04/13/1978 - Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission
MINUTES OF A REGULAR ME 'ZNG OF THE ADVISORY PARK COMMITTEE
APRi 13, -1 W' 8
A regular meeting of:ahe Ea r Advisory Park Committee
was held at 7:00 p.m.-*t-::~the City Hall on April 13, 1978. Those
present were Chairperson Lundsten, Brown, Thursten, Beck,
Loken, Thomas, Martin, Cooper and Coates. Also present were
Zoning Administrator Dale Runkle, Park Director Barb Schmidt,
and City Administrator Tom Hedges. Absent was Committee
Member Hagen.
MINUTES. Upon motion by Thursten, seconded Coates, all
members voting in favor, it was RESOLVED that the minutes of
the February 9, 1978 meeting and March 14, 1978 meeting be
approved with one correction to the February 9, 1978 minutes
that on page 5, paragraph 8, 2nd sentence, the words shorter
walkway be changed to shortcut.
AGENDA. Upon motion by Beck, seconded Martin, all
members voting in favor, the agenda as prepared for the April
13, 1978 meeting was approved.
ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. City Administrator Hedges
reported on the parkland development contract that was
recently awarded by the City.Council to Richard Knutson Inc.
in the amount of $208,974.92. The City Administrator further
flfbrmed the committee that the construction of the play
perimeter at South Oaks and the hockey rink at the well site
were eliminated from the contract by change order and will be
done by City staff resultin , in ' a cast -reduction of $16,752.00...
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The City Administrator further reported that the Parr Corr!ittee
is tentatively scheduled for the April 25, 197Q Planning
Commission meeting to discuss parkland development philosophy.
Park Director Schmidt stated that it is her recommendation to
discuss the overall goals and objectives that have been
developed by the Park Committee and to explain neighborhood
parks, community parks, community athletic fields, trail
systems, regional parks and „t?-.r:parkland development as
defined in the Park Development (aide. The City Administrator
also stated that the Volunteer Fire Department is planning for
the locating of a Fire Station at that site and stated that
since the parkland was purchased with federal funds through
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, that before
detailed planning is pursued, as to the compatibility of a fire
station and parkland development at Thomas Lake Park, a letter
should be sent to the Department of Dousing and Urban
Development asking for a legal opinion as to whether a portion
of the parkland that was purchased with ederal funds can le
used for the construction and development of a fire station.
Chairperson Lundsten stated that the Park A.Ovisory Committee
has not planned for the development of Thomas Lake Park and
therefore it is not possible to conclude whether a fire station
is suitable on t!,.at property: until a thorough investigation has
been made by the City staff and the Park Advisorv Committee.
Upon a trotion by Lundsten, seconded by Loken, all members
voting in favor, it was P.FSnLVVED that the city Administrator be
directed to submit a letter to the Tepartment of rousing and
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Urban Development renuestinp; a legal opinion as to whether a
fire station could be constructed on land within Thomas Lake
Park since federal funding was used for acautsition of that
property.
WER. City Administrator Wedges explained
CA_':'1EL7A't PARK Sr
that the City Council has reevaluated the sanitary sewer rain
which was proposed to cross Carnelian Park after receiving a
petition for sa 3i.tsry **er improvements for Fagan fills `-lest,
the City Council has eliminated consideration of crossing
Carnelian Park with the sanitary sewer main improvements
allowing those persons on rlackhavk Poad to be served by sewer,
main from County Road in in conjunction with the rap.an }ills
West project.
APPLEBAU PART !M PPESENTA'. TO N. Mr. John Klein,
representing Ken Applebaum, appeared to discuss a suggested
park for a plat that is being considered by Ken Applebaum
adjacent to Iluckwood Estates. Ste stated that the plat will
include 36 duplex units and 64 fourplex units. Mr. Klein
stated that the parkland proposed for purchase by the City
consists of 13 acres and includes a 60 foot access from
Duckwood Drive to the proposed parkland area. He stated that
P''r. Applebaum is willing to sell the 13 acres to the City at a
price of ~15,0'f.^C per acre, financed over IA years, with only
interest payments of 77 due the first four years and commencing
the fifth year, principal and interest payments due for a
period of ten wears. Isr. Klein stated that Mr. Applebaum has
considered an alternative if the parkland dedication is not
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accented by the city and will develop the 13 acres by extending
a cul-de-sac with a bridge to connect the island of property
that exists between the proposed plat and Puckwood Estates.
