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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-1995 Park Commission Minutes ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FOR OCTQBER 2, 1995 ATTENDANCE The Park Commission met on the above date with the fotlowing members present: Vice Chair Lili McMilian, Sherokee llse, and Andrew McDermott, IIL Chair Flint along with Commissioners James White, Robert Howells, and Susan Wi�son were absent. There was a lack of a quorum due to the number af absent commissioners. Representing Staffwere Public Works Director John Gerhardson and Recorder Sherry Frost. Council Member JoEllen Hurr was also in attendance. Vice Chair McMillan catled the rneeting to order at 7:17 p.m. (#1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 5, 1995 MEETING No motion was made due to the lack of a yuotum. (#2) UPDATE ON TRAIL PROGR�:SS: OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROA D SIGNAGE Gerhardson reported that work on the trail will begin this week and must be compteted by October 15, I995 in prder to receive the DNR grant money. The trail has been staked out. The contractor has begun the road an the former Rosch property development with three properties accessing Old Crystal Bay Road and one driveway aff of Watertown Road. Gerhardson said he met with a person today regarding signa�e, who will develop a plan for trail si�ns for Old Crystal Bay Road trail and North Brown Ro�d trail. McMillan inquired if the signs would be the same as those used by Hennepin County. Gerhardson said the county has a good selection but no real guidelines for signage. McDermott asked what kind of posts would be used for the signs. Gerhardson said th� sign company provides onIy metal posts. If other than znetal is desired, another company would need to be contacted. McDermott responded that he has seen different types of pasts far signs and is of the opinion that a startdard be set far usage on all signs. Gerhardson said he would poll the Park Commissioners regarding posts. He woulct like to complete the work this month before winter weather is upon us. The trail sub-cammittee will aid in the decisivn regacding the type af posts. t MIl�IUTES QF THE REGiJLAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 1995 {#2 -Update on Trail Progress - (�ld Crystal Bay Road & Signage - Continued) McMillan asked about where accidents have occurred on the road due to heavy fotiage in some areas. Gerhardson said the northeast and southeast corners and to the east on Watertown Road are in need of some clearing to provide better sight lines. He is working with the developer regarding ciean up. Hurr noted that controlled burning had taken place tast week as well as the barn this evening. (#3) UPDATE ON HIGHW�011 NAT'URE TRAII.. Gerhardson reported that work is behind on the trail. He thought work would begin this week. The work will be done in hause. The road will be gravel. Few trees will be cleared, and the parking lot will be altered, ifnecessary, in order to save trees. Gerhardson has the sign as well as the picnic table for the trail area. Both will be installed ance the lot is completed. (#4)PROGRESS REPORT ON CRYSTAL SAY PARK McMillan enclosed handouts on the wrap-up meeting of the subcommittee regardin� phase one of Crystal Bay Park The playground equipment is in and blends in well with the surroundings and is receiving use. Transplantation of trees from the golf course will take place mid month along the fence on the north side of the park. Gerhardson said this would be done when the ground dries aut and witl make contact with Bendixson regarding this. Four wooden benches built by the boy scouts are in place. McDermott inquired about the leakage from the well. Gerhardson said the well was used at one time by the ald administration buiIding and was not capped off correctly. The pipe will be exposed and added onto to bring it to the edge of the post office for future use if needed. The old driveway will be taken out, new sidewaik installed, and trees planted on the north side of the post of�ice according to Gerhardson. The walkway to Arbor Street was reported to have turned out nicely. Ilse asked if the pipe wouid be used for the ice rink. Gerhardson said it would be in the same vicinity but there was a wetl in place for use to flood an ice rink. 2 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETiNG HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 1995 �#$4 _ �rnarPc5 R pY!�Tt Q?2 C�St�,�$?��P�r� - �nntin�P�ll McMillan commented on the good job Gerhardson and Staffprovided in the preparation nf the ground for installation af the equipment. She also said the Park Commission was notified of the Council's recommendation to photograph the boy scout, Jasan Christenson, who was responsible for the new benches. A photo session will be set up on site with Jasc>n, Mayor Callahan, and a member of the Park Commission. NlcMillan said she wouid ask Randi Car�son, who assisted with the pazic plans as neighborhood liaison, to take the photograph. Gerhardson will set up the time for the photo session. Ilse added that the Council had suggested nominating Jason Christenson for the Friend of the Park award ne� year. (#5) DISCUSSION ON PLANNING FOR PARK ON DICKEY PROPERTY Ilse reported that the sub-committee consisting of McDermott, McMillan, and Ilse walked the property recently. The majority of the property was staked with corners identified. Gerhardson said permane�t markers l�ave been placed in the corners. Ilse