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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/16/2001 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE January 16, 2001 Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee held January 16, 2001. PRESENT: Committee Chairperson Greg Kopischke; Committee Members Russ DeFauw; John DiRico, and Tina Rankin; Parks and Recreation Director Randy Johnson;.Park Maintenance Superintendent Tom Adamini; Valleywood Manager Rick Dodge; Community Development Director Rick Kelley; Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik Representative Sherri Buss. ABSENT: Charlie Maus. ITEM #1. Committee Chair Greg Kopischke called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ITEM #2. Approval of Agenda. MOTION: by John DiRico, seconded by Tina Rankin to approve the agenda as presented. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM #3. Approval of November 2000 Minutes. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by John DiRico to approve the minutes as presented. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM #4.A. Cobblestone Lake Park Update. Greg Kopischke abstained from the discussion due to his dual role as committee member and advisor to the developer on the project. Included in the Committee information packet was a memo from Randy Johnson listing three major points: the comparison of the developer’s park design vs. the City’s typical park design; annual maintenance costs; and the gravel operation permitted until 2007. Community Development Director Rick Kelley was in attendance. Mr. Kelley stated that the development was on target, currently in the middle of the environmental review study. The developer has mentioned reshaping the lake. Moving the southeastern knoll to the northeaster portion of the lake would allow the gravel transport conveyor belt to remain in operation, and also allow the trail connections to be completed around the lake. The reshaping would require a new legal description. 1 The City will need to make a decision regarding the construction of a park while the asphalt plant is in operation. Jake Enebak (Tradition Development) has promised to do his best to screen, berm, and fence the area if the City does decide to go ahead with the park. Staff reviewed the comparison sheets of the City’s version of a typical park and Traditions version of the proposed Cobblestone Lake Park. There is a considerable amount of change in acreage, slopes and connecting areas removed, to change the park from 46 acres to 27 acres. The City’s bottom line construction total equals approximately $926,500 and Traditions’ bottom line construction equals approximately $1,862,425. Emphasis was placed on the annual maintenance costs. The worksheet includes an enhanced trail/pathway, but eliminates specific items such as the amphitheater, fountain, aquatic gardens and the overlook. Concerning park improvements costs, Mr. Kelley noted that the primary residents could be specifically assessed along with the utilities. This would be a one-time assessment from capital costs. The developer is also making application under the Livable Communities Development grant application. There is also the possibility of the homeowners association contracting with their own maintenance services. Mr. Johnson noted the possibility of partial funding under the State of Minnesota grant program for parks and recreation. This program has a cap of $50,000 for structures and it also has another program for trails. The City of Apple Valley has participated in a meto-wide fiscal study comparison of property taxes of similar size developments. The study shows the denser developments provide additional taxes versus what it costs to provide the city services. Potentially, some of the homes of this development could be constructed in 2001. They’ll begin on the eastern side, wrapping in a westerly direction along the north side. Mr. Kelley feels confident, with some additional answers, the development proposal will go through the planning committee fairly easily. They’ll want to establish a firm date for the removal of the asphalt plant. Russ DeFauw questioned, if it’s been determined to be a value-added to the development, why make it a park at all. Why not take the cash-in-lieu-of to use on other parks? Don’t think people will drive to the park. It will be more of a private park, surrounded on all four sides by houses, as an enclosed community. Other parks are more randomly and readily accessible. If the City of Apple Valley doesn’t participate in this design, the developer will go ahead with it as a marketing tool. Not sure it’s the right thing to do. The park maintenance costs are additional costs forever. The homeowners will have the appreciated value to their homes, but the City will have to maintain the parkland. Mr. Johnson answered that he believes the park will be significantly used. Can attest to the number of people walking and biking in the city. Trails are one of the most heavily used amenities in any park system. Ms. Rankin stated that the number of people in the development dictates a park in this area. 2 8,000 on the high end of the resident numbers in the development. The park will be visible along Pilot Knob Road, flanked by homes. Sheri Buss (Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik, and Associates) suggested that if the lake is being redesigned, also redesign the development to make it more visibly open by bringing the park area right up to the roadway. Signage could be used to make it more open, clearly designating public areas versus private areas. The land beneath the lake will be owned by the City of Apple Valley because it is designated as a water holding pond. It will receive storm water from approximately 2700 acres. The lake is being constructed with pond funds, not park dedication money. Mr. Johnson raised the questions: does the City of Apple Valley want to take the land as park land, times lines to be established, and if accepted would it be developed over a period of time (5 years)? Mr. DeFauw’s recommendation is not accept it as park dedication land; take the cash-in- lieu-of and apply the money to other parks for mass usage. Ms. Rankin disagreed. She recommends taking the lake to walk and bike around. She recognized there are potential problems with the visibility and access. She recommends making it obvious from the main roads and including signage. She also suggested an agreement from the developer not to market the park as “private.” John DiRico stated there are three choices for the park dedication/design: 1. Accept it as designed, 2. Take the cash-in-lieu-of 3. Claim 32 contiguous acres of park land, connected to Apple Valley East. His recommendation is to take 32 acres of open land rather than go around the lake. This would be an area where people wouldn’t have to cross Pilot Knob Road to get to the park. Mr. DiRico requested a redesign of 32 acres, making it more public. Mr. Johnson agreed to have the City’s engineer Bonestroo, Anderlik and Associates come up with a couple of alternative park designs for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee review at the March 2001 meeting. Committee members were asked what kinds of amenities they would like to see included in a new park design. They listed: canoe launch, picnic shelters, trail, and ambient/green space. Mr. Kelley noted that it will be hard to convince the developer to change the development design. