Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission

PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAR 24, 2022 MINUTES PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY MARCH 24, 2022 - 8:00 A.M. ACADEMY ROOM – CITY HALL “To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining City parks with a high standard of quality.” Members Present: Lynn Anderson, Julie Jelen, Janine Kopff, Adam Leiferman, Nancy McCaffrey, Sam Murdoff, Brian Stoll, Mercedes Turner Staff Present: Sara Cahill, Beth Green, Tom Pawelk, Angela Schuman, Sue Seeger, Hayden Stensgard guest, horst 1. General Business A. Call to Order Chair Brian Stoll called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. B. Approval of Agenda NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. MOTION SECONDED BY ADAM LEIFERMAN. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. C. Approval of Meeting Minutes  Regular Meeting Minutes from January 27, 2022 JANINE KOPFF MOVED TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AS AMENDED FROM JANUARY 27, 2022. MOTION SECONDED BY MERCEDES TURNER. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0 D. Citizen’s requests and comments  None. E. Commission Liaison Updates  Bertram Advisory Council: Lynn Anderson and Tom Pawelk provided update.  The Pointes Zoning Committee: Julie Jelen and Angela Schuman provided update.  The Pointes Compass Committee: Adam Leiferman was unable to attend last meeting. Janine Kopff provided update. 2. Regular Agenda A. Consideration to review for recommendation park dedication requirements for Featherstone 6th Addition, a residential subdivision. Turner asked about how the buffer compares to the buffer at Groveland. Angela said that our buffer has changed and there is a higher requirement. Page 1 of 5  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAR 24, 2022 That is a level C and this will be a level D which is more intense. Level D requires 20’ and requirements for trees and shrubs go up. McCaffrey said she has watched this develop over the last 20 years and she thanked both sides for working well and for the respectful and thoughtful communication. The developer said that he has been fortunate to work with the City for almost 25 years. There’s been give and take and changes along the way, but it will be a good addition to the city and the community. The initial plan showed the parkland having direct frontage on 89th. It is important to think about the expense of having park frontage on a street. Today it costs about $500/running foot to develop the street, so 1,000 feet of street is a $500,000, and that is a lot more than the value of the land. The 4th addition had almost 1,100 feet park frontage on the road. There was no profit in that development. Remember that in 20 years+ when the City has to rebuild, it is general revenue that will have to pay for that so that’s a large number. That is the reason he requested the changes to provide lots along 89th Street. Decision 1: Featherstone 6th Addition Preliminary and Final Plat – Subdivision JULIE JELEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND A LAND DEDICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 11% OF THE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION AREA OF FEATHERSTONE 6TH ADDITION. MOTION SECONDED BY JANINE KOPFF. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. Decision 2: Featherstone Amended Preliminary Plat and Planned Unit Development NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO RECOMMEND A CASH-IN-LIEU DEDICATION FOR THE OVERALL FEATHERSTONE RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION AREA PARK DEDICATION DEFICIENCY, WHICH MAY BE SATISFIED BY COORDINATING WITH THE DEVELOPER FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE 85TH STREET TRAIL EXTENSION IN AN EQUIVALENCY TO THE FINAL ACREAGE AREA DEFICIENCY. MOTION SECONDED BY MERCEDES TURNER. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. B. Consideration to review for recommendation park dedication requirements for Headwaters Development, a residential subdivision. McCaffrey asked about the proximity to the freeway and whether there is any type of sound barrier such as a wall being planned. Schuman said because it’s on the interstate and County Road 39, that Mn/DOT is recommending berming along the interstate, but they are not requiring it. Page 2 of 5  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAR 24, 2022 She further explained that with a sound wall the decibel evaluation is made at the time of the improvement, so that consideration has past and was done at the time when I-94 was expanded. Large berm and some plantings would be something considered. The one exception to the rule is senior housing as typically that generation wants to see what’s outside. The landscaping