Parks Commission Minutes 09-25-2003
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 4:30 p.m.
"To enhance community pride through developing and
maintaining city parks with a high standard of quality."
Members Present:
Fran Fair, Ben Hitter, Nancy McCaffrey and Rick Traver.
Memhers Ahsent:
Larry Nolan and Council Liaison, Rohhie Smith.
Staff Present:
John Simola, Public Works Director, Adam lIawkinson, Parks Superintendent
Leo Sehrodcn, Parks Department.
1. Call to Order.
Acting Chair, Rick Traver, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m and declared a quorum
present.
2A. Approve minutes of AUI!Ust 21. 2003 rel!ular Parks Commission meeting.
NANCY MCCAffREY MOVED TO APPROVE TilE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 21,
2003 REGULAR PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. RICK TRAVER SECONDED TilE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED WITH FRAN FAIR ABSTAINING.
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Approve minutes of Au!!ust 11. 2003 special Parks Commission meetin!!.
fRAN fAIR MOVED TO APPROVE TilE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 11,2003 SPECIAL
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. RICK TRAVER SECONDED TilE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
Rick Traver added an update on Wild Meadows and Parwest Park. Nancy McCaffrey added an
update on the website. Fran Fair added a discussion of the spring tree planting. Adam
Hawkinson added an explanation of the Wehher hill and information regarding the Xeel
hallfields.
4.
Citizens comments and requests.
Michelle Brandt spoke to the Parks Commission regarding concerns ahout the Groveland Park
including the proposed placement of the shelter. Their house is adjacent to the area of the park
where the play structure is located. The original plan proposed a shelter being placed between
their house and the play structure. She felt that the placement would be too eIose to their
house. She noted that older children arc hanging out around the play structure. These children
ride their skate boards down the equipment, are noisy, use foul language and arc a disruptive
presence at the park. She was concerned if a shelter was placed by the play structure the
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Parks Commission Minutes - 9/25/03
children will be congregating at the shelter which would make their activities less visible to
observation by thc shcriff's patrol and residents. She wanted to know ifthere was any
possibility of the shcItcr location being changed. Parks Commission member, Ben Hitter, who
lives in the Groveland development concurred with the situation as dcscribed by Michellc
Brandt. Since the shelter has not yct becn placcd at the park, the Parks Commission advised
Adam Hawkinson to look at other possible locations for the sheltcr. 'The Parks Commission
also discussed getting the neighborhood involved in policing the activities at the park. It was
also suggested that the Parks Department look at some f()liage or plantings be placed to screen
the park from the residence.
5.
Consideration of locating lift station on park property ~md accepting parking lot
amenities in exchange for allowing the lift station on park land.
Public Works Dircctor, John Simola reviewed the grading plan for Sunset Ponds (formerly
Wild Meadows) noting that a small portion of the proposed park land would drain into ditch
#33. The balance would drain to thc wetland area. No park land below an elevation of936
would be accepted. The grading plan showed a portion of the park land at the east end of the
park gradcd for a socccr field and on the west end an area was graded for ballfield use. The lift
station for the development was proposed to be placed on Lot 20. The developer submitted a
drawing showing a parking lot design to scrvc thc park and the lift station. The lot showed 17
stalls,3 short of what is required by the zoning ordinancc. Thc drawing showed the lift
station located adjaccnt to thc pathway. This plan was reviewed by thc city staff and found to
be unacceptable. The City Engineer was asked to come up with a plan which he did. The plan
submitted by the City Engineer has 19 parking spaces and a connection from the pathway into
the parking lot. This plan had the lift station located at the southeast part of the parking lot.
John Simola explained that if the City was willing to situate the lift station on park land, the
developer would build the parking lot and screen it. The lift station would take up an area
approximately 50' x 50'. John Simola asked if the Parks Commission was willing to trade a 50'
x 50' area of park land for a finished parking lot. Rick Traver asked ifthere would still be
suflicient room to locate a play structure. The Parks Commission also discussed access from
the pathway. John Simola suggested using the area marked on the City Engineer's plan as
handicapped parking f()r the access and move the handicapped parking stalls about midway up
in the parking lot. John Simola asked ifthc Parks Commission wanted a connection to the
pathway from the north. The Parks Commission indicated they did.
The Parks Commission discusscd screening. It was felt the proposed screening which consists
of two rows of evergreens 20' apart on the west side betwecn the parking lot and houses was
adequate. Adam Hawkinson suggcsted Black Hills spruce and white spruce bc used as the
planting matcrials.
NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE GRADING PLAN WITH
CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH THE DEVELOPER ON CHANGES TO THE PLAN
RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF 'n IE STORM SEWER STRUCTURES. FRAN FAIR
SECONDED TilE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Parks Commission Minutes - 9/25/03
FRAN FAIR MOVED TO APPROVE LOCATING THE LIFT STATION ON PARK LAND
IN EXCHANGE FOR THE DEVELOPER CONSTRUCTING THE PARKING LOT AND
SCREENING. BEN I liTTER SECONDED TilE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y.
The Parks Commission discussed suggested changes to the grading plan whieh ineluded: 1)
moving the handicapped parking stall to midway in the parking lot; 2) add access to future play
area; 3) design landscape plan to include Black Hills spruce and white spruce 8' in height on the
west side of the parking lot: use lower height vegetation at the north entrance to the parking lot;
4) lighting for the parking lot and lift station to he provided; 5) install trees around the lift
station with some additional plantings staggered along the pathway and parking lot. No
landscaping is required on thc cast side because of the play structure. Landscaping is
proposed for around the lift station and there was discussion on the type of planting materials to
he used. Adam I lawkinson will submit a plan for the plantings to John Simola. John Simola
also suggested adding that the developer utilize the existing storm sewer to drain the parking lot
so that the parking lot will not drain into the strcet. This may require the installation of an
additional catch basin.
6.
Groveland Pia v EQuipment.
This had been discussed under citizens comments pOliion of the agenda. Adam Hawkinson did
report that the border f()r the play structure will be installed in the next few days.
7.
Park Maintenance.
Adam Ilawkinson submitted a list of the work items completed. He noted the entrance sign has
been installed at the west entrance to the City and asked which sign the Parks Commission felt
should be installed next. The Parks Commission felt the next sign installed should be the one at
School Boulevard and TH 25. Adam Hawkinson explained some drainage work that was done
in the Meadow Oaks area and also noted that ramps obtained from the DNR had been installed.
8. Updates. if any:
Ba/(jie/ds: Adam Hawkinson updated the Parks Commission on his contact with Xcel Energy
regarding the hall fields. He noted that it was unlikely that anything would be done this year.
The area bcing rcquested would allow fi)r two additional fields and some area for parking.
Park Bill Question: Adam Hawkinson responded to a question raised at the Council meeting
concerning a $4,000 bill from Webber Recreational Design, Inc. The bill was for a climbing
wall which had been ordered and the question now was which park should the climbing wall be
located at. Adam IIawkinson submitted pictures of possible sitc for the climbing wall. The
discussion centered on Ellison and West Bridge parks. The eonscnsus of the Parks
Commission was to locate the climbing wall at West Bridge Park.
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Parks Commission Minutes - 9/25/03
Berm: It was reported that the berm located on park land had been removed but vegetation had
not yet been established. Rick Traver also asked about getting "No motorized vehicle" signs
f()f the pathway at that location. Adam Hawkinson will check into this.
Added Items:
Parwest: Rick Traver asked about the Park Department's plans for the Parwest. lie felt this is a park
that the City should be looking at updating. lie noted that Xccl has cleared the trees in the area but the
equipment and landscaping at the park needs work. lie also felt I-lillcrest is another park that needs to
be updated. What work is needed in these parks was discussed.
Website: Nancy McCaffrey updated the Parks Commission on work that the Parks Commission wants
done on the website. There was discussion on the directional designation given to the parks and the
listing of other recreational resources. Nancy McCaffrey asked the Parks Commission to look at the
proposed narrative and comment. Fran Fair felt the comprehensive plan should also be updated since
that includes a listing of parks and amenities. Adam llawkinson suggested at the next meeting, the
Parks Commission look at verbiage in the ordinance and the comprehensive plan on usable land fl)f
parks -vs- dedicated park land.
Spring Tree Planting: Fran Fair asked about plans for tree planting. She noted that the MCP
(Monticello Community Patiners) had donated $15,000 for tree planting. She felt if something was
going to be done in the spring, trees would need to be ordered soon. The Parks Commission
discussed where the trees were needed and the planning process needed to get the planting event done.
The Parks Commission direeted staff to make a list of areas where trees are needed and bring it back at
the next meeting. It was also discusscd whethcr to go with bare root trees or potted trees and it was
noted that if they went with bare root trees they would also have a refrigerated truck tor storage.
Ballfields: Adam Hawkinson updated the Parks Commission on the land options for the site of the
ballfield complex. He stated that the Our Back Yard site is very eost prohibitive. The City has been in
contact with property owners along County Road 106 regarding possible land acquisition. The City has
reviewed other possible area for a eomplex site.
9. Adjourn.
FRAN FAIR MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 6:25. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Recording Secretary
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