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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18 PARKS, RECREATION, AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Minutes for meeting on: April 18, 2007 ITEM 1 Call to order. The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers at 6:00 PM by R. Walia. He was the substitute chair for this meeting because K. Miller was absent. ITEM 2 Roll call. The following Committee members were present: P. Messinger, J. Hayes, S. Kelly, H. Lovelace, R. Walia, and T. Goodwin. Kevin Miller and Jeanne Peterson were not in attendance due to work conflicts and had given prior notice at the last meeting. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Steve Michaud, Environmental Resources Manager Mac Cafferty, Recreation Program Supervisor Dan Brettschneider, State Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson, and Recording Secretary T.J. Ruter. ITEM 3 Approval of April 4, 2007 meeting minutes. The minutes of the April 4, 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 Presentation of Governor?s Fit City Award. Dan Brettschneider introduced Tom Hanson, State Finance Commissioner, to the committee members. Tom was in attendance to present the City of Lakeville with the Governor?s Fit City Award. Tom was pleased to represent Governor Tim Pawlenty as well as the Commissioner of Health in presenting this award. He spoke of the importance of health issues in the state and the nationwide push for healthier communities. Then he discussed some of City?s actions and accomplishments which allowed it to receive this designation. Steve Michaud thanked Commissioner Hanson on behalf of the City of Lakeville and said the City was honored to receive the award. Commissioner Hanson presented Steve Michaud the Governor?s Fit City plaque. Finally, a group picture was taken with Commissioner Hanson, staff, and the committee members. ITEM 6 Staff Reports and Summary of Current Projects. Steve Michaud reported that activity is increasing in the department overall. Tom Goodwin inquired about the dismantling of the fort under the maintenance department?s summary. Steve told committee members some of the famous fort stories in Lakeville; problems can arise because sometimes the kids are stealing lumber from construction sites in order to build their deluxe forts. The forts become a liability when constructed on public property and must be removed in a timely fashion, as in this case. Judy Hayes expressed her concerns over some skateboarders who were riding near Caribou and Subway, right near Highway 50 and the entrance for 35 North. She felt it was a big safety issue and that it?s just a matter of time before a young person may get seriously injured or killed there. The committee members then discussed having a skateboard park or some other offerings for kids in the upper elementary school/early junior high school age range who are not involved in sports. Steve Michaud reported that it would probably cost in the $200,000-$300,000 range to build a good municipal skateboard park today. Pat Messinger reiterated that kids who are not involved in sports need some positive options. She also stated the need for a teen center similar to the one in Apple Valley would go a long way towards meeting their needs. Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 2 April 18, 2007 ITEM 7 City-wide tree preservation information. Mac Cafferty had provided committee members with two spreadsheets which detailed the City of Lakeville?s tree preservation policy along with several other communities? policies/ordinances. Mac explained the purpose of tonight?s meeting was for getting feedback; he asked for committee members to discuss their like and dislikes, pros and cons, etc. He will then take the feedback, create a draft policy and then keep moving it forward through the appropriate channels. Mac explained that some of the policies are quite detailed and in-depth, yet he was not sure how the developments actually get managed by the cities. He further explained that there could be a chain reaction depending on the direction changes, that is, the City may need other ordinance changes or updates as well. Additionally, Mac explained that he would like to compile data regarding last year?s plats to analyze whether the City?s current policy is effective. Mac opened the discussion and asked for comments regarding whether or not any particular city?s policy summary would be a good starting point. Judy Hayes commented about the need for a strong definition of significant trees. Mac echoed her comments because there have been some recent plats in Lakeville with many diseased, unhealthy trees. His staff would like to see a clear definition that would also address the issue of diseased versus healthy trees. Pat Messinger suggested that the committee could take the most stringent guidelines from each category and use them as a starting point to create Lakeville?s tree preservation policy. Staff would like to see enforcement of the current requirements for the treatment and/or removal of diseased trees in the policy. Tom Goodwin commented that the percentages in other cities? policies are way less than the percentages the committee members have seen coming through on some recent plats. He also agreed that it would be sensitive issue for the developers and would impact them. The group then discussed Maple Grove?s policy. Mac also explained how Burnsville took the zoning approach. His staff feels that 6?DBH has worked well so far as a guideline for the City and would prefer to keep it that way for now. Steve suggested that Mac and his staff put a draft proposal or policy together, bring it to a Wednesday staff meeting, and then bring it back to the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Committee after gathering some additional feedback from other City staff. Tom Goodwin then asked for Mac?s opinion on whether it?s an issue of saving more trees or planting more. Mac explained that staff has pushed hard for saving as many trees (significant and healthy) as possible with developers. Many factors influence a plat, especially grading requirements or if it?s an irregular plat. He also mentioned that it is not uncommon for the City?s engineers to revise/redesign the developers? plans; this process can sometimes also help save more trees. Steve Michaud further commented that development is going to happen and the City needs roadways to accommodate the increase in development. Pat Messinger expressed that she would like to put more strength behind the policy and that Lakeville should be a leader in this area. She would like to see the developers held more accountable. Steve Michaud gave the committee members an example of a plat which had a lot of trees on it. After walking the plat himself and seeing all the box elders, many of which were diseased, he did not think there was a significant tree in the plat worth saving. Further, the policies existing or an improved policy would replace existing poor quality trees with new healthy trees. Mac Cafferty expressed some hesitation about using percentages in the policy and what effect the stringent percentages might have on the development in Lakeville. Tom Goodwin responded that the answer depends on the City?s philosophy; if a tree is a tree, then it would make sense to take one down and replace it with another one. Roger Walia asked about the ability to transplant trees to other sites. Steve Michaud and Mac explained to the group that the City takes advantage of this opportunity when it?s appropriate. They discussed the example of Chadwick Park which had successful transplants. They also Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee Page 3 April 18, 2007 explained some areas that did not have positive results. Tom Goodwin commented that he agreed with Pat Messinger and would like to see the City start with the strongest language from each of the categories. A discussion then ensued regarding replacement sizes. Tom Goodwin inquired about how there should be some good data on increasing survival rate. Mac will try to find some data regarding replacement sizes and increasing the survival rate. He also mentioned that survival rate can depend on the soil preparation, native soil, water or drought conditions, and after care. Tom Goodwin asked that the preparation requirements be written into the policy as well. The group discussed the care of trees and then Howard Lovelace mentioned that he would possibly like to see an increased warranty. In response, Mac gave an example: if all the trees from a developer are planted in a community park, it is tough to define who would be responsible. There could be some questions raised in certain cases. Finally, Steve Michaud reiterated that Mac?s staff would take the feedback collected at the meeting, write a draft policy, bounce the ideas of other City staff, and return the discussion to the committee at a later date. ITEM 8 Unfinished business. Pat Messinger followed up on some vandalism she reported at Meadows Park. Steve reported that it was addressed. Steve explained the four items that were going to the City Council work session on Monday, April 23, 2007. There are two items of business for the Historical Society: the Nick Mahowald plaque in Pioneer Plaza and the placement of historical narrative plaques in certain parts of the City. The tobacco free park issue will also be presented by Steve at the work session. Finally, the LAAC Art Board is looking to dissolve the requirement to have specific representation on the Board; now that LAAC is up and running they would like to open positions for the general public as well. ITEM 9 New business. Steve Michaud explained the status of an easement with Jerry?s Yamaha, owned by Jerry Tongen, and the RV dump site in Lakeville. He also reported that the City has chosen already selected a new site for the RV dump because of the easement situation with Jerry?s property. The City would like to remove the easement from his property and close the existing site as soon as the new site is available. The new site will be west and north of the City-owned barn next to the Water Treatment Facility. Pat Messinger complimented the City on the Orchard Lake Park playground. Judy Hayes suggested that the City take a look at options for handicapped youth at playgrounds. She proposed putting additional elements for handicapped kids in maybe just one park as a first step. She felt confident that many families would seek out a park that had better options for their handicapped children. At present, Steve explained that the playgrounds do meet the specifications. ITEM 10 Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for May 2, 2007 at 6:00 PM at City Hall (Council Chambers). ITEM 11 Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM. Respectfully submitted, ATTEST: ______________________________ _____________________________ Tammy Jo Ruter, Recording Secretary Kevin Miller, Chair