HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21 • CITY OF LAKEVILLE
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMIVIITTEE MEETING
MAY 21, 1997
ITEM #1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order in the Lakeville Council Chambers by Vice Chair Lulf
at 6:00 PM.
ITEM #2. Roll call.
Present were L. Lulf, C. Warless-Sobel, A. Raymond and P. Messinger. Committee
members H. Lovelace and J. Larson were absent. Also present were Park Director
Steve Michaud and Recording Secretary Judi Ryan.
ITEM #3. Minutes of May 7, 1997
The minutes of the May 7, 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.
? Staff reported that the Dakota County Board had approved the purchase of the
property at the intersection of Pilot Knob Road, Dodd Blvd. and 160th Street.
Because of the road realignment and improvement project, the proposed Dodd
Pointe tot lot site will be purchased jointly by the City and the County and
developed by the Ciry of Lakeville. Staff has begun preparing concept plans.
? Park rangers will begin their summer schedule this Memorial Day weekend. One
ranger will be a 40-hour per week position and two will be 20-hour positions. One
of their major duties is traffic control at Casperson Boat Launch. A meeting was
held recently with new rangers and CPSO's to review park rules and regulations.
The rangers are under the guidance of Jon O'Laughlin of the Police Department.
? Friedges, Inc. is re-seeding several areas where winter kill was experienced in the
new parks. These areas will continue to be re-seeded until there is successful
growth. The Park Department is assisting by watering the newly seeded areas.
? Ciry Council has authorized the City Attorney to begin negotiations with Mid-
• America Festivals for purchase of a portion of the Renaissance property to be used
as a park to serve Lake Villa and other nearby neighborhoods.
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May 21, 1997 Page -2-
? Several trees were removed from the site of Provincial Bank which is under
construction on Iberia Avenue and Highway 50. The trees have been distributed in
the park system with several being placed in Bassett Park.
ITEM #6. Review final plat of Interlachen Glen and make park and trail
dedication recommendation to City Council.
Interlachen Glen is located west of Highview, south of the Messiah Church property
and consists of 45 lots. Some tune ago, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
reviewed the preliminary plat, which was known as Highview Hills. At that time,
residents from the nearby Hypointe Crossing Addition had requested a tot lot for this
plat. Because of existing park facilities within the immediate area, including Hypointe
Crossing Park, committee members did not see a need for an additional park in the
neighborhood. It was the recommendation of the committee to accept cash for parks
and trails. In addition, the developer will be required to escrow funds for future trails
along Highview Avenue.
97.17 Motion was made by Raymond, seconded by Messinger, to recommend City Council
approve the final plat of Interlachen Glen and require a cash contribution to satisfy the
park and trail dedication requirements. The developer will also be required to escrow
• funds for future trails along Highview Avenue.
Motion passed,
ITEM #7. Review preliminary and final plat of Garden Estates and make
park and trail dedication recommendation to City Council.
Garden Estates consists of three single family residential lots on land located on the
south side of 202nd Street, east of Kensington Way. This property is being urbanized as
part of the Juno Trail improvement project. There are no parks or trails associated with
this plat. Staff is recommending a cash contribution to satisfy the park and trail
dedication requirements.
97.18 Motion was made by Raymond, seconded by Warless-Sobel, to recommend City
Council approve the preliminary and final plat of Garden Estates and require a cash
contribution to satisfy the park and trail dedication requirements.
Motion passed.
ITEM #8. Review Independence Park playground design concept.
Cheryl Bonn, chair of the neighborhood comnuttee to upgrade the playground at
Independence Park, was present to discuss the project with Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee members. Staff had met with Mrs. Bonn and a few other
• neighbors to discuss the process and offer variety of manufacturers for consideration.
The group chose Big Toys and made suggestions for equipment they would like to
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May 21,1997 Page -3-
• have included in the structure. Johnny Johnsen of St. Croix Recreation assisted with
design of the concept layout. Final specifications will be prepared and submitted to
City Council for consideration and authorization for bids. Cheryl Bonn thanked the
Committee and the City Council for allocating the funds for the playground equipment
and especially Committee member Pat Messinger for her assistance. She also
complimented the park maintenance department on the excellent job they do on the
upkeep of the parks.
Mrs. Bonn informed the committee that there is another group of residents who will be
requesting a bike trail to the park but stated that she would not be in favor of the trail.
