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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 19, 2005 ~ fo ~;l -65' J PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - MAY 19,2005 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairman Jim Lindahl on May 19, 2005, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Dan Masloski, Dave Blackstad, Chairman Jim Lindahl, Wendy Albee, and Devon Walton (arrived 7:41 p.m.). Commissioners Absent: Meg Dudgeon, Ernest Bedor Also Present: Parks Coordinator, Todd Haas RESIDENTS FORUM There were no comments at this time. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Blackstad, seconded by Commissioner Masloski, to approve the April 21, 2005 Park Commission Workshop minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Dudgeon, Bedor and Walton) vote. Chairman Lindahl suggested that the May 5th, 2005 Regular meeting minutes be approved later in the meeting since there was not a quorum present yet for these. Motion by Commissioner Masloski, seconded by Commissioner Albee, to approve the May 5, 2005 Park Commission Workshop minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 4- ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Dudgeon, Maslowski, Bedor and Walton) vote. HOLD PUBLIC HEARING / AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE 8-4-1 K(a) / DOMESTIC ANIMALS / Mr. Haas explained that this item is in regard to holding a public hearing on amending City Code 8-4-1 K(a) in regard to certain parks to not allow domestic animals due to health and safety issues. He stated a notice was published in the Anoka Union. The parks being considered by the Park Commission include Andover Station North, Prairie Knoll, Shadowbrook East, Hidden Creek North and Eveland Fields. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-May 19, 2005 Page 2 Chairman Lindahl opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m. and offered to take any input from the public. There were no residents present. Mr. Haas noted staffhad not received any calls or comments from the public. Chairman Lindahl stated he visited a park in Ramsey and noticed both the ball field and the practice fields were covered with dog waste. Commissioner Blackstad stated these were the most heavily used parks. He noted even with the best trained dog things could happen. Motion by Commissioner Blackstad, seconded by Commissioner Masloski, to close the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Dudgeon, Bedor and Walton) vote. / Motion by Commissioner Blackstad, seconded by Commissioner Masloski, to recommend the City Council amend City Code 8-4-1 K(a) to not allow domestic animals due to health and safety issues in the following parks: Andover Station North, Prairie Knoll, Shadowbrook East, Hidden Creek North and Eveland Fields. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Dudgeon, Bedor and Walton) vote. DISCUSS 2006 - 2010 PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PIAN, CONT. Mr. Haas explained that this item is a continuation from the last meeting in regard to the 2006-2010 Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). He noted the revised information detailing the projected fund balance that was prepared by the Finance Department and based on the proposed improvements that were discussed at the last workshop of May 5. Commissioner Walton arrived at 7:41 p.m. Commissioner Masloski questioned the effect taking Andover Station North's dedication fees out of the projected fund balance. Mr. Haas answered the numbers are included the residential portion of the park dedication balance, but not the commercial portion. Commissioner Blackstad stated whatever dedication the City received from Andover Station North should go to this park. Commissioner Masloski asked about the commercial portion of the dedication. ) Mr. Haas responded the actual numbers were unavailable at this time. He noted City Administrator Jim Dickinson recommended the use of estimates. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-May 19, 2005 Page 3 Commissioner Masloski stated he was not comfortable with moving forward with the CIP when the Commission was not certain of the amounts available. He noted that if Andover Station was a large portion of these numbers it made a huge difference. Mr. Haas stated he could take out the estimates for Andover Station North, but it would take some time to figure out. Commissioner Blackstad stated it could be removed, but should be listed as a separate line item. Chairman Lindahl stated it was an estimated projection anyway. He noted there could be big changes in two years. He added the Commission always worked with projected numbers. Commissioner Walton stated the Engineering Department had plans for the developments indicating the number oflots. He noted the City should have an idea of what had been platted. Mr. Haas stated the City had reviewed some sketch plans, but that was not a guarantee that the plans would go forward this year or even next year. / Commissioner Walton asked if the numbers indicated were very close to being realistic. Mr. Haas stated there were a few preliminary plats still coming before the Planning Commission and City Council within the next month or two. Commissioner Walton asked if there was more detail so the Commission could tell where these numbers were coming from. Commissioner Masloski stated he was not comfortable going to the public with something if they did not have a better idea about what the numbers were. Chairman Lindahl stated they could remove the numbers from Andover Station North and put them in a separate line item. He noted they did not want to remove them altogether. Mr. Haas stated he could have the revised numbers for the next meeting deleting Andover Station North, but was not sure he could have a Perfonna by the next meeting. Commissioner Walton stated it would be quicker fix to make Andover Station North a sub-item on the CIP. Chairman Lindahl asked if the Commissioners could receive a revised CIP by the June / 2nd meeting. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-May 19,2005 Page 4 Mr. Haas stated he could do it as a separate line item. Chairman Lindahl asked if the Commission wanted to have public comment at the next meeting. Commissioner Blackstad stated it would be nice to neighborhood input. Mr. Haas stated staff only puts a notice in the paper. He noted the QCTV could also do something for the cable channel. Commissioner Blackstad suggested adding pictures of the parks too. Mr. Haas stated he would bring the revised CIP back to the next meeting and set the public meeting for June 16,2005. Commissioner Blackstad asked if the issue regarding the outfield fencing at the high school from the baseball was resolved. Mr. Haas indicated the meeting to discuss the issue was set for Monday, May 23rd at 8:00 a.m. Commissioner Walton stated it was important for the Commissioners to attend. Commissioner Blackstad stated when the school was built, the City was to have access to the fields and the school would have access to the City's soccer fields. He noted shortly after that the district changed the policy saying all school facilities would charge a user fee. He added that would be triple taxation. He stated in the summertime, most of the ball fields were maintained by City staff and not school district staff. He noted the taxpayers were paying to build and to maintain the fields. He added the residents also paid City taxes to maintain the fields in the summer. He stated now residents were being taxed in two different districts. He noted he could not believe other associations did not jump on the bandwagon with this argument. Commissioner Walton stated a two-year variance from this policy should be discussed. Commissioner Blackstad stated they could prorate the fee to cover the costs of fencing and estimate the number of users. He noted perhaps there would be a ten year agreement not to charge fees in exchange for installing the fences. He added things like this policy caused associations to ask if we pay fees to use the fields why install scoreboards or pay for ag line to re-crown the fields. He stated it was not a wise move from the School District. Mr. Haas stated that it is most likely the baseball association would have to go back to the School Board for approval of any variance or waiver. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-May 19, 2005 Page 5 Commissioner Walton stated it seemed like the School District would get something for nothing and then charge for it. Commissioner Blackstad stated the City could charge the School District for the use of the City parks by the Physical Education classes during the day. He noted Andover Elementary comes over to this park for its end of year party. He added the school district have used the fields in the past at Sunshine Park. Commissioner Walton stated the gate swings both ways. He noted there had to be some good faith exchange. Commissioner Blackstad stated these fees ultimately resulted in an increase in fees for the ball players. He noted the higher the fee, the fewer the players. He added fewer kids playing ball meant more kids hanging on the street. He stated this led to vandalism. He noted they kept fees low in order to keep kids involved in activities year around. Chairman Lindahl stated kids that participated in park activities were less likely to be out doing other things that they shouldn't be doing. CELL TOWERS IN PARKS '\ / Mr. Haas explained that at the last meeting, the Commission requested information about cell towers. He noted the section from the City Code Title 9-Chapter 12-5 A(b) that had been provided for the Commission's review. City Code allows towers in parks greater than 10 acres and is located outside the MUSA. Chairman Lindahl asked if there were three parks that fit that criterion. Mr. Haas responded there were somewhere between five and ten parks. Commissioner Walton stated the interesting thing to him, as a businessperson was that the cell reception was horrible. He noted that with the anticipated growth, the City was going to need tower support. He referenced the report on the Councilmember in the City of Champlin that had asked parks to be profit centers. He added the City could improve reception by putting in a more natural looking tower. TIlls item was provided for information no action required. UPDATE OF SKATE PARK EQUIPMENT Mr. Haas stated he has discussed the issue of skate park equipment with Kevin Starr in Public Works. Mr. Starr would like to wait to make an evaluation once the equipment has been moved to Constance Free Church at the end of the month. '. ) Mr. Haas suggested this item be tabled to the June meeting. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - May 19, 2005 Page 6 No action taken. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed outstanding items. Commissioner Blackstad asked how soon there would be irrigation for Andover Station North. Mr. Haas stated there was no source of water to the site. He noted that most likely the MPCA will not allow the drilling of a new well due to the existing landfill and City water would not be coming in the area for a couple more months. He added the site would be seeded under the MPCA permit requirements. Mr. Haas noted staff had installed four dog waste trashcans in a couple different parts of the City. He added Public Works would monitor their use and report back at the end of the season. He further noted in response to a request from one of the Park Commissioners, basketball courts were not permitted in an Ag Reserve. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, conL '\ Motion by Commissioner Walton, seconded by Commissioner Albee, to approve the May 5, 2005 Park Commission Regular minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 3- ayes, O-nays, 4-absent (Maslowski, Bedor, Blackstad and Dudgeon) vote. CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Walton requested that Frisbee Golf and Advertising be added to the ongoing projects list. Commissioner Albee noted she would be visiting Fox Meadow on Monday with City Staff in regard to a location for Frisbee Golf. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Masloski, seconded by Chairman Lindahl, to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 p.m. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, O-nays,,.o-absent vote. . I lDu.dYC&l) Clnunw.d b~.;J.-(}S Respectfully Submitted, ,..) Nancy Czajkowski, Recording Secretary TimeSaver OjJSite Secretarial, Inc. )