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1990-02-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION MINUTES FEBRUARY 13, 1990 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, February 13, 1990 in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chairperson Huber called the meeting to order at 7:00 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Damberg, Huber, Hunter, Katz, Kleinglass, Lundeen and Spicer. Planning Commission members present were: Dreelan, Tilsen, Dwyer and Krebsbach. Councilmember Blesener was present. Staff members present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder, Public Works Director Jim Danielson, Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and City Administrator Tom Lawell. APPROVAL OF MINUTES AYES: NAYS: ELECTION OF OFFICERS AYES: NAYS: AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Damberg moved to approve the minutes of January 9, 1990. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. Chairperson Huber briefly described the offices of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, Commissioner Damberg moved to appoint John Huber as Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Commissioner Spicer seconded the motion. Commissioner Commissioner Chair. Commissioner Spicer moved to appoint Katz for the position of Vice Damberg seconded the motion. JOINT PARKS Parks Project Manager Kullander gave a brief & RECREATION description of Kensington Park and the COMMISSION/ Centex proposal for a park land dedication. PLANNING COM-Kensington area. Mr. Kullander briefly MISSION WORK -described Kensington Park as it was SHOP - published in the referendum brochure. KENSINGTON brochure. Mr. Kullander briefly described PARK the cost allocations for Kensington Park, for a total of $548,000. Mr. Kullander described the history of Council adopting Plan C and the Ballfield Sub -Committee and staff working with Centex to draft the park dedication that you see before you tonight. Mr. Kullander also stated that staff had released Barry Warner of Barton- Aschman to begin preliminary sketches of alternative layouts within the land dedication boundaries. Mr. Dick Putnam, of the Tandem Corporation representing Centex in the Kensington project, gave a brief description of the historical February 13, 1990 Page 2 background of Plan A, Plan B and Plan C that have Vone before the City Council and the Planning Commission. Mr. Putnam stated that in April of 1989 the Plan C Sketch Plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council as a modification of the originally approved Plan A and Plan B. Mr. Putnam discussed Plan C with the Citizen's Review Committee the result being Plan C-3. Mr. Putnam stated this was accomplished May 31, 1989 and that Plan C-3 was the basis of approval for the sketch plan and of Phase I. Mr. Putnam stated that, prior to conveying the property to the City, they want to coordinate the boundaries of the park dedication and the details of the park with the City prior to dedication. Mr. Putnam stated that we have come past Plan C-3 based on comments by staff and the Planning Commission. Mr. Putnam stated, for example, trail connections, that some buildings have been eliminated, some buildings have been moved to accommodate grading and other fine tuning has been done to the plan since approval. Chairperson Huber stated that during the open house visit the softball fields and the south field fence were looked at and determined that it is very close to I-494. Some adjustments to the parking and the softball fields had been discussed at that point. Mr. Putnam stated that the recreational building and the pool for the condominiums has parking that is very close to the park parking lots. Mr. Putnam stated that he has moved the access to the recreational building parking to the other street so they don't conflict. Mr. Putnam added that Howard Dahlgren had pointed out to him that the parking is vacant in the winter and that the ability to overlap the parking lot is perhaps not a bad idea. Mr. Putnam stated that the developers remain open to what makes the most sense for parking in this area. Commissioner Katz asked about the location of the ballfields to the power lines and the closeness of the back stops. Mr. Putnam stated that the fields would be outside of the public utility easements and that Barry Warner was going to explore looking at adjustments of the softball fields. Mr. Putnam also stated that some adjustment of the hockey rink that is shown and the parking may be needed also. Commissioner Katz stated she would like to see trees instead of either. Chairman Huber stated that in addition to the power lines there is also a gas pipeline that follows through the powerline easement. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that the grades on the pipeline are critical only at the roads and that it would need to be cased under the February 13, 1990 Page 3 streets but not lowered. Mr. Barry Warner of Barton-Aschman gave a brief presentation on some of the alternatives his office had explored on the Kensington Park dedication. Mr. Warner stated that it was important for everybody to understand the constraints involved in the Kensington Park dedication. He listed them as: 1) the powerlines; 2) the casing of the pipelines; 3) I-494 adjacent to the south boundary and 4) there are a series of natural basins to protect and that in instances of natural basins and open space, this should be expanded when possible. Mr. Warner stated that by protecting the natural basins and extending the open both the park, the neighborhood and the investment would be enhanced. He stated his office recommends passive open space and maximization of trail connection links. Mr. Warner stated that whenever any community is polled about parks needs walking trails are always the number one item and that these trails should be looped whenever possible. Mr. Warner highlighted the possible trail connections that at Kensington