commented that plans are being formulated to clarify the focus of the park. The Pioneer Museum has been visited for insight into the settling af the area. It was suggested to Ilse at the museum that she contact Jim Roehl for further inform�tion, which Gerhardson confirmed wauld be helpfut. At this point, plans are for a dirt parking area far 3-4 cars, benches, and a reflective/passive park with possibly some type of photos an�l signage af what the area once Iooked like and how it was usecl. McDermott said a garage was still on the property as well as a root cellar, eoncrete slab, ar�d retaining walls. The garage is owned by the adjaining property owner. A corner of this garage encraaches onto the City property. The well has heen abandoned. There is power to the site. The trash wi�l be cleaned up. Gerhardson said his department has filled in where the barn was located. Na re�;rading was done; only fill to make the area safe. McDermott commented that he visited the development site. The developer has the � property listed as an outlot in his information. McDermott said the impression he was left with was that the outlot was part of the development rather than owned by ihe City. He saw two separate plats with different information regardin�;the property. McDermott further noted that no internal trails were shown on the maps provided by the developer. McMillan said she has spoken with Mabusth, whc� reported that the developer was to install internal trails. McDermott also said he was concerned that the people buying or showing interest in the homes in the new development were unaware of the City owned park property. 3 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, �1995 (#5 - Park Planning on Dickey Property - Continued) McDermott said the DNR said they had no interest in a small piat of land. McDermott said it was debatable whether the land was native prairie or oak savannah. McMillan said she had been informed that there was very little native prairieland in Orono. The views were said to be non-existent from the property as with the building of the new residences, a person will be looking into the second stories of the homes. At this point, the park is in the design phase. The upper portion of the parcel will be for parking. It is yet to be determined whether the parking area will allow a bus to enter. McMillan said Flint asked that the park be classified for its usage. McDermott said the property is too small for a nature area and there is no where for a trail to lead. Hurr asked that direction be received from the Council regarding the park's usage. Hurr said she, as well as Jabbour and Kelley, did not want the parking to exceed 2-3 cars and not to have any bus access. McDermott said there was no shoulder for any vehicle to stop. Hurr suggested the interpretation be of the settling of the area by use of pictures and short descriptions. Hurr did not wish the area to be used for events and large groups. Discussion was had by the Park Commission on park activities and usage and the need for the commissioners to define clear goals and rules for usage of the City parks. This particular park was said to be difficult to interpret as the history is not well documented. A couple ideas for the interpretation area was the geographicallocation of Lake Minnetonka in past history as well as the usage of the land by Native Americans. Hurr also noted that the property was the site of the Heffelfinger family at one time. McMillan inquired about costs for the park bringing up issues of future maintenance and management of the open space. McDermott said he saw maintenance as being very minimal with more of a natural setting. McDermott inquired if a sign should be placed on the property now informing the public that it is park land. Hurr felt that it was important to look at the safety of the area first. She also suggested speaking with the developer regarding the park land and the internal trails. The trails were supposed to have been stipulated on the plat for the development. Ilse said she will continue with research. A design plan will be formulated over the winter months. It was noted that Brian Butterfield will assist with the landscaping for the park. =t MINIJTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COI��IlVIISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 1995 (#6)WINTER RECREATION PROGRAM: LETTER ON ICE RINKS Gerhardson sent letters to the Hackberry and Antoine neighb�rhoods regarding the low usage of the ice rinks at those iacatians and the possibility af closing the two rinks. Gerhardsan received alat of response from the Hackberry area and, subsequently, two benches were placed at that park for usage by skaters this coming winter. The responders also asked for lighting for night skating at Hackberry. Gerhazdsan said e}eetricity is available on site and a timer could be used. Comments were made on the poor quality of ice in the past and the recent improvement in ice quality, Only six respanses were received from the Antoine area with four for the rink and two against the rink. The neighbors want the buildings to be retno�red and would like a light for the rink. It was noted that there is no Iight at Bederwood, but there is a light at Casco. Gerhardson said the Crystal Bay Park neighbars will not have an ice rink this winter. It is tentativeIy in future plans, however. Gerhardson said the ice rinks were flooded after plowing was completed. He said a rink can be started at any time but it takes time to establish the