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1994-11-08 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION November 8, 1994 - 8:00 P.M. ** 8:00 o'clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of October 11, 1994 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Election of New Vice -Chair 5. Discussion of Park Reservation Policy 6. Discussion of Pazk Trail Stencilling 7. Updates * North Kensington Park Progress * Park Improvement Projects * Monthly Parks Report * MNRRA Grant Requests * Letter to Dakota County on Trail Grooming 11. 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 %Y 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 4524850 with requests. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINU'PES OCTOBER il, 1994 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, October 11, 1994, 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, Norton and Spicer. Commissioners Damberg and Linnell were excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander. Commissioner Norton moved to approve the August 9, 1994 minutes. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 RESIGNATION OF VICKI KATZ Vice Chair Spicer announced that the City has received a resignation letter from Vicki Katz, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Spicer stated Ms. Katz has accepted a job at a non-profit organization whose board meetings also occur on the same Tuesday evenings as the Parks Commission. Spicer stated that Ms. Katz has stated she will no longer be able to devote her time to the Commission. Spicer stated the Commission will miss Vicki and that he has personally enjoyed all of the years he has worked together with her on the Commission. Mr. John Tuohy, a resident of Park Place, stated he is appearing on behalf of his wife, Jean, who is a board member for the Park Place Homeowner's Association, Mr. Tuohy stated he has had the opportunity to read the staff memo and the difficulties that present themselves for City involvement in the flooding of the Park Place pond. Mr. Tuohy stated residents in the neighborhood shovel and clear the ice on the pond for use by neighborhood children and adults. He stated that by mid season, the ice is in pretty poor shape and the Association had discussed this matter and was wondering if they could get the Public Works crews to help flood this rink once or twice a year just to touch up the ice. Mr. Tuohy stated he understands other neighborhoods have asked for this Parks and Recreation Commission October 11, 1994 Page 3 Vice Chair Spicer stated he understood that the landscape plan that the Parks Commission had discussed with the Engineering Department last year did not work very well and that more beautification is needed in Ivy Hills Park. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated the City had received many complaints about the lack of landscaping in the pond area and that it is pretty bare in this area. Kullander stated the contractor had mixed grass seed with the wild flower seed when seeding the sloped areas along the road and the berm. Kullander stated this is a large budget project and that requesting additional funding to provide adequate landscaping in the park is something the Parks Commission should consider. Vice Chair Spicer inquired if $15,000 to $20,000, as a guideline, with the plan done by City staff would be a responsible approach to addressing the landscape issue in Ivy Hills Park. The Parks Commission discussed appropriate funding amounts to provide adequate landscaping in this park. Kullander stated if the Parks Commission desired this be done by a landscape consultant, it would cost approximately $2,500 to $5,000 for design services. Commissioner Libra recommended that City Council authorize money from the Ivy Falls Storm Project to develop a landscape plan either by staff or an outside consultant, and then to I mplement the plan in the Spring of 1995 with a not to exceed total cost of $20,000. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 The Parks Commission discussed the types of amenities they would like included in the Ivy Hills Park landscape plan. The Commission discussed providing planters, either made out of rock or limestone, paved trails, tree plantings and wildflowers, and cattails and marsh grasses for the wetlands. The Commission stated a firm that specializes in wildflower plantings should be used to establish those areas designated on the plan for low maintenance natural wildflower or prairie grass areas. VPATER RESOURCES EDIICATION PLAN Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated he had combined two issues into one agenda item. He stated the Parks Commission has discussed pond preservation at past meetings and had been kept up-to-date on Dakota County's water resources education Parks and Recreation Commission October 11, 1994 Page 5 Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the National Park Service is considering the establishment of grants and grant programs for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). Batchelder stated the National Park Service desires to identify the range and magnitude of possible grant projects within the river corridor so that they can determine funding levels and technical assistance. Batchelder stated the parks services asked all jurisdictions in the corridor to respond with grant proposal ideas. The Commission discussed possible grant ideas and felt that staff should send in grant proposal ideas to the National Park Service for the following items: Scenic Overlook r) _k New Park Development I� k jsk� G�k� Informational Materials Non Point Source Pollution Educational Programs Scenic Bluff, Overlool0and antorm Water Clean Up, Bird Watching Opportunities The Commission directed staff to prepare thes scoping forms for the National Park Service. J��L 4�7 sr f7 VERBAL UPDATES es F F� f� Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated the next meeting on November 8 is the same day as an election and that the meeting cannot start until 8:00 P.M. Batchelder inquired if the Commission wanted to meet on a different evening or if they would like to begin their meeting at 8:00 o'clock P.M. The Commission directed staff to prepare the November park meeting for their regular day beginning at 8*00 o'clock P.M. Batchelder distributed a petition that had been received by City Council at their October 4 meeting from residents of the Brentwood and Kensington neighborhoods officially petitioning the City of Mendota Heights not to construct the picnic shelter structure in North Kensington Park. Batchelder stated this park shelter had been included as an option at the time the City Council approved the concept plans. He stated the City Council directed the architect to include the shelter in the final plans and specifications as an option to be considered at the time when the final plans are approved or Ads awarded. Vice Chair Spicer stated it has been the Parks Commission contention all along that there should not be a picnic shelter located in North Kensington Park. Commissioner Libra stated Parks and Recreation Commission October 11, 1994 Page 7 updated with the receipt of new highway maps. He stated the signs should be able to be installed in the City parks in early spring. The Commission discussed stenciling mile markers on the trails and discussed the fact that perhaps the Commission should spend a Saturday or Sunday doing the stenciling themselves in order to give them an opportunity to see the park system and provide a benefit to the City. The Commission asked staff to place this on the next agenda. Kullander described the Crown Point washout and the fact that MnDOT has hired a contractor to fix this. Commissioner Norton inquired about work going on in valley Park north of Marie Avenue. Kullander stated that washouts had occurred in this area and that gabions are being installed by the same contractor who is working on the Ivy Falls Project. Kullander stated the City staff had taken some time in analyzing the situation at the archery range and that staff is proposing some signs be installed along the trail warning trail users. He stated that selective cutting of the grass would establish shooting lanes that will be separated from the trail area with a natural barrier, that signs could be installed announcing the rules of the archery range and that staff is considering using metal poles to install the hay bails. He stated that for the most part, people will be bringing their own targets to the range. Kullander stated he attended the public hearing for the County's North Urban Trail Plan. He stated a few Mendota Heights residents also attended and spoke in opposition to the trail if it was in their front yard. Kullander stated the North Urban Trail Plan next goes to the County Board and if approved, it will be sent to the Metropolitan Council. He stated the Metropolitan Council will be reviewing this plan to determine if regional trail standards can be deviated from as far as the width of the trail and boulevards. Administrative Assistant Batchelder submitted pictures of the recent vandalism in City parks, particularly spray painting of various park facilities. Commissioner Libra stated the soccer season is now over for the Mendota Heights Athletic Association and they had over 600 people participate. He stated the Mendota Heights Athletic Association's recent newsletter thanked the City for the good Parks and Recreation Commission October 11, 1994 Page 9 ELECTION OF OFFICERS The Commission directed staff to place on the November agenda the selection of a Vice Chair to replace Acting Chair Spicer until the February meeting, There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned its meeting at 8:10 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant