PRC 1995 08 08
I"""" CHANHASSEN PARK AND
RECREA nON COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
AUGUST 8, 1995
Chairman Andrews called the meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Andrews, Ron Roeser, Fred Berg, Jim Manders, and Jane Meger
MEMBERS ABSENT: Jan Lash
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director
(The recording of the meeting was of poor quality and therefore much of the discussion was
not able to be heard on the tape.)
CITIZEN REQUEST TO RECONSIDER COMMISSION ACTION OF MAY 9. 1995
REGARDING POWER HILL PARK.
Todd Hoffman presented the staff report on this item.
Andrews: Thank you Todd for bringing us up to date and summarizing all the prior action,
~ which has consumed a lot of time, as you have noted. I'm going to ask those people that are
here tonight for this issue, if they have something to add to this, to please step forward and
state your name and address. I would ask that you keep your comments brief. We have all
been through this stuff and sat through it before. If you want to summarize that, I'd certainly
appreciate it. I would not participate appreciate though if you want to read anything into the
Minutes that we already have received in our packets. If you have anything to say, please
step forward and state your views.
A resident made a statement which was not heard on the tape.
Andrews: We certainly appreciate your time that you put in too. Is there anyone else that
wants to speak to the commission about this issue?
Resident: ...1 just wanted to say, I think the efforts of the commission have been good in
trying to accommodate the citizens request. However, I think if we go back to the beginning,
about that request and where it should be located...pristine and you didn't want to disturb that
area and then the challenge was, what do we do now with this request and with the limited
space we have up on the hill. And I think it's just, you know you guys were out there on the
site. Came back and said on your way in we had this idea. We thought...and I'm just
questioning...surface. You've got the lower part available, which you don't have the exact
plans at the present time but certainly...And also this, the additional parking stall is...when we
purchased the lot in just the past...so I would just ask that you would take the stuff back and
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
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look from the beginning. We have one request and the site where the request is to put it
but...
Andrews: Thank you. Anyone else?
Ray Garver: Ray Garver, 8704 Flamingo Drive. And I also appreciate your time and efforts
with this, in this matter. The biggest thing is that we're kind of hoping that...parking lot here
tonight. Maybe put out some sort of a questionnaire to all the people in the neighborhood
there to get input from everybody that lives in that neighborhood. There's roughly, I believe
there's 85 houses in that neighborhood. The other problem we're already having...taking, well
not taking care but the grass for the smaller kids. There's also the other problem with the
bigger kids... We've had problems with rock fights up in that park.
Andrews: Yeah but that's.
Ray Garver: That can happen in any park.
Roeser: Yeah, J don't think that has anything to do with parking lots.
Ray Garver: It adds to, to have larger kids to that with the basketball court, doesn't seem...
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Berg: ...bigger kids.
Ray Garver: Oh, 11, 12, 13. 14. Because what's up there right now is a little gymnasium
for the smaller kids. That's all I had to say.
Andrews: Anybody else?
Resident: Hi... what is the reason for parking up there? I mean people have asked me and I
didn't have the answer.
Andrews: I'd like to answer that after we've had a chance to have everybody speak and then
we'll probably deal with that issue again.
Resident: I guess my only other comment is, we have to have something for the middle
school kids. A constructive play area for them...
Andrews: Thank you. Anyone else? I'm going to ask each commissioner here just to
summarize their feelings and then let's dispose of this once and for all, one way or the other.
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,..... Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Berg: I basically endorse staffs recommendation. I'd would add with a second point about
the parking lot there and not being on Flamingo Drive. For me it's also a bit of a safety
factor. When you've got cars parking on the street. You've got kids playing on the street.
This seems to be a little bit better for the kids if there's off street parking versus somebody
going all the time and turning around on Flamingo. They mayor may not use the T. They'd
probably just turn around in the middle of the block. My kids don't always watch when
they're crossing the streets and I guess the more traffic you can get off the street, I think the
better.
Manders: I concur with the staff presentation.
Roeser: I do too. I concur with staffs recommendation. What we did on May 9th. I just
feel that 2 years down the road there will be a petition asking us not to allow people to park
on Flamingo Drive. That's the next step. I think we need those parking spaces in that
parking lot, if it's everybody's park.
Andrews: My comments would be similar. I did want to specifically mention that in other
areas where we have not provided parking and we've had cars park on the street, I believe
II""'" we've had 100% relationship between complains of not having parking at some point. Also
what usually happens is people will park and then walk between houses to cut the distance
and I don't think anybody would like that. I also feel, as a Park Board and as a city that we
have an obligation to provide easy and safe use of a facility to all citizens and not just to
everybody that lives there. Somebody that lives a mile away should be able to come there
and use that park and not feel like they're intruding on a neighborhood. Yes, it's there for the
neighborhood and yes, they have an advantage and have some pride of ownership just by it's
location but it belongs to everybody in the city and I'd like everybody to feel welcome and
have access. There was a suggestion about using the lower area as a basketball area. There's
tremendous access problems with doing any kind of paving operation on there, as well as
providing parking again. There'd be virtually no way to do that either. We have done some
looking at that lower area and we probably will look at that again in the spring as to what
might be done with that lower area. I consider those to be two separate issues. And a lot of
time and planning has gone into this. I don't think this was a spur of the moment decision. I
think we're trying to preserve and use that property for it's best uses. Trying to leave an open
area for playing. Trying to provide some active use for older kids that do need a place to
play and some areas for the young kids so. In my opinion I think this is a great solution and
I think parking is a necessity as well as a responsible of our city and our park board to
provide so I concur with staff recommendation.
Meger: I can't add much more. I guess I concur as well. I appreciate all the residents
coming in and supporting and voicing their opinions and also the attempt to help us save
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
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some money. It's not often that you see that coming in...so there's obviously some
understanding of our restricted budget. And I appreciate too that people would feel
comfortable with people parking in front of their households, but as Jim stated, unfortunately
people move and we've got new people moving in who might not appreciate that...
Andrews: With those comments, I don't know if we need a motion to act here. We already
have a standing motion. Since there's not support for a motion to reconsider, there is no
action taken by our Board so with that, I would say that this issue has been completed for
now. That doesn't mean at some point down the road something different might happen in
this park or any other park. There's no such thing as a finalized permanent plan for anything
but if something doesn't work out, we have made alterations so. We'd appreciate feedback on
how this works after a year or two. My guess is it will work pretty good. In the past things
usually do work pretty well so. Appreciate your coming. We feel that our prior motion
should stand. With that, it's the work session.
Berg: Was there an answer to why the parking stays up there?..
Resident: I didn't know if it was a city ordinance or just...
Andrews: I think it goes along with city policy. I don't know if I'd call it an ordinance but
we have an obligation to provide access to the play area in particular but to the facility and I
think it creates a feeling of separation when you ask somebody to park on the street and then
walk between houses to go to a park People don't feel welcomed and I think also neighbors
will complain. Maybe it won't be the neighbors that are there now but the next people that
move in might complain. And also people will cut between houses to cut distance. If
somebody has to park 4 or 5 cars down from the entrance way in order to, because there's
maybe a party at somebody house or something, somebody's going to walk between those
houses and somebody's going to call the city and say, people are trespassing to get to the
park. We don't want to do that. And I would support that action completely but it's just,
every time we try to cut a little comer here on parking, it's come back to bite us. Just every
time and it's not a good idea.
......",
Resident: Can I ask a question? Do you have a time line on this?
Andrews: When does it happen? Would it be a fall project yet or most likely spring?
Hoffman: It will occur this year.
Andrews: Okay. Looks like it will happen this year, from what Todd says. Again, that
depends on weather.
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A resident in the audience asked a question to Todd.
Hoffman: Depends on if I get a price which exceeds for an outside contractor...The second
phase is not budgeted...
Andrews: Actually our next task is to look at long term capital investment spending so.
Berg: But it's safe to say...
Hoffman: It's a 1995 budgeted item so it meets the...
Andrews: That's a work session that would happen, is that an agenda item or an after agenda
item?
Hoffman: No, it's a public meeting this evening.
Andrews: Okay. That's our next agenda item.
JiIII'" Hoffman: You'll take it up again in your August meeting and will be published again...and
the City Council will address as part of their budget hearing. So the public has at least three
opportunities...
Andrews: This is a long process.
Resident: That would be where...
Andrews: That and all other facilities. We have a small pot with lots of people wanting to
get their share so.
Resident: So is there a specific time you would be discussing Power Hill Park so we could
be there or what would be the right...
Andrews: If our intent is to split this in two, I would guess that would happen at the next
meeting, but I can't tell you for sure. It depends how far we get into this and when we give
up and say it's too late to continue.
Hoffman: Yeah, I would simply recommend that the commission take public comment.
Andrews: Why don't we do that. Get some of that now. Okay, we'll adjourn until 7:30.
Alright, let's reconvene our meeting and proceed with the work session.
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
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PARK ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Todd Hoffman presented the staff report on this item and asked the commission on the
direction they would like to proceed.
Andrews: My preference would be to hit '96 first and maybe keep some notes about ideas for
the future years and then come back to them and hit those later. At the request of the people
from the Power Hill area, why don't we just talk a little bit about what we've done there for
'95 and our normal practice. There is a play structure. Is it in the ground now?
Hoffman: It's in the ground for the most part. We're waiting on parts for the swing.
Andrews: Okay. Typically the expansional play structure is delayed by a year or two, but
we'd be interested in hearing perhaps what sorts of things might be of interest. That's always
part of our discussion. And other ideas that people from that area may have for that Power
Hill Park, and that would include both the upper level as well as the lower level. We are
planning to look at that lower level again this spring, as far as potential drainage. I believe
we put that on future items. So do you have any comments, ideas, suggestions?
Resident: Well I think I would like to see it graded more on the upper hill because I don't, I
would like to see the upper hill as accessible to the people that are in the court, that is what,
Bluebill Trail Court, or the court that's just across the road to the west. In other words, it's to
be a cul-de-sac. There is a walkway that would halfway be between the two retaining ponds
and then they really only have a grass path to get up to the playground equipment. And there
are a lot and lot of young kids in that area. If you look at our petition, I went around the
back area and there are anywhere from 3 to 7 years and 1 and so forth and they really need
some way of getting to that park with strollers if they can. I don't know what the best way to
do that hut I don't think it's very reachable on grass.
--'
Andrews: Okay.
Resident: I think that may be something we need to look at. I didn't realize that there was
such a problem until I went over and did the first petition and I looked there and they said,
well we can't even get in the park. By the time we get our kids all the way around here and
up Flamingo, they're ready to come home.
Andrews: That's from the lower level to the upper level, along the edge of the park? Okay.
Resident: Following the sidewalk. In other words, if they cannot get up, you know between
the two retaining ponds is a paved path that ends and then grass up the sliding hill up to the
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playground equipment. So in order for them to get to that, and you park...they have to go
out... up here and down Flamingo and up to the top of the hill. That's what they were telling
me. That's what they have to do to be able to use that. So I think we need to look at
something, I know it's very detailed and I notice you talk about not wanting to do pavement
but if we could get some kind of surface that a stroller could go on.
Andrews: We could look at that. We've looked at other...
Resident: ...we don't have a playground...but it'd be nice for the people that live there to go
there. To the top of the hill.
Berg: How much would that actually cut their distance?
Resident: Oh, a lot. All they do is go...top hill and you're there. Versus going all the way
here, and up Flamingo and the hill. It's quite...
""
Andrews: All your comments, none of them are going to get on the record because not being
at the mic. You may want to just quickly state your idea on the mic if you could and then
we'll have that for our Minutes.
Susan: Susan...542 Flamingo Drive and it was just that we look at some kind of path to get,
to connect up with the existing pavement that comes down from Bluebird Trail. I guess it's
the...it goes up the side of Vine Hill up to that...
Andrews: Okay, we can look at that.
Susan: The other thing is we did talk about... on the lower area. Is that planned at all for the
future?
Hoffman: It was.
Andrews: Tabled for spring.
Hoffman: Well it was tabled for this discussion, yes. Or for the 1996 budget session.
Susan: And then the other thing is, do you have any plans for developing that down there?
Or what do you see as uses for that? I have all kinds of ideas but you know, I guess all I
would like to see is that we have some kind of plan and then we...want from there. Because
the neighbors that abut that, I've been around here twice for a petitions and they're really
interested in seeing that developed into something.
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
....."
Andrews: Okay. Any other ideas?
Ed Kraft: My name is Ed Kraft and I live at 8711 Flamingo and although I don't have any
small children anymore, it'd certainly be nice if we could finish off that play area up there
because we've got about, once we get the swings put in, it's about 2/3 finished and I know
access is important but if you don't have access for something for the kids to do in the park,
it's not going to do you as much good as well so I would like to...the opportunity of finishing
that off...
Andrews: Any other ideas?
Susan: I guess I... The phase that we're missing on the playground equipment is the younger
aged phase, right?
Hoffman: The 1 to 5 year olds.
Susan: The 1 to 5 is the second phase then right?
Hoffman: Right.
Susan: Alright. So the lower playground area, we would still like to see some kind of multi-
purpose backstop which could maybe be used as soccer goals or football goals or something
multi -purpose...
