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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/2012 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 Minutes of the May 3, 2012 Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair Lee Strom; Committee Secretary Darrell Retka; Committee Members, Russ DeFauw, Cindy Hart, Brenton Schulz, Patrick Sullivan, and Katherine Wright; Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Valleywood Manager Jim Zinck; Recreation Superintendent Scott Breuer; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Recreation Supervisor Bill Bird; Department Assistant Dorene Perkins Monn; Natural Resources Manager Jeff Kehrer; Assistant City Engineer Dave Bennett; Segway Representative Ken Smith; and eight members of the public. ABSENT: None ITEM 1. Committee Chair Lee Strom called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ITEM 2. Approval of Agenda MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Patrick Sullivan to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 ITEM 3. Audience – 10 Minutes Total Time Limit – For Items Not on the Agenda Chair Strom invited anyone present wishing to bring an item not on the agenda up for discussion to please step forward. No one requested to speak. ITEM 4. Approval of the Minutes for March 2012. MOTION: by Darrell Retka, seconded by Kate Wright to approve the March 1, 2012 meeting minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 ITEM 5.A.1. Agenda Items – Business Request – Segway Proposal Recreation Superintendent Breuer presented All American Segway’s business proposal requesting expansion of their Segway tours to include Quarry Point Park as a meeting location with the allowance of on-site registration. Currently, the organization is using Lac Lavon Park as a tour meeting location only. All registrations are handled online and in advance. - 1 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 Staff feels Lac Lavon would not be appropriate for on-site walk-up registrations because it’s a neighborhood park with limited sized parking lot. Continuing the on-line preregistration and a meeting-site-only practice similar to the 2011 arrangement would be acceptable in this park. Staff recommends the addition of the Quarry Point Park site on a one-year trial basis. The permit fee is set at $500. The park offers 500 parking spaces and higher usage volume. Staff will work with All American Segway to coordinate signage, parking, and safety. Recreation Superintendent Breuer noted there are running and walking groups that use the park but there is no precedence of on-site fee payments. Segway tours are a unique opportunity to bring additional people to the parks and highlight amenities throughout the system. Committee member DeFauw questioned All American Segway’s business model. Are the units rented, are customers bringing their own, and if they opened up on-site sales will there be a portable booth or mobile facility? All American Segway Representative Ken Smith stated the company would like to take on- site walk-up registrations and payments as a customer service. 2,500 tours have already been sold on-line through Groupon.com at a 30% fee rate. Mr. Smith stated All American Segway would in the future be willing to look at a 20% of registrations donation to the Parks and Recreation Dept., estimated at approximately $20,000 per year. 2012 is the first year in Apple Valley and Mr. Smith can see in the future expanding to offer bicycles. The operation within the City of Rochester offers canoes, bikes, and kayaks. Tours will be kept to ten people or less, two 2-hour tours per day, up to seven days per week rotating between parks. The company van is wrapped in branding and they would not need additional signage. Mr. Smith stated the tour groups use a single file format; pedestrians and bicyclist have the right-of-way. Segways have the same right-of-way as pedestrians and will be using the pedestrian pathway at Cobblestone Lake Park. The non-motorized vehicles operate by gyroscopes and have a training mode maximum speed of six miles per hour. Lynn Hanson, 15642 Egret Place, Cobblestone Lake area resident – asked about training for riders, allowing an outside company to come into the park for profit, and the number of park users mixed with safety of the operation. Mr. Smith noted the company provides pre-ride safety training. They have approximately 6,000 customers and have one of the best safety records. Originally created for use by handicap individuals, Segways have a special exemption under State law that allows them on any bike trail and sidewalk, and within public buildings. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Brent Schulz to move forward on a one year trial with All American Segway for walk-up on-site registration at - 2 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 Quarry Point Park for a $500 fee, followed by a full evaluation. Lac Lavon Park will remain as a pre-registration only site. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 1 (Retka) ITEM 5.B. Agenda Items – Long Lake Stormwater Retrofit, Enhanced Sand Filter Project Assistant City Engineer Dave Bennett and Natural Resource Coordinator Jeff Kehrer presented information regarding the proposed construction of two filter cells to filter storm water run-off before it enters Long Lake as an attempt to improve water quality of the lake. The project consists of constructing two filtering cells, along the north side of the trail within Long Lake Park, that would collect water from the existing stormwater pond and filter it through a sand filter enhanced with iron. In 2002, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency classified Long and Farquar lakes as impaired for nutrients and phosphorous. The City retained a consultant and prepared a load study entitled TMDL that looks at maximum daily loads into Long and Farquar lakes. The study evaluates where the pollutants are coming from and an implementation plan on how to remove the pollutants