HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/03/1981 � �
CITY OF APPLE VAZLEY
PARK COMMITTEE MINUTES
�aRCx 3 , 1g81
PRESENT: Chai�person Sterling, Naegeli � Miller, Gutenkauf, and
Staff Member Bassett .
ABSENT: Hollenbeck, Dahlen.
l . Call to Order.
Chairperson Sterling called meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
2 . Approval of Minutes from February 17, 1981 meeting.
Naegeli stated under Item �, page 2, last line, it should be
corrected to read 4 acres instead of �0. Also, Page 3 , second
paragraph, line three should read three to four meetings a week;
and fifth line should stated that bond issue lost 54/�6 . Second
to last sentence of same paragraph should read . . . ."and had gone
into the bond issue with five people who really ha��'t worked on
it"
.
Minutes were approved as corrected.
Ms . Sterling stated the February 3, 1981 minutes had already been
approved, however on page 8, first paragraph, which read Ms . Sterling
stated Mr. Scott was a landowner, but that he didn•t work for the
beginriing of Apple Vall.ey should be correeted to read that she
didn't know if he worked for the beginning of Apple Valley or not.
Also, on page 9, item 6, third line it was stated that she had
talked to Mr. Gullifer and it should read that she had talked
to Mr. Miller.
3 . Presentation bv Theater 196 Concernin� Potential Use of Farquhar
Barn for Communit.y�l.heater.
Mr. Bassett stated the group had cancelled this meeting, however
he had been approached by officers of Theater 196 who expressed
an interest in possibly using the Farquhar barn for some community
theater practice and productions . He said they suggested the
Committee keep their interest in mind when working on the plans
for rennovation of the barn. He added that the group was going
to make a little presentation on what they do . Ms . Sterling
questioned if they charged for their performance, with Mr. Bassett
answering that they do and that any charges to them would probably
have to be handled somewhat like the Hayes building and the Pool
and Racquet Club where certain groups are charged and others are
not. He stated they would have to look into the magnitude of
their program. He said they presently were holding them at the
Rosemount Zittle Theater, and they can still perform there, but
they felt this would be a better setting for summer theater.
He added that the Committee had discussed uses for the barn so it
might be something to eonsider, depending on how much time they
would have to occupy it .
Park Committee �inutes
March 3, 1981 • �
Page 2
�r. Miller said it would have to be set up so that it wouldntt
interfer with other groups who want to use it, or other City
activities . Ms . Gutenkauf stated certain times would have to
be established.
�. Discuss Namin� of the Followin� Parks ; a. A��le Vallev East;
b. Greenleaf Phase IV; c . Scott Highlands; d . Diamond Path.
ms . Sterling stated that at the February 3rd meetiMg she had
assigned each member �o do a little research on park naming.
Ms . Gutenkauf reported two brothers by the name of Verill were
the first documented settlers in Apple Valley, with one of them
having been elected the first Chairman of the elected officers
of Town Meetings . She stated they located in Section 2� on the
northeast quarter off from what is now Diamond Path Road. She
added that the name goes back to 1858 with Farquhar and Converse,
and it was her suggestion that Scott Highlands Park be named
Ver�ll Park. She also suggested a park be named Converse Park
after the first school teacher at the school located at the
corner of Pilot Knob Road and County Road �2 . She reported also
that the long ridge at Long Lake had been know as White Oak Ridge
in the literature dated back to 1910.
Mr. Naegeli stated he hadn't done any research, but that there
had been discussion at the last meeting about naming parks after
the first �ouncil Members . He stated his feelings on that was
known, but if Commi�tee was going to take that route he would
rather see it be for the first Town Boar d �embers; Ulrich, Natwick, F`
Thorberg, and Delaney. Ms . Sterling asked if a park should be
named af�er P�r. Thorberg since he was still active in politics .
Mr. Naegeli said yes , he would rather go that way. He said he
still wanted the name Tintah for Apple Valley East . He said this
was the only name he really wanted.
