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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 29, 2012C I T Y O F © N 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Regular Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting November 29, 2012 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Discuss Vision of Sports Complex/Project 12- 31/3535 -161St Avenue NW 3. Other Business 4. Chair's Report 5. Adjournment H H ANLb 6 W jo!l --A PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 2012 MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Butler on November 29, 2012, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Ted Butler, Tony Kowalewski, Vice Chair Jim Lindahl, Alisa Lewnau, Andrew Melberg, Mark Miskowiec, and Shaun Van Vark Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas Sean Beggin, North Metro Soccer Association Eric Hagen, ABC Newspaper DISCUSS VISION OF SPORTS COMPLEX /PROJECT 12 -31 / 3535 -161sT AVENUE NW Chair Butler envisioned the meeting to be a place to brainstorm and review the vision of the complex and discuss the top three proposals for the sports complex. Commissioner Miskowiec inquired if the well was of sufficient capacity for all the fields and if there was an estimated cost for an additional well. Mr. Haas stated the well was good, had the capacity to irrigate all the fields. Chair Butler reviewed the plan for the construction of the park in stages. He noted there would be three soccer fields, depending on how the plans are drawn up, and how they can make best use of the park for the residents. He also thought the City should try to make the complex look when visiting the complex and when they leave. He remarked they should be asking for concepts to surround the parking lot rather than seeing it from the street and also to take into consideration some practice space in the park. He indicated he would like to leave the treescape or landscape areas if all possible but would like to see what the consultants come up with. The Commission discussed activities geared toward the open areas such as: cross - country skiing, snow shoeing, sledding hill and Frisbee golf. Andover Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes —November 29, 2012 Page 2 Commissioner Miskowiec thought there was open space north of this site and wondered if they could do these types of activities there rather than at this complex, then they could leave this complex to organized sports. It was noted by Mr. Haas that the open space area is about 5 miles by vehicle to northwest of this site (Martin Meadows) and it is hard to get access to at the south and east end of the open space. Commissioner Melberg suggested some ideas for the complex, which included: Remote control boat racing in an open pond, small arboretum or rose garden, learning center, public flower gardens, wood duck, blue bird houses, landing strips for remote control airplanes, small fountains or statues, medallion hunt, winter carnival. Commissioner Kowalewski asked the Commission that they consider keeping as much of the wetland they can for instructional teaching. Commissioner Van Vark indicated he would like to see a shelter by the treeline. Mr. Haas noted the City would not need to do any mitigation if they removed a portion of the existing wetland to create open water due to the type wetland that exists. As far as storm water ponds the City will need to create some storm water ponds for rate control and treatment. The Commission did indicate that they were interested in some prairie grass and rain water gardens as options. Commissioner Kowalewski wondered if there were some grants they could apply for if they were to put in prairie grass in certain areas. Mr. Haas indicated this was a great idea and noted staff would look into it if the Commission decided to go that direction. Commissioner Kowalewski asked if they could do some hydrophonics for the schools. Chair Butler recognized that a substantial sliding hill would be ideal. Commissioner Lindahl noted that the area is in a rural neighborhood so they need to be careful about what they put out there because of vandalism. He imagined they could use gates to the field to deter vehicles from driving on there. He also thought rain gardens could be a buffer along the fields. Mr. Haas noted rain gardens are expensive to maintain unless they get a group to volunteer to take care of them. Commissioner Van Vark asked if they should have some playground equipment for the smaller kids. Commissioner Miskowiec indicated they could move the park equipment from the south park to the north park. Mr. Haas stated that was a good idea to explore. Commissioner Lindahl inquired if they could run irrigation under 161't Avenue NW to the ball field on the south park to make that field more useable other than a practice field. Mr. Haas did not think it would be too expensive to do this if the Commission requested it. Andover Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes — November 29, 2012 Page 3 Mr. Haas wondered if they would want some picnic areas in the park. Sean Beggin, representative from North Metro Soccer Association (NMSA), indicated they did not have any interest in running a concession stand. It would be a low priority for them. Chair Butler noted they would want indoor bathrooms eventually with a complex like this. Commissioner Lindahl stated the priority is getting the fields in place with parking, lighting and irrigation, everything else could come in another phase. Commissioner Melberg asked if they could have a natural trail encompassing the area. It was discussed that there could be natural, soft surface trails around the parameter of the park or through the wooded areas and a sliding hill would tic into the natural amenities of the park. Open grass land, ponding, natural features. Mr. Beggin from NMSA stated that from their perspective, they want to make sure they could do different configurations for the soccer fields which would include taking 2 full sized fields and combining as 1 large field which would allow for the fields to be turned every year to help minimize wearing of the fields. NMSA would like to have some input with the consultants on this. Mr. Haas noted this could be a problem because the football fields will need permanent goal posts. It was discussed that there could be portable goal posts if needed. Chair Butler thought the configuration change could pose a problem for lighting. Commissioner Lindahl thought to solve this issue they could use higher lights to illuminate more of the field. Chair Butler noted they need to look at the lighting availability for the park. Consultant Proposals: Mr. Haas stated staff contacted 8 firms and received 7 proposals back. Scope, deliverables and fee is what staff looked at. The staff is recommending the following three consultants for interviewing for the project: Anderson- Johnson Associates, Inc., WSB and SRF. Chair Butler reviewed with the Task Force the discussion that occurred over this past year regarding the artificial turf. Chair Butler did not think the City would want to place artificial turf at this complex and that the artificial turf should be discussed later down the road at a park or facility such as Sunshine Park or the City Hall Park Complex. He did not think the City should include that in the overall plan for the complex. The Commission agreed and did not think they needed artificial turf at this complex. Chair Butler encouraged staff to push the consultants on the natural areas and to ask for more details /information on this from Anderson - Johnson Associates, Inc. on other complexes they have done that show more than just sporting areas. He thought they had three good companies for interviewing. Andover Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes —November 29, 2012 Page 4 Chair Butler stated his concern about the timeline on the Master Plan that has been proposed as it may be too quick to accomplish that. Mr. Haas indicated there could be an additional meeting besides the January 17, 2013 meeting that has already been scheduled to review the revised Master Plan but would need to verify that with others. Chair Butler reviewed the discussion and noted what the Park Commission expected. OTHER BUSINESS There was none. CHAIR'S REPORT There was none. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Melberg, to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Motion carried on a 7 -ayes, 0 -nays, 0- absent vote. Respectfully Submitted, Sue Osbeck, Recording Secretary Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.