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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 17, 2015E IF-1176y"Flk J1 01 ILYA 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Regular Park & Recreation Commission Meeting September 17, 2015 5:45 P.M. Conference Room A& B A. Hold Public Information Neighborhood Meeting /Kelsey Round Lake Plan Master /15 -11 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident Forum 3. Approval of Minutes (9/3/15) — Regular Meeting 4. Discuss Kelsey Round Lake Park Master Plan/15 -11 5. Consider Protective Netting Quote at Andover Station North Ball Field • Facility, Cont. /15 -34 6. 2016 Park Improvement Fund Levy Reallocation 7. Consider Revising 2016 -2020 Park Capital Improvement Plan 8. Outstanding Items/Maintenance Update 9. 10. Chair's Report 11.Adjournment • PARKAND RECREATION COMMISSIONREGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 MINUTES A Regular Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Char Stenzel on September 17, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Shane Stenzel, Commissioners Ted Butler, Sarah Elstmm, Alisa Lewnaa, Angela Marinello and Mark Miskowiec Commissioners Absent: Vice Chair Jim Lindahl Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas Jason Amberg, WSB Jeff Feulner, WSB APPROVAL OFAGENDA Motion by Lewnau, seconded by Miskowiec to remove item #5 - Consider Protective Netting Quote at Andover Station North Ball Field Facility, Com/15 -34 from the agenda. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent ( Lindahl) vote. RESIDENT FORUM No one appeared to address the Commission APPROVAL OF MINUTES— September 3, 2015 Minutes Motion by Lewnau, seconded by Elstrom to approve the minutes from the September 3, 2015 Park and Recreation Commission Meeting as presented. Motion carried on a 4 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent ( Lindahl), 2- present (Butler and Marinello) vote. DISCUSS KELSEY ROUND LAKE PARK MASTER PLAN 115 -11 The Park and Recreation Commission held a public infarmation/open house neighborhood meeting and receive input as to possible ideas or concepts that could be incorporated into the Master Plan. Jason Amberg and Jeff Feulner of WSB were present at the meeting and provided a short history of the park along with a presentation of where we are at in the process and what the next step is after the neighborhood provides input of possible ideas or concepts into the Master Plan. Mr. Jeff Feulner noted the neighborhood meeting was well attended. Some of the comments received were regional connections, people treating the park like a dog park, Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — September 17, 2015 Page 2 • deer and coyote control. Comments were received from the mysidewalk website included picnic areas, seating areas, trail connections, access to the lake, etc. Chair Stenzel stated the meeting was well attended. He asked Mr. Feulner what the next steps are and what will be done with the information gathered. Mr. Feulner stated the comments will be put into master plan concepts. These will be brought back to the Commission in October with another meeting held in November. Based on feedback from those meetings will result in one master plan. Mr. Haas asked if the Commission would prefer to have the public meeting separate or part of the regular Commission meeting. Chair Stenzel fears residents may not give feedback if they are on camera. Commissioner Miskowiec stated at tonight's meeting some people were hesitant to talk. He would like to see the presentation televised for the entire public to view and see the plans. Chair Stenzel asked if someone sees the public meeting on TV would they have a chance to comment. Mr. Haas stated WSB could implement those comments if desired. Commissioner Butler suggested it be an open house. Char Stenzel suggested it begin at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, November 19th. • A list of Potential Program Elements and the project schedule was provided to the Commission. A letter was sent to the neighborhood and a map of the area was also included. The potential program elements included: • Existing and future trails (all seasons). Add trail loops. Explore • Interpretive elements (educational / historical features) • Burial mounds • History • Ecology/Environmental • Habitat/pollinator • Constructed Wetlands o ` Integrate technology /augmented reality • Wayfinding signage — natural looking • Restroom — Drinking fountain? • Picnic area with shelter, incorporate grills • Natural Play environment • Snowshoeing — encourage use, but no exclusive trails • Connection/access to lake. Lookout area or possible dock • Pollinator/Habitat program • • • Bird/Bat Houses — Expand ex. Program Wildlife viewing blinds Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes— September 17, 2015 Page 3 • • Outdoor classroom Removed Potential Elements: • XC skiing • Archery range. Not appropriate at this location • Canoeing/Kayak landing • Additional parking FunFest Comments discussed, but not added to Program list: • Swings, Monkey Bars — unless integrated into natural play area • Splash Pad —not appropriate for this park The Kelsey Round Lake Park Project Schedule is as follows: • Kickoff Mtg with City Staff 6 /30/15 (city meeting —1) • Park Commission Mtg 7 /16/15 (Public meeting— 1) • Refine Program, Assess Interpretive Opportunities July — August • Set up MindMixer (MySidewalk) project website • Neighborhood Meeting — Program items, no concepts, September 17 (Public meeting — 2) • Prepare Initial Concepts. Late Sept — Early October • • City Staff Review Mid - October (via email) • Park Commission Review of initial concepts October 15 (Public meeting — 3) • Public Open House to review draft Master Plan concepts November 19`h (Public meeting — 4) • Developed Preferred Concept • City Staff Review, Late November (city meeting — 2) • Assemble Final Plan Report • Present Master Plan to City Council in December or January meeting (Public meeting — 5) Mr. Haas reviewed the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to consider ideas or concepts for the Kelsey Round Lake Park Master Plan that was brought up by the neighborhood during the public information meeting that was held earlier in the evening. Commissioner Butler stated he would rather see the Open House type of meeting to get feedback from the residents. The Novemberl9th meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m. prior to the regular Commission meeting. The next step will be for WSB to prepare the initial concepts. The review of the initial concepts will be presented to the Park and Recreation Commission on October 151h. As a reminder, the Public Open House to review concepts is scheduled for November 19a'. The public will have opportunities to weigh in on the concepts. . Mr. Haas noted two pieces of correspondence were received in writing and copies were given to WSB for consideration when preparing the master plan concepts. is Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes —September 17, 2015 Page 4 2016 PARR IMPROVEMENT FUND LE VY REALL OCA TION Mr. Haas reviewed a memorandum from Lee Brezinka, Assistant Finance Director. In 2002, City Council committed $50,000 in tax levy to underwrite a wide range of park improvement projects as recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission and approved by City Council. That levy was intended to be a supplemental source of capital funding for park projects as development started to slow down and minimal park dedication funds were available. As of 2015, that levy was up to $61,500 of which $15,000 is designated towards miscellaneous park items that come up throughout the year. With the latest emphasis on maintaining/preserving parks the city currently has, through the 2016 Preliminary Budget/Levy approved by the City Council, $46,500 was re- assigned to the General Fund to focus on Park's maintenance/replacement items. The $15,000 will remain in the Park Improvement fund to take care of miscellaneous items that come up throughout the year that the Park and Recreation Commission will continue to participate in. A total of $80,000 proposed 2016 tax levy ($46,500 combined with an additional $33,500 of General Fund levy funding) will not be identified as part of the General Fund levy to replace playground equipment, fences, pedestrian bridges in parks, • parking lot reconstruction, etc. The Parks Maintenance Department will determine which replacement items have the highest priority through the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Any unused funds will be specifically designated or carried forward for park replacement items. If a park is to be reconstructed as recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission and approved by the City Council through the CIP process, the Park and Recreation Commission will work with the Parks Maintenance Department to determine which items are replacements and which items are considered new and/or enhancements to determine the mix of funding sources to accomplish the project. Chair Stenzel stated his interpretation of this is in the past the Council had given the Park Commission $61,500 in the current tax levy to use toward capital improvement projects. At this time they would like to take $50,000 of that and put towards a park maintenance fund, noting the Commission did ask for improvements to the existing infrastructure. This would be a replacement plan for current amenities. This reduces the Commission's CIP $50,000 per year. Chair Stenzel stated he is not in favor of this at all, as it is robbing Peter to pay Paul. The items that need to be completed in parks are being pushed out even further. He does not know how this could be done not making improvements to parks that have been paid for with park dedication funds or parks that are not yet completed. Pine Hills North will never be finished because the funds are not available to finish it. Our fields are getting beat up and need to be repaired but without this money, we are pushing this out even further. He is not in favor of this. • Commissioner Miskowiec stated on July 16th we had several residents come to us from Forest Meadows Park to see if we could add some park equipment and we had to tell the Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — September 17, 2015 Page 5 • residents there wasn't a budget for this. On August 20th several resident's requested a half basketball court in Nordeen's Park. There are many requests and this action will push these projects out to infinity. At this level of funding none of these will ever get done. Commissioner Butler stated he is very disappointed and this is a 75% deduction in the portion of property tax dollars going to pink capital improvements. This will set us back considerably over the next five years and cause projects to be delayed. It will actually set us back more than five years because those projects planned will have inflation cost increases. He understands from a numbers crunching point of view. These projects were promised to the community and they won't be done. We need to plan for replacement of park equipment and maintenance. This is a budget shift. Some of the parks are 15 -20 years old and replacement costs need to be planned for. This shift saves $1.55 per resident and will slow down progress in park improvements. This is a very small portion of the City's budget. People he has spoken with are surprised that for less than $2.00 per resident, the parks are in the shape they are in and now the Commission is being told they will have 75% less. The parks are the way they are due to the hard work of City Staff, the creative collaboration with the athletic groups, the work of the Park Commission. We have done more with less for a long time. The total capital improvement funding for parks as a percentage of the levy was 0.58% of total property tax levy and this will cut it to 0.13 %. This is not a big budget item on the City's budget. There is a little • development going on in the City so some park dedication fees will be coming in. Commissioner Butler asked what happens when there