HomeMy Public PortalAbout10.21.2020_Park Commission Meeting MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
October 21, 2020
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on October 21, 2020 at 7:00
p.m., which was held virtually pursuant Minn. Stat. Sec. 13D.021. Park Commission Chair Ann
Thies presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present: Ann Thies, Steve Lee, John Jacob, Terry Sharp, Troy
Hutchinson, Mary Morrison, Angela Bernhardt
Commissioners Absent: None
Also Present: Public Works Director Steve Scherer, Assistant City
Administrator Jodi Gallup, Planning Consultant Nate
Sparks
2) Additions to the Agenda: None.
3) Approval of the Minutes from:
August 19, 2020 Meeting
Page 6 – Under Three Rivers Park Liaison – Add, The Park Commissioners
thanked Commissioner Sharp for his idea and for volunteering to be the liaison.
Page 6 – Under Diamond Lake Regional Trail – Strick: he is concerned with
additional foot traffic. Add, Jacob is concerned with the additional motorized and
unmotorized traffic along Hunter Drive and Medina Road. This creates a serious
safety concern. Jacob would prefer a trail option to the west.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Sharp to approve the minutes from August
19, 2020 as amended.
A roll call vote was taken:
Park Commissioner Ann Thies - aye
Park Commissioner Terry Sharp - aye
Park Commissioner Steve Lee - aye
Park Commissioner John Jacob – aye
Park Commissioner Troy Hutchinson – aye
Park Commissioner Mary Morrison – aye
Park Commissioner Angela Bernhardt – aye
Motion passed unanimously.
4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None.
5) City Council Update
Public Works Director Steve Scherer provided an update on recent City Council actions.
6) Holy Name Lake Estates Preliminary Plat – Park Dedication Review
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October 21, 2020
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Planning Consultant Nate Sparks provided a staff report for a subdivision review for
Holy Name Lake Estates located on Pinto Drive north of Holy Name Lake. The proposal
is to subdivide three parcels into 6 lots on approximately a 90-acre site with about 25
acres under the OHW of Holy Name Lake.
Sparks noted that the City’s Open Space plan identifies two areas of key natural
resources, which are moderate quality and will not be impacted by the development.
Sparks stated that the Park Dedication Ordinance requires dedication at the rate of 10%
land, 8% cash value of the land, or a combination thereof. This property comes back at
approximately 52 acres of buildable land, which would be a maximum of 5.2 acres of
park land dedication. The cash value is capped at the maximum $8,000 per lot, with three
new lots the cash amount would be $24,000.
Sparks noted that reviewing this property against the park and trail plan, shows a city trail
corridor and a regional trail corridor running north/south through the site. The applicant is
proposing a segment that goes east/west on the north part of the property and a segment
that runs between the properties totaling a 20-foot-wide trail corridor that would continue
along Pinto Drive.
Sparks stated that generally, what the applicant is proposing is acceptable in concept, but
staff is recommending some design flexibility by extending the east/west part across the
entirety of the north part of the lot, which gives ability to go through the site to Pinto
Road or go around and down in a different area to provide the maximum flexibility to
develop a more prominent regional trail in this area. Staff recommends a trail that is 25
feet in width due to regional significance and wider drainage and utility easements.
The Park Dedication Analysis shows that the trail corridors with adjusted widths are 0.93
acres, the additional northwest corridor is 0.25 acres for a total of 1.18 acres. This is
about 22.7% of the park dedication requirement with the remainder cash being $18,553
(77.3% of $24,000).
Thies asked for clarification on the location of the proposed trails on the property.
Scherer clarified that staff is recommending taking the entire northern edge of the
property in case another adjacent property develops, which might be better suited for the
regional trail.
Jacob noted that the regional trail was just in concept/planning phase and questioned
what the plan was for this property if a regional trail was not constructed? Scherer stated
the city’s local trail plan also shows a proposed trail running through this property.
Donavon DesMarais, the applicant, stated that they are trying to work with the city and
be considerate of the proposed trail corridor and be accommodating without it devaluing
the whole project by going through the middle of a lot. The applicant would prefer if the
trail did not go through the project at all if it worked for the trail to be on adjacent
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October 21, 2020
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property, but they would be open to having it go one way or the other by either going
north/south through the flag portion, or have the trail stay on the northern property line as
indicated in the staff recommendation.
Thies questioned about the extra width of the utility easements. Sparks stated that it
would be recommended to include in the motion, so the trail easement could be used for
what it was intended for.
There was consensus that the proposal seems to be logical and not overly intrusive, but
still allows flexibility for when the next parcels develop.
DesMarais asked when they would know what trail easement would be developed, so
future property owners could be assured that three-fourths of their lot lines were not
covered in trails. He questioned if the city would return some of the trail easements.
Scherer stated that the city has vacated easements in the past that were not needed, but
the city would not take any action until a trail corridor had been secured.
Jacobs asked for clarification on the location of the homes from the lot lines. The
applicant stated approximately 124 feet.
