HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/2024
Meeting Location: Municipal Center
City of
7100 147th Street West
Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124
October 3, 2024
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
INFORMAL MEETING TENTATIVE AGENDA
6:00 p.m.
1.Review Draft of Parks Amenity Plan
2.Front Burner Sports Naming Rights
3.Review Cobblestone Trail Plans
4.Review North Creek Regional GreenwayPlans–Johnny Cake Ridge Park West
5.Parks Referendum Update
6.Misc. Committee / Staff Communications
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING TENTATIVE AGENDA
7:00 p.m.
1.Call to Order and Pledge
2.Approval of the Agenda
3.Audience –10 Minutes Total Time Limit – For Items Noton this Agenda
4.Approval of the September 2024Minutes
5. Agenda Items
A.Public Comment Period on Draft Parks Amenity Plan
B. Schedule Special Meeting on Thursday, November 21, 2024
6. Committee / Staff Discussion Items
A. Parks Referendum Update
7. Input from Committee Members on Next Agenda
A. Future Meeting Items – Update on Park Dedication; More Information on Park
Facilities Fund and Joint Powers Agreements
8. Adjourn
NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS - Tentative:
Thursday, November 7, 2024 6:00 p.m. (Informal) and 7:00 p.m. (Regular)
Regular meetings are available on Spectrum Cable Channel180 and on the City’s website at
www.applevalleymn.gov
ITEM:
4.
PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY
City of
October 3, 2024
COMMITTEE MEETING DATE:
SECTION:
Regular
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 3, 2024
Minutes of the September 5, 2024, Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
PRESENT: Committee Chair Lisa Hiebert; Committee Members Mark Schori, Dave Freed,
Craig Long, Randy Bailey, and Jess Smith; Parks and Recreation Director Eric Carlson;
Parks Superintendent Steve Rother; Recreation Superintendent Nate Rosa; Recreation
Facilities Manager Brian Christianson, and Administrative Coordinator Kayla Hechsel.
ABSENT: Golf Course Manager Jim Zinck; and Committee Member Randy Bailey
ITEM 1. Call to Order
Chair Hiebert called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Everyone took part in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
ITEM 2. Approval of Agenda
MOTION: by Freed, seconded by Long, approving the Agenda as presented
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
ITEM 3. Audience 10 Minutes Total Time Limit For Items Not on the Agenda
No one wishing to speak at this time.
ITEM 4. Approval of the June 2024 Minutes.
MOTION: by Bailey, seconded by Long, to approve the June 2024 minutes as
presented.
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
ITEM 5.A. Agenda Items Update on Parks Amenity Plan Process
Parks & Recreation Director Eric Carlson provided background on the Draft Parks Amenity
Plan, including amenity data for our neighboring cities, how the budget breaks down for the
replacement of park amenities, and how we have gathered feedback so far. He highlighted
the next steps in the process. Committee chair Hiebert expressed her appreciation to staff and
committee members for hosting meetings in every park and ask the other committee
members to share what they heard from the public. Committee members shared that they
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 3, 2024
heard the following: the plan was confusing and there was too much information; questions
as to what a natural play feature is; a desire for more native plantings; and the general
sentiment that folks did not want to see their playground or tennis court be repurposed to a
different amenity. Committee member Freed also expressed that our timeline for approving a
Parks Amenity Plan may be too aggressive.
The following residents addressed the Committee:
Frank Sachs, 6603 134th Street West, shared how he would like the City to consider
removing the tennis courts and playground at Greenleaf Park. Committee member Schori
echoed Mr. Sachs and said that the courts are used frequently, especially for pickleball.
Kristi Maxwell, 128 Chaparral Drive, shared that she bought her house sight unseen because
it was directly across from a neighborhood park and her family has cherished it. She feels
duped that she was told to vote for the referendum to bring improvements to Chaparral Park
and now learns the playground at her park may be removed.