.....,,;
Andrews: Alright. Any others? As a bureaucrat here, what I'm going to do is we're going to
come back to this in order later but we've got the ideas written down. We're going to look at
all these issues and put our wish list in so. Y ou're free to remain if you like but that could
be, maybe not tonight that we'll get to it.
Susan: Will it appear in the paper then, the things that you're discussing for that...?
Andrews: You could contact Todd and see if we got anything discussed tonight. Nothing's
going to be finalized tonight. It will come back next meeting for tabulation of the numbers
and see where we stand and maybe a re-prioritizing. Typically what we do is we kind of go
through the whole wish list and then we shake it out to what we can actually consider doing
so the next meeting will actually be another opportunity to see what we're thinking about
doing.
Hoffman: So I would recommend you contact to receive the Minutes from that particular
portion of their discussion. The Minutes are prepared 2 weeks after the...and then we receive
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
those for this meeting and then following meetings. If you don't agree with the
recommendation which the commission passes to the City Council, then you voice your issue
of concern to the City Council.
Andrews: Alright. Now let's go back to the top of the list here. I know some of these items
will be able to go by quicker than other's. First park is Bandimere. Being that it's one of the
key items of the referendum we're considering, I would say that this item be left as is at this
point.
Manders: Yep. No changes.
Andrews: No changes, alright. Todd, if you have things to add at any point, please do.
Hoffman: Through 1999 or.
~
Andrews: Well, if the referendum goes through, supposedly that would take care of the park
and we already have a plan in existence. I don't see what more we would need to put in at
this point. Bandimere Heights. We had talked about play area refurbishment. Is that still,
$8,000. Is that going to be enough to do it?
Berg: Could I ask a dumb question? Because it shows on all the other things too. What is
play area refurbishment? What do you mean by that?
Hoffman: Refurbishment, that description, and we're going to talk a little bit about Curry
Farms tonight. The 1995 item. We have the ADA, which we always have to update, so if
you can...and touches or remodels a play area after updating, you also have to bring it up to
those consumer product safety commission guidelines and the American standard...guidelines.
So not only...we're going to add a swing because it kicks in all this other stuff. So you end
up spending, right now on a $10,000.00 project you get about $2,000.00 or $1,500.00 in used
stuff. you spend the rest of these on updates. So Curry Farms for 1995. we have $8.000.00 in
there. When I asked for the preliminary proposal to present the new plan. you would have
received. It's all...simply blow up the existing equipment. Replace it with other pieces and
add on. Add some trails and put it right back in place for $8.000.00. When you do these
refurbishments. and you want to get something for your money. you've got to jack them up
and that's on the old replacements. Obviously on the new ones. like Power Hill. it meets all
the standards so you're going to get out of this cycle but it's going to take you 6 to 8 or 10
years.
Andrews: Let's sort of re-ask the question. Is $8.000.00. that's just to bring it up to code?
No additions?
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
....."
Hoffman: That wouldn't do much for you. Bandimere is also, for those of you who are
familiar with it, oh from the back comer and draw it up and the tire swing is going in this
year and it services. You know this number may have been put in there 3, 4, 5 years ago. 2,
3, 4, 5 years ago and it services the neighborhood for the most part...
Roeser: Would you say like IS?
Hoffman: Yeah, to make sense of it. And I don't think if you went down there and looked at
the park and what they have there today and...probably would not justify $15,000.00
additional expense for that.
Andrews: So what you're saying is 0 or IS?
Hoffman: Yeah.
Berg: And most of the IS's going to go to refurbishment? Adding more equipment.
Hoffman: Well, you'll get more equipment. That size of structure, it's going to take you
$6,000.00, $7,000.00, $8,000.00 to add trails, resilient material, and update putting all kick
plates and update all of the safety areas and ADA standards so. Spend a lot of money on
updating.
,."",
Andrews: So what you're saying is it does provide an adequate service as is?
Hoffman: In my opinion, it does yes.
Andrews: I value your opinion. I would recommend that we skip.
Roeser: Yep, scratch the 8.
Berg: Let's make a note that we look at that in the future. Look at down the line a little bit.
Andrews: Yeah, I'd say look at like a '98 replace. Bluff Creek. Are there any other
comments Bandimere Heights? Nothing else there, right? Bluff Creek Park is intended to be
a passive space so nothing needs to happen there, correct?
Hoffman: Correct. Jane, she now has a commitment to the Bluff Creek task force and we
could expand it to, at some point you may be asked or you may wish to commit dollars to the
Bluff Creek issue, which is currently being undertaken. Some dollars from the referendum, if
it passes. There's dollars from the certain block management programs. Dollars for the task
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force which Jane is joining will receive grant dollars. They receive money from the
watershed district and so depending on your level of commitment...this would be the
appropriate area. Otherwise put it under other expenses. Bluff Creek drainage way issues.
Manders: What length or what portion or what area is this considered to be?
Hoffman: This is just the 21 acres at the bottom. They're looking at the entire watershed.
Manders: So this is the 21 acres in the bottom from where to where?
Roeser: From where? From the trail down, is that?
I"""
Hoffman: No, from the trail up. From the railroad trail, as you stand on the railroad bed and
that goes from that point up approximately half a mile up the creek. It's that bottom piece of
ground. There's about 21 acres in there. It was part of the Hesse Farm Addition. So 20-21
acres when the Hesse Farm was platted. Additionally, or originally when it was platted, there
was no public open space. And then the city leaders at that time, whether it be Park
Commission or Planning Commission or City Council, said no. That's not right. That Bluff
Creek is going to be something someday so they took this 21 acres and asked for it to be set
aside as passive space and they put some qualifiers on it that it remain uninhibited. That
there be access to it until the entire Bluff Creek plan is put into place.
Manders: That was my next question. There isn't access. It's just there.
Hoffman: Until it's put into the bigger context.
Andrews: Alright. Let's move on then. Carver Beach Park. We've put some incidental
monies into this. Any other needs that you note Todd? Small items. Grass and so forth.
Hoffman: ...Nothing that stands out. The main beach play equipment is replaced. The rope
swing has been cut down, as a side note. The actual tree where the rope swing was for years
has been eliminated.
Andrews: By us or by?
Hoffman: By a..Jt was a basswood that was hollow in the center and the rope swing that
was up there was 60 some feet in the air. ...burn it down, shoot it down or cut the tree down.
We chose to cut it down but for the most part, the two beach areas operate for the community
and the neighborhood effectively but I wouldn't be surprised if that park, somebody always
has an initiative that they bring forward so that's why the contingency.
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
--'
Manders: Who was, last year was the main thing we were doing there was just signing
specific parking?
Hoffman: Yeah.
Roeser: Did a sign ever go up saying there was no lifeguard on duty and that sort of thing?
Hoffman: Those are not in place as of today but they will be in place, yes.
