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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014.11.12 Parks PacketAgenda Parks Commission Meeting of November 12, 2014 Hugo City Hall, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 1. Approve Minutes from October 8, 2014 Meeting 7:05 pm 2. Lions Park Planning Update 7:20 pm 3. 2014 Annual Report 7:30 pm 4. 2015 Goal Setting 8:40 pm 5. CIP and Budget Update 8:50 pm 6. Forest Lake YMCA 9:00 pm 7. Adjournment Background Parks Commission Meeting of November 12, 2014 Hugo City Hall, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Approve Minutes from March October 8, 2014 Meeting Staff recommends approval of the minutes of the Parks Commission meeting of October 8, 2014. The minutes are attached. 7:05 pm Lions Park Planning Update A stakeholder meeting was held on October 14, 2014. The stakeholders reviewed the previous concept plan which was not approved and does not include the recent land dedication. The stakeholders also looked at the existing park conditions, identified park development goals, and outlined a tentative project schedule. Please see the attached stakeholder meeting minutes. 7:20 pm 2014 Annual Report Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner, will present the City of Hugo Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission Annual Report for 2014. 7:30 pm 2015 Goal Setting Bryan Bear, City Administrator, will provide an update on the City of Hugo and lead the Parks Commission in setting goals. Attachments include the 2014 Goals. Please reference the Parks Plan in your binder, if needed. 8:40 pm CIP and Budget Update A draft of the 2015-2020 Capital Improvement Plan has been put together with the assistance of Finance Director, Ron Otkin. It is based on the Special Parks Fund, the projected parks tax levy and the previous CIP set by the Parks Commission. The Parks Commission has been given the authority to make recommendations to the City Council about what the Special Parks Fund shall be used for. The CIP prioritizes improvements that the Parks Commission would like to make. Improvements identified as "unfunded" may be possible if additional funding becomes available through grants, private donations, or park dedication fees. Park dedication increased in 2014 due to increased residential construction. The Parks Commissions reviews park dedication proposals when a developer requests preliminary plat approval. The land or fee dedication is not received until the developer records the final plat with Washington County. The timeline is set by the developer. There were also a couple rural minor -subdivision which require payment of the park dedication fee. On June 9, 2010, the Parks Commission approved a proposal for Prairie Village that included dedication of .67 acres of land adjacent to Oneka Elementary School as well as paying a fee per lot at the time of final plat. In 2014, Prairie Village 3rd Addition received final plat approval and $62,592 was received. There are 30 lots in Prairie Village that have yet to have final plat approval and at that time the remaining $58,680 will be dedicated. On February 26, 2014, the Parks Commission approved a proposal for Fox Meadows that included a proposal to pay fees to satisfy park dedication. With 57 lots and a fee of $2,400 per lot, a total of $136,800 would be paid. The 1 st Addition included 34 lots and $81,600 was paid in 2014. The remaining $55,200 will be paid with future final plat approvals. On December 11, 2013, the Parks Commission approved a proposal for Lavalle Fields that included dedication of 2.11 acres of land and paying the remaining 23% in fees. On September 25, 2014, the land dedication was received with the 1St Addition (Keystone Senior Housing). Future additions will include apartments which will pay 23% of the fee which would be $162,840. In summary, in 2014, the Parks Commission received $144,192 in park dedication fees as of September 30, 2014. Future park dedication may be up to $276,720 which would be made when the developer decides to move forward. DRAFT 2015-2020 CIP attached. 8:50 pm Forest Lake YMCA Update The City of Forest Lake has signed a development agreement with the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) for a 50,000 square foot facility that would include a fitness center, pools, indoor playground, exercise studios, walking paths. It is projected to cost $13,250,000. The City of Forest Lake donated the land for the YMCA at the Headwaters site (near the library). The City of Forest Lake has agreed to pay $9,000,000 and the project is not contingent on additional support. The City of Hugo has been asked to participate. The City of Hugo declined participation in the White Bear Lake YMCA renovations, which were complete in 2010. The City Council had discussion at their November 3, 2014 meeting and asked that an update be given to the Parks Commission. Staff is asking for input on how the Parks Commission would like to discuss this in the future. Please see the attached news article. 