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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-18Lakevi(e PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Minutes for meeting on: July 18, 2007 ITEM 1 Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers at 6:04 p.m. ITEM 2 Roll call. Committee members present were: J. Hayes, K. Miller, J. Peterson, and H. Lovelace. Pat Messinger and Scott Kelly were not in attendance due to work conflicts. Tom Goodwin and Roger Walia were not in attendance. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud, Environmental Resources Manager Mac Lafferty, Ben and Amy Shea, and Recording Secretary T.J. Ruter. ITEM 3 Approval of June 20, 2007 meeting minutes. The minutes of the June 20, 2007 Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Committee meeting were presented. They were approved as written. ITEM 4 Citizen comments. Ben Shea, the resident at 21068 Istria Path, was in attendance on behalf of the residents of the Chadwick Farm development to ask for the committee's consideration of an ice rink in their area. Mr. Shea gave a a brief presentation and overview of their position. He noted that there are currently 13 outdoor ice rinks in the City of Lakeville; ten are located in the northern half of the City, while only three are located in the southern half. Because of the popularity of hockey and the strong presence of the Lakeville Hockey • Association in the community, Mr. Shea commented on how valuable another rink would be in this particular area. Additionally, he indicated that the developer had communicated that there would be a rink in this development in the future. Mr. Shea then presented Chair Miller the signed petition from the residents of Chadwick Farm. Chair Miller officially accepted the petition on behalf of the City of Lakeville. Chair Miller also explained the review process to Mr. Shea and communicated that he would be notified when the item is placed on the agenda. Steve Michaud explained a recent phone call to Mr. Shea regarding another resident of Chadwick Farm who expressed her disappointment with the playground equipment. Because the target age range for the playground equipment is 5-12, she would like to see new playground equipment for children under five-years-old rather than a hockey rink. Mr. Shea reiterated that his family went door to door and assured the committee that 100 percent of the residents were in favor of the petition. Residents also communicated their desire to see the soccer and football fields' area grass improved. Staff stated the developer had reseeded the. area at least two times but was having difficulty due to the current drought conditions. Chair Miller reiterated the review process and the importance of the big picture because this petition would have to fit into the master plan for the City; it's a balancing act and City staff will help the committee understand the City's priorities. Staff will look at national and regional standards and bring this information to the committee for review. Steve also explained the park dedication concept to Mr. Shea. The City is dependent on land development for funds, which in turn, allows fox park development. Because of the economy right now, there are very low estimates for land development over the next two years. • Finally, Steve Michaud explained that another way to get funding for park projects or improvements would be to have a bond referendum. He gave some historic information on past referendums and explained that the City could be looking at other one in the next few years. A hockey rink could be on list. Mr. Shea inquired as to why general taxes aren't used for parks. Steve replied that approximately $2 million Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee July 18, 2007 Page 2 • is used fox park maintenance and general operations, but capital development and land acquisitions axe not. Mr. Shea also asked if a bond referendum lists all the items. Steve replied that there would be an itemized list, so that voters have a clear understanding of what is included in it. Amy Shea, Ben's wife, was also in attendance and spoke for a few minutes regarding the petition and the sincerity of the residents in signing it. She commented that she knows many of the residents in the neighborhood and reiterated that they are very excited to have an ice rink in their neighborhood. Ben Shea then inquired if the group could increase their priority position if they proposed an incremental plan. Steve Michaud replied it would depend on the other park sites on the waiting list for improvements and the committee's review from acommunity-wide perspective on the need for future rinks. Chair Miller thanked Ben and Amy Shea for attending the meeting and expressing the needs of their neighborhood. ITEM 5 Staff reports and summary of current projects. Steve Michaud reported that the Valley Lake project is moving forward and the progress is very exciting. Steve is meeting with Tradition Development on Thursday, July 19 to discuss final numbers for the project. Steve also reported that the City has secured the DNR permit for some wetland work at East Park. As Valley Lake nears completion, staff's focus will be on East Community Park. Chair Miller inquired about the