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Parks Commission Agenda Packet 01-22-2009AGENDA PARKS COMMISSION January 22, 2009 - 4:30 p.m. 'To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining city parks with a high standard of quality" 1. Call to Order. 2. Introduction of Christopher Hadfield. 3. Approve minutes of November 20, 2009 Parks Commission meeting 4. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. 5. Citizens comments and requests. 6. Discussion of 2009 Budget. 7. Projects/plans for 2009 8. Annual review of Parks Chapter of Comprehensive Plan 9. Formal recommendation by Parks Commission regarding Park and Trail portion of the Transportation Plan. (The plan will not be available until Friday January 16, 2008. If you want you may stop by the office on Friday to pick it up otherwise your copy will be given to you at the Parks Commission meeting). 10. Approval for resident tree sale. 11. Park Maintenance. 12. Update on YMCA acquisition. 13. Discussion with Christopher Hadfield regarding his interest in serving on the Parks Commission. 14. Adjourn. Park Commission Minutes: 11/20/2008 MINUTES PARKS COMMISSION November 20, 2008 - 4:30 p.m. °°To enhance community pride through developing maintaining City parks with a standard of quality." Members Present: Nancy McCaffrey, Larry Nolan and Rick Traver Members Absent: Gene Emanuel, Mark Larson and Council Liaison Brian Stumpf Others Present: Tom Pawelk, Park Superintendent 1. Call to Order. Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum present. Z. Approve minutes of October 30, 2008 Parks Commission meeting. RICK TRAVER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 30, 2008 PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. The Parks Commission was informed of a meeting relating to the acquisition of the YMCA property to beheld on December 1, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the Monticello City Hall. The Parks Commission acknowledged receipt of the draft copy of the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI). Items added to the agenda included a review of the financial report for the concessions at the ball fields; cemetery fee increase and use of lamp poles from the old bridge. 4. Citizens comments and requests. Larry Nolan noted that the park bench he had purchased in memory of his parents had been installed at Hillcrest Park and he complimented park staff on the installation work. 5. Park Maintenance. Park Superintendent, Tom Pawelk reported that much of staff time was spent getting set up for winter operations. Other work that was done included removing the dock at Ellison Park, assisting DMV with repair and maintenance work at their building and pruning along sidewalks and pathways in preparation for snow removal. Tom Pawelk worked on the plans for the gazebo for East Bridge Park which will be considered later on in the meeting. The City had taken bids on the sale of the old trackless with the high bid being $2,025. The Parks Commission was updated on the Dutch Elm Disease Program. The second notice on tree removal has been sent out. If the property owner doesn't remove the diseased tree the City will have a contractor do the removal. Tom Pawelk noted there are three panels of sidewalk across from Hillcrest Park where they are using a rubberized material on cracks on a trial Park Commission Minutes: 11/20/2008 basis. Larry Nolan noted there were a lot of cracks in the recently constructed pathway by the cemetery. 6. Review of Parks and Trails Map. The Parks Commission reviewed the map and noted a number of typographical errors that should be corrected. The corrected map will be on the City's website and will be made into a brochure as well. 7. Approval of plans for the gazebo at East Bridge Park. Tom Pawelk submitted the drawing for the gazebo at East Bridge Park. The structure will be 18' x 18', cedar, tongue in groove, double cupola with a cedar floor. The building is designed as a walk through. The low bidder on the project was Simonson Lumber coming in at $12,400 which was $141ess than Home Depot. The materials will be constructed in the shop by the Park Department as a kit. Tom Pawelk indicated there currently is no rental facility at East Bridge Park but people use the park for weddings. He thought the City should consider charging $120 for the use of the gazebo. There is the possibility that benches could be installed in the gazebo at a future date. Nancy McCaffrey asked about children climbing into the cupola. Tom Pawelk said since there are no exposed rafters he didn't anticipate problems with children climbing. Rick Traver questioned the height of the railings and whether people would sit on the railings. He suggested possibly making the railings higher. Tom Pawelk noted the gazebo will be ADA compliant. RICK TRAVER MOVED TO APPROVE THE PLAN SUBMITTED BY TOM PAWELK FOR THE GAZEBO AT EAST BRIDGE PARK. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The Parks Commission felt the cost of the gazebo was reasonable and with wedding rentals it should pay for itself within a few years. It is hoped that staff will get the structure constructed over the winter and installed at the park next spring. Tom Pawelk submitted a proposal to use some old lights that had been taken off the bridge in 1926 to light the pathway connecting East Bridge Park and West Bridge Park. Nancy McCaffrey suggested a plaque be placed on the lights highlighting their historical significance. There will be some work involved in getting the lights ready for use and in getting power to them. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE OLD BRIDGE LIGHTS ALONG THE PATHWAY CONNECTING EAST BRIDGE AND WEST BRIDGE PARK. RICK TRAVER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 8. Updates/Other Information. The terms of Larry Nolan and Nancy McCaffrey will expire on December 31, 2008. They both indicated their willingness to serve another term. Their names will be submitted with the list of appointments going to the Council in January. 2 Park Commission Minutes: 11/20/2008 The Parks Commission discussed whether to hold a meeting in December. Unless an emergency would arise, the Parks Commission determined not to hold a meeting in December. The Parks Commission reviewed the financial report prepared by Kitty Baltos on the concessions operation at the ball fields. The Parks Commission questioned why concession expenses exceeded revenue noting that generally concession sales such as pop, candy, etc. are priced high enough to cover their costs. The Parks Commission wondered what items were included in concession expenses. The Parks Commission briefly discussed the draft Natural Resources Inventory and requested a more detailed discussion of the NRI be scheduled for the January 2009 Parks Commission meeting. Tom Pawelk noted that cemetery fees had not been increased since 2005 and currently the fees do not cover the cost of maintenance. Tom Pawelk will with check with other cities on what they charge in the way of cemetery fees. The City's fee schedule is approved in January. Rick Traver announced his resignation from the Parks Commission effective with the February 2009 meeting. Hopefully this will allow sufficient time for the Parks Commission to find a replacement. The Parks Commission expressed their appreciation for the 12 years he served on the commission. Parks Commission discussed attendance at the meetings and whether the ordinance establishing the Parks Commission had a provision for attendance. It was also suggested that it be added to each Park Commission agenda that if a member cannot attend that meeting they contact Larry Nolan, Tom Pawelk or Dawn Grossinger at City Hall. 9. Adiourn. RICK TRAVER MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 5:40 P.M. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Recording Secretary 3 Parks Commission Agenda - O1 /22/09 Consideration to complete an annual review of Chapter 5 of the 2008 City of Monticello Comprehensive Plan. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND The Parks Commission is asked to complete an annual review of Chapter 5 of the adopted 2008 City of Monticello Comprehensive Plan, and to provide recommendations for amendment, if desired. The comprehensive plan states that an annual review of the Comprehensive Plan "keeps an active and current focus on achieving the vision for Monticello and the use of the Comprehensive Plan." Although the Parks Commission's focus will likely be on the policies of Chapter 5 "Parks", the Commission is also encouraged to review and comment if needed on the "Greenways" and "Places to Recreate" segment of the Land Use chapter. Any recommendations for amendment will be brought forward to the Planning Commission for consideration. Staff would like to note that the Comprehensive Plan specifically cited the completion of a Natural Resource Inventory as a "Next Step" toward achieving plan objectives. This recommended next step is complete and the final inventory document will be provided during the meeting of the 22nd. A digital version will also be posted online. This document will be an extremely valuable reference for the Parks Commission. In considering changes to the Comprehensive Plan, the Commission should be aware that significant alterations to the Plan require formal amendment (versus general comments or considerations), which requires asuper-majority of the City Council for adoption. STAFF RECOMMENDATION With less than one year since the adoption of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, staff believes that the document continues to accurately represent the goals and objectives outlined by the City. Many of these objectives have yet to be tested by actual development proposals. At this time, staff has not cited any recommended amendments to the Comprehensive Plan. SUPPORTING DATA A. Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3: Land Use, pages 3-8, 3-9, 3-15, 3-16 B. Comprehensive Plan Chapter 5: Parks For the full version of the Comprehensive Plan, please visit www. ci. monticello. mn. us. Click on "City Departments ", then "Community Development ", "Planning ", and then 2008 Comprehensive Plan. Part of attracting move up housing comes from cre- ating great neighborhoods -places that will attract and sustain the housing options sought by the City. Neighborhoods are the building block of Places to Live in Monticello. The goal of the Comprehensive Plan is to create and maintain attractive, safe and functional neighborhoods.' The following policies help to achieve this objective: 1. Neighborhoods should incorporate the natural characteristics of the setting.. Trees, terrain, drainageways, and other natural features provide character to neighborhoods. 2. Housing should be oriented to the local street, minimizing access and noise conflicts with collec- tor streets. 3. The City will use public improvements to enhance the appearance and character of a neighborhood. Some examples of improvements that define an area include streets with curb and gutter, trees in the public boulevard, street lighting systems, and storm water ponding. 