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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-02-1994 Park Commission Minutes s� w S � MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 ATTENDANCE The Park Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Richard N. Flint, Robert Howells, Alex Vongries, Susan Wilson, Lili McMillan and James White. Sherokee Ilse was absent. John Gerhardson, Public Works Director and Carole Haseman, Recorder represented City staff. J. Diann Goetten, was Council representative. Chair Flint called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. (#1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by White, seconded by Howells, to approve the minutes of the July 5, 1994 Park Commission meeting. Vongries requested corrections be made as follows: Page 1 (Item #1) second paragraph to read "July 11, 1994 - Vongr�; July 25, 1994 - Howells." Page 2 (Item #3) fifth paragraph to read "The abandoned road needs to be plowed." Page 3 (Item #3) third paragraph to read "Gerhardson stated it had been done but not finalized." Page 4 (Item#5) third paragraph to read "Chair Flint advised that an effective warning sign needs to list the reason such as shallow water." McMillan inquired if money had actually been set aside for the Crystal Bay park plan. Gerhardson stated block grant funds had been programmed for the Crystal Bay park plan and after some discussion offered to check if it specifically said Crystal Bay. Chair Flint requested the deletion of the first and second paragraphs to Page 5, (Item #6). It shall read "No other business." Chair Flint called for a vote on the motion as amended. Ayes 6, nays 0. (#2) OBA UPDATE Gerhardson reported all grading to the field is complete and construction of the concession stand will soon begin. Seeding will probably be done in September or October. The parking lot is finished, the road is in and erosion control measures are in place. Howells cautioned members that a steep embankment exists by the curve and suggested a guardrail be installed. Gerhardson explained the matter was being investigated to meet safety requirements. Howells asked if a bike trail was located to the north of the new road? Gerhardson responded that none has been designated but grading work had been done for a possible future retaining wall. White inquired whether a time frame had been established for a grand opening. Gerhardson stated everything should be ready for next spring. 1 .✓ . L µ 1 MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 (#3) BIKE TRAIL UPDATE Wilson asked for an update regarding Brown Road and McMillan inquired as to the cost. Gerhardson reported the cost had not been discussed or decided by Council. The Council did award the North Brown Road project which included the bike trail at 8' wide along the west side of the road. Completion is scheduled for next spring. MSA funds will be used to pay for part of the trail, 5' of the 8', and the City will pay for the balance. It is approximately 3/4 of a mile in length. Wilson asked if the City needed to obtain easements from any property owners? Gerhardson stated it is to be constructed within the right-of-way except for some temporary drainage easements. Both sides of the road will have curb and gutter with a 3-5' green area between the curbing and the bike trail on the west side. The trail will be moved closer to the road in one area because of the impact to a resident's home. Chair Flint asked for an explanation regarding the position of the utility poles along the trail. Gerhardson explained the road will stay just about where it is and most of the improvement areas will be on the west side with more room between the driving surface and the power poles. It might be necessary to move one pole. Retaining walls will be built which will keep a distance away from the poles. Chair Flint inquired about the possibility of eliminating the poles by burying wires. Gerhardson responded that NSP does not voluntarily bury wires as it is expensive to do and not covered by any available funding. Wilson inquired about the Crystal Bay bike trail? Gerhardson commented he was not aware of any further conversations between Ron Moorse and Doug Bryant of Hennepin County Parks. McMillan asked if the Dickey property developer had started the trail? Gerhardson said land clearing, grading and road work had begun but did not know when the trail would be finished. McMillan also inquired if the cost would be taken out of park dedication fees? Gerhardson explained that the cost for the trail would be deducted from the payment of park dedication fees. Chair Flint commented that extension of the trail from the south end of the Dickey property to the Luce Line still needed to be resolved. Gerhardson noted drawings had been completed for both the Thompson and Minnick properties but the City has been unsuccessful in contacting the Thompsons. Wilson volunteered to attempt to contact the Thompsons and thought they lived elsewhere. (#4) CITIZENS SURVEY Gerhardson reported the City has not received results from the survey. Wilson suggested the process needed to be moved along and would like the Park Commission advised of the projected completion date. Gerhardson said he would check into the progress. 2 MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 (#5) OTHER BUSINESS Gerhardson reviewed the reasons which resulted in a survey of neighboring communities regarding emergency situations at swimming beaches. No response had been received from Medina. He reported Long Lake provides part time lifeguard services and furnishes a telephone in a lock box for use by the lifeguard only. The lifeguard phone is connected in the spring and is removed from the property in the fall. There is no public pay phone at the beach because of expensive installation costs and monthly charges. Vongries outlined survey results that he had obtained from various cities. • Wayzata with a population of 3,806 has one swimming beach with no dock. A telephone is available for the lifeguards. No pay phone is at the beach. Lifeguard services are contracted from the City of Plymouth. Two lifeguards are generally on duty between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. White noted a parking fee is charged to use the beach. • Deephaven with a population of 3,653 has three large beaches with docks, lifeguards and a telephone in a lock box for use by the lifeguards which is removed in the fall. They also have three small beaches with docks but no lifeguards. Lifeguard services are contracted from the Minnetonka Community Services. Swimming lessons are offered at the main beaches. Parking permits are required - residents get two free permits and are charged $5.00 for additional permits. Non-residents pay $20.00. • Shorewood with a population of 5,917 has a small public beach with no dock and use is shared with Tonka Bay along with expenses. Lifeguard services are provided but no swimming lessons. A pay telephone is located at the beach for emergency use of the lifeguards and also for public use. The phone is not available in the winter time. • Excelsior with a population of 2,367 has a large beach which is divided into two beaches, one of which has lifeguards, two docks and a raft. Lifeguard services are contracted from the Minnetonka Community Services. They have five lifeguards with two on duty at any given time. Swimming lessons are provided. An emergency phone is furnished for use by the lifeguards. A pay phone is located at the beach house. • Mound with a population of 9,634 has two large beaches with lifeguard services provided seven days a week. They have three smaller beaches, 30-40' wide, with lifeguard services only two or three days a week. A pay phone is located in the depot at one of the parks. The lifeguards carry twc-way radios. No swimming docks or floats are located at any beach because of insurance considerations. 3 t � MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 (#5) OTHER BU5INESS - CONT. • Minnetonka with a population of 48,370 has two beaches. The largest beach has a swimming dock and a pay phone. Both beaches have lifeguards with at least 2 and as many as 10 lifeguards on duty at any time. There are no floats and the lifeguards have access to a phone for emergency purposes at both beaches. Permits are required and fees are set at $18.00 for residents and $24.00 for non- residents. A total of 1,700 permits are issued a year. Wilson observed some cities had docks and suggested the City of Orono investigate further into the liability issue. Vongries made the following recommendations: 1. To assess the use of Summit Beach, which is the largest one to see if lifeguards are needed. The beaches at Lydiard, Casco and Sandy Beach are small. 2. Contact the telephone company concerning the installation cost of a pay phone and service during the swimming season at Summit Beach. 911 should be accessible without coins. Another issue to consider is the installation of pay phones at all beaches. 3. Gerhardson should contact Sonny Clark at Wayzata and Jim Fackler at Mound to discuss why the cities discontinued the use of swimming docks and floats. The liability issue also needs to be discussed with Orono's City Attorney and insurance carrier. 4. To determine whether parking spaces are adequate at Summit Beach. Wilson felt telephones are attractive nuisances and could cause potential problems as phones may be a temptation for kids to congregate around. The possibility of locked phones for emergency purposes could be a solution. McMillan suggested that the issuance of parking permits might be a method to keep Summit Beach use exclusive. White felt Summit Beach is not heavily used. Chair Flint commented that Summit Beach is packed on the weekends but during the week only two or three families are observed. The parking lot is only full on Sunday afternoons but that is not an indicator of use because many people live within walking distance. He recalled in the past that parking lot expansion had been discussed but the neighborhood residents were not in favor of it. Gerhardson noted it had been expanded once and no parking was posted on the street. Councilmember Goetten commented that Summit Park now referred to as Summit Beach had been donated to the City by Bruce Dayton with the understanding it was to be used by the neighborhood and kept low-keyed with little advertising. Wilson felt it would be a good idea to maintain it as such. Howells questioned Gerhardson if the rope had been removed from the tree at Summit Beach. Gerhardson replied that it had not but would be done soon. 4 , , MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 (#5) OTHER BUSINESS - CONT. Chair Flint suggested perhaps nothing needed to be changed at the beach as he has not observed a bad situation. Vongries asked if lifeguards are really needed or are they even missed? With low level usage, perhaps a lifeguard service is not necessary. Installation of a pay telephone would not be a major cost to the City. At this time activities at the beach seem to be status quo. What needs to be addressed is the use of docks or rafts. Previously a dock was removed at Sandy Beach which solved an ongoing problem. Howells inquired what information Gerhardson was able to ascertain regarding signage? Gerhardson stated the insurance company indicated by installing a "No Diving" sign the City would be doing everything within reason to provide a warning. Wilson noted kids use the dock for fun to jump off of it into the water. White suggested the use of wording that might appeal to kids such as "Be Safe - Don't Dive". Vongries suggested the legality issue of signage needs to be addressed with the City Attorney. Chair Flint requested Gerhardson to check further with the City's insurance carrier and City Attorney regarding the legal issues and that Park Commission Members observe the usage during the next month at the beach. Further comments regarding Summit Beach will be addressed at the September meeting. McMillan noted that the Long Lake Council has been working on water quality conditions for Long Lake. Chair Flint proceeded to discuss the status of Friends of the Park award. McMillan stated nominations are needed and suggested plans be finalized in September with the award event scheduled for the October meeting. McMillan volunteered to be in charge of the program again this year. Chair Flint asked for a report from the Park Commission representatives who attended the City Council meetings in July. Vongries attended the July l lth meeting and noted there was nothing pertinent to report. Howells attended the July 25th meeting and reported that the Melamed property value had been reduced by the City Assessor thus reducing the amount of the park dedication fee to approximately $9,000.00. Wilson noted that parking signs had not been installed yet for the property at French Creek Preserve. She recommended a spring opening for the park as work still needs to be completed. Wilson asked when the post office parking lot would be completed? Gerhardson stated survey work is presently being done which will provide documentation for a public hearing to be scheduled in connection with the project. This will be scheduled as an information item at the Council's August 22nd meeting. Wilson suggested that Gerhardson oversee the grass situation at the Crystal Bay playground this fall so it looks good for spring. McMillan requested a quarterly report of park dedication fees. 5 ._ . ,� MINUTES OF THE PARK COMMISSION MEETING OF AUGUST 2, 1994 ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Vongries, seconded by White to adjourn the meeting of the Park Commission at 8:50 p.m. Ayes 6, nays 0. ichard N. Flint, Chair Person 6