. Kullander estimated $5,000 to $6,000 for a concrete block structure similar to those built at Kensington Park and $4,000 for a wood structure. Kullander stated there are picnic tables in every City park. The Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff to add a picnic shelter at Wentworth Park to the CIP plan. Kullander described the improvements at Victoria Highlands Park and stated that this is basically a new park and that improvements were made with referendum money. the land was dedicated to the City by two developers. Kullander stated that this park contains typical neighborhood park amenities with excellent trail connections. The Parks Commission discussed the wildflower project being maintained by a resident adjacent to Victoria Highlands Park. Kullander described the items on the list for Victoria Highlands Park as updating the play equipment to meet ADA requirements and providing some regulatory signage in the park with the City park rules. Commissioner Katz stated that any new signs in the park should be put on existing posts if possible to keep the number of signs down in the area. Commissioner Damberg stated there should be no pets allowed in the park. Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that the City currently has a leash law and that there are regulatory signs which state all pets in the parks must be kept on a Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 8 leash. The Commission discussed this item and felt that the current ordinances were adequate. Commissioner Linnell stated a port-a-pottie might be considered at Victoria Highlands Park. The Commission discussed the necessity of an ADA handicap accessible port a pottie° Kullander estimated a permanent shelter could cost approximately $2,000. A list of proposed improvements at Marie Park were discussed by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Kullander explained this list includes updates of play equipment to meet ADA requirements, construction of a bituminous trail to the warming house from the parking lot, installation of handrails and ramps for the warming house, and the informational/regulatory signage for the park. The Commission discussed a list of proposed improvements for Valley Park. Kullander stated that this included updates of the play equipment to meet the ADA standards, informational signage in the active area and along 1.75 miles of trail segments, wildflower plantings, and two way side rest areas along the trail. The Commission discussed a trail sign system for the entire City trail system. Commissioner Spicer stated that each park should have a map showing all trail connections in the trail system with a "you are here,, indication on the trail map. Spicer stated that community service youths could provide the work in stenciling the trails with arrows and distance markers. Kullander reported that the bike trail crossings and crosswalks had recently been striped and painted last week. Commissioner Linnell reported that the hillside around the hockey rink at Marie Park looks terrible and suggested that better maintenance or a prairie planting would work in this area. The Parks Commission discussed the steep trail from Valley Park to Park Place. Commissioner Norton inquired about the gate at Water Street and the Valley trail connection. Kullander stated that a bituminous bypass around the gate had been installed in the Spring. Batchelder informed the Commission that next month Mendakota Park would be considered and he had been informed that there would be softball enthusiasts at this meeting to advocate for the installation of lights at Mendakota Park. Commissioner Spicer and Commissioner Damberg briefly debated the merits of lights at Mendakota Park. Parks and Recreation Commission ®ctober 12, 1993 Page 9 Commissioner Spicer excused himself at 8:00 o°clock P.M. NORTH RENSINGTON PARR Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that during the Winter of 1991 and 1992 the design of Kensington Park had been discussed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council. Batchelder stated the outcome of this discussion was the development of the south section of the park for a soccer complex. Batchelder stated the decision on the north section of the park was to grade the area, seed for grass and wait for the residential development to dictate the future uses to this park. Batchelder stated this item was being placed on the Parks Commission agenda for the Commission to address the following issues: 1. Should the City begin the process of designing improvements for the construction of this park in 1994? 2. How do we effectively solicit input on North Kensington Park? Does the Commission desire to see concept plans, and if so, what preliminary direction should be provided to staff? The Parks Commission discussed the demographics and recent development in the area. Batchelder stated that three types of townhouses had been built in the Kensington area including manor homes which are mostly occupied by seniors, the carriages houses which were mostly occupied by young couples or single parents and the new townhouse units which were a mix of senior residents, empty nesters and young affluent couples. Batchelder stated that single family homes being constructed to the east included a lot of young families. Commissioner Libra inquired if there would be more land dedicated to the park system with future development in this area. Kullander stated the City would be receiving some Wetlands/open space area by the Kennedy, Biel properties if that ever developed. Kullander stated the only undeveloped land in this area is the school district property immediately north of Kensington Park which they are holding for future school district use. Kullander stated that North Kensington Park had a number of concept plans shown at the time it was originally considered. Kullander stated that any plans can be and should be Parks and Recreation Commission 9ctober 12, 1993 Page 10 coordinated with any future improvements to the Hagstrom-King Park. Commissioner Katz stated she feels it would be appropriate for the City to have some concepts to present and then begin to solicit community input. Kullander briefly explained the past concept plans showing active parks and passive parks. Commissioner Damberg stated she would like to see the discussion on North Kensington Park continue along these lines. The Parks Commission directed City staff to provide an accurate accounting of the referendum funding. Kullander stated if there are not enough funds left in the referendum to construct the improvements desired for this park a long term plan could be adopted where annual improvements were put into the park until it was finished. The Parks and Recreation Commission felt the appropriate process would be to develop concept plans and bring these into a neighborhood or town meeting. Commissioner Damberg stated the Parks Commission should review the old concept plans and all of the information that we have to date on this park. Batchelder stated City staff could prepare a presentation of the old concept plans at the November meeting, could provide recent demographic information and provide information on Hagstrom- King. The Parks Commission decided that the individual members would each visit North Kensington Park and Hagstrom- King Park prior to their November meeting. Batchelder distributed a letter to the Parks Commission which he had addressed to Mr. Dave Markgraph of New Concepts Management. Batchelder stated Mr. Markgraph is the property manager for the homeowner's association in Kensington and that he had met with Mr. Markgraph at Kensington Park soccer complex to discuss the soccer group's request to provide additional screening for townhouses and private parking in the complex. Batchelder stated that Mr. Markgraph had indicated that the residents in these units closest to the soccer field are aware of the location of the fields and that they do not desire any additional landscape screening at this time. Parks Project Manager Kullander explained the trail system which is being constructed as part of the Mendota Interchange Project and the City's discussions with the County for cost sharing on these trails. Kullander stated that Dakota County was going ahead with the construction of the tunnel for the Soo Line bike trail and that they had received a grant of $330,000 from ISTEA Funding. Kullander stated the City of St. Paul has plans to build a trail from Harriet Island to the Parks and Recreation Commission October 12, 1993 Page 11 Lilydale Yacht Club and that this was slated to be constructed in 1994. Batchelder distributed a copy of the recently adopted target issues by City Council and pointed out the park items on this list including park vision and philosophy, Minnesota National River and Recreation Area Policy, Mendota Heights Par 3 Golf Course and Thomas Burow farmstead preservation. Batchelder informed the Parks Commission that City Council had recently approved the successful completion of Recreation Programmer Shelli Morgan's probationary period and that Ms. Morgan was now a regular fixture on the City's staff. Commissioner Linnell stated the Parks Commission, as part of their vision and philosophy discussions, should consider being the environmental conscious for the City, especially concerning fertilizing and lawn sprinkling and what this does to City ponds. Linnell inquired about the water supply issue on the Target Issue List. Parks Project Manager Kullander explained the City's situation with the water tower and the desired twenty-four inch (2411) main. The Parks Commission briefly discussed the special park fund and its use for the bridge replacement in Wentworth Park and the timing of these replacements. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned its meeting at 5:50 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant