Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016.11.09 Park Minutes Minutes Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission Meeting of November 09, 2016 Hugo City Hall, 7:00 pm Call to Order Present: Cathy Moore-Arcand, Rachel Berger,John Pontrelli, Mat Rauschendorfer, Nicole Schmid, Dave Strub Absent: Ranell Tennyson Staff Present: Scott Anderson, Public Works Director; Shayla Denaway, Parks Planner; Debi Close Parks Secretary Strub called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 1. Approval of Minutes from October Meeting Cathy Moore-Arcand made a motion,Strub seconded to approve the minutes of the October 12, 2016 Parks Commission meeting as presented. All Aye. Motion carried. 2. Neighborhood Meeting: Goodview Avenue City — Owned Property Denaway presented a recap of discussions at the September, 5, 2016 Parks Commission meeting and other recent meetings about the property as well as a general history of the property. The 2.34 acre property was acquired through park dedication in in 1987 with the Hugo Meadows development. Options for the property were presented include selling or vacating it, making significant changes to the landscape, and doing nothing. The public had been notified of the discussion and invited to discuss the long-term and short-term future uses of the property. Commission Chair Dave Strub welcomed the residents and neighbors and opened the floor up for discussion. Anne Manke, 13514 Goodview Ave N, reported several incidents of vandalism to the city-owned property, trespassing through surrounding private property, littering,fires, parking on the street, noise, disrespect and lewd conduct. Manke stated that if the City doesn't want to manage it then they should get rid of the property or flatten it. Larry and Deb Adams, 13555 Geneva Ave N, approached the podium. They stated that there is trash at the city-owned property, kids have started cutting trees and moving back in the property,there have been fires. They said they used to let kids walk through their property but not anymore due to issues. They stated that they would buy a piece of the city-owned property if it was available for sale to the surrounding property owners. Michelle Lorentz, 6140 135th Street North, stated that when she bought her property that the builder promised a park that was going to be built but instead they got this ugly property with no bathrooms. Lorentz said kids using the property would pick up litter if trash cans were put in place. Scott Anderson, Public Works Director informed that for the last two summers,the City has removed brush, trimmed trees, weed whipped and place trash cans at the park. Keith Fritsche, 13545 Geneva Ave N,suggested splitting the parcel for connecting owners to purchase and said he had no interest in the property being clear cut. He discussed seeing littering occurring even with garbage cans are on site,vandalism to his property, disrespect,fires and inappropriate use. Commissioner Berger asked if they knew where the kids were coming from who use this park. Fristche responded that the kids cut through from the neighborhood, but not always from the neighborhood. He stated that there is a regular group of neighborhood kids. Mary and Jerry Scutter, 13580 Goodview Avenue, approached the podium and stated that Grace, of Grace Development,wanted the city-owned property to be a natural place. They reported living at the property for a long time and needing to build a fence around their property to keep out snowmobilers, protect their property, and for their dogs. They stated that that their fence has been damaged and that they have heard bad language. They said that the kids should be told to use stuff at Hanifl and that the property should be mowed down, leveled, and planted with flowers. Commissioner Rauschendorfer asked if this is a new occurrence or that it happens in cycles. The Scutters said that there has been more destruction in the last 10 years. Lorentz (in the audience) disagreed. The Scutters stated that it has been bad for the last 5 years and that they get rude remarks when they ask the kids to stop. Commissioner Strub asked to hear more about the natural area wanted by Grace as that was new information for the Parks Commission. Lorentz(in the audience)said that Birch Tree Ponds owns the park and that she didn't know what was being talked about. She said that her property deed said that she paid for the park in 1990 so they own it. Denaway, informed about the park dedication process. Developers are required to dedicate land or pay a park dedication fee to the City and the developer can pass those costs on to the property owners. In this case,the property was dedicated and it is now owned by the city. Mark Paipal, at 13565 Geneva Ave N, reported checking out the property earlier in the day and getting flicked off by a kid on a bike. He asked what clear cutting would solve. Anderson informed that removal of trees increases visibility of the property. Another option would be to build a pond to get infiltration credits but there are no real plans in place. Commissioner Strub confirmed that there isn't a plan to clear cut the property but that ideas and opinions were being taken. There would be a follow up with notices with a decision. He also stated that it should be understood that they are the Parks Commission and the City Council makes the final decision but there isn't a deadline or schedule for that. Commissioner Berger asked how the property would get spit and maintained. How would the transition process work? What happens with it is privately owned and still used by the public? Emotions are high. A resident at 13565 Geneva Ave N approached to podium and said that some kids have an attitude but that they would call the police, make a complaint and not get further involved. The police would take care of it. Commissioner Berger asked the resident what vision she has to make it dissipate. The resident at 13565 Geneva Ave N replied that it will be trespassing. Jay Manke, 13514 Goodview Ave N, approached the podium and stated that the wanted to touch on what has happened