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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-07-17 PACKET 04.A.i.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ���� ITEM # y ` DATE � I � . � q PREPARED BY Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR *********�************************************** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Accept and place on file the Minutes of the May 13, 2013 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Accept and place on file the Minutes of the May 13, 2013 Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION �. ■ ■'. ■' ■ ■ ■ PLANNING PUBLIC SAFETY PUBLIC WORKS PARKS AND RECREATION HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DATE REVIEWED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ APPROVED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ MEMO/LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: � OTHER: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission Minutes ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ 7a� Date ************************************************ COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER H:\tanderson\COUNCIL FORMS\COUNCIL 2013\3-6-13\Council Action Form November and December Parks Minutes.doc ...r.. _ _ �`..O�k�l�� � �rove ����� Minutes City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting May 13, 2013 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting was held on May 13, 2013. I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. IL ROLL CALL Members Present: Gary Kjellberg, Charlie Lentz, Neil Heurung, Mark Nelson, Chad Rediske, Mike Zurbey, Sabrina Webb, Hannah Webb Members Absent: Ron Kath Others Present: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director Derrick Lehrke, Councilmember Molly Pietruszewski, Recreation Coordinator John Burbank, Senior Planner III. Approval of Agenda Approved as delivered IV. Approval of Minutes Approved March, 2013 Minutes V. Open Forum None City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 1 � P a g e VI. Presentations A. Meeting of Staff Pietruszewski introduced the Recreation Department staff to the Commission. B. Spring/Summer Recreation Program Review Pietruszewski presented an overview of the summer recreation programs which included: special events, supervised playground, pre-school programs, strawberry fest events, leagues, facility use and rentals, VII. Action Items A. Upper East Ravine Park Naming Dockter stated the City is currently planning for a neighborhood park to be located in the Upper East Ravine neighborhood development. Dockter presented a list of 41 potential names to the Commission to review based on policy criteria. Commissioners were told they could add names to the list as seen fit. The amended list will be presented to the Commission in June at which time it will be narrowed down to 3 names. Heurung pointed out the confusion that may arise if the Commission were to choose a name with the word "Ravine" in it. Dockter clarified for the Commission the location of the park which will be in a large open space behind the Cedarhurst Mansion. Heurung asked Dockter to clarify some of the names on the list and the reason they were chosen, specifically: savannah, bluestem, and Prairie Meadows. Dockter responded these names were chosen because the park area is basically a dry prairie land and these are the native plant species found in this area. Dockter added there are some civil war connections to Military Road and that is the reason for those choices. Burbank stated the original survey for Military Road was called for in 1858 which was in the Civil War timeframe. Kjellberg stated the name Cedarhurst has historical significance with the residents and will be easily recognizable. Nelson asked the Commission if there would be additional names added to the list. Cedarhurst Meadows was added. Dockter requested the Commission identify the top 3-5 names and email him before the next Commission meeting in June. B. Upper East Ravine Park Concept Design Dockter stated DR Horton has received plat approval for the construction of approximately 120 homes in the Upper East Ravine neighborhood. At the March meeting the Parks Commission reviewed the preliminary plat and concept design for this East Ridge Grove neighborhood Staff advised the Commission that a unique, nature based play area was going to be the design theme for the park. Dockter presented an initial concept design to the Commission. The East Ridge Grove neighborhood park will focus on family and nature-based play components while utilizing the natural landscape. This park will include a sensory garden with aroma based plants and an edible landscaping which may include apple and plum trees, asparagus, and raspberry/blueberry bushes. The play features will mimic rocks, logs and other naturalistic materials. This park connects to the watershed district property. City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 2 � P a g e Dockter presented a design for a second park in the East Ravine neighborhood. This design included berms, tunnels, and a zip line as some of the many features. Nelson applauded Dockter's creativity. Lentz asked if Dockter had seen this park in the past or if it existed in another community. Dockter replied he used elements from lots of parks in this design. Heurung asked how the area would be monitored for security and expressed his concern with the hidden areas of the park specifically the tunnels. Dockter responded that none of the public parks are monitored with security systems. The parks are monitored by police and staff but the best way to monitor a park is by activity and use by the community. Dockter added there is nothing you can do to prevent vandals and criminals from doing harm to our parks if they want to cause harm they will find a way. Dockter added this is a very visible park and the design focuses on keeping as many of the hidden elements visible to the street and paths as possible. Webb stated this park looks fun and it would draw people to our community to use it. Heurung expressed his concerns again regarding the hidden elements in the design allowing people to hide in different parts of the structure. His main fear is what will happen when children/adolescents are out of site. He suggested adding a gravel road to the back of the park for easier access by police. Kjellberg reiterated Dockter's point using Woodridge shelter as an example and stating Woodridge shelter is next to a busy parking lot and is very visible and yet it was burned to the ground. Lentz pointed out Peter Thompson is the only park in Cottage Grove visible from all angles. A motion was made to approve the park plan as presented. The motion passes. Nelson asked the notes reflect Commission Heurung had concerns regarding safety and if this becomes an issue the Commission would re-address it at that time. Burbank stated this park is in concept form and more of the details will continue to be evaluated. Dockter agreed to present this design to Public Safety for input and added it would also be presented at the Tech Review