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04/02/1981 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE ADVISORY PARK RECREATION COMMITTEE EAGAN, MINNESOTA APRIL 2, 1981 A regular meeting of the Eagan Advisory Park Recreation Committee was held on April 2, 1981, at the Eagan City Hall. Those present were committee members Carroll, Pettit, Fedde, Loken, Johnson, Thurston and McNeely. Also present were Parks Recreation Director Vraa, City Planner Runkle and City Administrator Hedges. Committee members Martin, Thomas and Tilley were absent. MINUTES In a motion by Pettit, seconded by Thurston, with all members voting in favor, the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 5, 1981 were approved as read. AGENDA In a motion by Thurston, seconded by Fedde, with all members voting in favor, the agenda for the April 2, 1981 Advisory Parks Recreation Committee meeting was approved. WAIVER OF PLAT /JEFFREY R. BLOOM City Planner Runkle presented a request for waiver of plat to divide Lot 10, Block 3, Clearview Addition, into two single family lots as brought before the Advisory Planning Commission for a public hearing at their meeting on March 24, 1981. It was the recommendation of the staff to request a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication for the two (2) single family lots. In a motion by Thurston, seconded by McNeely, with all members voting in favor, a cash donation in lieu of park land dedicaiton was approved for Jeffrey R. Bloom's waiver of plat for two (2) lots referred to as Lot 10, Block 3, Clearview Addition. WILLIAM MEADE /WAIVER OF PLAT City Planner Runkle reported on action that was taken by the Advisory Planning Commission to approve a waiver of plat for William Meade to subdivide a five acre parcel in Section 31. The City staff is recommending a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication for the newly created lots. In a motion by Pettit, seconded by McNeely, with all members voting in favor, a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication was approved for William Meade's waiver of plat located in Section 31. TOMARK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY City Planner Runkle presented the preliminary plat entitled Tomark Addition which consisted of approximately 10.6 acres and contains 144 dwelling units which represents the first phase of a larger project. City staff is recom— mending park dedication for this project which includes provisions for a bicycle trail and tot lot. There is no park land dedication requiring public dedication to the City; therefore a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication was recom— mended by the staff. After further discussion and in a motion by Carroll, seconded by McNeely, with all members voting in favor, a cash donation in lieu of park land dedication was recommended for phase I, and a provision for a Advisory Park Recreation Committee Minutes April 2, 1981 Page Two bicyle trail and one (1) tot lot be included with the first phase and further that each additional phase be reviewed to consider additional tot lots. OBJECTIVES Committee member Loken reviewed the list of objectives that were developed by her subcommittee. Committee members agreed that steps should be developed regarding the development and authorization of a bond issue as a mechanism to finance certain objectives. There was additional discussion re- garding the trails plan and long range facilities. There was no action taken on this item. JOINT CITY COUNCIL /ADVISORY PARK RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING Acting chairperson Loken provided a review of the joint City Council/ Advisory Park Recreation Committee meeting that was held on March 19, 1981. Carroll stated that, as a result of the joint meeting, additional consideration should be given to a commercial /industrial parkland dedication for trail con- struction. The Director of Parks Recreation was asked to prepare a formula or concept relating to commercial /industrial parkland dedication for trails. All committee members present who attended the joint meeting expressed a very positive response and said further that the meeting with the City Council was helpful in defining their role and objectives as Advisory Park Recreation Committee members. SOUTH DELAWARE HILLS /PARK DEDICATION The Director of Parks Recreation stated that the City Council reviewed a request for a change in the planned unit development for South Dela- ware Hills at the 3 -17 -81 meeting. He stated that one of the issues brought before the City Council of residents opposing the PUD change was their concern that sufficient active park space was not available. Vraa stated that residents were questioning the soil suitability and further that much of the proposed area reserved for active athletic fields would be under water due to the close relationship of the water pond and its current high water elevation. Due to a number of concerns raised by the residents, the City Council has requested that the Advisory Park Recreation Committee review the proposed park dedication for the South Delaware Hills plat and make a report to the City Council. Loken asked that a subcommittee meet and review the park dedication in its entirity and walk the entire area to further make a determination and