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2002-11-12 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA 17�7Y\�I7II7 DI_11 Y CI]►`[KI]i5L51(.Y.9 [I]►`�lL 11►1111 Y9 NOVEMBER 12, 2002 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Acting Chair Stan Linnell and Commissioners Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Missie Hickey, Raymond Morris, and Dave Libra. Chair Richard Spicer was excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. This meeting was televised by NDCTV and replayed the following Friday at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. MINUTES Commissioner Portz moved to approve the September 12, 2002 minutes as written. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING: SKATE PARK DEVELOPMENT IN FRIENDLY ffiLLS PARK The following residents were present in the audience for this discussion: Anthony Stelrs Zach Moline 6 Dorset Road 1011 Douglas Road 555 Abbey Way Sue Holman-Suthich 555 Abbey Way Laura Englehart 1011 Douglas Road Dave Bauer 2381 Apache Court Tim Meyers 2334 Swan Drive Nick Monson 1266 Cherokee Avenue Joelaine Monson 1266 Cherokee Avenue Janis Anne 708 Decorah Lane Mary Melzarek 717 Navajo Lane Mr. Kullander introduced the issue of installing a skateboard park on the paved surface of the tennis courts at Rogers Lake Park. Acting Chair Linnell then invited the residents in the audience to speak. Mr. Tim Meyers spoke in favor of the skateboard park at Rogers Lake Pazk. Mr. Meyers presented a petition with signatures in favor of the skate park (see attached). Mr. Matt Englehart spoke in favor of the skate park. Mr. Zach Moline spoke in favor of the skate park. Ms. Joline Munson said that her two sons skateboard and that they built their own ramps. She said that she usually has to drive her sons to the skate parks in South Saint Paul or Eagan, and that it would be nice to have a skate park nearby. Ms. Moline said that she has never observed any inappropriate behavior at skate parks, such as drinking, smoking, or foul language. Mr. Michael Johnson said that a wood or plastic skate park would be superior to a metal skatepark, because metal hurts more when a skater falls on it. Ms. Mary Mauzazek said that she was at last month's discussion of a possible skate park at Friendly Hills Park and said she was glad that the Parks Commission was now considering a different location. Ms. Sue Holman-Sutich said that she also has to drive her sons to either Shoreview or Eagan for skateboarding and that it would be nice to have a skate park in Mendota Heights. Mr. Nick Munson said that he would like his mom not to have to drive him and that he would like a skate park that he could bike to. Commissioner Morns moved to continue the discussion of the skate park to the January meeting of the Parks Commission. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion AYES: NAYS: CANCELLATION OF DECEMBER 2002 MEETING Commissioner Libra moved to cancel the December I Q 2002 meeting of the Parks Commission. Commissioner Morris seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Mr. Kullander reminded those Commissioners whose terms are expiring (Linnel, Morris, and Craighead) to send letters of interest to City Hall soon if they wish to renew their terms. RON CLARK CONSTRUCTION, GARRON AND ACACIA SITES PUD APPLICAITON FOR OWNER -OCCUPIED MULTI -FAMILY HOUSING Mr. Hollister said that Mr. Ron Clark and Mr. John Uban will appear before the Planning Commission at their regular meeting on November 26, 2002 to discuss their PUD application for owner -occupied multi -family housing on the Garron and Acacia sites on the north end of Pilot Knob Road. Mr. Hollister said that the proposed project is to construct a 165-unit townhome development. Mr. Hollister said that the northwest portion (Garron) is currently zoned B-lA and is guided for high density residential, and the property located to the east (Acacia) is zoned R-3, and is guided for medium density residential. Mr. Hollister said that both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Airports Relations Commission have previously requested copies of any development proposals in this area. Mr. Hollister added that the Airports Relations Commission will discuss this proposal on October 9, and that any Parks Commissioner who was interested in this issue could come to either the Airport Relations Commission meeting, the Planning Commission meeting, or the subsequent Council meeting. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the following revisions be made to the development concept for the Garron/Acacia site: Space should be provided for an overlook accessible to the general public. The overlook could be placed on existing City right -of --way at the far north end of Pilot Knob Road and should feature a park bench and a monument. The western most housing unit of "Building 4" needs to be eliminated to make use of this existing City right-of-way for this overlook. 2. The Parks Commission recommends that the City does not accept an overlook on the westernmost edge of the development (Outlot A or B) as part of the park dedication. The Commission applauds the proposal as currently drawn to link the development to the Big Rivers Trail. The City should require that this linkage be provided, and that the general public have access to it. The trail should be widened from the eight -foot width currently shown on the plan to a width of ten feet from the western cul-de-sac to the big rivers trail due to steep slopes and curvature. 4. The development should be enhanced by native vegetation suitable to the area, including a partial restoration of the woodlands that were removed within the last decade. 5. Public access should be ensured over all roads and trails. 6. The existing trail along Pilot Knob Road should be continued all the way from Acacia Boulevard to the above -mentioned public overlook and to the Big Rivers Trail. To the extent possible, all trails should be grade -separated. 7. The developer should provide the entire park dedication in cash, $1500 per housing unit. 8. The Parks Commission recommends that the City design its own overlook in the above -mentioned area, rather than asking the developer to design the overlook. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoff announced that she had already hired rink attendants for this winter. The Commission asked Ms. Gangelhoff to keep track of the usage of the rinks this winter for monitoring and evaluation by the Parks Commission. 2003 CITY BUDGET REQUEST Mr. Kullander told the Commission that the Council's budget workshop was taking place at the moment, and that it was possible that some or all of the funding for the Natural Resources Management Plan implementation for next year would be cut in response to the fiscal hardships imposed by eh State on the City for next year. BALLFIELD LIGHTING Mr. Kullander said that Scott Miller of MHAA had contacted him about lighting the four ball fields in Mendota Heights. Mr. Kullander asked the Commission if they would prefer that the Council discuss this matter fist before the Parks Commission invested time in it. The Commission agreed that Mr. Miller should be instructed to appear before the Council first in January of 2003. .C�+%11`►Y Yr,+ZIT7�7h11►`[!71[I111.Y 11 Commissioner Craighead said that the Commission had talked about the Wentworth warming house for long enough and that it was time that it was replaced. Commissioner Craighead said that he thought that replacement of the warming house was a higher priority than the skateboard park. POLICE REPORT No comments. OTHER COMMENTS None. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Libra and seconded by Portz. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.