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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/01/18 - ADMIN - Minutes - Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission January 18, 2017 6:30 p.m. Meeting Rec Center Programming Office MEMBERS PRESENT: Rich Bluma, George Foulkes, Elizabeth Griffin, George Hagemann, Tiffany Hoffmann, Peter May MEMBERS ABSENT: Sarah Foulkes, Edward Halvorson STAFF PRESENT: Rick Beane, Park Superintendent, Jim Vaughan, Natural Resources Coordinator, Stacy Voelker, Recording Secretary and Cindy Walsh, Director of Operations and Recreation 1. Call to Order Mr. May, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. 2. Presentations None. 3. Approval of Minutes a. December 7, 2016 Commissioner Hoffman made a motion to approve the minutes of December 7, 2016. Commissioner Hagemann seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6 – 0. 4. New Business a. The Elmwood Subdivision – Park & Trail Dedication Fees (Nicole Mardell) Nicole Mardell, Associate Planner, explained the city received an application from 36th Street LLC for Elmwood Addition. The proposed redevelopment will be a mixed-use redevelopment with 85 residential units and 4,400 square feet of commercial and office space. The proposed redevelopment site is the current home of the 36th Street Business Center and the American Legion. The proposal also includes 207 parking stalls, a landscaped courtyard and an outdoor rooftop amenity area. The overall recreation al area, including the rooftop space, is ¼ acre in size. As no new parks are designated for this area, cash-in-lieu of land is recommended by staff. Based on 85 dwelling units proposed on site, the estimated park dedication would be $127,500 and estimated trail dedication would be $19,125. Commissioners discussed the proposal and were advised Micro Center and Burlington Coat Factory will not be affected by this development. Ms. Walsh advised the dedication funds would go into the park improvement fund. Dedication fees must be collected prior to releasing a building permit, Ms. Mardell stated. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 2 January 18, 2017 Commissioner Hagemann made a motion to approve acceptance of cash-in-lieu of land in the estimated amount of $127,500 for Park dedication and $19,125 for Trail dedication from the Elmwood Addition proposal. Commissioner G. Foulkes seconded the motion. The motion passed on a vote of 6 – 0. b. Natural Resource Update (Jim Vaughan) Jim Vaughan, Natural Resource Coordinator, provided a 2016 Natural Resource overview. Mr. Vaughan indicated the total losses from Dutch Elm Disease (“DED”) is less this year compared to previous years. The remaining large Elm trees have been injected in an attempt to save. Staff anticipates the arrival of Emerald Ash Borer (“EAB”) in a couple years and is diligently working on a plan to protect the trees. Staff has removed sick ash trees and hired Rainbow Tree Care to inject 370 ash trees in 2016, in an attempt to save as many trees as possible. The city has been injecting ash trees the past two to three years in an attempt to save the trees. There are approximately 1,600 ash trees on boulevards and park areas, with an average size of 16” in diameter, in good shape throughout the city. The Minnehaha Creek cleanup, held was May 7 at the Knollwood Canoe Landing which was a great event. Commissioners and staff discussed the 2017 Minnehaha Creek clean up and decided the date would be April 29, 2017 from 9 – 11 a.m. at Izaak Walton Creekside Park. Mr. Vaughan provided an update on invasive species in the city. Staff found a new noxious weed and are dealing with its removal. Some pockets of Burr Oaks are browning. The browning is not oak wilt, but another genetic disease affecting Oak trees. Commissioner Hagemann inquired if the city has a contract with Rainbow Tree Care to provide residents a lower price for Burr Oak treatment. Mr. Vaughan will research options. Mr. Vaughan provided information on the trees in the city that provide major canopy’s in the City. Many trees were planted last fall in Pennsylvania Park, Minikahda Vista Park and Bass Lake Preserve. The city tree sale will begin March 1 through Tree Trust. Residents can order up to three trees, Mr. Vaughan advised. Maple trees are not offered in the tree sale in an attempt to diversity the trees in the city. Annually the city hires a contractor to prune boulevard trees. The contractor is currently pruning in the Lake Forest neighborhood and then will move into the Sorenson and Birchwood neighborhoods. Mr. Vaughan advised an aerial flyover to obtain a deer count did not occur this year. There must be adequate snow to acquire numbers for the count. Staff has not received many deer complaints this year. There have been no issues with coyotes or wild turkeys. The city has offered a brush drop off site for the past five years, which a lot of residents utilize. The quantity of brush depends on the amount of large storms in the area. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 3 January 18, 2017 Mr. Vaughan advised the lake at Wolfe Park was stocked with small mouth bass in 2016 and hopes to get the DNR to stock more lakes. Westwood Hills Nature Center is also offering the FIN program. Eagle Scout projects completed in 2016, Mrs Vaughan advised, included landscaping and playgro und chip installation at Shelard Park, shoreline restoration at Kilmer Pond, shoreline restoration at Louisiana Oaks Pond, buckthorn removal and replacement with native shrubs at Wolfe Lake and landscaping along fence at Police facility. Mr. Vaughan reviewed the events held in 2016 and potential events for 2017. These events include a Raingarden Workshop, Beautify the Park event, Organic Living Workshop, Learning with Tree Planting event, annual tree sale, Evergreen award and buckthorn pull at Westwood Hills Nature Center. c. 2017 Capital Improvement Project Review (Rick Beane) Mr. Beane, Parks Superintendent, provided a hand out of Oak Hill Park and explained the Splash Pad will be enhanced with new play features, will install a UV filter and sand filter. The UV filter will assist with the smell from the treated water. The water meets pool code but after hot days, the tank will flush and regenerate with fresh water. A 20 x 20 covered shelter will be added on the green space between the splash pad and the building. The shelter will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will not be available for rental. The goal is for visitors to utilize the shelter versus bringing food into the splash pad area. The two shelters, considered the Central Shelter, will be removed and replaced with one shelter. The shelters plan to be installed in spring with the splash pad opening around Memorial Day. The field lighting on all four fields at Aquila Park are scheduled to be replaced with new light poles, new fixtures and potentially LED lighting. There is the potential for rebates from Xcel Energy. Staff is working with Musco Lighting to try new technology at that site. The users of the dog park at Cedar Knoll Park requested security lights. LED lights will be installed on a timer so they will shut off when the dog park closes. A public meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2017, to hear comments from dog park users and residents close to the dog park. Mr. Beane explained other projects for 2017 include sealcoating the Fern Hill Park parking lot, landscaping at Victoria pond, replacement of the wood on the pergola by the small playground at Wolfe Park (due to rotting wood) and potential planning of the cite at 40th and France. Ms. Walsh has been in discussions with the City of Edina regarding the 40th and France site. Discussions include a potential dog park to be added in late 2017. Edina has storm water needs that need to be addressed at that site but it is unofficially being used as a dog park now. The group utilizing the area is very organized, self-policing and keep the area clean. Playgrounds in city parks are on a replacement schedule, Mr. Beane explained, and are replaced every 13 to 15 years, depending on inspection and condition of playground. The playgrounds scheduled to be replaced in 2017 are located in Bass Lake, Northside, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 4 January 18, 2017 Rainbow and Twin Lakes Parks. The playground at Peter Hobart is scheduled to be replaced also and the city will partner with the School District on the replacement. There is also funding identified for improvements to make ADA accessibility in various parks. Other projects include a community garden at Shelard Park and renovation to the Knollwood canoe landing. The canoe landing may be delayed until 2018 as the Engineering Department will work on the road in that area so may move landing to a different place with parking. Cameras and automated door locks will be added at Westwood Hills Nature Center, the Oak Hill Park building and the Splash Pad. d. Annual Meeting and Report with Council (Cindy Walsh) Ms. Walsh advised members an email invitation from the City Clerk will be sent to all members inviting them to the annual meeting with the City Council and encouraged members to attend. Members reviewed the 2016 goals and initiatives and created 2017 goals. Suggested goals for 2017 include: continue relationship with Community group and Historical Society, work with Fastpitch Softball on field recommendations, support city initiatives by having members serve on sub committees (i.e. skate park, girls fast pitch visioning committee, support connected the park, participate in Evergreen award recommendation task force), support the ROC and Great River Greening initiative. The city will hire a consultant to work on the renovation at Westwood Hills Nature Center and would like to have a member on the interview committee. Staff will draft the goals and initiatives and email to members for comments. Ms. Foulkes will be the Commission representative to review goals, etc. with Council. 