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1993-08-10 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)F PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AUGUST 10, 1993 - 6:30 P.M. ** 6e30 o'clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call, 3. Approval of July 13, 1993 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Recommendation to Council on Bridge and Culvert Project * Valley and Wentworth Parks - Cost Estimates 5. Capital Improvement Planning for Park System * Discussion of CIP Funding * Discussion of Ivy Hills Park * Discussion of Wentworth Park * Discussion of Parking Study Requested by Council 6. Request to Dedicate Civic Center Field * In Honor of Richard "Jake" Grauman, Korean War veteran 7. Review of Proposed Parks Budget for 1994 8. Verbal Updates * Kensington Park - Soccer Fields - Progress Report * Celebrate Mendota Heights Parkal * Summer Adventure 1992 * Soo Line Trail - City of Lilydale Concerns * ISTEA Conference 9. Adjourn. Auxiliary aids for disabled persons are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids, however, this may not be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 452-1850 with requests. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 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. Commissioner Kleinglass moved to approve the June 8, 1993, Minutes. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 KENSINGTON PARK 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 logation 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 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. i City's General Fund and Improvements Plan. Parks and Recreation Commission July 13, 1993 Page 5 allocated through a Capital 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 Parka Project Manager Kullander to get detailed specifications and quotes for construction of bridges and culverts at Valley and Wentworth Parka 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 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. 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 Parkal 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 Rnob Road trail funding that includes funding for a 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.