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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 11, 2010 C I T Y o F 0 NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923. WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda August 11, 2010 Andover City Hall Council Chambers 7:00 D.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident Forum 3. Approval of Minutes - July 14,2010 4. Update on Property Negotiations 5. Discuss Stewardship of Martin's Meadows 0 6. Other Business a. Next meeting - Site Visits and Media Day 7. Adjournment Q 0 REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING August 11,2010 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Chairman Deric Deuschle, August 11,2010,7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Gretchen Sabel, Jim Olson Winslow Holasek, Bruce Perry and Kim Kovich Commissioners absent: Jody Keppers Also present: City Planner, Courtney Bednarz APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 14,2010 Motion by Perry, Seconded by Olson, to approve the minutes with a correction to the meeting date in the header. Motion carried with a 5-0 vote (Keppers present, Kovich absent). RESIDENT FORUM Q No one was present for resident forum. UPDATE ON PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS Mr. Bednarz updated the Commission on negotiations with the owner of White Pine Wilderness. He stated that a deal had been reached and the owner had hired a surveyor to finalize the boundaries of the area the city would purchase. He added that the next steps were to get a purchase agreement signed and have a lot split approved by the city. DISCUSS STEWARDSHIP OF OPEN SPACE Chairman Deuschle asked the commission to take the items one by one with the first being signage for Martin's Meadows. Signage Mr. Bednarz stated that the signs had been constructed but the water level along the river has made it difficult to install the signs without rutting up the bank. He added that the entrance sign near the cul- de-sac was being installed. Commissioner Sabel asked if there were restrictions on signage imposed by the Natural and Scenic 0 River designation. Mr. Bednarz stated there were not for the locations selected. However, the sign suggested in the northeast corner of the property was out in the river and no safe to workable solution had been determined. Commissioner Keppers stated that they could review this when they toured the site. 0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes-August 11,2010 Page 2 Chairman Deuschle agreed and added that the signs can be installed when conditions are more favorable. Regulations Chairman Deuschle stated that the Council had reviewed the recommendation to apply the park regulations to open space and raised several items for discussion listed in the staff report. Mr. Bednarz stated that the Council tabled the item to the August 24th Council Work Session so they would have more time to talk about the items. He discussed the items with the Commission The Commission agreed that there did not seem to be a need to create new regulations for canoeing or portaging canoes through the open space given that this has not been an issue at other landings in city parks. The Commission confirmed that they did not want to have hunting in open space areas and acknowledged that this issue may need to be revisited if state funding were obtained on a case by 0 case basis. Commissioner Olson added that the Luedtke family also indicated that they would not like to see hunting at Martin's Meadows. The Commission stated that they did not want to allow motorized vehicles for the general public. Mr. Bednarz stated that the park regulations have several provisions concerning motorized vehicles and that the signage would help make this clear on the site. Mr. Bednarz stated the use of play areas was mentioned by the Council. He added that the language in the park regulations prohibiting activities that conflict with others enjoyment seemed like it would apply well to open space areas as well. The Commission agreed that they did not recommend overnight camping and that the park hours should address this item. The Commission agreed that they did not recommend that recreational fires be allowed in the open space areas given the potential for them to spread. They noted that the park regulations would cover this item. Mr. Bednarz stated the discussion on rollerblading and skateboarding was specific to Sunshine Park and should not affect open space areas. He added that the language in the park regulations could be adjusted to make this more clear. 0 Mr. Bednarz asked the Commission to remind him of their discussion on whether the Commission would recommend horses be allowed in open space areas. The Commission indicated that they did not want to see horse trails established at Martin's Meadows as the primary intent was to keep the 0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes-August 11,2010 Page 3 area in a natural state. The noted that there were better places for this activity such as Rum River Central and Bunker Hills Regional Parks. Commissioner Keppers stated that they would be able to revisit this issue in the future if necessary on a case by case basis. Mr. Bednarz stated he would forward the work session agenda and report to the Commission. Management Plan Chairman Deuschle stated that he was working on this item and needed to visit the site with Kameron Kytonen, Natural Resource Technician to work out some of the details. OTHER BUSINESS Chairman DeuscWe stated that the Commission discussed a site visit to Martin's Meadows with local media that would bring some attention to the site. He added that Commissioner Kovich had offered to obtain a pontoon to ferry people from Rum River Central Regional Park to the site and that this would allow a view from the river. 0 Commissioner Olson stated that this would be more of a media event than an invite for the entire community. Mr. Bednarz stated that the owner of White Pine Wilderness had offered to lead a tour of the site for the Commission and asked if the Commission would be interested. The Commission discussed the logistics of visiting both sites with the media in one evening and determined that this would need to be done on two separate evenings. The Consensus ofthe Commission was to move up the start of the September meeting time to 6:00pm to allow sufficient time to tour the White Pine Wildemess property and discuss other items on the agenda. Commissioner Sabel stated that the Anoka County Union will often use information submitted to them whether written or photographs to complete their articles. Chairman Deuschle stated that a news story may be able to address both sites but that the content would be determined by the reporters. Mr. Bednarz stated that he would contact the Star Tribune and Anoka County Union to see if they were interested in doing a story. 0 Commissioner Sabel asked when would be the best time to visit Martin's Meadows. The Commission determined that the October meeting would be acceptable and perhaps provide an opportunity to get some fall photos for the web site and brochure. 0 Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes - August 11, 2010 Page 4 Mr. Bednarz suggested that the Commission try to schedule a work session with the Council before beginning another site search effort to make sure everyone was in agreement on how to proceed. Commissioner Keppers stated that this would be helpful as some coordination with the Council and Planning Commission would be necessary to find an innovative approach for a trail along Coon Creek, for example. Commissioner Sable asked ifthe Commission should consider setting up a Facebook page so that people could link to it and receive updates more easily. Commissioner Keppers stated he would investigate how this could be done and report back to the Commission Motion to Adjourn Olson, seconded by Keppers. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjoumed at 7:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 0 Courtney Bednarz 0 --