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Home My WebLink About02/13/2007 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE February 13, 2007 Minutes of the February 13, 2007 Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Committee Chair Russ DeFauw, Committee Members, Loren Hegland, Charlie Maus , Lee Strom, Patrick Sullivan, and Tina Rankin; Parks and (left at 8:00pm) Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Friends of Alimagnet Park Representatives Bill Gossman, Harry Wyman, Jim Doring, Dave Trusch, Mike Scott, and Dave Katzenmeyer; Soil and Water Conservation District Marian Brown; Resident MacGregor Grier; and Thisweek Newspaper Reporter Jeff Achen. ABSENT: None ITEM #1. Chair Russ DeFauw called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Patrick Sullivan to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0 ITEM #3. Approval of the January 2007 Meeting Minutes MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Charlie Maus to approve the January 2007 meeting minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0, ITEM 4.A . Friends of Alimagnet Park Bill Gossman distributed copies of his speaking points presentation (placed in the file). Friends of Alimagnet (FOA) got started as a result of disc golf in the park. The organization doesn’t feel that disc golf is in the right venue at Alimagnet Park. They would ultimately like to find another venue for it. FOA would like to have a “battle plan” in place by April 2007, a plan to make the decision once and for all regarding disc golf. - 1 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE February 13, 2007 After the park gate was opened, the Apple Valley police officers logged their park visit finding in the police log. This partially explained the increase in log entry numbers. Also noted by Mr. Katzenmeyer is that the number of complaints also increased due to the increase in the number of park users. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson reviewed what adjustments are planned by the City, or have already been done, in Alimagnet Park. (Informational memo dated February 2, 2007 placed in the minutes.) A park attendant will be scheduled during peak hours of park usage to monitor the park, perform park cleanup/minor maintenance, and record headcounts. The park attendant will not be a police person. They will contact police as necessary. The Apple Valley Police Department school liaison has been visiting Alimagnet Park more often recently. (The park has been a place for students to congregate for many years, long before disc golf.) Plain clothes police officers will be walking the park and patrolling the trails on bicycles during the summer. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson explained that an attendant was stationed in Alimagnet Park opening season of the disc golf course and it seemed to work well. Mr. Gossman noted that an attendant on site will go a long way with the neighborhood concerns. He questioned, “Under what conditions would staff consider relocating disc golf?” Mr. Grier stated that these points being discussed have already been addressed at previous meetings, “expert” testimony has been heard. As a resident of Alimagnet Park area he enjoys having disc golf around. The park was paid for with tax dollars. Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini holds a degree in Natural Resources. He and Natural Resources Manager Jeff Kehrer will be conducting evaluation of the park conditions on a monthly basis during the summer. Note: every human use is an environmental impact. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson contacted several other parks and recreation disc golf courses before Alimagnet’s course opened and found no record of tree loss due to disc injury. In one case, a course had twenty years of experience. Mr. Katzenmeyer suggested that FOA could include some people to contribute to the park condition evaluation. They could walk the park in April, July and September. The park has changed in five years. Disc golf has made the park safer with more people around, but if disc golf is causing irreparable damaged, Mr. Katzenmyer doesn’t want it to get to a point when it’s too late and trees have to be cut. He believes Alimagnet is a jewel, one of two natural areas in Apple Valley, with walking trails, the lake, and as a family park. He suggested finding a balance if possible. Chair DeFauw agreed to a park walk-through, without prior commitment or agenda, with Natural Resources Manager Jeff Kehrer and an expert recommended by FOA. ISD #196 School of Environmental Studies Principal Dan Bodette was suggested. Mr. Katzenmeyer was requested to search for a volunteer, such as a science teacher from the School of Environmental Studies, and provide their name to Parks and Recreation Director Johnson. - 2 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE February 13, 2007 Mr. Scott noted the increased traffic and Chair DeFauw agreed that the Committee and staff will work with the Public Works Department and Police Department to employ some mitigation efforts in this area also. Trespassing issues and property owner rights were discussed. Basket clanging and patron/park user language complaints were mentioned. Park Maintenance staff will investigate options to reduce the basket noise, such as ropes or rubberizing the chains. Park signage was discussed and it was noted that the kiosk was installed specifically for disc golf and Parks and Recreation information. The Parks Department has increased signage and location of signs within the park. Disc golf advertisement by Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department is done only on a local basis; only location being the Parks and Recreation brochure. Results of the summer review will be provided at the September Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. The Committee will consider reasonable mitigation plans. Staff anticipates the usage numbers to decline. Typically people check out a new item, such as disc golf, then move on to other things. Committee comments: Ms. Rankin suggested that credit be given to the experts the City already pays out of tax dollars. She’s confident the problems can be solved so disc golf can stay in Alimagnet Park. Mr. Maus stated that staff has already addressed the issues; see February 2, 2007 memo for a list. He doesn’t think it’s necessary to go any further. Mr. Gossman asked what FOA can address relating to park maintenance as park neighbors and he was directed to the Adopt-A-Park Program sponsored by the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department. Alimagnet neighbor Corinne Johnson has already volunteered for the program. Mr. Gossman stated that FOA is interested in a spirit of cooperation. Mr. Gossman suggested exploring alternative uses for Alimagnet Park such as a nature center. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson responded that staff has evaluated the option, noting that nature centers are in need of ongoing financial support to cover ongoing expenses. There are two significant nature areas currently near Apple Valley: Minnesota Zoo and the School of Environmental Studies and Dakota County’s Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Chair DeFauw addressed the option of moving golf holes away from the park open spaces and placing them in the wooded area. He noted the potential environmental adjustments with this option. A nine-hole golf course option was offered as a compromise and finality to the disc golf issue. Mr. Gossman will take the offer to the next FOA meeting for discussion. Course layout/design and user right-of-ways were discussed. The development of a park survey was discussed. Chair DeFauw and Parks and Recreation Director Johnson agreed that a three point survey of the park users could be conducted - age, - 3 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE February 13, 2007 zipcode, and how did you get to the park; results made available at the September Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. Ms. Rankin noted the potential of a park bond referendum and the possible inclusion of another disc golf course within the city. Chair DeFauw stated that the Committee and staff are in the process of discussion with City Council about a Falle 2007 referendum. Five items have already been highlighted for additional discussion at future Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meetings: Quarry Point Athletic Complex, Redwood Park and Outdoor Pool, Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center, Neighborhood parks, and Senior Center. Parks and Recreation Director Johnson agreed to encourage other surrounding communities, such as Rosemount, to put in a disc golf course within their communities to help lighten the player numbers in Alimagnet. Mr. Strom believes there is clear understanding from where the Committee started. He suggests monitoring things through the summer and making a decision in the fall. ITEM 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Patrick Sullivan to adjourn the meeting at 8:35 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 - 4 -