5. Old Business a. Fastpitch Softball Task Force Update Commissioners Hoffman and Griffin advised the city allotted funds to hire a consultant to assist in determining the needs of the organization. The task force met with the consultants and the association to gain facts (nights they play, number of registrants, percentage of growth, time needed, etc.) of which the consultants determined they need 2.75 fields, which the city is currently meeting. The Association is requesting a complex which includes four lighted fields and concessions. Commissioner G. Foulkes inquired how much funding the association has to assist with developing the complex; Commissioner Hoffman indicated they are asking for the city to utilize city funds to create the complex. The task force will come to a consensus to present to the commission, then to the City Council. b. Skate Park Update Ms. Walsh advised the City Council approved to move forward with soliciting bids for the skate park at Carpenter Park. Neighbors were present at the meeting asking questions Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 5 January 18, 2017 of the storm water project. The two projects can happen independently but the storm water project includes clean fill in the area. If the skate park project moves forward without the storm water project, additional funding for the clean fill will be needed. Mr. Beane mentioned it was great to have the skate boarders at the meeting as everyone in attendance did a great job of talking to the public. The storm water piece was not as well received due to cost and the benefit from the cost, individuals commented. Commissioner Bluma felt small issues regarding the storm water project erupted into larger ones. Commissioner Bluma feels the main concern was parking from those that were in attendance. Attendees also expressed they feel the area is a little cluttered at times and expressed safety concerns. Ms. Walsh mentioned Little League plays at Carpenter Park and parking is adequate if they also utilize the City Hall lot. Mr. Beane indicated there is potential to add 8 – 10 parking stalls on the frontage road. A great deal of the parking is utilized by the apartment complexes in the area. Staff held a public meeting years ago regarding lighting the ballfield, Mr. Beane indicated, of which no one attended. It was nice to see people show an interest in the park by attending this meeting. Mr. Beane mentioned the Conditional Use Permit to remove the soil was presented and passed at the Planning Commission meeting. The next step is for the CUP to be presented to the City Council. The city was awarded $100,000 grant from the Youth Sports Commission to assist funding the skate park project. 6. Staff Communication Ms. Walsh thanked Commissioner Bluma and his family for attending the ROC New Year’s Eve event. It was great to see the event attended by all ages and abilities. Mr. Beane announced the outdoor skating rinks have been busy, especially Fern Hill Park. There is a very nice hockey rink and it is well used. Mr. Beane indicated the organics, trash and recycling in the park buildings has been going well. The program will continue. 7. Member Communication Commissioner Hagemann was invited to be one of nine steering committee members involved in the progress of the City. There will be more official announcements and invitations in the future for the visioning project. The goal is to get the word out for people to provide their opinions and miss no one. If you are interested in the process, visioning is best way to get involved. Commissioner Hagemann indicated it was really rewarding to be involved in this process 10 years ago and to watch it happen. He encouraged involvement or to share with others who may be interested in being involved. Questions may be directed to Commissioner Hagemann or Meg McMonigal, city staff. 8. Other / Future Agenda Items The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting 6 January 18, 2017 9. Adjournment It was moved by Commission member Hagemann and seconded by Commission member G. Foulkes to adjourn at 8:02 p.m. The motion passed 6 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Stacy Voelker Stacy Voelker Recording Secretary