A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Sharp to recommend to the city council
that we have wider trail easements per the staff’s recommendation of at least 25 feet in
width when the trail is not adjacent to the roadway and at least 15 feet when adjacent,
that the grading plan for the road incorporate a bench for the trail, that there are wider
drainage and utility easements, and any remainder be provided as cash-in-lieu of land
dedication, which would be approximately 1.1 acres of trail corridor and a cash
remainder of 77.3% of the $24,000.
A roll call vote was taken:
Park Commissioner Ann Thies - aye
Park Commissioner Terry Sharp - aye
Park Commissioner Steve Lee - aye
Park Commissioner John Jacob – aye
Park Commissioner Troy Hutchinson – aye
Park Commissioner Mary Morrison – aye
Park Commissioner Angela Bernhardt – aye
Motion passed unanimously.
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October 21, 2020
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7) Hunter Lions Park Concept Plans
Landscape Architect Candace Amberg with WSB reviewed the Hunter Lions Park master
plan goals, process, the comments received from the public. She noted that there were 20
users on the Social PinPoint site who contributed 38 total comments on the master plan.
The feedback included:
Playground
Would like benches on both sides of playground and trees for shade
Notes on challenging events, climbing activities
Field
Consider multi-use green space instead of formal field
Instead of field consider other options (hockey rink, more tennis/ pickleball,
frisbee golf, skate park, Blokken-sauce)
Courts
Reduce to 2 pickleball only and move further away from trail/road
Screen courts and chainlink fencing (2)
Like tennis courts moved away from kids playground
Like/love pickleball (3)
Pickleball not good option for small space, better at Hamel CC. 1 like; 1 dislike
Not many people play pickleball, 2 tennis courts better; 3 likes; 1 dislike
Single tennis court is good since there are 2 at Legion Park
Love having full basketball court
Like basketball court in its own space
Trails
Like exercise stations along trails (3) and 3 likes
Like expanded trail and event pods (2) and 3 + 2 likes; 1 dislike
More climbing activities in pods rather than hiding
Paved trail in prairie for improved accessibility (2) and 1 like
Feel it’s hazardous to have the trail along Hunter Dr cross the parking lot, would
be better to move closer to the street (3) and 3 likes; 2 dislikes
Parking
If possible, rethink design and orientation for more park space
Off-street parking is needed for safety
Natural Resources
Prairie: under-utilized, consider other reason to visit this space
Prairie: bee hive stations?
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Prairie: native plants to screen neighbors: 1 like
Prairie: archery range: 3 likes; 2 dislikes
Misc
Porta potties valuable near playground
Consider value of moving amenities around for cost to be worth benefit
Jacob suggested that the plan show an area for a future Eagle Scout project to build a picnic
shelter or custom bench to help save on costs.
Morrison asked if the plan should show two tennis courts and just stripe for pickleball.
Scherer stated that having actual pickleball courts provides a better pickleball experience
than striping tennis courts. It was noted that pickleball is a growing sport, and the city does
not currently have any pickleball courts.
Hutchinson said that if pickleball courts are built, people will come and use them.
Morrison said she was not in favor of putting in an outfield fence for the ball field.
Thies commented that the trail heading back to the nature area could be closer to the creek
and woods to provide a better nature experience.
It was noted that the parking lot was too big and questioned if it made sense to reduce or
leave as is?
Gallup noted that there were comments regarding wanting to continue the trail along Hunter,
so trail users were not forced to go into the parking lot or around the parking lot.
Lee noted that the tree should be removed from the boulevard to create a safer trail crossing
along Hunter Drive.
Lee stated he was supportive of pickleball and staging the park improvements.
It was also noted that there is a need for a safe trail crossing from the park across Hunter
Drive to connect to the other side of the road and neighborhood.
The Park Commissioners discussed staging the improvements over the course of a few years
due to limited funds. It was noted that the tennis and pickleball courts were more urgent. It
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October 21, 2020
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was also discussed to move the backstop for the ball field, but not fully construct the field at
this time since it is just being used as a practice field.
Scherer stated he would get quotes on moving the backstop for the ball fields.
8) Discuss Naming of Woods near Reserve of Medina Development
Scherer stated that the city owns 3.5 acres of woods and a trail easement going into the
woods on the backside of the Reserve of Medina development to the west of County
Road 116. The city also owns 8.78 acres of woods just to the south of Shawnee Woods
Road, which the city hopes to eventually connect these two woods as development
occurs. He asked the Park Commissioners to start thinking of a name for the woods,
because he would like to install an entrance sign in the spring. It was suggested to call the
woods “Shawnee Woods”.
9) Staff Report
General Items:
o Lakeshore Survey – The Park Commissioners stated that they would like
to further discuss this item at their next meeting.
10) Adjourn
A motion was made by Sharp, seconded by Morrison, to adjourn the meeting.
A roll call vote was taken:
Park Commissioner Ann Thies - aye
Park Commissioner Terry Sharp - aye
Park Commissioner Steve Lee - aye
Park Commissioner John Jacob – aye
Park Commissioner Troy Hutchinson – aye
Park Commissioner Mary Morrison – aye
Park Commissioner Angela Bernhardt – aye
Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup