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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 5, 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – JUNE 5, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Stenzel on June 5, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Shane Stenzel, Commissioners Emily Honer, Bruckner Johnson, Jim Lindahl, and Liza Shafto. Commissioners Absent: Commissioners Ryan Dawson and Kristin Lackie. Also Present: Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk and Community Development Director Joe Janish. RESIDENT FORUM - NONE No one appeared to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 3, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the April 3, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, 0-nays. April 17, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting Commissioner Honer noted in the title of the minutes the date should have been April 17, 2025. She also stated she did not suggest Minecraft for the Movie in the Park on page 11. Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the April 17, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes as amended. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, 0-nays. AGENDA APPROVAL Mr. Baumunk noted item #9 was added after the original agenda was published. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 2 Motion by Commissioner Shafto, seconded by Commissioner Lindahl, to approve the agenda for the June 5, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, 0-nays. DISCUSS FIELDS OF ANDOVER SKETCH PLAN (PLANNING DEPARTMENT) Community Development Director Joe Janish reviewed the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to provide comments related to the Fields of Andover Sketch Plan. This is the first step in the formal development process for proposed PUD’s in the City of Andover. Artemis Development Company, LLC has secured approximately 800 acres of the 1,000 acres located within the Rural Reserve. The Rural Reserve was identified and created in the early 2000’s as part of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan. As part of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan process the Metropolitan Council has identified additional capacity within the Coon Rapids Interceptor and required the City of Andover to identify around 1,000 acres for future urban development. Since that time, the Andover Comprehensive Plan has indicated the Rural Reserve is reserved to accommodate future urban growth beyond the previously planned Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA). The Rural Reserve has been restricted until a master plan is approved and municipal sewer and water can be constructed to serve the area. The applicant has indicated that the concept has been developed with the following criteria:  Existing surrounding land uses and street connections.  Existing natural features.  Existing soil conditions, including deep peat areas greater than 10 feet in depth.  Wetland delineation, including private and public ditches.  Preservation of Public Ditch 37 flow through, new water features, and water quality improvements.  Existing floodplain preservation. Highlights of the proposal include:  7-mile trail network and sidewalks connecting internally and adjacent neighborhoods to all active and passive open space elements.  Approximately 55% of development is expected to be water features or green space, with the following breakout: o Approximately 258.4 acres or 32% of the total site area to be active, passive, and nature preserve open spaces. o Approximately 174.5 acres or 22% of the total site area to be water quality ponds, waterway areas, preserved floodplain, and wetlands. Currently, the Master Park Plan does not include the Rural Reserve area and will need to be updated citywide to reflect the inclusion of this area. The Park and Recreation Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 3 Commission is requested to provide input related to the development as it relates to park amenities and features. Also provided for Commission consideration are PUD Sketch Plan Slides, Open Space 11 x 17, and Land Use Concept 11 x 17. Chair Stenzel stated he is confused about the definitions between active open space and public park. Mr. Baumunk stated staff had commented that the labels on the green spaces on the map differ from the City’s definitions. The applicant is using “open space” differently from what the City uses. Mr. Todd Stutz and Dave Gonyea, Artemis Development, stated they have appeared before the City Council in a work session and also have held a public meeting for residents. Mr. Stutz stated that the scale of this project is unique. 32% of the property will be open space. There will be natural areas that will not be maintained. Passive park areas will be accessible to the public through a trail system. There will be no play area. An active park will be a public park with play areas and accessible through trails. All the streets will have sidewalks on one side of the street. There will be a homeowner association amenity area that will not be public. Mr. Stutz described the water area in detail. Commissioner Johnson thanked the applicant for considering the pathways and integrating them into the development. He asked Mr. Baumunk if 19 acres of active and 15 acres of passive open space fall in line with expectations of park space. Mr. Baumunk stated that going forward, updating the park dedication study will determine that. There will be a projected 10-year build-out for this project once it starts, so not all identified green spaces will be built and maintained right away. Chair Stenzel stated he does not recall seeing a sketch plan designating parks to this degree. He asked if the City needed to accept all the park areas identified, given the fact that the maintenance was involved, and whether it would be better to just take the 7 acres. Mr. Janish stated that there will be 1400 housing units. There is early discussion of addition of 3 FTE’s for maintenance items such as streets, utilities, and parks. Chair Stenzel stated that this is a lot of land that would fall to the City to maintain. He does not feel one fte for parks is enough for this park. Mr. Baumunk stated that this was also commented on by staff, and the question was asked about who would maintain the area. Commissioner Lindahl stated Round Lake Boulevard is 55 mph. He does not see how these areas would be used by the general population. Commissioner Shafto stated that residents are using Pine Hills Park that do not live in the immediate area but utilize those parks. Mr. Stutz stated they have not decided on who will own what and who will maintain the areas. He noted that much of this area will be left in a natural state. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 4 Commissioner Shafto stated that if the active park areas were to be used by the wider community, it would be wise to add enough parking spaces. Commissioner Honer stated she appreciates the trails that are connected with the existing trail system. It would be beneficial to see how those trails can help the retail businesses in the area. DISCUSS 2026-2030 PARK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PLAN Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Commission is requested to discuss the 2026-2030 CIP for Park Playground Equipment Replacement Plan that has been recommended by the Public Works Parks Maintenance staff. The following are the proposed playground structures that are being recommended for replacement (or refurbishment) over the next 5 years, which also includes improvements to the fall zones. 2026 – Creekview Crossing Park (2007), and Andover Station North (2008) – Only two identified due to the size of the ASN playground. 2027 – Fox Meadows (2006), Meadows of Round Lake (2008), and Woodland Crossing (2008). 2028 – Meadowood North (2009), Sophie’s (2010), and Oak Bluff (2008). 2029 – Nordeen’s (2012), Hickory Meadows (2012), and Timber Trails (2013). 2030 – Pleasant Oaks (2013), Green Acres (2013), and Northwoods East (2013). The playground equipment identified could move up or down depending on the condition of the equipment, ADA requirements, entrapments, fall zones, and handicapped accessibility. The General Fund budget impact for replacement/repair of various playground equipment is proposed at $200,000 per year. Staff will continue to apply for the matching grant from GameTime to offset the rising cost of playground replacements. If funds remain, Staff will request to carry forward and apply them to the subsequent year’s projects. Depending on the size of the playground replacement and receipt of grant funds, annual replacement budget impacts will vary. The Park & Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the 2026-2030 Park Playground Equipment Replacement Plan. The size of each playground is indicated by different colors on the drawing. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 5 DISCUSS 2026-2030 TRAIL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. Baumunk reviewed that the Commission is requested to discuss the 2026-2030 CIP for New Trail Segments. The only segment identified and approved in the 2025-2029 CIP was Segment 4. Segment #4 is being constructed currently in 2025 or early 2026. Segment #3 will be adjusted as funding becomes available and upon final approval by the City Council. Due to design challenges and agency approvals, two trail segments that were planned to be constructed in 2025 —the Crosstown Boulevard Trail from Xeon Street to Prairie Road and the Coon Creek Corridor Trail east of Prairie Road — have been rescheduled for 2026. Segment #3 (2027 – Placeholder only) strd  8’ Bituminous Trail along Verdin Street NW from 161 Avenue to 163 Lane. This would require a substantial boardwalk to complete this section. st  Re-evaluate once the Regional Trail is constructed along 161 Avenue. Mr. Baumunk noted that the City Council will determine how the proposed trail improvements will be funded. The current budget does not support building segment #3 in the identified year. The suggested year is used as a placeholder. DISCUSS 2026-2030 CIP PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Baumunk reviewed that the Park & Recreation Commission is requested to continue discussing the 2026-2030 Park Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). th The target date for the draft CIP is Friday, June 6. The Park & Recreation Commission should review the future improvements in Zones A-D and determine what projects should be considered for the next 5 years. The commission has discussed pickleball courts as requests continue to come in for them. The suggestions was to possibly look at parks where a pair of pickleball bourts could be added. Mr. Baumunk suggested this gets discussed with th City Council at the joint meeting June 24 since the Councils direction last year was to remove the pickleball complex from the CIP The project overview report for the 2026-2030 CIP was provided along with a report that details each project individually. Along with the overview report, there is a report showing the projected fund balance for the Park Improvement Fund with the park improvement projects identified in the draft CIP as of 5/19/25. The Park & Recreation Commission is requested to review the draft of the 2026-2030 Park Improvements CIP and make recommendations for revisions, additions, or subtractions. This will be discussed at the Council–Commission work session. DISCUSS THE 2026-2030 TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 6 Mr. Baumunk reviewed that the Park & Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the 2026-2030 Trail Reconstruction Improvement Projects that are being considered by staff for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). As the trail system ages and deteriorates, reconstruction of segments becomes necessary to maintain a high-quality trail system. The following are the projects that were identified by staff that need to be reconstructed to maintain the level of service expected on the trail system by residents. It is staff’s recommendation to add them to the 2026-2030 CIP.  2026-2027 – Kelsey Round Lake Park ($500,000). This segment of trail will be evaluated annually to determine when the best time to apply for DNR funding and reconstruct this segment of trail. A MNDNR grant has been applied for, which if awarded would cover half the cost.  Small sections of the trail have been identified by staff for repairs that are failing due to roots pushing up sections of the asphalt. o Trail Section between Drake St. and Avocet St. 425’ total. Cost – TBD. o Sections along the north side of Station Parkway. Cut and repair as needed. Cost – TBD.  2028-2030 – No projects have been identified. Existing trails are inspected annually, and reconstruction needs are based on field inspections. The funding of these trail projects typically comes from a combination of Grants, Capital Equipment Reserve, General Fund, and/or Road & Bridge Funds. OUTSTANDING ITEMS Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Outstanding Items Report: On-going Projects: Park Maintenance Staff have been busy with the spring rush of mowing as grass is growing quickly, and only a couple of seasonal staff have started at this time. A lot of staff time has been spent on finishing the Pine Hills Shelter grading, sod, and irrigation installation. Time was spent grading and preparing the site at Fields of Winslow Cove East Park for the playground installation. 2024 CIP Projects – Pine Hills Multipurpose Building: The building is mostly complete with water, electric and sewer connected, sod, and irrigation installed, and the sidewalk and drive access completed. The well has been treated and is awaiting Mn Dept of Health testing. The well failed the first two tests, and staff is following the MDH recommendations on treating the well. Comcast is finalizing the design plan for connection to the building and should be installed shortly. Electronic door controls and camera systems are ordered and waiting for installation. There is a delay in getting these two items installed. Reservation rules and regulations were reviewed and finalized by the Staff and Administration. The target was to have the Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 7 project completed and open by June of 2025. Until the well passes testing, and the door control systems are complete, staff will wait for advertising for reservations of the facility. Updates on 2025 Park CIP Projects – New Park at Fields of Winslow Cove East Park – The concrete border has been installed, and crews are currently installing playground equipment. Parks staff will install the wood fiber mulch, irrigation, and turf once installation is finished. Sunshine Basketball Court Upgrades – Staff presented this to City Council for replacing the asphalt surface in conjunction with the mill and overlay work that is being done on the south Sunshine Park parking lot this year. Once the asphalt court is removed and replaced with the project, the upgrades can be completed. Playground Replacements – Scheduled for mid-summer into fall as workload permits. Other Items of Interest: New Trail Segment Along Coon Creek – The easement has been secured and a DNR Local Trail Connection Grant was awarded for $250,000. The grant funds must be used by June of 2026. Staff has brush mowed the trail, and survey and design work has started. Staff have started the bridge design with the bridge th contractor. A neighborhood meeting was held on March 26 with those properties adjacent to the new trail. The meeting had a mixture of support and opposition. Many opposed had concerns about liability of having people in their backyards in the trail easement. Trail by Clocktower Commons – The trail adjacent to Chipotle and Starbucks was removed as part of the construction project. The trail has now been paved and re- opened. The new trail is set at a higher elevation than it was previously. The Movie in the Park movies cost $765 for the screening for 200-500 people. The suggestion was made to go with Minecraft. The June 19 Park & Recreation Commission Meeting will be cancelled. CHAIRS REPORT Commissioner Honer had no report. Commissioner Lindahl reminded the residents that the parks are busy, so be cautious when nearby. Commissioner Johnson had no report. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – June 5, 2025 Page 8 Commissioner Shafto had no report. Chair Stenzel had no report. Mr. Baumunk noted the roundabout project on Crosstown and Nightengale starts on Monday, June 9, 2025. Traffic will be rerouted. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Lindahl to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, 0-nays. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.