Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2016 Park Commission Minutes W7-64G/A. MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Rick Meyers, Commissioners Jan Berg,Brenda Johnson, Bryce Johnson, and Julie Ruegemer. Representing Staff were Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards and Recorder Jackie Young. Commissioner Paul Pesek arrived at 6:45 p.m. Chair Meyers called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. APPROVAL OF MAY 2,2016,PARK COMMISSION MEETING Bryce Johnson moved,Meyers seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Park Commission meeting of May 2,2016,as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0,Berg Abstained. PUBLIC COMMENT None CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 2 LIVINGSTON PARK UPDATE Meyers reported the improvements to the park have been completed and that work is currently being done on the sign. Meyers stated he would like to have a grand opening at the park and that he would suggest perhaps sometime in August. Meyers stated he is envisioning an ice cream social and a ribbon cutting ceremony, with invites being sent to the Girl Scouts,the City Council Mayor and Members,and the surrounding neighbors. Ruegemer asked when the bike rodeo will be held. Meyers stated the Navarre bike rodeo will be Sunday, September 18`h, from 11 a.m.—2 p.m. Ruegemer suggested doing it the same day as the bike rodeo. Meyers moved,Brenda Johnson seconded,to hold the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Livingston Tower Park in conjunction with the Navarre Bike Rodeo scheduled for Sunday, September 18. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Bryce Johnson displayed a draft of the signage for Livingston Tower Power. Johnson stated in his opinion this sign and the sign for the Navarre Park can be ready by September 18"'. Meyers suggested including some historical information on Navarre on the sign. Page 1 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Bryce Johnson noted this park was part of the amphitheater and that the sign has a picture of the amphitheater and a 1967 aerial photograph of the area. Johnson indicated he has been working with Joan Wolfe and that she helped find a good quality picture of the amphitheater. Johnson stated they also included the following language on the sign: The Livingston Tower Park is designed for passive use. Its benches,tables, and plantings invite you to sit and relax and chat with family and friends. You are also welcomed to enjoy quiet moments of beauty. Johnson indicated he took about 30 pictures of the park and selected one that helps illustrate the quiet beauty of the park. The sign also talks about the amphitheater,the water tower,and the pollinator garden. Johnson indicated once the design is finalized, it should take about two weeks for the sign company to make the sign. Johnson requested the Commissioners look over the sign and then forward whatever suggestions they have to him. Berg asked if the Navarre sign could also be done at the same time. Bryce Johnson indicated it can be. Johnson stated Joan Wolfe's book on Navarre has a lot of information on Navarre and that it has been very useful. Johnson stated it mainly comes down to deciding what the language on the sign should say. Johnson indicated the sign will be placed in the little grass circle at the front of the park. Meyers stated in his view the Park Commission should move forward on the sign and that Staff should order the bases for the signs. Bryce Johnson noted they will need three bases for the signs since they are also working on a sign for Saga Hill. It was the consensus of the Park Commission to move forward with the signs for the Livingston Tower Park and the Navarre Park, with Staff being directed to order three sign bases. Meyers noted the bird bath at the Navarre Park will be moved back to the Livingston Tower Park. The sign for the Navarre Park will then be located where the bird bath was located. 3. LURTON PARK TRANSITION TO OFF-LEASH PARK REDESIGN Meyers reported there were some concerns raised about the fence at the City Council and Planning Commission meetings and that Staff has proposed a couple of options for the location of the fence. Meyers indicated he prefers Option 3B. Edwards displayed the original proposal for the fence on the overhead. Edwards stated the Council had approved the fence but then Staff found out a variance was required for the encroachment into the 150-foot lake setback as well as the 35-foot setback from the designated edge of the wetland. Edwards indicated the lake setback is determined based on established elevation and not necessarily where someone can see the water. Edwards pointed out in this case the water is actually another 100 feet or so from that. At the meeting where the variance was discussed, some of the neighbors to the north came in and raised concerns about the existence of the fence,the existence of a dog park, and the changing of the park from a Page 2 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. passive park into a more active park. After some discussion,the City Council referred the matter back to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission then saw the revised plan that is displayed on the overhead and learned that the