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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-2004 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – May 3, 2004 Minutes 1 The May 3, 2004 City of Lino Lakes Park Board meeti ng was called to order at 6:31pm, by Chair Lindy. Roll call was taken, members present were Pam Tasch uk, Bill Kusterman, Katie Boyle, Aaron Frederickson, Paul Mo ntain and George Lindy. Members absent were Pat Huelman. Also present was Rick DeGardner, Public Services Di rector. APPROVAL OF MARCH 31, 2004 MINUTES: Bill Kusterman made a motion, seconded by Aaron Fre derickson, to approve the March 31, 2004 minutes. The minutes we re approved with Pam Taschuk and Paul Montain abstaining. SETTING THE AGENDA: The agenda was passed as presented. OPEN MIKE: No one was present for open mike. REVIEW FOX DEN ACRES PRELIMINARY PLAT: Rick advised Fox Den Acres is a 50-acre development consisting of 64 residential lots. The property is located south of Birch Street and east of Deerwood Lane. The development would be accessed through the extension of Fox Road. To satisfy the Park Dedication requirements the cur rent proposal is to provide 6.79 acres (4.97 acres upland, 1.82 a cres wetland) of parkland in the northeast corner of the developm ent. The proposed park area has several large wetland areas and a retention pond. The current proposal consists of d edicating the 6.79 acres for parkland and paving a looped trail w ithin the park area. This park area is wooded and would provide a natural environment for the trail. Estimated costs to inst all the trail is $25,000. When looking at the existing Park Dedication Ordina nce the required cash dedication for Fox Den Acres is 64 un its x $1,665 + $106,560. From a land dedication perspective, the required dedication would amount to 3.82 acres (50 acres – 1 1.8 wetland acres + 38.2 upland acres). Assuming the parkland of 4.97 acres upland x $38,000 + $188,860. Trail construction wo uld be $25,000 for a total of $213,860. Total land and trail woul d be $213,860. Rick advised the parkland would solely be used for a trail loop, not any formal or active play area. Even though pr oviding a trail experience is beneficial for area residents, 100% of the land value dedication should not be credited. An a dditional cash contribution could be acquired from the Fox Den Acr es Development Park Board Meeting – May 3, 2004 Minutes 2 to further develop Birchwood Acres Park (half court basketball court?). Rick indicated Mr. Michael Black from Royal Oaks Re alty, Inc., is present to discuss the development and park dedicat ion. The Park Board needs to make a recommendation to the Plannin g and Zoning Board and the City Council regarding park dedicatio n requirements. Chair Lindy stated the Park Board has obtained this type of property for park dedication fees in the past. The corner lot does look unworkable as far and development and a p ark area. The question is the value of that land. The City alrea dy has a lot of unusable parkland. Rick stated he would not consider the proposed area a park area. The area would strictly be an avenue for residents to loop while walking. He indicated that is why he believes a ca sh dedication should also be required to satisfy the park dedicat ion fee. Chair Lindy asked if there would be an internal tra il access within the development. Rick advised there is a si ngle entrance from the southwest parcel. There would be other co nnections when other properties develop to the north. Mr. Mike Black, Royal Oaks Realty, referred to a dr awing of the property noting it is a 50-acre site. He also point ed out the wetland delineation areas. The upper area was desi gnated as parkland because the neighborhood indicated they wa nt trails. He referred to the proposed plat noting the park area would provide a passive trail loop and also provides for future t rail expansion to the northeast. He stated the park dedication wa s determined by the land value and the cost to construct the tra il. Those costs are double the amount of park fees if the Cit y were to obtain cash dedication. He noted the trail loop co uld be eliminated from the plan if the Commission requests that. Chair Lindy inquired about the distance from the pr oposed trail to the nearest existing trail. He stated it is not a contiguous trail loop. Mr. Black stated the trail would provide for future connections. The area is heavily wooded and would provide a nice trail experience. He indicated he does not know how far the trail is from existing trails. Chair Lindy stated the Park Board has to decide if there is merit to the trail loop. He suggested it might be better to develop that parcel with homes and develop a trail system w ithin the development. He inquired about the average lot siz e. Park Board Meeting – May 3, 2004 Minutes 3 Mr. Black stated the lots are approximately 25,000-sq. ft. with wetlands. The lots are approximately 15,000-sq. ft . when the wetlands are removed. Rick referred to the current Parks and Trails Map p ointing out existing trails in the area of the proposed develop ment. Chair Lindy suggested connecting via trails the dev elopment to existing trails. Mr. Black stated there is a problem with getting tr ails along backyards without affecting the wetlands. Also, th e trails would not go anywhere. He