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08/20/2007 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionApproved as amended on September 17, 2007 ADVISORY PARKS COMMISSION EAGAN, MINNESOTA MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 20, 2007 A regular meeting of the Advisory Pazks Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on August 20, 2007 with the following Commission Members present: Joe Bari, Phil Belfiori, Jennifer Dahlquist, Laurie Halverson, Duane Hansen, Dorothy Peterson, Richard Pletcher and Ryan Zipf. Staff' included Director Juli Seydell Johnson; Superintendent of Operations, Cherryl Mesko; Superintendent of Parks, Paul Olson; Recreation Supervisor, Julie Andersen; and Recording Secretary, Cheryl Stevenson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Member Hansen moved, Member Bari seconded, with all present members voting in favor to approve the agenda as presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 200? Member Pletcher moved and Member Bari seconded, with all present members voting in favor to approve the minutes of June 18, 2007 as presented. No meeting held in July. VISITORS TO BE HEARD There were no visitors to be heazd. DIRECTOR'S DEPARTMENT UPDATE Director Johnson provided a brief update of the recent storms. Approximately 1/3 of our pazks sustained damage from the wind storms a week ago. Crews are still working on the trees and trying to get everything cleaned. Parks were all open by Monday as far as having the trails and public spaces open. There is still a number of tree debris still scattered, especially through the natural areas. Just to let the public know, some of those trees will be staying, our general policy is that if a tree falls in a wooded area, and if it doesn't have a target that is going to be hit or damaged we generally leave it as part of nature; not all the trees will be removed. The maintenance crews have been working and assisting the street crews to get things cleaned up. Work at Thresher Fields on the new pavilion and restrooms have been slowed down due to other projects and storm concerns. The new playground at Captain Dodd is nearly complete. Crews will move on to Sky Hill Park. Sky Hill Park will be one of the first parks to gets one of the new pazk signs. The signs have come in and we will start to see them going up around town. Recently, we also found out that the Fire Department has also decided to use very similar signs so you'll start seeing all city signs having a similar design look. At the Art House and Patrick Eagan Park you'll notice a new rain garden, this is a good demonstration site of a rain garden and how they function. CONSENT AGENDA. There were no Consent Agenda items for the Commission to review. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS There were no Development Proposals for the Commission to review. Advisory Parks Commission August 20, 2007 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS Boulder Lakes Business Park Trails Dedication Director Johnson provided background stating the commission has aheady reviewed the Boulder Lakes Business Park proposal and made their parks dedication recommendations to the City Council. She introduced Matt Miller from Interstate Partners to add comments or answer questions. Mr. Miller discussed the development in northeast Eagan while showing several maps. Director Johnson asked the commission if a trails dedication credit should be given. Mr. Miller opined that there is full public benefit to the 3 miles of trails stating that Interstate Partners will privately fund and install all trails immediately and are happy to grant the public easements over the trails to allow public access as well as enter into a maintenance agreement with the City. Mr. Miller discussed specific trail links because the focus seemed to be about granting public access and they are more than happy to let the public use all the trails planned within the development. One of the items identified by commission members for consideration is connectivity. Mr. Miller discussed connectivity and access of the trails. He also responded to Members Zipf and Pletcher regarding access to the trails agreeing that at this time it appears to be difficult but once the trails are completed they will be accessible to the public. After further discussion Member 1?~yan Zipf moved, Chair Peterson seconded with all members voting in favor to .recommend to the City Council that credit be granted for the full amount of trails dedication due for this development. The rationale was that the trail that would be installed along Ames Crossing that continues to the north of Lone Oak Road would provide a public value. NEW BUSINESS Superintendent, Olson provided a brief review of the 2008-2010 CIP, that was discussed in a workshop in June. Member Pletcher had a comment regarding the DHMS improvement; if the money from the CIP is not used what happens to it. Olson confirmed that the money will be carried over to the next year and that money would not be reallocated to another project. Member Zipf commented on the replacement playground equipment at George Ohmann Park, clarifying that there will be 2 belted swings and 2 toddler swings on the new equipment. Olson confirmed that there would be. Member Pletcher moved, Member Zipf seconded with all members voting in favor to recommend that the City Council approve the 2008-2012 CIP as presented. OTHER BUSINESS AND REPORTS Recreation Supervisor, Julie Andersen gave a Power Point update and overview of recreation programs for this spring and summer. Some of those highlights included Holz Farm being placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property was listed on May 2, 2007. Eagan Fun Run attracted 300 participants at the annual race. The 13a' Annual Eagan Art Festival was held in June with 6,000 visitors attending the event. New this year was the Art Experience Tent that offered hands on workshops and demonstrations for all ages. A senior adult tennis league was offered this summer with great success. The Puppet Wagon has had great numbers with over 2,000 people enjoying this free entertainment. A new program this summer was Roving Recreation, a program where residents can rent the puppet wagon. Another new program called "A Day on the Farm" was offered this summer where children learned what it was like on a farm during the 1940's. Extended hours in the Lone Oak Room will begin Thursday evenings in September, thanks to the Community Development Block Grant. Lone Oak Days will be held on September 29 & 30. COMMUNICATIONS Jerry Engelke, chairman of the Gun Club Lake Watershed Management Organization addressed the APrC Members suggesting that they do a survey and compare the requirements of the new water quality plan to the current practices in the park. . Advisory Parks Commission August 20, 2007 Page 3 ROUND TABLE Member Belfiori suggested a follow up meeting on Mr. Engelke's comments. Director Johnson offered to arrange a meeting with the Natural Resources Sub-Committee. Chair Peterson mentioned the Friends of the Farm will be purchasing a plaque for Holz Farm designating it as a historic preservation site. Friends of the Farm will meet with Director Johnson and Parks Operations Supervisor, Paul Graham for suggestions of placement. Director Johnson also noted that the City Council was also interested in doing something for this recognition. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to conduct, Member Zipf moved, Member Hansen seconded with all members voting in favor to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Date