Connie Kestlar, 153 Chaparral Drive, echoed Kristi
playground at Chaparral Park. She highlighted the difficult topography of the hilly
neighborhood, and she expressed her feeling that we should tackle these amenity
replacements over time and not all at once.
Stella Hannen, a 14-year-old resident, gave a personal appeal to save Chaparral Park because
of the safety and community it provides to the neighborhood children.
ITEM 5.B. Agenda Items Update on Family Aquatic Center and Rebranding Efforts
Director Carlson provided an update on the status of the Apple Valley Family Aquatic
Center, which is now being rebranded as Splash Valley Water Park. He showed how the
budget is breaking down now that bids have been received, reviewed the upgrades we are
making at the water park with this project, and shared the construction timeline.
Committee member Long
throw it away. Committee member Freed complimented the staff on the new name and
rebranding efforts.
MOTION: by Freed, seconded by Schori, to approve the rebranding efforts of
Family Aquatic Center.
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
ITEM 5.C. Agenda Items Youth Baseball/Softball Complex Concept
Director Carlson showed the most recent concept for the youth baseball/softball complex at
Hayes Park and highlighted the features of the new concepts, the flexible field space
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 3, 2024
designated across the remaining campus, the added stormwater treatment, the expanded
parking and trail system, and the proposed removal of the outdoor hockey rinks, six
backstops, and the existing VAA building. He shared what our anticipated timeline is and our
progress with the Joint Powers Agreement with District 196.
Committee member Smith acknowledged the positive change that this project will bring and
the hard work it took to get consensus on these plans. Committee chair Hiebert asked about
the existing playground at the Community Center, and Director Carlson said the playground
will be moved to the south to accommodate the addition. Committee member Freed asked if
the hockey community pushed back on losing the outdoor rinks and Hayes Park, and
Recreation Facilities Manager Brian Christianson said that they did not raise concerns.
MOTION: by Long, seconded by Schori, to support this concept.
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
ITEM 5.D. Agenda Items Alimagnet Park Natural Resource Management Plan
Director Carlson provided background information for and summarized the contents of the
revised Draft Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for Alimagnet Park. He
highlighted that implementing the plan will take time and money, and he also mentioned that
we heard concerns about the impacts of the disc golf course and the high deer population.
Natural Resource Coordinator Samantha Berger provided additional information about the
plans for water quality treatment in Alimagnet Lake. She reiterated that revisions to the plan
include acknowledging the wildlife management and disc golf components. She highlighted
that we are planning to take this slowly and clarified for committee member Schori that
which areas of the park are a priority in the first five years of the plan.
Committee member Long asked whether we would prioritize removal of the Japanese
Knotweed due to how difficult it is to remove, and Natural Resource Coordinator Berger said
that yes, we are prioritizing the more difficult invasive species and that we have already
started working on removing them. Committee member Long also asked if we have a plan
for the trail system so that we can plan for it as were implementing the NRMP. The response
was that trails are not part of this purview.
The following residents addressed the Committee:
Brad Blackett, 457 Reflection Road, shared some history of Alimagnet Park and expressed
that this plan is long-awaited and his hopes that the Committee recommend approval of the
plan.
Cindi Dayus, 169 Strese Lane, thanked the staff for hearing the public concerns about the
deer population and the disc golf course. She highlighted the Inaugural Buckthorn Bust at
Alimagnet Park, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28.
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
October 3, 2024
MOTION: by Long, seconded by Schori, to recommend City Council adopt
the Alimagnet Natural Resource Management Plan.
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
ITEM 6. Committee/Staff Discussion Items Parks Referendum Update
Director Eric Carlson did not have any additional updates to share. Committee member
Bailey shared that the first round of City bonds were sold, and Committee member Long
requested that the City share information about the Buckthorn Bust on our social
media/website.
ITEM 7. Input from Committee Members on Next Agenda
Director Carlson acknowledged that the Committee has asked for more information about the
Park Dedication process, which we will provide at a later meeting. Committee member Freed
asked for more information on the Joint Powers Agreements we have with District 196 and
committee member Schori asked for more information on the Parks Facilities Fund.