timeline for the project to begin. Steve answered that the plan is to have all areas ready to seed in September. Additionally, Steve reiterated that both Pan-O-Frog and the Fourth of July celebration were successful again this year. Chair Miller asked about the fundraising efforts for the fireworks. Steve explained to committee members that it costs $20,000 per year for the fireworks show and that all the money is raised by the City for the event. Chair Miller enjoyed the show and other committee members agreed that it was a wonderful show. ITEM 6 Bellante 3`d Addition preliminary and final plat. Steve Michaud briefly summarized this plat and reiterated the background information as explained in the narrative. The developer asked to reduce the number of lots and change the style of home because of economic and real estate market conditions. Steve added that the park dedication fee was already paid. Mac Lafferty also added that they axe primarily changing lot lines. (07.20) Motion made by Hayes and seconded by Lovelace to recommend City Council consider approval of Bellante 3`d Addition preliminary and final plat. Because it is a re-plat, in which there is actually a reduction in lots, all park dedication fees were previously paid and no park dedication fees are required of Bellante 3`d Addition. Sidewalk requirements were completed as part of earlier phases of this development. The developer is required to construct aten-foot-wide bituminous surface along the east side of Judicial Road, the entire length of his project. It is the committee's understanding that this condition has already been satisfied and the trail is in place. Additionally, the developer is required to follow any other details which are outlined in the Planning and Engineering reports as they pertain to this plat. The developer is also required to follow the natural resources requirement detailed in the Planning and Engineering reports associated with tree preservation, grading, drainage, and erosion control and further recommendations by the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, if applicable. 4-Ayes 0-Nays Motion passed. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee July 18, 2007 Page 3 ITEM 7 Unfinished business. Steve Michaud reported that he had been discussing some of the ice rink data with Chair Miller before the meeting began. Staff will continue to research the standards. At this time, it appears that Chadwick Park would be on the borderline according to the national standards. Judy Hayes suggested that it would be helpful to get data on current ice rink usage around the City. She observed this year that some are well used while others are not very well used. Steve replied that this data is available. It will also be important to balance ice rink maintenance issues too. The group then briefly discussed the incremental approach as suggested by Mr. Shea. Steve Michaud explained that there are no funds this year for Chadwick, so any project would have to wait until the bond referendum or the park dedication fund increases. ITEM 8 New business. Mac Lafferty reported that City Council approved an agreement to create a rain garden between Dakota County Library and City Hall. This project will also be done in conjunction with Dakota County and the Soil and Water District. Dakota County will be doing the grading and adding about 30 inches of amended soils. Lakeville's cost is mostly staff time in addition to $1,500 in expenses. The Street Department will also be assisting with this project which will begin in the next month or so. Staff is very excited about the project. Chair Miller asked who would be helping with the plantings. Mac answered that there is group of volunteers at the library who will be doing the planting. He also thought it may be a good Eagle Scout project. Mac said they will most likely do the planting in September because of the lack of rain right now. Mac reported on his second item which is a feasibility study project submitted to the Vermillion River Watershed District, requesting to fix the 205`'' Street ravine. The ravine is approximately 6-8 feet in depth and getting worse. This year has been better because of the drought. The Vermillion River Watershed District was looking for CIP projects to fund. Staff requested $25,000 for the study and the work would start in 2009. Steve Michaud added that this project would be very beneficial to the City and hopefully fix the problem for good. Finally, Mac reported that the City's revised SWPPP and Nondegradation Plan are out for review to the Watershed organizations. The City is also vl the process of making the necessary revisions to its ordinances. In this process, staff will also be revising the tree ordinances. They are working with Barr Engineering and will be delivering a full package for the committee's review once it is completed. Mac then distributed the Black Dog 2006 Watershed Annual Report. ITEM 9 Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for August 1, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall (Council Chambers). Mac Lafferty will not be in attendance at the next meeting (August 1) because of his summer vacation. ITEM 10 Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, i Ta y o Ruter, Recording Secretary