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05-12-2004 PR MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2004 Members Present: Commissioners, Nystrom, Anderson, Kuester, Polston- Hork, Paige and Niziolek. Chair Peterson arrived at 6:45 p.m. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Michele McPherson, Director of Planning; Chris Leeseberg, Planner/Park Planner; Phil Hals, Park/Street Superintendent; T eny Bye, Park Foreman; Rae Ann Gardner, Recording Secretary 1. Call Meeting To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission was called to order at 6:36 p.m. by Vice Chair Polston-Hork. 2. Consider May 12. 2004 Park & Recreation Commission Agenda Director of Planning, Michele McPherson added Ditch 31 update under 6A.1.and an update on Royal Valley Park under Other Business. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO APPROVE THE APRIL 14, 2004 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 3. Consider Minutes of Apri114. 2004 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KUESTER AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO APPROVE THE APRIL 14, 2004 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. 4. Parks & Recreation Commissioner to Attend May 25. 2004 Planning Commission and May 17. 2004 City Council Meetings a. May 17. 2004 City Council Meeting Commissioner Anderson will attend the May 17, 2004 City Council Meeting. b. May 25. 2004 Planning Commission Meeting Commissioner Peterson will attend the May 25, 2004 Planning Commission Meeting. 5. Open Mike No one appeared for this item. 6. Neighborhood Meetings/Discussions: None Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 12, 2004 Page 2 . 6A.1 Ditch 31 Update Building and Environmental Administrator Steve Rohlf was present to share with the Commission plans to return water level in the Woodland Trails Park wedand to an elevation of 940 by placing a standpipe in the north end of the wedand. Parks/Streets Superintendent, Phil Hals shared with the Commission on how the pipes will be placed in the wedand and how they will keep the water in the wetland by using earthen dikes. Mr. Hals also shared the idea of turning the waste pile from the cleaning of the ditch into a grass trail by leveling out the pile along side the ditch. Commissioner Niziolek stated that he was concerned for the animals in the park. MOVED BY COMISSIONER NIZIOLEK AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO SUPPORT THE REFILLING OF THE WETLAND. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. MOVED BY COMISSIONER PETERSON AND SECONDED BY COMISSIONER PAIGE TO ASK THE CONSTRUCTION SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE TURNING THE WASTE PILE FROM THE DITCH INTO A GRASS TRAIL. MOTION CARRIED 6-1. Commissioner Niziolek opposed. 7. Park Development Progress Report . Park Foreman, T eny Bye shared pictures with the Commission of all the different things going on in the Streets and Parks Department. Mr. Bye shared that Youth Athletic fields 5 & 6 are close to being ready for play. The aglime and pitchers mounds are in place and the benches are being painted. Mr. Bye stated that the Youth Athletic Complex concession stand is 90% complete. Youth Baseball worked on the inside of the stand to help with the completion. Mr. Bye shared that they had tournaments out there already and it worked well. Mr. Bye shared that the hills of the BMX track are being reconfigured. Mr. Bye stated that the electric, plumbing, sink, fountain, heat and painting are finished at the Barn. Mr. Bye shared that on Apri124th the Association out at Windsor Park cleaned the park and produced 40-45 piles of trash and trees for staff to remove. Mr. Bye stated that they were thinking of bringing in a tree service to make the piles into chips for the residents to use. Mr. Bye stated that at Highlands West Park they are putting in a basketball court and it will be paved in a week or two. They also are planning to put topsoil around the playground and seed it. Mr. Bye shared that they have begun work on the parking lot at Lions Park Center. Mr. Bye stated that the peat moss that was removed for the new parking lot was spread along the trails and will be evened out when the trails are overlaid. . Mr. Bye stated that the skate park has been started this past week and they are hoping to have it ready for riding next Tuesday or Wednesday. . . . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 12, 2004 Page 3 Parks/Streets Superintendent, Phil Hals shared that the business owner that will be purchasing the R&D Sales building approached him about putting a fence around the property. Mr. Hals stated that the fence will not impact the railroad trail but he wanted to update the Commission. Mr. Bye asked if the Commission had any questions about the Annual Report. Commissioner Kuester asked about the change in hours for the park maintenance. Mr. Hals explained that he changed the ways that the hours were accounted for. Chair Peterson asked if the drop in field maintenance was due to the School District taking over field maintenance for their fields. Mr. Hals stated that was correct. 8. Gty Recreation Update Recreation Manager, Michele Bergh stated that the construction at Lions Park Center is underway. Ms. Bergh shared that the Recreation Department has received 1200 registrations for the summer session of programs. Ms. Bergh also shared that currently the Safety Camp has only five spots remaining. The Recreation Department has taken in $30,000 in the last month from registrations. Ms. Bergh stated that they are preparing for the end of the year concert in the Lions Park band shell. Ms. Bergh shared that the 1st Annual Community Garage Sale has over 80 participating garage sales and lists will be available at the Recreation office, Library, Gty Hall and Ice Arena for people to pick-up. The list will also be available on the Gty of Elk River website. Ms. Bergh stated that they have sold 50 Hillside Park passes this year. Ms. Bergh shared that she is currently working on the 2005 budget. Ms. Bergh also shared that the department will be adding a park page to the Program Guide. Ms. Bergh stated that they have a volunteer from the Workforce to help with the workload in the office and with phones. Ms. Bergh shared a memo about Major Park Use Standard Operating Procedures that requested authorization to approve all major park uses meeting the following criteria: 1. At least two past events with no issues occurring related to use. 2. No changes are requested in terms of use from the previous year. Ms. Bergh stated that if the park uses are approved that she will send out a memo with the details so that the Commission is aware of the event. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PAIGE TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAJOR PARK USE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 . . . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 12, 2004 Page 4 9.B.1. Consider Park Dedication P 04-09 River Park Director of Planning, Michele McPherson reported that the applicant has submitted a "coved" plat, which includes both single family and townhome style units, for the City's consideration. The developer proposes two park facilities totaling 8.4 acres. One facility is located in the central part of the site and includes one of the site's detention ponds. The second park facility is located along the south property line adjacent to a vacant developable site. Staff is not supportive of the coving principle and shared a draft concept for development utilizing single family detached and attached townhome style units. The staff draft concept utilizes a traditional grid system and includes the use of alleys. In the staff concept approximately 9 acres of additional park has been identified along the west edge of the site. This is the only wooded area on the development parcel. The staff proposal also avoids many of the wetlands on site and relocates the ponds out of the park area and into areas outside of proposed parkland. Commissioner Anderson asked what kind of trees are in the wooded area. Mr. Hals responded that he thought they were oak. Commissioner Paige stated that it would be nice to have information on the kind and quality of the trees in the wooded area. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER POLSTON-HORKAND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK TO TABLE DISCUSSION ON PARK DEDICATION FOR RIVER PARK UNTIL THE JUNE MEETING AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE WOODED AREA. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. 9.B.2. Consider Park Dedication AS 04-03 Schmeling Director of Planning, Michele McPherson reported the subject property is located east of Oeveland Street, approximately 3,4 of a mile north of County Road 12. There is a single- family dwelling unit and three detached accessory buildings on the property. The total area of the subject property is 10.07 acres. The applicant is proposing to crate two parcels, a 2.5 acre parcel for the existing single-family home and detached storage building, and vacant parcel that will remain developable. The subject property is outside of any park target area and is essentially too small to request park dedication in the form of land. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSINER POLSTON-HORK TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO RECOMMED TO THE CITY COUNCIL CASH DEDICATION FOR ONE LOT FOR THE SUBDIVISION REQUEST. MOTION CARRIED 7-0 9.C.1. Approve Park Development Standard Operating Procedures Director of Planning, Michele McPherson gave the Commission an updated Park Development Standard Operating Procedures list. . . . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 12, 2004 PageS Commissioner Niziolek would like to see a stand-alone statement saying something about to secure and protect environmentally sensitive areas. Commissioner Anderson would like to see safety as it's own item. Commissioner Paige believes that number six "Review of refined concept plans" should be higher on the list. Commissioner Paige also would like to see budget information become part of number six on the list. Ms. McPherson will revise the list and bring it to the June Commission meeting for approval. 9.C.2. Approve Big Tooth Ridge Park Development Plan Director of Planning, Michele McPherson had the Commission come up with ideas for the park. Commissioner Paige suggested more loops that would be paved and have a woodchip trail along the way. Commissioner Anderson suggested running paved trail to the bottom of the stairs. Park Planner, Chris Leeseberg passed around models of some shelter ideas. The Commission agreed that they liked the bench seats on one of the models. 9.C.3. Discuss City Events Commission Anderson discussed the clean up expectation for the City events conducted in City Parks. Commissioner Anderson stated that they have very high standards for anyone using the parks and for clean up after the event is finished. Commissioner Anderson expressed that after some City events the park was left a mess. Commissioner Anderson stated that the City should be held to the same standards as outside groups using the park. Chair Peterson stated that the clean up needs to be a part of the program planning process. 10. Information/Update Items This information was presented to the Commissioners in their packets. No action was required. A. Land Use Cases: None B. Park/Trail Developments: 1. Park Dedication Fund Balance 2. Hillside City Park Donations 3. YMCA Update 4. Ditch 31 Update . . . Park & Recreation Commission Minutes May 12, 2004 Page 6 11. Update on April 19 . 2004 City Council Meeting Commissioner Kuester provided an update on the April 19, 2003 City Council meeting. 12. Update on April 27. 2004 Planning Commission Meeting There were no park related items on the agenda. 13. Other Business A. Parks and Recreation Director Hiring Process - Director of Planning, Michele McPherson shared that interviews were conducted with five candidates with one of them being from out of state. Ms. McPherson stated that the committee has narrowed it down to two candidates, one from Maple Grove and the other from Falcon Heights. Ms. McPherson shared that second interviews will take place in two weeks. B. Royal Valley Update - Director of Planning, Michele McPherson stated that staff has requested more native plantings and will send an e-mail update to all the Commissioners. Commissioner Anderson stated that he has had discussions with Mr. Burandt and that he is checking into pricing for a wire woven fence so that he can use much of the park for his cattle to graze. Commissioner Anderson stated that Mr. Burandt would have to use about 200 ft. of the newly planted prairie to run his cattle back and forth. 14. Adiournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:45pm. Respectfully submitted, q4~ Recording Secretary