HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2000 Park Commission Minutes CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPEi�i SPACES AND TRAILS CONiMISSION MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 5,2000
(#1) ATTENDANCE
The Park Commission mct on thc above mentioncd date�vith the folfo«ing mcmbcrs prescnt:
Chair Andrew McDcrmott, Commissioncrs Pauline Bouchard, Rick Mcr�ers, Ircnc Silber,and
Jim White. Commissioner Debora Halvorson arrived at 7:47 p.m., and Commissioner
Sherokee Ilse was absent. Representing Staff��ere Public Services Dircctor Grcg Gappa and
Recorder Jackie Young. City Council Representative Richard Flint���as present.
Chair McDermott called the mecting to order at 7:21 p.m.
(#2) APPROVAL OF APRIL 3, 20001�9INUTES
White moved, Bouchard seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono P�rks, Open
Space and Trails Commission Meeting of April 3, 2000, as submitted.
VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Bouchard moved, Meyers seconded, to approve the minutes of the Orono Parks, Open
Space and Trails Commission l�'leeting of May l, 2000, as submitted.
VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
MEETING REPORTS
(#3) MAY AND JUNE COUNCIL MEETINGS
Bouchard statcd shc attcndcd thc Junc Cit� Council mccting ��hcrc thc �roposcd dcvclopmcnt for
Wildhurst ��as discusscd.
McDcnnott statcd hc attcndcd thc Joint Cit�� CounciUConsolidation Committcc i��ccting on
June �`h, ���hich in his vie�v w�ent �vclL McDcnnott commentcd thcrc appcared to be some
opposition to the mcrger from some Long Lake residents, ��ith little comment regarding the
consolidation from residcnts of Orono at thc mccting.
Wl�itc statcd at the Cit�� Council meeting he attended thc Dakota R1il ��zs discusscd as �vcll as a
park donation to Hcnnepin Parks, ��•ith no spccific dircction bcing givcn to thc Park Commission.
(#4) PUI3LIC COMMENTS
None
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS/UPDATES
(#�) NAVARRE PARK INIPROVENiENTS
Gappa statcd the bids for thc Navarrc Park improvcmcnts ��crc opcncd last Thursda��, ���ith thc
lo���est bid bcing Komo Constniction at $9�,329.00, «llich included thc plZ���round equipment,
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND TRAILS COMMISSION MEET[NG
NIONDAY, JULY 5,2000
reseeding, topsoiling the whole park, and a handicap accessible path do���n to Lvric Avenuc.
Gappa stated an alternate bid to reconfigure the parking lot���ould bc an additional $12,000.
McDermott inquired whether a«�ater hookup ��as included in the bid.
Gappa stated it is not. Gappa indicated the City Council did approve previousl}' the play
equipment and the path, which�vas roughly estimatcd to cost $80,000. Gappa stated the play
equipment for the park costs approsimatcly$�0,000.
Gappa stated the bid included a price for a concrete border aroiind thc plav arca, �vith an alternate
bid including a price for plastic timbcrs. Gappa statcd thc plastic timbcrs cost appro�imately
$�,000 less than the concrete border.
McDcrn�ott commentcd in his opinion thc plastic timbcrs do not sccm to hold up as«cll as
concrete, noting the timbers installed at Antoinc Park have t��istcd and ��Zrpcd somcho�v.
Gappa stated the timbers may have become twistcd and �varpcd due to the cold �ti�eather and frost.
McDcnnott inquired ���hy the silt fencing ���as locatcd at the top of the hill at thc Navarrc Park.
Gappa stated the Watershed District requires silt fencing around thc entire project area, with the
silt fencing also prcvcnting thc contractor from going outsidc thc construction arca with hcaw
machincn�.
Me}�ers inquired���hether a price ��as broken out tior bituminous trail vcrsus gravcl trzil.
Gappa statcd thosc priccs arc brokcn out scparatcl�, but hc docs not havc that infonnation
availablc tonight.
Silbcr commcntcd it«�as hcr undcrstanding that Council Mcmbcr Kcllc�� ��zs adamant that thc
Park Commission not spcnd morc than $80,000 if thc grant ��as not approvcd.
Gappa stated the $80,000�vas a rough estimatc of���hat it ��ould cost for thc pla} equipment, tlle
path and thc rcgrading of the park arca.
Meycrs conuncntcd in his opinion this is a high protilc park, ��hich ��ill bc hcavil� uscd, with
more mone�� necding to be spent on this park due to thosc re�sons. Mc�crs stated Orono should
bc thought of as a progressive cit��, ���ith thc Navarrc Park bcin� a part of that idcal.
McDcrmott notcd thc Park Commission�s original cstimatc for this park ��as $2�0,000, ��hich has
been reduced considcrabl��. McDcrnlott stated some minor itcros could possibl�� be dcleted as
«�cll as substitution of plastic timbcrs in plzcc of thc concrctc timbcrs and a grzvcl path in placc
of bituminous.
Mc��crs commcnted in his opinion thc Park Commission should havc highcr standards, ��ith thc
Park Conui�ission possibl}� nccding to comc up ��ith othcr rcvcnuc sourccs in ordcr to fund thc
ncccssar�� improvements at the various parks. Me��crs stated thc costs incurrcd to do thcsc
improvcmcnts �vill onlv incrcasc in the fiiturc.
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPEN SPACES AI�1D TRAILS COMM(SSION MEETIIYG
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2000
Gappa pointed out gravel paths tend to causc more maintenance issues than bituminous.
McDermott stated without the water hookup, it does not appcar likelv that the residcnts in the
neighborhood will be able to care for the plantings in this park
Silber recommended the Park Commission accept thc low bid ��ith a��ater hookup bcing
added to the plan.
Meyers inquired whcther the �valking path could be paved at the same timc thc Navarre parking
lot is being redone.
Gappa stated t�vo different t��pes of equipmcnt arc required for those t«�o projects and cannot be
done at the same time. Gappa stated the Park Commission has t�picall��spent in thc
ncighborhood of$3�,000 on thc other parks. �
Meyers commentcd unfortunatelv the costs to do these improvements arc highcr than anticipatcd,
but that thc City of Orono should perhaps look at raising thc amount of moncv spcnt on thcir
parks.
Gappa statcd the City could perhaps tap into thc ��atcr main on thc strcct.
It�vas the consensus of thc Park Conunission to rcconui�cnd to thc Cit�� Councif to acccpt thc
lo�v bid from Komo Construction in thc amount of$9�,329.00, and to rccommcnd that somc
t��pe of«atcr source bc installed to hcip maintain thc plants in this park.
Gappa rccommcnded for long-tcrm maintcnancc, it ��ould bc bcst to go ���ith thc concrctc curbing.
McDcrnlott statcd in his vic�t�thcre rcallv is not am�thing furthcr that can bc cut from this plan,
noting thcy are anticip�ting the improvements to the park ��ill last 20 to 2� ��cars and that thc
City Council should take that into considcration whcn approvin�thcsc itcros.
Flint notcd that Larn� Sol►ns has dicd reccntl��. Flint indicatcd thc Cit}� has bccn ncgotiating�t-ith
that individual to acquire his property, which the Cit��has onl�� recentiv bccn iilfonncd is o��ned
by his son. Flint commcntcd if the Cit�- is intcrestcd in acquiring additional park land, thc
amount of moncv availablc to bc spcnt on thc impro��cmcnts ��ill bc Icss.
Gappa indicated hc ���ill havc thc amount of monc��availablc in thc Park Fund availablc for thc
City Council mccting. Gappa notcd thcrc are somc funds avlilablc in th��cncrzl fund for park
maintcnancc. Gappa statcd thcrc necds to bc a dccision madc on this park soon if thc Park
Commission is still intcrestcd in commcncing this projcct this fall.
Mcvers commcntcd that Council Mcmbcr Kcllc�� and Ma��or Jabbour hzvc both indicatcd thcv
��•ould likc to scc somcthing donc this ��car to thc Na��arrc Park.
Gappa statcd this projcct ���as dcla��cd somc��hat in ordcr to hcar back on thc grant application.
Mc}�crs commcntcd hc has hcard conccrns expresscd bv somc residcnts of Lon� Lakc that Orono
nccds to spcnd moncr on various itcros just to bring thcm up-to-date.
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND TRAILS COMMISSION MEETING
MO1vDAY, JULY 5, 2000
Bouchard moved, Silber seconded, to recommend approval of the low bid received from
Komo Construction in the amount of$95,397.00 for the proposed improvements to the
Navarre Park,with the addition of a water hookup. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
(#6) REPORT ON COUNCIL WORK SESSION— COMPREHENSI VE PARK PLAN
McDermott statcd the �vork session went very��cll, with thc City having adoptcd a number of thc
items that the Park Commission had approved in the past. McDermott statcd onc change in the
Comprehensive Plan�ti�as thc fact that thc Cit�� is not going to activcly pursuc the acquisition of
play fields but has electcd to include languagc in thc Comprehcnsive Plan that the City is in
support of that t�pe of ficld.