4. Sidewalks, trails, and bikeways will connect the neighborhood to other parts of the community. 5. Every neighborhood should have reasonable access to a public park as a place for residents to gather and play. All of these elements work together to create a desirable and sustainable place to live. Balancing the Built and Natural Environments The natural amenities of the growth areas (west and south) in Monticello should serve as a catalyst for residential development. 'The proposed regional park (YMCA property) offers the dual assets of natural fea- tures and recreational opportunities. Lakes, wetlands and other natural amenities exist throughout the or- derlyannexation area. Studies have shown that parks and open space have a positive economic effect on adjacent development. An article published by the National Park and Recreation Association states that "recent analyses suggest that open spaces may have substantial positive impacts on surrounding property values and hence, the property tax base, providing open space advocates with con- Figure 3-S: Relationship Between Development and Natural Fea[ures -Parkway vincing arguments in favor of open space designation and preservation." Balancing the built and natural environments should provide a catalyst to the types of development desired by the City and in the expansion of the property tax base. In attempting to meet residential development objec- tives, the City should not lose sight oflong-term public benefit from access to these same natural areas. The original development of Monticello provides an ex- cellent illustration. The majority of the riverfront in Monticello is controlled by private property. Public access to the River comes at points provided by public parks. 3-8 (land Use City of Monticello figure 3-6: Relationship Between Development and Natural Fea[ures - Tia/l Corridor Figure 3-7: Example of Conservation Design Development A well known example of balancing public use with private development is the Minneapolis chain of lakes and Minnehaha Creek. Public streets (parkways) and trails separate neighborhoods from the natural features, preserving public use and access. These neighbor- hoods are some of the most desirable in the region, demonstrating that public use and private benefit are not mutually exclusive. The figures below show two options for integrating housing, natural features and public use. Figure 3-5 is the parkway concept. An attractive street forms the edge between the park (or natural area) and the hous- ing. A multi-use trail follows the street while homes face the street and draw on the attractiveness of both the parkway and the natural amenities. The alternative is to use a trail corridor to provide public access to these areas (see Figure 3-6). The trail follows the edge of the natural area. Access to the trail between lots should come at reasonable intervals. There are a variety of real world examples of how Min- nesota cities have used conservation design strategies to promote high quality development and preserve the natural environment. The illustrations in Figure 3-7 shows elements of the Chevalle development in Chaska. Using open space design and rural residential cluster development techniques, HKGi's concept plan provides for a variety of housing options while preserving a ma- jority of the area as permanent open space, including public and common open spaces. Amenities would include access to protected open spaces (lakeshore, woods, meadows, pastures, wetlands), walking/biking trails, equestrian trails and facilities, common outdoor structures and an environmental learning center. The experience of other cities and developments can guide future planning and decision making in Monticello. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Land Use ~ 3-9 3. All non-residential development will be oriented to Broadway Street and not to 3rd Street or River Street. These uses are typically allowed in residential areas and governed by zoning regulations. These institutional uses (such as schools and churches) are important parts 4. Commercial development compatible with the of the fabric of the community, but require guidance to Downtown should be encouraged to locate there. ensure a proper fit with its residential surroundings. 5. More intense housing and commercial uses maybe allowed if directly related to the hospital. Places to Recreate Places to Recreate consist of public parks and private recreation facilities. The land uses are essential ele- ments of the quality of life in Monticello. The Parks and Trails chapter of the Comprehensive describes the current park and trail system and the future plan to maintain and enhance this system. New institutional use should be allowed in residential areas under certain conditions. These conditions should address the aspects of the use that conflict with desired characteristics of residential neighborhood. Criteria for locating an institutional use in a residential land use area include: 1. Size. Large buildings and site areas can disrupt neighborhood cohesiveness. Use in lower density residential areas should not be more than [to be determined] square feet in lot area. The Comprehensive Plan is only one aspect of manag- ingthe land use for public parks and private recreation facilities. The City's zoning regulations place these locations into a zoning district. Often, the purpose of the zoning district is to guide private development, such as housing. Under current State Law, zoning regula- tions "trump" the Land Use Plan and govern the use of land. With the potential for the redevelopment of golf courses, it is important the Comprehensive Plan and other land use controls work in concert to achieve the desired outcomes. The City's plans and policies for parks, trails and open space can be found in the Parks chapter of the Com- prehensive Plan Places for Community Places for Community consist of public and semi-public land uses. Public uses include all governmental facili- ties (city, county, state and federal) and schools. This category also applies to churches, cemeteries, hospitals, and other institutional uses. It is important to note that these land uses relate only to existing land uses. The Comprehensive Plan does not guide the location of new churches, schools, public buildings and other institutional land uses. Places for Community will be needed in the Northwest area as it develops. 2. Parking. Parking may spill on to neighborhood streets without adequate on-site facilities. The parking needs will vary with the use of the facility. Each facility should provide adequate on-site or reasonable off-site shared parking based on the use of the facility. 3. Traffic. Institutional uses should be oriented to designated collector or arterial streets. 4. Lighting and signage. Site lighting and signage needs may resemble commercial uses. These site factors should be managed to fit the character of the surrounding residential development. Urban Reserve The Urban Reserve contains all property in the Orderly Annexation Area that itnot shown for development in the near term in this Plan. The objective is to encourage rural and agricultural uses, preventing barriers to future development opportunities. It is anticipated that the City will grow into portions of the Urban Reserve as planned land use areas become fully developed and ca- pacityfor future growth in needed. The Urban Reserve is not simply a holding area for future development. Parts of the Urban Reserve are likely to be preserved as natural resource areas or for agricultural purposes. Future planning will consider the locations in the Urban Reserve best suited for development. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Land Use ~ 3-15 Interchange Planning Area The Interchange Planning Area encompasses undevel- oped land in the northwest part of Monticello around the site of a potential west interchange with Interstate 94. The purpose of this land use is to preserve the area for future development and prevent the creation of development barriers. If built, the area should be planned to support a mix- ture of commercial, employment and residential land uses. The interchange location and the routes of future connecting roads are solely for illustration. Future land use issues in this area are discussed in the Focus Area for Northwest Monticello. Private Infrastructure This category applies to Xcel Energy's power plant and railroad right-of-way. This category recognizes the unique role of the power plant in ivionticello. Greenway The Land Use Plan Map shows a "potential greenway" ringing the western and southern edges of Monticello. The Greenway is intended to provide an environmental corridor that connects large community parks and open spaces to neighborhoods, schools, shopping areas and places to work. They serve to protect environmentally sensitive areas such as natural habitat, wetlands, tree canopy, and drainage ways. Land within this corridor could be comprised of a combination of public and pri- vate open space. Development would not be prohibited within the greenway but would be reasonably restricted to ensure that development is carefully integrated with the natural environment. The Greenway is intended to shape development pat- terns in a manner that is sensitive to the existing en- vironment and harmonious with the landscape. The Greenway creates opportunities for a continuous trail corridor connecting neighborhoods with large parks and open spaces. A trail within this corridor is intended to be fully accessible to the general public. The following are the City's goals for the Greenway: 1. To provide (where possible) a continuous green corridor connecting large community parks and open spaces to neighborhoods, shopping areas, schools and places to work. 2. To connect people to significant places. 3. To protect the community's natural resources (trees, ponds, wetlands, slopes, etc). 4. To create environmentally sensitive development and design. 5. To provide opportunities for corridors for wildlife movement and ecological connections between natural areas. Focus Areas For certain parts of Monticello, the intentions of the Comprehensive Plan cannot be adequately described solely with the land use map and the related category descriptions. The following Focus Areas provide a more detailed examination of the plans and issues in key loca- tions that will shape the future of Monticello. Northwest Monticello This focus area includes the entire northwest corner of the community. The land use objectives in this area include: 1. Encourage development in this part of the com- munity to utilize infrastructure investments and to provide the capacity to develop in high amenity areas. 2. Provide for a variety of housing alternatives based on the natural features and the surrounding land uses. Areas with high natural amenities or proxim- ity to the planned regional park should be reserved for move up housing. 3. Expansion of existing Places to Work in a manner that creates more °head of household" jobs. 4. Preserve and promote public use of natural areas, including the establishment of greenway corri- dors. 5. Identify and preserve key street corridors. 6. Preserve areas for future Places to Shop and Places to Work around a future highway interchange, if such an interchange proves viable. 3-16 ~ Land Use City of Monticello The term "parks" does not adequately describe the breadth of the this chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. There are many facets to the park system in Monticello: - Parks are public spaces developed as places to play and gather. - Parks include facilities for organized and unstructured outdoor rec- reational activities. - Parks provide a means of preserving open space, natural resources and wildlife habitat. - Trails allow access to parks and connect individual parks into a sys- tem. The primary focus of the Comprehensive Plan is on parks owned and main- tained by the City of Monticello. The Monticello School District, Wright County and the State of Minnesota are also important providers of park, recreation and open space facilities for the residents of Monticello. The park system is an essential part of the quality of life in Monticello. Parks play an important role in making Monticello an active and healthy place to live. Parks are integral parts of Monticello neighborhoods. A direct link exists between parks, recreation facilities open space, and trails and the community's of life. The future of Monticello, to a degree, will be determined by its ability to attract new residents. People will view Monticello and assess what it has to offer compared to other area com- munities. Maintaining and enhancing an already strong park system is one measure that can be taken to ensure Monticello's reputation as an attractive place to live. The process of preparing the Comprehensive Plan did not seek to duplicate previous efforts of the City in park planning. Rather, the Comprehensive Plan builds a strong link between community development and the provi- sion of parks and recreation facilities. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Parks ~ 5-1 Park Standards Parks and trails are classified according to their use and function. The information below is a summary of typical park characteristics: classifications, park sizes, and service areas. This section is intended to act as a general guide to park planning, acquisition and use. The standards are designed to assure that Monticello residents have convenient access to neighborhood parks and that the community has a range of active and passive recreation facilities to meet current and future needs. Mini-Park - Use: Specialized park that serves a concentrated population (i.e. tots or seniors) or geographic area. Used in areas where geographic barriers prevent access to a neighborhood park. - Service Area: Less than 1/4 mile radius - Size: 0.5 to 2 acres - Location: Typically near higher density housing that does not have access to a neighborhood park or as a supplement to a neighborhood park. Neighborhood Park - Use: Basic unit of the park system, developed for both active & passive activities. Design criteria should anticipate the changing demographic pro- files of the neighborhood served, as to provide appropriate facilities. Focus on informal and un- structured activities. - Service Area: 1/3 mile radius - Size: 4-10 acres - Location: Easily accessible to the neighborhood population with safe walking and biking access uti- lizingtrail networks. Parking facilities limited to a minimum. Site should have well-drained soils and not include topography of excessively steep slops. Community Park - Use: Area designed for community scale recreation either active (athletic fields, etc),. passive (picnic facilities, nature study, etc.) or a combination of both. - Service Area: Community wide - Size: 20-65 acres - Location: Site should be suited for community use, be easily accessible to the population it is intended to serve. Located near high traffic areas such as schools and major thoroughfares. School Park - Use: Depending on circumstances, combining parks with school sites can fulfill the space requirements of other classes of parks, such as neighborhood, community, athletic complex and special use. - Service Area: Driven by the location of the school property. - Size: Variable -depends on function. - Location: Land should typically be suited for ac- tive recreation use, but may also include natural areas. Linear Park/Greenway - Use: Trails incorporating ROW widening and land acquisition long rivers and natural areas. - Service Area: Community wide - Size: Varies - Location: Along major river corridors, sensitive areas and exiting roadways. Incorporate multi-use and multi-modal trails. Current Park System Planning for the future begins with an understanding of the park system in 2007. Monticello's park system currently includes 23 parks totalling approximately 108 acres. The location of each park is shown in the map in Figure 4-1. The section that follows summaries the basic characteristics of each park. 4th Street Park - Shelter - Rest rooms - Ball diamond - Tot lot - Skating facilities (with lighting) - recreational skating and 2 hockey rinks - Off-street parking Balboul Park - Play facilities 5-2 ~ Parks City of Monticello N O O n O f9 N C W 3 4 ah 5 ~ou ~ as i 8' ree i 9 or --L.1Q ro' 11 ._ Ilc Fond 's Park ~ ~ , dlfields~ r tv Park • . ~ . 21 Pion 22 ii `- 30 onticello iii ~+ 31 u e ter & City H~II ; r ~- II~ r ~ -~-- .