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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2000 ITEM #3. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE March 21, 2000 Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee held March 21, 2000. PRESENT: Committee Chair Greg Kopischke; Committee Members Royal Bakke, John DiRico, Russ DeFauw , and (arrived at 6:40pm) Tina Rankin; Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Recreation Supervisor Scott Breuer; and U.S. West Representative Larry Coleman. ABSENT: Charlie Maus and Priscilla Zee. ITEM #1. Committee Chair Greg Kopischke called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by John DiRico to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0 ITEM #3. Approval of January 2000 Minutes. MOTION: by John DiRico, seconded by Tina Rankin to approve the minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes - 4, No – 0 1 ITEM #4.A. New Business –Proposal for U.S. West Antenna in Chaparral Park. Mr. Johnson reviewed U.S. West’s interest in placing a new antenna on an existing civil defense siren pole in Chaparral Park. Before proceeding with the project, staff wanted the Advisory Committee’s opinion on its acceptability from the public’s standpoint. If approved, Mr. Coleman will work with the Public Works Director and City Attorney to work out the details of the project contract. The Police Department will be involved to insure compatibility between the antenna and the civil defense siren. U.S. West Representative, Larry Coleman, explained the need for an additional antenna in the area of Chaparral Park. He also distributed copies of the proposed equipment showing the pole and ground unit as they would be set up. He stated that the current pole location on top the hill is a preferable site over the right-of-way easement at the lower level. The ground unit would be located near the pole and landscaped with shrubbery to reduce its visual impact. U.S. West would agree to pay a $400 rental fee in exchange for use of the site. Mr. Johnson reported that staff’s initial concern of opening parks to antenna farms has been satisfied because this appears to be a one-time item. The other concern was for the neighborhood location issue. After Committee discussion, this issue has also been reduced. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Russ DeFauw to recommend approval of U.S. West’s proposal to install an antenna on the existing civil defense pole in Chaparral Park. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee also recommends that the monthly fee paid by U.S. West for use of the site should go into the Park Dedication fund for use by the Parks and Recreation Department. VOTE: Yes - 5, No - 0 2 ITEM #4.B. New Business – Traditions Neighborhood Park. Greg Kopischke abstained from this discussion due to his company’s involvement with the project. Preliminary development plans were included in the Committee’s agenda packet for informational purposes only. The developer and City Planner Tom Lovelace are scheduled to bring a formal proposal to the Advisory Committee meeting in May. As proposed, the development would provided approximately 32 acres of park land or some combination of cash-in-lieu of and land for park dedication. The developer is proposing a 40 acre pond within the development that would become part of the City’s storm water system. Land surrounding the pond would be dedicated as park land and equipped with one long linear walking/bike trail, with connection to the existing Apple Valley East Park. The amount of the surrounding land is yet to be determined. The developer has indicated the placement of rip-rap around the pond, and has proposed a cost share of 50% from the City for its installation. This equates to approximately $200,000. There is also a five acre parcel just to the west of the existing Apple Valley East Park that would be dedicated and could serve as an expansion of the existing park. Staff envision a couple of playfields and a small 15 to 20 car parking lot in the area. This is a long-term development that could take several years to completion. ITEM #4.B. New Business – Request for 2000 Park Dedication Expenditures. As of February 1, 2000, the balance of the Park Dedication fund was $624,941 and the balance of the Park Maintenance fund was $472,608. Staff reviewed this year’s proposed list of items, totaling $95,000, for Park Dedication expenditure. Combined income to the Park Dedication and Park Maintenance funds is expected to be between $80,000 and $100,000 in the year 2000. MOTION: by John DiRico, seconded by Tina Rankin to recommend approval of the request for Park Dedication expenditures as presented. 3 VOTE: Yes - 5, No - 0 ITEM #5.A. Old Business – Crosswalk Update at Johnny Cake Ridge Park/Aquatic Center. Staff forwarded to the Traffic Engineer’s office the Advisory Committee’s November 1999 recommendations for installation of nd stop signs at Johnny Cake Ridge Road and the park exit/142 Street, and also the reduction of the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour in the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center area of Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Glen Van Wormer, Traffic Engineer, has concluded that it would be best to leave the crosswalks as they are with some improvement in the existing passive signage. Mr. Kopischke reported that in his experience, this is similar to the way other situations of this type are typically being handled. Mr. Johnson also informed the Committee that the City would no longer be providing personnel to act as crossing guards in the Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center area of Johnny Cake Ridge Road. The position was initially provided as a public service, but during the 1999 season employees were subject to both verbal and physical abuse by motorists. The patron numbers and abuse suffered by the guard didn’t justify the continuation of the position into the 2000 season. ITEM #5.B. Old Business – Valleywood Financial Update. Staff reported that 1999 was a reasonably good year at the golf course. Net operating income was $9,795. The number of rounds of play were down due to the weather. There was some discussion of number of rounds vs. revenue vs. number of season passes. Mr. DeFauw stated that if we (the City) are going to run a public golf course at a breakeven rate, we need to run it at a breakeven rate for the most residents possible. He suggested possibly making the 2001 season passes valid six days per week, with the seventh day set aside as non- pass holder rates. ITEM #6.A. Other. – Scott Breuer Promoted to Recreation Supervisor Position. Mr. Breuer comes to the position of Recreation Supervisor with five years of experience as Recreation Specialist for the City 4 of Apple Valley. He has been a key employee for the Recreation Department, working as a liaison to the youth athletic associations, coordinating the adult athletic programs, and also editor of the City’s newsletter/Parks and Recreation brochure. He holds degrees in Recreation and Speech Communications from St. Cloud State University. Prior to Apple Valley, he was employed with Minnesota Sports Federation, and before that as Park and Recreation Director for Beulah, North Dakota. ITEM #6.A. Other. – Summer Jobs Available. Staff requested Committee’s assistance in spreading the word, to anyone looking for part-time work, that the City of Apple Valley is in the process of hiring its summer seasonal staff. There was some discussion of wages vs. employee candidate availability, and also contingency plans that the Parks and Recreation Department may incorporate if the seasonal employee numbers are low. Staff will continue with the current plan of action for now. ITEM #7. Adjourn. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Russ DeFauw to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. VOTE: Yes - 5, No - 0 5