Berg: Parking is a real problem.
Hoffman: Parking, next to...snowmobiles, really comes to a head every June.
Roeser: Wasn't bad this year though. Not like last year.
Hoffman: I had quite a few calls.
Roeser: Did you?
Hoffman: Actually I participated in a Saturday afternoon there with my family. We had to
park in a friend's driveway up the street. But there's people parking everywhere and so when
the calls came in on Monday, I said well I was there and...
....."
Andrews: There's nothing we can do. Leave it alone. Alright. Carver Beach Playground.
What's the condition of the equipment that's on that property?
Hoffman: It's been nearly, well it's been 100% refurbished in the past 3 years.
Andrews: Any need for any more picnic tables or, at either of these two parks to be honest.
Are we in pretty good shape there?
Hoffman: Yeah. Picnic tables are incidental. They're included...
Andrews: Well, we're stil1...without spending any money. I know that will change but.
Meger: Give it to the Bluff Creek.
Andrews: Chanhassen Estates Mini Park. Does the plan there include any further additions
to that play equipment or is that one also finished?
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."..... Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Hoffman: No. The equipment was purchased at the National Recreation and Park Show
here in town so they discounted it 50% and it does not include ADA transfer... The first quote
I had was $2,500.00 from Value Recreation to add that. I just used that number and said,
well nevertheless, you're going to have to get into that conversation...
Andrews: 3 grand or?
Hoffman: $3,000.00 might take care of that. There is room for spring animals, if you look at
those. They're about $600.00 each.
Andrews: So a total of $4,500.00 should cover it?
Manders: What was that last thing?
Andrews: Spring animals.
Manders: Oh, spring animals. Okay. I didn't quite catch that.
,..... Andrews: Alright, that's $4,500.00.
Berg: What year are we putting that?
Andrews: '96. If we don't spend that, we won't get as much next year so.
Berg: Oh geez. Let's not get into that mentality.
Andrews: Chan Hills Park.
Hoffman: They had the expansion, which included, will be installed this year. It was to be
installed 1995 I believe. No, 1994 was the budget year...annual audit which now costs
$300.00. It takes in excess of a month. We'll have it completed by Earl F. Anderson so this
thing was pushed out to 1995 so the equipment's going in this year for the refurbishment at
Chanhassen Hills.
Andrews: So we're in good shape on that one.
Hoffman: Yeah, we have 5 nice trees and the trail is improved. The volleyball's in.
Roeser: Do we put a rink there too in the winter time?
r-
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
.......",
Hoffman: Last year was the first year...
Roeser: Did it work? I mean any comments?
Hoffman: Boy, I don't recall any specific comments.
Manders: How does the trail link to that park fit in? I mean isn't that going in this year.
Hoffman: Barbara Court? Barbara Court connection is going, the Chanhassen Hills
connection is going from Barbara Court to Lake Susan Hills. It's under construction right
now.
Manders: Doesn't that go around like Lyman and then towards CR 17 or Powers?
Hoffman: No.
Roeser: It goes right through the middle of that little park.
Hoffman: It starts right in, there's a little trail that's in the park which goes from roadway to
roadway. From one side of the park to the other and then the next connection for Chanhassen
Hills simply starts in Barbara Court on the west side of the development and it goes to Lake
Susan.
.....""
Manders: Oh, it stays on that side. It doesn't get over to Lake Susan Park?
Hoffman: Yeah.
Roeser: You have to go around the west side of Lake Susan to wind up at Lake Susan Park.
Manders: But isn't there that low land area? That wetlands down there?
Hoffman: You cross that.
Manders: You go right through that.
Hoffman: We cross it on a dike, as far as...
Roeser: Not yet. Pretty soon though.
Hoffman: Pretty darn soon.
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Manders: So is that right in the middle down there so you don't, okay.
Hoffman: ...but then it flooded out the old trail alignment. People said, well we still want
the trail but we also like that open water so bring them both back. The project which evolved
was a dike to back up the water and then the trail comes over the top of the dike, close to the
east side of the wetlands so they can run along the base...
Manders: Oh, okay. Then that comes into the, I don't remember the same of the
development but just on the east side of CR 17. It comes into that housing development?
Hoffman: Lake Susan Hills West.
Manders: Yeah. And then comes out to what, CR 171 Or no, it probably goes right down
to that trail link down there.
Hoffman: Yeah, the trail that's already there.
Manders: Okay.
,,-...
Hoffman: It's going to be a slick deal.
Manders: When is that going in?
Hoffman: Well it's under construction right now. It should be done in 3 weeks. When the
landowners, the landowners we worked with 4 years ago, they had a house on this side of the
trail and we wanted to install a trail bed at that time so they could landscape up against it so
they could kind of start getting used to it. And in fact today all of that will come out and it
will be replaced with this new trail. When you meet with these residents, same old thing...
and they ask the question. What do you suppose, how many people are going to use this and
my response is, a lot. They say, well that's the wrong answer. That Chanhassen Hills area
IS.. .
Manders: Accessibility. Same issues with TH 101 north.
Andrews: Is there a loop down there? A paved loop... Okay, Chan Pond Park. Did that trail
get done on that?
Hoffman: The trail, all of the segments, which were included in that connection, I put out to
bid for proposal for engineering services and the bids came back for engineering services, just
about as high as the trail work itself. So I pulled it out and I will hopefully complete it as
,.....
15
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
....",
the sister to the project which is taking place up there on water resources...be done by this
fall. The second leg from Big Horn Drive, is going to be completed. The project we just got
done describing down here, the same contractor was awarded the project up in the back part
of Meadow Green Park where the houses back into that wetland back there. That's being, the
project's being completed there as well so they'll asphalt that segment and I'm going to try
and get them to come down and asphalt this segment underneath that project because our
cost, if we don't incur the engineering costs nearly as bad. We incur some added some costs
to their unit prices because as we change, the prices go up. And then we'll complete the
other segment down at the end of Carver Beach Park as a part of that project as well. This
$16,000.00 will be expanded in 1995...
Manders: What kind of shape is that other bridge down in the bottom there?
Hoffman: We have...perfectly fine shape.
Manders: But I mean isn't there one closer to Kerber? Isn't there a walking bridge? Not the
one down there where the stream runs under.
Hoffman: That's in about the same shape as the other one. It's serviceable but it's not an
engineering wonder.
....."
Roeser: That was a Scout project, wasn't it?
Hoffman: Yes.
Andrews: Pretty good job actually. Chan Rec Center. I envision contingency dollars needed
here, just for stuff that's going to come up. And I don't know what that could be but there
will be uses that will surprise us, I'm sure. I'd like to see us. Personally I'd like to see us set
aside quite a sizeable contingency budget this year for a number of potential large projects
that are coming on line, including the Stockdale, Minnewashta and the Rec Center. All of
which could place a lot of money.
