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062606 CC Park Comm Min CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2006 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5:45 PM MINUTES 1. CONVENE JOINT COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 5:45 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Mayor Love; Councilmembers Callies (arrived at 5:53 P.M.), Turgeon, and Wellens; Administrator Dawson; and Director of Public Works Brown Park Commission Chair Davis; Park Commissioners Moonen (arrived at 5:50 P.M.), Norman, Westerlund, and Young Absent: Councilmember Lizee, Commissioner Hensley B. Review Agenda Without objection from Council, Mayor Love proceeded with the Agenda for the meeting. 2. REVIEW SCOPE OF PARK COMMISSION ACTIVITIES Mayor Love asked Park Commission Chair Davis to review Park Commission Activities. She in turn deferred to Director Brown. Director Brown stated when the Park Commission had been examining its goals and priorities the topic of open space had been discussed, and the minutes of that meeting (still in draft form) left room for misunderstanding about what the Park Commission thought its role should be with regard to open space. He stated there were six different definitions of open space within the park system alone. He noted that Council had previously dealt with open space as it related to land donations, or land that Council would like to have the opportunity to protect or preserve. The varying definitions of open space had contributed to the confusion. Brown commented the Commission had recently reviewed the Land Conservation and Environment Committee (LCEC) report, which discussed open space. He stated early on the LCEC focused its efforts on specific parcels of land identifY opportunities and their priority. Brown then stated the question at hand was whether the Commission should be involved with open space as defined by the Council, in particular with the Gideon Glen property. He noted the property started as open space, and had a walking path component to it. He also stated the Commission, at its last meeting, agreed that open space was not the responsibility of the Park Commission. Brown then stated the LCEC report recommended if another committee were to be established to ensure oversight of open space, both the Council and its advisory commissions should have representatives on the committee. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING June 26, 2006 Page 2 of5 Mayor Love stated it had been the Council's decision to sunset the LCEC, noting he would have preferred for the LCEC to continue in existence. The intent had been to be able to reconvene the LCEC should the need arise. Administrator Dawson explained there had been a couple of tax-forfeit properties that had become available, but there had not been a need to reconvene the LCEC. Councilmember Wellens questioned what the definition of open space was. Councilmember Turgeon stated a report defined what constituted open space and what the criteria was for open space. She also stated the LCEC had identified various properties that could eventually be classified as open space, if the City had the financial wherewithal to purchase the properties should they be made available. She went on to state the Council had allocated $5,000 from the General Fund to an Open Space fund for the purpose of assisting individuals who may want to place parcels of land into a land trust. Chair Davis stated she thought it was prudent to have some group keep abreast of open space opportunities and concerns. Mayor Love stated he could envision the Park Commission being involved with promoting the use of Gideon Glen as an interpretive area. He also stated Gideon Glen was to serve as a model for land conservation, and to serve as a test to determine what types of storm water treatment approaches were most effective and appropriate. Mayor Love stated he had spoken with Planning Director Nielsen with regard to placing a covenant on Gideon Glen once final arrangements had been made with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) regarding maintenance, and after the plantings had been completed. He would like to have the covenant in place by year-end. Commissioner Westerlund stated Hennepin County had collected additional natural resource inventory information since the LCEC report had been prepared. She also stated the MCWD had a land conservation program that had conducted a wetland inventory. She questioned if the City had considered how it wanted to interface with Hennepin County and the MCWD with regard to those matters. Mayor Love stated there were two questions that needed to be addressed; I) who was responsible for considering what properties should be acquired for open space: and 2) who was responsible for the oversight of open space. He suggested a committee (which would include representatives from the Planning Commission, Park Commission and Council) meet yearly to discuss open space opportunities and concerns. He then stated because a parcel of land was undeveloped, it did not automatically mean the land should be preserved. Councilmember Callies questioned if there was a particular problem with regard to open space that Council and the Park Commission were attempting to address. Director Brown explained the topic of responsibility for the Gideon Glen was the impetus for the discussion. CITY OF SHORE WOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING June 26, 2006 Page 3 of5 Councilmember Callies stated she had once been a member of the LCEC, and it was not intended to be a continuing committee. She stated the LCEC's mission was valuable, but required additional Staff time and people resources. Director Brown stated the Commission's question was who was responsible for managing open space if the LCEC was sunset. Mayor Love stated to date there had not been any effort expended to look at conservation easements for properties abutting Gideon Glen, and that was an example of an open space issue that could be addressed. Commissioner Westerlund stated she thought it prudent for the City to have a long-term vision for the community that included protecting existing natural resource features. She noted the area across from Manor Park where 4 houses and been torn down and redeveloped with a 9-unit subdivision. Mayor Love stated that was a different issue from land conservation. Mayor Love stated the City needed to determine if it wanted to have the character of the neighborhoods change and to have the environment change. He cautioned that the City must be sensitive to individuals trying to stop developments because of inappropriate or unrealistic conservation concerns. Administrator Dawson commented other City subdivision controls addressed such issues as preserving trees and replacing trees; but property owners' rights must be maintained. Councilmember Callies stated in addition to the LCEC having a sunset date, the LCEC's list of items to address had diminished. She then stated if the City wanted to preserve wooded areas on private property, the City must be prepared to buy the properties; property owners have the right to use the property as they want. Mayor Love stated the City may want to take a proactive role in educating the public on the tax benefits of creating conservation easements for part of their property. Without objection from Council members and Commissioners, Mayor Love asked Staff to prepare a recommendation for establishing an open space oversight committee that would meet yearly which would consist of Council, Planning Commission, and Park Commission representatives. Chair Davis suggested, as had Mayor Love, the City should communicate the benefits of donating land as conservation easements to property owners. Councilmember Turgeon commented that Planning Director Nielsen had previously cautioned the LCEC not to automatically categorize all wetland as open space. The wetland must meet specific criteria. In response to a question from Councilmember Callies, Mayor Love stated there were examples of the benefits to property owners for establishing conservation easements. Administrator Dawson clarified the conveying easements did not decrease the property value; the property owner received a tax benefit for donating the land. Commissioner Young stated he thought the purpose of this meeting was to clarifY a misunderstanding with regard to oversight responsibility for open space. The Park Commission's responsibility for open CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING June 26, 2006 Page 4 of5 space was specific to City parks. He went on to state all the other issues with regard to open space discussed at the meeting were the Council's responsibility. In response to a question from Commissioner Young, Mayor Love stated Gideon Glen was not officially classified as a City park. In response to a question from Councihnember Callies, Commissioner Young stated the Commission would be able to oversee additional City parks. Commissioner Moonen stated, from his vantage point, the Commission had agreed its oversight responsibilities with regard to open space were specific to City park open space. Director Brown stated there was an opportunity for a new City park to be created on a site currently occupied by a well house on Apple Road, once the well house was removed. He noted a neighbor to that property had also expressed interest in purchasing the property. Director Brown stated the Park Commission had been receiving requests from residents to have the lighting at the football fields and hockey rinks to be repaired. He noted the lighting was in dire need of replacement. There had also been numerous calls from residents regarding the condition of tennis courts at Manor Park. He stated the City was accepting bids for resurfacing of the tennis courts; although Staff was assessing whether the tennis courts should be reconstructed or resurfaced. Mayor Love stated he thought Director Brown was implying there was a need for a realistic capital improvement budget for City parks and recreational areas. Councilmember Turgeon stated the Commission must prioritize its desired rehabilitation projects. Councilmember Callies concurred, there was a need for a prioritized list of rehabilitation projects. Director Brown explained the Commission had been working on preparing a list of projects and estimated costs for the long-term. In response to a question from Commissioner Westerlund, Councilmember Turgeon explained a park dedication fee was paid for any newly created lot. In response to a question from Commissioner Westerlund, Administrator Dawson explained the Park Improvement Fund did not accumulate much revenue as the City continued to mature. He went on to explain there could be additional transfers from the General Fund; projects could continue to be funded only with park improvement fees; or projects could be combined and funded through a referendum. Mayor Love stated issues such as determining how to fund City park rehabilitation for maturing cities should be brought to the League of Cities for discussion. Councilmember Wellens stated when a city was fully developed the city parks should stabilize as well. He stated the Park Fund monies would only be needed for repairs. Chair Davis stated a Waterford resident called her to ask if Silverwood Park could be updated, and some of the area's residents would be before the Commission to discuss how to go about a fund-raising effort to support the upgrade. She stated the resident was surprised the City did not have funds for those types of upgrades. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PARK COMMISSION MEETING June 26, 2006 Page 5 of5 Councilmember Callies stated there were residents on Christmas Lake who wanted the rest area to be refurbished. Administrator Dawson stated the City did not own the land on the south side of Highway 7; MnDOT owned the land. He also stated if MnDOT continued to own the land it would remain an open area. Mayor Love questioned ifthe rest area were purchased from MnDOT, could it be made a City Park. 3. OTHER BUSINESS None. 4. ADJOURN Westerlund moved, Davis seconded, Adjourning the Joint City Council and Park Commission Meeting of June 26, 2006, at 6:45 P.M. Motion passed 9/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder Woody Love, Mayor