HomeMy Public PortalAbout07.17.2013 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
July 17, 2013
Medina City Hall
Page
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on July 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Paul Jaeb presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present: Paul Jaeb, Ellis Olkon, Dino DesLauriers, Madeleine
Linck, Ann Thies, Janet White, and Steve Lee
Commissioners Absent: None
Also Present: City Council Member Melissa Martinson, Assistant to City
Administrator Jodi Gallup and Public Works Director Steve
Scherer
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of Minutes:
• June 19, 2013 Regular Meeting
A motion was made by Olkon and seconded by DesLauriers to approve the minutes as
presented from June 19, 2013. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update
Martinson and Scherer updated the Park Commission on recent City Council actions.
6) Park Dedication Discussion — Enclave at Medina 5th Addition
Gallup presented the applicant's request to subdivide a 4.45 acre parcel into nine lots to
the north of the Enclave at Medina development. She noted that there are no active park
needs for this parcel since it is located between Hamel Legion Park and Hunter Lions
Park. She also noted that there are no open space needs for this parcel that are identified
in the Open Space Plan. It was also noted that the trail along Hunter Drive to the west of
this development was previously installed.
Discussion took place if there would be a need to acquire an additional sidewalk
connection from the cul-de-sac of this development to the Hunter Drive Trail or if these
nine residents could walk the existing sidewalk down Butternut Drive to the existing trail
within the development, which would be approximately 900 feet.
Gallup stated that the City Assessor estimates the value of the land at $137,500 per acre,
which would total $635,600. Eight percent of the value of the land for cash -in -lieu would
be $50,928 that the City could collect in park dedication fees. If a sidewalk connection
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July 17, 2013
Medina City Hall
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was acquired, it would be about 20% of the land dedication, which would reduce the
cash -in -lieu amount to $40,539.
There was a general consensus of the Park Commission that an additional sidewalk
connection to the Hunter Drive Trail was not necessary on the subject property.
A motion was made by Lee and seconded by DesLauriers to recommend taking the full
cash -in -lieu amount instead of park and trail land dedication. Motion passed
unanimously.
7) Park Signage Layouts
Gallup noted that she had received direction from the Park Commission at the last
meeting to continue to work with our current sign vendor to design customized message
centers within our parks. As discussed last month, the signs would have two panels, one
that is printed with park rules and a map and the other panel would be a bulletin board
enclosed in glass. Gallup noted that the printed panel would look similar to the sample
sign from Porter Sports Park in Sanger, Texas that was included in the packet. The signs
at Hamel Legion Park and Hunter Lions Park would also have a trail link map showing
the connection and trail distances between the two parks.
The Park Commission reviewed the maps and draft park rules. It was noted to make sure
the park rules were consistent for each park.
Gallup also brought up the idea of a sign with a mesh backing where smaller sign panels
could be attached to it rather than creating one large panel. The sign company promoted
this option because it could easily print new smaller signs to replace outdated maps and
rules without having to replace the entire panel. There was a general consensus of the
Park Commission to not pursue this option.
The Park Commission directed Gallup to continue working with the sign company on the
sign panel designs for Hamel Legion Park, Hunter Lions Park, and Lakeshore Park.
8) The Park at Fields of Medina
Jaeb stated that he took a site visit with Martinson, Gallup, and Scherer to a Sport Court
in Minnetonka that was about five years old and it was in great condition.
Pictures of the Sport Court in Minnetonka were shown to the Park Commissioners. It was
noted that the tennis net poles were tall so the net could easily be raised for badminton or
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July 17, 2013
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volleyball. The basketball hoop also had an adjustable pole to accommodate young kids
and adults. The Sport Court also had white dots painted on it for hopscotch, shuffleboard
and foursquare.
Scherer explained the price difference for a Sport Court on a concrete surface verses a
traditional asphalt tennis court and basketball court. It was estimated that a Sport Court
would be approximately $50,000 more than a traditional asphalt surface, but would
require less maintenance long term. There was a general consensus of the Park
Commission that they would be willing to pay the additional $50,000 out of the Park
Dedication Fund to upgrade the surface to a Sport Court.
The Park Commission discussed the proposed layout of the Sport Court and noted that it
should be facing North/South in the park. It was also noted that printing the city logo on
the court would make the surface look too busy, but it would be nice to try to match the
city logo colors with the surface colors (brown, gold, and maybe green).
9) Future Dog Park Discussion
Lee stated that he felt it was necessary to plan for a future dog park in Medina because of
all the new homes being built in the city on small lots. He stated that dogs need a place to
run off leash.
Linck suggested the old sewage pond property as a possible location, but noted that the
ponds would need to be fenced off She noted that Three Rivers Park District offers many
dog parks that are on multiple acres for the dogs to run.
Jaeb questioned if there was really a need for a dog park and if people were asking for it.
He noted that dog parks require a lot of maintenance and are very noisy.
Olkon stated that he believed there is a need for a dog park because dogs need to
socialize and have a place to run. He stated that he would be interested in establishing a
committee to find an appropriate location for a dog park within the city.
Jaeb stated that he did not believe a dog park should be added to an existing city park, but
research could be done on a new location for a future dog park.
White noted that dog parks are typically in more urban cities and located by commercial
development. She did not think that Medina currently needed a dog park.
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DesLauriers noted that there is an existing dog park in Plymouth on County Road 47,
which could serve the Medina residents in these new developments on small lots. He also
noted that he was okay with a subcommittee to conduct some further research.
Thies stated that she thought it was a good idea for Medina to research the need and
location for a future dog park to incorporate into the Master Park Plan.
Linck noted that a future dog park should be near the population density of the city, near
Hamel area.
Jaeb was also in favor of establishing a subcommittee to conduct research to consider a
future dog park in the Master Park Plan, but he still was worried about water,
maintenance, and noise.
A motion was made by Olkon and seconded by Lee to create a subcommittee consisting of
Olkon and Lee to conduct additional research on dog parks and bring it back to the next
meeting. Motion passed unanimously.
10) Staff Report
• Medina Lake Preserve — Scherer noted that he had been in contact with a couple
of the property owners along Medina Lake Preserve. He is hoping to get all the
owners to sign an access agreement so the city can have access to their private
drive into Medina Lake Preserve to maintain the nature area.
• Trees at Hamel Legion Park — Gallup noted that a few trees in Hamel Legion Park
are dead and will be replaced by Lennar because they have a number of new trees
they still need to plant as part of their development agreement. Scherer noted that
Lennar would also be planting a number of new trees within the park.
11) Adjourn
A motion was made by DesLauriers, seconded by Lee and passed unanimously, to
adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.