Berg: Including the round house.
Andrews: Well the round house is part of the Minnewashta project. Would we designate
contingency funds just for the Rec Center or just put them in the general budget and hold it?
Hoffman: It would be a good idea, because it is going to be designated separately. I've also
clarify to the commission, there's a staged effect to acquisition of equipment so we can pursue
acquisition of the majority of the strength equipment and aerobics equipment in '95 but we
16
""""
J!"" Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
put off 8 pieces of strength equipment to 1996 which will be about a $24,000.00 expenditure.
$25,000.00, and I'll have to question city management, the City Manager on whether or not
they will hold open the financing mechanism in the tax increment district for that expenditure
money. My belief is that they will but I need to get that question answered.
Andrews: I guess the better question is, is it dangerous for us to have contingency money
designated if you're about to ask a question to another entity to pay the bill?
Hoffman: I have every belief that they'll pay it... It gives another option but they've always
tried to protect...
Andrews: Okay. I'd like to see, and I'm just grabbing a number of $10,000.00 set aside as a
contingency fund for the Rec Center.
Manders: I think there's going to be a lot of questions there. Unknown issues.
Berg: Are we short on playground equipment? I don't remember that conversation?
,..... Hoffman: The school has a relatively small piece of playground equipment. For a $10
million investment into the school and the rec center...
(There was a tape change at this point in the discussion.)
Andrews: Remember he said he wanted to have an instant park. He didn't want to have..he
wanted to have something there right away...that's not an issue.
Meger: I think he wanted at least the plans to be in place that he could tell people what the
park.
Roeser: Yeah, but if we don't own the land, what's the point? I think we once we get the
property is when we should start talking about spending money.
Andrews: I agree...Greenwood Shores. We have a trail addition there.
Hoffman: That's completed this year and...
Andrews: Nothing new there then?
Hoffman: It's not an item that needs to be included in '96.
,.....
17
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
......".,
Manders: That's a nice spot. I mean that trail completion up to the road is good. And then
the rest of the trail link to Lake Ann is fixed up in a couple spots so.
Hoffman: It will still need the entire...
Manders: My biggest question on that is the drainage there. I mean the water just collects
along there in like a sponge. You can't get it across.
Hoffman: That's where it's...added additional drain tile to try and get the water to move...
Andrews: So far we've allocated $24,500.00. Herman Field, we have a play area expansion.
When was the Phase I done there? Is that '93?
Hoffman: '93 sounds correct.
Andrews: That one's about due.
Hoffman: Preliminary... For a Phase II?
Andrews: Yes, please do. We could pencil in what, $20,000.00? That's typically what
they're running now? Do we want to move that one up one year or not? Well, let's pencil it
in and we can come back and cut it if it doesn't fit with the rest of our budget. Lake Ann,
we had a big ticket item there. Pencil in for '96 for the shelter, $50,000.00.
.....""
Hoffman: The concept there is continuing to moving Lake Ann Park forward to a full service
capability and evolve that picnic shelter...simple a roof under which you can congregate your
party and take refuge from the weather... But the location which was proposed is that Park
View picnic area. We have...That's the thought behind it. To go back in 1996.
Manders: So this shelter would be, I guess I'm still not sure where.
Hoffman: Where it would be?
Roeser: Where and what?
Hoffman: Lake Ann essentially...Highway 5 and the lake. The trail to Greenwood Shores.
As you drive in the entrance road and...parking lot in this configuration. There's a turn
around by the beach. On top of that hill there's another parking lot. Right on top of this hill,
above the beach, the park view picnic tables. ...this parking lot. It's called Park View Picnic
area. Right now there's no water services up there...large grill for those community picnics.
18
""""'"
,.....
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Company picnics. Many of them choose to, many of these organizations choose to bring up a
tent... It's also a location which the fireworks are viewed annually and so the concept here is
to put some kind of shelter in...
Andrews: What does everybody think of that?
Manders: I'm not sure I like that idea.
Roeser: I'm not sure either that I'd like a building on top of that hill.
Manders: I guess I've not really looked at it close enough to see if I'd like it there.
Berg: I've been up there fireworks.
Roeser: Oh sure, we'll be up there for fireworks. It's just looks out. It's a great view.
Berg: I'd like to go out and take a look at it.
,.....
Hoffman: Yeah, the future improvements there which are, as the park continues to mature,
the other parking lot which comes off and goes down to the beach, the parking lot which is
up here was a design element which unfortunately takes up the nicest vista from anywhere in
the park. This particular hill here provides just a beautiful view, both down to the river
valley and then back out to Lake Ann. ...and then the other element, which is a major cost
item would be replacing this building, the number one if you would, contribution of ideas
from our softball players is to put a meaningful park shelter building in that location.
Manders: With a concession type stand or something.
Hoffman: With concessions and with real bathrooms. So you'd have a similar type shelter
with fronting underneath would be covered for picnic tables and then you would have a
concession area off of that. You'd also incorporate restrooms and storage in this building.
Andrews: Just a typical half million dollar building.
Hoffman: Typical and expensive building, yes. Concessions are expensive. This is similar
to what Chaska has in many of their community sites so when softball players go down to
play at Chaska, if you've been down to their athletic park, Frontier Park...somewhat of a
prototype building in this configuration and that and a design element and the architectural
features and the materials have been...that building anywhere from $100,000.00 up to
$250,000.00. That's what the park shelter building at the Bluff Creek
~
19
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
....,,;'
Elementary ...$240,000.00. It would be anywhere from there on down. I would think about
$100,000.00 would be about a minimum.
Andrews: I put the dollars into the calculator here but I agree. I'd like to see that spot. I'm
a little hesitant to plop a building up there. I start feeling like we're just paving over our park
and I'm a little hesitant about doing that. When you say that companies have come in here
and put up tents, I think great. Here we've got a multi-use space. It's open if you want it to
be open but if somebody has to have a picnic that they've got to get off and make sure it
goes, they can get a tent. It hasn't been an item I've heard a lot come from you as to people
saying geez, we've got to have this so. We just spent a ton on that other pavilion, which is
right next to it. Is that getting used heavily?
Hoffman: Absolutely.
Manders: The question really is, if we're going to put something up there, do you put it up
and make it more accessible for softball or the ballfields, or do you put up this which isn't
accessible. I don't think it'd be a question that either would get used a lot. You'd get the
reservations for both. The question really is, do we even want to put it in that spot.
Andrews: I'd like to look at that. I put it into the dollars just to give us a running total.
--'
Resident: ...little bit of input here. At one of the meetings I attended over the last several
months here, and I know Chris Polster from CAA came forward and said that he would very
much like to work with the Park Commission here in developing plans and development some
type of plan to work better...future direction of Chanhassen. I know that from dealing with
my favorite experience, scheduling the softball and they have baseball leagues, is a very
difficult process and I don't know what the answer is there but I would very much suggest
that the group, or maybe Todd contact Chris Polster and get his input there and what they feel
their needs might be. I don't know if that needs putting up more lights or developing more
ball space but there's a real high demand for that type of recreation. And I don't know if it
comes into Lake Ann or not but that's kind...
Andrews: October 17th. Write that date down. That's the referendum date to buy more
space and develop Bandimere, which would provide more ballfields too so.
Hoffman: ...commission and the 1995 park task force...and Chairman Andrews is correct.
The Bandimere question will go on there most likely and the development of Bandimere city
park. Then one of the other issues which was discussed, was the Athletic Association and
their needs and their requests that...for additional support from staff and youth coordinators...
Everybody's very happy that Bluff Creek Elementary is going to come on line. At the request
20
--'
,....
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
from the association over the years...improve Lake Ann Park have been well received by the
Park Commission and... I think it's a real policy question...
Andrews: I certainly think this idea about concession building, which we're talking about for
maybe '97, that should certainly have some input from the various groups that use it. I mean
first of all we want to make sure it serves our needs but second of all, we certainly would not
want to deprive them of a chance of funding either. You never know. If we were at a point
saying that $100,000.00 is our budget. We're not willing to spend anymore and therefore we
can't provide these certain amenities, I mean a group may say geez. If we can raise our own
money, would you be willing to put it in? I'm sure then we'd want to talk.
Resident: Okay. Appreciate it. Thanks.
Hoffman: Lake Ann...
Andrews: What happened to the farm house, or that still stays, right?
,.....
Hoffman: The farm house will stay. The entrance to the park will be modified.
Reconfigured so the road will stop at the farm entrance...
Andrews: Lake Susan. That one's pretty much set, isn't it?
Hoffman: Yeah. In the...before you exactly what it was. You have a contribution of
$10,000.00, which has been on the table for over, well it's been about a year now since last
August.
Roeser: Is that from the Legion or where is that money coming from?
Hoffman: It's from the Park Commission to start the...in regards to lighting. Ballfield
lighting, so it's your...contribution so if anyone else would like to pick that up.
Andrews: Are we talking about $40,000.00-$50,000.00 was it?
Hoffman: $50,000.00-$60,000.00.
Berg: Does the Legion...
Hoffman: We've talked to the Legion and it simply takes the coordination of all these
projects. Just as your opportunities to finance things are limited...
r
21
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
"""'"
Andrews: You hire an independent contractor on a commission basis to chase down one.
Part of me says we ought to squeeze the pot for more money to encourage somebody to jump
in it but the other side says let's wait. Wait for some response before we do that...
Roeser: Why an archery range twice on there?
Hoffman: They...and we could simply move into that...Those were purchased as a capital
expense.. .
Andrews: Meadow Green, the refurbishment. Is that done?
Hoffman: Playground refurbishment is done.
Andrews: Okay. Any other things that we need there?
Hoffman: ...real concern about parking.
Andrews: Too much or too little?
Hoffman: Very little parking. Too people parking in the street.
"""'"
Berg: It's probably down to...and then they cut thr<>ugh.
Hoffman: Well that's been somewhat eliminated by that fence...clarify that. And as I talked
with this caller and it seems more of a policy. There's not much room to add parking. We
could add more asphalt...
Andrews: How many slots do we have there?
Hoffman: It's a large parking lot.
Manders: Probably about 20.
Andrews: That's enough.
Berg: It's the biggest parking area for a neighborhood park that we've got.
Andrews: You don't want it to be destination parking. For big events because that's what
will happen.
22
....",
,.... Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Manders: The biggest problem is that it is used. I mean it's a scheduled area so you have a
lot of people coming there viewing their kids doing whatever they're doing.
Roeser: Yeah, and that lasts for a couple hours and then it's.
Berg: My bias says more and more trees for Meadow Green.
Andrews: More trees?
Berg: More trees.
Andrews: How much do we put in for that? $2,000.00 for trees. We're at 96.5, including
Lake Ann pavilion and the $20,000.00 contingency so we're in very good shape.
Minnewashta Boulevard Park. I think we need to stock some money into this one. This
would be another thing where I think we need like a contingency block just to go in there.
We've got a potential building reclamation project. We're got park design issues.
Roeser: What about the cost of knocking the house and the barn down?
.,-...,
Andrews: That's part of purchasing. Well now we've got to budget the money for dealing
with that round house, one way or the other. If we knock it down, it's our money. If we
keep it, it's our money. So I think we need some pretty major dollars here. What have we
got left here?
Berg: Well this is preliminary.
Hoffman: $110,000.00. For comparison, the Herman Field Park project, if you remember
back 4 or 5 years ago, you have about the same. You have a raw tract of land and you have
to have an entrance road, parking lot and the initial improvements. That was carried out at
Herman Field 4 or 5 years ago for $50,000.00...initial contract, engineering and design and
contingent costs above that but at $60,000.00... This is a bigger project.
Andrews: This is nowhere near where I live but this is one that I think we ought to really hit
it. It's a piece of property that we've waited forever to get. How would people feel about
like $70,000.00?
Roeser: I just wrote that down.
Manders: I guess I don't have a perspective on need. I mean I know there's a need there but
how much?
,.....,
23
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
......"l
Andrews: There's basically no open space recreational facility available for anybody on that
side of Lake Minnewashta.
Hoffman: There's a need and the question's been asked over and over of staff. I've postured
my response. I say well, the commission and the city have just made a very big investment
and they may just not be willing to come right back...
Manders: And that's really what I'm saying by need. I'm not suggesting that there isn't an
actual use need out there but just how much of it are we going to develop and jump into
immediately... response.
Roeser: Yeah, what you're telling them is good. That we're making a big investment just
buying it.
Andrews: Lower expectations. Just because we throw a block of money in a district, doesn't
mean we would have any for next year so.
Manders: So what minimal kinds of things are required? I mean I'm not talking playgrounds
and ballfields right away or whatever. I mean what does it take to get the park a park?
Roeser: No, but like the barn could be somewhat of a liability if you leave it stand.
.....""
Hoffman: That will come down.
Roeser: Yeah, it has to come down.
Hoffman: The initial improvements would be site grading, which are not included in the first
grading. The city can grade that.
Manders: That, seeding, trees. Those kind of things.
Hoffman: The parking lots, trails.
Manders: Exactly. How much does that take?
Hoffman: Bringing in water into the site.
Andrews: We'll drop 70 in the blink of an eye out there.
Manders: Well I'm sure we will.
