Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJCC May 15, 1991 ~ CITY of ANDOVER SPECIAL JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL AND PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MAY 15, 1991 MINUTES A Special Joint Meeting of the Andover City Council and Andover Park and Recreation Commission was calJed to order by Mayor Ken Oettel on May 15, 1991 : 7:33 p.m., at the Andover City Hal], 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. CounciJmembers present: McKelvey, Peery, Sml th Councllmember absent: Jacobson Commissioners present: Chairperson Jeff Kieffer, Darre I I DeLarco, Mike Auger, Roger Paulson Commissioners absent: Tom Anderson, Jim Lindahl, David Woods Also present: City Administrator, Jim Schrantz: Assistant City Engineer, Todd Haas: Public Works Supervisor, Frank Stone KELSEY-ROUND LAKE PARK - PROPOSED PLAN AND PARK DEDICATION Chaieperson Kieffee outlined the proposed development of Kelsey-Round Lake Park incJudlng the parking Jot, future inteepeetlve center, biking/walking trails, bridge to the island, prairie grass restoration area, etc. In an attempt to reduce costs during the first phase, It has been proposed that the biking/walking trails be narrowed to 6 or 8 feet and covered with Class 5 instead of paved. There will also be other teails that are of eithee cut grass or covered with wood chips. They would also want to install trails feom the various developments. Signs and dedications would be installed In the more hlstoricaJ areas. About a 10-acre area would be planted with corn every other year to feed the wildlite. Once the tlnal plans are completed, they wi II be presented to the Council. Chairperson Kieffer explained the proposal tor the first matching grant application Is to be spread over a 3-year period. It wou I d cost the City about $20,000 each of those three yeaes. The Park Board would probably then walt a year oe two before making application tor another grant to be able to concenteate on some of the other packs in the City. The first phase will consist of the packing lot, the main tral] system through the center at the pack and trail accesses tram the community. It is estimated the cost of $1 mil lion to tin Ish the park completely. Chairperson Kietfer asked the status at Wayne Bachman's request to allow development of Indian Meadows without the Installation of the entice road system. In exchange, he had agreed to donate the parcel on which the pond is located to the City. The Park Board desires to have that pond included in the park. Jerry Wlndschltl, who is also - -- ,- -~ Joint City Council/Park and Receeatlon Commission Meeting Minutes - May 15. 1991 Page 2 (Kelsey-Round Lake Park, Continued) deve]oplng Jand In that vicinity. has suggested a swap of I and so the City could have tha t pond: howevee, the Park Board did not teel the proposaJ was acceptable. After some discussion. the Counc i I was uncomfortable with deviating from its platting requirements In exchange foe the pond. The Counc II preferred to have the City purchase the pond outright. Chaiepeeson Kieffee agreed to set up a meeting with Mr. Bachman, Mr. Windschlt], Mr. Haas. and Park Board eepresentatives. At this point. the Council liked the peoposed development plan at Kelsey-Round Lake Pack. Mr. Scheantz indicated some bike trails ace covered with limestone. which are a Jot better than geavel. The Park Board indicated they would look into that. PARK PARKING LOT ISSUES Mr. Kieffee eeported on the concerns raised by eesidents in Chapman's Addition eegarding the Pack and Recreation Commission's plan to install a parking lot in Terrace Park. The plan is to put the parking Jot near the home pJate oft 135th Avenue NW. The residents peefer i t to be located by Pumphouse #2 to move the parking away from their homes. and to pJace "No Parking" signs along 135th. The eesidents would also prefer that no league ball games be played at that park. They aJso suggested that the ballfield be moved so home plate is nearer the pumphouse. The Commission's concern is that peopJe wi]] want to park as close to home plate as possible. The pack i ng I at is to discourage parking on the street. They have already said that adult leagues are not a] lowed to play in that park; but the tleld Is needed for youth leagues. It Is also felt that by moving the parking lot and ballfield location, the prob] em wi I] Just be shitted to other residents. It would be very costly to move the balltield. Atter some discussion, the Council acknowledged that theee is some contlicts with neighbors around the bal Itields: howevee, the park i ng lot should alleviate parking on the street. The adult activities have been eliminated. and youth leagues play ball foe only 2 or 3 hours each evening foe about two months a year. It was fel t there Is ,a need to provide facilities and activities tor the youth ot the community, and they weee glad to see those tacilltles being used. The Counc II agreed wi th the Commission that the best place for the proposed packing lot is near the home plate because it provides the most dleect route to the stop lights on Round Lake Boulevard, there is a curb cut aleeady peovided, and It Is the most convenient location to the ball field and the playground. The Council also suggested the Commission have a plan as to when the parking lot wou]d be paved. .. Joint City Council/Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 15, 1991 Page 3 PARKS FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPPROVEMENTS PLAN Chairperson Kieffer briefly reviewed the proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan foe the parks which would be expenditures ovee and above the yearly budget. They did not look at lights for the fields at the Ci ty HaJ J Complex because at the hugh expense. There are 50 parks in the City now, and many of them ace