HomeMy Public PortalAbout04.20.2016_Park Commission Meeting MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2016
Medina City Hall
Page 1 of 5
The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on April 20, 2016 at 7:00
p.m. at Medina City Hall. Park Commission Secretary Nate Pearson presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present: Nate Pearson, John Jacob, Dino DesLauriers, Michelle
Beddor, Lori Meehan, and Lisa Cole
Commissioners Absent: Steve Lee
Also Present: Assistant City Administrator Jodi Gallup, Public Works
Director Steve Scherer and City Council member Lorie
Cousineau.
2) Additions to the Agenda
The Park Commission welcomed Lisa Cole to the Commission and introductions were
made.
There was a general consensus to discuss agenda item 9 after the City Council update.
3) Approval of the Minutes from February 17, 2016 Regular Meeting
Page 2, 6th paragraph, “A motion was made...to allow addition additional
sponsors...”
A motion was made by Jacob and seconded by DesLauriers to approve the minutes from
February 17, 2016 with the noted change. Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update
Lorie Cousineau gave the Park Commission an update on recent City Council actions.
9) Scoreboard Graphics at Paul Fortin Memorial Field
Ted Fust with the Hamel Lions Club and Hamel Hawks reported that the Hamel Lions
Club was able to raise $12,000 toward the purchase of a new scoreboard, which only left
$1,149.49 left to be spent from the Park Dedication fund.
Gallup stated that the City Council had accepted the donations and approved the purchase
of the scoreboard at their meeting the previous evening. The Park Commission now needs
to approve the sign advertisement graphics for the scoreboard and round signs and banner
recognizing the smaller donors.
Discussion took place on the location of the sign advertisements. It was noted that the
larger donors at the $6,000 and $3,000 levels would be permanently recognized on the
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April 20, 2016
Medina City Hall
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scoreboard. The $1,000 donors would receive round sign advertisements that would be
displayed for three seasons centered on the fence under the scoreboard. The banner
advertisement would be up for one season next to the dugout on the outfield side.
A motion was made by DesLauriers and seconded by Jacob to approve the updated
permanent graphics for the scoreboard, 3 year round sign graphics, and one year banner
graphics. Motion passed unanimously.
6) Dellcroft – PUD Concept Plan – West of Arrowhead Drive, North and South of
Hamel Road – Park Dedication Review
City Planner Finke stated that the applicant has been before the Planning Commission
and City Council to present their concept plan and they did not receive favorable
feedback. The applicant recognized that they did not receive a lot of support for the
current plan design so they decided not to attend tonight’s Park Commission Meeting.
Finke asked the Park Commission to look at the plan in the broader context of the
Comprehensive Plan process. He noted that the applicant had shown a substantial trail
network through the proposed development and questioned if the Park Commission felt
those trails should be maintained by the homeowners or city?
The Park Commission discussed if it was sustainable for a homeowners association to
maintain the trails into the future or if it would become too burdensome.
Cindy Piper, longtime Medina resident, stated that the southern trail shown on the plan is
an old horse trail and it would not need to be maintained. She stated that she would hope
that the Park Commission would leave that trail in the plan. She also noted that people
that own dogs like long perimeter nature trails as shown in the plan. She stated that the
trail would run mainly through conservation dedicated land so it does not butt up to the
proposed homes.
Meehan stated that she liked the idea of keeping the south trail.
Jacob stated that there is a need to provide a safe way for people to walk away from
traffic.
7) 2040 Comprehensive Plan Review for Parks & Trails
Finke stated that this meeting is intended to be the kick off for the Park Commission to
begin discussing the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update. He gave the commissioners
background information on the comprehensive plan stating that it needs to be updated
every ten years to guide growth and development and because we are required to update
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April 20, 2016
Medina City Hall
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it. He stated that the Metropolitan Council has reduced their growth projection for
Medina and that the new plan could see a 40% reduction in growth than the current plan.
