HomeMy Public PortalAbout04.21.2010 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
Page 1 of 6
The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on April 21, 2010 at 7:04
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, Madeleine Linck, Janet White, Bill Waytas,
Chris Hilberg, and Ann Thies
Paul Jaeb
Assistant to City Administrator Jodi Gallup, Public Works
Superintendent Steve Scherer, City Planner Dusty Finke
and City Council member Carolyn Smith
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of the Minutes
• March 17, 2010 Regular Meeting Minutes
o Section 6: Commissioner Thies expressed caution in dealing with the school
district because the Park Commission does not want them monopolizing the
usage.
o Section 6: Thies is concerned with the leek type of land available in this
sector.
o Section 8: Adams informed the council Park Commission that one ball field
at Hamel Legion Park will be irrigated this year.
o Section 12(a): Commission agreed to not undertake this project at this time.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to approve the minutes, with the
noted correction. Motion passed unanimously.
• April 13, 2010 Concurrent Planning Commission & Park Commission Meeting
Minutes
o Page 1 & 6: Park Commissioners Absent: Paul Jaeb & Chris Hilberg.
o Page 3: Thies said Wild Meadows was a good example of a conservation
design with a conservation design easement.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Linck 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:
• Discussed a Star Tribune article that printed incorrect information regarding the
Medina Police refusing to assist in collecting items from Denny Hecker's home.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
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The Council created a new policy to ask the paper for corrections if a similar
situation happens again in the future.
• Approved three shoreline restoration projects in Independence Beach.
• Heard a report from Pioneer -Sarah Watershed District representative, Don
Johnston, and found out there is grant money available.
• Held the annual Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) public
hearing.
• Approved an amendment to the Hamel Community Building Operating Policy.
• Approved a contract with the Church of St. Anne to have their youth group run
concessions at the new Field House in Hamel Legion Park.
• Discussed gambling ordinance revisions to bring the ordinance into compliance
with new state laws.
• Authorized staff to back fill the vacant public works position and added field
inspection duties to the job description.
• Authorized staff to hire a public works intern to do summer park detail and other
duties.
• Authorized staff to hire a management intern, which is partially funded by a grant
the City received.
• Created additional requirements for developers when it comes to trees; the trees
must be reviewed by a certified arborist.
6) Open Space/Conservation Design Ordinance
Finke gave a brief overview of what the Planning Commission discussed at their regular
meeting after the April 13th concurrent session. He stated he was in attendance tonight to
answer any questions the Park Commission may have from discussions that took place at
the last meeting and to get direction from the Park Commission on any additional
research they may like prepared for the next concurrent session.
White questioned if park dedication fees would be addressed in the new ordinance. She
stated it was unclear if the fees would be waived or reduced.
Benson stated that he did not want to give away all the park dedication fees.
Finke mentioned that the Park Commission has already endorsed giving a credit for
privately held open space.
Benson noted that land owners at the last meeting mentioned this ordinance might reduce
their property value, but he wanted to clarify that in everything he has read, conservation
design enhances property value; it does not reduce value.
Thies stated that the ordinance should allow the land to speak and not be too restrictive.
She said it should be flexible depending on the land. It does not always make the most
sense to have all the properties backing up to the open space.
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April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
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Thies mentioned that things can go wrong with these types of conservation designs
because people move in and out of the neighborhood and do not have a vested interest in
the land. She shared an example of Wild Meadows where trees were planted on the
prairie that was in the conservation easement that was subject to consequences.
Finke asked the Park Commission if they thought the program should be required or
voluntary.
Benson stated that the public that was present at the open house did not want a mandatory
program.
Smith said the comments she had heard in response to creating a mandatory program
were that people worry about density and people will not be able to develop where they
want to develop.
White stated that in some form or fashion if some areas are mandatory and some are not,
it could be discriminatory because land owners have unequal opportunities.
Smith noted that the Park Commission should not just talk about trails, but should be
more of an open space committee.
Finke stated that the Planning Commission has requested that staff bring back a map of
eligible properties and more information on collaborative processes from other cities.
Finke is also planning on analyzing density incentives.
Linck requested that staff research beyond the State of Minnesota.
It was requested to provide more information on community septic, but Finke stated he is
unable to get the information at this time because he is waiting for Hennepin County to
update their information.
Waytas requested to review a before and after picture of the land to see how it would
look in the developer's eyes. It was noted there are examples of this in the open space
report.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Hilberg to schedule a concurrent session
with the Planning Commission for May 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at Medina City Hall.
Motion passed unanimously.
7) Plan for Future Park Study Areas
Finke gave an introduction on the map he created analyzing eight different areas for a
possible future active park in park study area 1.
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April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission reviewed the pros and cons of each area that was listed on Finke's
memo to the Park Commission.
There was a general consensus that a future active park in this area should have enough
flat ground to have a soccer field.
Areas 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 were all good areas for a soccer field.
It was questioned if an open field could be flooded in the winter to be a hockey rink. It
was determined that it could not be a hockey rink because boards typically stay up all
year round, but it could possibly be a pond hockey area.
