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02/07/1980 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE EAGAN ADVISORY PARK COMMITTEE EAGAN, MINNESOTA FEBRUARY 7, 1980 A regular meeting of the Eagan Advisory Park Committee was held on February 7, 1980 at the Eagan City Hall. Those present were: Committee Members Thurston, Loken, Thomas, Carroll, Martin, Johnson, Tilley, Radl and McNeely. Also present were City Admini- strator Hedges, City Planner Runkle and Public Works Director Colbert. Committee Member Dandurand was absent. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 1980 Committee Member Roger Martin was nominated for Chairman of the Advisory Park Committee. Carroll moved and Thurston seconded with all members voting in favor to move a unanimous ballot to elect Roger Martin as Chairman of the Eagan Advisory Park Committee for the year 1980 Chairman Martin then asked for nominations for the posi- tion of Vice Chairperson. Upon receiving two nominations, a ballot was then cast and Jean Loken was elected Vice Chairperson of the Eagan Advisory Park Committee for, the year 1980. In a motion be Carroll, seconded by Loken, with all mem- bers voting in favor, a unanimous ballot was cast for Committee Member Carolyn Thurston to be elected Secretary of the Eagan Advi- sory Park Committee for the year 1980. MINUTES Carroll moved and Loken seconded, with all members voting in favor, that the minutes of the January 10, 1980 Advisory Park Committee meeting be approved with no corrections. Then, in a motion by Loken and seconded by Carroll, with all members voting in favor, the minutes of the December 6, 1979 Advisory Park Commit- tee meeting were approved with no corrections. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Loken moved and Radl seconded, with all members voting in favor,' to adopt the agenda for the February 7, 1980 meeting with the following additions: 1. Discussion of Park Signs; 2. Discussion of Park Use with Ft. Snelling Trail; and 3. Establish ment of a Trail Meeting. Advisory Park Committee Minutes February 7, 1980 Page Two ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS In a motion by Thurston, seconded by Carroll, with all members voting in favor, the first Thursday of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. was designated as the official meeting of the Advisory Park Committee Chairman Martin asked for volunteers to serve on two subcommittees,. the Development and Trail Committees. Committee Members Carroll, Tilley and Dandurand were appointed to the develop- ment Committee and Committee Members Loken, McNeely, Thurston, Radl, Thomas and Johnson were appointed by Chairman Martin to the Trail Subcommittee. Committee Member Radl suggested that a recre- ation committee be considered, and after further discussion on the matter, Committee Members Radl and Thurston were appointed by Chairman Martin to serve on a subcommittee entitled the Recre- ation Committee. LEXINGTON 2ND ADDITION City Planner Runkle reviewed in detail the Lexington 2nd Addition preliminary plat. He stated that the City staff is recommending a cash donation and further that the developer will provide a tot lot and, in addition to escrowing money for a trail along Lexington Avenue, the developers will also provide a sidewalk on the north side of the interior collector street. There was discussion concerning the location of the sidewalk. The recommenda- tion was made by Park Committee Members Loken and Thurston to locate the trail on the north side. Public Works Director Colbert stated that there is no problem in locating the trail on the north side and that this is acceptable as an engineering practice. A motion was made by Loken, seconded by Thurston, with all members voting in favor, that the sidewalk be moved to the north side of the interior collector street due to the fact that a pond encroaches to the south side and a tot lot is located on the north side. Park Committee members then reviewed the recommendation of the staff to receive a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication for Lexington 2nd Addition; and in a motion by Carroll, seconded by Radl, with all members voting in favor, a recommendation was made to the City Council to accept a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication for the Lexington 2nd Addition plat. ROSEWOOD CORPORATION 1ST ADDITION City Planner Runkle presented a plat for Rosewood Corpora- tion 1st Addition stating that park land dedication has been satis- fied for the Coachman Land Company 1st Addition when the Rosewood Corporation previously sold land to the City of Eagan which was Advisory Park Committee Minutes February 7, 1980 Page Three OAKWOOD ADDITION dedicated for park land. After reviewing the preliminary plat and the past history of the Rosewood Corporation application, a motion was made by Carroll, seconded by Radl, with all members voting in favor, that the park land, which Rosewood Corporation has sold to the City of Eagan or dedicated to the City, be included in the preliminary plat of Coachman Land Company 1st Addition. City Planner Runkle recommended that this item be con- tinued due to the fact the developer has not presented all the information that is required by the City staff to present the pre- liminary plat to the Planning Commission and Advisory Park Com- mittee. HIGH LINE TRAIL EXTENSION EXPANSION OF RAHN COMMUNITY PARK Public Works Director Colbert reviewed the High Line Trail project which began last summer and runs east west through the City following the same route of the high transmission electric lines. He stated that a ten foot wide asphalt bike trail is now in place from Capricorn Court to Woodgate Lane, just west of Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Extension of this trail to Nicols Road is planned for construction this spring. This trail, when completed, will offer area residents a safe bicycle route away from heavily traveled streets. Public Works Director Colbert further stated that the trail will provide access to several existing and proposed inter City parks as well as the Thomas Lake and Rahn Elementary Schools. Public Works Director Colbert also reviewed the City's desire to obtain funding for some 20 acres of land to expand Rahn Community Park. This land is located betweeen the hockey rink and Nicols Road and would be used to develop additional park facilities in the future when park development funds become available. These facilities, as explained by Public Works Director Colbert, could include athletic areas such as soccer and football fields, perhaps a jogging trail, parking area off Cedar Avenue and other similar improvements. Chairman Martin recognized for the official record that the City Administrator had mailed out a letter along with maps to affected property owners on Shale Lane who would be affected by construction of the High Line Trail. He then recognized those residents who were present at the meeting to allow for their input. Mr. David Weiss objected to a trail being located within 30 feet of his rear property line, however, indicated he would not object to the trail if it were some 50 to 60 feet away from his property line. He further stated that with the trail being located close to 1-is property line he would have to put up with debris, pop bot- tles and other items discarded toward his property from people utilizing the trail. David Doyle was present and asked if a berm Advisory Park Committee Minutes February 7, 1980 Page Four was to be provided between the trail and the property owners. He was also curious about the park dedication from Cedar. Cliff Addition which was explained by the City Staff. He then' asked about the use of the additional twenty acres which was again ex- plained by the Director of Public Works. Mr. Tom Sperish appeared and suggested that the trail be routed through the park land and also complained about the potential concentration of children in Rahn Park if the trail is located in the High Line Corridor. Mr. Curtis Erickson asked about the location of a proposed parking lot and, when it was explained that the parking lot would not be in the high Line Trail but would be south into the proposed park land acquisition off of Nicols Road, he was satisfied. Park Com- mittee Member Thurston stated that she used to live on Shale Lane, abutting the High Line Trail, and was very familiar with the area. She further indicated that she would like for the City staff to relocate the trail to the South of the High Line Trail Corridor for purposes of illustration at the next Advisory Park Committee meeting. Public Works Director Colbert stated that the trail was located on the North side of the High Line Corridor with the thought that the snowmobile trail could be located on the south side which would be more desirable to the residents on Shale Lane. Chairman Martin then stated that City staff will revise the plans and the residents will be contacted as to when the proposal will again be reviewed by the Advisory Park Committee. PARK DEVELOPMENT FEES City Administrator Hedges stated that it was the recom- mendation of former Park Director Schmidt that the Park Development Fees be increased in 1980. He stated that recent sales of raw land have averaged approximately $9,000 per acre and therefore the following Park Development Fees on a per unit charge were recom- mended for 1980: PROPOSED OF UNITS PRESENT PER UNIT PER UNIT OF UNITS PERSONS FOR 100 COST FOR ONE (1) COST FOR ONE (1) TYPE OF UNIT PER ACRE PER UNIT POPULATION ACRE PARK AT $6,000 ACRE PARK AT $9,000 SINGLE FAMILY 2.5 4.0 25 $240 $360 TOWNHOUSE 6.0 3.3 30 $200 $300 APARTMENT 15.0 2.5 40 $150 $225 MOBILE HOME 6.0 3.1 30 $200 $300 The current per unit cost for one (1) acre park is at $6,000 per acre. The proposed per unit cost is $9,000. Advisory Park Committee Minutes February 7, 1980 Page Five City Administrator Hedges further explained the reasons for Park Development Fees to allow the newly appointed Advisory Park Committee members better understanding of the overall park land dedication and Park Development Fee guidelines. After dis- cussion and review by the Advisory Park Committee members and in a motion by Thurston, seconded by Carroll, with all members voting in favor, the Park Development Fees as recommended by the City Administrator were approved and recommended to the City Council for consideration. PARK DIRECTOR POSITION City Administrator Hedges reviewed the status of the vacancy for the position of Director of Parks and Recreation. He stated that the City is proceeding with the advertisement for the vacancy, he will be screening the applicants with the under- standing that the City Council will interview the final candidates and hopefully a person will be selected in the early Spring to fill the vacancy created by Barbara Schmidt, the City's first Park and Recreation Director. Each Advisory Park Committee Member was given a copy of the job description for review purposes. PARK SIGNS Committee Member Thurston stated that Committee members have been working on concepts for park signs and feel there should be a uniform park sign established to identify and advertise parks throughout the City of Eagan. She then provided the Committee members with a copy of an artist's concept prepared by the Park Foreman, Mr. Jim McGuffee, for one example of what the park signs could look like. Committee members felt the park signs should be uniform and further that shrubs and other landscaping should be provided around the sign for aesthetic purposes. Committee Member Radl stated that she would volunteer to speak before any groups such as the Lion's Club and other organizations asking for their assistance in planting these shrubbery, column plants and other greenery around the signs to assist the City in this project. City Administrator Hedges stated that the City Council is again pursuing a part time artist through the CETA Program, and if one is hired,. that person could possibly design park signs and work with the Park Foreman and Park Committee on this project. Chairman Martin asked that the Park Committee continue with the project and report back at a later meeting. Advisory Park Committee Minutes February 7, 1980 Page Six TRAIL MEETING Committee Member Loken, Chairperson of the Trail Sub Committee, asked that a meeting be set for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 12, 1980, to again review the trails that are being consi- dered for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. There being no further business, the meeting was ad- journed at 10:00 p.m. DATED: February 7, 1980 ADJOURNMENT TLH Advisory Parr Committee Secretary