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1994-04-12 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION APRIL 12, 1994 - 6:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of March 8, 1994 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Capital Improvements Plan for Park System * Discussion of Preliminary CIP List * Determination of Priorities and Funding 5. Discussion of North Urban Trail * Consideration of County Alternatives 6. Discussion of Tree City USA 7. North Kensington Park - Update 8. Verbal Updates * DNR Urban Forestry Plan * Provision of Satellites for Mend -Eagan 9. Adjourn. Auxiliary aide 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. The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 8, 1994, 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 Spicer, Norton, Kleinglass, Linnell, Katz and Libra. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder, Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Recreation Programmer Shelli Morgan. Guests present at the meeting were Dan Rostrader, Dave and Barbara Barnes and Sandy Running. Commissioner Linnell moved to approve the February 8, 1994 minutes. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 DISCUSSION OF CONCEPT DESIGN - NORTH KENSINGTON PARK Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the Parks and Recreation Commission had hosted a neighborhood meeting on February 24 at which approximately 40 residents attended to provide input and suggestions about the development of the park in their neighborhood. Batchelder stated it was a positive meeting and that the City staff has received 25 written comments or letters and approximately one dozen phone calls from interested residents regarding the park's design. Batchelder stated it was not easy to categorize all of the comments but listed the following preferences as being expressed by residents in the area: Park Use Preferences Number of People Landscaping, berms, plantings, trees 13 Tennis at Hagstrom-King 11 Gathering area/picnic tables 10 Passive, open park 9 "Backyard" concept 8 Opposed to active uses 7 Opposed to parking 7 Basketball hoop 5 Parka and Recreation Commission March S, 1994 Page 3 open, backyard concept for this area there were many different suggestions about how this could be achieved. Commissioner Spicer moved that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend that a backyard concept plan be designed for North Kensington Park. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. The Parks Commission discussed how a backyard concept would be designed for this park. Commissioner Spicer stated he feels the backyard concept would exclude active uses. Commissioner Ramberg stated the neighborhood wants a quieter park, however the suggestions about how to achieve this get very specific. Commissioner Damberg mentioned a couple of specific suggestions the Parks Commission had received for example, planting trees along the north end of the park to screen from traffic along Huber Drive. Commissioner Damberg stated the people in this area obviously have taken a good hard look at the design of this park and that any concept plans should utilize the suggestions made by residents in the area. Commissioner Spicer stated he feels the Commission and Council could direct staff to draw up concept plans based on these suggestions. Chair Katz stated there is some contradiction apparent in that some prefer an open, passive area while others prefer a heavily landscaped type of design. Commissioner Linnell stated that, for instance, the heavy screen proposed along the north edge of the park to block wind and traffic conflicts with the need to have an open park and visibility into the park. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated any concept design should be based on the numbers of anticipated park users. Kullander stated, for instance, if three or four barbecue pits were placed in the park with eight or ten picnic tables this would attract enough people where parking would be needed. Kullander stated that under this scenario, unless parking was provided, there would be parking along Mendota Heights Road which is a situation we would prefer to avoid. Kullander described how the City could construct a grass parking area that would have a more open, natural look to it than a paved parking area. He stated if groups are encouraged to come into this park, then parking should be considered. Commissioner Spicer stated he feels it would be appropriate to have a couple of barbecue pits and some picnic tables and plantings to make it attractive in this area. Chair Katz stated the Commission must consider that if this is a public park and there are attractive uses, parking must be considered. Parks and Recreation Commission March 8, 1994 Page 5 Commissioner Spicer restated his motion and moved to recommend that the City utilize a backyard concept for North Kensington Park with landscaping plan being based on the requests we have received from the neighborhood. Spicer stated this motion includes two barbecue pits, four picnic tables and two benches along the walkway. Commissioner Linnell suggested the Parks Commission should consider hiring a professional landscape architect to do this landscape plan. Linnell stated he is considering offering his talents as a landscape architect and to do this as a volunteer, however, he is not sure he has the time to adequately finish this plan for the City. The Commission discussed including the hiring of a professional landscape architect to design an appropriate landscape plan. Commissioner Spicer accepted this friendly amendment. Chair Katz seconded the motion. AYESe 7 NAYS: 0 Parks Project Manager Kullander inquired what the dollar range is that they would like to see for this motion. Commissioner Spicer stated that the City has approximately $80,000 left in the referendum and that $25, 000 has been earmarked for raising power line poles, and that $30,000 to $35,000 would be needed for tennis at Hagstrom-King. Kullander stated the barbecue pits are relatively inexpensive and that the City already has picnic tables in stock as inventory. Commissioner Spicer stated that landscaping not to exceed $20,000 may be appropriate. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired the cost for hiring an architect. Kullander stated this would likely cost the City approximately $3,000 to $5,000, however we would have to get request for proposals on the design of the landscape plan. Chair Katz stated she feels the City needs to explore the least expensive design options for this park. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that the backyard concept be planned at a range of $20,000 to $30,000 with this cost including the landscape architect's fees. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYESs 7 NAYSs 0 Parka and Recreation Commission March 8, 1994 Page 7 the park and park system and perhaps the City could use some type of door prize drawing based on getting a stamp at each event located around the City. PARR RESERVATION POLICY Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that at last month's meeting the Commission discussed the City's policy for reservation of our five adult sized softball/youth baseball fields, the priorities for reservations and the assignment of reservations to competing user groups. Batchelder stated the Commission had suggested that Recreation Programmer Morgan seek clarification on this issue at tonight's meeting. Commissioner Spicer stated that Exhibit C lists the priorities for assignment of reservations for the softball fields. He stated that second priority is given to organized youth programs of Mendota Heights. Spicer referred the Commission to item 4g in the Reservation Policy. He stated that this item defines the organized youth programs in Mendota Heights as the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Department, Mend - Eagan Athletic Association, Sibley Area Girl's Fast Pitch, Sibley Sting Soccer and non-profit organizations within Mendota Heights City limits. Commissioner Spicer felt that priority number two could have an additional wording that states "as described in Section 4g". Spicer stated that 4g defines what he feels was assumed were the organized programs in Mendota Heights. Commissioner Linnell offered an alternative suggestion that the priorities discussed in Exhibit C could be amended to state "the larger the number of Mendota Heights residents in the organized youth program, the higher the priority for field reservations". Chair Katz stated that she feels Commissioner Linnell's proposal makes sense. Administrative Assistant Batchelder cautioned the Commission about changing priorities or policies in mid stream during the current reservation period. The Commission discussed current reservations and competing interests with Recreation Programmer Morgan. Morgan stated she attempts to accommodate all Mendota Heights residents who make field requests, however she is receiving competing requests for the same fields on the same evenings. Commissioner Spicer stated at the recent sign ups for Mend - Eagan baseball he was asked by numerous parents why the baseball programs are not playing on the Mendakota fields. Parks and Recreation Commission March 8, 1994 Page 9 articles, Arbor Day celebrations, private consultations and Tree City USA and coordinated grant programs with Mr. Shimek. Batchelder stated Tree City USA status is necessary if the City desires to pursue grant programs that are available. Batchelder stated some of these programs include the Minnesota ReLeaf planting programs, Oak Wilt control grants, the Energy Conservation through Community Forestry Program, the Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants Program and the Small Business Administration Natural Resources Development Program, Chair Katz inquired if there was any desire on the part of the Commission to pursue Tree City USA status. Commissioner Kleinglass indicated he was not interested in this program. Commissioner Spicer inquired if the City really had a desire to pursue this. Commissioner Damberg stated she feels trees have a value as a resource in the community and that Tree City USA status should at least be considered. The Commission tabled this item until- their April meeting. REQUEST FOR TRAIL SEGMENT Parka Project Manager Kullander stated he had received a request for an additional trail segment on Mendota Heights Road from the Mendota Heights Road Traffic Signal Task Force. Kullander stated this Task Force has been looking at getting a traffic signal at the intersection of Dodd Road and Highway 149. He stated the Task Force feels it is difficult to cross Dodd Road because the trail switches from the south side to the north side of Mendota Heights Road as it crosses Dodd Road. Kullander stated that the desired extra segment would run from Dodd Road to the Bridgeview Shores development along the north side of Mendota Heights Road and is a duplication of a trail on the south side of Mendota Heights Road. Kullander stated this trail can be proposed to be included in the MnDOT funding and if it is approved MnDOT will pay for this trail segment. Kullander stated if MnDOT does not approve funding for this trail segment it could be paid with MSA money. He explained that no motion is necessary from the Parks Commission. The Commission indicated that City staff should pursue inclusion of this trail segment in the request for the traffic signal at Dodd Road and Mendota Heights Road. Parka and Recreation Commission March 8, 1994 Page 11 Batchelder provided an update on the County regional trail system that had been received from the County. Batchelder stated he had received a request from the City of Eagan seeking endorsement or resolution of support for their ISTEA grant. He stated the City of Eagan is pursuing an ISTEA grant for trail construction in the Cedar Avenue/Minnesota River area that would be a part of the loop system connecting Mendota Heights and Eagan to the I-494/Minnesota River Valley crossing. Batchelder stated the City of Mendota Heights had provided this resolution of support last year but that Eagan was not awarded the ISTEA grant. Commissioner Kleinglasa recommended that City Council approve a Resolution of support for the current Eagan ISTEA grant for trails in the Cedar Avenue/Minnesota River Valley area. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Linnell stated the City should consider the Diane to Celia Road trail link. Kullander explained the costs of construction and the availability of MSA funding. The Commission felt that this trail link should be included in the Capital Improvements Plan. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned its meeting at 8:45 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant