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1985 10 10 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 1985 e MEMBERS PRESENT: Curt Robinson, Charlie Robbins, Tom Schoenecker, Joe Warneke MEMBERS ABSENT: Mike Lynch, Mike Rosenwald, Wallace McKay A regular meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission was called to order at 8:10 p.m. by acting Chairman, Tom Schoenecker. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Robbins moved, seconded by Warneke to approve the minutes of August 6, 1985 as submitted. Motion unanimously approved. SOUTH LOTUS LAKE FINAL PARK PLAN REVIEW: Mark Koegler was pre- sent to discuss the final park plan for South Lotus Lake. Koegler explained that the City Council approved authorization of signatures on the LAWCON Grant amendment for the Lotus Lake boat access at the August 5th meeting. The City Council also directed staff to consider resident concerns when preparing a final plan. These concerns were: - The lack of a physical barrier along the eastern property line. e - Plantings between the boat access and the eastern property line to screen the area. - A berm between the boat access and eastern property line. - The need for a pedestrian crossing over Highway 101. Koegler looked into all of the concerns when revising the plan. The plan shows a 4 foot fence along the eastern property. The bollard and chain fence around the boat access was eliminated with this addition. Plantings are concentrated along the eastern side of the lower portion of the park. Koegler reminded the Commission that these plantings are part from the grant. Although a berm on the east side of the boat access was requested by neighboring residents, Koegler said the swale was necessary for drainage and there is not enough room for both. Therefore, the berm was not included in this plan. Koegler showed a pedestrian crossing over Highway 101 with blinking yellow lights. He said that he has talked with MnDOT and they will approve this crossing, but will not be able to fund it. e Robbins asked why the fence stopped half way up the hill. Koegler said that the steep grade of the hill provided a natural barrier from that point on. He said that the City Council requested as short a fence as possible, while still doing the job. Robbins did not feel that a 4 foot fence was high enough and thought a 6 foot fence would be better. Koegler felt that a 4 foot fence was high enough without making the park look insti- tutionalized. Koegler added that all activities in the park are west of the boat access, therefore there is nothing drawing people to the east side. Robbins asked if the fence will run Park and Recreation Commission Minutes September 10, 1985 ~ Page 2 into the lake. Koegler explained that that was not legally possible. In discussing the upper portion of the park, Koegler said that the original berm was taken out and a pond put in. The parking area will be visible, but some screening will occur. Robbins asked how long the pond would hold water and if it would pose a potential safety hazard. Koegler said that the pond and parking area would hold water for only a matter of hours, not all summer. Koegler stressed that the future active play area is not a part of the LAWCON grant and therefore not to be a part of this construction phase. Robbins asked if there would be fencing along Highway 101. Koegler said that it could possibly occur in the future. Warneke made a motion, seconded by Robinson to recommend approval of the final park plan for South Lotus Lake dated September 5, 1985 as presented by Mark Koegler. Motion unanimously approved. ~ 1985 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Sietsema explained the status on each of the capital improvement projects to date: 1. Lake Ann Park: o Park improvements - incomplete o Geese clean up - incomplete o picnic tables - complete o Signs - complete o Terraced bleachers - incomplete 2. Minnewashta Heights Park: o picnic tables - complete o Miscellaneous landscaping - complete 3. Carver Beach Park (Playground): o Totlot replacement - complete o picnic table - complete 4. Carver Beach (Beach): o picnic table - complete o Landscape upper portion - incomplete ~ 0 Park sign - complete Park and Recreation Commission Minutes September 10, 1985 e p~e3 5. Greenwood Shores: o picnic tables - complete 6. Detailed plans for Lake Ann Expansion - in progress. 7. Detailed plans for North Lotus Lake Park - in progress. 8. Bandimere Heights: o Small totlot - incomplete 9. City Center Park: o Field improvements - incomplete o Tables and benches - complete 10. Lake Susan: o Totlot - incomplete o Tables and benches - complete e A motion was made by Warneke and seconded by Robbins to recommend that the following action be taken on the projects listed as incomplete: o Lake Ann Park Improvements ($10,000): The Commission requested that this money be carried over to the 1986 Capital Improvement Budget to be set aside for a park shelter in the ballfield area or for the construction of a little league ballfield. o Geese Cleanup ($500): Sietsema indicated that we may be able to get into a University of Minnesota program that is working on solving geese problems. The Commission requested that this project be carried into the 1986 Capital Improvement Budget. o Terraced Bleachers at Lake Ann ($3,000): The Commission asked that this project be looked into further by staff. They would still like to see this project done if it is feasible. o Landscape Upper Portion of Carver Beach ($400): Sietsema said this project was not approved at the City Council level. The commission requested that these funds be carried over to the 1986 Capital Improvement Budget. e o Totlot at Bandimere Heights ($2,500): not convinced that there is a need for area. They requested that these funds the 1986 Capital Improvement Budget. The Commission was a tot lot in that be carried over to Park and Recreation Commission Minutes September 10, 1985 e P~e4 o City Center Park Field Improvements ($1000): Because no major field improvements were needed at City Center Park, the Commission requested that these funds be carried over to the 1986 Capital Improvement Budget. Motion unanimously approved. 1986 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Sietsema indicated to the Commission that there would be approximately $35,000 in the Capital Improvement Budget for 1986. She asked the Commission to list priority projects. Schoenecker said that he felt Herman Field should be completed. He said that if the entrance road was going to cost more to construct than was planned, that we should put additional money aside from the Capital Improvement fund. The Commission agreed that docks, tables and totlot equipment should be purchased for Lake Susan, as it will be used next year. Robbins suggested that the warming house be repaired and painted. Sietsema said that Dale Gregory had mentioned that the tree farm needed restocking. e Robbins stated he would like to see the plan completed for Western Hills Park. Schoenecker said a trail system is a priority and that consultant fees for such a system should be considered. The Commission also stated that they would like to build up the fund so that major projects could be done in the future. NORTH LOTUS LAKE PARK PLAN: Sietsema s~id that there is money in the budget to have a master plan done for North Lotus Lake. To develop that plan the Commission was requested to identify faci- lities they wanted to see in that park. The facilities that the Commission identified were 1 or 2 softball fields, a soccer field, a skating rink, 2 tennis courts, and a trail system leading to surrounding neighborhoods. Robbins moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m. The motion was seconded by Warneke and all voted in favor. Prepared by: Lori Sietsema Park and Recreation Coordinator September 25, 1985 e