Finke noted that the Park Commission should look at how the local park and trail system
can work with the regional system.
Cole stated that she had received feedback from her neighborhood’s Facebook page that
they would also like to see trail connections to the regional trails.
Pearson suggested blending the updated land use concept for the comprehensive plan
with the city’s existing park and trail plan to bring back to the Park Commission for
further review.
The Park Commission did a SWOT analysis exercise of the current park and trail system
to analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Strengths – ability to make decisions on our system, park dedication funds, support for
system, framework in place for parks and trails, good existing parks, diversity in park
system, preservation of rural character = open space
Weaknesses – lack of trail development, all the lines on the map are not achievable,
approach trail planning the wrong way, need topography and views while planning, put
thought into trail purpose, crossing Highway 55, lack of trails without crossings, need for
soccer facilities, splash pad, hockey rink
Opportunities – identify areas to preserve, connect to Three Rivers Park District Trail
System (regional trails), do something different/unique, connect parks with trails, define
trail purposes, save costs on private trail links, adopt-a-trail program, use development
for trail access
Threats – crossing Highway 55, NIMBY (not in my backyard syndrome), ongoing
maintenance costs
Gallup stated that she would send out the draft SWOT analysis to the Park
Commissioners so they had another opportunity to add to the list.
8) The Park at Fields of Medina Lighting Request
Scherer reported that in a response to a few complaints about lighting and lack thereof at
the Park at Fields of Medina, the Park Commission had requested that he get a quote for
the installation of a light pole and electric service to the park. He stated that the
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April 20, 2016
Medina City Hall
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transformer to provide electric service through Wright Hennepin Electric would be
approximately $3,500 to install. He suggested that they bring the power to the garbage
enclosure where they will install a meter, service panel and light pole. He also
recommended extending the electric service to the pavilion. He estimated these items
would cost around $5,000.
There was a general consensus of the Park Commission to proceed with the electrical
work as Scherer had recommended. It was also noted that the light should try to be
positioned to not light up the portable toilet.
9) Scoreboard Graphics at Paul Fortin Memorial Field (moved to after item #5)
10) Monarch Butterfly Garden Location
Gallup reported that the City Council approved a quote with Designing Nature to install a
butterfly garden with two different options. She stated that the Park Commission needed
to determine which option to plant. The first option would be to plant a butterfly garden
in front of the Hamel Community Building and the second option would be to plant a
stand-alone garden in a full sun location.
A motion was made by Meehan and seconded by DesLauriers to plant a butterfly garden
in front of the Hamel Community Building. Motion passed unanimously.
11) Schedule Spring Park Tour
The time and date for the annual park tour was discussed. It was determined to hold the
park tour at our next regularly scheduled meeting on May 18th, but move the start time of
the meeting up to 5 p.m. The Park Commission requested driving some of the possible
future trail corridors, visiting the Park at Fields of Medina, and stopping at Hamel Legion
Park as the last stop.
A motion was made by Meehan and seconded by Jacob to schedule the annual park tour
on May 18th beginning at 5 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
12) Staff Report
Dugout Covers – Scherer reported that the City has $25,000 budgeted in Park
Dedication to build dugout covers at Hamel Legion Park. He is collecting quotes
for the project right now. Pearson stated that he had a contact for a contractor that
just built dugout covers in a different park. Pearson will forward his contact
information to staff to get an additional quote.
Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2016
Medina City Hall
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Spring Clean-up Day Involvement – Gallup reported that the City’s annual Clean-
Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th from 8 a.m. to noon. She encouraged
the Park Commissioners to attend.
Arrowhead Drive Trail Update – Gallup reported that the bid opening for the
Arrowhead Drive Trail project is on April 21st at 11 a.m. If bids come back
favorably, the City will award a contract at the May 3, 2016 City Council
meeting.
General Items – no additional general items to report.
13) Adjourn
A motion was made by Meehan, seconded by DesLauriers and passed unanimously, to
adjourn the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.