Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06 CITY OF LAKEVILLE • PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 6, 1991 Prior to the meeting City Administrator Bob Erickson updated the committee on the council .actions releasing bond funds to make possible the purchase of eleven acres of land adjoining Valley Lake Park and approximately $200,000 for a community park site in the northeast sector. The meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:00 PM by Chairman Lulf. Roll call was taken. Present were Illa, Lulf, Larson, Grenz, Raymond and Messinger. Lovelace was unable to attend due to snowplowing duties. ITEM 3. The minutes of the February 20, 1991 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee were discussed. Messinger wanted to add to page 3 of the minutes that she would like to see the cross country ski lessons offered at Parkview again next year, even though the first year was not successful. It was also pointed out that the April 27th date which was suggested for the area wide parks and recreation committees to meet would be in conflict with the community Earth Day/Arbor Day/Cleanup Day. • The minutes were approved as amended. ITEM 4. No citizens were present to make comments on items other than those on the agenda. ITEM 5. Staff reviewed the events leading up to the present situation with the winter access site on Lake Marion, starting with the neighborhood petition to conduct a study on aesthetic and safety improvements that could be done to the lagoon. The problems of steep sides, below grade water level, storm water runoff and unsafe traffic patterns in the area were all studied by TKDA. After meetings with citizens, the DNR and city engineers, the idea of relocating the winter access became an issue. Several ideas were proposed by TKDA including rerouting the road around the lagoon, although that also had negative safety implications with people concerned about the mix of pedestrians and vehicular traffic in the area. Two alternative winter access sites were located, one at County .Road 64 and Juno Trail and the other at the south side of Casperson Park. Use of the existing boat launch as a winter access was discussed, however, during periods of high water there is the potential for bad ice south of the access. The • County Road 64 and Juno Trail. site also has the potential for bad ice during warm periods which causes runoff to flow through a culvert near this access. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes • March 6, 1991 Page -2- Staff passed on to committee a letter received from the Lake Marion Homeowners Association requesting that the current Casperson boat launch be recommended as the only designated winter access site. They feel it would be more easily monitored and less intrusive to residential properties. Ron Greiner, 19803 Jersey Ave., lives across the lake from Casperson Park. He objects to the winter access being moved to Casperson as he feels they are merely shifting the problem. He also questioned how many actual Lake Marion shoreline property owners are represented by the homeowners association. The. Greiners did not realize when they bought their property that the. land across the lake was a city owned park which would be developed. Chairman Lulf briefly talked about the work that is being done and the matching grant which has been received. .John Ochs, 10145. W. 205th Street, is the Vice President of the Homeowners Association. He stated the membership now includes 35 families, some of them shoreline property owners and some friends of the lake.: Mr. Ochs stated he is in favor of one access only, .especially for enhanced law enforcement and prefers Casperson as it is away from residential properties. He . mentioned that drinking and trash problems are much diminished on the lake this year and contributes the improvement to the police being able to drive onto the lake for law enforcement. Ken LaBoone, 20072 Italy Avenue, resides near Antlers Park and the current winter access. When he purchased his property he understood that a legal right of access was part of the covenants in the Lenihan subdivision. He feels the removal of the access at Antlers would diminish the value of the properties of those who are nearby but not on the shoreline. He suggested moving the access to the south side of Antlers Park.. Messinger stated it would be obtrusive to the park and an unsafe mix of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Staff stated that the property titles have been checked by attorneys and there are no easements which go into the lake. Mr. LaBoone is also concerned about abuse of natural habitats in the area. He suggested postponing the project until mid-June so as not to disturb the spawning of fish and reptile hatching season. Rick Ringeisen, 20085 Italy Avenue, was one of the original petitioners who asked for the study of the lagoon. Because his house is approximately 20 feet from the current access, he needed to construct a berm to bar traffic from his front yard. He said he has heard comments from many citizens who are in favor of moving the access. He feels the garbage problem has • somewhat diminished with the help of the park department and better enforcement on the lake by the police and the DNR, but it remains a problem. He is in favor of the access being moved to Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes • March 6, 1991 Page -3- Casperson Park where it would be away from any residential area. He commended the committee and staff for their hard work and thanked them for their immediate attention and action on the original petition. .Glenn Holberg is opposed to the County Road 64 and Juno Trail site since it is near his home. He cited high traffic speeds and poor sight lines on County Road 64 and the potential danger. He also said there is a creek in the area which often makes the ice unsafe at that location. Pete Smith, 20075 Italy Avenue, agrees that it would be ideal to only have one winter access to the lake. He disputed Mr. LaBoone's statement that the removal of the lake access at Antlers Park would be a devaluing factor for nearby properties. Committee member Illa stated he has long been opposed to the current access. He was originally in .favor of moving the access to the County Road 64/Juno Trail site, but since hearing the citizens' comments, he now feels Casperson is the best location. Committee member Larson stated it is the city's obligation to • provide safe access both winter and summer and County Road 64 cannot handle the traffic on and off the lake. He is concerned about the creek impacting the condition of the ice on the south side of the boat launch. Chairman Lulf asked for clarification of the exact location of .the proposed access - it is the current boat launch, or a site south of there that the homeowners association is recommending. It was stated that the homeowners were recommended the location at Casperson on the south side of the boat launch. Committee member Messinger feels the access at Antlers has been unsafe for many years. Mr. Holberg brought up good points about sight lines, etc., which makes her prefer the Casperson location south of the boat launch. Committee member Raymond felt that moving the access to County Road 64 and Juno Trail would be shifting the problem. He felt having only one access to the lake would inconvenience some people and felt that something may still be able to be done with the Antlers lagoon to allow it to continue to be an access. Committee member Grenz prefers the County Road 64/Juno Trail access since it would not take up so much of the land at Casperson. Also he feels it would be more inconvenient for the. • people from the downtown area to reach the Casperson location. He does not foresee traffic problems in the County Road 64 area, were the access to be placed there. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes • March 6, 1991 Page -4- Chairman Lulf stated he was originally opposed to closing Antlers but realizes .that improvements need to be made in the area and is in favor of the south Casperson access proposal. .91.5 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Larson, to recommend to City Council that the designated winter access to Lake Marion be relocated to the south side of Casperson Park as one of two winter accesses to the lake, with the second being the current Casperson Park boat launch. Under discussion, Raymond asked what the cost would be to the city to place the access at this location. Staff stated it would be minimal and at the same time would significantly lower the cost of the Antlers Park lagoon improvement project. Roll call was taken on the motion. Aye r Larson, Lulf, Raymond, Messinger Nay: Illa does not see the need for two accesses so close together; Grenz would like to put the access at County Road 64 and Juno Trail on a trial basis and if it is not workable, it could then be moved to Casperson. Motion passed. 91.6 Motion was made by Larson, seconded by Messinger, to recommend to the City Council removal of the road .from the Antlers Park lagoon improvement project and continue with the project taking into consideration the engineers findings and recommendations on the storm water drainage. Roll call: Aye: Illa, Larson, Lulf, Raymond, Grenz, Messinger ITEM 6. - Staff Reports Staff reported that Lakeville has been number one in growth in Dakota County, with several other cities at a standstill on issuance of building permits. Several new plats and later .phases of plats are now being considered by staff. The park maintenance dept. will no longer clear the snowfalls off the trails due to the danger of damaging the adjoining turf with the soft, thawing ground. A new ordinance is in effect this year which makes it illegal to store fish houses on public accesses. Staff has given owners of those fish houses left at Casperson and Antlers a grace period in order to make them aware of the ordinance and give them time to remove the house. It was suggested that next winter the ordinance be more widely publicized and informational signs be posted at the access to alleviate the problem. • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes March 6, 1991 Page -5- .ITEM 7. Committee discussed the updated Park Policy Plan and it was pointed out that the organizational chart had been omitted from the revision. Messinger also listed a few corrections which needed to be .made in spelling and/or grammar. Staff will have the document corrected. ITEM 8. Under review of the Park and Trail Fund budgets, staff advised the committee that the balance in the park fund is about $300,000. Orchard Lake Beach improvements will ultimately cost .about $10-12,000 after the sale of the adjoining property.. Staff ran .through the line items and gave the committee a time line on each with a brief explanation. Staff would also like to add to the park dedication fund the completion of a master plan that includes Valley Lake Park, Parkview Park and Sleepy Hollow Park into a community park. Staff also mentioned that it would be prudent to leave a balance in the fund for unforeseen events or projects. Committee received the 5-year trail dedication plan. The plan is tied to the Transportation System Plan. Staff updated the • committee on various trail projects that are upcoming in the system and estimated costs of those projects. ITEM 9. John Friedges of Friedges Landscaping has agreed to enter into contract with the City for the grading project and removal of gravel from the Casperson Park site. He has also agreed to do the work on the west side of the park. It is anticipated that the agreement will be on the next city council agenda. ITEM 10. Council authorized staff at their March 4, 1991 meeting to enter up to 98 acres of Ritter Farm Park farmland into the federal Conservation Reserve Program. Staff will be meeting with the program administrators on Friday to complete the proper forms. ITEM 11. Staff told the committee that a system plan is close to being ready to be brought before council at a work session. ITEM 12. Staff discussed the sidewalk"costs which had been assessed in the area of Griffin Trail. Councilmember Betty Sindt became aware of increased demands on the Community Action Council's food pantry in the summer months. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes March 6, 1991 Page -6- In response to those needs, staff has contacted the people in charge of the Pan-O-Prog softball tournament, soccer tournament, grand parade and the fireworks display. He hopes they will all become involved by encouraging participants of these events to donate a non-perishable food item to the CAC food pantry. Staff will continue to work on this project with the CAC. Larry Lulf, LAA liaison, distributed an informational brochure which had been published by the LAA. He stated the National Youth Sports. Coaching Association (NYSCA) will be coming up on the agenda. soon. Staff expressed the importance of this program. Staff told the committee there would be a Volunteer Recognition Day to be held in April and .asked them for suggestions and input on deserving citizens. Chairman Lulf distributed a schedule for. committee attendance at council meetings and encouraged members to attend when they are scheduled so they can be of assistance in areas pertaining to the committee recommendations, etc. ITEM 13. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will be held on March 20, 1991. ITEM 14. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, J d A. Ringer , Recording Secretary Larry Lulf, Chairma jr •