HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-21-04 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2004 Page 1 of 5
I. Call to order 7:00 pm
A. Commissioners present — Randy Hughes, Robin Reid, Tom Gregor, Gerry
Dykhoff
B. Absent — Theresa Richey, Brad Kvanbek, Galen Bruer
C. Also present — Chad Adams, Josh Doty, Jim DiInman, Carolyn Smith
II. Additions to agenda
Josh Doty noted that a discussion of the Charles Cudd development has been added to the
agenda.
III. Approval of last meeting's minutes
Commissioners requested that the minutes be amended so that the "Also present" item
includes the residents from Independence Beach who attended the meeting.
a) A motion was passed to accept the amended June 16 minutes.
IV. Old Business
A. Boat Ramp at Independence Beach/Lakeshore Park
1. City Planner Josh Doty distributed copies of the guidelines for boat ramp
construction recommended by the DNR. Winter durability is a concern.
Several commissioners noted that constructing the ramp of smaller, pre -
poured concrete planks would make it easier to re -position the planks in the
spring if they've shifted over the winter. The larger slabs would be much more
difficult to move.
a) A motion was proposed and passed to request City staff to proceed
with obtaining bids on constructing the ramp per the DNR guidelines, and
for staff to go ahead and make a recommendation to the City Council for
approval.
B. Children's Play Area at Independence Beach/Lakeshore Park
1. Josh Doty reported that after last month's meeting, when the
Commissioners asked that the proposed location of the play area be moved
further from the street, staff revisited the site and determined that the play
area could be installed on the higher ground, further from the road, but this
would require modifications in the layout proposed by Earl. F Anderson.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2004 Page 2 of 5
2. Josh Doty circulated copies of a letter from Independence Beach resident
Brad Sim, who lives at 2969 Lakeshore Ave, adjacent to the park. Mr. Sim
expressed some concerns about the proposed changes at the park, and about
communication between the Commission and the neighborhood. He feels that
neighbors have not been provided with enough information about the plans.
He asked if the conditions which were in place when the park land was
donated were still being followed. He is concerned about trees being cut
down, the hill being flattened, drainage problems, and the appearance of the
play structure. He also thinks that the actions of the resident who took it upon
himself to clear some of the trees and brush from the park should not have
been criticized by the Commissioners and City staff.
Mr. Sim's comments were discussed. Staff reported that there are no City
records of the conditions that were placed on the land donation, which
occurred several decades ago. Commissioners noted that although some of
the things Mr. Sim mentions have been discussed, none of the plans have
been finalized. There are no plans to remove trees, although it may be
necessary to remove one of the smaller trees to accommodate the play area.
There are no plans to grade and flatten the hill. The play structure design has
not been finalized.
Park Commissioners agreed with Mr. Sim's opinion that the bright colors of
the proposed play structure are out of character for the neighborhood.
Commissioners requested that staff instruct Earl F. Anderson to re -do the
design in more natural (i.e. browns and greens) colors.
It was suggested that the next City newsletter contain a detailed report of the
plans for the park improvements. Commissioners asked staff to instruct Earl.
F. Anderson to re -locate the play area to the higher ground away from the
road (as agreed at the June meeting), to alter the colors of the play structure,
and to minimize the need for tree removal. Confirming the motion which
passed at the June meeting, staff is authorized to go ahead with presenting
the proposed design to the City Council, after the requested changes have
been made.
Staff reported that the City Council has discussed the park clean-up issue,
and Mayor Zietlow stated that the Boy Scouts might be available to help with
buckthorn removal.
Josh Doty was asked about the possibility of removing the junk which has
accumulated on the hillside leading down to the lake. He stated that disposal
is still problematic, given the lack of information about ownership of the small
lots along the shoreline, where some of the abandoned items are located.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2004 Page 3 of 5
V. New Business
A. City Park and Trails at the proposed Charles Cudd development.
1. Charles Cudd company is proposing to donate a sizable section (about 6
acres) of the proposed development to the City of Medina for a park. The
section of land is woods surrounded by marsh, and is virtually an island. Cudd
suggests building a floating bridge for access by foot (only). There would also
be an adjacent parking area, and a children's play area which would be
owned and maintained by the residents association.
2. Park Commission members suggested that due to the natural state of the
property, that the City accept the land, but leave it undeveloped as a nature
area for the time being, and hold it in reserve for more formal park
improvements in the future.
3. Park Commissioners specified that by accepting the land, we are not
obligated to develop it further at this time, but on the other hand, there would
be no restrictions against adding park improvements at some future date.
4. Park Commissioners asked that an easement be designated to allow
future vehicle access, and that the easement not go through the children's
play area.
5. As for trails, the Hackamore/Arrowhead trail was not given high priority in
the Trail Study, but that was before the plan for the area changed to
accommodate more housing. Given the amount of new housing to be built and
the opportunity to put in a trail in conjunction with the road improvements
which accompany the development, Commissioners favored going forward
with trail planning now.
6. Jim Dillman noted that a decision will have to be made regarding which
side of the road the trail is on. On the Hackamore section, the trail has to be
on the south side because the road is the border with Corcoran. On
Arrowhead, the west side of the current road has a narrow strip of woods that
needs to be protected. The issue is complicated by the lack of an accurate
survey of the City's easement along the road.
7. Park Commissioners recommended that an easement for a trail be
requested, but that the decision about trail location be deferred until the
surveying work is completed.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2004 Page 4 of 5
B. Report on the June 15th Regional Trail Meeting
1. City Council Member Carolyn Smith attended the meeting, which was also
attended by Loretto residents, representatives of the Three Rivers Parks
district, and other interested parties. The discussion was very general and no
conclusions were reached. There are differing opinions as to which side of
County Rd 19 the trail should be located on. Loretto has some new
development on the west side, but south of Loretto the east side of the road
would be logical due to the existing paths already in place in Baker Park.
2. The Three Rivers Park district has applied for a grant to develop a trail.
City Administrator Chad Adams pointed out that it is unlikely anything will be
done for several years on the Medina portion of the trail; the Corcoran section
will be built first.
3. Future meetings will be held to continue these discussions.
C. 2005 Budget and Capital Improvements
1. Chad Adams reviewed the park and trail -related portions of the proposed
2005 operating budget and the capital improvements budget. In 2004, capital
improvements included the Hunter Drive trail and the park improvements at
the Independence Beach/Lakeshore park as well as the Community Building
project.
2. Possible 2005 park improvements under discussion include the basketball
court and auxiliary parking area at Hamel Legion Park, a horseshoe pit at
Maple Park, and a picnic shelter at City Hall. Carolyn Smith and Park
Commissioners asked staff to obtain a diagram showing the proposed location
of the basketball court and parking area in relation to the new Community
Building.
3. Now that the Community Building project is underway, priorities for 2005
will shift to establishing trails. Completing the Sioux Drive trail is one
possibility.
D. Donor Wall Discussion
1. Gerry Dykoff reported that he has consulted with the Community Building
architect regarding compatible materials (color and appearance) for the Donor
Wall. Materials for the building have not yet been selected; as soon as those
decisions have been made, the design for the Donor Wall can be completed.
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July 21, 2004 Page 5 of 5
a) A motion was proposed and passed approving the proposed plan for
the Donor Wall and authorizing Gerry Dykoff to go ahead with the Donor
Wall proposal and to present it to the City Council for final approval when
appropriate.
E. Bench Costs Discussion
1. This topic was postponed until the next meeting.
VI. Adjourned — 9:26 p.m.
VII. Next meeting — Due to primary election activities, the next Park Commission
Meeting has been rescheduled to September 22.