HomeMy Public PortalAbout02.17.2010 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
Page 1 of 7
The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on February 17, 2010 at 7:00
p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Ben Benson presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners present:
Commissioners absent:
Also present:
Ben Benson, Janet White, Bill Waytas, Chris Hilberg, Ann
Thies, and Paul Jaeb
Madeleine Linck
Assistant to City Administrator Jodi Gallup, Public Works
Superintendent Steve Scherer, and City Council member
Carolyn Smith
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of the Minutes
January 20, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes
• Section 8: The money should be passed onto the kids that use for the benefit of
the users of the ball fields.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to approve the minutes, with the
noted correction. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update:
Carolyn Smith updated the Park Commission that since the last time the Park
Commission met, the City Council:
• Approved the Rural Commercial Holding ordinance.
• Approved the construction of a new office building at Baker Park Near
Wilderness Center.
• Reviewed the Lennar Concept Plan that is being proposed on the Holasek farm.
• Held a workshop with staff to create goals for the 2010 work plan.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed
District.
• Discussed the Public Works Facility project updates at various meetings.
• Received an update from the Hamel and Loretto Volunteer Fire Departments to
discuss merging the two departments.
Carolyn Smith attended the West Metro Drug Task Force meeting and shared some
positive statistics on what the task force has accomplished.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
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6) Open Systems International Land -Use Application; Park Dedication Discussion
Gallup gave a presentation to the Park Commission explaining the applicant's request to
subdivide a 57 acre parcel into one 20 acre lot and three outlots.
Gallup reported that the Park Commission's Trail Plan shows a proposed trail along
Arrowhead Drive, which is the eastern edge of the 20 acre lot. The Open Space Plan also
designates the western 5.4 acres of this lot to be a "priority area".
Staff recommended only applying park dedication to Lot 1, Block 1 at this time; park
dedication would apply to the outlots when those lots develop.
Gallup stated that the options for park dedication would be taking 10% of the buildable
land which is 1.687 acres, taking cash -in -lieu of 8% of the average market value which
would be $102,400, or take a combination of land and cash.
Gallup reminded the Park Commission of the recent changes to the Park Dedication
Ordinance. The commercial cash -in -lieu fee was reduced from 10% to 8% and new
language was added to create a potential exclusion to the definition of "buildable land".
Staff recommended that the western 5.4 acres of Lot 1, Block 1 be subtracted from the
park dedication calculation with the condition that the property owner protects it as open
space.
Thies asked the applicant what would be their intended use of the western 5.4 acres and if
they had a management plan on how they would protect the land to be kept as open
space.
Ed Fitzpatrick with Open Systems International (OSI) stated that the company would like
to utilize the area for trails and a possible picnic shelter. It would be an area for
employees to get outside and walk around. The picnic shelter could be used for employee
picnics, but OSI would want to create a class 5 road to access the area by vehicle to bring
food and supplies. Fitzpatrick stated that OSI has no intentions of putting a building on
the property today, but has a vision of the land being utilized as a retreat area and/or
training and education area with a possible model home.
Fitzpatrick acknowledged that OSI does not have a management plan for the 5.4 acres.
Tim Cavanaugh, representing the current property owner, described the land and stated
that the land has been untouched for years.
The Park Commissioners discussed what level of impact they were comfortable with on
the 5.4 acres that are being proposed as open space. There was a general consensus that a
wood chip trail and 20 x 20 foot picnic shelter would be acceptable. There was some
concern with the impact created from building an access road.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commissioners discussed what types of controls would be needed to preserve
the 5.4 acres as open space and how to define open space.
Thies asked OSI what controls they would be comfortable following.
Fitzpatrick stated that OSI will consistently follow any controls that are in place, but
would want an option to build on the land in the future so it does not become foul land.
Discussion took place on how important it was to the Park Commission on preserving
this land. It was determined that some of the land would already be protected by the
wetland ordinance and tree preservation ordinance. The Park Commission acknowledged
that it would not make sense for the City to purchase the land because access to the
property would not be allowed from Highway 55. The Park Commission is more
interested in acquiring the trail easement on this property and acquiring property some
where to the north of this property in the future for an active park.
There was a general consensus that if in the future the land owner wishes to build on the
buildable acres of the preserved open space, the land owner would need to pay the park
dedication dollars that were subtracted from the original calculation.
Discussion took place on how large the trail easement should be. It was noted that staff s
recommendation was 15 feet, but 10 more feet would allow the trail to meander away
from the road and give the trail more character. OSI was opposed to a larger trail because
it would impact the entrance to the property and possibly building setbacks.
Scherer stated that staff crunched the numbers earlier today in the event this would be
brought up. The City would receive approximately $3,500 less from the park dedication
dollars if the City wanted the additional 10 feet of trail easement.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Jaeb to recommend to the City Council to
remove the western 5.4 acres from the park dedication calculation to preserve the area
as open space; allow passive recreational trails and a picnic shelter structure not to
exceed 20 x 20 feet in the open space; have the open space be recorded in appropriate
manner as staff sees fit; require a 15 foot trail easement adjacent to Arrowhead Drive;
and require cash -in -lieu of remaining dedication of approximately $69, 000, which will be
paid over a three year period. Motion Passed Unanimously.
7) Plan for Future Park Study Areas
Gallup reported that one of the Park Commission's 2010 goals was to create a more
detailed future park study areas plan that will help staff communicate with the land
owners and future developers as to what will be the future plan/need for parks on their
property.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission received a map to help guide them while creating the plan that
showed the future active and passive park study areas, proposed and existing trails,
wetlands, and an aerial.
The first area the Park Commission reviewed was the active park study area circle over
the Cavanaugh property where OSI is proposing to build. There was a general consensus
that an active park would not be appropriate on the subdivided 20 acre parcel, so the Park
Commission looked at Outlot A which is just to the north of the proposed OSI building. It
was determined that the Park Commission could only receive about 1.6 acres in dedicated
land when Outlot A develops, which the Park Commission would want at least .25 acres
for a 15 foot trail easement along Arrowhead Drive. The remainder of the dedicated acres
would be too small for an active Park.
There was a general consensus that the active park should be located north or to the west
of Outlot A near a future residential subdivision. This area is the number one priority for
an active park because it will likely become a high density development.
At the May 20, 2009 Park Commission meeting it was discussed that the active park
circle north of Highway 55 should have a park that is between Hunter Lions Park and
Hamel Legion Park in size and amenities.
Gallup noted that Hamel Legion Park is approximately 40 acres and Hunter Lions Park
has about 4.5 acres of active park amenities. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation in
determining the size of a future active park.
Gallup recommended that the Park Commission evaluate the City's future needs for
specific park amenities such as soccer fields and hockey rinks. Staff could figure out how
many acres were needed for each amenity; an example would be that two tennis courts
would be .25 acres and a baseball field would be 2 acres. After compiling a list of the
future needed park amenities, the Park Commission could determine the appropriate
amount of acres needed for each future park.
The Park Commission recognized that the City of Medina would not be able to get
another park the size of Hamel Legion Park through park dedication during subdivisions;
a property owner would need to give the entire property to the City in order to have
another 40 acre park.
There was a general consensus that a future active park should be approximately five to
ten acres.
The Park Commission wanted to make sure it was clear that the park study area circles on
the map are just general areas to study the need for a future park. Currently there is a
strong need for a future active park within proximity to the circle north of Highway 55.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
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It was noted that the active park study area circle south of the Hennepin County Public
Works Facility was placed there for when the property develops, which probably will not
happen until the next cycle of planning in ten years.
The active park study area to the east is located in the rural residential zoning district, but
it is more densely populated than other rural residential areas.
The Park Commission felt it was important that the park study area plan should define an
active park and a passive park.
Staff plans to begin formatting a plan based on the discussion from this meeting and
bring it to the next meeting for further analysis.
8) Tomann Parcel Management Plan & Transfer to City
David Thill with Hennepin County Environmental Services prepared a management plan
for the Tomann Property that was given to the Park Commissioners prior to the meeting
for their review.
The Park Commissioners agreed the management plan was acceptable.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to approve the management plan.
Motion passed unanimously.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to recommend to the City Council
to move forward with the transfer of the Tomann property to the City. Motion passed
unanimously.
The Park Commission was asked to discuss possible maintenance options and make a
recommendation on how to implement the management plan.
It was noted that the current property owner, Terry Tomann, appears to still be interested
in being involved with future property development.
Jaeb questioned what experience the City has with keeping the old owner on as a curator?
Scherer stated that the City has no experience, but did not see a problem with Mr.
Tomann continuing to take care of the land because of the guidelines set forth in the
management plan. Scherer also noted that Mr. Tomann was looking for direction on how
to care for the land so he should want to follow the new plan.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to recommend that Terry Tomann
be appointed as a volunteer curator of the land under the guidance of the Public Works
Superintendent. Motion passed unanimously.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
Page 6 of 7
The Park Commission noted that the Tomann property has been called Tomann Park and
Tomann Natural Area, but has never been given an official name There was a general
consensus that the area should not be called a park because it implies active park
amenities. It was noted that Madeleine Linck has defined the difference between a Nature
Area, Natural Area, and Preserve in the past, but no one knew which one would best
describe the Tomann property.
A motion was made by Hilberg and seconded by White to recommend the name of the
Tomann property be called Tomann , depending on what would best describe the
area per Madeleine Linck's advice. Motion passed unanimously.
The Park Commission began planning an event to recognize Mr. Tomann's donation to
the City. The tentative event date is Saturday, May 22nd at 10:00 a.m. This date is
tentative based on Mr. Tomann's availability and if the property transfer can take place
prior to the proposed date.
Ideas that were generated for the event include a proclamation from the Mayor, inviting
the press and public, serving coffee and cookies, playing a game on guessing tree species
by tying ribbons around the tree, and ending the event with a nature walk.
9) Hockey Rinks at Hamel Legion Park
Waytas stated that people have approached him over the last few years stating that they
would like a hockey rink at Hamel Legion Park. He noted that people are currently
playing hockey there without the goals or boards.
Waytas stated that he researched different ways to set up a hockey rink such as a metal
dome cover or hockey boards that stay up all year round. Both these options are very
expensive. Another option would be to just put up nets with no boards and possibly add a
burm next season to separate the hockey area from the open skate area.
There was some discussion on safety with possible flying pucks if there were no boards.
It was noted that people that play recreational hockey games typically do not wear pads
and would make rules to not lift the puck. They also do not want to have to chase a puck
or dig in a snow bank so they are more careful about controlling the puck.
The idea of putting boards up was briefly discussed, but it would not be possible at any of
the current parks at this time because of the expense and added expense of Public Works
time to clean the ice around hockey boards.
Waytas stated that he talked it over with his wife and they were willing to donate two
hockey goals to the City to be used at Hamel Legion Park.
There was a general consensus to allow the hockey goals at Hamel Legion Park, which
will also allow the Park Commission to observe the future demand for hockey in Medina.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2010
Medina City Hall
Page 7 of 7
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to recommend to the City Council
to accept the donation from Bill Waytas for two hockey goals at Hamel Legion Park.
Motion passed unanimously.
10) Staff Report
a) Fence Signage at Hamel Legion Park: Staff has been in contact with the Hamel
Athletic Association to determine their level of interest in this program, but has not
received a response yet. This item will be tabled until next month.
b) Field House Project Update: Scherer gave a quick update on the project and noted
that the Park Commission would need to start thinking about planning a grand
opening event at their next meeting.
c) Hunter Lions Park Sign: Gallup reported that an excerpt from the July 18, 2008
minutes was included in the park packet to update the Park Commission on previous
discussions had with the Hamel Lions regarding signage at Hunter Lions Park. There
was a general consensus from the Park Commission that both signs should not be
placed on the road and that the old sign could be relocated somewhere within the
park.
d) General Items:
• Gallup stated that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is looking for
volunteers to conduct precipitation monitoring.
• White reported that she has been researching the "Friends of the Park" and will
collect her information and give an update to the Park Commission at the March
meeting.
12) Adjourn
A motion was made by Thies, seconded by Jaeb and passed unanimously, to adjourn the
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.