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PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes for meeting on: March 14, 2007
ITEM 1 Call to order.
The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers at 6:00 PM.
ITEM 2 Roll call.
All Committee members were present: P. Messinger, J. Hayes, K. Miller, S. Kelly, J. Peterson, H. Lovelace,
R. Walia, and T. Goodwin. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud,
Environmental Resources Manager Mac Cafferty, and Recording Secretary T.J. Ruter.
ITEM 3 Approval of February 28, 2007 meeting and March 7, 2007 special session minutes.
The minutes of the February 28, 2007 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee meeting and
the March 7, 2007 special session meeting were both 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 reported that the engineering department opened the bids on blacktop projects recently.
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There are several trail overlays that were budgeted for this year, including the trail on 205 Street, adjacent
the Morgan Square plat and redoing the Senior Center?s parking lot. All of the bids came within estimated
budgets.
ITEM 6 Tobacco free parks update.
Steve explained this item was a carryover from the regular meeting on February 28 and a special work
session on March 7, 2007. Staff had prepared packets for members in advance. Steve explained the various
policy drafts, including an ordinance written by the City?s attorney. The committee members began
reviewing drafts A-E and Steve suggested using a process of elimination.
Chair Miller started the discussion by asking if any of the proposed drafts stood out to the members. It
was quickly agreed that the Committee would use Draft E as their template. Discussion ensued regarding
the language to be edited in the draft. Most members preferred the use of stronger language under the
Tobacco-Free Park Facilities heading.
Another short discussion ensued about the bullet points under the Compliance Procedures heading. Tom
Goodwin commented that the first bullet needed to have stronger language for enforcement purposes.
Steve Michaud suggested that the member consider adding verbiage similar to other existing City policies
which state ?as directed by the Parks and Recreation Director.? The committee members liked that
addition. Jeanne Peterson also suggested that the second bullet should have an addition made to it; she
referred to the City of Shoreview?s policy and asked the group to consider adding that athletic associations
must commit to enforcing this policy. In the end, policy draft E was selected with modifications. Chair
Miller asked the visitors from S.A.D.D. if they had any other comments or suggestions; they had none.
(07.07) Motion made by Hayes and seconded by Lovelace to recommend three options for the
Lakeville City Council to consider associated with the request made by the representatives of S.A.D.D.
(Students Against Destructive Decisions) concerning the establishment of a tobacco free parks, open
space, and trail facilities policy or ordinance. The three choices include:
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March 14, 2007
A steadfast ordinance: An ordinance would prohibit all tobacco use on all publicly-owned facilities,
including penalties associated with a misdemeanor offense.
A policy approach: It would emphasize a voluntary compliance rule, but strongly emphasizes no tobacco
use where children and youth are present.
A ?wait and see? approach: Until the state legislature has completed its deliberation of a state-wide ban,
the City of Lakeville would take a wait and see stance.
Of the three choices, the Committee recommends the softer policy approach for a trial period with the
possibility of enacting a stronger ordinance, if deemed appropriate. Furthermore, the Committee
emphasized the importance of prohibiting tobacco use in the presence of children at all public facilities.
8-Ayes 0-Nays
Motion passed.
ITEM 7 Hewitt Investments First Addition preliminary and final plat.
Mac Cafferty presented the details of the plat and the building?s role in the downtown redevelopment plan.
He explained that the main focus of the development is the developer?s dance business and studios.
However, there are three condos planned for the building as well. Steve Michaud explained to members
that the developer was informed by the City a commercial rate would be used to satisfy the park dedication
cash requirement.
(07.08) Motion by Walia and seconded by Goodwin to recommend City Council consider approval of
Hewitt Investments First Addition preliminary and final plat. Review of the Parks and Open Space System
Plan indicates there are no designated park land requirements in this area; therefore a cash contribution
using the commercial rate will be required at the time of final plat approval. The park dedication is
determined as follows: Total .18 acres multiplied by $6,831/acre totaling $1,229.58. The park dedication is
a cash fee that must be submitted prior to preliminary and final plat approval.
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.
8-Ayes 0-Nays
Motion passed.
Note to Committee members: Because of the discrepancy in the documents regarding the park
dedication fees, staff contacted the planning department for clarification on March 15. Staff was
informed that the overall lot is .59 acre. However, the building sits on .18 acre. The additional .41
acre is a parking lot/outlot which will not be platted. Thus, the calculation was based on .18 acre
multiplied by the commercial rate. For this reason, staff amended the minutes to reflect the
correction back to .18 acre in the motion (07.08).
ITEM 8 Stoneridge Meadows preliminary plat.
Mac Cafferty gave an overview of the plat, explaining the five wetlands as well as the preservation of 21%
of the existing trees on the site. Tom Goodwin asked for more information regarding the tree preservation
issues on the site and Mac gave additional, detailed information. Steve Michaud also explained Exhibit A
on the plat with regard to the Central District greenway plan. The City hopes to take the necessary land for
this greenway when the additional 40 acres are developed to the east. Steve also explained the trail location
around the wetland as shown on Exhibit J.
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March 14, 2007
Tom Goodwin expressed his concerns with the loss of so many trees on the plat and asked Mac about the
types of trees that were being lost. Mac responded by saying that many were elms or boxelder trees. Tom
also asked for Mac?s comments on whether or not the developer was making a conscious effort to save as
many trees as possible. Mac reported that they have already had five or six revisions with the developer to
save as many trees as possible. In addition, he explained that the entrances to the subdivision are being
driven by the access requirements by the county as well as the grading. He further commented that the site
has tough topography as well. At the Committee?s request, Mac agreed to continue discussions with the
developer to custom save additional trees, if possible.
(07.09) Motion by Walia and seconded by Messinger to recommend City Council consider approval
of Stoneridge Meadows preliminary plat. Review of the Park and Open Space System Plan indicates there
are no designated park land requirements in this area; therefore a cash contribution using the old rate of
$3,995/lot may be used. The park dedication is determined as follows: Expected number of single family
lots platted with final plat is 50 multiplied by $3,995 totals $199,750.
In addition, the developer will be required to construct five-foot wide concrete sidewalks along one side of
all local streets and cul-de-sac streets. The developer is being required to grade a trail and bench the entire
length of Country Road 50 adjacent the plat. The developer will be required to construct that portion of
the trail adjacent the proposed lots in his plat. Also, the developer will be required to bench cut a trail
around the proposed pond and wetland to the southerly portion of his plat as depicted on the plans. The
developer will be required to bench all trails at no cost to the City. That portion of the trail being paved
along County Road 50 will be cost shared 50/50with the developer paying 50% the cost of base materials
and bituminous paving. Portions of the plat are located on the west side of County Road 50 where the City
currently has an eight-foot bituminous trail in place. With the development of turn lanes into the plat, the
developer will be required to relocate the trail 100% at his cost. Furthermore, the Committee recommends
further discussion between Mac Cafferty and the developer regarding additional opportunities to custom
grade lots to save existing larger quality trees.
Finally, 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.
8-Ayes 0-Nays
Motion passed.
Note: Chair Miller asked for a modification to the motion in item 7 after Judy Hayes saw the possible
error in the reported acreage figure.
ITEM 9 Unfinished business.
Steve Michaud reported on the progress on the new maps for Ritter Farm Park. The designer has a
prototype on aluminum and Steve will bring an example to the next meeting.
ITEM 10 New business.
Mac Cafferty distributed a city-wide comparison (five cities so far) regarding tree preservation information.
He asked committee members to review the information. The item will be listed on the agenda for
discussion at the April 4 meeting.
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March 14, 2007
The committee members requested that staff e-mail them the tobacco free policy draft E for review after
the edits are made.
Tom Goodwin had three items of new business: He inquired about whether the City would be mailing or
reminding the owners of developments to take care of their trees. Mac will follow up with planning. Tom
also asked about the annual clean up day. Staff will either e-mail the date or report the roadside clean up
day to members at the next meeting. Finally, Tom asked for possible committee participation in the
Ironman Bike Ride. Committee members are to report back to Tom at the next meeting if they are
interested in riding with him.
ITEM 11 Announcements.
Steve Michaud announced the completion of the 2006 annual report. It will be distributed at the next
meeting.
The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for April 4,
2007 at 6:00 PM at City Hall (Council Chambers).
ITEM 12 Adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 7:18 PM.
Respectfully submitted, ATTEST:
______________________________ _____________________________
Tammy Jo Ruter, Recording Secretary Kevin Miller, Chair