The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09/05/20240 4IV IN Sim"V ITEM: 4,004 4. 668 mim PARKS &RECREATION ADVISORY City Of Apple COMMITTEE MEETING DATE: October 3, 2024 Valley 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 Woei Mavjlj 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 f¢conSi&e 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's concerns about removing the 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 5.11. 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 asked that we not get rid of the front gate's dinosaur, or at least don't 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 -2of4- 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 we're 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. -3of4- 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 S itted.„ Kayla HAsel., Administrative Coordinator Approved by the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on October 3, 2024. 6 Lisa Hiebert, Chair -4of4-