It was determined that area 7 and 8 were larger parcels and had more potential for a
larger park that could have soccer or multi -purpose fields. The Park Commission was
concerned with the unknown wetlands in the area.
Waytas commented that historically parks are planned in flood plan areas where a home
should not be built.
Finke stated that Medina does not have many flood plan areas that are not also wetlands.
There was a general consensus that all the areas should stay on the plan, but only two or
three of the eight areas would become a future active park.
It was noted that area 6 should not be a park, but the City should acquire enough land
from area 6 to create a public access to Medina Lake Preserve.
Staff was directed to renumber the areas on the map to add "a", "b" and "c" to the
numbers to have three distinct areas. It will look something like the following:
Area 1 & 2 will become Area IA & 1B. Designated for larger park with field.
Area 3, 4 & 5 will become Area 2A, 2B & 2C. Designated for smaller park with play
equipment.
Area 7 & 8 will become Area 3A & 3B. Designated for larger park with field.
Area 6 will become Area 4. Designated for access to Medina Lake Preserve.
8) Ball Field Lights and Irrigation Funding Policy
The Park Commission reviewed and discussed the policy drafted by staff based on the
Park Commission's discussion at the March 17th meeting.
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April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission also reviewed the park dedication fund balance as of April 21,
2010, and what the balance would be once all the 2010 capital improvement projects
were completed. It was noted that by the end of 2010, the fund balance would be down to
approximately $201,15 8.18.
Smith stated that she had been asked by another City Council member to inform the Park
Commission that there is not a lot of support from the City Council to install ball field
lights. She stated that it is not a priority project financially and the households around the
park are concerned with lights being installed.
Hilberg questioned the order of things and stated the Park Commission should make their
own decision and recommend it to the City Council. The City Council can then determine
if they want to endorse the Park Commission's recommendations or not.
There was a general consensus to approve the policy as written with a few changes to
strengthen the language. The policy should address that the money will be provided
subject to city funds being available and subject to the grant funds being approved. The
language should be changed from saying the City will provide a 25% cost -share to say
the city may provide a 25% cost -share.
A motion was made by Hilberg and seconded by Waytas to recommend approval of the
ball field lighting and irrigation funding policy to the City Council. Motion passed
unanimously.
The Park Commission addressed the issue of operating costs if lights were installed. Staff
was directed to bring back research on the monthly costs of ball field lights and how
different cities and organizations pay for the operating costs specifically through user fees
to create a pass through cost.
9) Friends of the Park Program
The Park Commission reviewed and discussed the Friends of the Park Program
description and application process that was prepared by staff from comments made at
the March 17, 2010 meeting. No changes were made to the draft program or application.
A motion was made by White and seconded by Thies to recommend approval of the
Friends of the Park Program to the City Council. Motion passed unanimously.
10) Recognition of Donors for the Hamel Field House
Benson reported that he had been approached by some of the donors of the Hamel Field
House and they have recommended a plan to be recognized. Benson passed around the
proposed layout to be engraved on a 16" x 14.5" plaque.
The Park Commission recommended removing the dollar amounts from the proposed
plaque layout.
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April 21, 2010
Medina City Hall
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There was a general consensus that a recognition plaque was a nice incentive for people
to donate and this plaque should be placed on the donor wall.
Staff was directed to verify spelling on the names being recognized, finalize the layout,
and get quotes from sign vendors.
11) Staff Report
a) Cancel May Park Commission Meeting: There was discussion whether or not the
May meeting should be cancelled. It was noted that the Park Commission has had
long agendas lately and it might not be wise to cancel the May meeting. It was also
noted that there are a number of additional meetings and special events the Park
Commission is expected to attend in the upcoming months and the commissioners
might not be able to commit to another meeting.
A motion was made by Hilberg and seconded by Waytas to cancel the regularly
scheduled May 19, 2010 Park Commission Meeting. Motion passed 4-2 (Thies and
Benson opposed).
b) Spring Park Tour: The Park Commission decided to visit the following parks at the
June 5th park tour: Hamel Legion Park, Rainwater Nature Area, Holy Name Park,
Medina Lake Preserve, and Hunter Lions Park.
c) Field House Project Update: Gallup showed updated pictures of the site. Scherer
reported that fencing was planned to be installed tomorrow, the irrigation pipes were
in, and the irrigation contract was in place.
d) Clean Up Day Involvement: The Park Commission verified which schedules
everyone was working and briefly discussed the materials to be handed out at the
event.
e) Tomann Preserve Dedication: It was noted that the bird watch/nature walk should be
after the Tomann Preserve Dedication, not before the event as advertised.
f) General Items:
• Scherer gave an update on the County Road 101 Pedestrian Crossing. Hennepin
County is putting in the crosswalk and the City will create a connection from
Gramercy to the sidewalk.
Scherer stated that the man that built the blue bird houses called to make sure they are
being cleaned. He also said he would make any replacement parts if needed.
12) Adjourn
A motion was made by Hilberg, seconded by Waytas and passed unanimously, to adjourn
the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.