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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 6, 1997 o o ,- '\ U u () CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION - MARCH 6, 1997 MINUTES A Regular Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Dave O'Toole on March 6, 1997, 7:30 p.m., at Fire Station No.1, 13875 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Tom Anderson, Brian Barringer, Dave Blackstad, Al Grabowski, Jim Lindahl (arrived at 7:34 p.m.) Jeff Kieffer Park Coordinator, Todd Haas Others Commissioner absent: Also present: APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 20, 1997: Correct as written. MOTION by Blackstad, Seconded by Anderson, to approve the Minutes. Motion carried on a 4-Yes, I-Present (Grabowski), 2-Absent (Kieffer, Lindahl) vote. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT (Commissioner Lindahl arrived at this time, 7:34 p.m.) Bidding process - Commissioner Grabowski stated he talked with Tom Redmann, who is in charge of grounds for District 11 schools, about the bidding process. They have been telling equipment manufacturers the amount of money they have for a particular area and asking them to suggest the items that would fit in that price range. That way all vendors stay at the same price and the district can then pick what they want for equipment. He felt that may be worth considering by the City. Joint meeting with the City Council - Mr. Haas stated at the March 18 Council meeting he will ask them to schedule another joint meeting with the Park Board. PUBLIC HEARING: KELSEY-ROUND LAKE PARK/IP96-1 7:39 p.m. Mr. Haas reviewed the proposal to make application for Phase II of the construction of Kelsey-Round Lake Park, which has to be submitted by the end of March. The project for a blacktopped parking lot and trails, plus upgrading some existing trails is proposed to cost $100,000. A requirement of the state for the previous funding is that the City continue to make progress to develop this park. Chairperson O'Toole opened the hearing for public testimony. There was none. ~ \ i' .........-..... !j'. .,. ; '-.,) Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 6, 1997 Page 2 (Public Hearing: Kelsey-Round Lake Park/IP96-1, Continued) MOTION by Blackstad, Seconded by Barringer, to close the public hearing. Motion carried on a 6-Yes, I-Absent (Kieffer) vote. 7:43 p.m. MOTION by Lindahl, Seconded by Grabowski, to present the sketch written to the Council for approval and to go for the grant. carried on a 6-Yes, 1-Absent (Kieffer) vote. plan as Motion TIMBER RIVER ESTATES PRELIMINARY PLAT Mr. Haas reviewed the Timber River Estates development proposed to be done as a Planned Unit Development. The developer is proposing to dedicate 6.87 acres of park, so the remaining balance of 11.42 acres would be cash in lieu of land if the Commission agrees. The proposal is to grade and develop the park and trails as a part of the PUD. In the park, the Commission can choose whether a softball field or soccer field should be constructed. . / Byron Westlund, Woodland Development, disagreed with the amount of land being dedicated for park. Around the natural DNR-protected wetland of Outlot B they will have some walking trails and observation blinds. That wetland is 24.93 acres in size which they are offering to the City plus accesses to it. They would also landscape around Outlot A, where they would construct a pond, and construct bituminous trails around it. Trails and observation blinds in other cities have been very successful. The total proposed acres for park dedication would be 34.769 acres, which exceeds the 10-percent requirement and which would be completely developed. They are also proposing to construct a fishing pier along the Rum River, and they have made application for that project. The Commission generally liked the proposal as submitted and felt it would be very beneficial for the City, but they were not familiar with the requirements of PUD developments. They felt that possibly the dedication of Outlots A and B would be considered part of the consideration of the criteria for a PUD. If that is the case, cash would then be accepted in lieu of the 11.24 acres. There was also some concern with park maintenance because of the limited Staff and just not wanting to take outlots for park. Also, the trails would be used mainly by those within the development itself because they would not connect to the City's trail system. If a softball field is constructed, it was suggested it be flipped so the backstop is by the parking lot. No decision was made this evening on whether a softball field or a soccer field should be constructed in the park. Mr. Westlund noted that the trails could connect to the City's trail system, which is shown as going along Seventh Avenue some time in the future. The Comprehensive Plan also shows a neighborhood park in this area. He proposed if maintenance is a factor that Woodland Development would consider being responsible for the maintenance of the parks within the development for one year. Mr. Westlund also explained the storm sewer system for the park which consists of pipes and catch