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Parks Commission Minutes 02-23-2004 . MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING -PARKS COMMISSION Monday, February 23, 2004 - 9 a.m. "To enhance community pride through developing and maintaininl'( city parks with a high standard of quality." Members Present: Fran Fair, Larry Nolan and Rick Traver Members Absent: Ben Hitter, Nancy McCaffrey and Council Liaison, Robbie Smith. Staff Present: Adam Hawkinson, Park Superintendent; John Simola Public Works Director and Jeff O'Neill Deputy City Administrator. 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the special meeting to order at 9 a.m. and declared a quorum present. Also present at the meeting were Jim and Sheila Lawrence and Susie Wojchouski. 2. Discussion of Mississippi Park. . The purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the present situation at Mississippi park with the public coming to view the trumpeter swans. The Parks Commission did sche~iule an informational meeting with residents of the area at 4:30 on February 26. 2004. The Parks Commission felt it would be beneficial to meet prior to that informational meeting to discuss improvements to the sitc that could lessen any negative impact by the extra traffic or to consider alternative sites for the swans. Park Superintendent, Adam Hawkinson discussed the possibility of using two city owned lots in that area as parking for the traffic generated by the viewing of the trumpeter swans. It was noted that there are springs running through these lots and areas of unsuitable soil. In addition the Council had directed that these lots be sold for development. These factors make it questionable whether these lots would be usable f()r parking. Sheila and Jim Lawrence, who are the property owners that feed the tnwlpeter swans, suggested utilizing the park itsclffor vehicle parking. John SimoIa indicated that they would have to look at the drainage and whether suitable soils would have to be brought in to the site. lfa parking lot was constructed in the park it could probably only handle 6-7 cars. Sheila Lawrence explained when the newspaper article first canle out regarding the swans, it generated a lot oftraffie in the area. The amount of traffic has since died down. At the peak of viewing there may have been as many as ten cars on the street at one time now it is three at the most. Initially the vehicles coming down to view the swans did not realize it was a cul-de-sac street and turned around in the driveways of the residents. Another concern that was voiced was vehicles parking along County Road 39 to view the . Special Parks Commission Minutes - 2/23/04 swans. Adam Hawkinson stated that if they wanted to encourage swan viewing along County Road 39 it would seem appropriate to construct a pier and some terracing which would get the cars olT the side of the road. Jim Lawrence stated the swans select the site illld just because the City may want them at a different location, does not mean the swans will gather there and food alone is not enough to attract them to a site. Since they are clumsy on land, the trumpeter's SWilll security is water. The particular site by Mississippi park has a shoal area which attracted the swans initially. The Lawrence's cited a number offaetors to consider in looking at the situation. At the present site, the activities of individuals who come to view the swans can be monitored and the feeding of the birds is done by a private party. If the swan viewing is moved to a different site you lose these assets. Jim Lawrence felt the key to the situation was trying to control the activities of the people who come to view the swans. He noted the birds are easily spooked and therefore it is important that there is a separation between the swans and the people viewing them. The present set up with the fencing does that. Adam Hawkinson stated that the DNR also expressed the concern that the birds do not become too friendly with the people viewing them. . The Lawrence's indicated that the residents had not complained to them of any problems. The viewing period for the swans runs from October to March and the traffic was not that bad. The plus to the present location was that the activities of the viewing public could be monitored and it was a secure spot for the swans. Adam llawkinson stated that he had received a comment about the noise. Jim Lawrence indicated that the noise should be minimal because the swans are there over the winter months, a time when most residents would have their windows closed. He stated that when the birds are startled and they attempt to fly off there is some noise Jeff O'Neill asked about the width of Mississippi Drive and whether there was sufficient right-or-way for sidewalk. He also questioned whether the viewing of the swans created a situation where there was conflict between pedestrian needs and vehicle needs. Susie Wojchouski stated that on their website they have pointed out that the street is a cul-de- sac and that seems to have helped. She also noted that people who have come to view the swans have also shopped and dined in Monticello so there is economic benefit to the City as well as the aesthetic pleasure of viewing the birds. Jeff O'Neill stated that the land at the end of the cuI-dc-sac is part of the wastewater treatment plant and questioned whether some parking could be put in there. Susie Wojchouski stated that would be too far for people to park and then walk to view the swans. She noted that many ofthe people who have come to view the swans are elderly or handicapped and that is why parking within the park itself would be a better option. Jim Lawrence felt that trying to educate the public about the site and appropriate behavior around swans would go along way to eliminate any problems caused by the swan viewing. Susie Wojchouski also noted that she is talking to Xcel Energy on grants that are available that could be used in making . 2 . improvements to the site. Special Parks Commission Minutes - 2/23/04 The Parks Commission discussed other sites that were proposed. One site is the Battle Rapids Park along County Road 39. This site would require construction of an off ramp for parking in order to view the SWans. This would be a more costly site because of the need for a ramp and the need for DNR permits for construction. In addition there would be no in place monitoring of the people who corne to view the swans and also provisions would have to be made for the feeding of the birds. The plus to the site is that County Road 39 can handle the amount of traffic and ifin the future the County has a bike trail in that area the swan viewing would be an added attraction for the bikers. West Bridge park was also considered. There was concern about parking since the park is also used for skating. Again feeding would then have to be provided for the swans. There is a town home development in the area that could provide some monitoring of the activities in the area. . Ellison Park - Adam Hawkinson noted the problems with the geese at the park and the effiJfts the Parks Department has made in trying to control the problem. Since this is a premier park and the site of the River Fast activities, there is a reluctance to encourage a goose population growth in this area. Montissippi Park - While this is a county park the county was wiHing to have an area established for the swans. A couple of sites were noted on a sketch submitted by Adam Hawkinson. The Lawrence's noted how easily the birds are spooked by human activities and how in their haste to flee the swans have injured themselves. With all the activity and traffic at Montissippi Park it was felt that this would not be the best location. In addition the monitoring of the public and provisions for feeding the birds would have to be resolved. It was suggested that some kind of shuttle bus arrangement be set up for those individuals wishing to view the swans. This would eliminate some of the concerns on traffic and parking. It was also noted that since there are elderly and handicapped people coming to the view the swans some consideration should be given so that any improvements made to the park on Mississippi Drive are ADA accessible. After discussion of the matter, the Parks Commission felt there was a lot of logistics to consider before making any decision. There was some long term issues to look at as well such as what happens if the power plant closes and the river is no longer open in that area or the Lawrence's no longer can provide the feeding of the birds. Fran Fair asked for a cost estimate for a parking lot at the park site. John Simola indicated that depending on the elevation of the site and whether the City had to put in any pathway or viewing pad, the cost could run $ 17,000-$ 18,000 3 . There being no further discussion, the Parks Commission thanked Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, Susie Wojchouski and staff for their input and then adjourned the meeting. Special Parks Commission Minutes ~ 2/23/04 Df,", "" ~s ""'=%' ~ Recording Secretary , . 4