ice for skating. Hurr said the size of the neighborhood could be used as a parameter in deciding on the standards regarding whether an ice rink should e�st. Gerhardson said rinks are put in only when a petition or request has been made. Ilse commented that some parks need to be driven to while others are in a neighborhood. It was noted that people drive to Bederwood Ilse said the rink usage at the parks needed to be reestablished once it was shown that the ice quality had improved. The ice rinks will be noted in the next newsletter. A vote an whether Antoine will maintain an ice rink will be conducted at the November meeting. No additional letters will be sent out ta the neighborhoods. Although the neighbors signed a petition for new playground e,quipment, McMi(lan noted the lack of nei�hborhood representation at the Park Commission meeting after the request was made as weli as the laek of respanse to the letter send by Gerhardson. The Commission felt the neighbQrhood needed to collectively work towards gaining park improvements. Gerhardson said Council action is needed to close a rink. Hurr said the decision should be delayed until an overall park plan is in place. Gerhardson said he would have information available for the ne� Council meeting. 5 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCT�BER 2, 1995 GOLF CUURSE Gerhardson commented that the original interest for the use of the golf course was made by Gea.r West. Unfortunately, the weather last winter resulted in poor conditions and, therefore, tittle or no usage. Ilse said she thought it was the City's intention to try the plan one more year. Gerhardson said the golf cnurse could not be expected to budget the costs. Hurr in9uired if the sledding/cross country skiing use of the golf course was to be self supporting. Gerhardsan said that was true. The main cost is for staffing at abaut $500 for the season. The concession stand was to be open to sell a few items such as hot chocolate. The sale of the items was to pay for the staffing. Gear West had paid for the personnel the year before Iast in a lump sum, which also covered heating and electricity. The trail made by Gear�Vest can also be used by the public for skiing. It was noted that the}ocation of the trail must b� clear of th�e sledding area. Commissioners felt it would be beneficial ta Orono to provide a groomed trail and was in favor of coordinating efforts to pravide usage of the club house an the weekends for skiers and sledders. Gerhardson said the main concern is with the budget. The operating cast cannot come from park dedication but must came from operations. Hurr asked if the golf course was making money at this time addin�that she was not opposed to ilzis usage. Gerhardson said an audit and statement are provided on the golf course, which is profitable. Mc1lrlillan said she has not seeM an income statement. Hurr said she would be interested in the Park Commission acting as a review board for the golf course to report to the Council on their f ndings for final say. She also noted that there is no residential passes available except for senior citizen passes. Hurr noted that the City does not provide a lake access in Orono. She questioned the percentage of use of the golf course by �rono residents and favored a Orono resident pass. Gerhardsan reiterated that the Park Commissioners present wanted the golf course to again ta used this winter for skiin�;and sledding. Hurr said the money to pay for personnel would have to be found. A final decision will be made in November regarding whether the winter program would cantinue. Rutes on what can be brought into the golf course and what ca.�be sold need to be discussed. The Commissioners asked that the go}f course usage be brought to the attention of the public via the newsletter, which will be printed shortiy. 6 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 2, 1995 (#'7) PLANNING FOR FRIENDS OF THE PARK Letters have been sent to the two Girl Scout Troops and the{lrono Baseball Association, the recipients af the Friends of the Park awards at theupcoming November 6 meeting of the Park Commission at 7:00 p.m. Susan Wilson wi11 provide refreshments. Wilson is also working with Gerhardson on the award resolutions, which were approved by Council on October 23, 1995. McMillan will be resp4nsib}e for the photographs and news article regarding the awards. (#8} QTHER BUSINESS City Administrator Moorse wiit be present at the November meeting to discuss the open space questionnaires. Also on the 1Vovember agenda will be discussion regarding park classification and an update from the Saga Hil� group. Ilse reported that a meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 4, regarding planning for new school facilities and a bond referendum. McMillan said the Park Commission should wait on any decisions regarding the trail by the school property until the school board has finalized their plans. Gerhardson said the school board was notified that no MSA funding would be available for the trail by the school praperty. It was unknown whether the cost of the trail wouid be part of the referendum cost. Ilse asked Gerhardson for copies of the list af parks and park information from the comprehensive plan ta aid the upcoming discussion on park classifications. This information wi11 be sent to all Park Commissioners as well as Council Member Hurr. ADJOURNMENT McMillan adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. � � " �.f �%�'���-G�.-� Lili McMillan, Vice Chair 7