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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28 PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Minutes for meeting of: February 28, 2007 ITEM 1 Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers at 6:00 PM. ITEM 2 Roll call. Present were Committee Members P. Messinger, J. Hayes, K. Miller, S. Kelly, J. Peterson, and H. Lovelace. Roger Walia and Tom Goodwin were unable to attend. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud, Environmental Resources Manager Mac Cafferty, Recreation Program Supervisor Dan Brettschneider, and Recording Secretary T.J. Ruter. ITEM 3 Approval of February 14, 2007 meeting minutes. The minutes of the February 14, 2007 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee meeting were presented. They were approved as written. ITEM 4 Citizen Comments. There were no citizens present at the meeting for items other than those scheduled on the agenda. ITEM 5 Staff reports and summary of current projects. Steve Michaud explained that the warming houses are officially closed for the season. However, because of the big snow storm last week as well the possibility of more storms in the near future, the temperatures are still cold enough for good ice. He has directed park maintenance staff to continue clearing the six paved hockey rinks, assuming that the ice underneath is still intact. Staff plans to continue to turn the lights on at night and let the kids skate as long as possible. Steve also commented that staff won?t work overtime to clear the rinks, but the City will do what it can to extend the season. Note: Chair Miller switched the order of the items to accommodate a prior commitment on Mac Cafferty?s schedule. ITEM 7 Thomas Meadows preliminary and final plat. Mac Cafferty gave a brief overview of the development, including the landscaping and removal of a large oak tree. He also explained the City of Lakeville?s current policy on tree removal and plantation. Normally, there is a two tree per lot landscape replacement policy. However, in this particular case, the oak was identified by staff as a removal, so technically the developer doesn?t have to replace it. Mac added that the developer was amenable to increasing the landscaping on the property anyway. Judy Hayes inquired if the policy would ever change. Mac responded that his staff is currently working on a tree preservation ordinance; he expects it to be completed this summer. In addition, his staff is working on comparing ordinances with ten other cities. He reported that they have found a lot of variation in tree preservation guidelines in their research so far. Chair Miller asked whether the old or new park dedication fees apply to this plat. Steve Michaud responded that the old fees would apply. Developers who have completed and submitted preliminary plat applications prior to February 20, the City would use the old fees. For any new plat applications received after February 20, the new park dedication fees would apply. (07.06) Motion by Messinger and seconded by Hayes to recommend City Council consider approval of Thomas Meadows preliminary and final plat. An eight-foot wide bituminous trail is proposed as a future thth trail along the south side of 175 Street. The developer must grade the boulevard of 175 Street for the installation of the future trail. The developer is also grading a flat maintenance area adjacent to the storm Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 2 February 28, 2007 water treatment basin and infiltration area, which could support a trail to access the City owned wetland south of the site. th The developer is responsible for 5/8 of the construction costs of all trails. Because a trail will be th constructed on the south side of 175 Street, a cash escrow for the developer?s portion of the future trail construction must be submitted. The parent parcel did not pay park dedication fees. No park is identified at this site, so the park dedication fee of $19,975.00 must be paid with the final plat. In addition, the developer is 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. Ayes-6 Nays-0 Motion passed. ITEM 6 Tobacco free parks update. Steve Michaud gave the committee members a brief history about the high school representatives who had brought this issue forward in December. He then introduced Dan Brettschneider who had prepared a Power Point presentation regarding his research of tobacco free park policies and ordinances in the state as well as neighboring communities. Staff had also distributed existing tobacco free policies for: the Lakeville Baseball Association, Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (includes Lakeville Soccer Association), and the City of Lakeville?s current rules for use of City parks as well as its existing smoke free building policy. Dan presented the information to the committee members. He explained that various cities have very different policies in place. There are only a few cities that have elected to adopt city ordinances regarding tobacco free parks. Dan showed a couple of different maps illustrating the communities with either policies or ordinances. Steve Michaud then discussed the tobacco policies that are used by some of the youth sports associations as well as the City of Lakeville. Pat Messinger inquired as to whether the organizations or associations had to create their own policies in response to the City of Lakeville?s lack of policy. Michaud expressed that youth