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• PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes for meeting on: December 3, 2008
ITEM 1 Call to order.
The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m.
ITEM 2 Roll call.
All Committee members were present: P. Messinger, T. Goodwin, J. Hayes, K. Miller, S. Kelly, J. Peterson,
and H. Lovelace. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary
T J. Ruter.
ITEM 3 Approval of October 1, 2008 meeting minutes.
The minutes of the October 1, 2008 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee meeting were
presented. They were approved as written.
ITEM 4 Citizen comments.
Kevin Miller welcomed Dan Stimett to the meeting; he came to observe it.
ITEM 5 Staff reports and summary of current projects.
Steve Michaud reported on the some of the 2008 park projects and commented that they are either
completed or done for the season at this time. He gave committee members some additional details about
the cell tower being installed at Valley Lake Park. The footings are being installed this week and he
• expected that it might be completely installed by the end of the month. Chair Miller inquired if it is similar
to the one near Lifetime Fitness. Steve fiirther explained that it is similar and has a fenced control panel
box; staff also has plans to plant some trees in the area to enhance the park property and provide some
additional screening for residents in that area.
Chair Miller inquired about the vandalism that occurred at Valley Lake Park per page three of the
narrative. Steve commented that the majority of the vandalism involves graffiti with spray paint. This
particular incident involved a broken bathroom fixture. Steve reported that the kids were caught. He
further explained that he asks for compensation in the police reports; then he explained the collection
process. Chair Miller asked if there were any other questions for staff and there were none.
ITEM 6 Recommendation for 2009 park dedication increase.
Steve Michaud explained that he has been working closely with Finance Director Dennis Feller regarding
the 2009 park dedication fees as well as a possible increase. Dennis already had some figures prepared and
aligned the fee structure based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI); this information was then taken to a
City Council work session. However, the City Council requested additional research to be done. As a
result, staff is in the process of renewing the 2030 CIP plan and doing another park dedication fee survey.
Chair Miller asked Steve Michaud if he knew what figure Dennis had been using for the CPI. He expressed
his concern that he may have been using a number from a few months ago because it is lower now.
Because he also tracks the CPI with his job at U.S. Bank, he thought he should mention it to staff. Steve
Michaud explained that the new plan is to take the new park dedication fee survey back to a City Council
work session at the end of December or first part of January; Council will review the numbers again.
• Steve Michaud then explained some details of Maple Grove's policy for senior living complexes. They
adopted a similar fee structure to Lakeville's policy. However, they are charging commercial rates for the
memory care units. Tom Goodwin inquired about the logic behind Lakeville's decision to decrease the fees
for memory care units. Staff explained that the Highview Hills project was a first of its kind and a
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Conunittee
December 3, 2008
Page 2
• preliminary policy had to be developed. The precedent existed to charge independent living units as had
been the case for several years. A reduction was allowed for assisted living due to the fact that these facility
residents are less likely to impact Parks and Recreation services. At the time, a complete waiver was
granted to memory care units as these residents will have less impact on the system.
The Maple Grove model treats for-profit memory care facilities as a commercial venture and thus requires
a commercial rate park dedication per acre fee. The Highview Hills project is anon-profit organization.
Staff is suggesting revisiting the park dedication fee pertaining to for-profit memory care facilities.
Chair Miller asked again about the expected timeline that the committee might see some figures. Steve
reiterated the Council would likely review the information again at the end of December of beginning of
January and he would get the information to the committee members as soon as it is available.
Tom Goodwin asked about the logic of using the CPI to calculate park dedication fees. Steve Michaud
explained that the CIP is a good indicator of inflationary trends. Chair Miller added that he likely was using
it as a reference. He then asked Steve Michaud if the item and discussion should be tabled until more
information is available. Steve agreed; the item will be pushed to the next meeting.
ITEM 7 Ritter Farm Park winter trail usage.
Steve Michaud explained the complaints from various groups (including walkers, hikers, skiers, and dog
owners) at Ritter Farm Park from last year as well as so far this year. He further explained that there is a
group of people who use Ritter Farm Park every day and are adamant about using the wooded trails (ski
trails) instead of the normal paved and plowed trails around the City. In an attempt to address these issues,
• Steve explained that staff decided to let walkers and hikers use the skate ski side of the trails this season.
