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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-25-17 PARKS � RECREATION COMMISSION September 25, 2017 Regular Meeting DRAFT Members Present: Matzreen Bartz,Mike Elia.son,Baxb Farrell,Bryan Feldhaus, Scott McDonald, Cxaig Nelson,Dave Speich,Lincoln Tilson,Jim Young Members Absent: None Staff Present: Dan Schultz,Director of Paxks and Recreation and Sonja Honl,Recoxding Secretary Others Present: None 1. CALL TO ORDER: Eliason called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 28,2017 MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Farxell to appxove the minutes of the August 28,2017 meeting. SECOND by Young. Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 4. AUDIENCE INPUT: None 5. DISCUSSION (Response to Audience Input): None 6. OLD BUSINESS: a. Parks Master Plan Update—Per Schultz,we are preparing to xeview the fourth section of the Parks Master Plan Update: Needs Assessment and Recommendations. The City will host two open houses in October to gather input from the public regaxding things such as what is working with the curYent pla.n,what could be done to improve the park system, cuxrent trends,xesidents' visions for the future and what they think is impoxtant in a park system. Schultz would like the Commissioners to attend the meetings so they can talk to xesidents, answex questions and get an idea of what's important to residents. (I'ilson arrived at 7:13 p.m.) Having one of the open houses immediately before the October Commission meeting was suggested,as well as having an on-line option for public comments and questions. Schultz will check into both of these options, and will also see if we could do an on-line survey. The Commission asked if we have information available that shows oux budget for park facilities compared to the budgets of other cities. Being able to provide residents with this information will give them a better idea of what we have to work with. Schultz will put a budget compaxison together. 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Natural Resource Management Plan—Carroll's Woods/Schwarz Pond Park—The in- depth management Site Inventory and Natutal Resource Management Plan (NRMP) was included in this month's packet. Schultz explained how the ecological plan was cxeated. He explained that it helps us plan for the future. The Commission had several comments xegarding the NRMP including the following: 1)T'hexe axe some types of weeds that volunteexs can easily help remove, such as spotted knapweed,Japanese hedge parsley,and gaxlic mustard. 2)'The NRMP conclusion doesn't include what should be done first,where to start,when to sta,rt, or what will happen if we do nothing. The Commission asked that these things be added to the conclusion. Without this, there's no real guideline. 3) Fox Section 9.,beginning on page 29, the Commission asked that a map be added that labels the seven managements and what they are. They thought that the topogxaphical map was very hard to xead and asked that it be made - 1 - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION September 25, 2017 Regular Meeting clearer, so that you can see the elevations (xemoving the underlying aerial view would really help). 5)They noted that there is also nothing on Schwarz Pond and its management in the NRMP. Per Schultz, the wedand axeas are managed by our Public Woxks Department staff. 6)T'he Commission noted that on page 23,in section 5.2 Disturbance Patterns, there is no mention of encroachment, such as distuxbance of paxkland by people who live neax the boundary of the park,and this needs to be added. � On page 31, undeY Desired Futuxe Conditions,having a roof shelter fox the school is mentioned. The Commission felt that while it would be nice to have a roof sheltex,it should be on the school's property, not in the park. They asked that something be added to the NRMI' stating that any roof sheltex that is built would be on school property. 8) On page 33,undex Desired Futute Conditions,wheYe it says "We recommend management to limit periodic distuxbance fxom clearing rights-of-way through customized vegetative management..." the Commission asked what can be done to prevent clear cutting on an easement like they did the last time when they left a lot of debris. Schultz noted that the pipeline company did let things grow quite a bit, and he will find out if there's anything we can do as far as this. He will ask that specifics be added to the NRMP;the pipeline may be responsible for doing something and they may not be holding up their end of the baxga.in. 9)The NRMP describes a number of kinds of soils and topography. The Commission asked that definitions foY these be added. The Commission asked if we have a funding souxce for the recommended actions. Pex Schultz, we do have funding set aside to start looking into this. We will be woxking with grant writers from Great RiveY GYeening and our goal is to increase the money we have. These funds are for the total pxoject, so we need to set priorities xegarding what to do first. Pex Schultz,we will be submitting Yevisions from the Commission,as well as from sta.ff who are also reviewing the plan, to Applied Ecological Services. Per Schultz, the NRMI'is a xesouxce that will be used when we apply for grants fxom the state or other sources,and it pxovides us with a plan so that we know what to do first and how to get it done.We hope to begin implementing the recommendations in 2018. The Coxnmission stressed the need to have specific priorities included in the plan: what is cxitical,a check list and timeline,what we need to do to get to the stage where the site is in good shape and we axe doing routine maintenance to keep it that way. T'he Commission asked if there is a plan for trail restoxation, such as the portion of the trail to Clover Lane,as this section is steep and overgrown. Per Schultz, one option for trail restoration could be to use wood chips £rom the buckthorn that is Yemoved. (Young departed at 8:13 p.m.) Schultz will look into this further. Baxtz asked what Schultz was looking for fxom the Commission. Schultz asked that the Commissioners continue reviewing the NRMP, asking questions and making comments. We will get answexs and it will be Yeviewed aga.in. b. Director's Report—The pask improvement fund balance as of August 31, 2017 was $577,787.21. Dedication fees of$1,426.79 were received. No grants ox donations were xeceived. Intexest was $108.88. 'TheYe wexe expenditures of$203,700.78 fox Greystone Park construction costs and grass seed foY Ailesbury Park. Award Winning Gardener—We xeceived a nice thank you letter from one of our young garden plot participants who won si�c ribbons at the County fair for peppers he gxew this summer. Greystone Park—The playground equipment has been installed, the park has been seeded,and the picnic table shelter will be installed soon. 'I"he sun shades for over the playground equipment will be installed in the spring. A ribbon cutting will be scheduled this fall once the sheltex is done. - 2 - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION September 25, 2017 Regular Meeting Claret Park Little Free Library—Some residents who live near Claret Park wrote to e�cpxess their appreciation for the City's help with their neighboxhood's Little Free Library. City staff helped to install the little library last fall, and this summer they also installed a pavex pad near the base of the libYary. Little Wild Program—This program was held at the Rosemount Community Center Ice Arena again this year. It was sponsoxed the Rosemount Axea Athletic Associa.tion. Loon Presentation—A traveling naturalist gave a presenta,tion on loons at the Steeple Center earlier th.is month. Leprechaun Days Trash Collection—We had anotheY successful year of Yecycling at Lepxechaun Days. City staff and master xecycleY volunteers worked haxd to sepaxate recyclable items and organic material from trash. Bartz asked if little skate pods had been installed at GYeystone Park. PeY Schultz, a small ska.te pod with a grind rail was installed and we intend to install another one neaxby. We haven't sent anything out to people asking for input,but it's something we can do. Bartz asked about the possibility of installing musical-type amenities at a park. Per Schultz,we had looked into this foY Greystone Park,but some residents didn't support it for that paxk. Schwaxz Pond Paxk ma,y be a possible location fox musical-themed amenities,as the homes and apartments are not right next to the playgxound equipment. 8. ADJOURNMENT -MOTION by Farrell to adjoum the meeting. SECOND by Tilson. Ayes: 8 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sonja Honl,Paxks and RecYeation Secretary - 3 -