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1994-05-10 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARRS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MAY 10, 1994 - 6:30 P.M. ** 6:30 o°clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of April 12, 1994 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 11 4I Capital Improvements Plan for Park System V * Discussion of Preliminary CIP List * Determination of Priorities and Funding Discussion of Draft Dakota County Park Policy Plan Executive Summary * Public Meeting - Tuesday May 10 1:30 p.m. Library Conference Room, Western Service Center Apple Valley 6. Reservation Request for Kensington Park * Shelli Morgan, Recreation Programmer 7. Verbal Updates * Tree City USA * Mendakota Park and Baseball * North Urban Trail * North Kensington Park 8. Adjourn. Auxiliary aids for disabled persona 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. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 12, 1994 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, April 12, 1994, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 o'clock P.M. The following members present were Spicer, Norton, Damberg, Libra and Linnell. Commissioners Katz and Kleinglass were excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander. Commissioner Libra moved to approve the March 8, 1994 minutes. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 NORTH URBAN TRAIL DISCUSSION Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that on March 9, 1994 Parks Project Manager Kullander and himself met with Dakota County staff and consultants to discuss the alternative trail routes being considered for the North Urban Trail. Batchelder stated the North Urban Trail is being considered as a connecting trail that would link two county regional trails on the west and east sides of northern Dakota County. Batchelder stated at that meeting three 'alternatives were considered for the trail through Mendota Heights to connect to South St. Paul. He stated the three trail alternatives are along Wentworth Avenue, Marie Avenue and Trunk Highway 110. He explained that all three trail options eventually end up going through Valley Park to connect with the Soo Line Regional Trail near the Lilydale Yacht Club. He stated this had been a concern of one of the City Councilmembers at a previous meeting. Vice Chair Spicer stated he feels there is nothing negative about the North Urban Trail connecting in Lilydale. Commissioner Linnell stated he feels this is a great connection to the Lilydale/Harriet Island Regional Park and to the Soo Line Regional Trail. Kullander stated the Park and Recreation Commission had previously discussed widening the trail corridor in Valley Park with the possibility of a clear cut on one side of the trail to provide for skiing in the winter time. Kullander stated the County was considering a trail -head kiosk near Highway 13 in this area and there might Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page 3 Batchelder stated City staff had indicated to Dakota County at the March 9th meeting that the Trunk Highway 110 Frontage Road would probably be the preferred option at this time. Batchelder stated he would like the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss this and provide input to staff. He stated the County's process includes a draft plan that will be presented by the consultant for review and comment by the County Board. He stated the County Board review would be followed by City review and a public hearing process. Batchelder stated there were opportunities for the City to continue informing the County about their desired approach for the North Urban Trail, Commissioner Damberg inquired why Dakota County could not use the Trunk Highway 110 Frontage Road for an on -street trail. Kullander stated the Regional Trail standards call for an off street trail in order to keep the bicycle and pedestrian traffic safely separated from street traffic. The trail link along Delaware Avenue or Warrior Avenue to Marie Avenue from Trunk Highway 110 was discussed by the Commission. Batchelder stated that both staff from West St. Paul and from the City of Mendota Heights made it clear to Dakota County that we felt the relaxing of the standards for regional trails could help facilitate the North Urban Trail. He stated that without the relaxing of the standards, it appears that the Trunk Highway 110 Frontage Road option offers the least impact to Mendota Heights and may, sometime in the future, enhance the City's ability to cross Trunk Highway 110 to the south with a pedestrian overpass. Batchelder stated that with the regional trail along Trunk Highway 110 there may be options for grant money to bridge Trunk Highway 110 to south Mendota Heights, Commissioner Linnell stated a third option could be to not use north Valley Park and to just have the Marie Avenue trail connect to Highway 55. Kullander stated that City staff had also sent the County an option where Trunk Highway 110 was used and then Highway 110 was bridged south to connect the trail to Mendota Heights Road which would then eventually connect to the Soo Line Regional Trail at Pilot Knob Road. Commissioner Linnell moved to recommend that the Highway 110 option be considered the preferred option with the condition that a pedestrian overpass for Trunk Highway 110 be coordinated with the North Urban Trail, Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page.5 Commissioner Norton stated that she favors the City receiving Tree City USA status and that she feels it is appropriate that the City adopt a community tree ordinance. Norton stated that the City should recognize what urban forest resources we have and that we should enhance them. Commissioner Damberg agreed and stated she feels this status would benefit the community in the future and that awareness of urban forestry issues is important. Vice Chair Spicer read the requirements for applying for National Arbor Day Foundation designation as the Tree City USA IS: 1. A tree board or department; 2. A community tree ordinance; 3. A community forestry program with an annual budget.of at least $2.00 per capita; and 4. An Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Spicer stated that the City already complies with everything except for having a community tree ordinance. Commissioner Norton moved to recommend direct staff to apply for Tree City US Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. IIPDATE that the City Council A status. Administrative Assistant Batchelder explained that City Council had considered the Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation on the backyard concept and had essentially agreed with the backyard concept, however, had discussed including a shelter in this approach. He stated the City Council had directed staff to pursue advertisements for a graduate student to do the landscape architecture design. Batchelder stated this recruitment process has begun and that we have advertised at the University of Minnesota's Landscape Architecture Department seeking applicants to design the landscape in North Kensington Park, Commissioner Damberg st included in this beautiful shelter design is a detriment t Libra stated he felt th lot would be neededatt if plan. at South ated she felt adding a o the backyard concept e Commission was clear ractive uses such a Libra stated there Kensington Park. shelter to this Commissioner that a parking s a shelter