for staff to add comments. C. Prairie Meadows Playground Design Review Dockter stated the Commission approved a park design for the Prairie Meadows housing development in the Upper East ravine area. Dockter presented a map showing the location and specifics of the park. Within this design was space for a playground system. With each new playground, staff solicits proposals from three vendors who are selected on past merit. Proposals are reviewed by staff and the Commission for recommendation. The three vendors submitting proposals are: 1. Miracle recreation 2. Burke Play Equipment 3. Landscape Structures Vendors were given a budget, playground dimensions and a set of minimum requirements. Dockter presented the three proposals received by the vendors to the Commission. Kjellberg asked if staff uses feedback from the residents to determine what elements to add to the playground designs. Dockter stated he gets his design ideas from observing kids playing at the parks and noting what equipment they enjoy and also watching his own City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 3 � P a g e children play. Dockter also takes feedback from the Recreation Department who work with kids every day. The companies submitting the designs are also good at marketing ideas that children will enjoy. Lentz showed favor with the tree house design. Kjellberg and Zurbey agreed. A motion to recommend the Burke Play Equipment tree house design was approved. D. Conservation Partners Restoration Grant for Open Spaces Dockter explained the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy Grant program has a mission of restoring, protecting and enhancing wetlands, prairie forest and habitat for fish, game and wildlife. This grant offers a great opportunity for the City to continue its efforts in restoring historical landscapes though the West Draw, Hidden Valley and Hardwood Parks. As the City developed after the mid-1800's more intense human activities began to change the landscape and natural communities. Today less than 6% of Washington County remains in native communities. This grant affords the City the opportunity to preserve these historical landscapes via the park system for current and future generations to enjoy. Staff reviewed the MN DNR's CPL grant program criteria and believes the continuation of restoring native landscapes in this recreational trailway corridor meets the criteria for funding. Staff is proposing that a CPL grant application be submitted in the amount of $50,000 to provide for a prairie/woodland/shoreline restoration project the specified areas. The City would be responsible for $12,000 of the total project expense. These funds would be derived from the Public Landscapes Initiative as part of the Bike Park project. A recommendation was made and approved to allow the City to apply for the MN Department of Natural Resources Community Partners Legacy Grant in the amount of $50,000. VIII. Presentation Of Information A. Outdoor Ice Rink and warming House Usage Reports Schneider presented an overview of the 2012-2013 warming house season. Schneider recorded 6,017 people in attendance at the 6 warming houses. This is an increase of over 2,000 people from the previous season. Schneider pointed out the importance for staff to continue to market the warming houses and to maintain the facilities. Schneider added each year the Cottage Grove Hockey Association host practices or games at each of the facilities. Schneider has been working with the association to host an outdoor youth hockey game at one of the parks, possibly during "Hockey Day" in Minnesota or "Hockey Day" across America. Schneider stated residents asked the staff regularly why the Free/Open skating rinks at Highlands and Pine Tree Valley Parks, were not put in this year. At Highlands Park the splash pad is now located where the free skate ice used to be located. Staff is planning to replace the boards on the hockey rink this summer and the plans are to incorporate a free skating rink in that project. At Pine Tree Valley, the free skating area was hydro-seeded. Staff is discussing whether or not to install the free rink for next season. Kjellberg urged the Staff to strongly consider putting the free skate rink back at Pine Tree Valley pond. He added it is a place for small children to skate City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 4 � P a g e without the worry of being hit with a puck or run over by the hockey players. Zurbey asked if the Recreation Department has considered running a program of Pond Hockey. Schneider thanked Zurbey for the idea and stated he would consider adding it to the schedule. IX. Action Updates A. West Draw Bike Park Dockter stated on March 20 the City Council unanimously approved the Parks Commission recommendation to construct a Bike Park at West Draw Park. Since the approval the following have started: 1. Memo of Understanding for MORC construction and the maintenance volunteer services. 2. Work schedule for site clearing, grading, and prairie restoration work. 3. Notification to the residents within 100 feet. 4. MORC has opened its Bike Park sponsorship campaign. B. Woodridge Park Baseball Field #43 Usage Policy Dockter stated the Commission recommended making Woodridge Park baseball fields #43 a"use by permit only" facility at the June 2012 meeting. Staff applied locks to the perimeter fencing at that time. As part of the recommendation the Commission asked that the policy be reviewed in 2013. It is the recommendation of staff to keep the Woodridge Baseball Field #43 locked and by permit only. Commission approved. C. Community Gardens Dockter explained the Parks Commission has reviewed multiple times the idea of providing community garden opportunities to its residents. Dockter added it is a reemerging trend. Dockter is recommending the item be given to the environmental commission for review and consideration. Dockter doesn't feel we should limit community gardens to a park situation and should be considered on private spaces such as business properties, residential properties, agriculture properties, homeowners associations, church properties, and others. Dockter added staff is just looking for a policy to be created to set regulations for a community garden idea. A recommendation was made to turn the Community Garden discussion and materials to the Environmental Commission. Approved. X. Donation Acknowledgements A. HealthEast Clinic of Cottage Grove — a bench to the Cottage Grove Trailway Corridor XI. Park Planning/Management Education Material None XII. Commission Comments City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 5 � P a g e None XIII. Council Comments Lehrke reminded the Commission the Council Minutes are included in the Commission packet and invited the Commission to contact him with any questions or concerns. XIV. Staff Comments Burbank invited the Commission to submit recipes for the Community Cookbook. Ice Arena Update Recreation Update — Pietruszewski added the Splash Pad is now open Parks Update XV. ADJOURNMENT 8:35pm City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 6 � P a g e