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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15 CITY OF LAKEVITTF: PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY CON~IITI'EE SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 1988 • Meeting was called to on~er at 6:10 PM by Mary McDonald, acting Chair. Present were McDonald, Messinger, Lpvelace and Illa. Grenz and Larson arrived later. Member Lulf was not able to attend. Also present were Park Director Steve Michaud and recording secretary Judi Ringeisen. Several Valley Park residents were also in attendance. Connnittee received a letter from Chap rman Jeff Larson and it was read aloud by McDonald. The letter stated Larson's concerns and objections to the purchase of the land adjoining Valley Lake Park. Staff explained that the purpose of the special meeting was to get the opinions. of the Parks and Recreation Comnnittee members on record relative to the land purchase. City staff is proposing that the land be purchased from Mr. .Goff with 20% down and a five year contract for deed, in order to lessen the impact on the Park Dedication Fund. It is felt by staff that .the plan meets the current needs of the Valley Park area but pointed out that development of the acquisition would also be expensive. Messinger stated it is a community park for the northeast section of Lakeville and needs to be expanded as such to become a mire visible facility and meet the needs of the growth in that area, in both Lakeville and Apple Valley. Illa did not agree that it would become more visible. His concept of a community park is one that all citizens of :Lakeville would use, not just one specific area of the city. He does not feel this meets the needs of the entire city, just a select group. .Staff pointed out the lack of a current updated Park and Open Space System Plan is to blame for the lack of a written policy, stating the desire of the Park and Recreation Coitnnittee to expand the Valley Lake Park. Foxborough Park is 22 acres and has been classified as a regional park for the area. McDonald would like the park boundaries to extend to 160th Street and feels it would benefit. the traffic flow in the area if traffic lights were installed. She would. also like to see the park squared off to become more aesthetic. Larson stated that acquisition of the land is a neighborhood issue, not benefitting the entire city and the money would be better spent by spreading it to all areas. Grenz stated that if this small piece of land is purchased for this neighborhood, no funds will be available to develop that or any other property.. He does not see a need for more land in the area. -ill, - a. lI 'i~.xffer area and the k~ian~ .is~ . ~ -not until the neighborhood group became active that some members of the conmtittee decided they could take park land to stop the developer. It • Parks and Recreation Advisory. Committee September 15, 1988 Page -2- was not re~~mm~x~ed to request land to satisfy the .park dedication requirements at that time.. Illa feels the most valuable piece of property is already awned by the city -the lake and the property surrounding it. He feels $87-100,000 is too much to spend.. Messinger C~ the price to that which was offered for the Antlers Park expansion, but which never materialized. L~avelace stated he also feels the price is too high. He offered the possibility that when 160th Street is improved, much of the land would be taken in easements by the county. He also suggested the committee wait and request land in the park dedication requirements when the land is developed in the future. Mr. Ruhmann, a Valley Park resident, spoke of aesthetics and the fact that 20-250 of the city's population lives in the northeast area of Lakeville. Jeff Bry stated the Apple Valley residents to the north of 160th Street, will also be heavy users of the park. He feels the park will become obsolete when the population increases. He also pointed out that the Valley Park residents turned out to pass the bond referendum and. feels they should now be supported. Another resident of Valley Park pointed out it is the only swimming area • for the area, now that the pools have been closed, and it is a heavily used facility. The citizen urged committee to find out what terms could be worked out and to take whatever land becomes available. Committee members are concerned that park dedication funds are not being used in appropriate areas. Much of the park land in the area is undeveloped and many facilities could be added to the land that is already owned.. Bunker Hill Park is a good example of a park where updating and further development will make it a premier park. 88.79 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by McDonald, to reco~anexid to council to go ahead with the purchase of five acres of property adjoining Valley Lake Park. Aye: Messinger, McDonald Nay: Larson, Lovelace, Grenz, Illa Committee member Grenz stated that five acres of property, at the asking price, would not benefit the park system to the .amount that would be spent. Messinger disagreed. 88.80 Motion. was. made by Grenz, seconded by Larson, to recommend to city council that no action be taken to purchase the five acres of property adjoining Valley Lake Park. Aye: Larson, Lovelace, Grenz, Illa Nay: Messinger, McDonald • Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee September 15, 1988 Page -3- • Staff showed the comm~ittee the report from NAC concerning the northeast conmrunity park. search. The most logical areas would be out of the. urban service areas, where the price would be the lowest. The criteria for the property is that is must have flatlands for athletic fields, wetlands for natural areas, and be accessible by main roads and trailways. The south- east corner of 170th Street and Pilot Knob Road and also the northeast corner of the same intersection would both be good candidates. In Sections 11 and 12 the are some areas in the 100 Year Flood Plain which could be developed into passive picnic areas. It will be important to serve Countryview Mobile Home Park with trails when this. progresses.. Staff reported on his trip to Atlanta and the presentation at the National Trails Symposium. He met scsme interesting people with the DNR and other organizations and has been invited to give his presentation in several other states. He pointed out the differences in the state and local park systems in other areas from those in Minnesota. They are much more co~nnercialized. 88.81 Since there was no further business, motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Illa, to adjourn. .Motion passed unanimously. Res fully s muted • Jeff on,.Chairman ATTEST: t jr • • September 16, 1988 Dear Mayor and City Council Members: I am writing to express my extreme disappointment with the vote taken by the Parks and Recreation Conm~ittee at the special meeting held Thursday evening September 15, to consider the purchase of five additional acres of land for Valley Lake Park. As you know, I am in favor of purchasing the property. A nt~nber of good arguments were presented to encourage the Park Committee to purchase the land (see minutes of meeting). Unfortunately, opinions were formulated before the meeting and the amts were presented to "deaf ears." It is unfortunate that a more open minded approach was not taken by a majority of the conmiittee. It is especially unfortunate since some of the members had just attended an MPRA meeting three weeks prior and were very impressed by a speech presented by Dr. John Crompton on the .marketing aspects of parks and recreation. .What was stressed throughout his speech was the importance • and the necessity of the park programs and facilities. being centered or oriented around the customer. In order to have a truly successful program our philosophy has to be based on enhancing visitor satisfaction by serving and satisfying the needs .and wants of the public, our clients. Our marketing approach should reflect an attitude of customer satisfaction through our sensitivity to the customers, the public's, ideas... We had that opportunity last night at .the meeting and we fell short. I think our committee last night demonstrated a lack of sensitivity to the public's needs and wants. I do not feel we should be taking ..this .type of approach if we want to be effective. Our philosophy has to reflect a sensitivity to the co~rnnunity we serve. Sincerely, Pat Messinger, Member Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee PM:jr • 9-15-88 Dear Fellow Park and Recreation Committee Members; Due to my work schedule I am unable to attend tonights meeting. I would like, however, to express my opinions to you on the purchase of land from Mr. Goff. While I am usually in favor of taking all land that we can get our hands on, I feel that the circumstances surrounding this issue make it a dangerous, and costly, purchase. The most dangerous thing about this land is that it would not be bought because it is needed or planned for. It would be bought because it would solve a political issue in one neighborhood at the expense of all the citizens of Lakeville. What is to stop other areas from requesting that the park system buy land in order to keep developers out? In my own neighborhood a piece of land was rezoned from R-2 to R-6 in spite of objections from all but one of the resi- dents in the area. Lets buy that piece of land first, it's been a thorn in our sides for over four years, and. probably cheaper.. Let's not waste what money we have when we could buy larger pieces of better quality land at a fraction of the cost. A negative recommendation to City Council would: show that there are still some people left with. common sense.. Re ectfu/~lly vl.~ 1Je~frey W. Larson .Chairman Park and Rec. Committee