association policies quite often evolve from establishing healthy guidelines for young athletes. Chair Miller asked how the City of Eagan?s policy is enforced and if a lot of signage is used. Dan explained that Eagan has a tobacco free policy which means that it is voluntary compliance only. Staff commented on the City?s commitment to create a safe, healthy environment for families. The current buzz word is healthy communities and the City of Lakeville is very supportive of that concept. Judy Hayes asked if a hierarchy existed in which the order was rule, then policy, then an ordinance. Steve Michaud explained that a rule is the same as a policy. There was a discussion about Lakeville?s current policy. Judy also inquired as to how anyone would know the policy unless they rented a building from the City. Steve responded that the City?s rules and regulations are posted at most major parks. A female high school student reported to the committee that nine cities have passed tobacco free policies since their last visit in December 2006. The state total is now at 91 cities with tobacco free polities. Seven Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 3 February 28, 2007 have tobacco free ordinances. She gave each member a new map of Minnesota with the information highlighted. Pat Messinger expressed her perspective on the issue as an employee for a health organization. She feels strongly that the City of Lakeville should take a leadership role on this issue. She added that the Committee should be willing to examine this issue further and make a recommendation to the City Council. She further asked the members to question what would be in the best interest of the City. Finally, she reiterated Steve?s comments about building and supporting a healthy environment for all Lakeville families. Pat Stieg presented the information in the packets regarding the University of Minnesota?s tobacco-free parks and recreation study. He communicated a few of the statistics in the report regarding changes after the implementation of a policy. Chair Miller inquired about whether the findings suggest that youth usage also decreased. Mr. Stieg responded that data on youth usage is collected every three years; it will be collect this year and again in 2010. The current statistics for Lakeville are that one out of every four boys and one out of every three girls use tobacco. Judy Hayes commented that this discussion seemed very timely. Mr. Steig also explained the most critical piece in the enforcement equation is the signage, including the appropriate placement of it. The committee members then began discussing their various options regarding the next step. Judy Hayes suggested creating a task force or possibly scheduling a working session with the group. Chair Miller expressed that he felt it was important to gather a little more data concerning the potential ramifications with the creation of a policy versus an ordinance. He also thought it would be interesting to understand how other cities arrived at their decisions to create policies. Pat Messinger added that it might be good to start with a policy first and then reevaluate it after a year. Dan Brettschneider recommended it would be helpful for the committee members to read each of the policies and ordinances provided in the packet to see the variations and details. Chair Miller asked for clarification about how many cities had comprehensive policies. Of the 98, about three quarters have comprehensive policies and only 7 have ordinances. Again, the key words are: self-enforced, voluntary compliance. Chair Miller asked the members how they wanted to proceed. They discussed whether staff should create a policy draft and they could have a work session or if they needed to walk through the whole process and hear the opposition as well. Chair Miller expressed the need to find a way to measure the potential success or outcomes of such a policy. Pat Messinger restated the need to start with a policy first and then reevaluate the success after a year. Judy Hayes said that the new survey to see the impact on youth smoking would not be available again until 2010. In the end, the committee concluded it would be best to have a special working session to discuss this issue in further detail. They scheduled a meeting for next Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 6:00 PM at City Hall. ITEM 8 Unfinished business. Judy Hayes gave a compliment to Steve and the Recreation Department. She was recently in a meeting involving the scheduling of fields for the lacrosse season. Staff had prepared fabulous packets about Lakeville?s available facilities and she realized just how much usage and organization is involving with the scheduling of all the fields for all the various sports and different seasons. Judy was appreciative of staff?s hard work and wanted Steve to pass along the positive feedback. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 4 February 28, 2007 ITEM 9 New business. There were no new items to discuss. ITEM 10 Announcements. The special work session of the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for March 7, 2007 at 6:00 PM at City Hall (Council Chambers). The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for March 14, 2007 at 6:00 PM at City Hall (Council Chambers). ITEM 11 Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, ATTEST: ______________________________ _____________________________ Tammy Jo Ruter, Recording Secretary Kevin Miller, Chair