~ o oss os t ` ~._~_~ rwi~ - Daa So~a~r: MnDNR, Shc'bwnc Caunty, Wrigln Couniv, and W56 & Assodrt~s. July 11, 2007 X91 f, .vl/ Y !~ _~ ~~ x~ F~Yf.~L~,,, F Y ~7r~'~Yd A~ ~ Is,txls~oat i t'4iralrRf~rrfiran~rt~ Pik ~~ ~~ ~- PaaMO w~. r~w~ay ~1 Morwdrb c~t1r 8n+une.q ~~+ C1fCtrtly Mr1i~fCi71t;AAU+YM ,# ~.. r _ ''~.J ,~ . i ~ . '_ -~ ~ ~ 1.'(,` r .. ., ~.~ 'a. °1 ~ ~~~ ~:-.. ,~ , ._ ~ - _ .~ t ~ ~~~.~ _, ... .. ' i .. ._ ~. ~ ~ + ~ '~- .. ~a.~ g m ' _ + ~ r~~. i w .I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~T` ~ ~ ~ __... ~ ' k -'".__ °q G k j m a a 3 a a_ `C~ 3 - Picnic facilities - Natural area/open space Battle Rapids Park - Natural area/open space Cardinal Hills Park - Volleyball courts - Picnic area Cardinal Hills ParkTot Lot - Tot lot play area City/Xcel Ballfields - Lighted softball fields (4) - Bleachers - Shelters - Restroom - Concession stand Country Club Manor - Playground - Ball field - Volleyball - Picnic tables East/VUest Bridge Park - Play lot - Gazebo - Picnic facilities - Skating rink - Warming house with rest rooms - Sliding hill - Off-street parking Ellison Park - Shelter - Rest room facilities - Creative play area - Tot recreational equipment - Swings for the handicapped - Parking - Boat launch Fallon Park - Open space Freeway Fields - Soccer/football field - Basketball court - Little league ball field - Softball field Groveland Park - Youth football fields - Softball diamond - Play area - Shelters - Parking Hillcrest Park - Skating facilities - Play lot - Picnic facilities - Ball field Meadow Oak Park - Picnic tables - Nature trail - Basketball court Meadows - Natural area/open space Mississippi Drive - Natural area/open space - Scenic river overlook - Swan viewing Oak Ridge Park - Open space - Gazebo - Flower park Otter Creek Park - Gazebo - Natural area/open space Par West Park - Playground - Disc golf area (3 hole) - Basketball court - Picnic tables Pioneer Park (Lions Park) - Play area - Community building with rest rooms - Picnic area with shelters 5-4 ~ Parks City of Monticello - Off-street parking - Nature trails River Mill Park - Playground - Lighted sliding hill - Ball field - Shelters - Basketball court - Volleyball court - Soccer field Rolling Woods - Playground area - Basketball court Sunset Ponds Park - Ball field - Soccer/football field Comprehensive Plan Initiatives The process of preparing the Comprehensive Plan identified a variety of initiatives related to the future park system in Monticello. 'These initiatives should be considered by the Park Commission in its planning efforts. Neighborhood Parks the map in Figure 4-2 illustrates the areas served by the existing park system. Each circle on this map represents an approximate one-third mile radius. This map sug- gests that there are no critical gaps in the distribution of city parks. All neighborhoods have reasonable access to some form of park. The Comprehensive Plan does not show individual neighborhood parks in areas guided for new residential development. Instead, it is assumed that neighborhood parks will be added as property is platted. The following policies will guide City actions in the de- velopment and maintenance of neighborhood parks. 1. Neighborhood parks are essential elements of Monticello neighborhoods. Neighborhood parks are intended to be two to six acres in size. 2008 tomprehensive Plan Parks (5-S 2. The Comprehensive Plan seeks a service area of one mile or less for a neighborhood park. This service area must account for barriers created by natural and man-made features. The goal is to have a neighborhood park within walking or biking distance of every home. 3. There is a clear nexus between development and the need for additional parks. The City will use the park dedication powers convey by State Law to acquire land (or cash) to implement this Plan. The City will require the dedication of desirable locations for parks in all new subdivisions, unless the subdivision is adequately served by an existing (or planned) neighborhood park. Land received by the City through park dedication must have the capacity for park use. Dedicated land should not be encumbered by steep slopes, poor soils, utility 5-6 I Parks City of Monticello Figure 4-2: Existing Park Service Areas easements and other impediments to intended park uses. 4. Parks should be connected by trails and sidewalks to provide walking and biking access for both neigh- borhoods and the broader community. 5. The development, improvement and maintenance of the park system requires careful financial planning. With park dedication providing a key resource, this planning must be tied to ongoing prof ections of future growth. This planning should work to ensure that funding plans for the acquisi- tion and development of the regional park do not deplete funding for the rest of the system. 6. Timely development of neighborhood parks is es- sential. Funding of the park system should provide for both acquisition and timely development of neighborhood parks. This objective may require new financial strategies. Finance tools such as special assessments and housing improvement areas would allow a park to be built at the outset of residential construction. 