PRC 1991 05 21
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CHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 21, 1991
Chairman Schroers called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m..
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jan Lash, Dave Koubsky, Larry Schroers, Curt Robinson,
Wendy Pemrick, Jim Andrews, and Dawne Erhart
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Coordinator
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Robinson moved, Lash seconded to approve the Minutes
of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated April 23, 1991 as
presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
Lash: It just seemed like we missed.
working or we just didn't get the tape
were a couple of areas where Nann said
was a break or something.
I don't know if the equipment wasn't
switched but there seemed like there
either she couldn't hear or there
Hoffman: Yeah. I can't recall if it was this one or one prior but we had
some old tapes mixed in which did not record well. I think that may have
been the last one.
Lash: I think the majority that was missed was about the railroad
right-of-way discussion where a lot of the public comments were not.
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Hoffman: Larry, if I might have a moment. I think it's worthy of an
announcement that the Lake Ann Park shelter building did pass City Council
last evening on a unanimous vote.
Andrews: When do we start?
Hoffman: Probably late July, end of August.
Lash: What kind of a completion do you look at then?
Hoffman: The building itself will be fairly complete by the end of October
and then they'll come back in in the spring and do finishing touches.
Andrews: Will that be the Curt Robinson building?
Lash: Memorial? Oh no.
Hoffman: Discussion went well on it. They took a look at some cost
savings by replacing a large laminated beam with a steel beam encased in a
box to make it look like a fake beam instead. And they took out $2,500.00
in landscape lighting. Other than that, it passed through.
Lash: Was there any discussion on the water, because when we were walking,
went on that hike there was a little discussion of looking at putting in a
well and septic instead of sewer and water. Was that discussed?
Hoffman: Discussion on utilities was the majority of the discussion. It's
~ felt that installation of a well then leaves us potentially with having to
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 2
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check that water, the quality of it and the maintenance of another well
within the city where if we hook up up front, then we have the capacity.
We have the linei to run throughout the park and we have the safe water
there which is already hooked up to the city system.
Lash: Did they have a public hearing?
Hoffman: Not an official public hearing. They wanted to hear comment,
public comment and they felt the publicity received in the Villager, not
one Councilmember received any calls so.
PHEASANT HILL PARK. PRESENTATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SURVEY RESULTS AND PARK
-MASTER- PLAN ALTERNATIVES.
Public Present:
Name
Address
Jim & Doris Mielke
Mary Cordell
David Hughes
1645 Lake Lucy Road
1730 Lake Lucy Lane
1780 Lake Lucy Lane
Hoffman: I'll quickly just run over the results, as you have in your
packets of the neighborhood survey then allow Bruce to present the proposed
park plan. Basically as you can see, the results were not surprising.
They fell into what we know is a typical neighborhood park or what ~.
facilities we typically find in neighborhood parks. Obviously the
essentials of playground equipment and open playfield, totlot structure and
basic other park amenities such as picnic tables and park benches and those
types of things were all at the top. Grouped in the middle were more
intense or indepth type of recreational activities taking larger dollar
amounts and more time to construct those type of things. Basketball court,
tennis court and down towards the bottom were more specialized or less
common park facilities such as the drinking fountains, open picnic shelter
and grills...typically as being found that grills within neighborhood parks
are not necessary as people do their grilling in their own backyard.
Parking down in the lower ranges as is separate skating or hockey rink
essentially because there is a hockey rink located on one of the holding
ponds...that is one of the outlots of the development itself.
Robinson: Todd, what does that average mean?
Hoffman: Average?
Robinson: I expected to see the larger number at the top. What am I doing
wrong?
Lash: I was confused too.
Hoffman: I received that comment from a number of people. As people
ranked this, they ranked their top priority as number 1 or number 2 so
average response is low which means it's ranked high. So an average
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May 21, 1991 - Page 3
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response of 3.93 or essentially 4 means a lot of people ranked that 1, 2,
5, 6 or in the real low range which is one of their top 4 or 5 priorities.
Pemrick: Todd, it says the total responses were 32. Is that the entire
neighborhood? Do you know about how many responses that would be?
Hoffman: That would be about a fourth of which were distributed.
Approximately 120 surveys were distributed. Half a dozen or so straggled
in after the date when this was published so it's probably up to close to
40 responses.
Robinson: which isn't real good is it?
Hoffman: .. .120 in that area. It still gives a good representation which
is not unusual.
Robinson: True but it also almost shows you a lack of interest, a whole
lot of interest by 2/3 of the people.
Hoffman: Or in excess of that. Bruce, would you like to go through and
run down the proposed park plan.
Bruce Chamberlain: We lost the easel. What I think I'll do, once I start
describing the master plan I'll just hold it up like this. I just want to
go over a few of the objectives of the park initially. As Todd was just
speaking, there was a neighborhood survey done and we tried to include as
many of the park amenities that were identified on that survey in the park
as were possible. There were constraints in the park given the topography
of the area and we tried to use that as much of a benefit as possible. So
you'll see that as I describe the master plan. We also wanted to build
safety into the park, as is the case with any neighborhood park or any
public park. We also wanted to take advantage of the natural
characteristics of the site. There's some really very unique
characteristics of this site and this can be a really fantastic park and I
think they got a great amenity there and something they can really be proud
of sometime in the future. The unique opportunities in this neighborhood
park are we have an opportunity to connect the north side of the
neighborhood with the south side through this park. It's in kind of a
central location so we have that kind of unique opportunity to use it as a
coming together point. Kind of a destination point and also to make that
connection from the north to the south. It serves a dual function because
the natural characteristics of the park. It's 11.6 acres so we do have
quite a bit of space to work with for a neighborhood park and there's room
enough for plenty of active recreational facilities as well as more natural
habitat areas and natural recreation, passive recreation areas. Why don't
I go through the, I'll describe the park at this point. It's going to be
hard to show everyone but I'll show it to the folks in the audience after
we get done reviewing it. I'll talk about the recreational amenities
first. We tried to congolmerate the recreational facilities on the north
side of the park. There are several reasons for that. One is that the
topography is most conducive to any recreational facilities in this area of
the park. There's quite a large, fairly level play area in this area and
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 4
there's another kind of plateau in this region of the park right here and
there is another plateau that's the highest plateau of the three in this
region right here. It's kind of a little knoll. Just to orient yourself,
wood Duck Lane is right up here on the top. Lake Lucy Lane is right here
and Lake Lucy Road is right here and curves down to the south. Just to
give you an orientation. As I talked about the connection between the
south and the north, what we did is create a bituminous trail. A paved
trail all the way from Lake Lucy Road or Lake Lucy Lane, winding through
the park all the way up to Wood Duck Lane. I don't know if you know but
there's a right-of-way, an easement between the two lots off of Wood Duck
Lane that allow for a trail or actually is originally a road easement.
There's plenty of space there to allow a trail access to Wood Duck Lane.
Along that paved trail we tried to locate the facilities. So the trail was
laid out in a way 'that would allow people to get to the facilities that are
in the park. One is the open play field. Another is a tennis court area.
Another is a tot lot or playground area. These things are all fairly
malable. They can be adjusted. At this point there's one tennis court
that's included in the park but we did some grading experiments and there's
plenty of space for a second tennis court area. That's a wish to expand so
there's a possibly of two tennis court areas. We've included two half
court basketball courts on the tennis court so they'd be overlaying this
tennis court right here. And if the second tennis court were added, the
basketball courts would be rearranged to take more advantage so there could
be someone playing tennis and basetball at the same time. In this
configuration, either someone is playing basketball or tennis. It's
impossible to play both at the same time. But I think that's probably the
most efficient way to use the pavement surface that we've got. As far as
the open play field, there's opportunity in the future and if the
neighborhood desires, to include an aggregate infield and backstop.
There's enough open space and we can level it out enough and do some
grading to allow for a backstop in this area right here with the field
pointing towards the southeast. The tot lot and play structure is in this
area, the highest knoll of the site. And on the plan it is shown in a way
that tries to take advantage of the natural topography. Kind of winds
around that knoll a little bit and there would be a grade change through
the center of the tot lot and playground area. So there'd be either a ramp
or steps from the lower area to the upper. And the play structure would
be connected between the two so there would be connection all the way along
that area. There are two picnic areas included in the park master plan.
One is in this area to take advantage of any activities that are happening
on the totlot and playground area. Another picnic area is in this area to
focus on the open playfield. The sand volleyball court is right here and
these amenities,' the picnic area in this area, sand volleyball court and
the open play area are all fairly conducive to one another. There are a
few benches that are located along the paved trail. They can be really
located anywhere but it was our feeling that they would be most appropriate
if they could be overlooking a play area so one is near the open playfield.
Another is in, actually it's up in the forested area. The parking we
brought off of Lake Lucy Lane and in conversations with Todd and Charles,
the City Engineer, we decided that the most appropriate way to bring
parking into the park is from the south and we have a 250 foot setback from
Lake Lucy Road for the park entry point which is at this point. At that
point it curves in and goes up a slight incline and kind of rests on a
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Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 5
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little plateau area. So there'd be a bermed area that's higher than the
parking lot in this area to screen the home in this area and it'd be higher
than the wetland area so there's no chance of any flooding possibilities.
So it's kind of mid-range as far as the low point of the park to the high
point. At that point, anyone who is parking in the park can jump on the
trail and head up to the more active areas. As far as the more natural
amenities to the park, what we tried to do is use vegetation as a tool,
both to kind of create enclosure within the active areas of the park and
also use it to make the most out of any vistas that are existing in the
park. So what I have done here is include a mowed grass trail that's
winding through the natural areas of the park and crosses into the more
active amenities right through here. And I've proposed that this is a real
opportunity, if the city and if the residents so desire, to do some real
fantastic habitat restoration. By that I mean prairie restoration, forest
restoration and some savannah type of restoration. There are kind of three
different habitat types and from the comments that we got from the
neighborhood at the last meeting, it seemed that they're very interested in
the wildlife in the area. One way to mitigate the loss of the quantity of
habitat in Chanhassen is to improve the quality. So one way to do that is
to create some habitat restoration areas like this. So that's a real
opportunity in this park, if you so desire. So I wanted to put it out
there and make sure you knew that the possibility is there. Even if the
habitat is not restored, I would recommend that same vegetation types and
cover and pattern be used because it does take advantage of the vistas that
are happening up here to the lower areas. Plus it's a nice transition zone
from the parking area as you walk through up into the more active areas of
the park. I think that covers it. I'll take questions.
Erhart: How about the Class B wetland? Was there any talk about changing
it to a Class A like Eric brought up? Is that possible?
Bruce Chamberlain: Well I called the DNR on that because I wanted to see
what their position was. The position that they take is that if a Class B
wetland, or any wetland has been altered in some way due to our work or
road building or whatever, then they will condone it's restoration to what
it was before. If the wetland is in it's natural state, then they do not
condone any change.
Erhart: So this is a natural state Class B?
Bruce Chamberlain: Well yeah it is. Given the site constraints, it is.
Schroers: I have two questions. The parking lot. At this point have you
designated it for a particular number of vehicles?
Bruce Chamberlain: Yes, 6. There's a 6 car parking lot in this area.
Schroers: Okay. And do you anticipate that grading in the northern half
will have any affect on the current natural amenities in the south?
,....
Bruce Chamberlain: No, I don't. What would happen is that a lot of the
grading that would take place within the recreational areas on the north,
the grading changes will happen within this green area. Within the
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May 21, 1991 - Page 6
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recreation areas. So a lot of the grading that will happen here will
impinge on this area up here. A lot of the grading that will happen here
will impinge on some of this area up here. So there's not a lot of the
grading that will spillover into the more natural areas of the park.
Robinson: Would the initial grading, would you propose that it accommodate
a backstop and another tennis court, whether or not we decide to do that
right now?
Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah.
away when you do the park
it's a whole lot easier.
at a later date.
I would recommend that. That it be graded right
because if you get the grading in place, then
You don't have to disturb the vegetation sometime
Andrews: From the backstop out to where the sandlot volleyball would be,
would that present a distance problem as far as somebody being injured
chasing after a fly ball?
Bruce Chamberlain: No. It's 280 feet from the backstop area to the sand
volleyball court.
Andrews: Plenty of distance then. Another question would be, with the
totlot. Is that so heavily wooded that we would want to have some sort of
electrical service there for an arc light or something for evening
lighti ng?
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Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah. If you think evening lighting or evening use is
a priority, then I think that's.
Andrews: Most of our totlots are very highly visible, open areas and this
one is going to be one that's not so visible. We might want something with
bett~r visibility.
Bruce Chamberlain: I guess visibility from the homes, you're right. Isn't
very, they're not visible from any homes. But I would guess that anyone
who's using the park can have clear visibility if they're watching over
their children. If they're in the park itself,. then they've got clear
visibility from any of the active areas within the park. But yeah, I
understand your point. That may be a concern.
Lash: I guess I would like to see some of the benches in that area also.
When people take their kids to play.
Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah, there are two benches proposed in the totlot
area. There's 5 benches total. 3 are along the paths and 2 are in the
totlot area. 5 picnic tables in the 2 separate picnic areas.
Schroers: We can take comment from the residents or the public as soon as
we're done here. Are there any more commissioner questions or comments?
Robinson: It's heavily wooded in the northeast area. What about the rest
in the northwest? Any trees in that area?
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May 21, 1991 - Page 7
Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah. You can see that the trees are included as a
screening material in the northwest area to screen it from some of the
residents areas in this area.
Robinson: I mean currently are there?
Bruce Chamberlain: Oh currently?
Robinson: Yeah.
Bruce Chamberlain: There is a slight, very little vegetation right here in
the very northwest corner. There's some vegetation right down here but as
far as this area, it's fairly open within the park. Although just beyond
the park boundary it's fairly heavily wooded in this area. So at this
point there is some vegetation outside the park boundary.
Lash: So this is, you're not anticipating a lot of disruption in the
current vegetation to do this?
,....
Bruce Chamberlain: No. Actually what it would do, I don't know if you've
been out to see the park but there are quite a few dead trees in the area
so it would mean revegetating some of the areas. Revegetating with over
story in the forested areas. In other words, planting in more trees to
make it look more dense and then as the overstory builds itself up, the
understory will kind of take care of itself. With birds dropping seeds and
what not. So that will kind of vegetate itself. So the forested areas
would have a fairly dense understory. A wild, wooded area. The savannah
area would have a prairie understory with a few trees scattered around as
you can see in the plan. It would make management. It's not something,
I guess the proposal for the natural areas isn't something that can be
left. In order to maintain the appearance and the aesthetic it creates, it
would take management. Not nearly as heavy a management as the recreation
area but it would take some work.
Schroers: Anything else? Is there any residents that have any questions
or concerns regarding this plan?
Jim Mielke: I've got one question. I'm Jim Mielke.
Lucy Road on the south side. The 6 car parking area
that as the only parking that the park users will be
envision any along street parking on that north park
ballfields and stuff?
I live across Lake
there, do you envision
using? You don't
there with the
Bruce Chamberlain: Up here?
Jim Mielke: Yeah.
Bruce Chamberlain: Well at the last meeting there were several residents
here who were fairly strongly opposed to any parking or any parking entry,
a road entry into the park at this point so we tried to take their concerns
into heart. We proposed, since this is a more heavily used and less
~ residential road, to bring the parking in from the south side.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 8
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Jim Mielke:
sometimes is
The reason I
east of that
I know what you proposed but
not what you proposed. What
ask that is there is part of
park .'
what people actually use
people are going to be doing.
the housing development to the
Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah, right down here.
Jim Mielke: And the ballfields and picnic areas are going to be quite an
attraction for those people to come up here and use the park. I can
envision you know...ballgames or whatever. So I was just wondering, will
the city permit parking along Lake Lucy Lane in case the parking lot is
full ?
..
Hoffman: That would be determined at some future date. Ideally, or
typically the residents feel it's not ideal but in that area it would
either need to be determined whether we would post no parking signs or not.
It's done in many other areas adjacent to parks and would be an issue to
wrestle with at a later time.
Schroers: I think right now it is not posted for no parking. It is
alright to park there currently and Lake Lucy Lane does not support nearly
the traffic that Lake Lucy Road does. I guess that I really wouldn't see a
problem with overflow parking along there. I wouldn't advocate advertising
that but let people just determine that more or less on their own.
Hoffman: It would typically be one of those wait and see type of ~
situations. No need to jump in there and mark the street no parking if the
problem is not going to occur.
Robinson: How far is that big development? How far away is that from the
park? By Lake Lucy Road there.
Lash: Because they have their own park.
Hoffman: It's proposed for Curry Farms Park, right. They have a
neighborhood park within that development.
Schroers: Also with a very few exceptions, the neighborhood parks are
nearly all pedestrian type traffic. We have a couple of exceptions. Help
me with the name right down below Kerber here Todd.
Hoffman: Meadow Green?
Schroers: Meadow Green, right. But Meadow Green has two developmed
ballfields that are used for practice and that sort of thing so there is
more drive-in traffic there. But other neighborhood parks basically have
more pedestrian.
Doris Mielke: My comment probably has nothing to do with parks and recs
but we live across the road on Lake Lucy Road and just around the curve.
That is a terrible place for kids on the south side to cross over to get to
the park and I've been working with Scott Harr and...put a stop sign on
Lake Lucy Road where Lake Lucy Lane comes in or a speed bump or something
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~ Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 9
because we've got cars just flying by. So I guess I'm real concerned about
the safety of kids that cross Lake Lucy, and myself crossing Lake Lucy Road
to get to that park. I guess...
Hoffman: Public Safety Commission.
Bruce Chamberlain: Just a comment on that. If there were eventually in
the future a stop sign included on that road, that would be the typical or
logical place to put a crosswalk that would connect with the trail in the
park.
Mary Cordell: My name is Mary Cordell and I live across from the park
virtually. 1730 Lake Lucy Lane. We're up on a hill overlooking the
parkland. It was my understanding from the last meeting that the parking
situation, what I understood is that it was going to be primarily or just
sort of informal parking along Lake Lucy Lane. How did it develop into a
parking lot?
,.,..
Bruce Chamberlain: Todd and myself and Charles, the City Engineer, talked
about this issue a lot. We decided that, well there's really a couple of
reasons. I'll talk about the psychological reason first. One is that if
we designated on street parking, a wide shoulder along Lake Lucy Lane,
there might be a psychological connection for people to drive up to Wood
Duck Lane and assume they can park along Wood Duck Lane also. And the
residents in that area I think probably wouldn't like that very well. We
can post it.
Mary Cordell: I don't like it.
Bruce Chamberlain: Yeah, yeah, I understand. But from a safety standpoint
also, I think in an area where the homes are fairly spread out, we do have
a neighborhood to the south and a neighborhood to the north and the lots
are fairly large and the neighborhood is fairly spread out. There's also
an obligation to provide some type of parking area that's kind of a safe
haven so to speak for people'to drive into, unload their gear, their kids.
Things like that and then move on.
(A portion of the discussion was missed during this portion of the meeting
due to the tape running out.)
Lash moved, Andrews seconded to approve the Pheasant Hills Park plan as
presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
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Pa,k and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 10
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VISITOR PRESENTATIONS:
LAUREN HUNTINGTON. MINNEWASHTA HEIGHTS PARK.
Public Present:
Name
Address
Lau,en Huntington
Susan Hickey
6300 Dogwood Avenue
6301 Elm Tree Avenue
Lau,en Huntington: Yes, good evening. Lau,en Huntington and I've lived in
the Minnewashta Heights a,ea now fo, 2 years. I just wanted to b,ing to
the attention the park that is in on the co,ne" the playg,ound equipment
that's the,e is p,etty ,ough in shape. I guess it was put in befo,e safety
standa,ds were really a main issue. The neighborhood has kind of made a
big change around in the last couple years. There's a lot of little kids
now in the neighborhood and there's no protec~ion under the playg,ound
equipment. It's like 3 feet off the ground. The wood itself, a lot of
splinte,s coming f,om it. The,e's no sand in the sandbox. It just needs
some major updating. The skating ,ink is wonde,ful. It's used mo,e now
than it has in the past because of the change a,ound in the neighbo,hood
but the outdoo, equipment needs, I think it just needs new equipment put in
fo, smalle, kids.
Sch,oe,s: Can I ask. How many child,en typically are using that a,ea? ~
Now we've discussed that park in the past and to be pe,fectly honest, one
of the things that we had a problem, we didn't know about, was how much use
there is in the a,ea.
Lauren Huntington: I think it's been used a lot. I don't take my daughter
the,e ,ight now because it's just too dange,ous to take he,. She's 2 and
she can't even go down the slide unless I'm standing the,e catching he, at
the bottom. If she falls off, she's not going to hit any g,ass. The
skating ,ink is getting used more because there's mo,e kids.
Sch,oe,s: It was ou, imp,ession, maybe mistakably but that the Minnewashta
Heights a,ea is an area that had been the,e for some time and we thought
that the age g,oup of the child,en in the a,ea was p,obably exceeding the
totlot stage.
Lau,en Huntington: I think if you've looked, within the last few yea,s,
I mean the houses have been going up fo, sale and changing hands very, ve,y
rapidly. The,e a,e, I would guess, on our block alone.
Susan Hickey: I'm a mothe" I have two p,eschoole,s. On our block alone,
I live on the block next door to Lauren. I'm right behind he,. The,e are
othe, families on that block who's children are unde, the age of 5.
The,e's a house that just sold ac,oss the st,eet from us that the people
who bought it have a 4 yea, old daughte,.
Lauren Huntington: It's changed. When we moved in 3 years ago, it was
conside,ed an olde, neighbo,hood.
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May 21, 1991 - Page 11
Schroers: I think that was our general impression.
Lauren Huntington: It was. And when we moved in I saw nobody at the park.
I mean Ellie and I were always there by ourselves. Now there's, I think
there'd be a lot more people if the playground was updated. It's a pretty
little park... It's a nice sized park I think to... I guess I'd like to
see new equipment and maybe an undersurface put in.
Schroers: I think we definitely need to address any immediate safety
concerns. We can direct staff to have the park maintenance people look
into what immediate safety concerns there are and then I think that we
probably have to look at our proposed budget and see what we can do in
regards to replacing the equipment.
Lauren Huntington: Yeah, I thought maybe we could get an undersurface put
in, maybe large enough to... That's my main concern that the bottom of the
slide right now...life threatening but the bottom of the slide can be
pretty far.
Schroers: Okay. Well thank you very much for making us aware of that.
,.....
Hoffman: During our park inventory visits this spring, it was consensus of
staff that that equipment is not the type of equipment that you'd look to
an addition to or expansion of. It's past that useable life portion. It's
a piece of equipment that we need to limp along with and try to make it
through until it's deemed necessary to go ahead and replace it. Now the
installation of resillient surfacing and the borderwood is something which
should realistically be squeezed into the 1991 budget. Take some dollars
from somewhere. Reallocate them to install that surface. We're being
aware of it at this point, we're not addressing it if we don't go ahead and
do that.
Andrews: Todd, I noticed on the agenda there's some reduction of the
development of South Lotus Lake Park. Does that free up monies that could
be reallocated specifically from?
Hoffman: No. That change strictly deals with the master plan, not
budgeted items in 1991.
Schroers: Is this something Todd that we can just direct toward
maintenance as a project that needs to be done without taking a formal
action as far as just applying the needed amount of surfacing under the
slide and addressing other safety actions or safety situations just as more
of a normal means of the maintenance operation?
Hoffman: I would still need some action from the commission to go ahead
and coordinate that with them. It's going to take $1,500.00-$2,000.00 to
go ahead and purchase and install a large enough blur area which will then
suffice in future years when new equipment or expanded equipment would be
installed. The issues about taking out the splinters or attempting to do
some sanding, that's just routine maintenance which can be completed.
~ Other than that, currently the slide exits right out onto the dirt surface
and the remainder of the play equipment sits on a dirt surface.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 12
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Schroers: Can we ask then that staff come back at the next meeting with a
proposal of cost and the other amenities or changes that we would like to
make currently and also where we might be able to appropTiate the funds
from?
Hoffman: We certainly could do that. Otherwise we could just take a few
short minutes tonight and just page through the 1991 budget and probably
come up with that. I would think it's going to be approximately $1,500.00
for that.
Schroers: Do you have that information with you?
Hoffman: Sure do. In every budget year, last year $175,000.00 was
budgeted. Just over $50,000.00 was expended so this year we're going to be
much tighter than that. We're going to be much closer to our budgeted
amount but there are some leeway. Things don't get done at one park for a
variety of reasons and to find $1,500.00 within this would be fairly easy,
if you want me to bring back specifics.
Schroers: Tonight's agenda is really probably rather short. I think that
we're going to get through it pretty good. I hate to put things off when
we can get something accomplished right now. If that's okay with the rest
of the people, that's have at it.
Andrews: I think we definitely have to prioritize safety above new
development. If we want to make a motion right now to allocate $1,500.00 ~
to provide necessary safety construction at that site, I think that would
be a good thing to do.
Schroers: Can we leave it up to staff to determine the best location to
acquire the funds?
Hoffman: You sure can. It will essentially fallout in the end of the
year budget. We can go in and attack something right now for $1,500.00 and
it may be switched at some other time.
Schroers: Do you feel that the $1,500.00 figure will address the current
needs?
Hoffman: Yes. To purchase border wood and pea gravel, that will take care
of it.
Lash: Do you have a project in mind? A budget area there that's coming to
your mind right away of where the money could come from?
Hoffman: One that comes to mind on the first page at Lake Ann is the
nature trail. We had $4,000.00 budgeted. The trail was cleared at
virtually no cost. We had minor rental of equipment. We're taking a look
at aggregate but $4,000.00 will not allow for paving of that trail. And if
we install aggregate at this time, upgrade the surface at a minimal level
but at some year down the future we can go ahead and put that aggregate
with bituminous surfacing in all at one time. Right now what we're doing
is seeing how the trail works with the natural waterways that are in there
...."
~ Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 13
and those type of things and kind of letting it be used and discovered over
a year. The trail is cleared, by the way if you're in there and can take a
walk around that area. It will be mowed down to restrict growth but that
$4,000.00, if it is still the desire, we can certainly go ahead. That will
purchase, it may not potentially even purchase all of the aggregate so we
may find 75% of it and run out of money. That's one that comes right to
the top of my mind that may not be expended by the end of the year.
Schroers: Wouldn't it seem more practical to maintain that as a mowed
surface and look at the amount of use and so on that it is getting before
we spend that kind of money to either use aggregate or pavement on that
trail?
Hoffman: Correct.
Schroers: I don't have a problem with that. With that, is anyone
interested in making a motion to reallocate $1,500.00 from the Lake Ann
nature trail to the Minnewashta Heights Park?
Robinson: For the purpose of pea rock or whatever and border wood.
Hoffman: Correct. And I'll go ahead and work with some dimensions as far
as what we feel a future play structure will need in that area and then
we'll go ahead and install an area large enough to accommodate that future
development.
~
Lash: Do we have anything in the future? We've got that 5 year budget.
Has there been anything in there in the future?
Hoffman: At Minnewashta?
Lash: Yes. Because I know that's one we've just kind of left alone.
Hoffman: Totlot updating $5,000.00 and there was $10,000.00 potentially
put in there for a shelter. Warming house type of shelter.
Lash: Within how many years?
Hoffman: 1992+.
Schroers: Okay. So we could look at improvements from that?
Hoffman: Correct. It would become part of the 1992 budget process which
will initially start next month to start shagging out where the dollars for
playground are going to go in 1992. Obviously this will be one of them.
Schroers: Great. Well is anyone interested in making a motion?
Andrews: I move that we reallocate $1,500.00 from the Lake Ann nature
trail to safety improvements at Minnewashta Heights Park.
~ Pemrick: I'll second.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 14
..."",
Andrews moved, Pemrick seconded to reallocate $1,500.00 from the Lake Ann
nature trail to safety improvements, [installation of resilent surfacing
(pea gravel) and border wood] at Minnewashta Heights Park. All voted in
favor and the motion carried unanimously_
Andrews: I'd like to make one more request of Todd. If there's any other
emergency type safety concerns at that park such as the slide, if that's
just something that's too dangerous tp be left, I'd like to hear about it
right away so we can take action immediately.
Schroers: Thank you very much for coming in.
Hoffman: One more clarification. If we go ahead and expand the totlot
area, it jeopardises the second of the two sandboxes which we have within
city parks. I'm just wondering if we eliminate that, if that's going to
cause severe grief.
Lauren Huntington: I personally, there's a beach down the block and
there's a lot of cats.
Schroers: One sandbox is adequate?
Lauren Huntington: I'd rather see...
JUDD FUHRMAN. EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.
..",
Hoffman: I'd like to introduce Judd Fuhrman. Judd has been into the
office working with myself on and off for about the past 2 1/2 months to
develop an Eagle Scout project as one of the requirements for his pursuit
of the Eagle Scout rank. Initially we had taken a look at the construction
of a bridge, of a third Boy Scout bridge at the Lake Susan site to cross
the creek as part of the trailway connection. That did not come about.
However as the bridge that needs to be constructed in that area, it needs
to handle vehicles and the distance and the load and that type of thing
would not accommodate that. So we put Judd off for a few more weeks. I
informed him that during our park visit this summer we would go ahead and
take a look at some appropriate parks and spots for projects. What I came
up with was working with the revitalization of City Center Park with the
play areas and that type of work which is going to be going on there this
summer. Specifically the removal of the existing border timbers, ties,
that type of thing. The few that are there on the north playground and
then do the site work, the digging out of the trenching for the area for
the new border and then the installation of new border wood in that area
and the installation of the pea gravel. Judd has discussed this with his
troop leader and his advisor. It works with their requirements for the
Eagle Scout project. Judd will be the coordinator of the project. Getting
together the other Scouts and coordinating the entire project. Doing the
site surveying and that type of thing so I've invited Judd in tonight to
explain his pursuit of his Eagle Scout. How long he's been a Scout. That
type of thing and then to look for your approval for this Eagle Scout
project within the Park and Recreation Department.
...",.,
,....,
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 15
Judd Fuhrman: My name is Judd Fuhrman and I live here in Chanhassen. I've
lived here since I was about 4 years old. I am now 17. I've been a Scout
since I was 7 years old. I started in Cub Scouts with Troop 330 in
Chanhassen. I went through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, which I am right
now. I am currently of rank.~.which is second highest. It's right below
Eagle Scout. I am working on my Eagle Scout. There are several
requirements of the Eagle Scout, one of which is the project that was just
described and...Mr. Schmidt who is my Scout Master and was my Cub Scout
master. I work with him very well. He will be my advisor throughout the
project and will be helping me make some .decisions about what to do
throughout the project. Kind of instructing me on how to go about things.
Basically my job with the project will be not only to follow through with
doing the planning and the actual work but to gather Scouts or other
civilian people to come in and assisting in the construction of the border
wood and pea gravel. More or less my job is, my goal to become an Eagle
Scout is objective of an Eagle Scout is to not just accomplish the project
but to go about it in a way that I will be coordinating it. Not just doing
the project. I have to get people together to work on the project. Kind
of like a manager and won't actually be doing as much as work as the rest
of the Scouts or as the rest of the people that will be on the job with me.
I'll just be like a supervisor or someone who gets everything together and
I will be actually doing work with them. It's an honor to be working with
the City and getting a project through the City and helping out the City
and the community in making revisions out at the park and updating it and
improving the... Basically I'm eager to get started on my project.
11"""
Schroers: Okay, thank you Judd. Does anyone have any questions or
comments for Judd?
Andrews: I'd like to thank him for doing this work on behalf of the City.
I think it's really appreciated.
Erhart: We're also honored to have you, so vice versa.
Schroers: I admire your ambition Judd. This is quite a sizeable
undertaking and I guess if you feel that this is something you're confident
you can accomplish, you certainly have my blessing. It's a big help to us.
Koubsky: I'd like to thank you for coming in Judd. This is really great.
I admire your dedication to the Scouts and to seeking your Eagle Scout. I
think all along you will be very grateful that you did do that and are
achieving the goal and the rank of an Eagle Scout. I know in my endeavors
and even employment opportunities, resumes that indicate the achieved an
Eagle Scout are looked at very closely. It's an accomplishment and I
commend you for sticking through it and really happy to be able to work
with you on this.
Judd Fuhrman: Thank you for your time.
Schroers: Is there some action requi..ed on this Todd?
Hoffman: The only potential action is, as you know, $3,000.00 is budgeted
~ under Eagle Scout projects. If we had a project which was alone by itself
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 16
....."
and needed funding, we would have come before you tonight with a funding
proposal. However as you also realize, the projects, these particular
projects are very tight in their budgets. We're working with grant money.
Budgeted dollars. Those types of things and that $3,000.00 can rollover
into next year. It can be banked in case we do have another applicant for
that type of money or a portion of it could be incorporated into this
project. So you have your bunch of options which you may choose to act on
or you can just approve the project as is. As far as the financing, we can
say $1,000.00 of the $3,000.00 should go towards this project to be
dedicated to this project for both miscellaneous and direct expenses as
part of the project. Or $2,000.00 or $3,000.00 or none of it.
Lash: How many Eagle projects do we typically get?
Hoffman: Typically 1 every year. Every other year.
Andrews: I think since such a large 'number of people in the community are
likely to be involved in this project, I think we ought to allocate some
money for nothing else than to provide refreshments and some assistance to
the project itself.
Lash: And this is a big project with a tight budget and I think I recall
in our last packet some communication from you trying to get additional
funding so obviously we're running a little short and we're going to be
cutting corners and I would rather allocate some money towards the project
too to help with that crunch so we don't have to skimp too much.
....."
Schroers: And I would like to see any excess money be allocated to the
purchase of the equipment that we are looking at for the area.
Hoffman: Correct. That's where the actual cuts are going to be made
because you need to go ahead and complete all the site amenities, border
wood, installation, grading, those types of things. The cuts are going to
be made in the play equipment so any additional funding then would
supplement those dollars.
Andrews: I would like to see us allocate some money for this project. If
nothing else, with Judd's experience as a general contractor handling some
budgeting of money or being involved with how that money might be used
would be also valuable experience and it provides a lot of good for the
City. So I guess for me personally I feel that we could safely allocate at
least $1,000.00 and then take another look at this later on in the project.
If more money is needed, we could allocate an additional amount because I
think $1,000.00 is a conservative amount of money to put towards this
project.
Lash: At what point are we going to be ordering the equipment?
Hoffman: For that site I would, late June.
Lash: Maybe we could address it at that time. I mean allocate some now
and then in June review it and see if we want to allocate some more to get
the most we can.
--'
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 17
Hoffman: Sure. I can bring that back to the Commission.
Andrews: I'd like to make a motion right now that we allocate $1,000.00 at
this time and that at our June meeting we re-evaluate this project to see
if additional funding might be necessary.
Schroers: Okay, I will second it. .
Andrews moved, Schroers seconded to approve the installation of playground
border at the north elementary school site as an Eagle Scout Project for
Judd Fuhrman, Troop 330 and to allocate $1,000.00 of the $3,000.00 budgeted
for Eagle Scout projects to assist in the funding of the overall project.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT. GLASS RECEPTACLES WITHIN CITY PARKS.
Hoffman: Thank you Chairman Schroers. Item 4 is very straight forward.
Robinson: That's short and to the point.
Hoffman: Straight to the point. No confusion whatsoever and if it is the
wish of the commission to approve this, I will take it to the City Council
for their approval.
".....
Schroers: Okay. Are there any commissioner concerns, questions?
Erhart: How are we going to educate the people on this? I was just out
there yesterday and saw a few glass containers. How are we going to let
the people know?
Hoffman: Currently I'm working on a coordination of signage within our
parks. Doing a cataloging of the signs. Park rules signs, park regulation
signs which we currently have within the parks. I'm going to be bringing
that to the Commission throughout the summer. Refining an overall park
sign which is basic. Short. Simple. To the point but covers the most
important and essential park rules which we deal with. We'll run that
through the City Council and make sure we're addressing all park rules and
regulations which need to be addressed and then look to ordering those for
the spring of 1992.
Erhart: Okay, so signage you're saying?
Hoffman: Yep, signage.
Lash: How about in those mailings? The booklets that you send out?
Erhart: That's what I was wondering.
Hoffman: Correct, newsletter.
Schroers: And also in the newspaper. The Villager.
,....
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 18
....,;
Hoffman: Once it passes, we can get some coverage in a variety of ways.
Basically I think people should, or at least some people should oblige.
Erhart: oh I think they will as long as they know, I would like to think
that anyways.
Schroers: I think it's kind of a trendy program these days anyway. Most
people that are concerned with the environment will pick up on it. Well
good. We're looking for a motion then to approve the ordinance amendment
as proposed.
Lash: So moved.
Robinson: Second.
Lash moved, Robinson seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend to approve the ordinance amendment prohibiting glass receptacles
within city parks. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
SOUTH LOTUS LAKE PARK. MASTER PARK PLAN CHANGES.
Hoffman: Item number 5 deals with the South Lotus Lake Park, master plan
changes. This came to light again in the park tours and then looking at
the purchase of play equipment for South Lotus Lake Park. The ballfield
which is shown there, it's one of those deals where diagrams on maps can
play tricks with you. It looks good. However, the distances which we have ~
available, orientation of this basically here with the boat access parking
area, the two islands and the turn around, proposed play area location and
then the ballfield. Again, the distance on this foul line was
substantially short of what it should be. 120 feet long and then again the
distance from home plate to TH 101 is just 200 feet so designation of that
as a ballfield would be inappropriate. It would be much more appropriate
to just designate the area, which would accommodate a long soccer field,
open play area in this orientation just as a play area itself. Open field
and not a softball field.
Andrews: To reinforce that, there's never any parking available there when
the fishing season's open. It's just impossible so we really don't want to
attract softball to that area anyway. We don't have the parking to
accommodate it.
Robinson: Has that been seeded? Was it seeded last year?
Hoffman: It was seeded late last summer, correct. So the seed is coming
up and then once we have the plan change and then go ahead and have time
later on in July, we can order up the equipment which was approved and
install it.
Schroers: Okay. Well that seems like a pretty clear cut issue here. Do
we have anyone interested in making the recommendation to amend South Lotus
Lake Park plan and to eliminate the construction of the ballfield and
designate it simply as an open play area?
--'
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 19
"...
,....
Robinson: So moved.
Erhart: Second.
Robinson moved, Erhart seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission
recommend to amend the South Lotus Lake Park plan to eliminate the
construction of the ballfield and designate it simply as an open play area.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
POWER HILL PARK TRAILS.
Hoffman: Item 6, as it deals with the trails. We also, it would behoove
us to speak of the parking area which is proposed in that area as well. In
recent discussions with the developers and Dave Hempel and other
engineering staff, as they're bringing in the approval of the 7th Addition,
we're taking a look at the construction of Flamingo Road. When is the
appropriate time to bring in the park entrance road? Is it appropriate to
install the trailway at this time or at least the trailway stubs from the
curb side through the lots to the back of the lot line? As we're well
aware, that becomes a difficult situation on down the line. So I want to
bring it to the attention of the Commission at this time since the
construction will begin within a few short weeks. So we can begin to
address those issues. They may not be able to be resolved this evening.
It could be resolved in a subsequent meeting on this particular issue. To
explain the different items that we're looking at, park orientation is
currently in this fashion: Powers Blvd. to the east in this location.
Lyman Blvd. to the south coming across in this location. Mallard Court is
currently the extent of the development. This cul-de-sac is developed and
houses are going in this area so we are working with the developer to have
this trailway installed. A bituminous surface off of the back of the lot
line to alleviate any future problems. Continuing the trail then is
currently labeled turf trail in this alignment up to the parking lot where
then at the time of master plan discussion it was labeled bituminous from
that point down past the play area and then to the tennis court in this
location. The other stuff coming in along side the road would be
bituminous and then coming in off of future additions to the subdivision,
crossing the dyke or the berm inbetween the two ponds, was labeled turf at
that time as well. Current issues are, if it's the desire of the
commission to ever see that trail a hard surface so baby carriages, bikes,
those types of things can be used in that location, now is the time to
begin addressing it. Obviously as you see it there, it does come into the
back side of just essentially all those lots along Flamingo Drive in the
area of the trail. If it was installed as a mowed trail and then at some
point in the future we attempted to install it as a bituminous, it would
just not be possible. For that very reason it may not be desireable at
this time to even consider bituminous surfacing. However, this park is
somewhat limited in it's active uses. It serves a large variety of
residents and we need to go ahead and address all recreational activities.
Walking, biking, skateboarding, rollerblading among them. The other issue
concerning the parking area. As we know, this will eventually develop as
being at least a neighborhood sliding hill and potentially somewhat of as
so called community sliding hill if people find it desireable to go there
and slide. That is the reason for bringing in, one of the reasons for
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 20
...."
bringing in the parking in this location. And again, bringing in the
parking lot is most easily accomplished when the street contractors are
there doing the street work. We would need to enter into a contract with
them to complete that work. As you recall, during budget discussions it
was discussed. what about trail improvements? How do we budget for those
and as noted in my item, it was very difficult to forecast what type of
things are going to be coming in. We labeled them in our 1991 budget as
fund reserve and we talked about a wishy washy figure of $40,000.00.
$40,000.00 we would think that would be a reasonable amount to expend in
1991 if the opportunity arose. To go ahead and construct these then, that
would be possible. It would require a year e~d budget amendment to bring
those dollars in to clarify then the year end expenditures versus the
budgeted amount. At this time I'll open it up for commissioner discussion.
I'm interested to hear your thoughts on it as well. One other side note is
that we've asked them to stub in a water connection in this area so then at
some point in the future we can bring in a copper line and put a drinking
fountain into the park area adjacent to the play area or the parking lot.
Schroers: I'm a little bit unsure of my orientation on this. Is this the
trail section that I looked at where there was a question of the easement
that two gentlemen were concerned that called me out to their house where
it goes between their house and down the steep hill?
Lash: No.
Hoffman: No. That's in Chanhassen Hills. There's anotheT one up there.
..."""
Lash: Oh! Herman Field. That's the one I was thinking about.
Hoffman: The one Larry looked at was in Chanhassen Hills. Barbara Court.
