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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-10 Park Board Minutes1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA PARK BOARD HELD AT CITY HALL June 10, 2014 7 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Gieseke called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Answering roll call were Members McCormick, Jacobson, Gieseke, Jones, Downing. Member Cella arrived at 8:33 p.m. Absent: Members Deeds, Steel, Segreto, Greene; Student Members Good, Johnson. III. STAFF COMMENTS Chair Gieseke noted due to lack of quorum, agenda items will be considered out of order tonight. Ms. Kattreh noted Member Deeds wanted her to report that the Edina Rugby Football Association won both JV and Varsity State championships this weekend. He wanted congratulations extended to the coaches and parents for their support of the teams, which are not supported by the School District. Ms. Kattreh provided the following updates: the Sports Dome soil corrections are completed, and the utility and retaining walls begin next week; the Pamela Park projects await a final wetland delineation approval which cannot happen until the flooding subsides; all contracts for the Sports Dome and Pamela Park projects have been awarded by the City Council; the shelter building for Pamela Park quotes are due back within the next week. Ms. Kattreh continued with the following updates: a new General Manager has been hired for Braemar; the Braemar Master Plan Task Force will be appointed at the June 17 City Council meeting; the Braemar Driving Range project awaits Watershed and Army Corps of Engineer approvals, though the goal is still to break ground this fall; the Fred Richards re-purpose open house is meeting June 12 at 7 p.m.; staff has started the 2015-2019 CIP process; the Aquatic Center opened Saturday; the tennis program began this week and other recreation programs begin next week; a new concert series, entitled “Music in the Park”, begins at Rosland Park this week. IV. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Member Downing provided an update on the recent meeting with the Fred Richards consultants. The goal was to define the purpose of the park, and there seemed to be consensus that it should be a community park very sensitive to neighborhood needs. It was noted the need for good communication about this project and for defining what is and what is not taking place to alleviate some of the confusion. Member Downing commented it is important for the Park Board to understand its role in this process going forward. Member Jones reported on the Living Streets initiatives; she noted it is important the parks are connected in the community for both bikes and pedestrians. She would like to provide an update to the Park Board at the next scheduled monthly meeting. Additionally, she reported that both the boys and girls Ultimate Teams won State this year. There will be more Ultimate players in the future, and the Park Board should keep that in mind in terms of field planning. 2 Chair Gieseke asked for interest in representing the city in the 4th of July Parade. Members Jones, McCormick, Jacobson and Downing expressed interest. V. COMMUNITY COMMENT None. VI. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS VI.A. Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment Approval Ms. Kattreh noted Eric Nelson and Jonathan Vlaming from Three Rivers Park District are present to discuss the latest information on the Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment. Mr. Nelson discussed the changes made to the route since the April and May Park Board meetings and also highlighted various crossings and access points as well as necessary easements. He noted the overlap connection with the Bredesen Bike Trail as well as the new bridge over Highway 62. Chair Gieseke asked about bike racks for students. Mr. Nelson noted he anticipates the School District would want bike racks closer to the school, but Three Rivers Park District can work with them on the issue. Mr. Nelson pointed out the underpass at 70th Street and the steep grade, which necessitates a loop in the trail in order to meet ADA requirements for the grade. Member Jones asked about another planned bike path by Burgundy Place. Mr. Vlaming responded there was a conversation between the City Engineer with the developers at that time, but he is not aware of any formal agreement reached. That said it is still doable. Member McCormick asked about communications with homeowners who need screening from the trail. Mr. Nelson discussed that proposed screening is offered if the trail is within 50 feet of the property line. Forty-nine informational packets were mailed out in mid-May to residents within 50 feet. Another 28 packets were sent out today to ensure the alignment is certain. As of yesterday, 30 of the initial 49 recipients have responded. The packet outlined five vegetative choices and three types of fence, or no screening at all. Twelve people asked for more time to consider the choices. For those who did not respond, the packet states a non-response will be treated as a request for no screening. Mr. Nelson recapped the timeline of the project. Engineering will continue through the fall, bids will go out this winter, and construction begins next spring. The goal is to have it completed by the end of the 2017 construction season. Member Jones asked about the security of the tunnel. Mr. Nelson responded all tunnels have lighting, and he has not heard of any security issues. Member Downing asked about the funding of the project. Mr. Vlaming responded efforts continue to be made to obtain funding for the west half, though the plan continues to be to build the east half in 2015 and the west half in 2016. Notification of the federal grant will be mid-2015. Member Jones asked about the trail’s proximity to roads with speed limits over 30 mph. She asked about buffered trails along places like Gleason. Mr. Nelson confirmed that stretch will be buffered. The 3 interim plan is to use existing trail on Smetana, but when it is reconstructed, it will become a full 10-foot wide asphalt trail. Members Jones and Downing thanked the Three Rivers Park District for their work on the trail. Chair Gieseke noted it would be nice to have a vote on the final park proposal before the City Council meeting, but due to lack of quorum, it is not possible at this time. VI.B. Request for Proposal for Park System Master Plan Ms. Kattreh stated the working group met to discuss a revision of the RFP for the park system master plan. The board discussed the number of board members allowed to participate in the working group without violating quorum bylaws. The board took a break at 8:05 p.m. The meeting resumed at 8:20 p.m. VI.A. Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment Approval -- continued Chair Gieseke stated that in order to fulfill its advisory role, each of the five board members present will voice an opinion on the two matters on the agenda tonight, though a vote is not possible due to lack of quorum. Member Downing stated the project has been well thought through and he could not give it a bigger endorsement. Member Jones echoed his comments. Chair Gieseke concurred with Member Downing. Member Jacobson expressed full support for the trail. Member McCormick expressed full support as well. Chair Gieseke summarized there is a non-quorum recommendation as a five out of five Park Board members approval for the project as presented tonight. VI.B. Request for Proposal for Park System Master Plan – continued Member McCormick asked for clarification about the minimum of meetings between the consultant and the Park Board. Ms. Kattreh clarified there will be six meetings before the Park Board. Member Jones asked whether it is a working group or a committee who will be working with the consultant. Chair Gieseke clarified it is a committee, since members of the public are not involved. Member McCormick asked about the surveys. Ms. Kattreh responded she recommends using one of the previously employed firms in order to do a large community survey. If the Park Board does not want to do a large-scale process, a consultant can do some type of surveying as part of its process. She would like the Park Board to decide on that distinction. 4 Member Jacobson noted she does not believe there is a good representative knowledge of what each decade of residents wants in a park system. She believes the prior survey was done with too old of a demographic. Chair Gieseke asked if there is sufficient information available to not spend an additional $20,000. Member Jones concurred the study she reviewed did not have great utilization information. She thinks if the Parks Department wrote a survey trying to identify parks needs, it would be written differently. She agreed on the importance of another survey. Member Downing concurred with the member comments on the need for another survey. Member McCormick added that the benchmarking will be helpful as well. Member Jones commented she would like to see benchmarking on recreational programming, healthy living, and creating communities. Member McCormick concurred the idea of creating communities is part of the strategy of the Park Board. Member Cella arrived at 8:33 p.m. Member McCormick asked about the process. Member Jones commented on the necessity of a strategy for the public engagement process both in the master planning process as well as for the Park Board going forward. Member Jacobson commented on the importance of focusing more on the water resources in the community. Member Jones noted she would like to have the consultant help with scheduling the maintenance for what we already have. Member Downing stated he would like the consultant to assist in future changing uses of the park. Member Jones commented she would like to emphasize the value of neighborhood equity in terms of parks. Member Cella noted the inventory has to occur before the issue of neighborhood equity can be examined. Chair Gieseke noted there is now a quorum present at the meeting, so votes can be taken. Ms. Kattreh outlined the timeline of the RFP process. Member McCormick made a motion, seconded by Member Downing, to approve the proposal with the following amendments: clarifying that the minimum of six meeting times was with the Park Board; changing the working group to a committee; adding the scope of work; including land and water activities, gardening, healthy living, recreational programs, and creating a community. Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. 5 Motion carried. Member Jones made a motion, seconded by Member Jacobson, to include a community survey as part of the RFP process. Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. Motion carried. VII. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Member Downing made a motion, seconded by Member Jones, to approve the meeting agenda. Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. Motion carried. VIII. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA Member Cella made a motion, seconded by Member Jacobson, to approve the consent agenda as follows: VIII.A. Approval of Minutes – Regular Park Board Meeting of May 13, 2014 Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. Motion carried. VI.A. Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment Approval – continued again Member Downing made a motion, seconded by Member Jones, to approve the Nine Mile Creek Trail Alignment. Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. Motion carried. IX. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS IX.A. Council Updates No discussion. IX.B. Other Correspondence No discussion. X. ADJOURNMENT Chair Gieseke made a motion, seconded by Member Jones, to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m. Ayes: Members Cella, Jones, Downing, Jacobson, McCormick, Gieseke. Motion Carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.