in the last month. He reported seeing cars parking on the street, leaving no room on Goodview, honking, and traffic issues. Commissioner Arcand asked if they were parked to go in the park. Manke replied that it signals that there is an adult in the park, but sometimes it is 16 year old kids causing trouble. He stated that the track is getting bigger and nothing good happens there. He appreciates that the dirt bikes were stopped. He asked how many police and fire calls do there have to be. He preferred that the property be flattened and the track removed. The track should be located somewhere more visible. Commissioner Berger asked if there is a need for a BMX track. Manke replied that they need to go wild in a more managed place, where the police can see, and there is no hiding. Commissioner Berger asked if the kids would go elsewhere to ride or is it tied to property history. If you take it away,will they go away? Jay Manke replied that it's cyclical,that the kids use it until they are 16. He said that it is some sort of rite of passage to get in trouble at the property. He expressed gratitude for the city opening up the property. Anne Manke stated that she has had to call 911 several times and tell the police where the kids are hiding. She can't deal with the profanity and the lack of rules. She said that there is a need for a track, but not there. She said that they can't walk through the property so it isn't usable by many. Their only recourse is to call the police. They do not want to fence their[large] property. Mike Atkinson, at 5560 140th Street N, informed of his son started going to this park 18 years ago and all the kids out there had a lot of fun. He said that if they opened it up, and had the police force there,that it could be a good play area. Dan Church, at 12280 Falcon Ave N, has lived in Hugo for 16 years and has small kids that share his interest in this type of park. He shared stories of using the skate park with his family. He is excited to see a park like that and said that there is a need for it. He suggested finding a place to move it where the kids can be seen. Commissioner Berger thanked him for taking time to bring his kids and share his voice. She agreed that there is a need that should be met. Jim Compton, at 6213 Egg Lake Road, said that he is okay with breaking up the property for the neighbors. He has witnessed youth spitting on cars and swearing as they are walking to the park. He supported the city getting park land and asked if there is a new type of park that would be good for the property. Chet Atkinson, resident at 5560 140th Street N, informed of his use of this park and the great memories made there as a kid riding bikes and playing. He said that nothing else is offered for kids like this in the area for ages 13-16 and they want to be able to do something. He reported that the track is the same as it always was and that it was there 10 years before him. Commissioner Berger asked if there was a way to manage it and not disturb the neighbors. Atkinson said that it has never been an issue and it was weird because it has been there longer than they have been there. He suggested fencing it in. He said he would hate to see it go and that the park means a lot to him. He said that he would be willing to pitch in. Commissioner Strub asked Sergeant Wayne Johnson, Washington County Sheriff Department, if he would like to approach the podium and give a report on the calls they have received. Sargent Wayne Johnson reported that there have been a couple calls about trash and fires. Clear cutting the property helped as there used to be ATV complaints in 2013/2014. Commissioner Strub asked what about compared to other parks. Sargent Johnson reported that a couple other passive parks that need more attention, but not much in any of the parks. Commissioner Rauschendorfer reported on some of the vandalism he has seen at Diamond Point Park and said that a camera reduced the issues occurring there. Anne Manke, at 13514 Goodview Ave N, stated that she can't deal with it anymore-driving by, having to call the cops. Lorentz, at 13545 Geneva Ave N, asked where the park land is that she was dedicated when she built her house if it's not this park. Commissioner Strub talked about the Parks and Trails Plan and said that it was not as good in the 80's as it is now,that now there are expectations and developers are willing participants. He said it's a complicated parcel so we can only learn from it for the future. Commissioner Schmid discussed that the parcel donated by the developer was an unusable piece of property never intended to be turned into a playground- it's mostly wetlands with no parking options but somehow it was accepted by the Parks Commission back then as the required dedication. She discussed options like a fence and said that a solutions is not clear. Schmid was excited to hear that a BMX park is needed. Commission Chair Strub asked if there was anyone else who had questions or concerns or wanted to speak. He said that the meeting was not about making any decisions but to gather input to make recommendations at a later time towards the City Council. Stub thanked all the residents. The commissioners had an open floor discussion that included that there is a need for this type of non- traditional activity and that the kids are causing it to be taken away. The emotions and reactions to the issues are strong. Options and cost for clear cutting,fencing, and parking were discussed. It was asked how to encourage parents to get the kids to stop [the bad behavior]. There was discussion about the option of selling the property. Further discussion will be held at a later meeting. Other Denaway informed of the Holiday Christmas Party being held on Thursday, December 8 at the Legion. Denaway thanked Dave Strub for volunteering to be Chair and reminded all commissioners that the Vice Chair position is still open and encouraging anyone interested to send in a letter of interest. 3. Adjournment Moore-Arcand made a motion, Berger seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 pm. All Ayes. Motion carried.