Staff has put up signs and asked that dogs are leashed and stay off the groomed, classical ski tracks. He
hopes that some of the residents who utilize the park daily will appreciate the attempt to accommodate
them, and respect the rights of skiers during the winter months.
Also, staff has been in contact with the Sno Trackers Snowmobile Club. They will try to compact the snow
and get a good base started as soon as possible. Steve Michaud also addressed some snowshoeing options.
He wanted committee members to know that staff will encourage snowshoers to use the nature trail
around the ELC or go off-trail and blaze trails in the open fields, etc. For now, staff is not planning to
create specific snowshoe-only trails, but will address it, if and when, more people start snowshoeing at
Ritter.
ITEM $ Tree Sale Program.
Steve Michaud discussed the memo from John Hennen. The committee members agreed on the changes
to the 2009 tree sale. They further directed Steve to have John Hennen go back to the nursery and confirm
the details. After the details are confirmed, Steve would then like to get a motion from the Parks
committee recommending the 2009 tree sale with the proposed changes.
Staff explained he is working with administration and finance to allow the use of special fundraising
activity revenues to be reinvested back into certain programs dependent on sponsorships. The group then
discussed a couple of aspects of the tree sale. Chair Miller expressed the importance of getting more
volunteers this year to possibly offset the cost of overtime for the City employees. Steve Michaud thought
• it could possibly qualify -for an Eagle Scout project. He will discuss this option with John Hennen. Finally,
Pat Messinger and Judy Hayes both expressed their thoughts to reinstate the special fund for staff's
fundraising efforts and see some reinvestment into trees as well.
ITEM 9 Unfinished business.
Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 3
December 3, 2008
• Chair Miller asked for an update on the Miracle Field project. Steve Michaud explained that it has stalled a
bit at this time. The organizer is expecting a grant from the Harmon-Killebrew Foundation yet this year.
The project has already received $40,000 from a private family foundation and an additional $20,000 from
a private business. The current balance stands at approximately $120,000. The group is planning some
winter events, like a reception with the families and kids who would be in the league. Steve expressed his
strong interest in breaking ground next year and having the field ready for play late in 2009.
ITEM 10 New business.
Steve Michaud went through the rest of the attachments in the packet. Tom Goodwin inquired about the
rocks in front of the retaining wall at Orchard Lake. Steve Michaud explained that staff was following the
specifications from the Department of Natural Resources which was overseeing the entire project from
start to finish. The rocks were placed there at its request.
Steve also reiterated that the Lakeville Girls Fastpitch Softball Association has donated the fenced dugouts
with concrete slabs at fields 5-8 at Aronson Park's softball fields. Plans are to complete fields 1-4 next year.
The value of these improvements is about $25,000 to $30,000.
Steve Michaud. then gave some details of the Bury property.. The City has been working with the family for
the property for the last 20 years. It consists of an excavated gravel pit, natural bluffs, and approximately
3,000 feet of Lake Marion shoreline. In the past six to eight months, the City has had several meetings.
The owners want to do a reclamation plan for the property in preparation of the property coming into the
2015 MUSA plan.-Staff will keep committee members informed of any new information.
• Howard Lovelace inquired if they might fill the pit. Steve replied that it has been discussed, but they need
850,000 yards of fill. He thought a deal might be struck when the I35/70 interchange was being
constructed as they had to remove 800,000 yards of fill. That did not happen. Steve was not aware of plans
to fill it at this time.
Finally, Tom Goodwin inquired about the removal of woody vegetation on the east side of the lake at East
Community Park because it looked very bare when he and his wife visited the park. Steve Michaud
explained that it was the removal of buckthorn and part of the prairie restoration in that area. They are
now applying herbicides and cutting the second generation of buckthorn. Steve further explained that it is
atop priority and he will be applying for additional grant money to continue the effort. Tom Goodwin
thanked him for the explanation and agreed that the removal of buckthorn is a positive step for the long-
term health of the foYest there.
ITEM 11 Announcements.
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee scheduled for December 17,
2008 has been cancelled.
ITEM Adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully jsubmitted,
/~, 1
i Ta ` Jo Ruter, Recording Secretary