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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-23 . CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE SPECIAL. MEETING DECEMBER 23, 1985 Roll .call: Briscoe, Messinger, Anderson, Grenz and Lovelace were present. Member Gramstad had called and could not make it. Park Director Steve Michaud was also present. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss several issues concerning the proposed bond referendum being studied. Staff started with a presentation covering all the proposed projects and their costs. The first project he discussed was the Casperson property. It was pointed out by staff that council had authorized an option to purchase the land for a price of $360,000.00. Steve presented a proposal from the city engineers that estimated the cost to reroute .the road to the property and construct new parking lots to be $130,000.00. Staff also added additional $150,000.00 for site improvements, Major discussion surrounded whether or not to add development money to part of the band issue. Steve expressed Pat McGarvey's views that providing some development and making available some facilities would mean for a mare attractive package, as opposed to acquisition alone. • Project number two is the Valley Lake Park acquisition/development project. This project had been proposed and planned, master plan drawn several years ago in anticipation of the surrounding land being developed.. Unfortunately to date there has been no activity in that area in attempts to contact the land owners have been unsuccessful. This proposal recommends acquisition of the land north and east of the lake which provides for a park. corridor around the entire body of the lake. Presently our boundaries go in and out of the water to the north on the east side of the lake. Along with the acquisition of the nine acres, development of the area would include grading of the entire site, installation of a walkway around the body of water, landscapings, plantings and a new playground area. A roadway coming. off of 160th Street headed south toward the water and a parking lot would also be constructed. Committee members from Valley Park emphasized the anticipation of the neighborhoods for the completion of this park. Item two was a discussion of the Antlers Park projects. Staff went through the various development items and acquisition items. The discussion of Antlers Park surrounded the existing authorized change orders to redevelop the vacated roadway and parking lots. Also, the authorized condemnation for acquisition for the 2.9 acres. At present, these plans were targeted. for the park dedication fund. Most of the funds existing in the park dedication fund are presently committed to the areas from which they were received, Far this reason Steve has recommended that all acquisition and development costs be part of the bond issue. If in the end the bond issue is not successful, then we would review all available funding and make our recommendations at that time. • • Park and Recreation Committee Special Meeting December 23, 1985 Page -2- North Park was the next project. Discussion surrounded the feasibility of purchasing this property to keep current with existing needs and future needs and at the same time purchase property at a reasonable price. North Park community playfield has been identified in the comprehensive plan for several years to serve the northwestern area of our community. With the development of Rolling Oaks and the future bridging of 35W at 165th Street, this would be a wise acquisition and development. Item five, the bike trail from downtown Lakeville to the High School, was the next project discussed. Staff informed the committee of material casts to construct the trail from Dodd Blvd. to County Road 64. These figures are based on the city purchasing materials and doing the installation with their own equipment. At present Council has authorized a change order to provide for excavation and fill of the bikeway corridor. At present we have secured permission to complete work on the Hammer property but have not received permission from the Friedges property. Last word was that the Friedges property would have to be condemned. Staff informed the committee that this process that this process was now underway. Item six was a discussion. of Aronson Park. Staff presented the various priorities that are needed at Aronson Park and there was considerable • discussion concerning the feasibility of .spending $100,000.00 as estimated to complete the grading of the undeveloped twenty acres to the east. Most committee members agreed that the amount of money needed to grade twenty acres would be better used in purchasing North Park, whereby the city would receive 35-40 acres and twice the field capacity as opposed to a minimal number of fields that would he provided by the grading of the twenty acres. It was also the general consensus of the committee that the council consider authorizing the sale of this land and using the proceeds to complete the priority projects that are identified for Aronson Park. The next item was a lengthy discussion on providing a bike trail from the Valley Park area to downtown Lakeville. Several alternatives were discussed which included a paved trail from Cedar Avenue to Highview through Foxborough and Woodbury Additions and then heading south along Highview and Holyoke into downtown Lakeville. It was thought that there would be assistance from the county concerning the development and construction of this trail. Staff informed the committee that it is very unlikely that the county would have anything to do with this development or funding of this trail. It was then suggested that the paving of shoulders along the west side of Cedar Avenue all the way down to 202nd Street, along the south side of 202nd Street to Aronson Park and into downtown Lakeville may be a feasible project. Staff would contact the county concerning the paving of Cedar Avenue shoulders. The committee felt strongly about making a connection between Valley Park and downtown Lakeville. This proposed trail would open • accesses to downtown Lakeville, Aronson Park, Antlers Park and other major areas in the southern part of Lakeville. Conversely, it would also give the downtown Lakeville area access to Valley Park, Apple Valley and the entire County and State bikeway system. • Park and Recreation Committee Special Meeting December 23, 1985 Page -3- Project number eight was the purchase of playground equipment for several locations. This equipment would replace old substandard equipment and provide playground equipment to new parks which have no equipment. It was the thought of the committee that providing playgrounds to various parts of the city would also provide something for those neighborhoods that aren't attached to some of the major projects in the bond issue. At this point concerning the funding limitations, the playground installations were not included in the total price but would be part of the total package in that funding could be found in the park dedication funds. The committee then discussed the potential citizens advisors to be part of the bond referendum committee. Several names were discussed. It was suggested that those people be contacted and invited to the next park and rec committee meeting. Because the next meeting is on the lst of January and as a result of the Park Director not being in town on the 8th of January, the next .park and rec committee meeting will be held on January 15, 19$6. The committee was also reminded that the possibility exists that meetings would be necessary on the 22nd and the 29th. Also, staff reminded the .committee to mark January 27th down for the combined meeting with Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan's park commissioners and committees at .Fort Snelling State Park. Memos will be forthcoming with details concerning these meetings. 85-68 There being no further business, it was moved by Messinger, seconded by Grenz to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Gerald S. Michaud, Director Parks and Recreation GSM:jr •