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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20 CITY OF LAKEVILLE • PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING NOVEMBER 20, 1985 7:00 PM Roll call: Lovelace, Anderson, Grenz, Messinger and Gramstad were present. Park Director Steve Michaud was also present. Committee member Briscoe was absent. 85-62 The first order of business was the approval of the October 16, 1985 Park and Recreation Committee minutes. It was moved by Anderson, seconded by Grenz, to approve the minutes as read. Motion passed. Park Director's report: Staff informed the committee that the city has actively been involved in transplanting trees through the generosity of the cities of Apple Valley and Eagan. We have been able to borrow their tree spades to accomplish this task. To date we have transplanted approximately fifty trees, providing a savings in the thousands of dollars. There have been many calls from citizens expressing pleasure with the newly planted trees. The repairs on warming houses and rinks continue. All exterior repairs on the rinks and warming houses are complete. There only remains interior work to be completed for our Christmas holidays opening. • The drainage problem at Aronson Park field number 2 has been corrected. French drains were installed throughout the infield to assist with the drainage problem which has been persistent for many years. This project will be paid for by the Lakeville Men's Adult Softball League. The committee was updated with the development on the north side of Foxborough Park. Considering the weather and the snow that we have received, it seems doubtful that that particular area will be plowed this year. The Park Dept. has also been busy collecting and storing our picnic tables from throughout the park system.. Under ongoing development projects, staff informed and updated the committee as to the work at Antlers Park. Indra Way has been closed and the new Indra Way opened for public use. At present there has been no progress on the acquisition of the additional property to the east of Antlers Park with the Warweg family. As of these writings, contact had bean made with Mr. Warweg and the city's proposal for acquisition has been turned down. It will be recommended to city council that the city proceed with condemnation of the property. The committee was informed of negotiations with Big Toys Corporation. The company has basically decided to accommodate all our recommendations. Basically, we plan to remove the existing fire swings, replace them with a • conventional swing. Big Toys will then provide newly designed tire swings, that will be located at a different site, adjacent to the existing • playground equipment. Staff still awaits correspondence from the Big Toys Corporation agreeing to all these changes. The maintenance department has been busy working at Ritter Farm Park preparing the ski trails. As of this writing, a signing program has begun and hopefully the grooming equipment will be prepared for usage in tracking of trails. Staff updated the committee relative to the bike trail from downtown Lakeville to Antlers Park. The committee was informed of negotiations still taking place with one of the landowners. Staff informed the committee of a meeting held with Dakota County planners. Basically, the crossing at Dodd Blvd. should be no problem and the county will allow it. The crossing at County Road 64 may have site distance problems. The county will be reviewing that particular crossing and discussing their recommendations with the city. Three alternatives to the County Road 64 crossing were suggested by committee members. First alternative would be proper signage, warning vehicular traffic of the crossing. If this particular effort did not work, the second alternative would be speed controls at that particular site. If speed controls and a lowering of the speed limit did not work, the possibility of a stop sign would be recommended. Applications are now being developed for use on the county road crossings and roadway ditches, which will be submitted to the county for approval. • Staff informed the committee that our city attorney was still negotiating with a single landowner to provide access along the drainage ditch to complete our trail connection. Committee member Messinger, supported by the rest of the committee requested that council ask our city attorneys why negotiations have taken so long and what the present status is on securing the remaining easements. The committee was concerned that if this is dragged out further, the possibility of missing another construction season exists. The committee feels very strongly that all agreements and paperwork be completed this winter so that construction of this trail may begin as soon as possible in the spring. The next item on the agenda was the discussian of a potential bond issue in the spring. Staff informed the committee of the progress of the Caspersen property. As stated at a previous meeting, geological work and borings had been completed. Staff was awaiting a final report from the engineers office on the feasibility of marketing the sand that is available on the site. Steve informed the committee that he had discussions with a realtor concerning thirty acres on Ipava Avenue north of Christina Huddleston School on the east side of the road. Staff will be contacting landowners of other potential sites in the general proximity to discuss the possibility of acquisition. • The third major project would be the acquisition and development of the Valley Lake property. The fourth major priority would be the development of several major trail segments within the community, and the fifth would be miscellaneous development projects throughout the park system. Staff asked the committee if they would come up with suggestions for projects throughout their areas. Under old business, the committee was informed that a final review of the park comp. plan had been completed and a meeting has been set with Erkkila and Associates to draft a final copy. The committee was also informed that the city had received a $12,000.00 grant from the D.N.R. for the construction and installation of bridges along with the snowmobile trail. Some of the bridges would be located in Ritter Farm Park and possibly Faxborough Park. Under new business, the committee was informed of a public hearing to be held December 2nd at Eagan City Hall for the purposes of reviewing Dakota County comprehensive trail system and capital improvement program. A copy of the trail comprehensive plan and capital improvement program was passed out to committee members. Steve asked the committee members to review the comprehensive plan. The city of Lakeville has already commented to the county in writing. Staff informed the committee that several cities within Dakota County were • displeased with the comprehensive plan and the capital improvement plan provided by the county staff. Several cities will be represented at the December 2nd meeting to express their concerns at the direction the county is taking in the development of bike trail. Some of the main issues that are being contested are the removal of certain trail segments within the comprehensive plan, the misconception of trail usage by the county board and the reduction of funds for the construction of trails. Staff informed the committee that another meeting will be held January 28th of the Park Consortium which represents park and recreation committees from several cities in Dakota County. Presently a program is being developed, in conjunction with the Fort Snelling State Park which will focus on how the state park operates, management philosophies, potential state and city cooperative programs, etc. Steve will keep the. committee informed of the meeting, its date and location. Committee member Messinger suggested that the car stops be reinstated at Bunker Hill parking lot. Several cars are driving out the the playground equipment. Committee member Grenz informed staff that the picnic tables are still left at Valley Lake Park. Committee member Gramstad expressed a concern of some dead trees and debris located at the access to Lake Marion. As of these minutes, this particular area has been cleaned up and ready for access to the lake far ice fishing. Committee member Grenz expressed concern about the aeration system in Valley Lake. He requested that the aeration system be shut down for the winter considering the tremendous risk of a drowning. • • Staff handed out a list of several winter programs being developed for the city's winter recreation program brochure. Steve was pleased with the work Jeanne Vestal has been doing and the winter program brochure should be very well put together. 85-63 There being no further business, it was moved by Gramstad, seconded by Lovelace, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM. espec fly sub tt d, r S. Michaud, Director Parks and Recreation GSM:jr • i •