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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-03 CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING February 3, 1999 ITEM #1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Lakeville Council Chambers by Chairperson Wanless-Sobel at 6:00 PM. ITEM #2. Roll call. Present were H. Lovelace, L. Lulf, J. Larson, C. Wanless-Sobel, C. Bonn and P. Messinger. Member A. Raymond was absent due to a family commitment. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary Judi Ryan. ITEM #3. Approval of Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes of January 20, 1999. The minutes of the January 20, 1999 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting were discussed. There were no additions or corrections and the minutes were approved as printed. ITEM #4. Citizen comments. There were no citizens present for items not on the agenda. ITEM #7. Review citizen request to improve the island at Meadows Park. Steven Granneman, 20815 Jacquard Avenue, was present to discuss ideas for improvements to the island in the middle of the holding pond near Meadows Park. Mr. Granneman would like to spearhead a project to clean up the land with the help of Meadows neighborhood residents and the Parks and Recreation Department. Staff stated that there are similar situations where maintenance has been contracted on a quarterly basis to keep weeds down around the ponds. In some instances adjacent homeowners have planted gardens and/or wildflowers along the bank. Some property owners adjacent to ponds have also installed woodduck houses to attract wildlife. Mr. Granneman stated that about half the trees on the island are dead and need to be removed to clean it up. Staff stated that it is more difficult to promise that work on an island can occur. Rapid changes in ice conditions with melting and re-freezing makes safety a concern. Also, the deadwood provides a natural habitat for birds and small animals. With the accessibility issue, removing deadwood would be more difficult. Mr. Granneman stated that with the construction of habitats such as woodduck or bat houses, and proper plantings, a low maintenance self-supporting ecosystem could be created. Committee member Messinger asked if there was a possibility of constructing a bridge to the island. Staff stated that the narrowest distance across the water is about 100 feet, too Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: February 3, 1999 Page -2- far to build a bridge. Committee member Bonn stated that she thought the cleanup was a good idea and suggested that the work be done in phases to defer the costs. Mr. Granneman will survey neighbors to see if they have opinions or ideas for what might be done with the property. Staff will also discuss the situation with the Engineering Department to see if they have input. It was suggested that the cleanup and plantings might be good projects for a Boy Scout troop or work toward an Eagle Scout badge. Committee member Larson stated that he is a neighbor of the project and would like to see the island remain natural looking with some deadwood left for habitat. Staff and committee members listed several community resources which might be able to assist with design advice or provide plantings for the project such as the University of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources and the Dakota County Vo Tech Horticultural Center. Grants may also be available to assist with funding. Mr. Granneman will provide staff with a proposal, which will then be forwarded to City Council for consideration. ITEM #5. Staff reports and summary of current projects. Staff reported that with the warm temperatures, some pleasure skating rinks have ? already been closed for the season. The north sides of some hockey rinks are beginning to melt but staff is optimistic that with a little more flooding weather some rinks will last a while longer. The Snowmobile Task Force will hold it?s mid winter meeting on February 4, 1999. ? Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members received a copy of the mid season report prepared by the Lakeville Police Department. The worst location seems to be near Meadow Brook Park and North Trail Elementary. There is no trail out of North Creek MHC now that Pilot Knob Road has been urbanized and legal route a no longer exists. Snowmobile riders have no way out except on the pedestrian trail or school property. Some have been ticketed. Overall complaints are down this year compared to previous years and staff feels the marketing program has been working well. ITEM #6. Continue review of work plan for Parks and Open Space System Plan update. Following the last meeting, staff received calls from committee members with additional comments concerning the proposed work plan. All comments were then addressed with NAC who made some revisions and presented a revised concept for review. NAC?s proposed cost is for time and materials and is not to exceed $24,900.00. The proposed new plan will include sections on greenway and natural resources preservation as well as map updates. The cost will include representation at five neighborhood meetings and five Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meetings. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: February 3, 1999 Page -3- 99.03 Motion was made by Larson, seconded by Messinger, to accept the proposal from Northwest Associated Consultants and recommend City Council approve the agreement with NAC to update the Parks and Open Space System Plan per their proposal. Motion passed. ITEM #8. Unfinished business. Staff mentioned to committee members that NAC has also submitted a proposal for park designs of Aronson Park east 20 acres and the Christian property. Work will begin soon on those projects. The City?s biannual citizen survey will begin in the next couple of weeks. Committee members will receive results as soon as they are available. Renee Brekken?s report on a proposed cultural arts center will be presented to the City Council at their February 27th retreat. The bleachers at the Lakeville Ames Ice Arena have been modified to ensure that they exceed codes for safety. ITEM #9. New business. There was no new business at this time. ITEM #10. Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for February 17, 1999. ITEM #11. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM. Respectfully submitted, ________________________________ Judith A. Ryan, Recording Secretary ATTEST: ________________________________ Colette Wanless-Sobel, Chairperson