Some vandalism has occurred in the area and she feels that more activities would be a
better use of funds, such as more basketball courts or other things that teens can do to
vent their energies. Staff stated that residents need only make a phone call to the
police department and an officer, a CPSO or a park ranger would respond quickly.
Mrs. Bonn stated that patrols have been increased in the area. Committee member
Messinger suggested a low intensity security light be installed in Independence Park to
discourage late night loitering by teenagers.
Mrs. Bonn asked if the old equipment could be recycled. Staff felt that since the
• neighbors feel it has become unsafe and children have been getting slivers while
playing on it, the equipment should not be installed elsewhere. The new equipment
will be installed by the manufacturer and the excavating will be done in-house. STS
crews may also assist with the construction of the retaining wall. Staff reviewed the
time line and said if all goes well, the playground installation should be done by mid-
August. The Committee also thanked Mrs. Bonn for her commitment.
97.19 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Wanless-Sobel, to recommend City
Council approve the plans for Independence Park playground upgrade and authorize
staff to accept bids on the project.
Motion passed.
ITEM #9. Review preliminary draft of park naming policy prepared by
subcommittee.
Staff complimented the subcommittee on the work which has been done on this project
so far. In the absence of Chair Larson, who is also part of the two-member
subcomnuttee, staff suggested that the discussion on park naming be postponed until
both subcommittee members were present. Staff also reported that he received a
phone call from the Studer family who inquired about the progress of the proposed
policy and if any decision had been reached.
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May 21,1997 Page -4-
~20 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Raymond, to table the discussion on
park naming policies until the next meeting.
Motion passed.
ITEM #10. Report from subcommittee concerning recommendation for
revision of Ritter Farm Park leash ordinance.
Committee members received a copy of subcommittee's minutes of May 14th. The
subcommittee was recommending that the ordinance be changed in phases, in order to
give people a chance to comply before harsher restrictions and penalties are imposed.
In that way, the situation could be re-evaluated periodically and stronger enforcement
could be attempted. The subcommittee felt that the term "under strict voice
command" was vague and that a 10-yard maximum distance between dog and owner
should be maintained.
Chair Larson had spoken with staff by phone and expressed concerns about a statement
in the subcommittee minutes which referred to dog training at Ritter Farm Park. Staff
agreed with him that Ritter is an environmental area and has never been an area for
dog training. The issue of dogs chasing animals and disturbing wildlife nesting areas
was the impetus for proposing the ordinance change at Ritter. Other considerations
• have since been brought forward such as safety to other park patrons, liabilities and the
major problem of people not cleaning up after their dogs. The subcommittee is also
suggesting a sizable fine be imposed in increasing increments for people who do not
follow the rules, especially for those who do not clean up.
Committee members would like to increase citizen awareness of dog regulations by
having discussions of the issues on Cable TV police update shows, publishing articles
on the "Messages" page of the Lakeville Life & Times, and beginning a strict
enforcement campaign. Warless-Sobel stated that during soccer games she has
attended at North Park, she has noticed several people have their dogs on leashes,
many others do not. Staff will develop a marketing plan for public awareness of the
rules which will include a draft ordinance, a list of goals and objectives, a time line for
unplementation, and research on the legality and extent of possible fines.
ITEM #11. Unfmished business.
There was no unfinished business at this time.
ITEM #12. New business.
A local resident has submitted a letter to staff asking for permission to set up a mobile
concession stand at Aronson Park on weekday evenings during regular games and
practices. Weekend tournaments would not be available due to the fact that
tournament sponsors normally run their own concessions as a fund raiser. Several
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May 21, 1997 Page -S-
groups and individuals have attempted this type of venture in the past, without
significant success. For this reason, staff did not encourage the proposal. Committee
members suggested that if this was allowed, a permit fee could be charged, rather than
a percentage of the profits, but also expressed concern about setting a precedent by
allowing this venture.
The Spring Park Tour will take place as part of the next meeting. Committee members
suggested visiting King Park, Highview Heights Park, Cherry View Park, South
Soccer Complex, Meadow Brook Park, 205th Street Trail site and Juno Trail, and
ending at Ritter Farm Park for the remainder of the meeting. The bus will leave from
City Hall at 5:30 PM on June 4th.
ITEM #13. Announcements:
The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled for
June 4, 1997. Committee members were also reminded of the all-Advisory Committee
and Commission meeting which will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 1997, beginning
at 6:00 PM.
ITEM #14. Adjournment.
• The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
J di A. Ryan, Recording ecretary
ATTEST:
Larry , V' Cha°
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