HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-1996 Park Commission Minutes ORONO PARK CONIMISSION MEETING
MINUTES FOR JUNE 3, 1996
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ATTENDANCE
The Park Commission met on the above mentioned date with the following members
present: Chair Richard Flint, Commissioners Lili McMillan, Susan Wilson, Sherokee Ilse,
Jim White, Andrew McDermott, and David Beal. Council Member Goetten was also
present. Representing Staffwere Public Works Director John Gerhardson and Recorder
Sherry Frost. The meeting was conducted after the Park Tour, which was held from 6:00-
8:35 p.m.
� During the Park Tour, Park Commission members; City Council members JoEllen Hurr,
Charles Kelley, Mayor Callahan, and J. Diann Goetten; Planning Commission Chair Steve
Peterson; and City Staff members Jahn Gerhardson, Jack Brinkhaus, and Carole Haseman
viewed the following: Crystal Bay bike trail, Crystal Bay Park, site of new DNR boat
landing on Maxwell Bay, Antoine Playground, Sandy Beach swimming area, Highwood
Nature Trail, Lowry Woods access, proposed Saga Hill Park, and fishing pier at Stubbs
Bay.
Chair Flint called the meeting to order at 8:42 p.m.
(#1) BIItE/FIIKE TRAIL UPDATE
Flint reported having received Hennepin County's Bike Transportation Plan's executive
summary which included ways to build trails and the philosophy of the County regarding
trails. He will send copies of this report to members of the Park Commission's Bike/Hike
Trail Subcommittee (White, McMillan, and Flint).
Wilson suggested the sub-committee review the plan and flag important issues.
Flint reported that a meeting was recently held between Moorse, Mn/DOT, and Doug
Bryant of Hennepin Parks. Moorse informed Flint that Bryant was satisfied with the
resolution of the interchange at Co Rd 6 and Hwy 12. The Council, at their last meeting,
authorized Staff to go ahead with the bike/hike trail as planned. Flint noted that Kelley
asked that the neighbors be contacted regarding the trail.
The trail will be constructed as far as $100,000 will allow. This funding consists of a
50/50 split between the City and the DNR grant money. Flint said it is the hope of the
Commission that the money will build the trail to the City hall area.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK C�MMISSION
MEETING HELD ON JUNE 3, 1996
(#1 Bike/Hike Trail Update - Continued}
McMillan commented that there was no possibility that Gity funds could pay for the trail
to connect to Baker Park She would like to see it constructed to at least the school
property. Goetten said the Council was of a favorable posture towards completion of the
trail but funding would dictate the outcome. McMillan noted that the trail was a City trail
to this point, and it would take Hennepin Park�'s participation to make it a connecting trail
to Baker Park.
(#2) PARK PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Flint asked the Commissioners to consider the following questions:
Are we ready to meet with the Council for a work session with the Park Plan in its
current draft? If not, what is necessary to be done?
Are we satisfied with the broad goals and objectives as currently proposed?
Where do we go from here?
Wilson said she was not satisfied at this point and would like to see the large goals
discussed and some agreement made. Flint responded that the Cammissioners have
submitted their ideas and questioned how far the Commission should go before receiving
the Council's input. Wilson said she sees what is labeled as "A" as an overall mission
statement with the other lettered items as subcategories of A. McDermott commented
that all of the lettered items, including A, are part of a vision statement.
When asked how the other items should be handled, Wilson saw them in three categories
with (1) active park areas with goals dealing with improvements and maintenance, (2)
passive parks and nature areas, and (3)trails. She then saw these components follawed up
by financial stipulations.
Beal asked if the goals were in actuality, proposed action, rather than objectives. Ilse
responded that the goals and continuing objectives are documentation for the long term
record, and from that, action is taken. Ilse noted that the goals and objectives may be too
specific, however. McDermott said he was concerned that if the goals were too loose, it
would result in "fluff'. McMillan commented that the objectives are designed not to be
toa specific, ar else, they result in promises that might not happen. McMillan said she
would like to see general direction given without deadlines. McDermott noted that there
was a need for visions for a continuation of the park process. He added that the surveys
and park descriptions were more specific. Wilson responded that once the large goals are
established, then the Commission could get down to the specifics.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION
MEETING HELD ON JUNE 3, 1996
(#2 P�rk plan �oals and Objectives - Continued)
Gaetten asked the Park Commission to consider what their role is and suggested that the
role be placed up front in the objectives. McDermott read the vision statement. Beal
questioned whether there was already a mission stated or if the Commission was
attempting ta justify what they are doing? V�'ilson commented that what the Park
Commission wants is consistent with that of the Co�ncil. White noted that the charge of
the Park Commission is in the Comprehensive Plan. Gerhardson said the Commission
should refer to the Statutues for a definition of the Park Commission's Mission, as the City
is a statute city, not a charter city.
Wilson said she thought °A" is what the Commission is trying to accomplish noting the
Commission is the City's vehicle by which this is accomplished. Flint said he saw the
Commission as one component with the citizens, staff, and Council making up the rest of
the equation. Flint said "A" is our primary function, but is nothing, without the other three
components.
Ilse suggested to take "F", as noted in the table of contents, which she sees as the role of
the Park Commission and make it an entity in itself, rather than one of the objectives.
Flint said he had also noted in his comments if"F" was located in the right area within the
plan.
Goetten informed the Commission that she saw the group as the conduit for what is done.
Wilson acknowledged the Commission's advisory capacity but did not feel the Commission
was in a management role as noted in "F". Goetten said the ideas come from the
Commission, however, in addition to being an advisory body. White said he saw the
group as advisors to the policy makers. Flint said it was necessary to see what the
statutue says about a park commission. McDermott asked Gerhardson to get him a copy
of the statutue.
It was decided that "F" would be moved to be "II" in the plan as the Park Commission
Mandate.
Wilson noted a statement in the old policy regarding park planning as a "management tool
for City staff." She said this should be used as a guideline. McDermott said he would add
this to the intraduction.
Beal asked if the Commission was a conduit versus an advisory position. The Park
Commission was said to be an active advisory gi-�up, �viuclr studied and �t-ioriti�eu iiie
work to be done, and made recommendations.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION
MEETING HELD ON JUNE 3, 1996
(#2 P�rk Pl�n Goals �nd 4bjectives - Continued)
McMillan said she thought the park plan was to be a manual. A point of changing the
1980 plan was that park planning has changed. She noted the old approach was that of
there being enough space and no need to acquire more. This needed to be revised.
Goetten said she agreed with the need of revision asking that the Commission relay the
information to Gerhardson and Moorse. Flint explained that the Park Commission was
working on the park portion of the Camprehensive Plan. Ilse said the intern to be hired
this summer will take up each of the existing parks, map them out, inventory their existing
facilities, and describe any legal limitati�n as t:tr8i1'�a�age.
Goetten said she saw the real change come to the City as far as parks are concerned with
Bederwaod. It made the Park Commissian a more prominent figure. McDermott cited an
example at Antoine Park with the old equipment. McMillan said the updating came from
the survey and the next step was to implement the survey into a management tool.
Goetten asked if there was a time plan. McMillan said it was more of an open ended tool.
Goetten noted that the plans from 15 years ago were now in need of updating. Wilson
said it would be difficult to look ahead further than ]0 years and most plans are only good
or applicable to that point. It was agreed that a plan was good until a need was shown fc�r
it to be upgraded.
The Commission then began to discuss the broad goals as laid out in the draft without
going :n±o the specific details of each goal. "F" was decided to be the vision statement and
removed from the broad goals and objectives.
"A: Provide open space and diverse recreational opportunities to serve Orono residents."
The "all" was omitted. (See page 1 of draft.)
"B: Protect and preserve natural resource areas, wildlife habitats, and open space." The
point was made of the importance of preserving open space. �eal suggested shortening
the statement up to be concise but Ilse saw it as inclusive. McMillan thought natural
res�urce areas and wildlife were redundant, but others disagreed, and no action was taken
to remove this part of the language. "Prudent utilization of environment" was removed.
