Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-02 CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 2, 2000 ITEM #1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Lakeville Council Chambers by Acting Chairperson Wanless-Sobel at 6:00 PM. ITEM #2. Roll call. Present were Committee members H. Lovelace, L. Lulf, C. Wanless-Sobel, R. Boldus, J. Berg and alternate K. Manias. Committee members J. Larson and P. Messinger were unable to attend. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud, Police Chief Dave Martens and Recording Secretary Judi Hawkins. ITEM #3. Approval of Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes of July 19, 2000. The minutes of the July 19, 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 to discuss items not on the agenda. ITEM #5. Staff reports and summary of current projects. ?Staff reported that the 2000 AAU National 12 & Under Baseball Tournament is underway at Quigley-Sime Park and is going very well. The weather has been very conducive to a successful event. ?The Lakeville Area Arts Center Board of Directors held their first meeting on st Monday, July 31. The board is currently working on planning and writing of specifications and site work for the new facility. The All Saints convent has been demolished and work is being done on the interior of the school in preparation for its use as an alternative learning center for ISD #194. All Saints Church staff is temporarily using the former rectory for office space. ?The 2000 Park Improvement projects are moving ahead as scheduled. The paving has been completed at Kensington Park and the backstop has been installed. The paving has also begun at Greenridge Park. Construction on the Valley Lake trail has begun, however, the contractor has experienced some difficulty in their attempt to widen the trail. Staff and the contractor are proposing that in order to ensure a quality end product, the entire trail should be overlaid following the widening project. For this reason and to assist with funding the overlay, it is being proposed that the playground installation planned for Valley Lake Park be delayed for one to Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: August 2, 2000 Page -2- two years and completed in conjunction with the beach relocation project. The overlaying of the trail should increase its durability and make it last several additional years. Committee member Boldus asked about the condition of the playground and if it needed to be replaced. Mr. Michaud stated that the structure is outdated and some components have been removed; however the playground is safe to use. The Bunker Hill Park playground is in greater need of replacement and a new structure will be installed this year as scheduled. Continue discussion to consider an ordinance amending Title 5 ITEM #6. of the City Code concerning Restraint of Dogs. Park Director Steve Michaud expressed his appreciation to Len Libbey for all his research and the information he has gathered in association with this issue. He stated that Mr. Libbey has assisted in the effort to improve the ordinance from the perspective of a responsible pet owner. Dog parks have been discussed in conjunction with the leash law, and it is staff?s opinion that it should be a separate issue, possibly to be resolved at another time. Implementation of any new dog parks will probably not happen until next year. As the ordinance is currently written, whether a dog must also be leashed on the dog owner?s property is still at question. Mr. Michaud also mentioned that he has witnessed pet owners using electronic collars as they walk their dogs, which is not specifically addressed in the ordinance. Police Chief Martens has stated that citations would be focused on flagrant violations, not minor or insignificant infractions. Len Libbey, P.O. Box 823 , stated that he wants to ensure that the ordinance: Allows dogs to be outside on the dog owner?s private property without being tied up or kenneled. Allows dogs to be on frozen lakes. Includes the use of an electronic training collar as an allowed leash. Staff stated that marketing, public education and enforcement would all be very important. Mr. Libbey stated that off-leash dog recreational areas normally consist of designated fenced areas. Pets are normally well behaved in the training areas, as they are not territorial of this communal space. He also asked that dogs be allowed to use the frozen lakes in the winter. The draft ordinance specified a maximum of 25-feet for a leash and Mr. Libbey asked that the distance a dog may be allowed from it owner be increased if an electronic collar is being used and suggested 100-feet would be appropriate. He is also suggesting that use of an electronic collar be included in the definition of ?restraint.? Mr. Libbey would also recommends a leash be required in all public places with the exception of any dog which has achieved the Good K-9 Citizen certification. He suggested the term ?close control? be implemented in the ordinance. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: August 2, 2000 Page -3- Committee member Manias stated that from an enforcement standpoint, an electronic collar has a lower level of restraint and asked for justification for why the allowed distance would be greater. He feels owners need motivation to get their dogs certified under the good K-9 program. Staff stated that he wishes to keep the ordinance easy for people to understand and remember. He stated that the intent of the ordinance is that dog owners must use a standard leash in addition to an electronic collar. Also, in the dog training areas, it must be stated that a competent handler must accompany dogs. Chief Martens suggested the ordinance state that a standard leash or flex leash must be used at all times, with the exception of the dogs that have passed the K-9 Good Citizen test. He also stated that he has researched the electronic collars and has found that they give off more of a vibration than a shock and are not inhumane. He feels that an improved ordinance would give the police a tool for enforcement. Staff reiterated the concerns which have been expressed as part of the ordinance revisions: ? Seasonal changes in the ordinance would not be desirable. (Rules for winter, rules for summer.) ? Rules for usage of the hockey rinks as training areas need to be established. ? Patrons need to use good judgement and clean up after themselves. ? Voice control should no longer be allowed. ? Rules need to be clearly stated in the ordinance and apply to all areas of the city. Staff read a short list of rules that were enacted by Hennepin County for use at their designated dog park. An annual fee is required to use Hennepin County dog parks in addition to existing annual park fees. Staff will forward the public?s and committee members? comments to the City Attorney for his review and implementation into a draft ordinance for final review by Park & Recreation Committee. Committee asked if the City Attorney could attend the next meeting to discuss this issue with them. ITEM #7. Review preliminary and final plat of Goose Lake First Addition and make park dedication recommendation to City Council. Goose Lake First Addition consists of two single-family lots, and one outlot on 2.75 acres of land located north and west of Judicial Rd. An existing single family home located on the subject property will remain and the second lot will be available for sale. Park dedication fees are required for the newly created lot. The Park, Trail and Open Space Comprehensive Plan does not identify the need for any parks or trails in the area of this plat. Staff recommends a cash contribution of $1,500.00 for the one lot as required under the Park Dedication Ordinance. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes of: August 2, 2000 Page -4- Motion was made by Lulf, seconded by Boldus, to recommend City Council 00.17 Goose Lake First Addition approve the preliminary and final plat of and require a total cash contribution of $1,500.00 to satisfy the park dedication requirement. Motion passed. ITEM #8. Unfinished business. The City Council is scheduled to discuss the possible acquisition of the Bury property at their work session of August 7, 2000. ITEM #9. New business. Staff updated Committee members on new plats that have been submitted since the moratorium was lifted. There are currently approximately 800 acres in the Central District that is within the MUSA and available for development. ITEM #10. Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for August 16, 2000. ITEM #11. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________________ Judith R. Hawkins, Recording Secretary ATTEST: _____________________________________ Colette Wanless-Sobel, Acting Chairperson