are no more park dedication fees. A City that stops investing in their parks is not going to turn over well. People are not going to want to live here if we do not continue to make modest improvements. This is a poor direction for Andover to go. He would urge the Council to reconsider their decision. Commissioner Lewnau stated she agrees with Commissioner Butler. Commissioner Elstrom agreed. Chair Stenzel stated he was surprised to see this on the agenda as he did not know this was coming. The Commission has worked hard to look closely at the parks. Residents have been promised projects. When meeting with Council in workshop there was a desire to continue to maintain the parks we have and finish the parks that have been started. Pine Hills North was added but it is not done. The City Campus Complex Plan will be coming in the future. There needs to be some park improvements /replacement in the future. The Commission wants to finish the parks so the residents that paid for them can enjoy them. He did not expect the Council to decide in this way. The Council is sending the message what you have is what you get. What residents have in the neighborhood parks is what they will have. This is not what the Commission is looking at. It is not what they heard from the residents and the athletic associations. What was heard was there are some nice parks that need enhancement with some added amenities. • No formal action is needed as this is for Park and Recreation Commission information only. • Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes —September 17, 2015 Page 6 CONSIDER REVISING 2016 — 2020 PARRS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. Haas reviewed the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to consider revising final 2016 — 2020 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to the City Council. Based on the previous agenda item, project items that are considered replacements will be funded by the Parks Maintenance Budget based on budget availability. For example, at Timber Trails Park, the Parks Maintenance Department will determine the value of the existing baseball fencing since the fence does not meet the current standards. That value of the existing fence will be funded from the Parks Maintenance Budget. The remaining cost of the fence will be funded from the Park improvement Fund. The same will need to be determined for Fox Meadows Park. Mr. Haas noted Staff is currently reviewing replacement items for both Timber Trails Park and Fox Meadows Park. The estimated cost will be provided at the meeting. As far as other proposed improvements in the 2016 — 2020 CIP, the Park and Recreation Commission will need to determine if the City Hall Outdoor Hockey Rinks paving of the rinks and parking lot should remain in the CIP or removed. At this point, with the discussion and planning of the City Campus Master Plan is in its early stages, the Commission may want to remove from the CIP and wait on the final Master Plan to be approved by the City Council. Discussion still needs to take place by the City Council in regards to how the City Campus improvements will be funded. One other item that should be considered to be removed from the CIP is the Langseth Park Trail Improvement of $20,000. If the property owner decides to change their mind regarding an easement in the future, the Park Improvement Fund would most likely have funds available to fund the project. With $46,500 being allocated to the Parks Maintenance in the General Fund, the Park Improvement Fund for the years 2017 — 2020 have an ending fund balance below the $50,000 contingency so revisions should be made as recommended by the Finance Department. Chair Stenzel stated the funds have been removed from the Park Improvement Fund and starting in 2017, the balance is in the red. Now the Commission needs to decide what to cut to maintain the contingency balance of $50,000. In 2016, we are okay. In 2017 — 2018 we are in the red and also in 2019 — 2020. All the projected commitments that were approved by the Commission and the City Council now need to be looked at and possibly being cut. He reviewed the planned projects that will need to be looked at to be possibly cut. Commissioner Miskowiec stated it would be nice to have clarification from City Council as to whether that is their true intent. He would like Council to reconsider their opinion or Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — September 17, 2015 Page 7 • modify their opinion before taking the majority of Parks Funding away. He would like Council direction on this. Motion by Butler, seconded by Lewnau to recommend to City Council that the Park C W not be modified until a meeting can be held between the Park Commission and the Council to discuss. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent (Lindahl) vote. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS /MAINTENANCE UPDATE Mr. Haas reviewed on- projects and other items of interest along with the weekly parks maintenance update. CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Butler asked residents to be careful especially at trail crossings as school is back in session. Chair Stenzel asked how the mysidewalk.com site worked and Mr. Haas stated it worked very well. He asked what a citizen should do if they have a request. Mr. Haas stated on the City website comments can be made which will be referred to the department in the City handling that area. He suggested an article be written about mysidewalk.com to • notify the residents. Mr. Haas will research and report back to the Commission. He fears the residents are not being heard or don't have an avenue for expressing their requests or concerns. This may quantify the need for monies to be spent for park projects. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lewnau, seconded by Butler, to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:35 p.m. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent (Lindahl) vote. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary Timesaver off Site Secretarial, Inc. •