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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-17 CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 1997 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, C. Warless-Sobel, J. Larson, A. Raymond and P. Messinger. Committee member C. Bonn was ill. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary Judi Ryan. ITEM #3. Minutes of August 20, 1997 The minutes of the August 20, 1997 Parks 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. Q Staff reported that after a summer of vandalism and citizen harassment, the juveniles who had been causing the problems have finally been charged and have been banned from the Lakeville park system for one year. New boards will be installed on the benches which were damaged and the benches will be relocated. Q Closing on the Christian property is scheduled to take place on Friday, September 26, 1997. Q Staff has been notified by the DNR that Lakeville is eligible for an additional $14, 800 of trail grant funds which is .proposed to be applied to the Klamath Trail project in 1998. Q Progress is being made on the 205th Street project, although rain and weather have caused delays. Culvert replacement under 205th Street has been accomplished. The storm drainage area is under construction, with materials to be used as fill on the trail project. Anticipated completion is November 1st. Q The hockey rink at Cherry View is under construction by STS crews. The rink at Meadow Brook has also been started with corner post installation complete. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes September 17, 1997 Page -2- • blacktop of that rink is also finished. This will also be a lighted facility with a portable warming house. Q Application has been made to Dakota County for a grant to cap the well at the Christian property. Grants such as this are an incentive for people to cap unused wells for safety and to protect the aquifer, especially in environmentally sensitive areas and near lakes. Q The new trail connection is complete from the SuperAmerica station on County Road 46 to Oak Shore Park, through the residential area. Restoration was completed, but following the recent heavy rains, it was determined that some regrading and resodding will need to be done to prevent siltation on the trail in the future. The trail lights have been installed and are functional. Q Contracts have been finalized with NSP for lighting trails on Juno Trail, the 202nd Street staircase and 205th Street. Q The ISD #192 trail project to North Trail Elementary was started, but has been delayed due to weather. Q Staff has been notified that the City of Lakeville will be receiving a new DARTS bus later this year. This purchase is fully funded by DARTS. Q Staff gave committee members a brief summary of the Snowmobile Task Force meeting which took place on September 11, 1997. Approximately 40 of the 150 people who were present at the meeting gave testimony opposing any type of a snowmobile ban. Committee member Messinger stated that since only snowmobile owners had been personally notified of the meeting by letter, it was not surprising that those who attended were opposed to the ban. Staff pointed out that the article on the "Messages" page of the Lakeville Life and Times was intended to inform the general public of the meeting. Testimony is still being received by staff -both supporting and opposing the ban. Messinger stated that there is no organized group against snowmobiling and a decision on the ban should not be based on numbers of those who do or do not want it-the decision should be based on concerns for safety and other issues. Both sides need to present their case to the City Council. Staff stated that according to the sign-in sheets from the meeting, there is a large group from Valley Park who are against a ban. He felt the meeting had been positive and that people appreciated the opportunity to voice their opinions. Q Committee member Warless-Sobel stated that the soccer fields at North Park were especially good this year and were beautifully groomed. Staff stated that each field is typically rotated out of use every third year for renovation. Three fields needed to be taken out of the system this fall for renovation, some which were damaged at the Pan-O-Frog tournament this year when play resumed following Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes September 17, 1997 Page -3- • heavy rains. Having so many fields closed created a need to use open spaces at outlying parks which would not normally be used for soccer play. The new South Soccer complex will add three new fields to the system next year. ITEM #6. Greenwood Estates neighborhood meeting. Staff welcomed the nine residents who were present from the Greenwood Estates neighborhood and thanked them for their patience in this matter. Attempts have been made by staff to clean up the trail as much as possible following rains and to find solutions to the challenge of making the trail work. The trail issue was discussed by neighbors at a meeting at the home of Steve and Julie Peters and all seemed to be against keeping the trail open. All Greenwood Estates homeowners were sent letters notifying them of this meeting and the potential of closing the trail. From that notice, three residents responded to staff prior to the meeting, all of whom stated that they did not want to keep the trail. The catch basin which was proposed is scheduled to be installed by September 19th, weather permitting. If the trail is closed, the Community and Economic Development office would take care of removing the .easements from the four affected property owners and staff would remove the aglime, spread black dirt and sod areas between the existing homes. The wood chipped trail through the trees would remain as is. Steve Peters, 16689 Isosceles Ave., stated that after discussions concerning what would need to be done to keep the trail and the amount of money it would cost, and considering the general lack of use of the trail, he is suggesting removal. He stated that in his discussions with neighbors, he could not find any support for keeping the trail. People seem to feel there are plenty of trails in the area and since there is minimal vehicle traffic in the neighborhood, people often walk on the streets. Staff stated that the intent of the trail was to connect to the main trail corridor on 160th Street and was to serve this neighborhood only. The trail then became a maintenance issue with grading problems, etc. Sallie Crowl, 16592 Jackdaw Path, lives near the bottom of the trail and sees how much water comes down the trail when it rains. She suggested some low level landscaping would absorb some of the water or some berm strips would cut the velocity. Judi Ireland, 16659 Jackdaw Path, said she is committed to keeping the neighborhood beautiful and natural and is currently working with her neighbors on . preventing the spread of oak wilt in the area. She stated they knew the trail would be there when they built their house but had not expected the erosion which is being Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes September 17, 1997 Page -4- • experienced. She also feels the trail is too steep for people to use and people are apathetic about whether to keep it or close it. Steven Smith, 16679 Jackpine Trail, feels the lay of the land is not conducive to a trail which causes safety and maintenance concerns. He would like to see the trail abandoned and the area put back in a natural state. Steve Peters asked why such a wide cut needed to be made through the wooded area. Staff stated that the depth of utility lines that are buried determines the width. Every attempt is made to minimize the impact on natural areas as much as possible. Staff suggested that seedlings and conifers be replanted in the area, however, if there is ever a need to dig up the line, the landscaping would be destroyed. Steven Smith asked about what would be planted if the trail was removed. Staff stated that occasionally trees become available from various sources, such as stock for Arbor Day reforestation or nurseries which are closing out stock. Committee member Raymond stated that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is generally not in favor of abandoning trails, but if there is a safety issue • concerning wet or slippery conditions on the trail, or severe maintenance issues, it should be considered. 97.40 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Wanless-Sobel, to recommend to City Council that due to safety conditions, grading problems and ongoing maintenance problems, the trail and associated trail easements in Greenwood Estates should be abandoned. Motion passed. ITEM #7. Review Park Naming Policy. Staff stated that the City Council had reviewed the proposed Park Naming Policy at their work session and was pleased with ideas which were presented by committee. Some minor revisions had been made to the language of the document in areas which seemed vague or where random numbers had been chosen. Committee members agreed that if issues arise concerning language in the document, or if there is a request to add or change criteria, it can be addressed at a future time. Committee members liked the addition of trees and shrubs as donarions into the policy. The Ciry Council will review the revised document at their work session of September 22nd. Deborah Larson, a representative of the Studer family who has been in contact with • staff, will receive a copy of the proposed document. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Minutes September 17, 1997 Page -5- ~.41 Motion was made by Lulf, seconded by Lovelace, to recommend City Council consider accepting the Park Naming Policy as revised. Motion passed. ITEM #8. Unfmished business. Committee member Raymond commented on the letter to the editor in the Lakeville Life and Times concerning the purchase of the Christian property. Staff stated that it was the only negative comment he had heard concerning the acquisition. Committee member Messinger mentioned the possibility of paving a second rink somewhere in the community and suggested that it be included in the park dedication budget for 1998. She feels the Meadow Brook rink will be a regional draw and will be utilized heavily. Staff stated that the budget has already been submitted for next year but he will see if there is any way it can be added. Possibly something can be worked on together with the Lakeville School District to put a paved rink near one of the schools. Committee member Bonn had called to express her appreciation for the Independence Park equipment and said it is being heavily used. • ITEM #10. - Announcements. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for October 1, 1997 at 6:00 PM. ITEM #11. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, i A. Ryan, Recording ecretary ATTES - f arson, Chairperson