Bouchard indicated thc languagc to bc includcd in thc-Comprchcnsi�c Plan ��as that thc Citv is in
favor of othcr organizations or cntities pursuing thc zcquisition and/or dc��clopmcnt of play ficlds
���ithin thc City, ��ith the Citv possibl�� helping to coordinatc thosc activitics.
Meyers commented the City supports the conccpt of play tields.
McDcrn�ott statcd thcy also discusscd«hat t��pc of park should bc providcd in thc tivc acrc
zoning districts and �vhcther parks should bc pro��idcd in thosc zoning arcas. McDcrn�ott statcd
thcre�vas an ovcrall conscnsus that pcoplc locatcd ��ithin thc tivc acrc zoning should providc
thcir own pla}� cquipmcnt, ��ith thc Cit� providing parks ��ithin thc morc h�avil�� popula[cd
scctions of thc Cit��.
McDcrmott indicatcd thc City has adoptcd thc trzil plan as proposcd and approvcd making thc
ninc acre scction in Saga Hills an activc pla�� arca.
Bouchard commentcd thc City is also adding a trail along Old Orchard Road to conncct thc
Dakota Rail potentiallv to thc Lucc Linc.
McDcrn�ott stated thcv also rcvic���cd thc park invcnton�. ���hich nccds to bc tipdatcd somc���hat,
noting that Chcvy Chasc���as omittcd from thc invcntor��.
Gappa statcd Citv crc���has bccn out staking somc of thc morc popular lakc acccss points and that
thc City nccds to do morc routinc vcariv maintcnancc on thcsc acccsscs.
McDcrmott indicatcd thc Cit�� uscd to includc Bo�ncs Point on thcir invcn[on list. ��hich also has
bccn omittcd.
Gappa stated thc land in that arca is no�r all privatc.
McDerniott commcntcd hc is going off thc 1980 invcntorv list.
McDcrmott statcd thc Cit�� is also looking at acquiring thc land from thc propcm� o��ncr locatcd
in the middlc of Hackbcrn�, ��ith thc Cit��considcring a lifc Icasc on this propert��.
Gappa statcd tl�at��as his undcrstanding as ��cll.
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPEN SPACES AND TRAILS COMMISStON MEETII�IG
1�IONDAY, JULY 5, 2000
White noted that the Citv needs to clearlv define ���ho is includcd in a life estate.
Gappa stated he will discuss this itcm �vith the Citv Council fiirthcr prior to thc City entcring into
any negotiations �vith the property o«�ner.
Halvorson inquired what role the Park Commission is supposed to pla}� in maintaining and
improving the �vater quality in the area. Halvorson noted this languagc is included in tl�e City's
Comprehcnsive Plan.
McDermott commented Lake Minnetonka is Orono's biggest recrcationzl asset and needs to be
properly maintained.
Flint commentcd it�vas his understanding that Mikc Gaffron, Scnior Planning Coordinator, is
attcmpting to bring the whole Comprchcnsive Plan togethcr. ��ith thc Park Commission nceding
to be cognizant of protccting thc ��atcrshcd district.
(#7) SAGA HILL AREA SUBDIVISION
Gappa stated this itcm ���as discussed at thc Planning Commission mecting, ��itl� the devcloper
requcsting a numbcr of varianccs over the siz proposcd lots. Gappa statcd the residcnts in the
area cxpresscd a numbcr of concerns rclating to drainagc and «atcr runoff ��ith the applicant
agreeing to table thc application in order to address some of thc concerns. Gappa statcd in his
opinion the dcvcloper will rcducc thc numbcr of lots to fivc for this dcvclopmcnt.
Gappa statcd thc Park Commission ��ill nccd to dctcrminc ��hcthcr to tzkc a park dcdication
fcc or a land dcdication in ordcr to protcct thc ravinc in this arca.
Silbcr rccommcndcd thc Park Commission wait until the rcviscd plan has bccn submittcd bcforc
making a dccision on tllis dcvclopment.
Flint stated in his opinion the devcloper should be rcquircd to protect thc ravinc as part of othcr
regulations and that thc Park Commission should not necd to take a land dedication in order to
protcct thc ravinc. Flint commcntcd thc land locatcd ncar thc ravinc is probabl� unbuildable
am�«�a��, ���ith thc Citv Council bcing rcluctant to grant varilnccs on a nc« dcvclopmcnt.
