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1993-09-14 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA EPTEMBER ** 6:30 o°clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call, 3. Approval of July 13, 1993 and August 10, 1993 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Capital Improvement Planning for Park System * Discussion of CIP Funding * Discussion of Ivy Hills Park * Discussion of Wentworth Park 5. Proposed Resolution Amending Parks Reservation Policy * Shelli Morgan, Recreation Programmer 6. Request for Additional Irrigation at Mendakota Park 7. Discussion of Suggestions Received at the Park Celebration 8. Verbal Updates * Kensington Park - Screening of Ballfielda * Approval of Valley Park Bridge * Park Vision/Philosophy - City Council Target Issues-1994 * Recognition of Volunteers * 1994 Steering Committee 9. Adjourn. Auxiliary aide for disabled persona are available upon request at least 120 hours is advance. If a notice of lase 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. PARRS 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 81993 Minutes. , , Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 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 lopation 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. AYES: 4 NPaYS : 0 City's General Fund and Improvements Plan, Parka 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 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 to 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 Parkai 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 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. The regular meeting of the Mendota xeights Parka and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, August 10, 1993 in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6*45 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Linnell, Spicer and Norton. Commissioners Katz, Libra, Kleinglass and Damberg were excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parka Project Manager Guy Kullander. Vice Chair Spicer held over the approval of the July 13, 1993 minutes until the September meeting when there would be a quorum. Parks Project Manager Kullander presented his options on bridge and culverts in Valley and Wentworth Parks and provided detailed specifications and quotes for the various options. In response to an inquiry, Kullander stated Valley bridge is beginning to rot and replacement is necessary in the very near future. Kullander stated it would take approximately four to five weeks to get construction work for a new five foot (51) wide pedestrian bridge scheduled in Valley Park. He stated the construction of the bridge itself would take approximately one week. Kullander stated in his opinion the current bridge in Valley Park is not repairable and that only patching it again would not result in a safe structure. Lacking a quorum, those members of the Parks and Recreation Commission present recommended that the City Council approve the replacement of the bridge at Valley Park as specified by Parks Project Manager Kullander, Commissioner Norton stated she is a little leery of establishing a precedent whereby the Special Park Fund is used to fund a maintenance or replacement item in the parks system. The Commission discussed the Special Park Fund and its use for replacement or maintenance needs. The Commissioners present were of the consensus that any maintenance or replacement of existing park facilities should be funded out of the General Fund. Parks and Recreation Commission August 10, 1993 Page 3 Due to the lack of a quorum, the Commission tabled the discussion of Ivy Park and Wentworth Park until the September and October meetings. REQIIEST TO DEDICATE CIVIC CENTER FIELD Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated Mr. Dan O'Keefe is requesting that the City reconsider his request to honor Korean War Veteran Richard "Jake" Grauman with a field dedication. Batchelder stated he has received a request from Mr. O'Keefe regarding the Civic Center softball field following the School District's failure to approve the Sibley varsity baseball field. Batchelder stated Mr. O'Keefe had indicated he would appreciate a quick City decision on his request because the Third Infantry Division was having their annual convention in Bloomington in September and he would like to be able to order plaque and have it in place prior to this so there can be a ceremony at this field. Vice Chair Spicer stated the Parks Commission had instructed Mr. O'Keefe at an earlier meeting that if the Sibley varsity baseball field did not work out the City would be willing to consider a softball field and that the Civic Center field is an appropriate field due to its visible location at City Hall and its high use with little league and adult softball programs. Commissioner Linnell stated he is in favor of a positive recommendation on this request. Linnell stated the plaque should be worded so that it is in memory of all Korean War veterans and that the City should have some control over the wording of the plaque. The Commission felt the field could be named Grauman Memorial Field in honor of Richard "Jake" Grauman and all Veterans of the Korean War. Lacking a quorum, those members of the Parks Commission present recommended that the City Council dedicate Civic Center softball field as Grauman Memorial Field in honor of Richard "Jake" Grauman and all Korean War Veterans. Administrative Assistant Batchelder presented the proposed Parks and Recreation Commission Budget for 1994 based on the City Administrator's proposed budget. Batchelder stated the City Council would be holding a budget workshop on August 31st and that the Parks Commission has an opportunity to review the Parks and Recreation Commission August 10, 1993 Page 5 Batchelder explained some work had been done in Kensington Park to regrade, reseed and top dress the soccer fields. Batchelder stated he had contacted Centex Homes about providing additional screening along the west side of the field to protect townhoues from stray soccer balls. Batchelder stated Centex has released this project to the homeowner's association and that he had been given names to contact in the association about discussing additional screening on the townhouse property. He stated at the August 3rd Council meeting, the Mayor had inquired about the landscaping along the south edge of the soccer fields by I- 494. Parks Project Manager Kullander explained that the City staff had investigated the Mayor's request for vines and Lilac bushes to visually screen the highway beyond the fencing. Kullander stated the vines should not be planted along the tall fences for the soccer field due to the fact the fences could not handle the wind load if they were covered with vines. He also stated when vines are planted along a fence it becomes extremely difficult to maintain them when the weed whackers are used to trim grass along the fence, as often the vines get cut. Kullander,stated 40 or 50 lilac bushes could be transplanted from the City's nursery behind the fence by the freeway in Kensington Park. Commissioner Norton stated she is upset with this action by the City Council due to the fact that she had been requesting highway noise relief along 1-35E and that her questions had gone unanswered to this point. She stated that now the Mayor is proposing to soundproof Kensington Park when the City has never addressed the noise issue along I-35E. Kullander explained the City's nursery located at the public works garage and its potential for tree replacement. The Commission discussed the nursery. Commissioner Linnell stated he thinks the Friendly Hills tot lot could be made into a tree nursery. Vice Chair Spicer inquired about trail maps, signs and park maps and stated the City could possibly rely on community work service to provide the labor to mark and sign City trails. Kullander stated he has the stencils available for undertaking a trail distance marking project. Commissioner Norton thanked Administrative Assistant Batchelder for his role in the Celebrate Mendota Heights Parkst event and she thanked the volunteers and sponsors who helped put on the event that day.