undeveloped. The Commission wi II have to look at each new development to determine whether additional parks are needed: because as the number at parks increases, so does the need tor additional maintenance. Mr. Stone stated that he Is shoethanded Just taking care of what the City has now. Mayoe Orttel wondered if it is worth considering sel ling the land at those parks the City does not need. Chairperson Kietfer stated the Commission can look Into that. Councllmember Percy wondered if the various athletic organizations would be interested in working with the Commission on lighting the fields at the City Hal I Complex. The Counci I gene.ally had no problem with the proposed Five-Year Capl tal Improvements Plan. FUTURE CITY-WIDE TRAIL SYSTEM Chairpeson Kieffer stated the consuJtant drew up a proposal for a trai I system throughout the City. The Commission feels that is something they should strive for. As development comes in, they will look for land for the trail system: but there are some ace as where there Is no dedication. In turther discussion, the Council generally agreed some type of trai I system is desirable. but I t wi I I have to be developed in stages. One practical t.ai I would be to the Bunker Hllls Park which eventually connects to Elm Ceeek Park. Some Jand is already dedicated along Coon Creek. Chairperson Kieffer stated some bridges avec county highways will be needed. He didn't know who gets involved in that construction. Mayoe Odtel didn't know where the tunding would come from, but noted that the county has also used tunnels rather than beldges which may be less costly. The Counc i ] suggested pursuing the tral I system by looking at each plat as it comes In. ,- Joint City Council/Pack and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 15, 1991 Page 4 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT - LAPTUDA PROPERTY Mayor Orttel informed the Park Commission that the Counc i J has approved the purchase at the remainder at the Laptuda property, the closing to be the end at July, 1991. Me. Haas thought the schoo I district would be Interested in working wi th the City on deveJoplng that property into a eecreational activity complex. Mr. Stone hoped that when that complex is developed, the City wouJd consider giving up the one soccer field Just noeth ot the Public Works building so they can use it for storage. That area was initially planned to be part of Public Works. He asked that that be a part of the overa] 1 Plan. The consensus was that the Commission should peoceed with the plan to develop the Laptuda property into a recreational activity compJex. SPONSOR-A-TREE PROGRAM Chairperson Kieffer asked the Council's opinion to sol ici t local businesses and organizations to sponsor a teee to be planted in a pack. They are looking for larger trees, not seedlings. They are aIso considering an Adopt-a-Park peogram, where service organizations, businesses, etc., would clean up the park once or twice a year, pol ice i t ~ etc., similiar to the State and county's Adopt-a-Highway peogram. Counc i I favoeed the peoposals, suggesting individual residents may also be Interested, noting those types oe programs help to keep goveenmental costs down and encoueages resident participation. MAINTENANCE OF PARKS DISCUSSION Chairperson Kleftee stated with all the packs, the Staft cannot keep up with maintenance; and there have been complaints trom the athIetic associations that the grass is not being cut on the tields. Mr. Stone stated they maintain about 24 parks. He hoped to be abIe to get some summer help through the CETA. But he is aIso running shoet on equipment. Commissioner Paulson explained that mace than Just summer help Is needed, as there is a lot at work needed In the spr i ng and fa II and in the winter for wlntee activities. He stated that sufficient full-time personnel is very essential. Counc i I was awaee at the problem, acknowledging additional staffing wi J I be necessary as the City geows. Mayor Orttel noted the budget consteaints and expIained the detrimental effect of the tax Jaws to a growing City's ability to tax to meet those additional needs. . ,- .- ,- Joint City Council/Pack and Recreation CommIssion Meeting Minutes - May 15, 1991 Page 5 OTHER BUSINESS Park and Recreation Statf Recommendation - Mayoe Orttel reterred to an annonymous Jetter which eecommends the CIty hire it's own Park and Recreation/Community EducatIon Coordinator. He also reported that the School District Is discussing the Community Education progeam. Some of the proposals he Is awaee of would not be beneticial to Andover/s program, which has one of the best programs In the county. After tuether discussion, It was felt that it would not be in the City's best Interest to have a Community Education Coordlnatoe on Staf f. Everyone was pleased with the programs that have been developed over the past eight years, thinking the City and its residents are receivIng the maximum benefit from the peesent arrangement. The Counc I I did feel that at some point It may be necessary to have a Pack and Recreation CoordInator on Staff. noting that Mr. Haas basicaJ]y serves In that capacity at this time. Mr. Stone stated he is going to let Kevin Starr attend the Park Board meet i ngs. Counc i I suggested the Pack Board look at some of the other suggestions in that letter that should be considered. Crossing from Andover School - Mr. Stone noted there is no legal crossing from Andover School to the Ci ty Hal J Complex. Counci I felt that should be done. This may also be a good place to put a tunnel under Ceosstown Boulevard to avoid having children cross the road. MOTION by McKelvey, Seconded by Smith, to adjourn. Motion careied on a 4-Yes, l-Absent (Jacobson) vote. Meeting adjourned at 9:18p.m. Respecttul Iy submitted, ~~ ~>t-;'~L Marc Ila A. Peach Recording Seceetary ,-