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