recommendation on the amount of active space that should be required as a part of the South Delaware Hills Planned Unit Development. SURVEY OF BICYCLE TRAILS The Parks Recreation Intern Michelle Cords presented a program to survey bicycle trail usage in the City. The purpose of such a survey is to determine the amount of, type of, and reasons for usage of the major bicycle trail extending from Nicols Road to Lexington Avenue, including the Pilot Knob Road section and Berry Ridge Road. She presented methods of counting traffic, the days for conducting surveys, peak hours during those certain days and how interviewers and observers can provide the best results for a survey of bike trail usage. After reviewing a memorandum and example of a format for tallying results used by the traffic counters, Loken asked for volunteers to assist the Advisory Park Recreation Committee Minutes April 2, 1981 Page Three Park Recreation Department in conducting the survey. It was determined that the survey would run for four weeks beginning April 20 and ending May 17 and several members of the Advisory Park Recreation Committee volunteered their time as observers. DONATION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Director of Parks Recreation Vraa reported that he was contacted by representatives of the Meadowlark Ridge Apartment complex and Meadowlark Lane, asking if the City of Eagan would accept a donation of wooden playground equipment located on their property. He stated that an on site inspection of the playground equipment was performed by the department and it was decided that the equipment consisting of two (2) slides, vertical ladder and swing series could be utilized in a small neighborhood park. Vraa also indicated that the equipment has approximately seven to eight years of usable life and it seemed appropriate to accept the equipment as a donation to the City. A conceptual site plan for relocating the playground equipment to the Oak Chase Park was presented by Vraa and Cords. They stated that several neighborhood park areas were considered including Carlson Lake; however, the Oak Chase Park, adjacent to the tennis courts, seemed most appropriate for the playground equipment. Vraa indicated that a cost of $700 to $900 would be required to prepare the site for the playground equipment. After further discussion on the matter and in a motion by Fedde, seconded by Thurston, with all members voting in favor, the playground equipment offered by the Meadowlark Ridge Apartment Association was accepted and a recommendation was made to the Eagan City Council that an expenditure of $700 to $900 be authorized from the Park Site Development Fund to prepare the ground at Oak Chase Park for installation of the equipment. TEEN PROGRAM COMMITTEE Director of Parks Recreation Vraa stated that a combined program for the Cities of Apple Valley, Eden Prairie and Eagan is being worked on to provide teen workforce groups which would allow young people from the ages of 13 to 15 to earn money for area trips. The work force groups volunteer their time an labor to all types of businesses and organizations and receive payment through a donation. Vraa asked that members of the Park Recreation Committee work closely with this teen program committee. Thurston and Pettit volunteered their time to the program. It was noted that Dorothy Peterson and Michelle Cords would also be working with that committee. 1981 LAWCON /LMCR GRANT Director of Parks Recreation Vraa stated that the preliminary grant for the 1981 LAWCON /LMCR funding must be submitted by May 1, 1981. He stated that, due to certain legislative constraints on spending, LAWCON is close to being eliminated as a funding source. He further indicated that funding may be reduced, raising the City's match to approximately 50% if a grant is to be awarded. He stated that a preliminary site plan and cost analysis will Advisory Park Recreation Committee Minutes April 2, 1981 Page Four be required and further that it seemed appropriate that Brauer and Associates could provide the detail for the application. He assured the committee that the application would be submitted by May 1 and a further update on the status of the application will be offered in future weeks. SOUTH OAKS /SOCCER KICK BOARD Director of Parks Recreation Vraa reported that some of the neigh— bors in the South Oaks Park neighborhood were unhappy with the proposed soccer kick board for the park which had been requested by some of their neighbors. He reported that one caller felt that the money would be put to better use and benefit if equipment were purchased that would benefit a larger number of park users. There was no action required on this item. p.m. RIDGECLIFFE PARK ROUNDTABLE MEETING 4 -14 -81 Park Recreation Director Vraa reported that a roundtable meeting is proposed for the City Hall on April 14, 1981 and that Brauer and Associates will be present to conduct the informational work session. GARDEN PLATS Committee members raised questions regarding the feasibility of allowing certain park lands or open space within the City to be used as desig— nated garden plats. Vraa was asked to investigate this item in further detail. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 DATED: April 2, 1981 TLH Advisory Park Recreation Committee Secretary