Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMMISSION_MINUTES_1998-08-27MOUNDS VIEW PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, August 27, 1998 6:30 p.m. Conf. Rm. C CALL TO ORDER: Chair Silvis called the meeting to order. ROLL CALL: Commissioners present included Chair Silvis, Commissioners Dentz, Stevenson, Long, and Starr. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Dentz made a motion seconded by Commissioner Starr to approve the minutes of July 16, 1998. Motion passed unanimously. WOODCREST PARK PLANS: Staff reported that the City of Mounds View searched several locations for wetland mitigation to accommodate the paving of the parking lot at the Community Center. Woodcrest Park is a site that would be very accommodating for mitigation. The park would change focus from a semi- active park to a passive nature park, similar to Ardan Park. The site would remain a park, but would preserve open, natural space for people to enjoy. Woodcrest Park currently is used for summer playground location, community gardens location and has a playground structure. The park does not host any athletic activities because of the high water table and shifting turf making any playfields difficult to maintain for safe play. The water table is so high that many times parks crew staff cannot even get mowing equipment in there to cut the grass. There has been many times when mowers have sunk into the turf and had to be pulled out. Woodcrest Park has two large drainage ditches along both Woodcrest Drive and Silver Lake Road. Earlier studies have reported that expensive soil corrections would be required for development of Woodcrest Park. Additionally, Rice Creek Watershed has indicated that at one time Woodcrest Park land was the same wetland - type that is to the north of Woodcrest Park. Woodcrest Park's natural characteristics is that of a wetland. Therefore to revert Woodcrest Park back to its natural characteristics of a wetland may be the best use for Woodcrest Park. Commissioners responded to this information with concern that Woodcrest Park remain a park. Director Saarion confirmed that Woodcrest Park would remain a park but would change its focus to passive, natural activities having such amenities as trailways, sitting and swing benches and nature areas and landscaping for observation and contemplation. The other concern was the summer playground program that is usually located at Woodcrest Park. Director Saarion reported that the program could be re -located at Random Park, serving the southern portion of the Community. Another concern was for the Scout groups that use Woodcrest Park building throughout the year for meetings. Director Saarion reported that they could be accommodated at the new Community Center meeting rooms. The negative would be that whereas they enjoyed the neighborhood location of Woodcrest, the scouts would need to drive to the Community Center. Two options were suggested by Kelly Beitendorf of SEH. One option was to dedicate the entire park to wetland mitigation. This would allow the City to bank space for future development of trailways along Silver Lake Road which is to be improved around the years 2003 - 2005. Commissioner Stevenson was especially interested in having some connecting traihvays to Woodcrest Park and asked staff to relay the message to staff and City Council to look into the possibility of making the connecting trailsvay along the utility easement, behind Longview Drive, connecting to County Road 112. The second option was to keep some space along the eastern border of Woodcrest allowing space for a playground and community gardens. However, it was discussed that the active areas were moved from the eastern side of the park to the western side of the park by request of residents who did not the like noise and activity of the park so close to their homes. After discussion, Commissioner Stevenson inade a motion seconded by Commissioner Dentz to recoinniend to the City Council the full mitigation option at Woodcrest Park which wou lei batik 1vedand space to be used for the future off street patliway along Silver Lake Road, changing the use of Woodcrest Park to a passive, nature parr Motion passed unanimously. COMM. CNTR UPDATE: Commissioners toured the Community Center gymnasium, entry and teen center areas which were accessible that evening. Commissioners were disappointed to hear that the portable basketball goals were not being ordered. They looked at possibilities of storing the goals on the sides of the gymnasium or the outside of the gymnasium during times when they would not be up and used (which is predicted to be only during special events). It was the direction of the Commission that Director Saarion relay their desire to have the portable goals rather than the ceiling mounted goal. Portables will provide opportunity to use gymnasium in half court games allowing multiple use activities versus the entire gymnasium in full court games and practices limiting use and flexibility of the gymnasium. Director Saarion agreed to relay their desires for the portable goals to staff. Chair Silvis announced that he would represent the Parks and Recreation Commission in review of Community Center management proposals unless anyone else was interested in doing so. Other Commissioners were unable to attend the interviews on Monday afternoon and therefore Chair Silvis would represent the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioners asked about what was happening with the Community Center. Staff replied that construction is on schedule - that Community Education will begin activities September 8. Construction would then be concentrated on the Community portion of the center. It was also reported that three outside agency management proposals have been received. Chair Silvis will be among the group reviewing the proposals. FALL PROGRAM UPDATE: Director Saarion reviewed the Fall activities. Recreation Activities Brochure, part of the City Newsletter will be distributed to homes the first week of September with activities beginning the middle of September. PARK IMPROVE- MENTS: Director Saarion reported that the Parks crew were improving City Hall athletic fields - cutting a new infield and replacing with new aggregate for improved drainage. A new crown will be installed at Hillview Park athletic field to also improve drainage. IBA SUBSIDY Director Saarion informed the Commission that she had submitted school use requests equal to the amount of time as last year for IBA. Of the $9,600 yearly budgeted amount for annual school use fees, approximately $5,600 is budgeted for subsidy of time in school for the IBA program November - February and the other remaining $4,000 is used for annual school use fees for recreation programs offered September through May. Additional time for IBA would need to be paid for by the Association with registration fees. DAMAGE CLAIM: Director Saarion informed the Commission of the claim and indicated that Mr. Vam-.ss did not attend the City Council meeting to discuss his claim. SEPTEMBER MTG: Director Saarion informed the Commission that she would be attending the National Congress Septernber 23 - 27 and would not be available for the September 24 Commission meeting. Commissioners elected to meeting the week before, Thursday, September 17, 1998. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Stevenson made a motion seconded by Chair Silvis to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously.