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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.08.09 Parks MinutesParks Commission Meeting 8-9-00 Minutes Hugo, Minnesota Parks and Recreation Open Space Commission Meeting August 9, 2000 6:30 p.m. Firstar Hugo Bank Building SEH No. A-HUG000009.00 Meeting Chair: Robynn LaCasse Minutes By: Laurie McRostie Page 1 of 2 Present: Robyn LaCasse, Bunny Peterson, Bronwen Kleissler, Peter Pedersen, David Strub, Chuck Haas, Laurie McRostie Absent Nancy Chelmo Copies To: Commission Members, Michele Lindau - Deputy City Clerk I. Council Update A. Chuck commented that the Parks Commission should be involved in the development of trail plans along roadways. The case in point was 132nd Street Improvement Project; trails adjacent to the road were proposed. Parks should have an opportunity to comment on these issues. B. The Rice property on Plaisted Lake was discussed. This property has been flooded. In the past Browns Creek Watershed had offered to buy the property and the owners turned down the request. The money the Watershed had is no longer available and now the owner is wants to be bought out. They have contacted the City regarding this matter. Laurie will contact John Rask about this issue and report back to the Commission. C. The driveway ordinance was discussed. The Commission feels that residential driveways should be 16 feet wide at the curb, the current standard. Trails and sidewalks will cross the driveways and the crossing should be kept as narrow as possible. Narrow driveways reduce the amount of impervious surface and the impact on the City's stormwater system. More pavement would decrease the amount of open, green space in a development. Wide driveways would also be visually unappealing; all you would see would be pavement and garages. Action: Recommendation to City Council in support of 16 -foot driveways. D. Country Ponds — Outlot A of Country Ponds is City owned open space. It is not parkland. This property is almost all wetland and is bisected by a ditch. It abuts Highway 61 on the southwest side, vacant land to the east and the housing development on the remaining edges. In the fixture the Parks Commission may be able to expand the property and develop a City park. The property is vacant and grass and small trees have grown larger. Chuck http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks—Recreation/minutes/08.09.00.htm 10/3/2007 Parks Commission Meeting 8-9-00 Page 2 of 2 Haas reviewed the history of the property with the Commission. In 1999 mowing the grass was discussed. The property has not been maintained since that discussion. The Commission feels that it may be prudent to maintain this property so that is readily available for development in the future. Action: Laurie to write short recommendation to the City Council asking them to review this issue and determine how this property could fit into an ongoing maintenance program. E. Oneka Lake View Expansion — Chuck commented that the developer is expanding to the north of 150th. The Parks Commission should be involved in reviewing the open space and trail plan and the landscape plan when they become available. II. Pete Pederson had visited with the LaCasses, property owners by the Old School House. They won't be making any decisions on their land for at least 5 years. III. Sunset Lake — The posts are up, blocking the access road. Only one person had called Mike Ericson, he forwarded them to Robyn and she never heard from them. It is possible that the original developer actually lives on the lake. At some point the City may wish to contact him. The discussion about what to do with the property is going to be tabled for the time being. IV. City Entrance Monument — Bunny had done a lot of research on other signs and monuments, taking pictures and making notes about what she liked and didn't like. This was very helpful and we will discuss the sign at the next meeting. V. The play equipment is going to be installed at the Hugo Elementary School on 8/19 & 8/20. They need more volunteers to help. VI. Wayne LeBlanc is forming a small task force to work on the trail connections between Hugo and adjacent communities. VII. Pete took the plans that had been prepared for the Beaver Ponds expansion to the Haubels. They were impressed with the effort that the Commission had made and appreciated seeing the plans. They still feel that it will be 5 to 10 years before the do anything with their property. VIII. Bernin Update — Deb Barnes was contacted by the Bernins and they would like to keep the house and associated lot, not have a life estate on the property. Deb Barnes wrote back to them that the City is still interested but that renegotiations would need to take place. NEXT MEETING: September 13, 2000 at 6:30 p.m. \\spfiles 1\trans\2staffl3-tr-la\projects\f-j\hugo\parks\meetingminutes\892000.doc http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks—Recreation/minutes/08.09.00.htm 10/3/2007