Mr. Miller stated he had no recommendations .
Ms . Sterling stated her suggestions were that Apple Valley East be
named Dodd Park; that Diamond Path be named Delaney Park; and
Scott Highlands be called Founders Park or Founders Hill in honor
af all the people who really worked to get Apple Valley �tart�d.
She added that there could be a placque at City Hall or at the
par� listing all the names of the founding fathers whether they
be First Council Members; first Town Board Members , or other
individuals who worked for Appl� Valley.
Mr. Miller stated he wasn't going back andladdress what he had
said at the first meeting on park naming, but he didn•t feel the
Park Committee should be involved in naming parks other than
perhaps changing a long name . He said he didn't like to try to
quick grasp for a name, and that far back the Historical Committee
was charged by the City Council to give �he parks names . He said
they have done the research, and they have r�ams of paper on it,
and it was his belief that he would give the job to the people who
have the expertise and let the Historical Committee narne the parks .
Park Committee �inutes
March 3, 1981 � •
Page �
Both Mr. Naegeli and Ms . Sterling stated that it was the Park
Committee who had asked the Historical Committee for suggestions .
Ms . Sterling stated they would be submitted a list back to the
Historical Committee, and the item was going to be on the
March 12th Ci�y Council Agenda.
�ir. Naegeli stated he didn't feel these four parks had to be
named at this meeting and he would rather wait until there was
a full quorum and that it would look better if it was submitted
with the six members voting.
Ms . Sterling stated that Ms . Gutenkauf wauld have to leave the
meeting early so they should vote, adding that Ms . Hollenbeck
could be called. Mr. Mi11er and Mr. Naegeli stated since she
was not present at the meeting her vote could not be courited.
Mr. Miller added that he would probably abstain from voting on
any recommendation.
MOTION: by Naegeli, seconded by Gutenkauf, to name Scott Highlands
Verill Park.
Reason: Records show the two Verill brothers were the
first documented settl�rs in Apple Valley.
YES - 3 . NO - 0. Abstained - l . (Miller} . Motion carried.
MOTION: by Gutenkauf, seconded by Sterling, to name Apple Valley
East as Dodd Park.
Reason: People would know its location by the name;
and that Dodd Road runs all the way to Scott
County.
YES - 3 . NO - 0 . Abstained - l . (Miller) . Motion carried.
MOTION: by Gutenkauf, seconded by Sterling, to ehange Diamond Path
to Delaney �ark.
Reason: Chairman of first town board.
Discussion: Naegeli stated he didn't think this should be
done, and questioned why they were using this
name . Sterling replied that she thought the
consensus had been previously determined that
a park would be named for him for all he had
done for the City of Apple Valley.
YES - 2 . {Sterling, Gutenkauf) . NO - l . (Nageli ) . Abstained - l ,
{Miller) . Motion carried.
MOTION: by Naegeli, seconded by Gutenkauf, to name Greenleaf IV
Tintah Park.
��S - 2 . (Gutenkauf & Naegeli) . NO - 1 {Sterling) . Abstained - 1,
(Miller) . Motion carried.
Park Committee Min tes
March 3, 1981 � �
Page 4
Ms . Sterling stated these names were only suggestion ta be
added to the previous list developed by the Park Committee .
She stated she was sure they will not be final names , as the
Historical �ommittee has their own list to submit .
Mr. Bassett stated his proposal would be what the Park Committee
recammended, and what the Historical Committee recommended, jointly
submitted to the City Council .
Ms . Sterling;; stated she would like to see some written criteria
developed for naming parks dedicated in the future . She said
names for parks now have reached inta the past for certain people,
and there will be a different past 10 or 15 years from now. She
suggested that no park should be named for a living person, or
until they were out of politics for three years . Also, in naming
a park in honor of an individual that person should have been an
outstanding person in the community, and suggested that whether
it was three years from now or 20 years thati�uvo of the future
parks be named for Will Branning and P�Iike Garrison. She said
they have served the community for at least 10 years, and were a
part of the beginning of the City. She stated she didn't see
a park named after a persan as long as they were still active
in politics . Mr. Miller stated she was using the -term, when they
were out of politics , and felt this could be questionable, as they
could always run again. She stated that Largen was not now invol-
ved. Mr. Miller said he could see some conflict with sorneone
coming back into politics who had had a park named after him, and
using some leverage for votes . Mr. 1Vaegeli stated the difference
with Largen was -�hat he was the first Mayor; but he didn't feel
it should be stated specifically. Mr. Mi11er stated with all
due respect to Ms . Sterling's feelings that they were her feelings,
but he felt as a community an individual's" ec�ntributian to the
City should be taken into consideration. He said he wouldn•t
see stipulating a number of years they were involved, or a number
of years they have lived here, and he wouldn't see endorsing
specific names right now. He stated they were talking about two
people who are in office at the present time and this committee
was set up by those people and he didn't believe names should be
specified. He said he would not go along with recommendations of
names, but he would go with criteria. Mr. Naegeli stated a name
could be that of an individual who was a businessman and served
the people through the service provided.
Ms . Sterling stated she still felt the Pool and Racquet Club should
be called Thompson. Mr. Miller stated he would agree to that.
Mr. Naegeli stated he thoughta park should be named for him, and
not name a park for Councilmen just because they were Councilmen.
He said he didn•t think business people should be excluded, and
they should leave out the political designation. He felt the
criteria should just be contribution.s to the City; and more by
what they have done for the City rather than jus� the office they
held.
Park Committee l��i�tes �
March 3, 1q81
Page S
Ms . Sterling asked if they wanted to inelude any other suggestions
for park names along with the list being sent to ;the Council to
be used as a back-up list.
Mr. Naegeli replied the Committee should go with just the list
submitted. Ms . Sterl.ing stated she had talked with Ms . Hollenbeck
who felt if parks were not narned for the four people of recent
past that she would be in favor of a Founders Park honoring
the founding people, adding that this could include all types
of people, or it could be called Volunteers Park which would
include all those who worked for the City. She questioned what
would happen if the Council didn't like one or two of the names
suggested. Mr. Naegeli replied that they could either send it
back to the Park Committee, or name it something they like, however
he felt they would rather decid.e between the two lists.
5 • Discuss Format for Presentation of Names to City Council on March 12th
Disctzssed with park names .
6 . Review Dakota CountV Camprehensiv� Plan - Parks Section.
r�ir. Bassett stated he thought tha.s should be tabled until next
meeting. He explained that the Coun�y had been requi�ed to sub-
mit a Comprehensive Plan to i�etro Council similar to that prepared
by the Ci�ty of Apple Valley. He said the City Council hasn't
said anything yet, but he felt they might be interested in knowing
whether the park Committee had any interest in responding to the
County Plan. He said the Park Section was pretty much the sarne
as they submitted for �gional park fu.nding. He added that the
Planning Commission would be going through the plan to see if
they find any concern, and if so might want to possibly discuss
those concerns with the Park Cvmmittee . He said he wanted their
thoughts on whether they wanted to go over the whole section in
detail , or if they wanted him to go through and bring back any
discrepancies for discussion, or leave it up to the Council . He
said he thought the Park Committee was at least concerned with
Lebanon Hills . Mr. Naegeli asked if it wasn't the same plan they
were workin� on before that had been looked at by the Park Com-
mittee and suggestions were made at that time . Mr. Bassett stated
there would have to be very specific recommendations before they
would be of any value to their process .
Mr. Miller stated the only thing the Committee would be concerned
about would be those ar�as that might attract large groups of people .
