01/06/1983 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionBEA BLOMQUIST
MAYOR
THOMAS EGAN
JAMES A. SMITH
JERRY THOMAS
THEODORE WACHTER
COUNCO. MEMBERS
January 21, 1983
Ms Joanne Alt
1758 Bluebill Circle
Eagan, MN 55122
cc: Roger Martin, Chairperson
CITY OF EAGAN
37f5 PIL_Ot KNOB ROAD
4'V\L P.O. BOX 21199
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
Y` i
PHONE 454-8100
Dear Joanne:
On behalf of the members of the Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission
and staff of the Department of Parks and Recreation, congratulations and
welcome as the newest member of the Commission.
To help familiarize you with some of the recent activities of the
commission, I've taken the liberty of sending you minutes from the last
several meetings for your review. As you are aware, the commission has been
deeply involved with the development of a Comprehensive Parks System Plan.
This effort has been in progress since April of last year and is now in the
later phases. While there is much yet to be done, the commission has already
accomplished a great deal. When the study is ultimately completed, the
document will be a "working blueprint" for the overall development of the
City's park system for the next five to ten years. I will try to have a
folder prepared by the next meeting of the commission on the section completed
to this time.
If after you have had an opportunity to review these materials or at any
time during your term as a commission member, you have questions, please feel
free to contact me.
As to the next meeting; the commission meets the first Thursday of the
month. The next meeting is set for February 3, 1983 at 7:00 P.M. at the Eagan
City Hall. You will receive a packet of information before each commission
meeting containing the tentative agenda and any support material. If you
haven't received this by Tuesday evening prior to the meeting, please advise
me on Wednesday.
Again, welcome to the Commission.
Y,
Ke Director
Par s and Recreation
City of Eagan
THE LONE OAK TREE THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THOMAS HEDGES
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE
CITY CLERK
MEVO TO: ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
FROM: KEN VRAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RE: (1) SYSTEM PLAN SPECIAL MEETING
(2) RAHN PARK GRANT
The Agenda for the 20th is as follows:
cc: City Council
The current
issue as it
In summary;
this budget
legislature
funded. No
January 17, 1983
Attached is the draft of the Trails Plan to be discussed at the special
meeting of January 20th at 7 :00 P.M. Please insert this into your System
Plan binder. Your thorough reading of this section of the plan will
facilitate. the meeting. Because this is a "draft" please feel free to
markup your copy or make any corrections, etc.
1) Trails
a. Bikeway review
b. Possible trail corridors
c. Snowmobile
d. Horse
2) Ponds Lakes; hand out and review of meeting with Barr
Engineering on remainder of work for this section.
3) Site section for parks
a) 3 for design
b) 10 for analysis and comment
4) Acquisition sites for future parks
Other issues relevant to the System Plan may also be discussed,
but these are the major issues that need to be in some detail
at this meeting.
Also enclosed with the packet is the graphic that was omitted in section "H
please place this in the appropriate space as identified.
Rahn Park: Staff from the Parks and Recreation Grants Section; State of
Minnesota has been contacted relevant to the status of the
Rahn Park grant.
The grant was submitted to the L.C.M.R. (review agency) which
recommended approval of the application to the legislature for
funding. However, the last special session in December eliminated
all funds for this and other grants. Therefore, even though the
grant has been approved for funding, there are no funds.
The brief note does not allow me to go into the complexities of
the funding process for the grant, but the possibility of the
City still obtaining funding for the project appears to be a
possibility if not yet this year; perhaps 1984.
session of the legislature will be dealing with this
prepares the next State budget.
the grant has been approved but there are no funds in
Funds may be appropriated in this session of the
for the next biennium. If so the grant would be
further review of the grant would be necessary.
MEMO TO: ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
FROM: KEN VPAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RE: SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 20, 1983
cc: Tom Hedges, City Administrator
January 11, 1983
Please mark your calendars January 20, 1983 at 7:00 P.M. at the offices
of the Eagan City Hall for a special Advisory Commission meeting of the
parks System Plan. The meeting will deal with specific issues as it
relates to trails, special use facilities, and park site selection
for design and analysis by the Systems Plan Consultant.
Agenda information will be submitted to you at the earliest opportunity
prior to the meeting for your review. It is anticipated the trails
draft section will be ready by Monday, January 17th.
ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR. MEETING
EAGAN, MINNESOTA
CITY HALL
JANUARY 6, 1983
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. ADOPT AGENDA AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM
SPECIAL MEETING OF DECEMBER 15, 1982
3. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
None
4. OLD BUSINESS
5. NEW BUSINESS
6. OTHER BUSINESS /REPORTS
7. ADJOURNMENT
TENTATIVE AGENDA
(1) 1st Draft Gifts Book
(2) Report Composted Sludge
(3) Parks System Plan Update
(1) 1982 Review of Objectives
(2) Directors Report on Winter Programs
MEMO TO: ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
FROM: KEN VRAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RE: JANUARY 6, 1983 REGULAR MEETING
Members will no doubt recognize the name change from committee to commission.
This change is a result of the recodification process the City has now
completed and the necessity to be uniform with that and other codes.
The first order of business for the commission will be the approval of the
agenda and the minutes of the special meeting of December 15, 1982.
There are no development proposals for the commission to review at this
time. However, dependent upon the action of a developer, yet this week,
one item may be presented informally, or deferred until the next regular
meeting.
With the assistance of the department's volunteer intern Michelle Meyers,
a final draft copy of a "Gifts Book" has been pieced together. Please
keep in mind this is a first draft and revisions will probably be required.
The "Gift Book" is an idea from other communities and tailored to Eagan.