That one is resolved and has been installed so you can go ahead and go take
a look at that connection route. The one Larry's speaking of is the
connection from Chanhassen Hills which is isolated currently by TH 101 and
then will be isolated by TH 212 as well so we need to leave them that
outlet to get out into the open area. The large expanse there which is in
between Chanhassen Hills, Lake Susan Hills West. Up the west side of Lake
Susan and then into the community park. This one is on the other side to
the west across Powers Blvd. and currently it's hard to visualize.
Schroers: Laid out it's almost, I envisioned it being.
Hoffman: It lays out essentially the same. If you want to go ahead and
take a look at the area there.
Lash: I have just a couple questions just to clear this up. So what you
have planned now is the 3 different accesses from the nei9hborhood into the
park as being bituminous? Are all three supposed to be paved?
Hoffman: At least the ones coming between the houses to designate them as
a trailway. The other one coming in from alongside the roadway would be
bituminous just to make it a continuous bituminous loop from off street
into the play area into the tennis court. The other one which is somewhat
...",
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 21
wider, if it was elected not to go with an asphalt surface all the way down
could be left turf.
Lash: And there are no homes there now? These are just lots?
Hoffman: There are homes in this cul-de-sac area and abutting Flamingo
just in this area here. So this is the extent of the development right
now. That ends here and it will continue up Flamingo Drive and around in a
couple of weeks.
Lash: Okay, and those people up there know about this? The people up on
the cul-de-sac?
Hoffman: Correct?
Lash: Okay.
Andrews: How much distance from that north cul-de-sac down to the sliding
hill area are we looking at?
Hoffman: We taped it off the other day. We had 300. I think I was taking
a look at about 1,500 feet in this area so considerably under a mile.
"""
5chroers: As development occurs, is there going to be more paving done in
the area and would, is the potential there to work a deal with the
contractor at the time that will possibly save us some money down the road
as far as paving it at a later date?
Hoffman: Yeah, I can't address the saving money'. It would certainly be
advantageous for them to go ahead and partake in that work at the time
which they're constructing their roads. Laying sub-base of the road and
asphalt so it's a good opportunity for both sides.
Koubsky: As I think right now, Flamingo isn't paved.
Hoffman: No.
Koubsky: It's just some rough site grading out there.
Hoffman: Yep.
Andrews: I wanted to ask this question. I think you've already answered
it but just to be sure. The three paved stubs are a done deal. Is that
correct? That they are going to happen regardless of what we decide to do
tonight or not?
Hoffman: These two will. This one is up to your discretion. It's
considerably wider than the other ones. If we want to asphalt that in, we.
Andrews: I guess I feel it is important to put pavement in between
residential lots so we don't get into these problems of this never has been
a trail and I don't want a trail going through my yard when it isn't their
~ yard to start with.
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 22
..."""
Schroers: And since there are two paved stubs going in and the development
is yet to occur, I think we've even kind of adopted as policy to try to get
that type of trailwork done along with construction and development in the
area. I would definitely think that would be the avenue to pursue here.
Hoffman: It would be my intent in future review of subdivisions such as
this to go ahead and incorporate these things that continually come back to
the Commission and cause you headaches and pain, namely trail connections
and parking lots. Those are included in the master plan and deemed
necessary, the best time to go ahead and install them is to develop them
right into the development contract and make them a requirement of the
developer. They'll want some reimbursement for that. That can
appropriately be done through the reduction of park fees. That type of
thing but then it's a done deal. The grading, the asphalt work and the
inter park trailwork is done up front.
Schroers: And we know that the entire area there is scheduled for rather
intense development. We have you know every indication to assume that
that's something that will be used a lot and could justify having a paved
surface.
Lash: That little road thing that goes into the parking lot? Would it be
safe to assume that the City plows in the winter then will go in there and
plow that out in the parking lot so people wanting to use the sliding hill
can?
Hoffman: Correct. The street would become property of the City and they ~
would plow Flamingo Drive, they'd just swing in there and plow that out.
Schroers: Okay, would you then be looking for a recommendation from us to
go ahead with the paving of this trail in conjunction with the development
of the project?
Hoffman: Correct.
Andrews: I just want to be clear. Are we talking about paving all the
darkened trail sections up there including the stubs and all the connectors
or are we talking just about the stubs at this point?
Schroers: No, we're talking about the trail.
Andrews: The whole thing?
Schroers:. The whole thing.
Lash: Because I'm not in favor of doing that. I think we're blowing a
whole chunk of money there on a little neighborhood trail that, I think
we've got some bigger fish to fry than this one. I definitely see the
advantage of paving the stubs in because then future people coming in know
that this is there and they can't come back with a problem and I think the
original plan with the bituminous connecting the parking to the tennis
makes sense but I don't know about going all through the whole thing with
bituminous. I think the turf trail would be, personally I think that's
....."
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 23
adequate for what people, it would be a way of connecting. Actually it
would just be kind of a hiking trail in my OPlnlon. I don't know how many
people would be walking...and if people want to take their strollers or
ride their bikes...problem taking Flamingo. It wouldn't be that much
farther. To spend $17,000.00 or $25,000.00 out of our $40,000.00 budget,
that's a big share of our budget for trails.
Wendy Pemrick asked a question that wasn't picked up on the tape. The
recording was bad at this point.
Lash: We'd never be able to do it.
Hoffman: Yeah, it's my opinion that the homeowners there...at a future
date it would become impossible.
Lash: I did, just to let you know I happen to, I carpool with a gal who
lives right over by this and she just commented to me last night that she
was very happy to see that. I think she lives by Sunset Ridge. That it
had been graded and they were very happy to see that and I knew this was on
and so I happened to mention this to her just to get her opinion of it. I
said that my understanding of it was that a portion would be paved to the
tennis courts but that the other part could be turf or it could be paved
and her opinion is that turf would be adequate for the neighborhood use.
She said that she would rather see a trail on Powers if we were going to
spend.
,....
Koubsky: Todd do you know, in this whole area you know they are providing
sidewalks through the lots, or do you know if sidewalks are slated for the
west lots?
Hoffman: Sidewalks are slated for Flamingo. Which side of the road
they're on, I'm not sure.
Koubsky: Because if they were on the west side that might be a little
overkill to have sidewalks on the front of the house and then bituminous
pavement on the back of the house.
Erhart: How can we find that out?
Hoffman: I can find out pretty easily if it's that much of a difference
whether it's on the west or the east side but I know for sure that a
sidewalk is going on Flamingo.
Erhart: Because that would have something, it would make a difference to
me on how I voted on this.
Lash: I think even if it's on the east side. I mean you've got off
street.
Koubsky: Coming in on Lake Susan there on the west side. So I'm assuming
they would carry it down Flamingo on the west side which would be in these
lots here.
",....
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 24
...".",
Lash: I guess the other thing that's in my mind is at our last meeting
when we talked about the right-of-way on the railroad and that seemed to be
something that we were all in favor of and that's going to cost us some
money too so I hate to end up being short funds to do some of those kind of
things as they come up that would benefit a more of the city.
Schroers: I think that the real thing that we have to key on here is that
whether or not we want to identify this as a turf and aggregate trail from
this point forward. If we have any idea that at some point in time we're
going to want to pave it, then now is the time to do it.
