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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/17/2005 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 17, 2005 Minutes of the May 17, 2005 Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Chair Russ DeFauw; Committee Members Loren Hegland, Tina Rankin, and Erica Robinson;Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson. ABSENT: Charlie Maus, Jim Sheldon, and Lee Strom ITEM #1. Chair Russ DeFauw called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Erica Robinson to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM #3. Approval of the May 2005 Meeting Minutes MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Russ DeFauw to approve the May 2005 meeting minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 4.A . Update from Parks and Recreation Director  Mr. Johnson gave a review of the City Council work session held May 13, 2005: Potential bond issue projects estimated costs. Another 8,000 people are estimated in the southeastern area of the city. Currently the City owns 38 acres in the southeastern quadrant and the potential to work with Fisher Gravel for park dedication as the gravel area develops to make it a 65 acre park area. Work is slated to begin in the spring on the Minnesota transit station park-and-ride also planned in the area. A water tower is to be installed at th 160 Street and Pilot Knob Road. The Senior Center is growing to capacity. They’re currently at 600 members. Legacy Park area was originally considered for a new senior center, but has since been cancelled because of parking issues in the area. - 1 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 17, 2005 The Mayor is very interested in keeping a swimming facility on the west side of the city, keeping the east and west sides comparable. Recommendation has been made to get a forty-question survey, at a cost of $10,000, out to the citizens. City Council suggested adding a question to the survey in regards to the golf course clubhouse. If the City receives positive feedback on the survey, the next step is to form ad hoc committees to go out into the community to generate interest, then go to a vote in the spring of 2006. City Council’s feel is that it’s all or nothing on the question of the bond. They don’t want different interest groups breaking off against each other; i.e. teens against seniors, etc.  Legacy Park – Some construction items have been ordered, but are on hold due to infrastructure construction.  Alimagnet Park and Valleywood Golf Course have been hit by vandalism.  Cedar Knolls, Hagemiester and Wildwood tennis courts are almost completed with the SwissFlex surface. Staff reports receiving a call from a very happy resident in the Wildwood Park area. The courts come with a fifteen year warranty.  Cobblestone developers have come to the City with the Phase Four design, on the south side of the lake. This will give the City the dual trail and a green space on the end. Included, there are private parks and a community pool that will be maintained by their association. nd  Committee was invited to the Alimagnet Park disc golf July 2, 2005 grand opening. Committee comments:  Mr. DeFauw suggested that Hayes Park is the correct location for a senior center. It’s the heart of the population with most seniors within walking distance.  Ms. Rankin liked the idea of a survey to get the feel of interest in a park bond referendum.  Mr. DeFauw suggested that Redwood be included to make it viable or why bother. The City may have to put in a modern facility and make it maintainable.  Mr. Johnson noted that Valleywood Golf Course is an enterprise fund, the same as the Arenas. As a public entity, some of the operating costs are otherwise covered and Valleywood shows a positive cash flow. As a private facility, this would not be true.  Valleywood’s clubhouse/banquet center revenue/cost projections are based on Eagan’s Community Center and Royal Cliff Banquet Center. The caution from both facilities is that a banquet manager is needed to field the inquiry calls and contracts.  Mr. Johnson stated at the City is in the golf business. We need a place for golf merchandise and to facilitate sales and serve our customers. “It’s a Cadillac golf course with a Volkswagen clubhouse.” - 2 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 17, 2005 MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Tina Rankin recommending City Council authorization of Staff to engage a company to perform a public interest survey. The survey should include all of the items listed on the Potential Bond Issue Projects report dated May 13, 2005 plus a Valleywood Golf Course clubhouse. DISCUSSION: Mr. Hegland suggested a clubhouse bond item would be more likely to pass with more options similar to Option D of the CNH Architects Design Report: new clubhouse and generously sized banquet facility for 250 people at an approximate cost of $4,100,000. The Committee is supportive of the venture and recommended setting up the survey as neutral as possible. They see this as really the last big project. They believe future bond referendums will be more maintenance related and less money. Ms. Robinson felt positive about the venture and noted that the annual bond referendum cost would be comparable to a family’s going to an event at the metrodome. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 4.B. Thank You from Department of Natural Resources. Committee reviewed the thank you letter received from Fisheries Specialist Rod Ramsell regarding the City’s cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources walleye rearing program at Valleywood. ITEM 5.A. Other – Summer Brochure Copies of the City Newsletter/Parks and Recreation Brochure were available for review. They’ve been mailed to residents. ITEM 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Erica Robinson to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 - 3 -