The idea is to set forth many of the parks systems needs in a booklet for
distribution to the community. It's hoped that individuals or community
groups might recognize the needs of the system and be willing to help in
its growth and development. Staff will appreciate the commissions review
and comments as well as suggestions for improvement.
Staff has done a preliminary review on the topic of "Composted Sludge." A
separate report is included in the packet. This item will be updated
at the meeting for commission review.
System Plan Consultant Tim Erkkila will be at the regular meeting. There are
a number of items on Ponds Lakes, Trails, Classification, as well as admini-
strative housekeeping items Tim and I would like to address. While we do not
plan an indepth session as at other meetings; we do hope to cover a number
of topics in regards to the study.
There are several items under "Other Business and Reports" the director would
like to review with the commission. The chairperson suggested a brief over-
view of 1982 commission accomplishments and success in reaching its objectives
would be appropriate. Suggestions on commission activities to receive attention
in 1983 will also be discussed.
A brief information report on winter programming, condition of the outdoor
skating rinks and problems facing the department regarding trails usage will
also be presented.
One final note, the City Council will make its appointments to the commission
at the January 18th council meeting. Therefore, the commission will have its
organization meeting in February for selection of its officers, etc.
MEMO TO: ADVISORY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
FROM: KEN VRAA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RE: COMPOSTED SLUDGE
January 1983
At a recent meeting of the Advisory Parks and Recreation Committee it was
suggested that one of the major problems involving many of the existing
park sites is a lack of good turf and top soil. Generally, a good turf
stand is not possible without good top soil and the necessary nutrients
to sustain a healthy stand of grass. The suggestion therefore was made
to inquire about the use of waste sludge, which might be available from the
Metropolitan Waste Control Commission, for use as a means of developing
suitable top soil.
Staff has made a preliminary inquiry to the waste control commission about
the use of sludge on park site locations as a means of improving or develop-
ing top soil materials. Staff was informed that there are basically two
types of material currently being distributed; sludge and composted material.
The "composted material" is sludge i.e. waste from the treatment plant,
which has been combined with wood chips or other similar material and
allowed to begin the decomposition process. This process involves mixing
the sludge with compost, which is then allowed to heat up and break down
for a period of about three weeks. This material is then turned over and
mixed and allowed to sit for a second three week period. After this time
period the material is ready for distribution.
Apparently, the highest and best use has been in instances in which grading
of an area has been completed and soil preparation preparatory to seeding
is commencing. The composted material is spread, mixed with existing soil
and then the seeding operation is begun. Generally, one -half inch of compost
material is spread uniformly throughout the site as a means of enhancing
top soil and subsequently seed growth. This approach has been used success-
fully by golf courses and other institutions.
Two other applications are also permissable and have shown some success. One
such application would be the spreading of the compost and sludge material
prior to final grading. With the final grading and preparation of the soil
for seeding the composted material becomes thoroughly mixed with the existing
soil throughout the site. Apparently, this has not worked out as successfully
because more sludge material is required and the uniformity of application is
not as consistent.
The third and final method of application would be for top dressing purposes.
There have been few areas in which this has been applied and has proved to
be only midly successful. There is some reluctance to use this co- composted
material for top dressing as the material is not screened prior to application.
Consequently, large pieces approximately 1" to 11/2" in size, of wood chips or bark
which have not been fully decomposed is spread on the site. This material then
becomes a problem in later operations such as mowing, etc.
Staff has inquired whether an intensive amount of aerafication followed by
top dressing of composted sludge, and this then followed by an intensified
dragging operation may prove to be successful? It was suggested that this
may have some success, but may not be acceptable to some because as before
several large undecomposed wood chips may remain on the park site. These
January 1983
Page 2
wood chips would either have to be picked up or allowed to decompose further.
Staff has not been able to determine the volume of material that may remain
if such a procedure is followed.
The M.P.C.A. provides the material which is loaded and trucked to the
community's site for free. If sufficient material can be contracted for,
they will also spread the material on the site. Generally, sites need to
be larger than ten acres to be considered "large sites" for this purpose.
In regards to any potential odor problem, staff was informed that the de-
composed material has only a slight odor which may last from 3 to 4 days.
Staff feel there is sufficient potential to proceed with additional study
of the use of composted material for top soil. Staff would like to review
with the committee what has been learned, and to get some direction on
this issue.
Roger Martin 454-8921 (h) 456 .4654 (w) 12 -83
4435 Oak Chase Road
Eagan, MN 55123
Carolyn Thurston 454 -5843 12 -85
4454 Oak Chase Way
Eagan, MN 55123
Richard Carroll
4485 Oak Chase Lane
Eagan, MN 55123
George Kubik
3053 Pine Ridge Dr.
Eagan, MN 55121
Douglas McNeely
2060 Shale Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Mike Fedde
1662 Norwood Dr.
Eagan, MN 55122
Sandra Masin
1795 Carnelian Lane
Eagan, MN 55122
Joanne Alt
1758 Bluebill Cir.
Eagan, MN 55122
Sandy Bertz 452 -5062
550 Atlantic Hills Dr.
Eagan, MN 55123
452 -7597
452-3887 (h) 725 -3592 (w)
452-3475 (h)
452 -2966 (h) 733 -6206 (w)
452 -3411 (h)
452-6745 (h) 370 1769 (w)
William C. Jackson 452 -9291 (h) 853 -2068 (w) 12 -84
1790 Karis Way
Eagan, MN 55122
July 20, 1983
ADVISORY PARKS RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBERS EAGAN
TELEPHONE TERM EXPIRES
12 -84
12 -85
12 -85
12 -83
12 -83
12 -85
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