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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 16, 2005 (l&:'v~~ lLn~~ '6 ~I <'{ -oS 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW,CI.ANDOVER,MN.US PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JUNE 16,2005 MINUTES The Regular Bi-MontWy Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Acting Chair Dan Masloski on June 16, 2005, 7:34 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Dan Masloski, Meg Dudgeon, Wendy Albee, and Devon Walton. Commissioners Absent: Chairman Jim Lindahl, Dave Blackstad, and Ernest Bedor. Also Present: Parks Coordinator, Todd Haas RESIDENTS FORUM , / Ms. Sarah Chartier, 15276 Quinn Street, stated she was a Woodland Estates resident. She noted she would love to see that park come to be. She added she moved in nine months ago. She stated she was excited to hear that $15,000 was allocated for it. She noted she had sent out two flyers. She added she had received forty postcards that showed interest. She stated she had thirty additional signatures of people that wanted to see it happen. She noted they were interested in seeing a tot lot and picnic area combination. Commissioner Dudgeon asked the appropriate age group for the equipment. Ms. Chartier stated there were a variety of ages. She noted many people checked tot lot and picnic area Commissioner Dudgeon asked what the choices were on the postcards. Ms. Chartier stated they residents could leave it empty or check one of the following: basketball, tot lot or gazebo area She noted she had over seventy collected. Mr. Chris Deemer, l52xx Swallow Street NW, stated he also was here to speak in support of the playground. He noted there were a least 28 elementary age kids. He added it would be very beneficial for the majority of the neighborhood. He stated that the builders were promoting a park. He noted everyone assumed the park would be there soon. He added he felt it was great that money had been allocated for the park. He stated it would be great to have the picnic area and the playground equipment. He noted it would be nice to at least have some benches. He added he had talked to Ms. Chartier , J and was willing to help design the park. He stated he taught Phy. Ed. And worked for the Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Afeeting Minutes - June 16, 2005 Page 2 , / Park and Recreation Department of the City of Arden Hills. He noted the majority of the groups seemed to be in the same age group. Commissioner Albee asked if they needed equipment for two to five year olds or for older kids. Mr. Deemer stated equipment for both groups would be beneficial. He noted the biggest age range it covered the better_ He added he did not know about the space available. Commissioner Dudgeon stated that lot was small and it would be tough to put a lot there. Mr. Deemer stated he would support a stop sign by that park site. He noted a sign was needed at the three-way intersection. He added many people came out at that intersection from the existing neighborhood to the north. Mr. Haas stated it would have to meet the requirements for a stop sign. He noted they would have to do traffic study. He added he suspected it would not meet the requirements. He stated they could not use a stop sign to slow traffic. He added he would be happy to explore other options. Acting Chair Masloski closed the resident's forum at 7:41 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Walton, seconded by Commissioner Dudgeon, to approve the June 2, 2005 Park Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Lindahl, Blackstad and Bedor) vote. PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING/2006-2010 PARKS CIP Mr. Haas explained the Park Commission had done a lot of work on the C1P over the past couple months. He stated the Commission has evaluated all the parks in the system. He reviewed the proposed park CIP report. He noted the Frisbee golf course would come off the report since it would be done yet this year. Acting Chair Masloski opened the informational meeting at 7:44 pm for public testimony. Ms. Stacy Heising, 156xx Drake Street, stated there was a lot of support in her neighborhood for the park in Oakview Park. She noted there were thirty kids on her block. She added street hockey in the street was causing a problem. She stated there was no place for the kids to play and nothing else to do. Mr. Brett S1. Sauver stated he also supported the park being developed. He noted he also saw kids playing hockey. He added there were nine kids on his road between ages one , ) and three. He stated they needed somewhere to play. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Aleeting Minutes - June 16. 2005 Page 3 Commissioner Dudgeon asked Mr. Haas to clarify the way that park was set up. She noted they were proposing a two to five year old set up. Mr. Haas stated the space for the playground equipment was available. He noted there was a plan in place for a small shelter near the greenspace. He added that would have to wait until the property to east Oakview to developed in order to finish off the remaining portion of the park. He stated at this point, the City could just install playground equipment. Commissioner Walton asked about costs for the equipment. Mr. Haas stated that generally the two to five year old equipment ranged from $10,000 to $15,000. He noted the equipment for the older kids ranged from $20,000 on up. He added there must be a trail up to the playground for handicapped accessibility. He stated Shadowbrook East Park had a newer structure for kids two to five years old. He noted the neighborhood should have a representative call him so he could show him or her examples of the equipment that could be in the park. He added the representative should go and talk to the neighborhood to discuss the type of equipment that could go in the park. He stated it takes two months to order the equipment that could be done in late fall or early winter so it could be ready for spring to install. Acting Chair Masloski stated they had looked at many parks. He noted there were developments and promises of parks. He added the CIP was three months of work. He stated people wished there was a bigger park in that area, but right now it was for ages two to five years old. Commissioner Albee stated they might be able to fmd a piece to cover a range of ages. Commissioner Walton stated it would be good to show the neighborhood what they were proposing to do at the site. He noted when the Commission could show resident support it helped the process for the City Council. Mr. Haas stated the first step was to have the CIP presented to the City Council and have them adopt it. Motion by Commissioner Walton, seconded by Commissioner Albee, to recommend the Council adopt the 2006-2010 Parks CIP. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Lindahl, Blackstad and Bedor) vote. DISCUSS PARK DEDICATION REQUIREMENTSlWOODLAND CROSSING SKETCH PLAN Mr. Haas explained the Park Commission was looking for a different location for the park. He stated there were two options in the packet. / Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - June 16, 2005 Page 4 Mr. Jesse Westlund, Woodland Development Corp., explained what the proposed park would entail. He stated staff had requested a half basketball court, a playground area, and a shelter area for picnic tables and sitting. He noted this area would overlook the wetland. He added Option 1 would accommodate everything the staff wanted in that area. He stated Option 2 was across the private drive and could fit all the amenities. He noted it would be a bit tighter. He added their preference was Option 1 since it made a nice transition from single-family homes to the town homes. He stated there was more area to work with. He showed photographs of both options. He noted Option 2 had a little bit lower ground. He added there were more poplar and birch trees currently in that area Commissioner Walton asked if they would be able to maintain most of the trees in Option 1. Mr. Westlund stated yes. He noted they did custom grading to try to protect the trees. He added that was the best approach for the lots and the City. Commissioner Walton stated Option 1 looked across the wetland. He asked if the area was almost a pond. Mr. Westlund stated the middle area opened up to water. Mr. Haas noted there was a nicer view from Option 1 of the wetlands than Option 2. . I Commissioner Walton asked if the City could put trails in a DNR protected wetland. Mr. Haas responded yes it is a possibility with the understanding that permits may be required. Commissioner Walton stated Option 1 gave the City that option in the future. He noted he initially liked option 2. He added that after this discussion he agreed that option 1 had more room. Motion by Commissioner Walton, seconded by Commissioner Dudgeon, to recommend the Council approve the Sketch Plan and Option 1 as the location of the proposed park and require the balance of the park dedication to be due in cash for Woodland Crossings. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Lindahl, Blackstad and Bedor) vote. UPDATE OF SKATE PARK EQUIPMENT Mr. Haas explained the skate park equipment has been setup. He noted he had been to site with the Public Works Department. He added things were operational. He stated there were quarter pipes, and the structural metal piece under the pipe was in pretty poor shape. He noted he thought end pieces could be set up one more time. He added he did not know if the middle piece could be replaced. He stated that on the half pipe the joints were uneven where they piece together. He also noted there was a lot of wear at the location where the flat piece meets the curve portion of the ramp when the kids came , / down the pipe. He added they were starting to see the lip and it could be a little Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission l->feeling Minutes-June 16, 2005 Page 5 dangerous. He stated that once this equipment had a home this would no longer be a problem. He added one of those pieces was $25,000. Acting Chair Masloski asked if they could get numbers on use to justify finding it a home. Mr. Haas stated he could see if someone at the church could monitor it. He noted he saw two people on Friday afternoon. He added the City needed help from parents to have kids pick up after themselves. He stated it should not be the church's responsibility to clean that area up. Acting Chair Masloski stated it becomes an ownership issue. He noted that if the parents leave trash behind, then the kids did too. He added it would be nice if everyone picked up after himself or herself. Mr. Haas suggested the Commissioners meet at the equipment July to see the condition first hand. Acting Chair Masloski stated he would like to hear from the people who use the equipment. He noted they should come to the July 21,2005 meeting and tell the Commission if they liked the location. He added they could also report on what they wanted to see. Commissioner Walton asked about alternative location. He stated the only one that came to mind was the west end of City Hall Park. Mr. Haas stated the area on the west side of the public works facility was a possibility. He noted there was a consultant looking at that area for expansion and could also consider this possibility for the site. Commissioner Walton asked about west of the path in the City Hall Park. Mr. Haas stated there were many trees that were a nice buffer to park. Commissioner Walton asked about Andover Station North. He questioned whether there was an area adequate for a small slab. Mr. Haas stated it would have to be explored. He noted they were trying to keep the shelter closer to the west field. He added the skateboard park could be quite noisy. No action needed. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed the outstanding items. Mr. Haas noted that the Contractor for Prairie Knoll Park lighting project would give the City a quote on lighting for the north parking lot. He added since time was of the essence he would probably send it right directly to the City Council. Commissioner Albee stated she appreciated Mr. Mike Snelson's help regarding the Frisbee Golf Course at Fox Meadows Park. She noted they had staked out all the holes. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission .Ueeting Minutes - June 16, 2005 Page 6 She added Mr. Snelson was spending a lot of time measuring the holes and designing the course to make it nice and also a challenge. She stated he was working on getting bids to figure up the cost. Mr. Haas stated he had information on the baskets and would meet with Mr. Starr. He noted they would also meet with Mr. Snelson to get the mowing started for the fairways, tees and the green areas as to where the baskets will go. CHAIRS REPORT Acting Chair Masloski stated the Commissioner's had visited Prairie Knoll Park tonight. He noted there had to be 25 to 30 people in the no parking zones. He added he would hate to see people ticketed. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Walton, seconded by Commissioner Dudgeon, to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 p.m. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, O-nays, 3-absent (Lindahl, Blackstad, and Bedor) vote. Respectfully Submitted, Nancy Czajkowski, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial. Inc.