Hoffman: Correct. And there is just differing uses. A hard surface trail
versus turf trail provide distinct opportunities for each and if it's
thought that those opportunities, be it skateboarding, rollerblading,
access by wheel buggies, that kind of thing, can be carried out on the
sidewalk and Flamingo Drive, that has some merIt. If we want to include
those as part of the interior of the park, we'll look the other direction.
Andrews: I just can't personally see providing both a paved trail and a
sidewalk that close to each other. I think that's a waste of our resources
when there are so many other areas in the city that are desperate for park
funding.
Robinson: I would agree with that totally. And all the points that Jan
also made.
Lash: It's not that I don't think it would be nice. It's just that
fiscally I don't think that we have the money to do it in this area.
...",
Schroers: I'm kind of assuming by the way it was presented here that staff
didn't really have a preference or a particular recommendation on this
issue?
Hoffman: No. I was just merely presenting the information to the
commission and allowing discussion to be held with a motion being made. We
do however need to address the roadway issue. I apologize. That was not
included as part of the report. Just in discussions within the past few
days, the developer is taking a look at the grading plan and coordinating
with our contractors with the work that is going to be done. If we want to
include this as a separate contract, we need to look to doing that. Again,
I've not received a firm estimate on that but that would be less than
installing the whole entire trail segment in bituminous so it would be
under $15,000.00. Under $17,000.00. And if we're going to do that, now's
the time to do that as well.
Andrews: That's the road connecting to the tennis court area?
Hoffman: Yeah. The parking lot. We won't have a question raised.
Whereas if we do it a year from now, we'll have to address the same
question.
Andrews: Can I put a motion forward so we can see if we can put it toa
vote and see what we can do here? I'd like to move that we provide paved
....."
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 25
access stubs between private property lines to the turf trail system and
then also provide paving for the road entrance, the parking area and the
connecting trail to the tennis court area. I think those were the three
things you wanted Todd?
Hoffman: Correct.
Erhart: I'll second that.
Andrews moved, Erhart seconded to direct staff to coordinate the
installation of bituminous trail stubs at all entrance points to the park;
the installation of the access road and parking area serving the sliding
hill, play area and tennis court and the installation of the bituminous
trail at the south end of the park linking these facilities as allowed by
the 1991 Capital Improvement Budget. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously_
Andrews: I'd like to make one point for further discussion. Todd I'd
appreciate on further issues like this if there is a sidewalk system, if
you could include that in the report to the Commission because I think that
was a key thing to this decision.
Hoffman: Correct. I was kind of rushed preparing this packet.
",....
Erhart: That did make a big difference though to get it early.
COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS:
Lash: I'd just like to commend you guys on the summer activities that you
have planned. The Super Events. I was the first one to sign my kids up.
They really do though and I just think that's great to have those kind of
activities for kids during the summer.
Hoffman: Thanks Jan. The City newsletter did go to print today. Will be
distributed. As you know, our park and recreation activities have become
part of the overall city newsletter so you'll see that in the mail in the
next 4 or 5 days.
ADMINISTRATIVE SECTION:
Schroers: Are there any particular points of interest there?
Andrews: I want to make one comment. Todd, I really appreciate how you've
kept us moving on all these projects. We've had something presented. It
gets acted upon or if not you bring it back to us and I would really like
to mention that. I appreciate that very much.
Hoffman: Thanks Jim.
Lash: Yes. And then I made a little note here but I can't find what it
was. It was on Heritage Highlights. What thing was it? Oh yeah. That
was it. This little circle thing on the geese control. Is that something
,..... maybe we could get inserted into the paper or in the city booklet or
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
May 21, 1991 - Page 26
...."",
something. There's a lot of people who are frustrated with geese and maybe
that would be an easy solution for them to try.
Hoffman: Oh the?
Lash: The goose tape.
Hoffman: You bet.
Lash: That's a good idea.
Hoffman: Another home remedy.
Lash: Well I know some people who are frustrated with that situation. You
should put that in the paper.
Schroers: You know if we were able to change that, that Class B wetland at
Pheasant Hills to a Class A, we would be promoting more nesting area. We
would be looking at relocating more geese.
Lash: But then we'd have to hire this guy to come pick them up over there
too.
Andrews: I guess the last thing. I've got one more thing too. With the
Lake Ann Park pavillion construction, would that be anything that could be
tied in with the 4th of July celebration as far as ground breaking or is
there anything we can do to really kick that off? I think that's a big
accomplishment for the City.
""""'"
Hoffman: That's a good point. I think it's going to be slightly premature
but by no means does that mean it can't be included.
Andrews: How about having the sketches and the artist renderings at the
celebration for people to see it. I think peop!e would be impressed with
that.
Lash: Also, now that I think of it, Fiskness. No, not Fiskness. What's
that Watershed.
Erhart: Conrad.
Lash: Conrad Fiskness. Yeah, that's it. He was telling us when we were
hiking down in Bluff Creek the other day that he thinks, but he's not sure,
that this is the 20th Anniversary of Lake Ann.
Erhart: Right and we were supposed to check on that. Isn't it 20 years
now since the development of that park?
Hoffman: 71 to 91 sounds rea! c!ose.
Erhart: He didn't know but.
Hoffman: But 71 sounds right.
...."."
Park and Rec Commission Meeting
~ May 21, 1991 - Page 27
Lash: Maybe the 4th of July we could kind of beef up just the fact that
it's the 20 year anniversary. Just throw that in.
Hoffman: We've got a lot of things. We've got the war to ride in on and
everything's red, white and blue and the 20th and the ground breaking.
Good ideas.
Andrews: Did we invite General Schwartzkopf to come to our 4th of July?
Hoffman: Not yet but we asked Prince and anyone else with money for
contribution to the park shelter and did not receive any. But I did see
that two local companies, OataServ and Varitronics bought one of the
$100,000.00 host tents at the U.S. Open so they had a little cash to spend.
Koubsky: Medtronics did?
Hoffman: Varitronics and DataServ.
Schroers: I just have a question for anyone who attended the Bluff Creek
orientation. That was, the timing on that was not good in conjunction with
opening of fishing but did anything of particular interest come up or
anything happen during your tour that you felt the rest of us should be
enlightened on?
/"'-
Lash: You should know, yes. Dawne was there in her form, leaping from
rock to rock. Crossing the creek and teetering across logs and she
deserves a letter of accommodation.for that. Above and beyond the call.
We were all pretty worried but anyway, there were some Council members
there and they were very impressed and I think they seemed to be extremely
supportive of the idea of trying to come up with some way or form of doing
something to preserve that. I think it's being addressed already isn't it
by the Planning Commission or it's going to be shortly?
Erhart: Yeah, quite a few of the Planners were there.
Lash: And another thing that they did kind of teeter around a little bit.
There was no commitment or anything but there was talk that maybe the route
to go with if the City was interested in pursuing the golf course idea
would be to try and consolidate the Bluff Creek Golf Course because then
we'd be killing two birds with one stone. Getting the golf course and then
they own about half the bluff creek area.
Schroers: Alright. Good.
Robinson moved, Erhart seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in.favor
and the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m..
Submitted by Todd Hoffman
Park and Recreation Coordinator
Prepared by Nann Opheim
,....