offered the possibility of con structing a sidewalk to provide an off-road access to the trail s. It was the consensus of the Park Board that there w ould not be a significant value to only provide a trail loop with in the development. Paul stated it would be better to have trails along the roadway to connect to the existing trails. Katie stated access to another park area, existing trails and a sidewalk would be more valuable. Paul suggested a trail be constructed parallel with Fox Road along with a cash dedication to satisfy the park de dication fee. Rick stated he does not see long term how a sidewal k would provide access. The options include retaining Parc el B along with a loop trail that would provide future access to other trails or require a 100% cash dedication. Mr. Black stated this is an opportunity for the Cit y to provide future access. That future access should be planne d for now. The Environmental Board was adamant about open spac e on an upland area. Aaron stated he is concerned that the City will mis s an opportunity for a future trail connection to the no rth and east. Paul stated he believes a cash dedication would be more beneficial than marginally useable land. The majority of the Park Board suggested the develo per develop Parcel B and recommend 100% cash dedication for the park dedication fee. Park Board Meeting – May 3, 2004 Minutes 4 RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick referred to the Program Highlights Flyer from April 2004. He noted the first Kids Garage Sale was held on Saturd ay, April 17 at Lino Lakes City Hall. Twenty-four youth reserve d sale tables. The event had some traffic, but not a large amount. Ideas will be researched over the next year on how to draw big ger crowds. The Summer Playground Program is very popular this summer. Birch Park (morning session and afternoon session), as we ll as Clearwater Creek Park have reached their maximums. The Recreation Review is scheduled to be in homes a nd on the web page the last week of May. The City Newsletter wil l include information about the Comprehensive Parks and Trail s Plan as well as information about public meetings. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick reviewed a memo from Mike Hoffman, Parks Super visor, which summarizes the maintenance highlights for April 200 4. Rick noted maintenance activities have included daily field pr eparation and soccer field layout. The fishing dock at County La kes Park was also repaired and installed. Seeding at Clearwater Creek Park as well as irrigat ion system startup and inspections throughout the park system were also completed. Other activities included trail inspect ion and sweeping along with playground inspection and repai rs. Paul inquired about the Skate Park. Rick advised t he City has not had any vandalism problems yet at the Skate Par k. If more vandalism does occur this season, the Skate Park wo uld in all likelihood be shut down. OLD BUSINESS: Discuss Request to Place Memorial Plaque Near Birch wood Acres Park – Rick advised under Open Mike at the March 31, 2004 Park Board Meeting Mr. Rick Carlson, Developer of West S hadow Ponds, ask the Park Board to consider a proposal from him near the future trail entrance along West Shadow Lake Drive to Birchwood Acres Park. He indicated a property owner requeste d a plaque, in memory of his parents, be placed near the trailhead . He noted the plaque would be granite stone, approximately tw o feet high and would not be paid for by the City. Staff is rec ommending the Park Board establish a policy on placing memorial p laques in City parks. Pam asked if the County has a policy regarding memo rial plaques. Rick stated the County does have a policy in relati on to dedicating park benches. He indicated he does not know if the County has a policy for memorial plaques. Park Board Meeting – May 3, 2004 Minutes 5 Bill stated that if the City sets a policy, paramet ers need to be set so the memorials are acceptable and not intrusi ve. Pam suggested the Park Board look at each request i ndividually. Rick advised he could get additional information if the Park Board thinks memorials are acceptable. Paul expressed concern regarding memorial stones. He indicated he would not be opposed to park benches. Rick stated he would gather more information from t he County, other cities and the League of Minnesota Cities. T his issue will be placed on the June Park Board agenda for more di scussion. NEW BUSINESS: Council Chamber Memo from Director of Administratio n – Rick referred to a memo from the Director of Administrat ion that was included in the packets. The memo indicated no foo d or beverage, other than water, is allowed in the Council Chamber s. The memo also asked Board Members to tidy up after meetings. Bill advised some vandalism occurred at Shenandoah Park that has left some equipment dangerous. Rick advised staff would look into the vandalism at Shenandoah Park. NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: Rick said the next Park Board meeting would be held Monday, June 7, 2004, 6:30pm. ADJOURN: Paul Montain made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Pam Taschuk. The meeting was adjourned at 7:49pm. Respectfully Submitted, Kim Points Recording Secretary These Minutes were approved at the June 7, 2004 Par k Board Meeting.