24
"""*"
,... Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Andrews: But the thing is too, if you've got the right kind of equipment out there knocking
buildings down, you can do the, rough some grading too while they're there. If you're using
bulldozers.
Hoffman: The owner's responsibility. All they want to do is knock that stuff down all the
way and say here.
Andrews: I'd just like to call it development grant. $70,000.00.
Manders: Yeah. I mean that's fine.
Andrews: If we're not ready for it this year, it's held in the budget for a future year.
Berg: ...look at that pavilion or whatever we're calling it at Lake Ann to transfer some of that
$50,000.00 to add to the 70.
Andrews: We could. I mean I'd like to look at that idea first and then decide but.
,... Berg: My sense is if people see that things are being graded and trees are being put in,
they'll be happy with that for a while. At least they'll see there's some movement.
Andrews: And I look at the pavilion at Lake Ann as, you know it's a nice addition but we
don't have to have it to have things work out. I guess I agree. If I were going to say
something, boy it'd be nice to really put the money over to this side.
Berg: It was enough of a priority that we've been putting it into a contingency fund for years
to acquire the property. It probably should be a priority to...
Andrews: How do you feel about that?
Meger: I'm comfortable with that. I'd still like to go out and look.
Andrews: Let's go out and look and make a decision but I guess I'm kind of leaning the
same way, which is to say let's divert the money to Minnewashta and really go after that. I'll
put $70,000.00 in.
Hoffman: As I think about it, it's wise. We often have where we come upon the issue where
we want to start initial development. The end of the summer we want to have playground
and grass and it hasn't happened. So you start the basic things, initial development in '96 and
in '97 and '98...and finish the park up. Really we know that it's a 3 to 5 year process by the
~
25
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
--'
time you pick out a piece of ground and you started making improvements before you have a
park.
Andrews: Well it's nice to have some action too. This has been a 6 year project.
Minnewashta Heights. Nothing happening there. Pardon me?
Hoffman: It's in pretty good shape.
Manders: Is that one over, next to Shorewood?
Hoffman: On the south side of Highway 7.
Roeser: Oh, that little tiny thing, right?
Manders: Where those trees were that they were trying to re-arrange the ballfield.
Hoffman: That's on Cathcart. That's on the north side of TH 7. That's Shorewood's park in
Chanhassen. They...we've got the ground.
Manders: And this is where?
-'
Hoffman: South of Highway 7. It's actually five residential lots, which were taken out of the
plat. So it's right there on the south side.
Manders: It's a fairly new thing then?
Hoffman: No, it's been there for years. 20 years. It's on Dogwood.
Berg: Does it have anything there?
Hoffman: Oh yeah. It's got a nice skating rink in the winter. Nice big playground
equipment, which has been refurbished in the center of the site.
Manders: We've probably been through there and I just.
Roeser: We drive by it.
Manders: Have we been through there?
Hoffman: As I drive, I've pointed to it.
26
-'
IfII"" Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Manders: Oh, it's over there thing...
Hoffman: The only question on there is, on an annual basis is should we or should we not
spend the money to drive all the way up there and dump a bunch of water for an ice skating
rink so.
Roeser: It's right by a lake.
Andrews: Let's move on to North Lotus. The hockey rink with lights is happening as we
speak, isn't it?
Hoffman: Yep.
Manders: Is that what that action is up there?
Andrews: Yeah, my wife called me in a panic wondering who's destroying the park.
Roeser: You said you were.
JIll"""
Andrews: Yep. There's nothing more that needs to be done there. That's been ambitiously
developed over the last few years.
Berg: There's plenty of soccer fields?
Andrews: Well there's one there you can use...yeah, you need a little open space too. Plus
there's not the parking and the neighbors go nuts so. Pheasant Hill. That one just got a
pretty big hit this year. Probably looking at what, '97 or '98 for expansion on that one? I'd
say probably '98.
Hoffman: They're pretty happy.
Andrews: Yep, yep. They're happy for now.
Hoffman: Pretty darn happy.
Andrews: Power Hill. I'd like to look at the trail for the upper hill.
Roeser: Yeah, I've got to look at that too. I didn't understand exactly what she was talking
about.
,......
27
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
...."
Meger: What's the cost of tiling again?
Andrews: We're going to look at that in the spring. If it were my money, I wouldn't do it. I
look at low probability of good results.
Manders: I just have a problem with that lower area, spending too much money on it.
There's no parking down there.
Roeser: Leave it alone. Let the kids play on it.
Manders: Yep, that's my feeling.
Andrews: Please drain all our sump water out of here for us...okay. I'd like to look at that
one as a separate item. We'll have contingency money next year. If we think it's worthy,
we'll do it. If it's not, we'll pass on it. I would like to look at that trail as a potential item.
That one we could hide in contingency money too?
Hoffman: Pretty nice project.
Andrews: I don't want to commit budget dollars to it without looking at it. Let's put that as
something to look at and I guess I'd say, at this point I'm not willing to say commit dollars
without at least knowing what's there. Maybe that's a '97 item.
---"
Roeser: Yeah, we stuck quite a bit of money in that park.
Berg: Into contingency.
Andrews: Okay, that's fine.
Roeser: Where's Prairie Knoll?
Andrew: Prairie Knoll.
Hoffman: It's on Powers. It's $10,000.00 is not in here in '95 but that was...
Andrews: So it has yet to get a Phase I or is that the Phase II?
Hoffman: It has yet to even be developed.
Andrews: We weren't intending to develop that one, were we?
28
...,.,
"'"
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
(There was a tape change at this point in the discussion.)
Roeser: Where is that park?
Manders: Is it off Galpin? Off that way.
Hoffman: Yeah. We planted a bunch of trees there this year. As you cross Highway 5 and
head on down Powers, and then you've got the Lake Susan pond and the new townhomes that
are going in at the corner. The first road that goes up into Lake Susan. Lake Susan is here.
There's two farm fields left. One is right on this corner and going to be, that will be
townhomes. The next piece of open space is the park. It goes right like this and then has a
little stub that comes in and you've got...So the trail access to Duck Court, which will be
constructed. The trail stubs right into here and then it will go, the new trail on Powers and
the plans says that there should be a piece of play equipment right here and that's it for the
development of that park. And then as far as the tree planting program, we planted a big
band of seedlings in this area so it's all grass right now and the idea is to reforest it. You
have houses that back up to the entire thing.
,....
Berg: Those are Joe Miller's?
Hoffman: Yep, Joe Miller's. And then these houses would benefit from this open space.
Just being there is open space and growing some trees up and buffering them from Powers
Boulevard. The plan is, this was acquired 8-9 years ago so this plan that is on file is 8 or 9
years old.