neighbors had some concerns how close the fence was to their property lines and the impact it would have on the wildlife. Following public comment and discussion of the matter,the Planning Commission recommended denial of the variance. The application will now go back to the City Council on July 11. Edwards indicated he then went out and GPS'd all the trails at Lurton Park and placed them on the map that is depicted on the overhead. The orange line is the wood chipped trail going through the woods and is the most substantial trail out there. The green line that runs along the northern wetland and then back up into the prairie is fairly well established and can be used. The red line is a small footpath of pounded down earth that can be followed up to the boundary, and the yellow and white trails are more like game trails but also have some foot tracks and dog tracks. Edwards stated that trail does not seem to be heavily used. Edwards noted no trail is being considered for the wetland area outside of a footpath. Edwards pointed out the locations where the fence has been moved. Edwards indicated he moved the fence to provide a larger buffer to the neighbors to the north and to lessen the impact on the wildlife. Edwards indicated he also ran the fence along the north side of the established wood chipped trail and that a smaller connector will need to be constructed on the northwest side of it. Edwards indicated they could also hook into the white dashed trail where the on-leash park is located. Gates would also be installed from the off-leash area to the on-leash dog park. Meyers stated the relocation of the fence is a bit of a compromise with the neighbors,which would leave a portion of it as a natural park and then also a dog park. Meyers stated in his view it is a win/win situation and that Option 3B is a good proposal. Meyers noted the plan will be presented to the City Council for their review and approval. Edwards noted the other major change to the original plan was the relocation of the small dog park off to the southeast. Meyers commented that is a nice improvement. Brenda Johnson noted people will have to pay to park to use the park but that she has concerns about the two gates. Johnson asked how they will know that the gates will be shut by the people using the park. Johnson asked why they are being included. Meyers indicated it is an accommodation to the neighbors. Brenda Johnson stated in her view the two gates will be a problem. Meyers stated in his view the gates will not be a problem and that other parks have them. Meyers stated technically someone can put their dog on a leash and walk in that area. Meyers stated there is a little bit of a compromise involved in this and that the gates are one of the compromises. Brenda Johnson stated her concern related more to the gates not being shut by the users. Pesek stated in his view the plan looks good. Berg stated she also agrees the plan looks good. Page 3 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Bryce Johnson stated what he likes about 3B is that it allows more space in the dog park than in the non- dog park and that it is complying with the request of the owner. Johnson noted there is a bench in the upper right, and that the way the bench is situated currently, it is just on the outside of the trail. Johnson stated he is wondering if someone would be able to walk around the fence at that corner. Edwards pointed out there is a little trail that winds down to the wetlands. The orange line is on top of the bluff and the little red line is a foot trail that winds down and goes along the wetlands. Bryce Johnson stated the neighbors and the Council may be assuming there will be a parallel trail in that area. Edwards stated there is a way to put a trail on the other side of the fence if so desired. Edwards stated he depicted that on the map to show that there is a way to put another trail in that area. Meyers stated volunteers can put more wood chips down on the trails but that the neighbors were more concerned about the area to the north. Ruegemer asked whether the neighbors have seen the revised plan. Meyers stated the neighbors have not seen the revised plan. Meyers stated in his view relocating the small dog area is a huge improvement over the original plan. Pesek moved,Berg seconded, to recommend Option 3B,which will hereafter be called Option 3. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. Edwards noted the City Council will be hearing the variance application next Monday, and if it is approved, Staff will go out and solicit bids. Edwards noted there are two cost estimates included in the Park Commission's packet. Design 1 is $129,198 and Design 3 is $94,372, assuming the same types of quotes are received as last time. Meyers stated he would propose the items that were removed by the Council be put back in the proposal since the cost for the fence has come down. Meyers noted if the well is added later, the fence would need to be taken down and then erected again. Meyers stated in his view it is important to have water at a dog park and that it is cost efficient to do it up front. Bryce Johnson stated one of the most important components to a dog park is the socialization of the dog owners and that having a place to sit,as well as the other amenities,would be beneficial and would fulfill the intent of the park. Johnson noted the cost for the park with the amenities comes to approximately $117,000 and that the average of the two park dedication fees that Staff provided for the Eisinger development would come to $118,000. Bryce Johnson moved,Meyers seconded,to recommend adding back in the shade structures, the water source,as well as the picnic table and bench, to support the socialization of the people using the park. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. STAFF REPORTS Page 4 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. 4. LAKEWEST DEVELOPMENT,3245 WAYZATA BOULEVARD WEST, PRELIMINARY PLAT Meyers stated the question before the Park Commission is whether the City should accept a park dedication or a land dedication. Meyers stated in his view the City would not be interested in the land since it is a former landfill site. Brenda Johnson indicated she is in agreement that they do not want the land and that they can use the fees to improve Lurton Park. Berg and Pesek indicated they are not interested in the land. Meyers noted it would still be open land for a number of years even if the City does not accept a land donation. Meyers moved,Brenda Johnson seconded,to require a park dedication fee in lieu of a land donation for the development located at 3245 Wayzata Boulevard West. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. 5. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER UPDATE Edwards reported on the following items completed by the Public Works Department: • The butterfly garden has been completed at Livingston • Fence repairs have been completed at Bederwood • Mulch has been put down at Crystal Bay playground • Repaired gate information sign at French Creek Preserve • Painted picnic tables at Hackberry • Installed benches and tables at Livingston Tower Park and will be installing new sign • The dock was installed at Big Island • The parking lot, flower bed, prairie burn, and trail chipping have been completed at Lurton Park • Aquatic weeding has been completed at Lydiard Beach and Sandy Beach. Edwards displayed some photos of the Girls.Scouts planting the butterfly garden at Livingston Tower Park. Girl Scout Troop 16214 helped with the butterfly garden and the Orono Thunder Soccer group helped wood chipped the Lurton Park trails. Edwards reported the Schweibel family has adopted Highwood Park. It was the consensus of the Park Commission to send a thank you letter to the Schweibel family from the Park Commission. Meyers stated the Park Commission should probably come up with a standard thank you letter that can be kept on file. Ruegemer volunteered to draft a letter. Page 5 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Berg stated a thank you letter should also be sent to Patty Morris,who has been taking care of the beach and hosta area at Lydiard Beach. Meyers stated the City can also recognize them in the city newsletter and perhaps in the local newspaper. Edwards reviewed the Parks budget to date. Currently the Park Commission has spent$40,158.09 or 37 percent of their budget. Edwards noted the category for equipment parts and accessories are over and so is the building/grounds maintenance supplies. Edwards indicated he will need to recategorize some of the items. Remaining in the budget is $67,661.91. Edwards reported the City has recently signed a contract with Sentence To Serve and that it amounts to about$6,000 of work. Bryce Johnson asked if someone could map Saga and Highwood. Edwards stated Bolton and Menk have provided a quote for$1,600 to $1,800 to do that work. Bryce Johnson stated getting those mapped would allow the trails to be depicted on the signs. Meyers stated he is in favor of spending the money for that. It was the consensus of the Park Commission to have Bolton &Menk map Saga Hill and Highwood Park at an approximate cost of$1,800 per park. Meyers noted Sandy Beach was one of this year's focus parks but that no improvements have been made yet. Meyers stated he would like to focus on Lurton Park first and then perhaps shift focus to Sandy Beach. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS 6. PARK SIGNS Meyers stated he likes the sign for Livingston Tower Park the way it is. Berg stated she likes the layout of the sign. Bryce Johnson indicated he will send Carol the pdf and that she can tweak it if necessary. Meyers requested the Park Commissioners notify Bryce of any suggestions they have regarding the sign in the near future. Meyers noted the Navarre sign will also be done at the same time. 7. SAGA HILL PLANNING UPDATE Meyers noted Brenda Johnson has submitted some notes from the work session and that he would request the notes be added to the record. It was the consensus of the Park Commission to add Brenda's minutes to the record. Page 6of9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Brenda Johnson stated within the work session notes was a recommendation to go through the attorney's files to identify important historical information on Saga Hill. Johnson stated that review has been started and that included in the information was an environmental assessment as well as an inventory of birds and wildlife and plant life. Johnson stated one of the goals of the park is to preserve it for