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10-13-1999 PR MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13,1999 Members Present: Chair Lana Huberty; Commissioners Kuester, Peterson, Reitsma and Westrum Members Absent: Commissioners Dave Anderson, Dana Anderson and Olson Staff Present: Michele McPherson, Director of Planning; Phil Hals, Street/Park Superintendent and Steve Wensman, Planner 1 . Call Meetina To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Huberty. 2. Consider 10/13/99 Park & Recreation Commission Aaenda The agenda was amended to add these items: - Item 5.A.2. - Windsor Park Dedication - Item 5.A.3. - Lafayette Woods 4th Addition Park Dedication - Item 5.AA. - Update on Highway 169 Pedestrian Bridge 3. Consider Minutes of 9/8/99 Park & Recreation Commission Meeting MOTION BY COMMISSIONER REITSMA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER WESTRUM TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 8, 1999, PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Park & Recreation Commissioner to Attend October Planninq Commission and City Council Meetin<;:ls a. Commissioner Dave Anderson will attend the October 18, 1999, City Council meeting b. Commissioner Peterson will attend the October 26, 1999, Planning Commission meeting. 5.A.1. Approve Expenditures for Orono Park Skatina Rink Staff report by Phil Hals. Mr. Hals outlined the options for the two skating rinks, including cost estimates for warming houses and hockey boards. Commissioner Reitsma asked if the lake had ever been used for skating in previous years. Phil stated that the lake was used 2-3 years ago, but they had used lake water for flooding which contains a number of contaminants, algae, Park & Recreation Commission Minutes October 13, 1999 Page 2 . sand, dirt, etc. which turns the ice black and encourages melting in the spring. There was a consensus on the part of the Commission to support a skating rink on the lake. Commissioner Peterson stated that in Coon Rapids, they had paved the interior of one of their hockey rinks for summer use by roller-hockey players. Commissioner Westrum asked if that type of option would be paid out of the park fund, or if the hockey associations would help fund a portion of such a facility. Chair Huberty asked what the total cost would be for two skating rinks-one which would include hockey boards for the rink at the Minnesota Sports Federation site. Phil stated that the total cost for both rinks including hockey boards would be $5,800. Commissioner Reitsma asked if there was adequate funds in the budget. Phil stated that a number of projects originally budgeted for 1999 were not completed due to a variety of reasons and that there should be adequate funds in the budget to provide the skating facilities. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER REITSMA, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER TO PROVIDE TWO SKATING FACILITIES-ONE AT THE LAKE ORONO SITE WITH A WARMING HOUSE AND LIGHTS, AND, THE OTHER AT THE MINNESOTA SPORTS FEDERATION SITE WITH A WARMING HOUSE, LIGHTS AND HOCKEY BOARDS. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 5.A.2. Park Dedication Fees for Windsor Park . Steve Wensman reviewed the proposal by Dynamics, Lamm and Dehrer, LLP, for Windsor Park, the City's first cluster development. Steve outlined three options for park dedication. Option 1-accept 12.06 acres of wooded open space for park, Option 2-require park dedication fees based on 21 lots as opposed to 31 , 21 being the number that would be permitted under the conventional subdivision regulations, and Option 3 would be to waive the park dedication fee completely. Commissioner Kuester stated that the open space will be gone in the future as properties continue to develop, while the proposed 12 acres is isolated at this time, in the future it will more than likely be connected to other developments. Phil stated that the park could be attractive to the public with the proper amenities. Commissioner Reitsma suggested waiving the park fee, requiring the sidewalk be extended on the roads all the way around the park, and requiring the open space to have public access but have the homeowners provide maintenance. Commissioner Kuester observed that there is an inherent value conflict in the preserved open space due to the lack of public access, but the public benefit aesthetically for the open space. The Commission felt that a bituminous sidewalk on the interior of the proposed loop road would be better than the concrete sidewalk on the development side of the street proposed by the developer. . Commissioner Reitsma stated he would be comfortable with the 12.06 acres as a public park. Park & Recreation Commission Minutes October 13, 1999 Page 3 . Commissioner Peterson argued that even if the City required public access, the homeowners who would purchase the lots in the proposed development would be very possessive of the open space and want to keep it private. He advocated no concrete sidewalk around the park. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER REITSMA TO ACCEPT 12.06 ACRES OF WOODED OPEN SPACE AND REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO CONSTRUCT A BITUMINOUS TRAIL ON THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE LOOP ROAD WITH A TRAIL TO COUNTY ROAD NO.1 IN AN EASEMENT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 5.A.3. Park Fees for Lafayette Woods 4th Addition Steve Wensman reviewed the staff report and the history of Lafayette Woods. The Commission discussed the quality of the 30 acres that were donated by the developer. Commissioner Kuester asked for clarification regarding the time lines for preliminary and final plats. Chair Huberty stated that Phase 3 was completed in 1998. . Commissioner Peterson stated that the 30 acres previously dedicated by the developer does not fit or comply with the standards that have been established by the Commission, due to the severe slopes and the amount of wetlands on the property. He stated in his opinion, the site was unusable for recreational purposes. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PETERSON, TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT, DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE LAND PREVIOUSLY DONATED BY THE DEVELOPER, THE DEVELOPER BE REQUIRED TO PAY A PARK DEDICATION FEE OF $1,300 PER LOT. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. 5.AA. Update on the Pedestrian Bridqe Phil Hals provided an update regarding the pedestrian bridge construction over Highway 169 and stated that a request has been made to name the bridge after John Twaddle, the child that was killed crossing Highway 169 and Highway 169. Commissioner Peterson brought up other public facilities that were installed after other similar tragedies, such as the stop light at 197th. Commissioner Reitsma stated that he was opposed to naming public facilities in honor of residents. He stated that parks are not named after residents and he felt that the requests would not end. Phil Hals stated that there may be some issues with federal and state funding and perhaps a memorial near the bridge would be more appropriate. The Commission agreed that naming the bridge would be inappropriate but that a memorial near either or both of the ends of the bridge would be very considerate. . . . . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes October 13, 1999 Page 4 6. Adiournment MOTION BY COMMISSIONER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting of the Elk River Park & Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, '/l{t Ur.dL 7J(ay:J~,01 aM- Michele McPherson Director of Planning