HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000.12.13 Parks MinutesParks Commission Meeting 12-13-00
Minutes
Hugo, Minnesota
Parks and Recreation Open Space Commission Meeting
December 13, 2000
6:30 p.m.
Firstar Hugo Bank Building
SEH No. A-HUG000009.00
Meeting Chair: Robynn LaCasse
Minutes By: Laurie McRostie
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Present: Robyn LaCasse, Bunny Peterson, David Strub, Bronwen Kleissler, Chuck Haas, John
Rask, Laurie McRostie.
Absent: Peter Pedersen, Nancy Chelmo
Copies To: Commission Members, Michele Lindau - Deputy City Clerk, John Rask- Community
Development Director
I. The Victor Gardens PUD was approved by the City Council in November. A Preliminary Platt is
expected in the spring. At that time we will receive more specific information on the proposed park
system.
II. Potential grants were discussed. A list of DNR grants was reviewed and a request for potential
projects was put out to the commission. We could be looking at a grant for a greenway, the MLCCS
project, or an acquisition grant. A previous grant application to Metro Greenways, for Clearwater
Creek was reviewed. This application was very controversial and we may wait another year before it
is resubmitted. An application to the White Bear Lake Area Public Schools will be completed to try
and obtain funding for the irrigation project at Beaver Ponds.
Ill. The Commission will need to develop a CIP for 2001. The City Council will need this by March
and it should include a 5 -year project list. Robyn LaCasse has prepared a CIP and she will share all
this information with John Rask.
IV. Meredith Cornett, DNR Forestry, spoke to the Commission. She reviewed the purpose of the
Wildland Urban Interface Project. This project will explore the ways in which the DNR could work
more effectively with local governments. A guidebook for residents will also be prepared. The focus
of her talk was how to prioritize natural resources in the planning process. Meredith worked with the
land cover classification, MLCCS, which has been completed for the Everton Avenue Neighborhood
Study area. She explained how this tool assists in natural resource planning. This planning process
first identifies the important natural areas. Then the areas that will support development can be
located around the natural resources. Once these two patterns have been identified road locations can
be selected.
http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks_Recreation/minutes/12.13.00.htm 10/3/2007
Parks Commission Meeting 12-13-00
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Meredith also talked about habitat and how greenways can be used to link significant habitat areas.
It is also important to preserve habitat areas that are circular in nature. They provide more internal
habitat and not the edge habitat that is already in great supply in the metro area.
The ownership of the natural areas and how they are managed was also discussed. These are issues
that will need to be revisited if the City commits to natural resource conservation and planning.
Meredith gave us all lots of educational reading material which will help us become more familiar
with natural resource based planning.
V. We will begin parks planning for the Everton Avenue Neighborhood Study in January. Peggy Sand,
from the DNR, will attend to assist us in planning. All the information Meredith gave us should be
reviewed. We will also be looking at the park selection criteria we developed last year and reviewing
our park service standards.
VI. Two Commission terms expire in January 2001. Robyn LaCasse and Dave Strub, whose terms
expire, are interested continuing to serve on the commission and they would like to serve another
three-year term. They will submit a letter of intent to the City Council and the Council will act on
this matter in January.
VII. The Commission also discussed adding members to the group. It was decided to add two more
commission members. This will expand the representation on the commission and provide more
opportunity for participation in planning the parks in the City.
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council modify the ordinance and increase the
total Park Commission members to seven.
VIII. We also discussed how to reach out to more citizens and to include new neighborhoods in our park
commission meetings. We may start to invite individual neighborhoods to the meetings and ask
them to discuss with us their park needs and expectations.
IX. A resident from Country Ponds is completing a school project on Outlot A. She is going to be
looking at how this land could be developed for a park and used by the residents. She was asked to
share her project with us when it is completed.
X. Bruce Bernin has asked that the City look into placing an aerator in Oneka Lake. This is an issue
that needs to be coordinated with and permitted by the DNR. A $500,000 life insurance policy is
required, the lake must be posted for thin ice every 50 feet, and pumps cost about $5000. It takes
about 3 months to get a permit. Dave Strub will call Mr. Bernin and discuss this issue with him. It
will not be feasible to place an aerator this year and it may not be a lake that the DNR will allow an
aerator on at all.
NEXT MEETING: January 10, 2001 at 6:30 p.m.
http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks_Recreation/minutes/12.13.00.htm 10/3/2007