He said as long as th.e plan is enhancing the park system in the
city and the county by keeping parks beautified, including plant-
ings, he wouldn't feel there would be any objections . He said
any activity that would lie within the boundaries of Apple Valley
that T�Ir. Bassett would foresee as a potential problem having to
do with large groups of people he felt the committee should be
made aware of those items . Mr. Bassett stated a lot of things
could be seen about plans that we like or don't like, but they
wouldn't necessarily carry a lot of impact. Specifically, he said,
Park Committee Mi�tes �
March 3, 1981
Page 6 -
it was Metro Council's decision. He said he could run
off segments of the plan and mail it out to Committee Members
who could see if they foresaw any problem with it philosophically.
Mr. Naegeli stated he saw one regarding the concept for tent
camping close to the vehicular camping next to the zoo . He
said the site was too small and he would think the tent campers
would want to be back off the road a little bit, as well as
the tent camping area being too close �to the vehicular camping.
��Ir. Naegeli sugges�ed the park map be updated so the Committee
could get a better idea of what they are planning.
'� . Status Report on Rollins Propert.y - County Board Action.
Mr. Bassett reported that Mr. Rollins had been to the Planning
Commission for rezoning and replat�ting his land into lots . He
said the City Council and the Planning Commission had sent a
recommendation on to the County Board recommending this be pur-
chased as regional park land. He stated the County Board
authorized their Park Director to negotiate with the landowner
in an amount not to exceed $$,000 per acre, and if that wasn•t
acceptable then they authorized him to go into condemnatian. He
went on to say that the County had had two appraisals, one
for $6,600 per acre, and the other for �10,000 per acre, and
they finally agreed on the $8,000 per acre . He said what was going
to happen was that they would end up at �12,0�0 to $15,004 by
condemnation proceedings . He added that they have Open Space
Regional Money, so that it looked like it will be secured for a
park at this point .
8 . Other Items .
Mr. Bassett reported on the Lawcon grant for Farquhar, stating
final approval has not been reeeived as yet from the federal
government . He stated he had talked to State Planning who said
our Application was in the first batch sent through� and they
were hoping that it would clear HCRS before Mr. Reagan's budget
cuts . He added that if the money is already appropriated then
� State Planning felt we would probably get the funds . He said
he was pretty sure this would be the last lot of the "Lawcon
funds they would be seeing. He said he also talked to the
State Preservation Office this date, who said pretty much the
same thing for the rennovation of the barn, and that categorical
funds were to be cut.
He reported they hadn't progressed very far on park signs as yet,
but that the router was in, though they had shipped the wrong
size letters . He distributed photr�s taken of various signs, and
stated they were trying to get some ideas . He said they would
probably have to make up a sign and put it up in a park so the
Committee could decide if they could live with it or had ideas
for improvement .
Park Committee ���tes �
March 3 : Z981
Page 7
Mr. Miller mentioned Arbor Day, asking if Mr. Bassett and
Mr. Gullifer had discussed this further. Mr, Bassett replied
that they hadn't talked abou.t it much since it was discussed
at the meeting. Mr. Miller stated they had talked about all
the trees that had been purchased at such a good price, but
they hadn't mentioned the apple tree . Mr. Bassett said they
had some ordered that were going to be planted at Farquhar to
re-establish the apple orchard. Mr. Miller stated this was
Apple Valley and he thought if they were going to plarYt trees
for Arbor Day they ought to be thinking about planting apple
trees . He said people say 'where are your apple trees' , and
he thought t�ere should be some someplace. Mr. Bassett agreed
it would be nice to put some in if they could be placed where
they could be cleaned up and sprayed so it was done right.
��r. Miller stated they had discussed Arbor Day and tree planting,
and direc-tion this year could be towards apple trees . Mr. Naegeli
stated re-establishing the orchard at Farquhar wouldn't be a bad
dedication for Arbor Day.
Mr. Miller suggested emphasis could be on planting the apple
trees with a photographer to take pictures kicking off the
planting. He stated they would plant other trees also.
Mr. Miller stated Arbor Day was the second Saturday in May,
May 9th, and the reforestation committee should be made aware
of that date and that they will all plant a �ree .
T�Ir. Tdiiller asked that there be a special notation made scheduling
a reforestation committee meeting immedia-tely following the Park
Committee meeting on March 17th.
Ms . Sterling stated Mr. Basse-�t had shown a loga Plymonth had
had made up, and asked if he had wanted one made up for Apple
Valley. Mr. Bassett stated the cost would be $100, but that he
would like ta have one done . Mr. Naegeli asked what would happen
it Committee didn't like it, and if they would be out the �100.
Mr. Bassett stated it would look like the City logo, but added
once it was done it was done as far as money was concerned.
Mr. Naegeli stated the press should alsa be involved when tl�e
signs are ready.
Ms . Sterling stated the press was going to be present for the
grand opening and ribbon cutting ceromony of park buildings . She
questioned when �Ir. Bassett felt this should be done . He replied
he would like it the latter part of June to give the ground time
to dry up and sod 1aid. Ms . Sterling said she would like -to see
it before school was out, or about tha-t time, so the youngsters
would know there were parks around. Mr. Bassett said it possibly
could be done the end of May.
Park Committee M�tes �
March 3, 1981
Page 8
Discussian took place on whether the Park Committee should be
more involved in the recreational aspect of the parks .
Mr. Bassett said it would open up a whole vista of things they
would have to be accountable for, and a lot of work. Mr. Naegeli
said once the parks become a little more stable he felt with
permission from the Council it would be a good thing to do and
it would give the Committee a little better knowledge. He
added the Committee could also be a sounding board for problems .
�ir. Bassett stated the park committee has had good discussions,
but to do the same thing with recreation they would have to
either meet longer or more frequently. He said there were a
1ot of details connected with recreation. He added that policy
for the use of community buildings needed to be established
which was something the Park Commi�ttee might want to get involved
in even if they weren't a part of the recreation. Mr. Naegeli
agreed the Committee should be involved because they had got-ten
the money for the buildings . T�r. Bassett mentioned that it
sometimes wvuld be nice to have a little backing when it came
to setting fees for golf, and other aetivities, adding that it
was something that was hard for the Council to get into along
with the fact they just don't have that kind of time.
T�Ir. Naegeli stated the Commi�ttee could say they had looked at it,
and certai� fees are needed.
Mr. PJliller stated he could see Committee involvement happening
right now; that the parks are slowing down, and a great deal of
time has just been spent on naming of parks , and as soon as
Arbor Day is over he felt it would be a good way of keeping the
Committee involved and aware of what is happening.
Mr. Bassett stated he would try to go through each park and the
Bond Issue looking at what Committee had said would be given to
each park . He said they had to keep their commitment for the
bond issue, and then other projects could be added but they
should generally be within the scope of the bond issue . He
said there was same additional grading yet to be done, and a
parking lot at Heritage Park .
Ms . Sterling asked if Mr. Bassett planned to put in grills and
more picnic tables this year. Mr. Bassett replied that this
vaas a part of the project with the CETA kids . He said this
project was approved by Dakota County CETA, and they have money
to fund it so he hoped to build more picnic tables this year.
Ms . Sterling stated comments had been made to her about the
youngster working and that -they were not working the full hourly
shift . She asked if they could put picnic tables together on the
rainy days . Mr. Bassett replied that they no rmally send them
home on a rainy day to save payroll. He added that sometimes
CETA has presented a bad image in that they give you 6 youngsters
but no supervisors . Ms . Sterling said one comment was that the
youngs-ter was mowing his own yard wi-th a city mower. Mr. Bassett
sta�ted he hadn't heard about that, and such things should be re-
por-ted to City Hall rather than to a Committee Member when it
happened.
I��QTION: b�y T�Ij.l�er, seconded by Naegeli, for adjournment. Motion
c rrie ,
wh