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is proposing a more traditional design that what the developer has envisioned. The environmental review process should be completed in March, then the developer could bring the project to City Council in April for zoning. ITEM 4.B . Regatta Park Plan Review Plans for this park include play equipment, trails, basketball court, etc. Sheri Buss of Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik and Associates has put together development proposal numbers for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee’s review (included in meeting 3 packet). Staff anticipates getting the grass seed down and the play equipment install in 2001. Heavy usage of the park could begin approximately one year after that. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by John DiRico to recommend City Council authorization for Staff to proceed with specifications and bids on the development of Regatta Park. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 4.C . Proposed 2001 Valleywood Fees The information included in the meeting agenda packet was in response to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee’s request at the November 2000 meeting for more detailed information on the number of rounds of play at Valleywood Golf Course. Mr. Dodge stated that the trends show the number of rounds at most courses have leveled out due to the construction of new courses in the area and the game of golf is getting more expensive. The customers’ higher course expectations require fees to go up to cover those expectations. Non-resident season pass numbers have been and will continue to decrease over the years. No new non-resident season passes will be sold. The number of resident season passes sold have been increasing and are anticipated to continue the trend due to the elimination of Rich Acres golf course in Richfield, and Parkview golf course in Eagan. The number of rounds played by season pass holders has changed from a high of 10,000 in 1998 to 7678 in 2000. The average cost per round by season pass holder has increased to $13.08. In 1997 the average cost per round was $8.41. Records indicate that Friday is the busiest day of the week for play at the golf course, followed closely by Saturday. The December 2000 financial reports for the City show approximately $159,000 net income for the golf course in 2000. Mr. DeFauw stated as a publicly owned golf course, we asked the question, did we have a public policy objective? Maximum profit or adequate profit with policy objective as golf experience for the residents of Apple Valley. He believes we have accomplished this, and are where we should be. Mr. Dodge reviewed some of the administrative management issues and options under discussion for the golf course in the future: - Advanced/prime time tee time reservations for an additional fee, - Accepting all applicants for the junior league rather than placing a maximum cap on the registrations - Patron cards, - Season passes valid six days vs. seven days per week. Given the fact that 80% of the season pass holders are Apple Valley residents, Russ DeFauw is inclined not to make changes to the 2001 season pass , he recommended waiting until the 2002 season for any changes that may be implemented. 4 Mr. Kopischke suggested getting comparison information from other courses on their patron cards, season pass restrictions, etc. Rick Dodge was requested to do the study and bring the information back for Committee review, discussion and potential implementation for the 2002 season. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Greg Kopischke to recommend City Council approval of the proposed 2001 Valleywood Golf Course fees. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 4.C . Tee Master Reservation System Mr. Dodge explained that Valleywood Golf Course has been working with Ready Golf reservation system for the last three years. The company’s dynamics have changed and they’re losing golf courses from their roster of customers. After receiving quotes and specifications from Tee Master Internet Golf Reservation Services, staff recommends changing the tee reservation system to Tee Master under a three-year contract. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Tina Rankin to recommend approval of the contract with Tee Master Internet Golf Reservation Services. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 5.A . Park Dedication Fund Expenditure Request. Mr. Johnson reviewed the memo included in the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee agenda packet regarding park dedication/maintenance fund update and request for expenditures. The requested funds are for maintenance items above the annual budget. This year’s request is for slightly more than past requestes due to the incoming Regatta Park development. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by John DiRico to recommend City Council approval of the $160,000 Park Dedication/Maintenance Fund Update and Request for Expenditures. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 ITEM 6.A. Other – Renewal of Committee Appointments. Mr. Johnson stated that he believes the City has a great Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and personally thanked everyone for participating. Two positions remain vacant, one junior and one senior. Recommendations for filling these positions should be forwarded to Randy Johson. The four Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee members in attendance submitted their application for re-appointment. Charlie Maus will be contacted regarding his 5 intention for re-appointment. Mr. Johnson will take the applications to City Council for approval during the January 25, 2001 City Council meeting. ITEM #7. Adjourn. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned. MOTION: by Russ DeFauw, seconded by Tina Rankin to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. VOTE: Yes – 4, No – 0 6