(See page 3 of draft.)
"E" was moved and changed to "C". (See page 6 of draft.) It was discussed whether the
trail should be noted as "city-wide" and if"transportation corridar" should be eliminated.
It was agreed that, although the trail would not extend to every road in the entire city, the
plan does encompass the entire city. Flint cammented that Hennepin County sePs their
role as providing bike transportation corridors with cities connecting their local trails to
tl:Pse ce:ridors. Ilse was concerned if the transportation corridor was removed, it would
be seen as only trails extending from one park to another, which is not the case.
Accordin�lv_ it was decided to retain these statements.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION
MFF.TiNC'r HRI,D (�N T[TNF 3, 1996
(#2 Park plan Goals a�si Objectives - Continued)
The old C was changed to "D". With the partnerships established with team sports
groups, Minnes�ta T,�nd Tn�st, and ather �gencies covering private, governmental
organizations, and the Park Commission, it was decided to say "public and private
orbanizations". Flint said this objective was noted as a new cancept with the City working
with other public and private groups.
Beal suggested using the terminology of"taking advantage of public and private
organizations to meet Park Commission goals". Ilse agreed but said it should show the
need to sit dawn with others under an umbrella of cooperation. Flint said he saw it as two
fL111Ct10I2S. He IIO�eC� It�1'a.S tC c�.C�]3PE'e t�:�Narl:bCa.1S}".,'.�n0±j'..:,5� µ Aarl� (`nmm:5.4:.^�:: b.^.a�.
Ilse said all of the goals go back to the main plan and questioned whether it needed to be
stated in each objective. White suggested saying "cooperate and actively work with public
and private organizations to provide opportunities for recreation and open space." This
was accepted ancl �grPPd i�pon by�11 ('nmmissi�ners. (�ee pagP 4 �f the draft.)
The old "D" is now "E" as shown on page 6 and changed to read, "Encourage civic
involvement in developing and maintaining parks and open spaces." It was noted to
include volunteer services.
The old "G" is now "F" as shown on page 10.
The old "H" is now "G". Wilson said she saw the implementation steps under trails and
parks as bein�; separate for each. McDermott suggested calling it "Park Standards". Flint
suggested having this section under "A". Ilse said in looking ta future Commissions, it
would be easier to be able to go to a particular section nf the plan. Flint commented that
the Commission was talking about a vision, and McDermott responded that the standards
are not a vision. Wilson did not think it should be in a separate area. McDermatt said he
would leave it as a goal but move the details elsewhere.
Beal asked Goetten if the Council would want the standards. Goetten said there are
standards for other things. She noted the zoning codes �re there but are not listed
whenever the code is referred to. Goett�n saic� thei-e may be a need to be more general.
Wilson said she was unsure about the detail. Flint said the details w�ulcl need to he
reviewed at a later time.
With agreernent on the broad objectives, A through H, without the additional detailing,
Ilse asked if the Commission was now ready to have a w�rk session with the C���ncil. It
was determined that the park classifications would also be part of what is presented.
Goetten said she believed the Council would ask for the Commission's thoughts and ideas
under each heading. It was suggested to use the details as examples.
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO PARK COMMISSION
MEETING HELD ON JUNE 3, 1996
(#2 P�rk Plan r�als and �bjectives - Continued)
The Commissioners decided to review the details under each broad objective and relay
their ideas and camments to McDermatt by J�me 21 to be reviewed at the July meeting.
The work session would then be scheduled with the Council.
(#3) OTHER BUSINESS
Representatives were selected to attend Council meetings:
June 10 - Jim White June 24 - Sherokee Ilse
Jt;�j' R - �'.:Swn VV:�S^l: TL;1� 77 _ T jl; l��T�r,I��T;11�T:
August 12 - Drew McDermott August 26 - Dick Flint
September 9 - David Beal
ADJOURNMENT
McDermott moved, Beal seconded, to adjourn at 9:58 p.m. Vote: Ayes 7, Nays 0.
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Richar� N. Flint, Chair
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