by identifying projects to get the water quality improved to meet the State mandates. Mr. Bennett displayed a map showing the watershed for Long and Farquar lakes is approximately 2,100 acres. Water drains into Long Lake and then into Farquar Lake; therefore, all of the benefits to improve water quality in Long Lake will also benefit Farquar Lake. The TMDL identifies the load reduction requirement for Long Lake at 385 pounds per year of phosphorous. An internal load reduction includes plants, fish, and everything within the lakes. Another method is to look up into the watershed of the neighborhood, looking at water improvement. The watershed neighborhood is fully developed and the areas for water quality improvements are very minimal. Staff has been working with both the Soil and Water Conservation District and the Vermillion River Watershed on identifying plans. There is potential for grant money to help cost participation in the project. Two thirds of Apple Valley drains down to the Vermillion River. The first plan looked at what is the largest sized cell that can be put in to gain the largest benefit for improving water quality. We can get 28 pounds of phosphorous and the tree loss is bigger, there would be a large impact in the park. The second option looked at scaling it back. There is still some tree loss; however, a 50-60 ft. buffer on the north with mature trees would remain in place. One of the reasons that makes this a good location is there are 80 acres that drain down into the EVRP13 pond. A small pipe would divert low flows. Most of the pollutants are in the first inch of rain and that’s what you want to capture. - 3 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 There are two types of phosphorous; undissolved that is attached to the sand, and dissolved soluble. The iron in the cell will attract the dissolved phosphorous. Water coming into the pond will be diverted to the cells. The cells are 1.5 ft. deep with native grass, filling with water during a rain event for 24 to 48 hours, then draining out. The majority of the time they will not have water in them at all. The iron is on the east side of the cells and there are underdrains with pipes that stick up about a foot and a half above ground. The pipes help keep the iron dry so it continues to oxidize. Staff is seeking Committee feedback and support of the project within the park. Mr. Bennett compared the benefits of rain gardens as an alternate. A typical rain garden can take out a quarter of a pound of phosphorous per year and it costs approximately $6,000 to $8,000 to build one. Cost comparisons show the Long Lake sand filter cells are a better option. Natural Resource Coordinator Kehrer noted the numbers are from Federal and State mandates. It isn’t an option, the City has to do the TMDL study, and meet the goals. The previous draw down of Long Lake did reduce the amount of phosphorous, but would need to be done every few. Tree removal would be mitigated with extensive tree and shrub planting. Location of the cells was chosen because of elevation. There are no recommended changes to the area south of the trail. Audience Comments: John Westergren, 13096 Euclid Avenue, has been a park neighbor for 29 years. Recognized Dave and Jeff for doing an outstanding job working with the neighbors. “The homeowners association asked the residents that share a property line with the park if they are for this or against this and the answer is ‘yes’. We’re for it because we want clean water in the lake, but against it if it’s screwed up. The reason there is a problem in Long Lake is the pond wasn’t dredged often enough. Is it in the plan and in the budget to remove the phosphorous collected on a regular basis?” Mr. Westergren is concerned about the effect of removing the mature trees on surrounding property values. He also questions if the money is available, enough to do the project right. Alan Thoreson – 13606 Euclid Avenue. Resident of Apple Valley at that location for the last 28 years. The site is invaluable for wildlife and birds. Questioned the new technology (5 – 7 years old), where it’s been tried before, and how successful it was. The life cycle of the cells is between twenty and thirty years. How do you measure the pounds per year? The four houses had a location premium placed on them by the builder because of the park and the woods. Tearing up the park and tree removal would decrease the value of the lots. Skeptical the cells will drain out and dry completely. Concerned it will be a mosquito ground. Concerned with the pipes sticking up near a park area with children. Mr. Thoreson noted a dramatic decrease of waterfowl on the rd lake. Big detractions – down 133 Street Court is a drain that leads directly into the lake and then there’s a bypass underneath the street that connects the pond and Long Lake. On Euclid Avenue, there is another drain that leads directly to the lake. The cells are a start, but how many other sites are there where the pipes drain into the lake unabated. Everett Pond and Pilot Pond are connected to Long Lake and there can be an exchange based on water level. Mr. Thoreson asked - 4 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 the Committee to walk the area under consideration to see how many trees are going to come out and how much land is going to be ripped up to do this. rd Paul Hubegger, 5793 – 133 Court. Property owner and President of the Long Lake Watershed Association. Speaking as an individual homeowner on the lake, he is absolutely thrilled with this project and applauds those that have gotten it to this point. Supports the new technology. Speaking as a President of the Association, Mr. Hubegger reported the association is in support of the project because of the phosphorous reduction with two caveats – restoration and maintenance. Alan Thoreson clarified there was no vote by the homeowners at the Long Lake Watershed Association meeting. He believes the people of the association want clean water, but clarified there was no vote. Mr. Bennett and Mr. Kehrer addressed the issues raised regarding the maintenance and pond clean out. The City is more proactive in the clean out of ponds. Funding has been budgeted annually to remove sediment from the ponds. There are numerous ponds, inlets, and locations to be cleaned. It’s the Public Works Department’s responsible for the cleaning and maintenance, not the Parks and Recreation Department. There is a line item in the budget to cover the costs and staff will look for grant money to assist in covering the costs. The bottoms of the cells are filled with a compost sand mixture that doesn’t hold water. There will be no mosquito breeding ground. The City of Prior Lake has used the iron enhanced technology to clean their water. Committee Member Retka commented a perfect example of doing it right – not wrecking it is Galaxie Park 2011 remodel. Director Johnson clarified this is not a Parks and Recreation Department project. The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining the storm water system and ponds. They are responsible for the dredging of the ponds. The Parks and Recreation Department maintains the park, grass and playground equipment. The Department is trying to work with the City and Public Works because the park is a logical open space. Committee Member DeFauw is sympathetic, changes are tough, but doing nothing is not an option. Clean water cannot be accomplished by doing nothing. Committee Member Schulz stated a six percent reduction seems fairly insignificant with the neighborhood disruption. He questioned whether there are no other options. Mr. Kehrer said there is further work being done on the other side of Long Lake with the other two ponds that drain into Long Lake. They take approximately 80 percent of the storm water that drains into Long Lake. We can’t do these all in the next year or five years. In our TMDL plan this was one of the first places to start looking. You start in the upper watershed and work your way down. Anything we do with Long Lake, it spills into Farquar Lake. Chair Strom commented it’s a place to start for clean water, to get up there with the least amount of disruption. Input will be received and forwarded to City Council. - 5 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Patrick Sullivan recommending City Council approval of the proposed Long Lake Stormwater Retrofit, Enhanced Sand Filter Project as presented by Natural Resources Coordinator Jeff Kehrer and Assistant City Engineer Dave Bennett. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 1 (Schulz) ITEM 5.C. Agenda Items – Valleywood Clubhouse Construction Update and Donation Opportunity Director Johnson and Golf Course Manager Zinck presented a powerpoint timeline and update. Project groundwork started in November 2011 and the construction is more than halfway complete. Manager Zinck reported the contractors on site have done a good job of working with customer access during the construction. Director Johnson reported the project is currently on target for completion in late August and the budget is also on target. Donation opportunity information was presented as a way for citizens to help furnish the new clubhouse. Director Johnson and Manager Zinck have met with the Men’s and Women’s golf clubs to present the opportunity to their membership. A donation recognition plaque will be placed in the clubhouse. Donation levels are designated as Par ($100 - $249), Birdie ($250 - $499), and Eagle ($500 and above). ITEM 5.D. Agenda Items – Valleywood Rental Rates Valleywood Golf Course Manager Jim Zinck stated Valleywood is a golf facility. The clubhouse is being built to accommodate the golf tournaments, outings, and events. However, staff realizes there will be demand for using the facility for other things. A rental price structure was presented for Committee review. Comparative facilities within the area were discussed as well as proposed in-season and out-of-season rates. Understanding the golf course operation is fairly fluid, Staff anticipates review of the fee structure with the Committee over the next couple of years. MOTION: by Cindy Hart, seconded by Darrell Retka recommending City Council approval of the 2012 Valleywood Clubhouse Rental Fee Schedule as presented. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 ITEM 5.E. Agenda Items – Trail Signage Update - 6 of 7 - CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE May 3, 2012 Director Johnson noted that at the last Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting, trail signage to assist bikers and walkers get around the community was discussed. A sample trail map from Lakeville was presented. An Apple Valley Commuter Route map, provided by the Planning Department, designates six quadrants with pathways and trails identified. Based on Committee recommendation, Staff will place within each quadrant the Commuter Route map showing sidewalks, pathways, and trails, as well as an area specific map. Funding will come from the 2007 park bond money and signage could be in place by the end of summer. ITEM 6.A. Other – Staff Introduction – Bill Bird Director Johnson introduced Senior Center Coordinator/Recreation Supervisor Bill Bird. Mr. Bird recently took over responsibility for the Hayes Community and Senior Center operations. He has been a part of the Parks and Recreation staff for several years running teen programs, special events, and other activities. Lyndell Frey joined the Parks and Recreation Department staff last week as Recreation Supervisor in the area of youth and adult athletics. ITEM 6.A. Other – Next Meeting Date – September 6, 2012 Next Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 6, 2012. ITEM 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Patrick Sullivan, seconded by Darrell Retka to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 Respectfully Submitted, Dorene Perkins Monn Dorene Perkins Monn, Dept. Assistant Approved by the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on November 1, 2012. - 7 of 7 -