7. Planning for neighborhood parks should also con- siderthe needs of rural residential subdivisions. A less dense development pattern does not remove the need for neighborhood parks, but may alter the service area and location. Community Parks The acquisition and development of YMCA Camp Manitou is the sole new community park initiative pro- posed in this update of the Comprehensive Plan. The illustration in Figure 4-3 shows a preliminary concept for the development of this regional park. This initiative meets a wide range of community needs. - Acquisition of this property protects and preserves critical natural areas. As Monticello grows, it is important to preserve these areas for future gen- erations. - The recent and future growth of Monticello creates the need for more community recreation facilities. The regional park provides the space to meet these needs. - The park provides a wide range of amenities that will attract new development to Monticello. The 2008 Comprehensive Plan Parks ~ 5-7 Figure 4-3: Concept for Development of Regional Park ~~ ~ ~~~' ~ ~~~ ~~~~ April 10, 2006 M~n~iceilo, ~nneso#a Adjacent Use: Low Density Residential and Golf Course ~era®.. ~!1[. ~? Adjacent Use: Industrial Adjacent Use: Low Density Residential Aotlve Park Use f26 acres)' d Adjacent Use• Environmental Learning Center ~¢ • Horseback Riding Stable W Commercial Parking Lot Nursery .5 .23 0 :5 teUea Frisbee Golt Course Archery Range Passive Park Use (11 acres) Dog Park Parking Lo[ Adjacent Use: Low Density Residential Adjacent Use: Low Density Residential 5-8 ~ Parks City of Monticello park brings community-scale assets that benefits new development and enhances the quality of life across the community. These amenities create the setting that should be a catalyst for the quality of neighborhood and housing stock desired by the City. These factors help to create the nexus between de- velopment and this regional park initiative. the City anticipates using a portion of monies received from payments in lieu of park land dedication to pay for the acquisition and improvement of the regional park. The Park Plan identifies two types of parks designed to meet the needs of the broader community. The Land Use chapter describes how the park will relate to adjacent development and connected to the broader community. Community Greenway The Parks chapter reinforces the concept of a greenway introduced in Land Use. As Monticello continues to grow to the west and south, it has the opportunity to establish a community greenway. Monticello has a his- tory ofprotecting natural features as growth occurs. A greenway builds on this commitment to create acon- nectedsystem ofnatural areas that ring the community. The intent of this initiative is: - The corridors are a tool for preserving important el- ements of the natural environment in Monticello. - The corridors provide public access and use to these areas. - The corridors connect community parks. - Greenway corridors become part of the defining characteristics and identity of Monticello. - The corridors provide routes for the trail system and a means of linking parks, community facilities and neighborhoods. - These areas provide habitat for wildlife. The map in Figure 4-4 shows a potential layout of a community greenway system. This illustration is not intended to show a specific plan, but rather the critical elements of a community greenway. These elements include: 2008 Comprehensive Plan Parks ~ 5-9 Figure 4-4: Potential Elements of Community Greenway 5-10 ~ Parks City of Monticello - Linking park and open space destinations such as Montissippi County Park, Mississippi River, larger City parks (Ellison, Pioneer and West/East Bridge), Downtown, YMCA property, and Pelican Lake. - Preserving and providing public use of key areas of trees, wetlands and other natural features as part of future development. - Using powerline corridors, trails and bike lanes to fill in gaps where it is not possible to have natural areas in the greenway. A key next step in this initiative is to conduct a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI). A NRI determines the type, quality and location of natural features in Monticello and the orderly annexation area. The NRI can be used to identify 1<ey property to acquire for the greenway. It will also be useful in identifying potential gaps in the greenway that must be bridged with some other form of public space. Trails A system of trails is an essential part of the Compre- hensive Plan. Trails build connections, allowing people to move through the community without a car. Trails provide the means for using area wide parks and other natural areas. Trails offer recreational opportunities for Monticello residents. For the purposes of the Comprehensive Plan, continued planning and development of the trail system should be guided by the following objectives: - T r a i l s m u s t b e viewed a s a system. Individual seg- ments must combine into a network that connects places within the community. These connections facilitate the movement envisioned by the trail plan. - Trail development should be incorporated with street construction. The construction and im- provement of streets provides an excellent oppor- tunity to build new segments of the trail system. Where possible, the trail should be detached and separate from the roadway. - Integrate trails into new subdivisions. Focusing on trails at the platting and site planning stage of development allows for routes that serve the neighborhood and link with other elements of the trail system. Park Dedication The use of park dedication is essential to achieving the City's plans and goals for parks, trails and open space. In fact, it would be difficult for the City to acquire and create the park system envisioned by the Comprehen- sive Plan without park dedication. The experience of Monticello and other cities clearly demonstrates a nexus