Fark Cormmittee Members questioned whether there are any budget
funds available for a purchase of this tyre. The Park Director
explained the corr.ittrents for which the park bonds were
expressly sold and noted that a passive park is readily
available at Patrick Fagan within the normal distance required
for community parks. Zoning Administrator Punkle also stated
that the Section 15 !tudv indicated a need for an active rather
than a passive park in this neighborhood. P,rk. Director
Schmidt discussed standards for cottmmunity parks as expressed in
the Eagan Park Development Guide which call. for a minimum size
of 5n acres for a park of this type. After discussion by the
committee members and upon motion of Cornittee IIernber Beck,
seconded by Loken, all members voting; in favor, Yr. Applebaur's
offer to sell the City approximately 13 acres of land adjacent
to Vetoer Lake was respectfully declined due to lack of funds
and the fact that the land proposed does not satisfy the need
for active parkland within Section 15 and does not meet the
criteria for parkland as defined by the Fagan Park, Development
Guide.
ITFTRO COUNCIL FGUFSTpIfl1 Mr TI!?C. The Park. Committee
discussed Committee Member Thomas' report on the Metro Council
equestrian informational meeting held on IIarch 27, 1975. The
Department of Natural Resources plan to eliminate horses and
snowmobiles in State parks was discussed and it was noted that
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horse owners who were present at the informational meeting did
protest the action to eliminate horses Froi the Dakota County
side of Fort Snelling State Park. After further discussion on
the matter and upon motion by Cot*nittee Member Loken, seconded
by Thomas, all members voting in favor, the Park Director was
authorized to write to the Department of Natural 'Resources
regarding Eagan's concern about the planned elimination of
horses and snowmobiles from the na?:ota County site of Fort
Snelling State Park with a copv to be sent to the Metropolitan
Council, investigation and pursue a grant for equestrian trails
in the Ilighline area and cooperate with Diatnonc T riders on
pursuing a similar grant for the Pilliams Fros. area which
intersects the F'ighline. Park Director Schmidt further stated
that whe will address in her co. unicatior_ to the Department
of Natural P.esources the fact that the Eagan Park Department
was not notified of public hearings on the Development Flan-for
and also that Fagan has spent a great deal of time and effort
planning the City's trail system which has been predicated on
connections with horse trails that were always a part of the
plans for Fort Snelling State Park and further that City of
Eagan residents have been using these horse trails and should
have been made aware of the public hearing. park Committee
Members suggested that Mendota eights and other adjacent
communities be encouraged to write to the Department of Natural
'Resources and express their concerns about this matter. Pane
Director Schmidt was also asked to coordinate with Dakota
County and the Department of ?atural 'Resources regarding
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possible alignr,ents for horse trails within Eagan in an effort
to establish a connection between Holland Jensen Park and the
Minnesota Valley Trail. Chairperson Lundeten commended Committee
Member Thomas on his excellent report of the Metro Council
meeting. Committee Member Loken reported on the March 23, trails
meeting held by the Eagan Trail Subcommittee Representatives of
the Department of Natural Resources in attendance discussed their
planning efforts and the Minnesota Department of Transportation
discussed the accomodations for trails in the current designs for
I-35F, I-4 Lt and Cedar Avenue. Chairperson Lundsten commented on
the effective meeting, that was successful in establishing
communications between various agencies.
SN1PPMOFILE CLUB *"FET.I'C. It was noted that Park Director
Schmidt has been invited to attend a meeting of the Eagan Valley
Rangers Snowmobile Club to discuss how the City and the Club
could work together to provide present and future access to
designated snov-mobile trails in Southern rakota County.
FIVE; YEAR ACTION I!:NP 1)FVELOPI E 1T PR.oCRA-'. 'There was
discussion by various 'rark ^orm±ittee "embers In an effort to
schedule steps that are required to update the nark capital
improvement program for parkland acquisition and development.
Park. Committee Members discussed the need for locating future
athletic fields and cor unity parks within the City. It was
generally agreed that an updated park plan is of prir^arv
importance in selecting projects for future grant proposals.
"ark Director Schmidt expressed her hope that planning for these
facilities will be an important consideration in the land use
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plan which Yoning Administrator P nk.le will be working on in the
near future. Zoning Administrator Punkle stated that he will
provide the Park Committee with an approximate time table for
this project.