9:00 pm Adjournment Minutes Parks Commission, City of Hugo October 8, 2014 7:00 P.M. Council Chambers, City Hall Call to Order Present: Joan Benner, Rachel Berger, Mat Rauschendorfer, Nicole Schmid, Dave Strub, Ranelle Tennyson, Tom Windisch Staff Present: Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner Debi Close, Parks Secretary Tom Windisch called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Tom Windisch requested adding Hardwood Creek Trail update to the agenda. All Agreed. I. Approval of Minutes from August Meeting Berger made a motion, Strub seconded to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2014 Parks Commission meeting. Rauschendorfer and Schmid abstained. Benner, Berger, Strub, Tennyson and Windisch. Aye. Motion Carried. Froa Hollow Memorial Proaosal Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner was contacted by Ms. Case's 5t" Grade Oneka Elementary class. The class wishes to dedicate a plaque and tree in Frog Hollow Park in memory of Allen Bower, father of one of her students. Bower named "Frog Hollow" in the park naming contest. Schmid made a motion, Tennyson seconded to approve the memorial donation plaque/tree to be place at Frog Hollow Park in remembrance of Allen Bower. All Aye. Motion Carried. III. Update on Lions Park Planning Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner updated on the Lions Park Planning. The City acquired the 2.11 acres that were to be dedicated with the Lavalle Fields development. The first stakeholders meeting will be held Tuesday, October 14. The concept plans will be revised and a public meeting will be scheduled for community feedback. IV. SHIP Active Living Grant Awarded Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner informed of the Active Living Partner Project through the Statewide Health Improvement Program. A grant of $4,999 was awarded which will be matched by Oneka Elementary and used purchase lit signage. The signage will enhances pedestrian safety in the school speed zone area and assist in increasing the number of students who walk or bike to school. V. BearPower Rachel Berger requested to have a follow up discussion from the June 11, 2014 meeting presented by Alli Zomer, Project Manager at Health Partners/Ch ildren's Hospitals and Clinics MN about their program BearPower. The City of Hugo has become a community partner. The recreation program policy includes language to support healthy and active families through city programs. VI. Portable Restroom Screening Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner was addressed by a resident with request for additional screening of the portable restrooms their neighborhood park. Staff recommended the Commission consider making it standard practice throughout all neighborhood parks or to do nothing. All Commission members agreed that Public Works shall add additional screening as the parks maintenance schedule and budget allows. VII. Update on Recreation Programs Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner updated on the recreation programs. Tour de Hugo was held September 13, 2014 with 165 riders. The movie Frozen was shown on September 19th. There was a record setting turnout but rain dampened the event. The September 27, 2014 Story Walk had 60 participants. Upcoming events: Superhero Training Camp November 14, 2014 and Tot Time Parks Commission members directed staff to look into non -school days for use of the gym. If extended day program is held then maintenance cost would already be absorbed giving opportunity to run programs. VIII. Hardwood Creek Update Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner updated on Washington County Trail improvement being done to Hardwood Creek. Construction of the trail extension between 1401h Street and 145th Street has started. Grading work has been completed for the 10 foot wide trail which includes a paved surface as well as a grass surface to accommodate snowmobile and equestrian uses. Following construction of the extension, the existing trail will be resurfaced. VIIII. Adjournment Berger made a motion, Benner seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:13 pm. All Aye. A WSB & Associales. Inc. engineering -planning - environmental - construction Lions Park Master Plan Update Project Date: October 17, 2014 Re: Project Start-Up/Programming Meeting WSB Project No. 1904-640 701 Xenia Avenue South Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Tel: 763-541-4800 Fax: 763-541-1700 Meeting Notes: The following are notes taken from the project start-up/programming meeting held in Hugo on October 14, 2014. Please report any errors, omissions and/or discrepancies promptly for correction. Attendance: • Shayla Syverson — Parks Planner, City of Hugo • Scott Anderson — Public Works Director, City of Hugo • Tom Windisch — Hugo Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission Chair • David Strub — Parks Recreation and Open Space Commission • Becky Petryk — Hugo City Council • Denny Route — Lions Club • Michael Gallivan — Lions Club and Economic