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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-13 Park Board Minutes1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA PARK BOARD HELD AT CITY HALL May 13, 2014 7 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Gieseke called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Answering roll call were Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Student Members present: Good and Johnson. Absent: None. III. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Member Steel made a motion, seconded by Member Downing, to approve the meeting agenda. Ayes: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA Member Jones made a motion, seconded by Member Greene, to amend the April 8, 2014 Park Board Meeting Minutes as follows: Page 2, Item VI.C., should be modified to read: “she notified the Park Board that there was a proposed contract with the Wild.” Further on down, it should read “she provided basic outlines of various remodeling projects…” Ayes: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. Member Cella made a motion, seconded by Member Steel, to approve the consent agenda as follows: IV.A. Approval of Amended Minutes – Regular Park Board Meeting of April 8, 2014 Ayes: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. V. COMMUNITY COMMENT None. VI. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS VI.A. Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment through Bredesen Park Ms. Kattreh noted Eric Nelson from Three Rivers Park District is present to go through options previously presented to the Park Board. He would like the Park Board to make a recommendation on one of the options. Mr. Nelson presented three options for the Nine Mile Regional Trail Alignment, noting that option 2 is essentially eliminated due to lack of perceived support by the Park Board as well as the significant 2 required grading and removal of existing vegetation. He pointed out the advantages and drawbacks of each option. He noted that both staff and the Three Rivers Park District are recommending option 1. Member McCormick asked about bicyclists and walkers sharing the trail. Mr. Nelson pointed out the distance on the proposal where the trail would be shared by walkers and bikers. He explained trails on bridges are 12 feet wide. Additionally, the segment of shared trail off the bridge would be widened to 10 feet. Chair Gieseke asked about any safety concerns. Mr. Nelson responded all regional trails are shared by bikers, walkers, rollerbladers, and so this trail can certainly be constructed with appropriate safety measures. Member Steel asked about safety concerns on two-way traffic. Mr. Nelson responded no, because there is a separate path for walkers, and that is adequate for two-way traffic. Ms. Kattreh pointed out the restrooms are on the east side by the parking lot, in response to a question by Member Steel. Mr. Nelson noted two-way traffic does make things easier on a regional trail. Member McCormick commented the area is dense and visibility can be challenging. Ms. Kattreh noted in areas where there is limited visibility, there may be a stripe put on the path to really delineate directions. Member Deeds expressed concern about safety where passing may occur. He agreed on the importance of striping the path. Member Jacobson asked about widening the trail to 10 feet wide on the 8 feet portions to alleviate safety concerns. Ms. Kattreh noted a two-way 8 feet trail is accepted and is standard. Member Segreto noted the twists and turns are somewhat self-limiting in terms of a bicyclist not being able to go full speed. She cautioned against widening to 10 feet, because of the environmental impacts. Member Jones asked about the grading off the bridge, and Mr. Nelson responded the grade will be 5 percent. Member Jones asked if Three Rivers Park District has presented this material to any other groups. Mr. Nelson responded the route has been presented to the Transportation Commission and the Edina School District, and both expressed support for the route. Member Deeds stated option 1 makes most sense, but he does not see a way of keeping the traffic one- way. He believes the trail should be striped to maintain safety. Member Steel asked about the longevity of striping. Mr. Nelson responded five to seven years is an average lifespan. Member Segreto asked about colors of striping. Mr. Nelson responded the regional trails are striped yellow and the connections are striped green. 3 Member Downing commented it would be confusing to have the trail be two-way at one point and one- way at another point. Consistency would help bikers. Ms. Kattreh stated most of the surveying was done with walkers, and some bicyclists can be added if the Park Board chooses. The Park Board discussed the closest restrooms are Walnut Ridge or the Fred Richards/Centennial Lakes area. Member Segreto made a motion, seconded by Member Cella, to approve alignment #1 as the alignment option for the Nine Mile Creek Bike Trail. Ayes: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. Member Steel made a motion, seconded by Member Downing, to make the Bredesen Trail two-way traffic flow with striping. Ayes: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. VI.B. Request for Proposal for Park System Master Plan Ms. Kattreh asked for comments and feedback on the RFP. Member Steel asked about budgeting and the CIP. Ms. Kattreh responded this master plan would provide a very detailed and prioritized scheduled for improvements in the park system. Programming was not specifically called out, but it would be a component that would have to be discussed. Member Steel asked if a survey will be completed. Ms. Kattreh responded staff would like to utilize the community surveys already completed. Staff will also undergo an extensive public engagement process. Member Deeds asked about the hoped-for outcome. Ms. Kattreh responded she would like a plan that can guide the park system for the next 20 to 40 years. It will help prioritize and budget what improvements should be made in the parks. It will help staff identify trends and potential areas that are missing in the current park system. She would like to address the needs of the athletic associations and find out what the public thinks about the park system. She would like see what Edina has compared to other park systems to meet the very highest standards. Member Jones asked why the enterprise facilities were excluded from this plan, noting there has been discussion of reclassifying the enterprise facilities. Ms. Kattreh responded the facilities were eliminated because operational efficiency studies have already been completed on several of those operations. They will continue to be studied in terms of cost recovery and in terms of business plans. Member Downing commented it is important to determine how success can be measured with regard to this consulting process. Ms. Kattreh agreed it will be important to decide upon a set of criteria. Member Cella asked about Fred Richards. Ms. Kattreh agreed there are multiple concurrent projects. It might not be an ideal scenario, but this is the given timeframe. 4 Member Steel asked about the public input process for Fred Richards repurposing. Ms. Kattreh responded the public engagement process starts June 12, including public meetings, visits at the site, and other techniques to engage residents who live in the neighborhood and residents throughout the city. Member Steel noted the Edina School District is beginning a strategic planning process in a couple of months. Ms. Kattreh noted there is a very detailed inventory of all the sports facilities in the city that was used for the Sports Dome. The Park Board discussed whether the proposed RFP will be able to address the various issues facing the park system right now and in the future, including the repurposing of Fred Richards and a possible new community center in the Grandview redevelopment district. Also discussed was whether adequate funding is available to make this RFP as effective and helpful as it could be. Member Jones made a motion, seconded by Member Downing that the strategic master planning subcommittee meet and come back to the Park Board with a proposal at the June Park Board meeting. Member Steel suggested that the RFP be edited so that the points are as broad as possible, and that the priorities are as listed at the top. Ayes: Members Cella, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion Carried. VI.C. Braemar Golf Course Master Plan Task Force Ms. Kattreh asked for a recommendation of two Park Board members to the Braemar Golf Course Master Plan Task Force. Members McCormick and Deeds volunteered for the task force. Chair Gieseke made a motion, seconded by Member Segreto, to recommend Members McCormick and Deeds to the Braemar Golf Course Master Plan Task Force. Ayes: Members Cella, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion Carried. VI.D. Fred Richards Reuse Study Ms. Kattreh reviewed the timeline of the Fred Richards reuse process to date and highlighted the future key dates and action items. Member Downing asked about the communications process back to the public. Ms. Kattreh responded the consultant will be able to advise the most effective communications process, and the Communications Department will be involved. Mailings will be utilized as well as press releases, the website, and social media. Ms. Kattreh noted the Park Board will be a significant stakeholder in this process, and staff will keep the Park Board up-to-date on the site walks, the meetings, and everything else related. The consultant will help identify other stakeholders as well, including Three Rivers Park District and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. 5 Ms. Kattreh noted there has not been a discussion regarding the budget for repurposing at this stage. VI.E. 2014 Park Board Work Plan Projects Chair Gieseke asked for Park Board feedback on any priorities in the work plan. Member Jones asked about including green initiatives in the strategic master planning process. Member Deeds stated a conversation needs to begin on cost recovery goals for enterprise facilities. Member Steel added that cost recovery goals should be included as part of the strategic master planning process. Member Downing volunteered for the subcommittee on fundraising for Parks & Recreation. Member Jones suggested the subcommittee can now meet to begin brainstorming. Member Cella asked about the Wooddale Park barrier-free playground equipment and a possible matching grant. Ms. Kattreh responded there has been no movement on that project to date. In response to a question from Member Cella, Ms. Kattreh reported staff is holding off on Arneson Acres until later this year as the master planning process gets underway. Staff also does not have a lot of extra time right now to devote to that master plan. Member Cella suggested staff communicate about the timeline with the Garden Council, the donors. Ms. Kattreh concurred. Member Segreto offered to work on the Urban Forest Initiative. Ms. Kattreh stated that will be coordinated with the Energy and Environment Commission as well. Member Cella commented on the amount of money allocated towards Fred Richards, Braemar, and Arneson Acres, as compared with the strategic master plan. She emphasized the importance of funding priorities. Ms. Kattreh commented on the cost recovery goals, suggesting a committee of Park Board members who would meet with facility managers and help provide insight and direction from the Park Board to help guide staff in the next round of business plans. She would like to see improved understanding of expenses and business plans; the City Council would be interested in hearing a report from the Park Board regarding what is a feasible cost recovery percentage. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS VII.A. Council Updates No discussion. VII.B. Other Correspondence No discussion. VII.C. Veteran’s Memorial Committee, March 21, 2014 Minutes No discussion. VIII. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Member Jones asked about the status of the proposed contract with the Wild. Ms. Kattreh responded the Wild have not responded to the proposed contract, so staff is patiently waiting. 6 Member Jones noted she served on the Grandview steering committee for two years, during which time a framework was developed. After the framework was approved, the City Council directed the Park Board to handle the next step, which would be to address the community needs, which would drive building needs. The Park Board was given a seat on the Citizen Advisory Team. She commended Sue Jacobson for representing the Park Board with her vote, which states an unbiased consultant should be hired to pursue what community needs would be. The City Council will be voting on the next step on May 20. Two members of the Grandview CAT would prefer partnering with a developer on the next step. IX. STAFF COMMENTS Ms. Kattreh provided the following update: this Saturday is the National Kids to Parks Day at Rosland Park; the Community Garden is open for planting; last week was the groundbreaking for the Braemar Sports Dome; two scoreboards were dedicated at Pamela Park; Centennial Lakes Park is open for the season; the Edina Aquatic Center is opening on June 7; and the second and final bid package for the Braemar Sports Dome and outdoor rink projects along with the Pamela Park site work bid package are opening soon as well. X. ADJOURNMENT Chair Gieseke made a motion, seconded by Member Downing, to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. Ayes: Members Cella, Downing, Jones, Gieseke, Steel, Jacobson, McCormick, Segreto, Greene. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.