and grading plan will be important components. For this senior housing development. Councilman Murdoff said he had the same thoughts and comments when the preliminary plan came through. The berming helps a lot, especially in the Sunset Ponds area. It will be important to see if we can encourage the developer to use better insulation or noise reducing products in the construction. The developer did not indicate whether they would be using sound barrier products. Schuman said that these will be review items that the City Planner will pick up on. Seeger asked about there being fencing or anything that requires them to try to keep deer from running out on the freeway. There is not but there is an existing fence that runs along the freeway. The existing gravel road pattern that the city uses. That will be removed. The sidewalk on 7th where is it proposed to start & finish. On the north side of the street is pathway and the blue line is proposed sidewalk connection in the future. It will switch to a 10’ bituminous pathway on the south side. From 39 to Elm, then switches. The developer’s land does not go all the way to Elm Street so will need to work with the property owner and developer to construct all the way to Elm. JANINE KOPFF MOVED TO RECOMMEND PARK DEDICATION EQUAL TO 11% OF THE VALUE OF RAW LAND AT THE TIME OF FINAL PLAT AS CASH IN LIEU OF LAND DEDICATION FOR COUNTRY CLUB MANOR FIRST ADDITION. MOTION SECONDED BY JULIE JELEN. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. C. Consideration of appointing PARC members to the West Bridge Park Redevelopment Subcommittee. Commissioners Turner, Jelen and Kopff plus MontiArts volunteered to serve on the subcommittee. The first meeting will be towards end of April. The goal is to have an engagement booth at Walk & Roll to gather community input. The plan that comes out of this group will guide the RFP. Page 3 of 5  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAR 24, 2022 D. Consideration of approving turf conversions throughout the city park system. Tom Pawelk noted that with the rising costs of maintenance, including fuel and fertilizer, it will be important to scale back and focus on more sustainable and natural areas within our park system. Blue grass takes a lot of fertilize to maintain a healthy turf. Areas identified that would be appropriate to convert include: · Meadow Oak Park · Sunset Ponds Park · Parkside Park Direct hardwood seeding is another option to bring back the forests. Seeded into native trees and will just take 3 to 5 years to establish that. It would be nice to do more direct hardwood seeding. Identify areas where it’s appropriate. Nancy McCaffrey noted that the East Bridge Gardeners are also trying to be more thoughtful with their flower bed plants as well to require less maintenance and more draught tolerant. JULIE JELEN MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVING TURF-CONVERSION AND DIRECT HARDWOOD SEEDING SYSTEMWIDE TO REDUCE OVERALL OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TURF MAINTENANCE. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. 3. Updates A. MontiArts Update. Updated provided by Sue Seeger and included in the agenda packet. B. MCC Operations Update. Update provided by Sara Cahill and included in the agenda packet. C. General Park Updates. Tom Pawelk provided general park updates. · BCOL Land Alteration Permit: Tom Pawelk said he is meeting with the Township as soon as he has more details back from grant. Need approval from Township and then County Board approval. · Ellison Park Shelter delivery: Expected to be delivered second week in May. No electricity until after restrooms are installed. · Emerald Ash Borer: EAB was found in February in NE Quad of city, and we are now seeing it in other areas. Staff will begin surveying the NE Quad with the MN Dept of Ag. They will attend a council meeting to do a presentation. We need to declare the Public Nuisance at the City Council and then that gets the ball rolling to implement the program for inspection and remediation. The biggest project will be tree inventory this year. Best way to treat is in the trunk of the tree professionally with Page 4 of 5  PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAR 24, 2022 an injection. This will be good for 3 years. Discourage buying products off the shelf due to pollution to water system. · Community-Wide Park Master Plan: Planning to collaborate with the School District and athletic associations. There should be an update at the May meeting. a. Next Regular Meeting: May 26, 2022 4. Discussion of added items. A. None. 5. Adjournment NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:26 A.M. MOTION SECONDED BY JULIE JELEN. MOTION CARRIED, 7-0. RECORDED BY: Beth Green DATE APPROVED: 5/26/2022 ATTEST: Tom Pawelk Page 5 of 5