Development Authority • Candace Amberg — Project Manager, WSB • Jeff Deitner — Landscape Architect, WSB Existing Park Conditions: 1. Good Neighbor Days: a. Approx. +/-10,000 visitors — annual event that runs Thursday thru Sunday. b. Carnival requires the north half of the park for the Midway and trailers with the south-eastern and north-western areas used for the parking, the band area on the tennis courts, a fenced in beer garden, and a petting zoo. c. Parking also along side streets and sometimes park at the bank and shuttle over. d. Plans to have parade come in from Waters Edge and finish at the park. 2. Playground: a. Older playground mainly focused on younger age group. b. Site of first playground in Hugo. St. Cloud • Minneapolis • St. Paul Equal Opportunity Employer wsbeng.com Page 2 3. Building/Shed: a. Public Works garage now used as a storage area by the Lions Club and location for food shelf. 4. Skate Park: a. Equipment moveable and highly used by the youth in the community. 5. Tennis Court: a. Not used as often as other parks. b. Could do without it if space is limited. 6. Ball Fields: a. Two fields currently used for T -ball games. b. Ballfield can be a draw for some residents/businesses and is good for the kids in the neighborhood. Main Park Redevelopment Goals: 1. Community Draw: a. Want to create a social center that has a continuous draw year round and works to enhance the downtown commercial district. b. Would like to encourage surrounding businesses that would serve to cater to users of the park, such as a coffee shop, places to eat, etc. c. Make sure activities encompass multi -generational use (senior development going in across from park) and both active & passive uses. 2. Vehicular Access, Circulation and Parking: a. Maintain at least two entrance points to the parking facilities for the park they don't necessarily have to be connected. b. Look into traffic calming designs. c. Possibly separate parking areas from drive lanes / thru traffic near City Hall. d. Need adequate and accessible parking for senior citizens and people with disabilities in close relation to use areas and city hall (many community meetings take place here). e. Parallel parking not conducive for direction of the primary traffic patterns. f. Ensure routes allow for truck deliveries for events 3. Pedestrian Access & Circulation: a. Safe access from senior housing development to the west. b. Organic pathways creating view corridors of site features. c. Seating along pathways and throughout the park. d. Regional trail access from all four corners. 4. Multi -Purpose Building: a. Four season design that would expand into amphitheater / large gathering space b. Storage, kitchen, permanent restrooms and power needed (make sure power is extended around to key areas for large events). c. Summer picnic facilities with grills and maybe a space for a fire pit but a dedicated or permanent fire pit is not necessary. Page 3 d. Stone fireplace that is beneath the roof but still outside for warming up during winter activities e. Warming house room that could be other use during summer (though no additional meeting spaces required as there are other facilities that provide this). f. Raised platform vs. grading: i. Allow for outdoor space to be fenced in for ticketed / supervised events. g. Potential programing elements (not limited to): i. Farmers market ii. Movie night(s) iii. Plays iv. Concerts v. Seasonal Holiday Events vi. Company Events (Wilson Tool, Excel Training Facility) vii. Reunions / Large Picnics viii. POW -WOW (Dream of Wild Health that brings in inner city kids) h. Orientation of building in relation to sunrise and sunset (sun in eyes) and protection from prevailing winds. 5. Large Gathering Space: a. Space capable of holding large events such as Good Neighbor days, company picnics, family reunions. b. Space used for un -programmed sports and varying informal uses. 6. Ballfield a. Some would like to maintain one ballfield in the park — maybe incorporate as part of a multi -use lawn gathering space. b. Plan to have consolidated ballfields at the Irish Avenue site in the future for programmed athletic facilities that can hold tournaments. 7. Ice Skating Rink: a. Locate close to multi-purpose building to allow for use of warming house and to be partially sheltered from winter elements. b. Pleasure skating only 8. Veterans Memorial: a. Dedicated location of a memorial for local service members which can be a changing memorial, not static. b. Hugo was one of the first Yellow Ribbon Communities. 9. Playground: a. New playground suitable for community draw that is possibly a boundless playground (more fully accessible) and will accommodate a broad range of age groups and abilities. 10. Splash Pad: a. Needs to be located so parents / guardians can view from a distance. b. Would be a draw for create continuous use of the park during summer months — high priority item. Page 4 11. Shelters: a. Multiple smaller shelters for small groups. b. A grill and power source associated with each shelter. 12. Environmental: a. Locations to demonstrate the cities commitment to a more sustainable lifestyle i. Rain Gardens ii. Stormwater Ponds iii. Lighting that is efficient and follows Dark Sky initiative 13. Other: a. Variety of site amenities such as grills, trash receptacles, benches, pedestrian lighting. b. More vegetation providing various size, color and seasonal interest is desirable. c. Buffer noisy park development areas from adjacent residential uses. d. Ability to phase development Tenative Proiect Schedule: Conceptual Design • WSB to prepare two conceptual park designs • Nov. 24-26: Hold one design task force meeting to review and comment on conceptual designs prior to public meeting • Dec. 10: Attend the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission Meeting to present the concept plans for review and comment Master Plan design • WSB to prepare one refined/preferred master plan design with estimate of probable costs • January 2015: Attend the City Council meeting to present the Master Plan design for review and adoption • WSB to prepare phasing plan for approved master plan design and a site graphic suitable for marketing/fundraising efforts 2014 Goals Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission Approved by the Parks Commission at their December 11, 2013 meeting • Create a trail development policy •Discuss a trail along Elmcrest Avenue (revise Trails Plan if needed) • Evaluate trail at 147th Street/ Geneva Avenue with future street reconstruction • Outline planning process • Draft Master Plan Development Guidelines • Finalize master plan • Plan phasing of development • Evaluate funding needs • Review the Park Dedication Policy • Review lacrosse field needs • Study the Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan • Respond to resident feedback • Strategize and plan future recreation programming • Create a fee policy/ cost recovery strategy •Broaden scope of service CITY OF HUGO PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Updated November 12, 2014 PROJECTS UNFUNDED PROJECTS* YEAR COST Lions Park shelter design & construction documents 2015 $100,000 Lions Park grading & utilities 2016 $500,000 Lions Park parking lots & trails 2016 $500,000 Lions Park shelter construction 2016 $1,000,000 Lions Park memorial/monument 2017 $200,000 Lions Park landscaping, turf & fencing 2017 $215,000 Lions Park play equipment 2017 $250,000 Irish Avenue Park Concept planning 2018 $40,000 Dog Park property purchase 2018? $250,000 Fable Hill Park Improvements 2018 $70,000 * Unfunded projects will be possible only if funding becomes available through grants, private donations, park dedication. Ips, forestlaketimes.com http://forestia keti mes. com/2014/10/15/after-th e-ys-a pproval-now-what/ After the Y's approval, now what? By Ryan Howard October 15, 2014 at 12:17 pm After a whirlwind month-and-a-half process of debate, the Forest Lake City Council has approved the development agreement and bond sale to bring a YMCA facility to town. The 3-2 vote secured $9 million in city funding for the $14 million structure on Forest Road North, but residents are left waiting for the next steps in the process. Council meeting At the two-hour Oct. 7 meeting that decided the agreement and bond sale, the council members and residents rehashed the arguments for and against contributing taxpayer money and public land to the facility. During the meeting's public hearing portion, resident Mike Devine said he wasn't against YMCAs in general, but he questioned the usefulness of bringing one to Forest Lake. "What am I getting out of this as a citizen that I can't get from driving over to Lino Lakes?" he asked, referencing the YMCA that is roughly 10 minutes south of Forest Lake's Broadway Avenue exit. Jeanne Hamlin didn't take a side on bringing the facility to town, but she noted her feeling that the process was rushed and lacked data showing a city benefit. In particular, she remarked, she found it "extraordinarily inappropriate" for the council to vote on taking the next step on the project on Aug. 25, when the agenda item regarding the facility had been sent to them only hours before. "The Y is not a fly-by-night organization; they understand that these things take time," she said. On the pro -YMCA side was Mark Finneman, who said that though he originally questioned building the YMCA, he changed his tune after additional thought. He believed the city was in good financial shape and primed to bring an asset to the community. "These are the times you grab hold of ideas that you can take advantage of," he said. "The city allocates its capital expenditures in a very logical manner. It gets to its needs first and then moves on to its wants." As for the council members, Councilmen Ben Winnick and Mike Freer reiterated their beliefs that the project was unnecessarily rushed and taking advantage of questionable interpretations of state statute (for more information on those objections, see the Sept. 25 story "Final YMCA approval set for next month). They also accused Councilwomen Molly Bonnett and Susan Young and Mayor Chris Johnson of using back channels to leave Winnick and Freer out of important YMCA discussions until they had already been presented to the YMCA. Freer was particularly upset with Johnson and Bonnett talking to the YMCA in June about what it would take to bring a facility to town, before the council talked about the matter at its July 1 meeting. "It should have been brought to all of us to have a discussion," he insisted. Johnson denied any wrongdoing and said the accusations put the council in danger of "getting into election season crazies here." Young, who joined with Johnson and Bonnett to approve the facility, predicted that any perceived downsides to building the facility would be outweighed by positives, and she called the YMCA a worthy beneficiary of public funding, compared to contributions or tax increment financing given to some area businesses with few local employees. "This is something that would actually benefit folks," she said. Local impact Thanks to favorable bond bids and an interest rating of 2.74 percent, the city's bond repayments will be lower than expected. At $600,835 a year, the city is projected to save $400,000 over the 20 -year bond repayment period from its initial estimates, not including benefits from refinancing or early repayment. Taxpayers won't see a big difference, however; the savings will cost the owner of a median value Forest Lake home (currently around $203,000) about $63 a year, as opposed to the previously estimated $66. Since the YMCA, not the city, will own the building and the property, the city will incur no operating costs, though some critics of the plan felt that the city would be in a better position by owning its own community center. In addition to the facility, which has yet to enter the design phase but is expected to be modeled on the Elk River YMCA, the organization will provide each household in Forest Lake with six family passes annually. In addition, there will be community rooms open for area events, as well as dedicated time for non-member use of the gym, splash pad and other areas. YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities CEO Glen Gunderson said the Y's development agreement with the city allows for a bit more widespread community use of the facility than in other cities, but he added that the Y always seeks to go beyond the agreements to serve residents. "There's a very strong appetite (for this locally), which I think makes us particularly excited," he said. "This is a community that I think really deserves a project like this." The city has left the opportunity open for neighboring cities to help fund the public share of the facility in exchange for similar benefits to the ones Forest Lake residents are entitled to in the development agreement. In previous meetings, YMCA officials estimated that the facility would employ about 200 people, 30 of them full time, with a payroll of approximately $2 million. YMCA plans Gunderson said that the YMCA approved the building of the facility during its Oct. 1 board meeting. Now, he said, "We'll spend the next three to four weeks developing our overall project timeline." After the timeline is developed, the design and architectural work on the project is expected to take about six months, followed by nine to 12 months of construction. Gunderson said residents should expect ground to be broken on the land west of the Washington County Government Services Center between late May and early July next year, with an opening date in the summer of 2016. Throughout the design and construction process, he said, the Y plans on establishing "milestones of communication" — points in the process when the organization will share with residents the progress toward the facility's completion. Gunderson said construction should not hinder access to the service center and added that the organization has heard a lot of positive feedback about the facility from residents. "I think the Y will be really well -situated there," he said. "It feels great because you have such strong interest and community support, and you have a location that seems well -situated for the community to easily access it." During the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, Councilman Ben Winnick predicted that some in town who are opposed to the YMCA might sue the city over the bond approval, mentioning that he felt the YMCA should know about the possibility. In a previous meeting, Winnick expressed his disapproval for the city moving forward with a bond sale that doesn't require a referendum, predicting that the new City Council in 2015 would overturn the sale in some way. Gunderson declined to comment on those possibilities and how they would affect the Y's decision making process, though he mentioned that the possibility of a city bond default did not seem likely to the organization. Since no such lawsuits or bond rescinding have occurred, he said, the YMCA is proceeding with its plans normally. 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