between the development of land and the need for the municipal park system. The development of land for residential purposes increases the demands for parks, trails and recreational facilities in Monticello. The development of land also creates opportunities to preserve open space and natural re- sources. The Comprehensive Plan establishes a system of neigh- borhood and community oriented facilities. Monies received from payments in lieu of dedication shall be used pursuant to the park plan to meet the needs of the park system. The demands on the park system from new development are not tied to physical proximity of a subdivision making dedication. New residents may also be served by the development of parks and trails and the preservation of open space in other parts of Monticello. The overall plan for the park system seeks to provide ev- eryresident with reasonable access to the park system. In implementing the Comprehensive Plan, the City will work to distribute neighborhood parks throughout the community. Community parks and recreational facilities will be developed at locations appropriate for the function of each park. Park dedication allows the flexibility to: - Acquire land suitable for parks in both location and character. - Acquire land for trails that connect neighbor- hoods with the park system and other community destinations. - Acquire and preserve natural resources areas and to connect these areas into a community greenway. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Parks ~ 5-11 - Accept cash payments in lieu of dedication where land from a subdivision does not meet the park development needs and plans of the City. Each proposed plat should be carefully reviewed to determine if the subdivision contains land that should be dedicated to implement the park plan. If the dedi- cation of land does not satisfy the requirements of the park dedication ordinance, then the City should receive a cash payment in lieu of dedication. State Law (Minnesota Statutes, Section 462.358, Sub- division 2b) authorizes the City to require the dedica- tion of land for the purposes of this plan as part of the subdivision and platting of land. The City has adopted an ordinance that establishes regulations for the use of park dedication. This ordinance should be reviewed from time-to-time to ensure consistency with State Law and the Comprehensive Plan. 5-12 ~ Parks City of Monticello BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES Task Force Meeting 1-16-09 • Attendees: - Clint Herbst, Pete Stupar, Pat Sawatzke, Rose Thielen, Marc Mattice, Tom Pawelk, Bob Paschke, Kitty Baltos, Angela Schumann • Next Task Force Meeting: January 13th 9:00 AM, City Hall • General Updates/Background info - Update on Grant Writing ^ Marc and Angela to continue working on Metro and Non-Metro grant apps for 2009, as some CWLL funds maybe funneled through those programs. - Update on CWLL Amendment ^ Marc continuing to watch formulation of allocation policy on Parks and Trail portion of funding. Marc will advise of lobbying or other action needed in this regard. Angela/Jeff to place position statement on Council agenda. - Working name of Park ^ Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park - Immediate plans for 1st phase ^ Farming • All agreed that 13 acres in southeast would be farmed with revenue streamed to a new County fund for park needs. Leased land would also be farmed for 2009 will planning efforts get underway. ^ PR • Will be discussed as part of January 30th planning efforts. ^ Buffer • Bob Paschke will be working with MPCA in determining proper approval requirement for limiting buffer requirements. This relates to lease of athletic area land. The City doesn't own the property outright, so the YMCA may need to give the City permission for relaxing buffer standards. ^ Archeological Study • Marc to draft request to submit to three firms for bid. Request will outline small segment approach and whole scale approach to determine which method is more cost effective. Funding for study to be determined. ^ Access • Jeff O'Neill to ask Kirk to attend next task force meeting to discuss possibility of opening Bertram access in near future. ^ Security/Insurance • Covered under general insurance and liability limits. Marc and Tom P. working on a sign plan for perimeter. • Future Governing Body/Task Force Evolution - Joint Powers Advisory Group (Council, Commission, Coalition): Responsible for decision-making and acts as formal recommending body to the Council and Board of Commissioners ^ It was decided to keep a small task force in place for flexibility and practicality until the planning process yields a more formal direction for a joint powers board. - Structure ^ Membership (Elected officials, parks commissioners, citizens, staff as resources only) ^ Term of office ^ Officers ^ By-laws ^ Meeting dates • Master Planning Framework Proposal ^ Elected officials asked that staff assume much of the planning effort responsibility, using consultants only as absolutely necessary. Meeting to discuss structure for planning effort on January 30"' at 9:00 AM. - Consultant - Process - Timelines - Steering Committee: ^ Parks (City/County) Commissions ^ School District ^ Township ^ YMCA ^ Community Groups ^ Citizens at-large ^ MCC Advisory Board ^ Athletic organizations • Local • Regional - Subcommittees ^ Technical Advisory Committee (TAC): site resources, site safety, biology, engineering, etc. ^ User Advisory Committee (UAC): User development, facilities, uses, management strategies, etc.