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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-02-10 MINUTESCity of Cottage Grove Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources Commission February 10, 2003 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission was duly held at City Hall 7516 80 Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on the 10th day of February 2003. Chair Steve Morse called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Morse, Jon Mortrud, Tim Sirianni, Eddy Wuorenma, Al Dubois, Al Boche MEMBERS ABSENT: Amanda Totino OTHERS PRESENT: Associate Planner John Burbank Ice Arena/Recreation Manager Zachary Dockter Council Member Mark Grossklaus APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes approved as mailed with correction to members present. OPEN FORUM None NEW BUSINESS A. Commission Member Appointments John reviewed the application of Barry Hamilton and said he's been trying to get a hold of him to get him to show up at a Commission meeting to be appointed. He has not been able to make contact with Barry. Parks Commission Minutes February 10, 2003 B. Cottage Grove Reports Burbank mentioned that it included the information put together by the Cottage Grove Recreation Department and also noted that the Cottage Grove Reports will be sent six times per year as opposed to four times. OLD BUSINESS A. Community Off -Leash Dog Park Burbank discussed some of the staffing and maintenance that R.O.M.P. has coordinated at other dog parks. He reviewed the volunteer position of an off -leash dog park site supervisor that was provided by R.O.M.P. and looks for the City of Cottage Grove to rely on volunteers if such a park were to be put up in Cottage Grove. Burbank also wanted to review the potential sites for a dog park. He reviewed eight potential sites and was looking for direction from the Commission as to which one of these sites should be struck from these options or if there was any favorable option. The Commission expressed some concerns with regards to putting a dog park where there are other activities such as the Hamlet and Kingston Park options. It was felt that putting a park in such locations that are already heavily trafficked would just add to the problems that already exist. It would be the hope of the Commission to put up a dog park in an area where it would have the least amount of impact on the current events and programs already taking place within the parks. That includes issues such as parking, traffic and location to children's events. Burbank asked the Commission to continue to review these potential sites and even take a look at them as they drive by and come back with some suggestions for the next meeting. After the potential sites have been picked it will be sent to Council to see if this is something Council would like to pursue. At that point some price estimates would be gathered. PARK MASTER PLANNING WORKSHOP A. Granada Park Burbank reviewed the memo he submitted stating that Granada Park is currently scheduled for playground equipment replacement in 2005. It has been stated by Parks Maintenance that this playground equipment is under utilized and should be debated as to whether the equipment should be replaced or if that money should be placed into Belden Park which is located within the same neighborhood. Granada Park is considered a mini -park which is very close to Belden Park, a community park, only about 1300 feet away and the needs of that neighborhood are basically met by Belden Park. It was proposed to leave the tennis courts at Granada Park which the Recreation Department uses for programs and also are nice courts used by residents, but to possibly just put up a swing set instead of replacing the whole playground structure. Also to do some landscaping and lower the berms at Parks Commission Minutes February 10, 2003 3 Granada Park. Allan Dubois mentioned that he lives near Belden Park and the playground equipment at Belden Park is heavily used and he would like to see that it continues, whether the money from Granada is put towards Belden or not. The general consensus of the Commission is that they agree with this. They would like to take the opportunity to drive by the park and take a look at it to get a feel for its location and what is on the site. B. Facility Standards— Continued Struck from the agenda. COMMUNITY CENTER WORKSHOP A. Community Center Site Location John Burbank reviewed a map that would help identify sites that have potential features appropriate for a community center location. This map identifies relatively large, flat areas in the community that generally meet the established criteria set forth by the Commission and Council. The majority of the remaining recommended sites are located within the central draw or east ravine area of the community and he also stated that an area -wide neighborhood planning study is being completed for these areas. The actual picking of the location would be done in conjunction with the planning of the community center itself which would take into effect items such as open space, trails, extra buildings and parking to determine exactly how much land would be needed for a community center. The map provided shows forty -acre areas, but more or less acreage may be needed in relation to what the final plans for the community center are. B. Existing Facility Analysis Chart —Continued Struck from the agenda. TRAILWAY PLAN WORKSHOP A. 3M /County Trail Burbank reviewed a memo from Kim Lindquist which stated that 3M will be relocating a water main and also plans to install a paved trail through the County Ravine Park. City Council granted the necessary approvals for the project and a county board has approved an agreement with 3M as well. Along with that, staff would like to provide local links to that park trail. Staff is lookin�to coordinate with Washington County and the Metropolitan Council to connect to 85 Street and also 90 Street. Staff believes the new Ravine Park trail would have more use with both the local linkages. Staff is looking for a recommendation from the Commission as to whether they are interested in this trail. If the Commission is interested, staff would design a sketch of the trail alignment along County Parks Commission Minutes February 10, 2003 S Road 19 at which point discussion with Met Council would begin. The idea would be that the City pay for the paving of the trail. The Met Council will bench and compact the sub base. The Commission reviewed the map and believed that would be a great asset to the community. It was mentioned that Keats Avenue (County Road 19) is so heavily used now without a trail that it can only benefit that area. REPORTS A. Golf Division Burbank reviewed a memo submitted by Bruce Anderson comparing Cottage Grove to other municipal golf courses showing that Cottage Grove's River Oaks Golf Course is doing very well. Among 30 municipal golf course operations in Minnesota, Cottage Grove ranks fifth in operating income and fourteenth in net income. B. Ice Arena Division No comments. C. Parks Division No comments. D. Recreation Programming Division No comments. E. Planning Commission No comments. F. Historic Preservation No comments. G. Council Agendas No comments. H. Monday News No comments. Parks Commission Minutes February 10, 2003 I. CGAA Boche mentioned that softball registration is beginning and there is a field usage meeting planned with Public Works, Parks, Recreation, Maintenance Crews and Management personnel to discuss the needs of the parks and fields this spring, summer and fall. COMMISSION COMMENTS 5 Morse mentioned that some of the Hockey Association members had some concerns that he is hoping Zac can help out with. One being, with outdoor rinks, some of the warming house hours and dates they are open. Holidays when school is out are of special concern, because warming houses aren't open very long. Also, he understands that the budget continues to be out for this program and he was just wondering where that program stands right now as far as hours and dates they are open and what the future holds for that. He also had some questions with trails versus rinks as far as snow removal. He understands that streets come first, then trails and rinks. He would like to know if there is any way to move rinks up that list over some of the lesser -used trails in the community? Also, up at the Ice Arena, there are questions about using the plexi -glass from the main rink and putting those up on the studio rink if that's feasible. STAFF COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Tim Sirianni. Seconded by Allan Dubois Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.