basins. \. .J \,_J Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 6, 1997 Page 3 (Public Hearing: Kelsey-Round Lake Park/IP96-1, They are proposing between $5,000 and $6,000 equipment in the tot lot area. Con tinued) worth of playground Because this is the first rural plat being developed as a POD and not wanting to make a decision that would set a precedent that is not in the City's best interest, the Commission felt some direction from the City Council is needed. What is the Commission's obligation for accepting park land in a PUD? The majority did not feel the outlots should be accepted for park. Mr. Haas stated he will direct those concerns to the Council at the March 18 meeting. He will bring this item back to the Commission at their March 20 meeting with the Council's comments. DISCUSS NON-RESIDENT FEE - YOUTH Mr. Haas found that the City of Anoka does not require non-resident fees but does require a percentage of the youth to be residents. Blaine requires the associations to be based out of their City. , / Nancy Benson, Anoka Junior Soccer, stated their organization has grown from 150 players from m10ka, Ramsey and Andover to over 300. They have two fields to play on in Anoka and one in Ramsey, which is not enough. It is difficult to schedule six teams of youth under age 10. They have asked to use Anoka High School, but they are only allowed to use one field for a couple nights a week and not for practice. They would like to schedule one game field and a practice field in ./;,ndover. Their organization is a feeder for the Anoka Senior High teams. Representatives from Andover Invaders and North Metro Soccer also noted their needs for fields. Andover Invaders has 14 boys and girls teams of 280 players. North Metro has divided their organization in to north/south boundaries. Last year they had about 150 players from Andover; this year they expect about 200. There was a very lengthy discussion about the makeup of the organizations, the needs of each for fields, the lack of fields available in all cities, and how the fields are scheduled and used throughout the week. Representatives of Andover Invaders and North Metro Soccer explained they get together to schedule fields each spring after the state sends them the schedules, and they are willing to work with Anoka Junior Soccer. Discussion was also on the availability of the soccer fields at the Oak View Middle School. Commissioner Grabowski felt there would be one large field and a small one, and he recommended the organizations contact the school district about that. The problem is there are no goal posts. Mr. Haas stated if the Commission is intending to help out with the purchase of some goal posts, he would like to know now so it can be included with the order for those at Sunshine Park. J , i \J Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 6, 1997 Page 4 (Discuss Non-Resident Fee - Youth, Continued) The Commission generally agreed to cover half of the cost of the goal posts if the soccer associations would reimburse the City for the remaining half. There was general agreement from the representatives of all three associations to do so. Mr. Haas stated he will talk with representatives of the school district to see how many fields would be available and how many soccer goals would be needed. He asked that the soccer associations send a letter to the City stating they are committed to paying for the other half of the soccer goals to be used at Oak View Middle School. Mr. Haas also asked the soccer associations to work out a practice schedule and present it to the City as well as present the field use once the schedules have been determined. MOTION by Blackstad, Seconded by Anderson, to approve the expenditure for two to three sets of soccer goals, depending on what Mr. Haas finds out from the school district, funds to be taken out of park dedication. Motion carried on a 6-Yes, 1-Absent (Kieffer) vote. The Commission then briefly discussed establishing a POllCY for field use by the youth organizations. Commissioner Grabowski reported the policy in Coon Rapids is that the Coon Rapids Athletic Association gets first choice as the only recognized youth organization in the City. Other organizations come after that. Because there appears to be an agreement on the use of the fields by the youth organizations for this year, it was agreed to set this issue aside for now. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT, CONTINUED Hills of Bunker 5th park - Mr. Haas noted a letter from Kevin Starr, Parks Department, on several items relating to the Hills of Bunker 5th park. The Commission generally agreed to leave the playground equipment in the proposed location because it is close to the parking lot. They did not feel the issue of balls being hit into the playground area is a concern. They also suggested that "No Parking" signs be posted along Bunker Lake Boulevard before the park is developed to prevent parking along that road. MOTION by Blackstad, Seconded by Anderson, to adjourn. Motion carried on a 6-Yes, 1-Absent (Kieffer) vote. The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, \'^~~~~~L ~~~lla A. Peach, Recording Secretary