Park. Mr. Warner stated that in looking at this park three concepts should be prioritized: Looping of trails where possible. Preserving of passive open space. Preserving the pond edge. Mr. Warner presented conceptual sketches for the layout of Kensington Park. He presented two concepts and stated that both are almost over programming for the size of the park. He stated that at some point a compromise in dimensions of the facilities or a compromise in the developer/city agreement needed to be reached. Mr. Warner highlighted the details of the two concepts. Councilmember Blesener stated that two soccer fields in the north section of the park had been sold to the voters and should be placed. Commissioner Dwyer stated that the proximity of the backstop to the powerlines during electrical storms could be a potential dangerous situation in unusual weather and the he would like the health and safety issue of this investigated. Mr. Warner stated that he was not aware of any conclusive studies on this issue but that the simple matter was that you must keep the backstops away from the powerlines. He also stated some communities ground the backstops. Public Works Director Danielson stated that NSP guidelines say that the City should ground the backstops. There ensued a discussion about the placements and alignments of the softball fields. February 13, 1990 Page 4 Mr. Warner stated that the grading of fields over the pipeline is a concern. Mr. Warner stated that we could physically fit the fields, but the constraints of the pipeline and the grading are not known. Commissioner Lundeen queried are we cramming too much into the space - do we either need only two fields or do we need more space? Commissioner Krebsbach asked what are the consequences of only building two quality fields verses the three promised fields. Commissioner Spicer responded that the promised fields were based upon a need for these types of fields. Councilmember Blesener stated that we had promised three fields to the voters and that we will provide them. She stated that if any compromise is made it should be along the lines of having two adult fields and one youth field. Mr. Putnam stated that at this point the plans are only lines on a map. He stated that if the City tells us where it is tight that the developers would be able to work with their plans. He stated that we can be flexible with the boundaries of the park at this point. Mr. Putnam discussed creative ways to deal with softball field constraints. Mr. Putnam also stated that the pipeline can be buried - that four feet is the requirement. He also stated that powerline poles can be relocated for a certain expense that is not out of the question in cost. He estimated maybe $20,000 per pole. Mr. Warner asked Mr. Putnam if the western edge could be manipulated to give the softball field some breathing space. Mr. Putnam replied yes. Mr. Warner replied that any realignment of the softball fields would be moving them in the direction away from I-494 and that this movement would likely push them to the west. He stated that if we can work on the western edge we can resolve the conflict with the sizing of the ballfields. The parking access, lot and number of stalls was discussed. Also discussed was the siting of future tennis, parking and hockey rink areas. After this discussion Mr. Putnam stated that the developers are providing a 25 percent land dedication for Kensington Park. He stated that it is really the City's choice to develop what lies within the boundaries of this park. He stated that it may be redeveloped at some point in the future and that spaces should be defined at this point for potential use changes. Chairperson Huber asked Mr. Putnam if he had any further comments. Mr. Putnam replied that if it was the City's intention to build Kensington Park during 1990 they should instruct Barry Warner's office to begin working with the alternatives and to coordinate these alternatives with the developers so that the design of the park could commence. Commissioner Tilsen stated that a fresh look should be taken February 13, 1990 Page 5 at the alignment of the softball fields, soccer fields and the parking and into the possible alterations of the design. He stated that this should not be a design simply handed to the City by the developer. Commissioner Spicer responded that this layout of Kensington Park was designed by the Citizen's Park Review Committee over a five month process and not a park that Mr. Putnam had handed to the City. He stated that this park has been thoroughly examined by both the Citizen's Park Review Committee and the Parks Commission and has been endorsed by the City Council. Commissioner Tilsen replied that the combined use of the north and south area and the parking with the soccer, baseball and softball should be looked at further. Councilmember Blesener stated that the idea of clustering like uses together was thoroughly examined by the Citizen's Park Review Committee and that the design and the layout issues that Commissioner Tilsen is referring to have been reviewed and considered. Commissioner Spicer stated that the City doesn't have much choice in having to fully develop what we have as far as the dedication. Mr. Putnam stated that the clustering of the softball and the soccer together were good ideas. He stated that ball players and soccer uses don't go together because of the adult nature of softball and the youth nature of soccer. Often times it gets too chaotic. Mr. TAT stated that the graphics have done what they were intended to do which was to show the conceptual layout of the park. He stated that the technical aspects of the design will drive it now such as the drainage and grading. Mr. Warner stated that it is now time for the staff, the developer and the consultant to work with the constraints and the comments and the directions that were received at tonight's joint workshop and begin to work on a compromise plan that is acceptable to all parties. Chairperson Huber stated that it seemed appropriate to direct staff to work with Barton- Aschman and Putnam. Commissioner Tilsen stated that the Planning Commission will want to have guidance from the Parks and Recreation Commission about the safety and joint use issues of the park. Chairperson Huber stated that it is now time to get Barton-Aschman going. He stated that the directions they have tonight are with the softball design, the two soccer fields, the siting of future uses in the northwest corner and the parking in the northwest corner. Commissioner Hunter made a motion to direct Barton-Aschman and Barry Warner to meet with Mr Putnam and to make sketches based on tonight's discussion for the Planning Commission meeting on February 28, 1990. Commissioner Spicer seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 February 13, 1990 Page 6 Following the vote the Parks Commission reached concensus that they would meet at 7:00 o'clock P.M. before the Planning Commission on February 28, 1990. Commissioner Spicer asked Barry Warner to keep the concerns of safety and the powerlines in mind and to keep the fields away from them as much as possible. Commissioner Dwyer also wondered if another play structure down by the softball fields had been discussed or should it be discussed. Chairperson Huber thanked the Planning Commission members for attending the meeting. FRIENDLY Chairperson Huber gave an account of the HILLS TOT Friendly Hills tot lot issue that appeared LOT at the January 16, 1990, City Council meeting. Chairperson Huber stated that a public hearing was held and approximately 35 to 40 Friendly Hills residents appeared to state their concerns with the divestment of the tot lot. He stated that all the residents who appeared were opposed to the City taking this action and that the Council had not approved clearing title and selling the land. Chairperson Huber introduced Sylvia Nelson as a representative of the Friendly Hills residents. Ms. Crisp of 2341 Apache Street stated that she was present tonight to discuss the Friendly Hills tot lot and issues regarding Friendly Hills Park also. She stated that she would like to see the City use some of the $700,000 in the second question of the referendum for replacing the tot lot equipment. She stated that the Friendly Hills residents would like to see the City spend at least $2,000 for improvements of the tot lot like Curley neighborhood is receiving in the referendum. Ms. Crisp also stated that the residents of Friendly Hills were very concerned about the issue of the picnic table on the hill at Friendly Hills Park and the trees being removed and the hill flattened. She said this was not in the Friendly Hills Park part of the referendum and that their neighborhood was seriously opposed to removing any trees in the park. She also stated that no where in the parks referendum was there money allocated for parking at the Friendly Hills parking lot. She stated that the money allocated was for landscaping of the parking lot. Chairperson Huber and Administrative Assistant Batchelder discussed the issues of the hill and the picnic shelter in the wish list that the Parks and Recreation Commission had generated for the City Council if the land was sold and proceeds were developed. They explained that the parking lot in Friendly Hills would receive February 13, 1990 Page 7 landscaping from the referendum. Chairman Huber also explained the purpose of the second question in the referendum, the history of the Curley tot lot and the city's position on tot lots. Chairperson Huber explained that the Curley neighborhood was isolated from City parks and have different needs to provide parks to kids in the neighborhood than the Friendly Hills Park does. Ms. Crisp stated that the Friendly Hills residents did not like having their children down by the pond at Friendly Hills Park and that she felt their situation was similar to the Curley neighborhood in that the Curley neighbors did not want their kids down by Roger's Lake. Ms. Sylvia Nelson presented a proposal for $2,000 worth of enhancements to Friendly Hills tot lot. Commissioner Spicer stated that $20,000 was going into Friendly Hills Park 350 feet away from the tot lot. Ms. Nelson stated that Friendly Hills Park is too chaotic for little kids, that community groups rent that park, that there is active team play there and that the water is dangerous. She stated that her and her neighbors feel that the tot lot is a much safer place for kids to play. Ms. Nelson stated that all they are asking is for the City to put some minimal amount of equipment into Friendly Hills tot lot. She stated that they would like to see the basketball hoop replaced and a two foot strip of bituminous around the edge of the Friendly Hills tot lot. She also wondered if some of the old apparatus that is being replaced could be placed in the Friendly Hills tot lot. Chairperson Huber stated that he was reluctant to even look at the resident's proposal because it could be construed as a promise at a later date. He stated that discussions had proceeded with the Curley neighborhood and based upon minutes of those discussions the neighborhood had adopted the idea that the City had made a promise to them. Chairperson Huber stated that the real issue here is the proximity of the play equipment which is only three hundred feet away at Friendly Hills Park. Commissioner Lundeen, in response to a question, stated that the City as a community must fulfill the parks referendum. He stated there are money and time constraints and that we must resolve referendum issues first. Commissioner Lundeen stated that it would be helpful if the Friendly Hills residents attended the open house for the purpose of reviewing what kind of equipment is going into their park. He stated the development of play equipment in Friendly Hills Park was the intent of the referendum. Commissioner Lundeen stated that he is not sure that the case for putting play February 13, 1990 Page 8 equipment