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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/20/2000 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 20, 2000 Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee held June 20, 2000. PRESENT: Committee Chair Greg Kopischke; Committee Members Royal Bakke, left at 7:30 p.m John DiRico, Russ DeFauw, Charlies Maus, Tina Rankin, and Priscilla Zee; Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson; Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Recreation Superintendent Scott Breuer, Community Development Director Rick Kelley ; City Planner Tom Lovelace arrived at 7:30 p.m. ; Traditions Development Representative Rob Wachholtz arrived at 7:30 p.m. ABSENT: None. ITEM #1. Committee Chair Greg Kopsichke called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda. Randy Johnson requested the addition of Item 5. Cobblestone Development, Royal Bakke requested the addition of Item #6.B. Resignation, and Randy Johnson requested the addition of Item #6.C. Personnel Issues to cover staff changes in the Parks and Recreation Department. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Charlie Maus to approve the agenda with the additions as requested. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 ITEM #3. Approval of May 2000 Minutes. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by John DiRico to approve the minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 ITEM #4.A. New Business – Dedication Ceremony for New Picnic Shelter The new Redwood shelter is one of four picnic shelters constructed or remodeled through use of the 1996 park bond funds. New shelters were constructed at Valleywood and Johnny Cake Ridge Park (east). The Alimagnet shelter was renovated. The City of Apple Valley also received a $50,000 grant to help offset the cost of the Redwood shelter. Also, as part of the Redwood project, additional parking spaces were added, a 1 poured concrete slab was added to the original shelter, the portable toilet screen was constructed, and the handicap accessible pathway was added. Valleywood’s shelter has a drainage/runoff problem with the concrete surface. Rainwater tends to pool, but staff and contractors are working on the issue. A ribbon cutting photograph was taken to commemorate the official dedication of the Redwood Park shelter. ITEM 4. B. New Business – Review playground equipment proposals. Requests for proposals went out for playground equipment installation at Regatta and Greenleaf parks. One site will be paid for using general fund dollars and the other will be paid for using park dedication funds. Specifications were written to include project completion by October 31, 2000. Only one quote was received, and that was from Flanagan Sales Little Tykes. As an informational note, they were awarded a major portion of the 1996 bond issue playground equipment installation sites. Greenleaf quote came back at $33,923. Staff had budgeted up to $35,000. The proposed playground equipment unit is comparable to the $30,000 units installed two years ago. Regatta Park has been graded and seeded by the developer, Pulte Homes, Inc. Play equipment should begin to be set up in August. This equipment will be a little more elaborate than the Greenleaf site. Staff had budgeted up to $40,000 for this site and the quote came back at $38,952. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee reviewed the proposed plans for both sites. Mr. Johnson has copies on file at his office. MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Charlie Maus to approve the quote and recommend award to Flanagan Sales Little Tykes. VOTE: Yes – 7, No – 0 Decision was made to delay discussion of Item 5 until after Item 6.C. ITEM 6.A . Other – Distribution of Apple Valley Shirts. Members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee were presented the new 2000 Parks and Recreation shirts. ITEM 6.B. Committee Member Resignation Royal Bakke officially announced his decision to leave the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee due to age (he’s 91 years of age) and other commitments. He stated that he has enjoyed being a part of the Committee and he has learned a lot over the years. 2 Mr. Kopischke thanked Mr. Bakke for his years of service and his good representation on the Committee. Priscilla Zee also announced that she would be leaving the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee due to school commitments. She will be attending Dartmouth College in September. She thanked the Committee for the great year and good experience she has received as part of the Committee. Mr. Johnson will procure plaques, from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, for both resigning Committee members as has been traditionally done in the past. ITEM 6.C. Personnel Issues. Mr. Johnson reviewed the Parks and Recreation staff personnel moves that have occurred in the last six months.  Recreation Supervisor Sandy Wagner, resigned her position to take a job with Shoreview in February.  Recreation Specialist Scott Breuer was promoted to the Recreation Supervisor position in April.  The City staff conducted evaluations of Parks and Recreation staff duties and brought the positions up to market rate.  In May, Mr. Breuer’s job and title were re-classified to Recreation Superintendent. At that time, Recreation Specialists Bridget Samson and Jim Zinck were re-classified to Recreation Supervisor II’s and Recreation Specialist Bill Bird was re-classified to Recreation Supervisor I.  Susan Muelkin of Savage will be joining the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation staff June 28 as Recreation Supervisor II. th The department will be at full staff until July 7. At which time, Recreation Supervisor II Bridget Samson will be leaving the department to pursue other interests. An advertisement for the vacancy will be posted the last week of June. ITEM 5. Old Business – Cobblestone Development. Greg Kopischke officially stepped down as Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair during discussion of this item. Presentation of the possible park design and development proposal for Cobblestone Development was given by Greg Kopischke of Westwood Engineering and Rob Wachholtz of Traditions Development Group. They are working with approximately 310 acres in the southeast corner of the City of Apple Valley. Currently a gravel mining operation, the developer is looking at reclamation of that area with a variety of housing types. The developer proposes an approximate forty acre lake in the center of the development. The lake would be comparable in size to Apple Valley’s Long Lake. The developer is working with City staff to put definition to the development design plan. This is an ambitious project and Rob Wachholtz believes the park area will be a crown 3 jewel for the neighborhood park system. The park plan will guide the developer in the direction the development will take. Its design has some basis in the Lakes area of Minneapolis. Some of the project goals include  working with City staff on the plan design, finance options, etc.  pedestrian orientation, a small version like Como Park. An urban type situation.  “Macro” plan. Of the 300+ acres, approximately 44 acres are a storm water holding pond. 47 acres will be public open space. 10% is the general park dedication requirement. This project proposes approximately 17 acres above the 30 acre requirement. This project is different than what Apple Valley now has. It is “new urbanization” design. The developer is proposing 1400 – 2200 mixed housing units, 600 – 800 rental (apartment/condos), and 75,000 – 300,000 square feet neighborhood retail space. To the west of the development is the Dakota County owned 38 acres proposed City park area and the transit center. The key entrance to the development will be coming off Pilot Knob Road. This will be a focal point for the project. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and staff were presented with one rendition of what could happen in the development design. Mr. Kopischke acknowledged that the design will probably change over time as the housing units come in. The proposed timeline for the project completion is approximately eight years. Grading to begin in 2001, some units constructed in 2002. Gravel mining is scheduled until 2006. The project will move southwest as the gravel depletes. The developer is proposing a pathway around the lake, with no private access to the lake. Other design features included: a picnic shelter, play area, transit pick up area, pathways, a pedestrian core going through the area, amphitheater, a fishing pier, canoe launch, wooded area, open space, and convenience retail space. People from the neighborhood will have a lot of entrance to this area. The water level fluctuation, because it is a storm water area, will be addressed using a harder edge to the shoreline. The lake could look at up to a four foot height change with heavy rains. To the north of the development is Apple Valley East Park. The intent is to purchase approximately three acres in the area to incorporate into Apple Valley East Park. The new addition could allow for a ballfield and a small soccer field. Developer estimates $2 million in projected park improvements for that occurring within the new park boundaries. Rob Wachholtz summarized by stating that the developer is looking at above the requirements in park land. How can we work together (City and developer) to figure out 4 how we can make this a reality? Is there something that the Committee is interested in pursuing? Mr. Kopischke stated that the park will improve the development and also the nature of the park area will stand by itself. Westwood Engineering and Traditions Development Group are looking for conceptual approval from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. There are details that need to be worked out with City staff yet. Committee members expressed their thoughts as follows: Charlie Maus – It looks like you’re giving green space to the neighborhood.  Greg Kopischke – We’re looking at giving some interest to the green space. There will be a rise area to allow for the ten-year water level increase. The green space varies between 60’ and 150’ around the lake. The pathway will be about 1¼ mile around the lake. It will be almost two miles around the pathway loop area.  Rob Wachholtz - The residents will have the easiest access, but we’ve strived to bring others in. Russ DeFauw – It’s very nice, but the impression is that the developer will do this with or without approval from the Committee. It’s a value added to the development. If we approve, we accept maintenance responsibility for something that will improve development value. Not sure non-residents will drive over to use the non-motorized area. It may be more benefit to take the dedication and let the developer do the project.  Greg Kopischke – The lots with lake access will have more value than another that has indirect lake access. However, this (project) is something that was envisioned as part of the City’s comprehensive plan years ago. A recent project like this is Centennial Lakes. Believe other cities would do this if there was financing available. Tina Rankin – We tried to get something like this when we got Lac Lavon. We couldn’t get the land at that time. Don’t think the City should be responsible for maintaining the area. Is it a given that the City would take ownership of the land? Homeowner conflict would be reduced because they would be told from the get-go about the park. Believe people from outside the development will use it. It will be a real plus for Apple Valley. John DiRico – Like the design, it’s a striking artistic rendition, very forward thinking. What are the project costs?  Greg Kopischke – Looking at $2 million estimates, plus or minus contingencies of city park money. Developer is working with City staff on the financing options.  Rick Kelley – There are a number of options to help finance/contribute to this project. First issue is to determine if this is something the City of Apple 5 Valley wants to do. Generally, land development comes first, then a bond issue for park can follow. Believe there will be people coming from outside the development. It’s important to consider what the cost would be to provide park service for this number of people (6,000 to 8,000). Priscilla Zee – Is the City of Apple Valley going to be equipped as a city to have this in Apple Valley?  Rob Wachholtz - This will be a great place for kids to come to. We’re talking with a church group who is interested in putting in a “youth center.” Rick Kelley – This development will integrate the different aspects of development; live, shop, worship. It will be more intensively used. This project can only be built with City help. The City has to be a partner with this (for it to happen). Because of the density of this area, we’ll need to address the park development. Believe the City will be getting its monies worth. Randy Johnson – This is different than what we have in the parks. Different items cause different concerns. Some ideas include:  Refine the amenities to what the City can handle for maintenance,  Distance around the lake is great for walking,  The potential for neighborhoods calling with “keep these people out’ complaints,  Like getting this established before the houses go in,  Where does the funding come from? Tom Adamini – Like the project, but somewhat concerned about the resources necessary to maintain it. The design doesn’t entirely lend itself to mowing/maintenance with the mounding hills. Would need a maintenance shed on site for maintenance storage. It may be possible for the homeowners association to handle some of the maintenance issues. Suggest checking with Met Council and investigating regional funds that may be available for potential financing. John DiRico – Would like to reserve judgement to get more specifics from the developer. Believe it’s too premature to say yes or no. Charlie Maus agreed that he likes the concept, but there are some sticking points. MOTION: by Charlie Maus, seconded by Russ DeFauw to table the Cobblestone Development item until the next Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. Discussion: The next scheduled meeting is September 19, 2000. Members of the committee agreed to holding a special meeting before that time to discuss the item after the developer has had time to work with the City staff and when more details fall together. VOTE: Yes – 5, No – 0 Abstain – 1 (Kopischke) 6 ITEM #7. Adjourn. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by John DiRico to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 6, No – 0 7