ITEM 8. Adjourn
There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was
adjourned.
MOTION: by Freed, seconded by Long, to adjourn the meeting at 8:44 p.m.
VOTE: Yes 6, No 0
Respectfully Submitted,
Kayla Hechsel, Administrative Coordinator
Approved by the Apple Valley Parks
and Recreation Advisory Committee Lisa Hiebert, Chair
on October 3, 2024.
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ITEM:
5.A.
PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY
City of
October 3, 2024
COMMITTEE MEETING DATE:
SECTION:
Regular
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
Update on Parks Amenity Plan Process
STAFF CONTACT: DEPARTMENT/DIVISION:
Eric Carlson, Director Parks and Recreation Department
Action Requested
N/A informational item
Summary
The City hired HKGi as a consultant to assist in the development of a park amenities plan for
the Apple Valley park system, focusing primarily on playgrounds, tennis courts, and basketball
courts. After reviewing many different data sources, a Draft Parks Amenity Plan was
developed, which provides a plan for amenity replacement over the next five years. The Draft
Parks Amenity Plan was posted on the City website in July for the public to review. We placed
signage at each playground in the city to encourage residents to log into our website to learn
more information, provide comments, and participate in the process.
To gather as much community feedback as possible, we hosted meetings in 49 parks between
July 29 and August 29, and we asked the residents to provide their comments on our social
pinpoint site, which remained open to public comment through Friday, September 13. We
received over 500 comments from residents within the open comment period.
We are currently in the process of received and revising the
Draft Parks Amenity Plan to best reflect what we have heard. An updated Plan will be posted
on the City website by mid-to-late October so residents can review and comment. Our goal is to
adopt the plan by the end of the year so that we can begin making improvements in 2025.
At the meetings we hosted in the parks, we encouraged residents to join us at the October 3
meeting of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee. We would like to use this time in the
meeting to invite residents forward to share their feedback on the Draft Parks Amenity Plan.
We will incorporate feedback received at this meeting into the revised Draft Plan.
Background
In November 2023, Apple Valley residents approved a parks referendum authorizing a total of
$73.25 million to invest in parks, trails, natural resources, Kelley Park, Redwood Park, Hayes
Arena, the Apple Valley Community Center and Senior Center, a youth baseball/softball
complex at Hayes Park, and a community pool at Redwood Park. Of this total, $18,750,000 is
dedicated to the improvements of parks, which includes playgrounds, trails, lighting, irrigation,
tennis/basketball/pickleball courts, skate park, and parking lots.
City of
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
ORDER FOR SPECIAL INFORMAL AND REGULAR PARKS & RECREATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
I, Lisa Hiebert, Chair of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee,
hereby order that special informal and regular meetings of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee be held at the Municipal Center, 7100 147th Street West, on Thursday, the
21st day of November, 2024, at 6 p.m. (informal meeting) and 7 p.m. (regular meeting), for the
purpose of reviewing the Parks Amenity Plan and conducting any other necessary business as
posted on the agenda to follow.
In accordance with this order, the Parks and Recreation Administrative Coordinator is
requested to provide notice of this meeting as required by law.
DATED this 3rd day of October, 2024.
Lisa Hiebert, Chair
Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
City of
P U B L I C N O T I C E
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
October 3, 2024
SPECIAL INFORMAL & REGULAR MEETINGS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee of the
City of Apple Valley will hold special informal and regular meetings, beginning at 6p.m.
(informal meeting) and 7 p.m. (regular meeting), on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the
Apple Valley Municipal Center, 7100 147thStreet West, for the purpose of reviewing the Parks
Amenity Plan and conducting any other necessary business as posted on the agenda to follow.
BY ORDER OF THE PARKS AND
RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
_______________________________________
Kayla Hechsel, Administrative Coordinator
Parks and Recreation Department