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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 20, 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – NOVEMBER 20, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Stenzel on November 20, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Shane Stenzel, Commissioners Ryan Dawson, Emily Honer, Bruckner Johnson, Kristin Lackie, Jim Lindahl, and Liza Shafto Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: City Planner Peter Hellegers RESIDENT FORUM – NONE. No one appeared to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. September 18, 2025 Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Motion by Commissioner Lackie, seconded by Commissioner Lindahl, to approve the September 18, 2025 Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, 0-nays, 2-present (Bruckner and Stenzel). AGENDA APPROVAL. Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Lackie, to approve the agenda for the November 20, 2025, Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting as amended, removing items 8 and 9. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, 0-nays. DISCUSS POTENTIAL CELL TOWER INFOX MEADOWS PARK Mr. Hellegers reviewed Staff is looking for direction in regards to having a cell tower constructed in Fox Meadows Park from the Commission. Staff has provided an overview of the concept to the Andover City Council on October 28, 2025. City Council was open Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025 Page 2 to the idea but wanted to hear from the Park and Recreation Commission with their feedback. Staff was contacted by a telecommunications company to determine if the City is open to a tower being constructed in Fox Meadows Park. The proposal is as follows:  |Tower Lease Area: 75’ x 75’ +/- (depends on selected tower location).  Tower Height: 120’-150’.  Rental Term: 50 years  Rental Rate: Monthly rent to be negotiated.  Tower Owner: Vertical Bridge would be the tower owner and operator.  Access: Easement from ROW/Parking Area.  Utilities: Power, Fiber, Access Road. Mr. Hellegers reviewed a tower as a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), and in residential districts, towers of up to 120 feet are allowed through the CUP process. The potential applicant indicated they would provide an engineering fall zone letter so that all equipment and the tower itself would meet the underlying setback requirements if acceptable to the City. The applicant is open to other alternative locations that are preferred by the City. Photographs were provided for Commission review. The City Council did discuss having a tower that could carry multiple providers in order to allow for co-location, vs. the single monopole design for each cell carrier. Chapter 11 – Antennas and Towers was provided for the Commission. Commissioner Honer asked if the rent from the towers goes into the City Fund rather than the Park Fund. Chair Stenzel asked the Commissioners if they would want some of the rent monies to come to the Park Fund. Commissioner Lackie noted the precedent of Rose Park, where a percentage of the rent stays in Rose Park for Park Improvements. Chair Stenzel asked for the Commissioners' thoughts. Commissioner Dawson asked what the rent is at Rose Park, and Commissioner Johnson stated the Park Fund’s portion is $11,000 per year. Chair Stenzel noted that if monies are dedicated to a particular park, funds cannot be used for anything else. Chair Stenzel suggested asking for some money for a general maintenance fund for all parks. Commissioner Honer suggested it go into a trail fund. Commissioner Johnson stated it would be good to come back to the parks and suggested it could be used for planting trees. Commissioner Lackie stated she likes the trail piece as the trails are heavily used and would benefit all the parks. Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025 Page 3 Commissioner Dawson stated he agrees. Commissioner Shafto stated she does not know if this would be the appropriate money for the trails. We have talked about Fox Meadows in the past and had ideas that we could not afford. Perhaps this is a way to make those improvements. There was a discussion about moving the sunflower field to this area. She agrees to the cell tower and keeps the funds in the parks. Commissioner Lindahl would like to see a portion stay in Fox Meadows. This may help get the neighbors on board with the cell tower. He would like to see the rent money stay in Fox Meadows for at least a few years. Chair Stenzel asked if the Commission would consider a re-evaluation after a period to discuss how the remaining rent money would be allocated. He suggested ten years dedicated to Fox Meadows. Commissioner Lackie supported that idea. Commissioner Johnson asked if there had been any discussion about the rules regarding cell tower setbacks and height. Mr. Hellegers stated the City has not yet received a request for a Conditional Use Permit. He provided photographs of the Tower plan. Council had requested that this tower accommodate other providers. Commissioner Lindahl noted the proposed location of the tower within the park is the best possible location. The rest of the Commissioners agreed. Mr. Ryan Struff, Vertical Bridge, introduced himself. He noted the location for the tower is a smaller area. There is another location that would facilitate the tower and disguise it more. He indicated the location on the drawing. Commissioner Lindahl stated that if it were located there, he would prefer to see the Red Cedar Trees removed for access. Commissioner Honer stated she likes the idea of it being disguised. Commissioner Lackie asked how the soccer field would be impacted. Mr. Struff stated he would work with the staff to make sure it is out of the way for the use of that field. Mr. Struff stated the tower height and area could be adjusted. Commissioner Johnson asked about the access, and it is the City’s responsibility to maintain that access road? Mr. Hellegers stated that it would be subject to an agreement. Chair Stenzel stated his only concern is to say yes to a spot and find out we are encroaching on a programmable space for athletics. He likes the idea of masking it and hiding it if it fits there. He would be in favor of it being in the park as long as no field space is encroached. Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – November 20, 2025 Page 4 The consensus of the Commission was to allow the tower in Fox Meadows Park. The location is to be determined after more information is provided. RD PARK DEDICATION IMPROVEMENT FUND 3 QUARTER REPORT Mr. Hellegers reviewed the Quarterly Park Improvement Fund, including the Project Commitment Listing Report, Balance Sheet, and Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Park Improvement Fund as of September 30, 2025. Commissioner Dawson suggested that the Commission discuss how funds can be used to invest in programs that will provide revenue for Parks and Recreation in the future. The money from land sales will not last forever. We could plan to do programming to provide revenue for the parks. Chair Stenzel stated the City does not have a Rec Department. Some programming is done through the community center. This would be a question for the City Council to create a Recreation Department. The Athletic Associations are also providing some funding for projects. Most parks are developed. Commissioner Dawson suggested this be discussed at a work session with some research as to what other similar-sized cities are doing. Commissioner Honer suggested the City Council look at how the park dedications are made and put some money into trail funds. Chair Stenzel asked Mr. Hellegers to explain how park dedication works. Commissioner Honer stated that with new developments coming in, now is the time to have the Council review that. ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 3RD QUARTER REPORT rd Mr. Hellegers provided the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office 3 Quarter Report for activity in the parks. CHAIRS REPORT. Commissioner Lindahl noted he will not be available for the December 4, 2025, Meeting. Commissioner Honer noted the tree lighting is on December 5, 2025 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., with lighting at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, 0-nays. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.