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Home My WebLink About03/18/2003 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE March 18, 2003 Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Acting Chair Persons Loren Hegland and Tina Rankin Committee (arrived at 6:40pm); Members Erica Robertson, James Sheldon, and Lee Strom; Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Recreation Superintendent Scott Breuer; City Planner Tom Lovelace; Traditions Development, Inc. Project Manager Scott McMahon; and Student Observer Jamie Nusbaum. ABSENT: Committee Member Russ DeFauw and Charlie Maus. ITEM #1. Acting Chair Loren Hegland called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda. Mr. Johnson requested Item 4.A Committee Organization be tabled until the next meeting, anticipating all Committee members in attendance at that time. MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Jim Sheldon to approve the agenda tabling Item 4.A. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 * Loren Hegland relinquished the Chair to Tina Rankin. ITEM #3. Approval of November 2002 Minutes. MOTION: by Erica Robertson, seconded by Loren Hegland to approve the minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 3, No – 0 Abstain – 2 (Sheldon and Strom) ITEM #4.A. Committee Organization. Tabled. 1 ITEM 4.B . Cobblestone Lake Park Update – Phase 2. Randy Johnson reviewed the memo dated March 12, 2003 included in the agenda packet. Scott McMahon, project manager, was on hand to answer questions regarding the project and specifically Phase 2. Mr. Johnson publicly thanked Mr. McMahon for his work on this project and the good working relationship Traditions Development, Inc. has with the City of Apple Valley. There are some clean-up items totaling between $50,000 and $100,000 yet to be completed in Phase 1. Conceptual cost budget information was included. One contingent item is the hydro-seeding done last fall. Traditions Development, Inc. is consulting with Marc Putman of Putman Planning & Design on the design of Phase 2. Color copies of Phase 2 were distributed to Committee members. Preliminary Plat has been submitted for City Council approval. Park area will include a 300 ft. pier, plaza areas, structured play equipment, statue, and nature trails. Plans will include a formal entry into the park, with structures, to direct people in. Mr. Johnson noted that when staff reviewed the conceptual plan, they didn’t want to specifically name tennis courts or athletic fields. These areas of the plan should say “green space.” Another point of consideration is the mailbox locations on city property versus private property. No mailbox will be permitted on city property. The pathway connection from Diamond Path has been eliminated because of the grade on the north end of the park. Grading issues are yet to be worked out regarding the connection between Apple Valley East Park neighborhood into this park area. The three-acre parcel of land proposed as an addition to Apple Valley East Park will be eliminated and used as a small water holding pond as determined by the City’s engineering staff. Planning Commission gave it’s recommendation to City Council for approval of the Phase 2 design. City Council gave approval in February contingent on review by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Mr. McMahon stated that Traditions Development’s goal is to put together some neat things in this development, but it will require some flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking. They would like to help in any way they can with this project. Additional items of discussion included the “welcoming” feel of a park entrance, gravel operations timeline, parking requirements and locations for this type of park, and promotion of the park. MOTION: by Jim Sheldon, seconded by Lee Strom to recommend City Council approval after the resolving of the mailbox issue and giving direction to Mr. Putnam on formal vs. informal play areas 2 (no soccer fields or tennis courts). Reiterate that the City has committed $900,000 from park dedication funds for the construction of what they consider a base park. The park to include a dual trail system around the park, open green space toward Apple Valley East, and playgrounds. No other funds are available. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 th ITEM 4.C . 4 of July Parade Rules. City Council asked the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee to put together a set of th rules to assist the 4 of July Freedom Days Committee in the coordination of the annual th 4 of July parade. Staff has met with the Freedom Days Committee representatives and conducted a survey of other area community celebrations. A draft proposal set of rules was reviewed and discussed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Rule #1 – Add - Freedom Days Committee determination will be final. Rule #7 – Change - All commercial and political entries, as determined by the Freedom Days Committee, will pay a fee of $150. Apple Valley City Council members are requested to be volunteer in-parade marshals of Apple Valley Freedom Days. Each City Council member is allowed one vehicle. They are responsible for providing their own vehicle. MOTION: by Loren Hegland, seconded by Jim Sheldon to accept and recommend City Council approval of the Apple Valley Freedom Days Parade Rules as amended/changed. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 ITEM 4D. Playground Equipment Selection. The Committee and all others present reviewed the Apple Grove and Briar Oaks parks playground equipment proposals provided by Miracle, Landscape Structures, and Little Tykes. All three vendors currently have equipment within the city park system. The proposed structures were quoted at $35,000 each; the equipment, warranty, and product are all very similar between vendors. A vote was taken. Little Tykes product A was selected for Apple Grove Park and Landscape Structures product B was selected for Briar Oaks Park. 3 ITEM 4.E. Budget Concerns An update memo was included in the agenda packet. Mr. Johnson outlined some of the ways Apple Valley will be addressing the budget deficit in 2003. The budgets will be very tight and watched closely. He predicted that 2004 could be a tougher budget year. The City may be looking at reducing free programs, raising user fees, cutting warminghouses, and asking for youth athletic associations to cover some of the field costs involved in their programs in the future. Staff may come to the Committee seeking input on prioritizing programs offered. What the government used to provide may now have to be supported by the user. ITEM 4.F. Park Dedication Fund/Request for Expenditures. Staff proposed using $25,000 from the park maintenance portion of the park dedication fund for landscaping materials, trees, and picnic tables/benches in the park system. MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Loren Hegland to recommend City Council approval of the park dedication expenditures as presented. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 ITEM 5.A. Thank You Note from Kopischke Family. A copy of the thank you received from the Greg Kopischke family was included in the agenda packet for Committee information. ITEM 5.B. Kopischke Memorial Opportunity. Included in the agenda packet was a copy of Westwood Professional Services’ letter requesting donations towards a Fellowship Fund in Greg Kopischke’s name at the University of Minnesota. ITEM 5.C. Summer Jobs. A copy of the City of Apple Valley summer jobs flyer was included in the agenda packet. Approximately 300 seasonal employees are hired each year. Staff reports an approximate return employee rate of 90% for 2003. 4 ITEM 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Lee Strom, seconded by Erica Robertson to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 5