PLY EOUIPME"?' PUT I.C . Park Director Schmidt
discussed the success of the previous study that was done by the
Park Committee to recommend certain items of play equipment for
use in the park program. She asked if Committee Members would
be interested in updating the recommended list and working with
residents of South Oaks, River Fills Oth and Timberline to
select equipment for those sites. Committee "embers Loken and
Thursten volunteered to assist Park ?`,irector Schr'idt in this
study.
PILOT K17nr• TRAIL. Park Director Schmidt reported on the
progress of the plans and specifications for completing the
bikeway on the west side of Pilot Knob Poad between the
intersection of County "oad 3,1 and Vilderness Pun Road. She
stated that the County Board had approved the concept of the
bikeway at their. April 1.1, 1978 meeting and further that the
City Council reviewed the plans as su?-mitted by the City's
Engineer, Mr. Bob Rosene, at the April l"), 1978 meeting at
which time approval was Riven to the project. She further
stated that approval of the grant for this project from
the Minnesota Department of Transportation is contingent on
their approval of the plans.
OAY POND ITILT.c 2'1D ADDITION. The preliriinarv plat for
Oak Pond Pills 2nd Addition was discussed. Park Director
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Schmidt stated that the recomi.endation of the staff was to
eliminate the proposed'parkland connection to a small pond east
of the plat from the Lexington South perk dedication due to the
difficulty in maintaining an area of this type and further that
the ponding; area does not meet current criteria for parkland.
She then stated that Mr. Ed Dunn, developer of Ledin:ton South,
will pay A4,000.00 in cash to the City of Fas?an fort construction
of a trail within Oak Pond 'tills 2nd tddi.tion in lieu of the
previously agreed upon park area. Parkt?irector Schmidt stated
that the trail through Oak Pond Fills 2nd Addition can be
accomodated within a corridor 3fl feet above the high water line
in the area adjacent to the lake, from. the internal street to
Cliff P.oad the corridor should be 110 feet wide due to the steep
terrain and the fact that existing residences are located on
each side of this area. After further discussion on the matter
and upon motion by Committee ''"ember Loken, seconded by '.o:°zri-Atee
Member -neck, all members voting in favor, the Park Dedication
for Oak Pond Fills 2nd Addition was recommended for approval
to the City Council as presented by the city staff with $4,0OO.00
to be accepted in lieu of the pond west of the proposed plat and
further that the parkland dedication is subject to staking of
the final alignment in the field.
DON CF STF'3ON prVr LOPr'"'4T. ?oninp Administrator
Runkle presented a proposed plat for ter. Pon Christenson
located on the northeast side of Fish Lake. After a brief
discussion on the matter and in a motion by Committee *'ember
Coates, seconded by Committee ember Martin, all members
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voting in favor, it was recorz ended that the Para- pedication
requirement be satisfied by cifsh donation per unit to be paid at
the time of final plat approval.
*{~,CAN HILLS EAST. Zoning Administrator Runkle reviewed
the Park medication as proposed for Pagan ails cast which was-
approved by the Eagan (itv Council.
EAcp 1 HILLS TTFT. 7oning Administrator Runkle reviewed the
park and circulation plat for Eagan Hills T-'est. The Park
Cot..ittee recommended that the plan be included as an exhibit in
the Planning Unit Development Agreement for ra4an wills Vest in
accordance with the recommendation for approval made at the ?arch
14, 197P Special Park Committee Tfeeting.
RUSTIC HILLS, CAIEP.OTT DrVFLOPITTOT AND C!+:'gr.IACE i°ILLF PLA'•:S.
Zoning Administrator Runkle also discussed the preliminary plats
entitled "'Rustic rills," "Cameron" and "Carriage Hills." It was
recorimended that cash per unit in lieu of parkland dedication be
approved for all three preliminary plats as presented. It was
discussed that a future provision for a trail access could he
dedicated in the Carriage Fills plat if that is desirable at the
time the outlot is replatted. There was no action taken on the
matter as these items had been referred to City Staff for
resolution at the March 1A, 1973 Special Meeting of the Park
Committee.
R.ESIGNATTMT OF CM ITTFF MTM.MP BECK;. Committee Member Beck
submitted a letter of resignation stating that she is moving to
Prescott, Wisconsin. Chairperson Lundsten expressed her
appreciation to Committee Member Beck for her years of
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enthusiastic and dedicated service to the pare Advisory Coruaittee.
The J'eet .ng was adjourned.
Dated: 1R