habitat and that the Park Commission should think about how to restore some of habitat rather than simply preserve it. Johnson noted the inventory was done in 1995 and that it was divided into upland,meadow, basswood/maple forest,and ravine areas. Johnson stated the Park Commission could think about updating it and that some members of the Saga Hills Preservation Society expressed interest in having an inventory done. Johnson stated one of the interesting things contained in the inventory was the fact that the great gray horned owl was mentioned,which is a rare bird to this area. Soil sampling was also done as part of the environmental assessment. Bryce Johnson stated the Western Hennepin Historical Museum also has a large file on the park and that it mentions the woodland people. Brenda Johnson stated the woodland dugout was near North Arm. Meyers commented it will be nice to perhaps overlay some of the information on the maps. Brenda Johnson stated the next step will be to review all the information as well as interview John Palmer, who lived next to Saga Hill. Johnson indicated she has been in contact with him and that he is excited about being interviewed. Johnson stated he has lived there since 1948 and that he has taken pictures throughout that time. Johnson indicated she, Julie, and Bryce will continue to go through the information. Bryce Johnson noted there is a question about whether that is really Saga Hill. Johnson stated the name Saga Hill actually came from a Norwegian settlement and that it is believed it meant the land up from that settlement. Later on the name Saga Hill was extended to the whole area, with the park being located at the highest part of the land. Meyers stated the next step will be to get an accurate map from Bolton and Menk and then have a workshop to discuss what should be done. Meyers stated the Historical Society could be invited and Mr. Palmer could do his slide presentation. Brenda Johnson asked whether they could have the intern work with them to identify the areas to be cleared. Edwards noted the intern from Bolton&Menk is not a forester and is a civil engineering student. Edwards stated if the Park Commission is interested in hiring a forester, it would be more expensive. Meyers requested Brenda contact Mr. Palmer to see whether he would be interested in going out with Bolton and Menk and whether he can attend the work session. Meyers requested Bryce also contact the Historical Society to see whether they would be interested in attending the Park Commission's work session. Page 7 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Bryce Johnson suggested Mr. Palmer appear at a separate work session since his presentation would take quite a bit of time. Brenda Johnson indicated she will go ahead and interview him. Meyers noted the Park Commission's next work session is scheduled for the first Monday in August, which would be August 1, from 1 —3 p.m. Meyers indicated he will work with Adam on the mapping of the parks by Bolton &Menk. Meyers requested the Commissioners keep him informed on their progress. 8. COMMISSIONERS' UPDATES Brenda Johnson reported Bob Gasch has a map of the old Native American trails. Pesek indicated he went through French Creek Preserve and that he ran into a couple of people who were using the park that were not neighbors. Pesek reported the gate has been installed. Meyers noted the Park Commission talked about putting some arborvitae along the fence at French Creek. Meyers suggested the Park Commission should perhaps get a bid for that work. Pesek stated he is in agreement with that. Meyers stated he,Adam, and Paul will take a look at it to see what can be done. Bryce Johnson commented a sign at that park would be nice. Edwards stated he has received permission from Hennepin County to erect a sign but that he has not been able to locate the sign. Edwards indicated he will continue with his attempts to locate it. Berg reported Lydiard Beach has received a lot of compliments and that the people who use it are enjoying it. Berg stated they still have the issue of people fishing on the channel and that some of the neighbors have complained about people taking their dogs down there and not picking up after them. Berg stated they could perhaps put one of those dog baggie dispensers there. Berg stated deer also go down there as well as some other wildlife. Bryce Johnson asked about the purchase of the land near Hackberry Park. Meyers stated the life estate on the home in the middle of Hackberry Park has been finalized. The current owners, who have resided there since approximately 1956, will get to live there until they find another place to live. Meyers stated once they move out,the City will need to decide what to do with the house. Bryce Johnson reported the fence is in at Bederwood. 9. WORK SESSION AGENDA Meyers noted the Commissioners have their assignments for the upcoming work session and requested he be kept informed on their progress. ADJOURNMENT Page 8 of 9 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday,July 5,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Bryce Johnson moved,Brenda Johnson seconded,to adjourn the Orono Park Commission meeting at 7:50 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 6,Nays 0. Rick Meyers, hair Page 9 of 9