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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009.09.02 CC Minutes - Hansen Property Neighborhood MeetingCITY OF HUGO MEETING MINUTES HANSEN PROPERTY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 RICE LAKE CENTRE COMMUNITY ROOM 7:00 PM Mayor Fran Miron called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Haas, Klein, Petryk, Weidt, Miron Present from the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission: Schmidt, Parker, Taylor and Strub Also Present: City Administrator Mike Ericson, Community Development Director Bryan Bear, Public Works Director Scott Anderson, Economic Development and Parks Intern Shayla Syverson Mayor Miron opened the meeting and thanked the residents for attending. Community Development Director Bryan Bear provided a PowerPoint presentation explaining the City's history of long-term park planning with a reference to the 1998 Parks Master Plan, a background of the Hansen property located at Irish Avenue at 140th Street, and details of the purchase agreement. He noted that the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission had established a long-term goal of a large -acre community park in eastern Hugo. Bear also discussed the previous use of the Hansen property as a gravel pit with a rock crusher and as an asphalt plant. It was after a neighborhood meeting in July 2007 and legal action taken by the City that the gravel pit was reclaimed and restored. The Purchase Agreement for the Hansen Property was approved by the Hugo City Council on July 28, 2009 and has several contingencies upon closing. The contingencies include City Council approval, clean-up of the site, and the securing of financing by the City. If these contingencies are met, then the closing will be complete at the end of October at which time the property would become public land. Citizen Comments Citizens raised questions regarding the interim and future use of the property as a park. The majority of citizens expressed an interest in passive uses of the park. Examples given for potential short term use included walking trails, a nature center, a dog park, a man-made lake, paved biking trails, archery, use by senior citizens, horseback riding, and cross country skiing. Providing youth athletic facilities and collaboration with local School Districts was discussed. The concerns discussed over the interim use of the property included noise level, law enforcement, access off of CSAH 8, traffic and prevention of the use of ATVs and snowmobiles. Additional concern was given to the potential lighting of the fields. The citizens discussed potential long-term use of the park as focusing on kids and play with options such as passive trails, tennis courts, or ball fields. City Council and Parks Commission Discussion The City Council addressed concerns as they were raised and encouraged the neighborhood residents to detail interim and future uses that they felt appropriate. At this time there is no immediate or long-term development plan for the property. The Council also encouraged residents to participate in the public hearings which will be conducted by the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission as the short-term and long-term use of the property is planned. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Programming Sub - Committee will be conducting, at no cost to the City, a community survey process to determine the future of parks and recreation in the City of Hugo. The City of Hugo was successful in a grant application to the University of Minnesota for a graduate student to do the survey work. Adjournment Haas made motion, Petryk seconded, to adjourn at 8:45 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Shayla Syverson Economic Development/ Parks Intern