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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-02 CL ITY OF AKEVILLE PRACM ARKS AND ECREATION DVISORY OMMITTEE EETING F2,2000 EBRUARY ITEM #1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Lakeville Council Chambers by Chairperson Larson at 6:00 PM. ITEM #2. Roll call. Present were H. Lovelace, L. Lulf, J. Larson and K. Manias. P. Messinger and C. Bonn were unable to attend. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary Judi Hawkins. ITEM #3. Approval of Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes of January 5, 2000. The minutes of the January 5, 2000Parks 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 #5. Staff reports and summary of current projects. Staff reported that park maintenance is attempting to rebuild the ice base on the ? rinks following some unseasonably warm weather. Staffing of the warming houses has been challenging this year. Recently a few new ? attendants have been hired. The Police Dept. has logged 104 snowmobile complaints and given out 26 citations ? this winter. Complaints have been generated in all areas of the City. Eight tickets were given out at last weekend?s snowmobile saturation event. The Snowmobile Task Force will be holding their annual mid-season meeting on February 10, 2000. The SnoTrackers have put up additional signage along Kenrick Avenue where the ? trail was closed; however some snowmobilers continue to illegally use the route. There has been one serious snowmobile accident in Lakeville this year. Staff stated that Lakeville seems to be in a ?snow belt? and has received more snow ? than most of the state. This has attracted snowmobilers from all over the state and has resulted in a lot of snowmobile activity. Committee member Lulf mentioned that he had noticed a lot of license plates from out of state at the park and ride lot at I-35 and Hwy. 70 near the McStop even though this is not a designated snowmobile park and ride. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: February 2, 2000 Page -2- The SnoTrackers have done a good job grooming the cross-country ski trails at ? Ritter Farm Park, considering snow conditions have been less than adequate. CJ Maichen has been hired to fill the Recreation Program Assistant position and ? will start on Monday. Her background includes work at Courage Center and in the private sector. ITEM #6. Review final draft of Resolution Establishing Rules and Rental Fees for Use of City Park Facilities, Buildings and Property and make recommendation to City Council. This resolution is typically reviewed annually with staff recommending changes they feel are appropriate. This year?s review of the resolution has been deferred in order to accommodate possible additions of resident and non-resident fee policies and priority registrations. Due to those decisions being delayed, it was decided that the resolution should be brought forward without those potential additions. Any further changes can be made after City Council has a chance to review the recommendations. ITEM #9. Review equipment rental trends and revenues from past four years and make recommendation on continuation of program. Item #9 was moved up on the agenda and discussed in conjunction with Item #6. Committee members had received a report showing how equipment rental had declined over the last few years. Staff stated that equipment rental is more of a service than a revenue-producer, however, the continual cost of equipment replacement outweighs any revenue that is realized. Other issues involve staff time in making reservations and checking the equipment in and out, and storage issues for the equipment. Larson suggested that the Park Dept. keep the volleyball equipment and continue to rent it out. Lulf stated he would support discontinuing the program if it is not cost effective, considering the amount of staff time and effort. Lovelace suggested that if equipment rental is discontinued, staff could keep track of how many requests needed to be turned down in a year to help determine whether the program should be reinstated. Staff suggested that the picnic table rental be continued. 00.03 After further discussion, motion was made by Lulf, seconded by Lovelace, that considering the labor intensity of rentals and the decline in requests, the equipment rental program be discontinued with the exception of picnic tables. Committee asked staff to document requests for a year to determine whether to reinstate the program. It was further moved to recommend City Council approve the Resolution Establishing Rules and Rentals Fees for Park Facilities, Buildings and Property reflecting this change and other changes as shown. Motion passed. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: February 2, 2000 Page -3- ITEM #7. Review of Chairperson Jeff Larson?s 2000 goals. Committee members had received a memo from Chair Larson which addressed a couple of issues he felt were relevant at this time. The first issue concerned commercial/industrial park dedication fees. Larson stated that when the ordinance was changed several years ago to reflect the current rates, he believed it was a good policy that would attract new businesses. He now believes that developers are attracted to the community for a variety of reasons and will not be deterred by higher park dedication fees. Staff compiled a history of park dedication fees, which showed that since 1992 the commercial/industrial rate has been 5% of current market value of the unimproved land as determined by the County Assessor. A recent survey by the City of Plymouth showed that Lakeville?s rates are among the lowest metro-wide. In addition, several other cities continue to charge a trail dedication fee. Larson is suggesting that fees be determined by the actual sale value of the land, starting out with percentages that would yield a small increase in revenues, then gradually increase in percentage increments, until it reached five percent. It was suggested that a more justifiable park dedication fund formula be proposed once the Parks and Open Space comprehensive plan is approved. Committee members also discussed park dedication fees for residential development. These fees may not be adequate to keep up with desired park development or acquisitions proposed in the Parks and Open Space System Plan. Also, with the rapid development of the city there are dwindling opportunities to acquire and preserve wood stands and other pristine natural resources and potential greenways. Committee members feel that the city needs to take advantage of remaining possibilities before opportunities are lost forever. 00.04Motion was made by Lovelace, seconded by Manias, to direct staff to continue to research and study the park dedication issues and bring back to committee formulas for possible changes. It was suggested that an ?actual land value? formula be proposed, which could be implemented over a three to five-year period. Motion passed. The second issue addressed in Chair Larson?s memo was a listing of properties within the City that were slated as priority acquisitions. In addition to the Tutewohl property Larson discussed several other parcels which would be advantageous to be acquired as park property. A park bond referendum might be necessary to accomplish the acquisitions. Larson also raised the prospect of starting a Lakeville Park Foundation for the purpose of raising funds for acquisition, development, programs and special projects. The City should begin to consider expansion of cultural arts programs in light of the proposed Lakeville Area Arts Center proposal. Committee member Lovelace stated that many Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: February 2, 2000 Page -4- communities that are smaller than Lakeville have also been able to provide a community center and/or indoor pool for their residents. ITEM #8. Update on status of Parks and Open Space System Plan. The City Council is scheduled to review the document as part of their next work session. The review is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 18, 2000. ITEM #10. Unfinished business. Chair Larson asked if Council intended to fill the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Staff stated that discussions are taking place and appointments may take place in the next month or two. ITEM #11. New business. Steve Michaud and Jeff Larson attended the annual MRPA Awards Banquet and accepted Committee member Howie Lovelace?s Board and Commission Award in his absence. The Lakeville City Council will acknowledge the award and re-present it to nd Howie at their February 22 Council meeting. ITEM #12. Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for February 16, 2000. ITEM #13. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________________ Judith R. Hawkins, Recording Secretary ATTEST: _____________________________________ Jeff Larson, Chairperson