HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 10, 2007
C I T Y o F
0 NDOVE
REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 10, 2007
MINUTES
The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Vice
Chairman Gretchen Sabel, October 10,2007,7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown
Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota.
Commissioners present: Gretchen Sabel, Jody Keppers, Jim Olson, Winslow Holasek
(arrived at 7:03 p.m.), Bruce Perry and Kim Kovich (arrived at
7:31 p.m.)
Commissioners absent: Deric DeuscWe
Also present: City Planner, Courtney Bednarz
0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 12,2007
Commissioner Sabel indicated Chairman Deric Deuschle's name was spelled wrong.
September 26, 2007
Commissioner Perry indicated the minutes show Commissioner Olson both absent and present.
Motion by Perry, seconded by Olson, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried on a
4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (DeiscWe, Holasek, and Kovich) vote.
DISCUSS CHANGES TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE CHAPTER OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Commissioner Sabel indicated she would like to go through the changes and fmalize them at this
meeting if possible.
Commissioner Olson wondered what the Parks Commission thought about this. Mr. Bednarz stated
0 they have reviewed and are satisfied with the chapter.
Commissioner Olson wondered if they should add the two million dollars on page three after the
bond referendum. Commissioner Keppers thought this wasn't necessary. Commissioner Perry
agreed with that.
0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - October 10, 2007
Page 2
Commissioner Perry thought they were going to leave off educational in the last bullet point in the
list. Commissioner Keppers thought this was a catch all to include all other things. 1bis would
include marginal items that could be taken into consideration.
Commissioner Sabel thought they should take out ''Natural'' in the Natural buffer area on page 3.
Mr. Bednarz thought when they read items IV and V they seem to overlap each other. Commissioner
Olson thought they decided to cross out "along trail corridors" in the new item IV.
Commissioner Keppers thought item b was there to set up the second step they will be taking which
will be setting up scoring and evaluation of how they will score the sites. He thought they should
think up some subheadings under this. Commissioner Perry thought this could be done after the
Comprehensive Plan because they do not want to be too firm in the plan. Commissioner Keppers
thought item b needed to be a little better defined. He suggested they state the Open Space
Commission will establish a system for the selection of sites.
0 Commissioner Sabel suggested they reword the first sentence in item b to read "The City of Andover
will select sites for open space preservation based on the liI:lfftber and value ofllie cvaluation criteria
present. Other factors may be considered, including the amount of similar resources that exist, the
location of the area, the amount of funding available, and others. The Open Space Commission will
establish an objective svstem for the recommended selection of sites."
Commissioner Olson wondered if they would ever send anything to the City Council including
negative recommendations. Commissioner Keppers thought it would depend on the context of why
they were evaluating something. Commissioner Olson wondered if they would ever initiate contact.
Mr. Bednarz described the relationship of advisory commissions to the Council.
Commissioner Kovich arrived at 7 :31 p.m.
Commissioner Sabel thought item ii under item a on page 4 should read "The area is sufficient in
size to preserve and enhance natural resources." She asked if the group needed to deal with Park
Land Site Selection Criteria. Mr. Bednarz indicated they did not but if they wanted to they could
insert something in there and then get Park Commission concurrence with it.
Commissioner Olson stated on the top of page five, item viii refers to open space corridors or other
parks and he wondered if this should be changed. Commissioner Keppers indicated the Park
Commission will provide a link to it and he thought this is acknowledging there is interplay between
the parks and open space.
0 Commissioner Sabel asked if Mr. Bednarz could expand on the Public Controls or Ownership
section. Mr. Bednarz explained that it was language from the previous Compo Plan that seems to
duplicate the goals and policies. The commission decided this section could be deleted.
0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - October 10, 2007
Page 3
Commissioner Kovich wondered what eminent domain meant under City purchase. Mr. Bednarz
stated they would not use bond funds for something like this. Commissioner Sabel thought this
could be worded differently.
Commissioner Kovich thought they should put in a policy indicating the land that is purchased
cannot be used for other things besides open space so there are not any problems in the future. An
easement should be placed on open space land.
Mr. Bednarz thought it could be placed on page under goal 2, policies, bullet point two.
Commissioner Keppers wondered if there were some instances where they would not want a
conservation easement.
Commissioner Kovich stated they will want to have a conservation easement on the property to
protect it in the future. Mr. Bednarz did not think there would be a problem with having a
conservation easement on land.
Commissioner Sabel thought item I under section b should have Park Dedication listed if they are
0 going to use it for Parks and Open Space.
Commissioner Sabel wondered if they should reword the heading to state "Methods of Parks and
Open Space Acquisition."
Commissioner Sabel thought they should add another item to the list "Actions by charitable
organizations and foundations" and strike foundations from item vii. Also delete item iii "State
purchase" .
Mr. Bednarz reviewed the next steps regarding the Comprehensive Plan review.
Mr. Bednarz indicated he included the Washington County Open Space Evaluation Criteria in the
packet for the Commission review.
OTHER BUSINESS
a. Next Meeting
November meeting:
. Feedback from Planning Commission meeting of November 13
. Start funding resources discussion regarding list from Anoka Conservation District
0 . Start evaluation criteria list
December meeting:
. Wrap up funding resources discussion
0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting
Minutes - October 10, 2007
Page 4
. Continue evaluation criteria list
. Start to work on the identification and selection process
Commissioner Sabel wondered if there was any reason to have Trust for Public Land come and talk
to them. Mr. Bednarz thought that was a good idea He hoped they could work with some of these
organizations to help them with acquiring land.
Motion by Olson, Seconded by Keppers, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary
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