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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001.02.14 Parks MinutesParks Commission Meeting 2-14-01 Minutes Hugo, Minnesota Parks and Recreation Open Space Commission Meeting February 14, 2001 6:30 p.m. Firstar Hugo Bank Building SEH No. A-HUG000009.00 Meeting Chair: Robynn LaCasse Minutes By: Laurie McRostie Page 1 of 3 Present: Robyn LaCasse, Peter Pedersen, Bunny Peterson, David Strub, Chuck Haas, John Rask, Laurie McRostie. Absent: Bronwen Kleissler, Nancy Chelmo, Copies To: Commission Members, Michele Lindau - Deputy City Clerk, John Rask- Community Development Director Beaver Ponds — Residents from the Beaver Ponds neighborhood attended the meeting. They expressed concern about the park and delivered a list of issues they wanted addressed. They were opposed to the construction of a soccer field and are interested in constructing a play area as soon as possible. The Commission addressed the concerns the residents expressed about the soccer field and they left the meeting understanding, and accepting that a soccer field would be constructed. The neighborhood is very enthusiastic about the park and very willing to help get the play area installed. The response given to the neighborhood concerns follows. A. The irrigated soccer field will be constructed this spring. The 60yd x 110yd-soccer field is designed to be played on by 12 to 13 year olds and younger. The White Bear Lake Soccer Club will program the field from May to July, Monday through Thursday, 2 games per night. These are regional teams and kids from all over the area could play on the field. White Bear Lake Recreation and Community Services will program the site from about September 8 to some time in October, all day Saturdays and Sundays. Hugo kids support many of these teams. B. The soccer field would be available on a first come first basis at all other times C. Parking is an issue. Each team has eleven kids on it. The worst case is that 22 cars could come to the site at once and when games change more cars could be on the street. The street width is 32 feet and this allows for parking on both sides of the street with ample room for emergency vehicles. A small parking lot will be built in future phases park development. D. Traffic is also a concern. The residents would like to see more traffic control and would like a stop sign located at the first intersection south of 130th Street. This is an issues that needs to be brought before the City Engineer and the City Council. John Rask pointed out that you need to http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks—Recreation/minutes/Parks02l4O I.htm 10/3/2007 Parks Commission Meeting 2-14-01 Page 2 of 3 be very careful of too many stop signs because drivers will just ignore them. E. The park will not be lighted. F. A walking path, in the park, will connect to the future trail on Flay Road. This path will connect the facilities in the park. G. The park is planned to expand to the south at the time the land develops. A sketch of possible development was reviewed. More planning, incorporating neighborhood concerns, needs to be completed. H. A play area is planned for the park and the neighborhood would like to install it as soon as possible. The neighborhood is willing to volunteer. The residents would not incur any liability if they do volunteer. I. Play equipment budget is approximately $50,000 installed. Play equipment itself should cost about $30,000. This play area would be about 60 feet x 70 feet in size, depending on the type of equipment selected. The equipment should serve both little kids under 5 and kids older than 5. J. The surface of the play area would be wood fiber, making the entire play area accessible. The commission addressed the concerns of the neighborhood and agreed to recommend that the city council approve purchasing and installing play equipment this year. They all agreed that fencing the newly seeded soccer field would keep people off the new turf and allow for use of the park. The play equipment will be selected with input from the neighborhood and installed with their volunteer help. The neighborhood will come to the March meeting with their ideas. Then a supplier will be contacted and cost estimating and design will be completed. All parties would like the equipment installed as soon as possible. II. Commission Expansion. The City Council agreed to increase the number of Parks Commission members to seven (7) -voting members. The current membership is five (5). New Terms will all start on March 31 and are still 3 year staggered terms. Advertising for new members will happen in the next couple of weeks. III. Park Planning — Everton Avenue Neighborhood Study. The Commission discussed the concept of 1/2 mile radius service areas for neighborhood parks. Four service area circles were drawn on the Everton Avenue Neighborhood. It was evident that the City Hall Park serves the southeast sector and no additional neighborhood parks are required. The land use is existing 10 acre lots and the future Victor Gardens in the second circle in the southwest sector. No neighborhood park is needed in this service area. At this time, no parks are planned for the north half of the study area. The land use will change and many more people will be moving into the area. The two circles on the north side show a need for a neighborhood park in this part of Hugo. The City is acquiring land in this vicinity for a future water tower. This is also the location of significant natural resources in Hugo. The Commission recommended that the water tower site be expanded to include at least 20 acres and a natural resource oriented neighborhood park be developed in that location. The natural resources could be preserved and the new neighborhoods would have a park. This land will be acquired through park dedication, direct purchase or incentives given through in the development process. It was agreed that it is important to save the natural resources in this area. Large stands of mature trees exist in the area and will create a beautiful natural neighborhood park. It was also agreed that the City should pursue the concept of linking the natural resources through wildlife corridors or the development of greenways. This concept will be presented to the neighbors at the next Everton Avenue Neighborhood meeting. IV. Grants. A DNR Grant for the purchase of the Bernin Property was discussed. The City will be applying for a Natural and Scenic Area Grant in 2001. The grant is due March 31. The use of the land was discussed and the Commission agreed that the Bernin Park would be more passive and nature oriented. The high quality wetland and lakeshore are natural areas that should be preserved in Hugo and a natural park will introduce people to the site while not destroying the resource with http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks—Recreation/minutes/Parks02l4O I.htm 10/3/2007 Parks Commission Meeting 2-14-01 Page 3 of 3 intense development. John Rask, with assistance from SEH, will be completing the application. V. Public Relations and Neighborhood Involvement. Nancy Chelmo will update the Commission at the next meeting. Pete Pedersen said the Lions would participate in any neighborhood gatherings we plan. VI. Parkland Acquisition Policy. The City Council formalized a policy for the Commission. The Commission will be able to work with staff on identifying and approaching landowners in the pursuit of suitable parkland. Negotiations can occur before the issue is brought before Council. The Parks Commission considers itself to be in a land acquisition mode at this time, and this policy will expedite this process. This is an interpretation of the events that happened at the meeting. If there are any additions or corrections please call Laurie McRostie at 651-490-2043 or email her at lmcrostie@sehinc.com within ten days of receiving the minutes. NEXT MEETING March 14, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. http://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/Parks—Recreation/minutes/Parks02l4O I.htm 10/3/2007