are already is a Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page 7. and a new location in downtown Mendota. Spicer stated if the City placed satellites in these areas that Mend -Eagan will reimburse the City for this because the City gets a better rate on satellites. Batchelder stated the City has received a request to reserve South Kensington Park for a graduation party in June where there would be potential for overflow parking and noise on a Tuesday night in this area. The Commission discussed this reservation request and felt that it is more appropriate that Mendakota Park be used for an event of this size. '• 511_i Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the Commission has been working for eight months to do a thorough review.of the Capital Improvements, Infrastructure and replacement needs of the City•s park system. He stated each City park, the open space system and trail systems were reviewed for anticipated future projects and replacement needs and that some cases funding sources had been identified. Batchelder stated the Parks Commission will begin the process of identifying priorities and assigning funding options to these prioritized items. Batchelder stated this is the beginning of putting together a draft CIP Plan for review and recommendation to the City Council. He stated the funding sources that have been identified are the General Fund, Special Parks Fund, Referendum Fund and a category called Donations/Other. Batchelder stated the list had been compiled and that maintenance and replacement items had been 'separated from new facility items. He stated the Parks and Recreation Commission should begin by reviewing the general maintenance and replacement needs for the park system. Vice Chair Spicer inquired if everything will get approved after the Parks Commission adopts a CIP Plan. Batchelder stated the purpose of having a Capital Improvements Plan was so the budget process could be enhanced and that you could look at the future horizon and determine what level of expenditures would be necessary to keep the parks system up. He stated it is unlikely the City Council would approve a five year CIP Plan and automatically adopt every piece in it. He stated the real intent of a CIP Plan is to guide the annual budgeting process and that annually these CIP items will need budget approval. Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page 9 Modified Play Equipment to ADA Standards Administrative Assistant Batchelder explained it will be necessary for the City to have a long term plan in effect to eventually make all of our play equipment handicapped accessible. Batchelder stated the law requires all programs and facilities be evaluated and that a plan be developed to make these programs and facilities accessible. Commissioner Damberg stated she feels the City only needs geographically located accessible play structures to provide handicapped accessible services in Mendota Heights. The Commission discussed having one park north of Highway 110 handicapped accessible and one park south of Highway 110 handicapped accessible. The Commission discussed putting Wentworth Park on line first and that would match Kensington Park which is in the south part of the City. Commissioner Libra inquired if the City has received a request to make the tennis court gates handicapped accessible. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated no, that adapting the tennis court gates was an idea suggested by Commissioner Linnell. Kullander stated the City could look at adapting the gates as we resurface the tennis courts. Vice Chair Spicer stated the first handicapped modifications of play equipment should occur in the north side of the City and Wentworth Park should be done first within the next five years. Kullander described the fact that both Kensington and Mendakota Park would need to be updated to provide transfer points within the current play structures. Kullander estimated this would be a minor cost of about $500. The Parks Commission directed City staff to include the update of Wentworth play equipment in 1995 with Special Park Fund money and that we would begin to do one park north of Highway 110 and south of Highway 110 every five years. Concrete Bleacher Pads Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the discussion on concrete bleacher pads in the park had been along the lines of scheduling one a year to be constructed by the park crews. The Commission directed staff to have the park crews schedule and prioritize which parks should be done first. The Commission directed staff to include concrete bleacher pads in the draft CIP Plan on a two per year schedule through the General Fund. The Commission stated the City park crews would have to get this item approved in the annual budget. Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page it Commissioner Linnell stated the City should see how the trails hold up longer than an eight year life span. Linnell stated a life span of a trail is approximately 20 years and then it needs to be overlaid. Linnell stated it may be cheaper in the long run to overlay the trails on a 20 year basis and not seal coat them. Kullander stated typically the City's experience on trails is they need to be seal coated about every nine to ten years. Linnell stated the City may still need to overlay trails after 20 years so why bother seal coating. Kullander responded the City's experience with seal coating the trails has been very good. Vice Chair Spicer offered to direct staff to include, as a policy on seal coating trails, the following: That two miles of trail will be seal coated every year on an eight year cycle and that four miles of trail will be left untouched to determine if overlay was a cheaper option. The Commission was of the consensus that this policy should be included in the draft CIP Plan and that General Fund money should be used beginning in 1995 to seal coat two miles of trail per year on an eight year cycle with four miles untouched to be overlaid after 20 years. Seal Coating Parking Lots Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that most of the parking lots were built in 1990 and that they would not need seal coating for six more years. The Commission directed staff to include in the draft CIP Plan doing three parking lots per year on a nine year plan where the City would be doing a parking lot once every three years. The Commission directed staff to start this process in 1999 with General Fund money. New Facilities Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the Commission should now begin to look at the list of new facilities which they had generated in their discussion/review of the park system. Batchelder stated the Commission should direct staff on which items on that list have the highest priority. Vice Chair Spicer stated the provision of the tennis court in Hagstrom-King Park should be the first priority. Spicer stated it was very clear that the feedback at the Neighborhood Meeting on North Kensington Park that this area of the City needs a tennis court. He stated this tennis court should be built with a gate that is accessible to handicapped individuals. Spicer also stated he feels the tennis court should be funded by Referendum funding in 1994. The Parks Parks and Recreation Commission April 12, 1994 Page 13 • � • q; �t41BhY There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:35 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant