Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-31-2004 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – March 31, 2004 Minutes 1 The March 31, 2004 City of Lino Lakes Park Board me eting was called to order at 6:33pm, by Acting Chair Huelman. It was noted that the first portion of the meeting is a joint me eting with the Environmental Board. Roll call was taken, members present were Pat Huelm an, Katie Boyle, Aaron Frederickson, and Bill Kusterman. Mem bers absent were Pam Taschuk, George Lindy and Paul Montain. Environmental Board members present were Constance Grundhofer, Barbara Bar, Barbara Bauman, Rod Kukonen, Teresa O’Connell and Mary Jo O’Dean. Also present were Rick DeGardner, Public Services D irector, Environmental Specialist, Marty Asleson, Community Development Director Grochala and Jeff Shoenbauer, Brauer and A ssociates. JOINT MEETING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD: Introduction – Mr. Jeff Shoenbauer, Brauer and Associates, stated he would like to give an overview of the purpose of the Comprehensive Parks, Recreation Facilities, Open Sp ace/Greenways and Trail System Plan project and what has already been accomplished. He stated he would like to get comme nts and feedback from both Boards. The City would like to develop a comprehensive parks plan but all Boards need to und erstand the goals of the plan and the options available to impl ement the plan. Overview of Common Vision Statements from the 20/20 Vision Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Handbook for Environmental Plan ning and Conservation Development, and the Park and Greenway System Plan – Mr. Shoenbauer advised all previous plans have been reviewed and initial work has been done on updating the plan, tr ail systems, stewardship plan and action planning. The common vision within the 20/20 Vision Plan, Com prehensive Plan, Handbook for Environmental Planning and Conse rvation Development, and the Park and Greenway System Plan have been confirmed. This common vision creates a very stron g vision for the Comprehensive Parks Plan. He reviewed the comm on vision from the 20/20 Vision and Comprehensive Plan noting they both emphasize that development within the City must be economically viable within the context of ecological protection. He asked if both Boards agree with the common vision of the two plans. Rod Kukonen, Environmental Board, stated he sees th e common vision also including some type of contiguous netwo rk between the parks and trails. He stated he would like to see t he whole system be integrated throughout the entire City. Consideration of Initial Findings, Related to the P ark and Greenway System – Mr. Shoenbauer advised the City still have the Park Board Meeting – March 31, 2004 Minutes 2 great opportunity to develop an interconnected latt icework of natural landscapes, greenways, and parks and trails . He noted the City would in all probability not be able to ac complish all its goals without working with developers. Mr. Shoenbauer referred to a map pointing out the N atural Resource Protected Areas and Natural Resource Conse rvation Areas. He noted the Natural Resource Protected Areas gener ally have some level of protection under current regulatory polici es and ordinances. However, the City should not automatic ally assume those areas are protected. Work will have to be do ne by the City to ensure those areas are protected. Mr. Shoenbauer advised the Park System Plan is bein g updated, with the City being reasonably situated for servici ng future needs. All exiting parks are also identified on th e preliminary Park System Plan. Consideration of Initial Findings, Related to the T rail System Plan – Mr. Shoenbauer advised the emphasis would be placed on the recreational “value” and continuity in terms of the Trail System Plan. Types of trails include high recreational va lue along with destination type trails. Consideration of Natural Resources Stewardship Plan ning Issues – Mr. Shoenbauer advised stewardship refers to the th oughtful care of the City’s natural resources to preserve and pro tect their intrinsic values. Consideration of Implementation Challenges and Poss ible Approaches – Mr. Shoenbauer public cost is a challenge in regarding to implementing the City’s vision. The C ity has already been challenged in developing the park and trail system to its optimum level. Leveraging to achieve its go als, such as working with developers is one way to implement the se goals as well as managing development patterns. Mr. Kukonen inquired about the best way to manage e asements. Mr. Shoenbauer advised in the City of Minnetonka, there has been a legal agreement between the City and developer outl ining the Homeowners Association’s responsibility for the eas ements. Community Development Director Grochala stated that if the City has well defined goals, and could develop a partner ship, developers will be much more willing to work with t he City to achieve its vision within developments. Pat Huelman, Park Board, stated he believes the Cit y needs a very defined process within the implementation plan for developers to follow. Park Board Meeting – March 31, 2004 Minutes 3 Mr. Shoenbauer advised that if the City does not ha ve the commitment to implement the plan, there is no benef it to the plan. Ms. Barb Bauman, Environmental Board, asked if ther e is a ranking system within the plan in regarding to valuable env ironmental areas. Mr. Shoenbauer advised there is somewhat of a ranking system. The plan looks at all areas and opportunit ies within the City, not such the valuable environmental areas. H e encouraged the City to take that same approach. He also recom mended the City try to keep the athletic complex land for deve lopment of a complex at some point in the future. Mr. Shoenbauer advised the next step in the process is to get some public participation. Participation by the pu blic can include open houses, individual meetings and survey s. He indicated he would also talk to staff about strateg ies to develop in terms of including other entities within the pla n. Mr. Huelman suggested the open houses include a foc us on certain areas of the City along with certain aspects of the plan, such as park development or trail development. Ms. Mary Jo O’Dean, Environmental Board, suggested the Homeowners Association’s within the City also be involved in t he public input process. Mr. Shoenbauer indicated the Homeow ners Association’s within the City could be contacted al ong with landowner’s that may be developing their land soon. Community Development Director Grochala suggested d evelopers within the community as well as outside of the comm unity also be included in the public input process. Mr. Shoenbauer advised he would develop a strategy plan from this meeting and send e-mails to all Board Member’s. He reviewed the schedule for the plan noting it is anticipated that the City Council will adopt the plan in mid July. A brief recess was called at 7:57 for each Board to disperse and reconvene their meetings individually. Acting Chair Huelman reconvened the Park Board meet ing at 8:03 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MARCH 1, 2004: Bill Kusterman made a motion, seconded by Katie Boy le, to approve the March 1, 2004 minutes. The minutes were approv ed. SETTING AGENDA: There were no changes to the agenda. Park Board Meeting – March 31, 2004 Minutes 4 OPEN MIKE: Mr. Rick Carlson, Developer of West Shadow Ponds, a sked the Park Board to consider a proposal from him within the We st Shadow Ponds park area. He indicated a property owner has requested a plaque, in memory of his parents, be placed at a tr ailhead within the park area. He noted the plaque would be granit e stone, approximately two feet high and would not be paid f or by the City. Rick advised one of the issues with that request wo uld be whether or not the property owners in the area would mind i f there is a memorial there. He stated he would look into the r equest and contact Mr. Carlson. Acting Chair Huelman suggested the memorial be plac ed further back on the trail away from the property owners. RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick referred to the Program Highlights Flyer from March 2004. He noted two of the five scheduled field trips would b e held over spring break – Grand Slam and Bowling at Flaherty’s . The T-Ball sessions are filling up fast. If history repeats i tself, these classes would be filled before the summer brochure is mailed out to homes. The Recreation Department is excited about entering into a consortium for a youth lacrosse league. The other members of this league are Blaine and Andover. Registration i s currently being accepted for this league. Rick added the Recreation Department is actively an d aggressively pursing employees to fill the spring and summer emp loyment opportunities. It is anticipated that all position s would be filled by mid to late April. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick reviewed a memo from Mike Hoffman, Parks Super visor, which summarizes the maintenance highlights March 2004. Rick noted maintenance activities have included removing a fis hing dock at County Lakes Park. The dock was damaged due to ice heaving. The Parks Department will attempt to repair and reinsta ll this spring. Rick noted all plant materials for spring planting have been ordered as the Parks Department is beginning to gea r up for another spring. Rick added he met with an Eagle Sc out in regard to the installation of a park sign at Marshan Park possibly in June. Park Board Meeting – March 31, 2004 Minutes 5 OLD BUSINESS: Field Use Analysis from Centennial Soccer Club – Rick referred to an informational packet related to the Centennial S occer Club’s response dated March 16, 2004. Rick stated that af ter reviewing the packet of information, current allocation of th e fields for the Centennial Soccer Club should be discussed. Sp ecifically it appears that the City of Lino Lakes is providing 10 0% of the fields for the U-6 and U-8 soccer teams, while only 58% of Lino Lakes’ kids comprise these age levels. This issue will be discussed at a Park Board meeting in the fall. It is anticipated that the City will have to meet with the Centennial Soccer Club after that discussion. Aaron requested more information on the other commu nities that the participants are coming from. Rick indicated h e would include that information when the Park Board discus ses this issue. 2004 Park Board Goals Update– Rick advised the City Council approved the 2004 Park Board Goals, as presented, a t the March 22, 2004 City Council meeting. Staff is developing plans to address all of the approved goals. Acting Chair Huelman asked if staff has approached the County yet in regard to the trail extension along the north si de of Birch Street. Rick advised he wanted to meet with the Co unty after the City Council approved the Park Board Goals. NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business. NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: Rick advised the next Park Board meeting would be h eld on May 3, 2004, 6:30 p.m. ADJOURN: Aaron Frederickson made a motion to adjourn, second ed by Bill Kusterman. The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kim Points Recording Secretary These minutes were approved at the May 3, 2004 Park Board Meeting.