in the tot lot is as strong now as it was when Friendly Hills tot lot went in. He stated that this was so because at the time the tot lot went in Friendly Hills Park had not been developed. Chairperson Huber asked the Parks Commission if there were any motions based on the citizen's request. There were no motions forth coming from the Parks Commission, AFTER SCHOOL Ms. Sally Warring of Independent School District PROGRAM No. 197 appeared for the purpose of giving a presentation on the school district's proposal for the City to fund an after school program. Ms. Warring stated that the school district was seeking $3,000 each from Mendota Heights and West St. Paul in a cooperative adventure to provide recreational activities for children during the afternoon and evening hours during the spring and summer sessions of 1990. Commissioner Damberg asked how many children would be served by this program. Ms. Warring responded that the level of the program is not yet determined and that the demand is not quite known at this point. She stated that it was likely that about 100 children would be served in the spring session, however, the summer session has potential to be much bigger. Ms. Warring stated that in the fall after the program had run for the spring and summer sessions that they can analyze the demand and give the City a better indication of what type of commitment they are looking for in a recreational after school program. She stated that what they are looking for at this point is simply a commitment from the City for spring and summer sessions of 1990. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that the City Council authorize $3,000 from the recreational contingency of the 1990 Parks Budget for the after school program through August 30, 1990 contingent upon West St. Paul also granting approval. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: VERBAL UP - Parks Project Manager Kullander gave a brief DATES presentation on the status of the trail system. He explained that the City Council had some residents in to discuss the issue of the trail easements through their property. Mr. Kullander also presented the Commission with a package of every trail section in the City and a map explaining these trail sections. Mr. Kullander also gave the Parks Commission updates on releasing consultant work, play structure bidding, a contract bidding schedule and other referendum items. February 13, 1990 Page 9 PLANS AND Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that SPECIFICA- Barry Warner of Barton-Aschman was here tonight TIONS FOR to present almost completed sketches of HAGSTROM/ Hagstrom/King Park, Victoria Highlands Park, KING PARK & Roger's Lake Park and Friendly Hills VICTORIA landscaping. Mr. Warner stated that the plans HIGHLANDS PK.at this point are 90 percent done and that they are at the stage of being detailed designed drawings. He stated he was here tonight to get final directions from the Parks Commission so that they can proceed on designing final drawings that they would have the City Council approve for bidding. Mr. Warner explained the improvements at Victoria Highlands Park. He discussed the parking area, the play field, the grading for the trails and the play field, the berm between the hard court and the play equipment and the breakdown of the contracting duties. Mr. Warner also presented the landscape plan. The Parks Commission accepted the plan. Mr. Warner discussed the Hagstrom/King plans. He showed the Parks Commission the grading and seeding for the ball fields, the play equipment had been put in by the developer, that the hard court was put in by the developer in that there was adequate room to site tennis in the future if need be. The Parks Commission accepted the plan. Mr. Warner also presented the Roger's Lake Park plan that had been drawn. This plan basically involved landscaping of the tennis court and parking area. The Parks Commission accepted the plan. Mr. Warner showed the landscape plan for Friendly Hills Park including the details of the plantings, the locations and the drawing details for the sign layout. The Parks Commission accepted these plans. Mr. Warner discussed the cost estimates. Mr. Warner stated that the cost estimate for Victoria Highlands Park was $68,350. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that $72,000 and an additional $12,000 for the trail had been budgeted for Victoria Highlands Park. Mr. Warner stated that the cost estimate for Hagstrom/King Park was $26,900. Mr. Kullander stated that $17,700 was budgeted but it was his feeling that Victoria Highlands and Hagstrom/King Park would balance. Mr. Warner stated that the cost estimate for the Friendly Hills Park landscaping was $6,000. Mr. Kullander stated that $5,000 had been allocated in the referendum. Mr. Warner stated that the cost estimate was $5,200 for Roger's Lake Park and Mr. Kullander stated that $5,000 had been allocated in the referendum. Mr. Kullander also stated that the cost estimate was $900 per sign for the ten sins in the parks. Mr. Kullander stated that this money was not budgeted in the referendum. February 13, 1990 Page 10 Commissioner Spicer made a motion to direct Barton-Aschman to complete and finalize the plans as shown to the Parks Commission. Commissioner Lundeen seconded the motion. AYES: 7 AYES: 0 KITTENBALL Administrative Assistant Batchelder presented PROPOSAL the kittenball proposal and the Parks Commission following a brief discussion, endorsed staff to proceed with advertisements to analyze the interest of the community in a kittenball program. WARMING Parks Project Manager Kullander presented a HOUSE COLORS sampling of paint colors for the warming house. Commissioner Damberg was assigned the task of making a recommendation at the next Parks and Recreation Commission on the color for the warming houses. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned their meeting at 10:20 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant