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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-10-06 Park Board Minutes1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA PARK BOARD HELD AT PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY MULTIPURPOSE ROOM Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 7 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Gieseke called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. II. INTRODUCE STUDENT MEMBERS Chair Gieseke introduced Asef Chowdhury and Graham Colwell to the Park Board as the new student members. Mr. Chowdhury and Mr. Colwell explained their choice for being on the Park Board. III. ROLL CALL Answering roll call were Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Absent: Members Cella, Deeds, Downing. Student Members present: Chowdhury and Colwell. IV. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA Member Steel made a motion, seconded by Member McCormick, approving the meeting agenda as amended to switch Item VII.F. (Grandview Update) with Item VII.D (2015 Park Board Work Plan). Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA Member Segreto made a motion, seconded by Member Steel, approving the consent agenda as follows: V.A. Approval of Minutes – Work Session Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2014 at 5 p.m. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. V.B. Approval of Minutes – Work Session Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2014 at 6 p.m. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. V.C. Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting on Aug. 11, 2014 Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. VI. COMMUNITY COMMENT None VII. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS VII.A. Arden Park Sidewalk Addition Ms. Kattreh informed the Park Board that the Arden Park D Neighborhood Roadway Improvement Project is planned for construction in 2015. Engineering staff is developing the project’s engineering study. The City Council will review the final engineering study and determine if the project will move forward at a special meeting on Dec. 9, 2014. Ms. Kattreh indicated Toby Muse, Project Manager from SEH was at the meeting to give a presentation to the Park Board. 2 Mr. Muse presented the Arden Park Sidewalk Addition plans to the Park Board. Chair Geiseke asked for a definition of a grass swale. Mr. Muse explained a grass swale is a strip of grass that filters water before it gets to a body of water, such as Minnehaha Creek. Member Jones asked how temporary the storage area is. Mr. Muse stated the main part of the building will be used during the peak construction season for one year and will be restored to what it is today. Member Segreto stated Minnehaha Boulevard becomes a speedway at certain times of the day and she was not sure if they wanted to widen it. Mr. Muse stated the boulevard will actually be made skinnier in some areas, which will slow down the speed. Member Segreto wanted to know where a crossing will be to allow canoers to cross Minnehaha Boulevard. Mr. Muse showed on the drawing where there will be an alligator crossing. Member Jones wondered if the sidewalk will be constructed as a boulevard or street sidewalk. Mr. Muse indicated it will be a street sidewalk. Member Jones asked if all of the trees will need to be cut down to make a path. Mr. Muse showed on the plans where brush will be removed. He noted they are going to try to avoid any tree removals. Member Steel asked if this will be maintained like a sidewalk. Mr. Muse understood it would be maintained by the city. Member Steel stated the city is strapped to repair and maintain the current paths and she wondered how the city will continue to maintain sidewalks and paths. Mr. Muse stated this was discussed at an open house and was indicated the city and residents would need to maintain the sidewalk. It is initially paid for by the PAX Funding to get put in and then up to the city to maintain. Member Segreto made a motion, seconded by Member McCormick, to approve the Arden Park D Neighborhood Roadway Improvement Project as proposed. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. VII.B. Fred Richards Vision Plan Ms. Kattreh informed the Park Board that on April 22, 2014 the City Council retained Schoenbauer Consulting, LLC to undertake a repurposing vision study for Fred Richards. The main goal of the first step is to establish the parameters for “highest and best public use” of the property, which will be used to guide development of a detailed master plan. If the Park Board recommends and the City Council approves the vision plan, the next step would be to engage a firm to complete a detailed master plan for the park. Mr. Schoenbauer made a presentation to the Park Board. Member McCormick asked where the public access to the park will be located. Mr. Schoenbauer showed on the drawing the public access and noted they are trying to respond to the neighborhoods concern with parking and vehicles in the neighborhood yet still giving them access to the area. Ms. Kattreh noted the Park Board should get a good look at the 9-Mile Creek Trail and the routing through it. Member McCormick asked if the total project costs included the buffering and ponding. Mr. Schoenbauer indicated the buffering would be included but there needs to be further discussion with the city regarding the ponding and there would be additional costs. 3 Member McCormick wondered how the developer can start on the plans that include the ponding if ponding is not included in the cost. Mr. Schoenbauer stated if the city were to jump into the detail Master Planning that could be one of the first things that is dealt with. If the timeline works with Three Rivers then it could be set for development next summer. Member McCormick noticed there was a lot of interest in winter activities in the park and she wondered what the recommendation would be. Mr. Schoenbauer stated the existing building can be used as a warming house with skating on the ponds, there could also be cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the park. Member McCormick asked what some of the ideas were for the existing clubhouse. Mr. Schoenbauer indicated it could be transitioned to a multi-functional space but they should look at this as a part of the entire area and include it in the flow of the park. He noted exterior treatments can be done on the clubhouse to transition it to a park use. A resident stated he has a concern about the noise if the clubhouse was to transition into a rental area for activities and festivities. If used as a rental area the noise would be directed towards the neighborhood and he suggested the Park Board think about this. Member Jones wondered if Mr. Schoenbauer could speak of the development funding for the package. Mr. Schoenbauer explained the funding for the detail-planning step. Member Steel asked if there will be any lighting on the 9-Mile Creek Trail. Mr. Schoenbauer stated this is not typically done because it will encourage use at night, which is not something they want to do. Member Steel wondered how the ponding area will be lit for skating in the winter. Mr. Schoenbauer explained there are ways to light the area without extending out into the neighborhood, which would lead to a more intimate skating area. Member McCormick asked in regard to the operating costs, one of the issues they will face is their CIP and the city is looking at stabilizing that source of funding. She was a little hesitant bringing more things online when they do not have a structured funding source for this. Ms. Kattreh stated as they look at developing a funding mechanism for this they will also look at developing a maintenance mechanism and seek additional funding. Member Segreto stated her concern was with what they will be doing in the interim with the park until it is developed. Ms. Kattreh indicated they will be mowing and maintaining the area but irrigation will not be maintained once the irrigation is closed up. Student Member Colwell stated he was at a DECA meeting and wondered if a coffee shop was still being considered or has that idea been shut down. Mr. Schoenbauer indicated that is still being considered and he also thought there could be coffee carts or food trucks, with permits, sitting at the parameter of the park. He encouraged this to be reviewed. Student Member Colwell stated this would be a great opportunity for DECA students. He reviewed with the board and community what DECA does. Member Jones asked for more information on parking, traffic and access. Her concern was with no direct street access to the park. She hoped the vision would solve the problem. Mr. Schoenbauer showed on the plan the access that will be opened up off of 77th Street. He noted they have not 4 decided where the access will be yet but there will be an access. Member Jones indicated she would like to have signage directing where the access is located. Member Jones stated another concern is with the amount of parking onsite. Mr. Schoenbauer reviewed the parking area in the plans. Member Segreto stated the southeast part of the residential area is mostly multi-family high-density area and picnicking creates a lot of garbage and maintenance and thought putting picnic tables and grills as part of the visioning process is needed especially as an interim item. Mr. Schoenbauer agreed. A resident stated if a picnic area is set up in the interim then he thought Kellogg Avenue and other streets will become the parking areas for the park. Another resident asked if there was a proposal to close off Kellogg Avenue. Mr. Schoenbauer thought this would be part of the discussion the city will have with the neighborhood. Member Steel asked what the next step is going forward. Mr. Schoenbauer reviewed the steps going forward with the city. A resident stated Three Rivers needs to put a trail through there and what is the downside of not getting the budgeting in before the project is started. He thought the budget should be figured out first before the steps are made to design the park. Ms. Kattreh stated the Three Rivers has it in their plans to do the trail next year and if the city is in the position to do an alignment they will but if the city is not ready then an alignment will not be done. They all need to feel comfortable with this. Member Steel indicated Three Rivers has their own funding so they can start working on the trail. Member Segreto made a motion, seconded by Member Jones, to approve the Fred Richards Vision Master Plan as prepared by Schoenbauer Consulting qualified by giving attention to the parking needed and also consider picnicking as appended use within the park. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. VII.C. 2015 Fees and Charges Ms. Faus informed the Park Board that staff requests a review and comment on the proposed 2015 Parks & Recreation Department and Enterprise Facilities fees and charges. This includes Braemar Arena, Braemar Golf Course, Centennial Lakes Park, Edinborough Park and the Edina Aquatic Center. The Edina Art Center fees and charges are reviewed by the Arts & Culture Commission. Member McCormick wondered what renovations were being made on the Braemar Room at the golf course. Mr. Abood reviewed the renovations and noted they will also be increasing some of the rates. Member McCormick felt renovations were needed. Member McCormick asked regarding the Edinborough Park Play Area was there consideration on reducing the rates. Ms. McGrath stated they increased the rate in 2013 to $7 and felt it was a fair rate for the type of play area they have. She thought people recognized that as well. Ms. Kattreh stated a lot of facilities charge everyone who enters the doors and they are only charging the kids, not adults. Member McCormick stated in the arena area, there has been a recent increase in membership fees and she wondered why. Ms. Miller stated there have been a lot of changes in the past few years to the programs and she thought they needed to promote it. 5 Member Greene asked in regard to the outside rink, he wondered if the rate can be a flat fee because he thought there will be a big demand. Ms. Miller stated they have it sold out Thursday through Sunday nights and will hit the school market pretty hard for the Spring Break crowd along with corporate business so it is a success. She reviewed the technology used for keeping ice on the rink outside during the spring. Member Jones indicated these items are being approved without seeing the budget numbers and are on the recommendation of city staff. She wondered why the Park Board is not seeing the budgets. Ms. Kattreh stated they are creating two-year budgets and it was approved last year. She apologized for not including the budget in the staff report and would remember to include it in the future. Ms. Faus noted there is one typo in the Braemar Fields Section, where it is listed at $31 it should state $3. Member Gieseke asked who is purchasing seasonal passes for the Flow Rider. Ms. McGrath stated last year they sold 258 season passes and almost 2600 daily passes. She stated it is an awesome amenity but not being used to its potential. Member McCormick stated under the Edina Senior Center there is a line for golf league membership for the Richards Golf Course and she wondered what will happen with that. Ms. Faus stated they will be transitioning to Braemar Golf Course and will make that change on the fees and charges. VII.F. Grandview Update Ms. Kattreh informed the Park Board that on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 the City Council met to discuss the proposals and presentations submitted by development teams interested in partnering with the city to redevelop the former Public Works site at 5146 Eden Ave. from the 10 responses received. The City Council heard presentations from four selected finalists: Doran Companies, Frauenshuh Commercial Real Estate Group, Grecco, LLC and Kraus-Anderson Realty. At the conclusion of the City Council conversation, a majority agreed to name Frauenshuh Commercial Real Estate Group as the preferred team. The City Council believes that Frauenshuh possess the expertise, creativity and tenacity to create a successful public/private development that will serve as a catalyst for future redevelopment in the Grandview District. Member Jones thought the Park Board needed to get involved in this park like they have with the re- purposing of Fred Richards Golf Course. She thought the same type of visioning needed to be done. She would recommend this be included in the upcoming year Master Work Plan process. Member Jones updated the Park Board on the recent survey that was done. Chair Geiseke stated at this point they do not have it in the work plan and he wondered if the City Council would want the Park Board to be involved. Ms. Kattreh stated this could be asked at the work session with the City Council. She stated if this is something the Park Board would like them to pursue, it could be added. Member Jones thought the Park Board would be involved at this point because they are both using Confluence. Member Steel stated she was hesitant to have projects drive the strategic plan, she thought residents should drive the strategic plan and they should assess what those are. They need to start thinking about specific projects. Member Jones agreed and would have preferred they would have chosen someone other than Confluence to assess the needs for Grandview. She thought the process should be kept as separate as possible but if they don’t step up they may not be involved in the process. 6 Member Steel agreed but did not think they were personally in the position other than talking personally with City Council to do much about it. Member Jones stated she would like to see it in the work plan because in order to get involved in projects they need to have it on the work plan. Member Jones indicated she would like to make a motion for this item to be placed in the work plan. Member Jones made a motion to include Grandview Master Plan in the work plan. Chair Gieseke indicated he was not ready to make a motion without guidance and did not want to interfere. Member Jacobson stated as a group they are trying to assess what needs are not being met in the community and Grandview happens to be the forum on which the community needs are not being met. Member Jones wondered why Chair Gieseke did not want to discuss this. Chair Gieseke stated they are an advisory committee so they need to work within the realm of what the City Council wants them to do. He did not know if Ms. Kattreh has sat down with the City Council to discuss this and that should be done first. Member Jones stated she did not know why this would be so difficult to ask it be included in the work plan and she wondered why the Park Board could not discuss this. Chair Gieseke asked staff why this has not been included on the Park Board Work Plan. Ms. Kattreh indicated she was told that the Park Board will be consulted at some point, but she did not think it would do any harm to put it on the work if the Park agrees and ask the City Council to respond to it. Member Gieseke wondered if it would create any ill will. Ms. Kattreh did not think that would happen. There was not a second to the motion, motion failed. Chair Gieseke thought the Park Board is showing heightened sensitivity because the Park Board is not being included in the visioning of the Grandview Park Master Plan. Ms. Kattreh thought sometime in 2015 this item will need to be put on the work plan. Member Jones stated this will be decided before the end of the year. She stated most people want public uses for public land and what is being shown is primarily private use for the land. Chair Gieseke indicated this would be followed up at the next meeting after more information is received. VII.E. 40th & France Property Ms. Kattreh informed the Park Board that the site is located on the west side of France Avenue near its intersection with W. 40th Street. The parcel is 14.3 acres in size. The north 1/3 of the property is located in the City of St. Louis Park and the southern 2/3 is located in the City of Edina. While the property is owned by the City of Minneapolis, neither site is within the corporate limits of the City of Minneapolis. Chair Gieseke asked if the city was eager and active buyers of property, especially parkland. Ms. Kattreh thought they would be and this is a large parcel with great potential. Member Segreto stated it is a rare opportunity to buy a piece of land as nice as that and hoped that they can reach an agreement but thought it was all about price right now. Ms. Kattreh stated that was correct. She thought they had a tremendous partnership opportunity to turn this into a nice asset for the area. 7 Member Jones recommended they have a good public process because people have not been able to speak about this but if it is on the market and if they thought this was going to be sold to developers, this changes everything and thought the City Council needed to hear from its constituents. Ms. Kattreh agreed. VII.D. 2015 Park Board Work Plan Ms. Kattreh informed the Park Board that the proposed 2015 Park Board Work Plan was completed using the Park Board members feedback and previous recommendations. Items on the 2015 Capital Improvement Plan are also included. The work plan needs to be approved and the City Council will be reviewing Boards and Commissions work plans at the October 7, 2014 work session. There was discussion between the Park Board regarding the work plan. Member McCormick stated that she thinks the Braemar Master Plan should be included in the work plan. Member Jones felt regarding the Inclusion Playground Equipment at Rosland Park that they should add “is contingent on receiving sufficient grant funding”. Member Segreto indicated she would like to be on the Urban Forest Task Force Committee. Member Jones indicated she thinks “Green Initiatives” should be taken off as 2015 New Initiative and be placed under Ongoing Responsibilities. Member Steel noted that she would like to see added under the Other Work Plan Ideas Considered “Volunteer Collaborative with Community Education Services”. Member Steel made a motion, seconded by Member Segreto, to approve the 2015 Park Board Work Plan with the following additions and changes: add “Braemar Golf Master Plan” as a new 2015 New Initiative; under Other Work Plan Ideas add “Volunteer Collaborative with Community Education Services”; add Member Segreto to the Urban Forest Task Force Committee; eliminate “Green Initiatives” as a 2014 New Initiative and put under Ongoing Responsibilities; and add under Inclusive Playground Equipment – Rosland Park “is contingent on receiving sufficient grant funding”. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS VIII.A. City Council Updates No discussion. VIII.B. Other Correspondence No discussion. IX. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Member Jones asked if on the Fred Richards Re-Purpose Survey they could have a spot for a person to indicate whether or not they are an Edina resident because she feels that would be helpful. Ms. Kattreh replied she will make sure that gets put into the survey. Chair Gieseke informed the Park Board that Ann Kattreh was recently inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He read the letter to the Park Board and congratulated Ms. Kattreh. Ms. Kattreh indicated she was honored. X. STAFF COMMENTS Ms. Kattreh stated that on October 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. Ron Vine will be giving a presentation on the Community Survey results and she would like the Park Board members to attend if possible. Ms. Kattreh updated the Park Board on Pamela Park. 8 Ms. Kattreh stated that Friday, December 5, 2014 is the day of the Grand Opening for the Sports Dome and outdoor rink. Ms. Faus updated the Park Board on the Braemar Park Master Plan Task Force. XI. ADJOURNMENT Chair Gieseke made a motion, seconded by Member Segreto, to adjourn the meeting at 9:57 p.m. Ayes: Members Gieseke, Greene, Jones, Jacobson, Segreto, McCormick, Steel. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m.