Andrews: We should make that happen. That's overdue. The $10,000.00, that's not up to
current trusts anymore. $20,000.00? $20,000.00 will buy you $10,000.00 from before.
Hoffman: Well actually the $22,000.00 was tied in to Power Hill Park.
Andrews: Great. $22,000.00. Let's put it in there and see what happens. We're at
$188,500.00 with doing everything so far. Rice Marsh. Oops, there's another one. Is this
one we're going to have to get or is this one we leave alone?
Hoffman: I would recommend we leave it alone but I would like to take a look at the safety
standards for the...to ensure that we're. We don't have some new issues there.
Andrews: Okay. So scratch the 7 but maybe.
Roeser: Then you'll tell us.
""
29
Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
.......,
Hoffman: The other...Prairie Knoll is that the only access you will is from Duck Court.
Andrews: So there's no parking.
Hoffman: No, there's no parking. It's a neighborhood walk through. Through to the
playground and then when this trail system is up and running, people could gain access from
this location. It's in the back yard of a house.
Andrews: It doesn't make sense to put $22,000.00 worth of playground equipment when
nobody can drive a car to use it.
Hoffman: Not without looking at it. Looking at it and taking a look at the plan which is 9
years old.
Andrews: Have they been lining up to get that? They talk about it. Folks, before the trail
was there, as well as Lake Susan Park they said, you know we don't have our playground
equipment at Prairie Knoll Park. We can't get to Lake Susan and so do something.
Meger: Are we going on a field trip before our next meeting?
Hoffman: We could take a look at some of these issues...schedule it.
.......,
Roeser: Yeah, I'd like to look at that.
Andrews: It's getting tougher to put up neighborhood playground equipment if you can't
provide drive up access because the cost is just getting so large. It's going to be almost like
tennis. You've got to have drive to neighborhood playground structures instead of
neighborhood neighborhood play structures. Which doesn't make sense but... Let's leave the
dollar figure in the budget but let's look at that one before we finalize it. Rice Marsh, we're
going to scratch that but you're going to come back and maybe give us a surprise on that one.
South Lotus doesn't need anything. It shouldn't.
Hoffman: No. That park is, other than...! don't like to spend the park commission's dollars
on curbing but, we could probably work with water resources on that or some other
maintenance dollars. The slope of that driveway and turn around area does not control itself
very well during high runoff so we did direct wash out into the lake and so. It was in the
budget some time ago but that was $15,000.00-$20,000.00 that nobody wanted to spend on
curbing when they could spend it on playground equipment.
Andrews: Didn't the city just do a re-work on the water drainage there, like 2 years ago?
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"'" Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Manders: Wasn't there a water quality question there not too long ago?
Hoffman: Yeah. Jack Melby brings that in. It's an ongoing issue. I'll tackle that at a
different angle.
Andrews: Sunset Ridge. I don't remember what that park had planned for it.
Hoffman: It's got a Phase I and Phase II. It has a hockey rink. For the future, when the
frontage road is complete. Parking lot and frontage road is complete. There's a ballfield
sitting on the... There's a road planned.
Andrews: So this is an access problem for this one at this point?
Hoffman: Yeah.
Andrews: Let's wait until we've got access. Stone Creek. Now is that that wooded piece?
Hoffman: Yep. Neighborhood is about 80% filled out.
"'"
Andrews: How about some picnic benches and leave it alone I guess.
Hoffman: Yeah, they're going to want a piece of playground equipment. 80% of the people
that are there, are there.
Andrews: We don't even have a park plan for this thing though.
Hoffman: No. Y ou'll have a park planning seminar or park planning workshop with the
neighborhood this winter so you'll hear from them then.
Manders: I'm not sure where this is at. Where is this?
Hoffman: Stone Creek is off on Galpin Boulevard, south of the school.
Roeser: Way down.
Hoffman: The park is 8 acres of trees and ravine but then there's a piece on the road which
is retained as open space. And there's about 1 acre...
Roeser: How close is this right to that big wetlands, isn't that? Isn't that some of the
proximity or is it on the other side of the road?
,.....
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8. 1995
-""
Hoffman: Other side of the road. Other side of the road. farther south.
Manders: Okay. I got you then.
Andrews: This is on rolling topography with one small flat area that we could use.
Hoffman: All this. at least in my mind scheduled for this is some picnic area and a piece of
playground equipment. That's it.
Andrews: W ell I think we can defer this one until '97 by working out a plan in '96.
Roeser: If we talk to them in '96.
Andrews: Then it's got to happen in '97. Then it does have to happen. So figure about
$25.000,00 in '97. because that's what it will cost by the time we get there.
Hoffman: Yeah. Where do you save? This is a more intriguing concept because it goes
from the top of the hill to the bottom.
Andrews: So we could have some fun with this one. Have you seen that park that
Shorewood built over off of old Market Road there? Is it Market Road that comes off of
Vine Hill and goes up to Highway 7. They've got a piece of some equipment built into the
hillside. They've got a slide and some equipment and a little basketball hoop thing.
-""
Manders: It's off Vine Hill?
Andrews: It's just off of Vine Hill. off of. is it Market Road? So this one actually could cost
more if we do some intriguing things with it so figure what. $30.000.00 for '917 Easy come.
easy go. Is there really any capital budget expense in developing a plan?
Hoffman: Out here?
Andrews: In '96.
Hoffman: In developing Stone Creek?
Andrews: Yeah.
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,.... Park and Rec Commission Meeting - August 8, 1995
Hoffman: No. They've...Hans Hagen Development...full credit and full trail credit for
construction of the trail. And then as a part of the development contract they graded, rough
graded the park so it's...
Andrews: We're at $188,500.00 with everything we've said we definitely want to do, but that
did not include the Rice Lake Park, what if.
Roeser: And you left the 50 grand in for Lake.
Andrews: I left the 50 in but that may be diverted from one place to another. You could...
Manders: What was the what if? I guess I didn't follow.
Andrews: Rice Lake Park with that, if it had to be upgraded or not. So we're within our
potential range, even with a little bit of contingency money.
Manders: That's workable.
,.... Andrews: Pretty close. So why don't you come back to us next time and then we'll see what
that Rice Marsh Lake looks like and we'll go look at a couple places and then I think we can
get this taken care of pretty easily. We've got a lot of fudge actually with the Minnewashta
Park and the pavilion thing. Just adjust those numbers to keep this in line.
Hoffman: The decision on the process is public but there's an indication that...newspaper
informed people of the 1996, is being developed so that may bring more residents in to your
next meeting. So you may receive more resident requests.
Andrews: Oh goody.
Hoffman: It's part of the process.
Andrews: Well, I think we made enough progress. Let's go home. Do we need to adjourn?
Mandel~ moved, Meger seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion
canied. The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Todd Hoffman
Park and Recreation Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
,....
33