Silbcr commcntcd shc hcard a numbcr of conccrns rclating to thc drzin�gc and thc Izck of
ponding for this arca.
Whitc stated thc Park Commission should also kno�c ho«� much thc park dcdicztion fcc is on this
dcvclopmcnt.
Gappa indicatcd thc mn�imum park dcdication fcc is $�900 per lot.
McDcrmott statcd in his opinion if Lot 6 is dctcrmincd to be buildablc, thcn thc Park Commission
should tzke a land dcdication in ordcr to protcct thc ravinc, and if a pond is rcquircd on Lot 6, thc
Park Commission should takc a cash donation instcad.
Silbcr indicatcd the dcvcloper is also proposing to stop Gardcn Lanc at Lot �, znd having a
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPE1�1 SPACES AND TRAILS COM1�11SSION MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2000
private driveway to Lot 6 through Lot�.
Flint commented in his vie�v the City Council has the right to rcquirc the devcloper to protect the
ravine and that if the Park Commission�vants a land dedication in this arca. thcv should ask for
land that is buildable and able to accommodate a park.
Silbcr rciterated she «�ould like to see the reviscd plan prior to the Park Conu»ission making a
decision on this dcvelopment.
White stated the reviscd plan could be scnt to thc chair of the Park Commission if thcre is not
adequate time for the application to appcar bcfore the entire Park Commmission.
Gappa stated he will inform the City Council that the Park Commission ���ould like to have the
opportunity to review the rcviscd plan, �vith thc Park Commission at this timc undccidcd on
�vhcther land versus moncy should be collected.
Silbcr suggcstcd thc Park Commission conduct 1 ��alk-through of this arca in ordcr to bcttcr
acquaint thcroselvcs �vith the arca. Silber stated an��one interested in doing a��alk-through of
the area should meet her at 9:00 a.m., Saturdar, in thc Saga Hill parking lot.
OTHER ISSUES:
White indicatcd he is unable to make the August 28`h Cit�� Council meeting, and inquircd ��hedler
am'onc ��ould bc ablc to s�vitch mcetings.
Halvorson statcd shc is schcdulcd for Jul}� 2�4`h and would bc ���illing to s��itch.
Silber statcd it has come to hcr attentioil that the DNR is ��illing to install a tishing pier at
Sunsct Bcach at no cost to thc Citv.
McDcrmott statcd Simsct Bcach is locatcd on Long Lakc, «�ith parking i�p along thc rozd.
McDermott stated currently thcre are some pcople utilizing thc s��imming dock as a fishing pier,
«�hich is causing some problems. McDermott requcsted Gappa revie�� this arca, «ith thc
fishing picr to bc located bet�vecn thc swimming dock and the canoc racks.
Halvorson cxpressed conccrns that thc trails arc not passlblc at Frcnch Crcck, noting that thc
grass in thc arca is currcntiv kncc high.
Gappa statcd City crc�v has bccn out thcrc mo��ing rcccntl�, noting thc�� t��picall}' do not mow
until late Junc duc to thc ducks ncsting in that arca.
Gappa distributcd a lcttcr from Cathcrinc and Gordon Mca�hc�, 2720 Kcll� Avcnuc, cxpressing
thcir conccrns rclating to thc closurc of thc gatc to L�diard Bcach. Gappa indicatcd thc Park
Commission had dccidcd to close thc gatc to thc bczch in an cffort to dctcr parking in this arca.
Gappa statcd parking is availablc along thc road.
Mc��ers suggestcd a no vehicle/beach open sign be installcd along thc road.
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CITY OF ORONO
PARKS, OPE1�1 SPACES AND TRAILS COMNIISSION MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2000
McDermott recommended someone from Citv cre«� contact the Meaghe��s to tcll them the reasons
for the closure.
White stated since the gate is closed, it appears that this bcach is not open for any use.
Gappa stated City cre�v can install a sign which sa}�s pedestrian traffic onl}�/no motorized vchicles
aftcr this point.
McDermott stated he�vill spcak «-ith tlle Mcaghc�s.
ADJOURNMENT
Bouchard moved, Meyers seconded, to adjourn the meeting�,VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
/
There bcing no further busincss to discuss, thc meeting-��as adjourned at 8:�7 p.m.
�
. . F .F�„_�! .
G -� S�
�___.� . Aiidre��� McDcrmott, Chair
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