Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-18-07 Park Minutes FinalAPPROVED 7-16-07 Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes of the Regular Meeting June 18, 2007 Chairman Steele called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Parks Commission at 7:04 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Steele, Larson, Wagner, Blackford, Ames, Adanene (7:08), Dunn (7:30), and Booher (7:23). STAFF PRESENT: Planner Matzek and Public Works Superintendent M. Bouthilet. Approval of Agenda M/S/P, Wagner/Larson to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 5-0. Approval of Minutes May 21, 2007 Commissioner Ames requested the third paragraph on page three be deleted. Commissioner Blackford had the following comments: – Pg 1 first paragraph, Nature Conservancy should be capitalized – Pg 2 under Survey of Residents, there was a general consensus that the commission felt comfortable with their representation of the broader public – Pg 2 fourth paragraph, Commissioner T. Bouthilet said staff could put something together before Planner Matzek’s comment and that staff could write a draft report Chairman Steele would like to add a comma – “to see staff write the report,”. Commissioner Adanene arrived at 7:08 p.m. M/S/P, Ames/Wagner to approve the minutes as amended. Vote: 5:0:1 – Larson abstained. Draft Park Plan Chairman Steele stated that he is just about finished editing the Draft Park Plan. He will provide it to staff for inclusion at the July Park Commission meeting. At that time he will ask for a vote on the document. Trail Plan Implementation Planner Matzek said that at the May Park Commission meeting, two recommendations were made regarding the Comprehensive Trail Plan. The first recommendation was for City staff to work with the County parks staff to create a pedestrian access from Klondike Avenue to the Lake Elmo Regional Park. Since then, she has verified the trail in the Lake Elmo Trail Plan and in the county park plan for the Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve as well as spoken with the park planners for the County. Planner Matzek said the second recommendation made by the park commission was that the trail be created along Klondike Avenue in 2007. She suggested that a process should Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes 6-18-07 1 APPROVED 7-16-07 be undertaken in order to identify any issues or concerns before a trail is built. One concern that has been expressed in unsanctioned entrances to the Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve is the parking of cars in front of homes. She suggested a process of meetings to include appropriate parties for discussions before a trail is built. Commissioner Larson suggested designing the trail to discourage parking. Commissioner Ames asked that the residents do not make the decision of whether the trail is built, but instead on how it is implemented. Chairman Steele said he would like to see the residents along Klondike Avenue be full partners in discussions. Commissioner Wagner suggested meeting with the engineers to determine if it is even possible before meeting with residents. Commissioner Booher arrives at 7:23 p.m. Follow-up on Park Walk-Throughs Chairman Steele said the commission had walked through a number of parks since the last regular meeting. He thanked Public Works Superintendent Mike Bouthilet for taking care of the parks. The park comments included in the packet could fall into two categories – capital improvement projects and smaller maintenance items. He asked Superintendent M. Bouthilet how it would be most helpful to receive their feedback. Superintendent M. Bouthilet said he would like to see an email to him directly. Chairman Steele requested signage for the parks be reviewed in general. Commissioner Dunn arrived at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Steele asked Superintendent M. Bouthilet if he had any sense of the crime rate in Pebble Park. Superintendent M. Bouthilet stated he felt it was about the same as it has been. It appears worse than it actually is. Commissioner Booher said the park list says there is a grill at Stonegate Park, but there is not. Superintendent M. Bouthilet said the park is typically raked once a week, but it was not last week. Commissioner Dunn asked if there was anything the commissioners could do to help with park maintenance. Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes 6-18-07 2 APPROVED 7-16-07 Superintendent M. Bouthilet asked the commissioners to let him know if they wanted to do any maintenance items. Adopt – a – Park Chairman Steele said in the past the commissioners have each taken at least one park to go visit every couple of weeks. Superintendent M. Bouthilet said there is a different Adopt-a-Park program. The wording should be Park Partners. The volunteers for the Adopt-a-Park program go out once in the spring to clean up the park or donate money. The commission identified who would view each of the parks. Carriage Station Park – Dunn; Demontreville Park – Steele; Demontreville Wildlife Park – Blackford; Kleis Park – Ames; Lions Park – Wagner; Pebble Park – Larson; Ridge Park – Booher; Stonegate Park – Booher; Sunfish Lake Park – Ames, Blackford, Adanene; Tablyn Park – Wagner; Tana Ridge Park – Larson; VFW Park – Bruchu. Superintendent M. Bouthilet suggested the commission should start thinking about CIP items now. He would suggest on the July or August meeting. Informational Items Heights Park Process Planner Matzek said that over the past year and a half, two resident conducted surveys were provided to the city regarding Heights Park. The two surveys were questioned for completeness and accurate information. The two surveys had different resulting recommendations. The first result suggested the neighborhood would like to see the park developed. The second survey suggested the neighborhood would like to see the park remain as open space. At a previous meeting staff had agreed to meet with the residents of the neighborhood to formulate a recommendation. Staff intends to do so, but has not yet met with the neighborhood. Superintendent M. Bouthilet said the CIP had identified a small play set and baseball field. Lake Jane Hills Park Planner Matzek said that the area east of Jamaca Ave identified as Lake Jane Hills Park on some city maps is actually not Lake Jane Hills Park. It is city owned property that is largely restricted by an MPCA easement. This area was previously utilized as a landfill. Superintendent M. Bouthilet stated the area adjacent to Sunfish Lake Park was supposed to be park. He said this never happened because of the easement. MPCA has monitoring laws on the property. Chairman Steele asked if the area not covered by the MPCA easement could be added to Sunfish Lake Park. Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes 6-18-07 3 APPROVED 7-16-07 Sewer Line from I-94 to Reid Park Planner Matzek stated that the administrator provided an update and map to show the proposed sewer location up Lake Elmo Avenue. The engineers are studying a number of items related to this route, including a potential future trail. Sunfish Lake Park Uses – Review of draft staff report Planner Matzek stated she will update the maps to show the correct boundaries of the park. Chairman Steele said he would like to see consensus on usage of the park. Commissioner Ames identified that the winter uses had not been added to the list of existing activities for the area identified as Area One. Steele – Area 2; area not wooded; range of uses Commissioner Ames clarified that the list of uses discussed for Area Two as specified in the report are not specifically endorsing any of the uses. Commissioner Blackford requested “ball fields” be removed because it was not brought up by a commissioner. Commissioner Larson suggested talking about future uses in terms of the Night Sky lighting. He said they should not get into specific uses. Instead, the easement should be written in terms of limiting parking spots, lighting, etc. Chairman Steele would like to see the area used consistently with the rest of the park. He would like to see prairie restoration, trails and signs. Commissioner Dunn said she does not want to see intense uses at the entrance to the park. Commissioner Booher said he would like to add picnic areas. Commissioner Larson said he would like to see open space for creativity, a picnic area, and a multiple use area. Chairman Steele asked to go through each of the bullet points on page six. First paragraph M/S/P, Wagner/Booher to add cross country skiing, sledding, snow shoeing, management of vistas to the list of uses in Area One. Vote: 8:0. M/S/P, Dunn/Larson to add “Environmental Learning Center – not to exceed XX sq ft. in Area Two. Vote: 8:0 Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes 6-18-07 4 APPROVED 7-16-07 Lake Elmo Park Commission Minutes 6-18-07 5 M/S, Larson/Booher to add Ice Skating Rink/Flat Multiple Use Area with possible low impacting lighting consistent with LE Dark Skies policy Commissioner Adanene left 9:00 p.m. A vote was not taken. M/S/P, Wagner/Ames to add an Ice Skating Rink with boards if necessary. Vote 5:2. Dunn and Blackford voted against. Commissioner Dunn said she voted against it because of the lighting issue. Commissioner Blackford said she is not opposed to an ice skating rink, but is opposed to the language. She wants to make sure that if any lighting was mentioned, the LE Dark Skies would be mentioned and the boards removed in the spring M/S/P, Wagner/Ames to add a Warming House and shelter. Vote: 7:0. M/S/P, Booher/Wagner to add a picnic area in Area Two or a pavilion attached to a learning center. Vote: 7:0. M/S/P, Dunn/Larson, to add Prairie Restoration in Area Two including trails and interpretive signage. Vote: 7:0. Adjournment M/S/P, Wagner /Booher to adjourn at 9:12 p.m. Vote 7:0. Respectfully submitted, Kelli Matzek Planner