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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-16 PACKET 04.A.iii.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 12/16/09 PREPARED BY Community Development Howard Blin ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission's meeting on October 12, 2009. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission's meeting on October 12, 2009. BUDGET IMPLICATION $N /A $N /A N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ® PARKS AND RECREATION 11/9/09 ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDA T 1ON: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Approved minutes of Parks Commission meeting on 10/12/09 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS Administrator Date COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: Er/APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of Cottage Grove Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission October 12, 2009 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission was duly held on the 12th day of October, 2009. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ken Brittain, Keith Kleinsasser, Krystal McCalvy, Paul Poncin, William Schumal, Members Absent: Derrick Lehrke, Ryan Simmers, Maureen Ventura Others Present: John Burbank, Senior Planner APROVAL OF THE AGENDA A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried. APROVAL OF THE MINUTES A motion was made and seconded to approve the September 14, 2009 minutes. Motion carried. OPEN FORUM None OLD BUSINESS A. Bike Rack Standards Burbank reviewed the final parking guideline that was assembled by Staff at the September Parks Commission meeting. Several recommendations were made to the Bicycle Parking Guidelines draft that included: 1. The ratio for dwelling units changed from one per unit to one per five units 2. The ratio for hotels /lodging units changed from one per three units to one per ten units 3. Two sentences were added to include the need to consider employee bicycle parking options. Burbank reported that Staff made contact with the school district to review any policy or proce- dural documents they may have. Staff found they do not have any specific formula for deter- mining the supply of bicycle racks at each facility and give that decision making power to each school principal. Based on the different demographics and location of each school, each school population may utilize the bicycle racks differently. It stands to reason the principals must main- tain the ability to increase or decrease bicycle parking options based on need. The Commission reviewed a survey listing examples of how landowners may be affected by the bicycle rack pro- Parks Commission Meeting Minutes October 12, 2009 Page 2 of 4 gram. Burbank stated it is a positive step to address the needs of the community adding that the dwelling unit numbers may need to be refined and staff would look at this prior to going to Council. Kleinsasser asked if the City would be active in asking businesses to participate in this program. Burbank responded the City may send out letters and hand out flyers at the chamber breakfast and other city events to encourage existing businesses to participate. Kleinsasser added when new businesses start implanting a standard for bike racks it may encourage existing businesses to keep up. Recommendation to provide staff direction to further edit the Bicycle Parking Guidelines to present to the Planning Commission was approved. B. Hamlet Park Phase II Parking Burbank stated the engineering staff has recently explored alternatives to the Hamlet Park Phase II parking layout in relation to class 5 material distribution. The City has completed addi- tional plantings, trailways, and ponds. He presented the Commission two different parking lot design options and stated that both designs include ample green space that could accommo- date rain gardens. Brittain asked if there are fences on the ball fields and expressed concern the balls may hit cars in the projected parking lots. Burbank stated the parking stalls are 50 to 60 feet away from the ball field. He added that the second design possibly could cause a drainage issue in the parking lot between the two fields. This situation may allow the City to look into porous paving alterna- tives to standard bituminous and possibly seek grant funding from the Watershed District. Brittain expressed his concern that there should be a fence or a berm to protect the parking area. Schumal added a berm would cut down on car lights hitting the field. Brittain asked if there would be lights on the fields. Burbank stated it has been identified for future phasing and would be discussed further with the athletic association. Schumal suggested planning for lights on the fields. Kleinssasuar encouraged the idea of rain gardens using the Washington County building as an example. Brittain added he would like to see trees to provide shade. Poncin asked if there would be a rain garden or trees in the parking lot. Burbank stated staff will focus aesthetics and shade when it gets to the design process. The Commission recommended the second design NEW BUSINESS A. Ideal Avenue Trail Improvement Request Burbank reported that he received a call regarding the trailway on Ideal Ave between 100th and 110th Streets. The residents of this area would like to see this trail extended to 113th Street for safety reasons. Residents are able to utilize the path on 100th Street, but when they get to 110th Street they must walk or bike on a 50 mph roadway. This is viewed as a dangerous situa- tion by the residents, and they are requesting an extension to the trailway. He explained as a part of the treatment plant expansion an 8 -foot trailway was installed along the east side of Ideal Avenue from 100th Street to 110th Street because several years ago a young child was killed on this roadway. The residents in the impacted neighborhoods submitted a letter and petition to the City Council with a recommendation to include this in the 2010 pavement management plan. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes October 12, 2009 Page 3 of 4 Burbank stated this is a missing piece to the existing trail system. If this is approved it would connect the residents to the rest of the City's trailway system. Burbank added this is a trans- portation trail but is requesting the Commission review it and send recommendations to City Council. Schumal asked how engineering would connect the trail on the hairpin turn that leads into River Acres. Burbank stated after discussion with engineering staff the trail could be extended on the east side of 113th Street. Burbank added the trail is not proposed to go any further into the neighborhoods at this point. Brittain asked if the trail construction costs are included in the as- sessments according to neighborhood, what would the long -term maintenance costs be, and where would they be incurred. Burbank stated the costs and maintenance scheduling would go through the street transportation. Schumal asked who owns the property on the east side of Ideal. Burbank responded Pietrich. Schumal asked if the pine trees located on Pietrich's prop- erty would remain throughout construction. Burbank stated he believed the trailway would be constructed under the existing public right -of -way. Burbank added while the City looks into the 2010 pavement management guidelines they are also looking at the feasibility of installing a water line and sanitary sewer to this proposed area for future development in approximately 2030. With the identified groundwater contamination is- sues in some of the neighborhoods located in this area, the water options may need to be more closely looked into. He stated the Commission could see more information on street reconstruc- tion, trailway construction, and potentially some utility work in the future. Poncin made a motion to back the proposed trailway plan. The motion was approved. B. Dynamic Sign Design — River Oaks and Ice Arena Burbank explained that the option of installing a monument sign at the Ice Arena is being ex- plored. The school district installed similar dynamic reader boards last summer at East Ridge and Park High Schools. He stated that the City looked at updating the Ice Arena sign at the same time as the school district project, but the cost estimated was $60,000, so other options are being explored. He presented to the Commission designs recommended by staff that incor- porated the current City sign standards such as lime stone rocks. The Commission reviewed the designs and offered their personal opinions. Burbank stated he does not have a definite cost for this sign. The masonry portion of the sign using conventional stone could be somewhere around $30,000. Brittain asked if the sign would remain in the same location as the current sign. Burbank stated it would be decided later based on visibility analysis. He added the sign will be double -sided with the larger base of the sign toward the arena. The maximum height of the sign is 10 feet. Brittain asked if you would be able to see the sign in the eastbound traffic lane with the vegetation in the center islands. McCalvy believed you would be able to see it between the breaks in vegetation. Brittain asked McCalvy from a student's point of view how she felt about having the new sign at Park. McCalvy responded it is nice to have the new sign, noting that it is easily updated from within the school day to day. She added it gives the students and staff a sense of pride to have a nice sign in front of their school like other District 833 high schools. Burbank stated the address of the arena would be reflected on the sign and that there would be a four -hour restriction on rotation of the messages with no flashing lights. Schumal asked if this Parks Commission Meeting Minutes October 12, 2009 Page 4 of 4 would affect the homes in the area. Burbank stated that the sign would be internally lit and he did not anticipate this negatively impacting the neighborhoods. C. Regional Trail Legacy Grant Application Burbank stated every year the city gets the opportunity to apply for grants. This current grant opportunity is from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for a Regional Trail Legacy Grant. The minimum grant request is $20,000 and has a 75/25 match ratio. He explained the trail the City is proposing for this grant is in the Capital Improvement Plan for post 2013 and would run in the west - central corridor from Jamaica Avenue to Kingston Park. The project cost is $308,000 and the grant request will be for $231,000. He stated further that the application is due November 13. A recommendation was made by the Commission to present the grant re- quest authorization to City Council. D. Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program Burbank stated the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking applications for the Conservation Partners Legacy Grant, which is for habitat restoration and education. The mini- mum grant request is $5,000. The proposed project will be for the continued native habitat resto- ration at Hamlet Park, which is in a qualifying area for the grant. The planned grant request amount is yet to be determined. A recommendation was made by the Commission to present the grant request authorization to City Council. E. History /Park Coins Burbank presented to the Commission proofs for the Historic /Parks coin that is being produced by the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and gave each Commissioner ten coins to distribute to friends, family, and neighbors. The purpose of the coins was part of the history awareness program and additionally to increase awareness of the Cottage Grove park system. These coins are available at City Hall and will be distributed at local parades. PRESENTATIONS None REPORTS Burbank updated the Commission on the Ice Arena and Park and Recreation Department. COMMISSION COMMENTS None COUNCIL COMMENTS None STAFF COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed, and the meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m. WORKSHOP At the conclusion of the meeting, a workshop was held to discuss Ideal Park.