HomeMy Public PortalAbout11.28.2007 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2007
Medina City Hall
Page 1 of 4
The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on November 28, 2007 at
7:00 p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Ann Thies presided.
I. Call to Order
Commissioners present:
Commissioners absent:
Also present:
Ben Benson, Bob Pastor, Ann Thies, Brian Kingsley, Gerry
Dykhoff, Madeleine Linck and Galen Bruer
None
Jodi Wunsch, Steve Scherer, Dave Thill
II. Additions to the Agenda: None
III. Approval of the Minutes from October 17, 2007:
• Section 6: The Park Commissioners should be available at the open houses to suggest
describe or explain the proposed active park areas and trails and ask for the public's
opinion.
A motion was made by Gerry Dykhoff and seconded by Bob Pastor to approve the
minutes as corrected above. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None
V. Natural Resource Inventory
Dave Thill with Hennepin County Environmental Services presented the updated Natural
Resource Inventory (NRI) of the City of Medina. He passed out various maps and used
his GIS mapping to show different layers of the NRI corridor and the changes that were
made to the corridor. He also addressed the unique natural characters around Hidden
Lake which make it the one high quality community in Medina.
Dykhoff questioned what types of hybrid cattail were taking over the cattail.
Linck mentioned that the hybrid cattail grow in nutrient rich water, which is taking away
much of our open water.
Thies questioned how often the inventory should be updated. Thill stated that the city
now has a good base and it would only need to be updated as development occurred.
Benson commented that it was nice to see that Lake Medina Preserve was protected.
Bruer asked how much impact this inventory will have on the review of future
development projects in Medina. Scherer stated it will be more highly considered than it
has been in the past.
Thill stated he would hope that the City would consider ecologically significant natural
areas more in the future.
Susan Seeland questioned Thill's methodology in selecting upland areas. Thill stated the
natural resource corridor was based on all scientific data. Seeland stated that her prairie
grass was planted and was not natural, which the map does not reflect. She also asked
that her property be removed from the corridor since it was recently plowed and tilled to
farm and was no longer planted prairie grass. Thies suggested that Seeland address her
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2007
Medina City Hall
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concerns with the Council, since the Park Commission does not have the authority to
change the map. Benson stated that this map is a slice in time and reflects the prairie
grass that was on her property when the map was created.
Seeland asked Thill what the quality of her property was as a prairie. Thill said it was of
moderate quality. Seeland disagreed stating that it was a low quality because they were
never able to maintain it properly by burning it.
VI. Metro Greenways Grant Opportunity
Thill briefly explained the Metro Greenways grant and stated that there was not much
money for 2008. He also said that they were still looking for good applicants and the
Steve Martin property and others around Hidden Lake would be good applicants. Thill
also briefly touched on various funding sources including a new program through
Hennepin County that will hopefully be available in late 2008 or early 2009.
Bruer suggested that Thill write a memo explaining the different funding sources because
it was too much information to get a good grasp on it through a short presentation.
VII. Trail Study
Park Commissioners continued reviewing the 2003 Trail Study to update it by
reevaluating trail priorities and locations.
County Rd 118/Blackfoot Trail: This trail will stay as a moderately -low priority.
Hackamore Rd/Arrowhead Dr: There was talk about the increased amount of
development that was happening in this area. It was important to everyone to put trails
where the people are, so this trail is getting moved up to a high priority from a
moderately -low priority.
Canadian Pacific Railroad: The railroad is still being used and there are no plans in the
near future to close the railroad. This trail should stay as a low priority.
County Road 11: There was an error in the trail map which needs to be updated to
reflect County Road 11 extending into Independence. This trail will eventually need to be
coordinated with the County and Independence. Keep as low priority.
Deer Hi11 Road West: This trail should be moved to high priority, but it will be
dependent on development.
Hollybush Road: There was discussion on creating a U-loop trail, but it was debated on
where exactly it would go. Keep as low priority.
Pinto Drive: Keep as low priority.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2007
Medina City Hall
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Pioneer Trail/Willow Drive: This trail will also depend on development. Along with
this trail, it was discussed to add Willow Drive from Highway 55 to Pioneer Trail. These
trails should be moved to moderately -low priority.
Tomahawk Trail: Keep as low priority.
Tuckborough Farm: This should be moved to moderately -high because of the existing
trail easement and the proposed new developments.
The Park Commission will finish prioritizing the newly proposed trails at their December
meeting.
Trail Plan Changes
Bruer mentioned creating a trail connection from City Hall to Wolsfeld Woods. This
would run south along the east line of the Leatherdale property, then east to the
Leatherdale/Crosby line, then south to the Woods.
Seeland made a suggestion regarding a possible loop connection west through her
property to the park and coming back along Reimers to the Chestnut Hill, LLC property
that would come around to a highpoint lookout on the North East corner of her lot
(access from the Chestnut Hill, LLC parcel) and continuing east to Willow Dr.
There was a general consensus from the Park Commission to add to what presently
existed on the map, a loop connection that would stay east of Homestead and would run
west from Willow, along Deerhill, then through Seelands , connecting with the Reimer
and Chestnut Hill, LLC parcels going east through the Steiner parcel back to Willow.
It was also mentioned that the trail map did not reflect the County Road 11 trail
connection to Independence, that has been previously discussed in the trail plan.
Park Plan Changes
There was a general consensus that the park plan map should reflect both active park
study areas and natural park study areas. The natural park study areas should be around:
Hidden Lake, the Dayton Property, and the Tomann Property.
Based on written and oral comments, and since the maps were still in draft form, it was
felt a motion to address these changes would be in order.
A motion was made by Galen Bruer, seconded by Madeleine Linck to recommend the
park & trail plans be modified to reflect the added trail from City Hall to Wolsfeld
Woods; to complete a loop connection from Willow Drive to Willow Drive, and to add
the natural park study areas, all as discussed. Motion passed unanimously.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2007
Medina City Hall
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VIII. Park Dedication — 705 Hamel Road
The Park Commission reviewed the applicant's town home proposal at 705 Hamel Road.
It was determined that a trail would be more suitable on the north side of Hamel Road.
A motion was made by Galen Bruer, seconded by Ben Benson to recommend taking the
cash in lieu of park dedication with the understanding that there would be enough road
right-of-way for a possible sidewalk. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Comprehensive Plan Update
Thies gave a brief update on the comprehensive plan public hearing from the night before
and mentioned that it will continue on Tuesday, December l lth
X. Staff Report
a) Park Commission Appointments — Wunsch stated that there are two seats open
for appointment/re-appointment beginning January 2008. The application
deadline is December 14th.
b) Holiday Party— Wunsch reminded everyone of the upcoming holiday party on
December 13th and requested RSVP's.
c) Hamel Legion Park Improvements — Bruer brought in some new ideas for a
fountain at Hamel Legion Park. The fountain ideas incorporated kids and were
built out of bronze. There was a general consensus that the park commission liked
the quality of these fountains, but the budget would need to be increased. Some
suggested using nature or animals instead of kids in the structure. Dykhoff
reminded everyone that the fountain needed to be of sufficient size (at least 6
feet). Wunsch gave an update that the concession stand would most likely be
moving to the 2009 CIP.
d) Rainwater Nature Area— Scherer gave a brief update that the upper pond was
leaking through the hill to the lower pond and Bentonite would need to be used to
seal the leak in the pond. He was hoping to have it done this fall, but now the
pond is frozen so it would not be sealed until next year. He said we could use the
winter to create a design plan.
XI. Adjournment
A motion was made by Gerry Dykhoff, seconded by Bob Pastor and passed unanimously to
adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Wunsch