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02-10-14 CC WS MinCITY OF SHOREWOOD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014 MINTUTES CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:30 P.M. Mayor Zerby called the meeting to order at 6:36 P.M. A. Roll Call Present. Mayor Zerby; Councilmembers Hotvet, Siakel, and Woodruff; Administrator Joynes; City Clerk Panchyshyn; Finance Director DeJong; Planning Director Nielsen; Director of Public Works Brown; and, City Engineer Homby Absent: Councilmember Sandberg B. Review Agenda Woodruff moved, Siakel seconded, approving the agenda as presented. Motion passed 4/0. 2. BADGER PARK IMPROVEMENTS — CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW Director Nielsen stated during Council's January 13, 2014, meeting there was some general consensus that people favored Concept 1 over Concept 2 for Badger Park Improvements. (Concept 1 left the ball field on a north/south orientation and Concept 2 reoriented it to east /west. Concept I has the shelter with restrooms located in the center of the two play areas, picnic area and open green area.) He highlighted some things about Concept 1 that Council should be aware of. ➢ It does have a few more parking stalls that the Southshore Community Center (SSCC) and the Park need. But, they are farther away from the SSCC. They are toward the middle of the Park. One of the objectives is to tie the SSCC to the Park and City Hall. ➢ The route to the SSCC would basically be like driving through one long parking lot. ➢ Although he likes the relationship of the shelter to some of the other features in the Park, it is quite a distance from the SSCC. It is oriented more toward City Hall. ➢ There is little or no room for landscaping along the walkway area between the ball field and the parking lot for the SSCC. ➢ The field may have to be shortened when it is shifted a little. ➢ If a driver does not find a parking spot after driving through the long parking lot the driver would have to loop through under the canopy for the SSCC. It's possible that could be modified. He highlighted some things about Concept 2 that Council should be aware of. A The route to the SSCC would somewhat have its own driving lane for a good share of it and it is envisioned to be tree lined. Once a driver gets past that lane they are in the parking lot for the SSCC. The additional parking is much closer to the SSCC. ➢ The circulation would not require a driver to loop through under the canopy for the SSCC. It has its own loop before a driver gets to the structure. CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 10, 2014 Pave 2 of 3 ➢ The shelter relates better to the SSCC. It could be combined with some type of structure (e.g., a gazebo feature) overlooking the pond. If the shelter is remote from the SSCC as it is in Concept 1 he questioned if people using the SSCC would use it as much. ➢ The Plan should show a looped trail system but it doesn't. It only has a walkway going to the SSCC. A landscape lined walkway is envisioned along the parking lot. ➢ Concern has been expressed about reorienting the ball field to east /west because of when the sun sets. At Minnetonka Middle School the two main fields on its soccer field are oriented east /west. The soccer and lacrosse organizations that use the field in the Park have indicated they do see think there is problem with the east/west orientation. Although it would be ideal to have the field north/south, there are other competing elements that should be considered. ➢ This Concept will cost more because the field would be reoriented. Possibly $80,000 or more because of the need to move the lights. At this time it's not known if the lights would have to be moved for Concept 1. It may be possible to re -aim the lights. That has to be flushed out. IIe explained that he and Mayor Zerby met with representatives from a company who would hike to put in solar energy at the Park. The company is a group of individual investors that would pay for the infrastructure and the City would buy power from the company for a cost less than or equal to what Xcel Entergy charges for a number of years. Staff will have them come and talk to Council during its February 24 meeting. He reiterated he wanted to point out the differences between the two Concepts. He noted that this project will not get started this year. He suggested taking a dual path until cost estimates come back on the two Concepts. He stated if Concept 2 can be done within the budget suggested early on he thought it worthwhile to look more closely at Concept 2. If it is $200,000 more than Concept 1 then Concept 1 it is. Mayor Zerby stated that he has always liked Concept 2 better. It looks like a real park to him and it is the best use of the area. He recollects Concept 1 being chosen because of the direction of the field. Councilmember Siakel stated there are pros and cons to both Concepts. She thanked Director Nielsen for pointing out that with Concept 1 traffic would have to loop under the canopy for the SSCC. She stated either plan will be expensive to do. She expressed her preference to take a little more time to make sure it gets done right the first time. She stated that regardless of the orientation of the ball field she understands Nielsen to be saying he thought Concept 2 would overall be a better fit for the Park and the future needs of the community. Councilmember Hotvet stated if she was attending a game as a parent in the Park in and if she had other small children along she would want the two play areas next to each other. She would have eyes on both the game and her other children. The ease of the turnaround is important because she would drop the athlete off. She thought it would be dangerous to loop around under the canopy. She likes the picnic area front and center. Director Nielsen stated he would switch the pre -K play area and elementary play area around for Concept 1 Councilmember IIotvet stated on Concept 1 she would not want the pre-K play area on the west side of the pinwheel. It is too far away from the ball field. Councilmember Woodruff stated with Concept 2 he is uncomfortable with having the restrooms so far away from the pre -K play area and near the northeast corner of the ball field. And, they are a long way from the tennis courts. He then stated he is okay with Concept 2 if the City can afford it He suggested moving the picnic area to the west a little and possibly switching the shelter and the pre -K play area. IIe expressed concern about landscaping blocking sight lines from the parking lot. He does not think the City CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 10, 2014 Page 3 of 3 should build something where people can't see the facility from the parking lot. That would just be an invitation for problems. Woodruff stated he heard Director Nielsen say the project will not be started this year yet Council recently approved a CIP that allocated funds to start it in 2014. He asked what is going to be done in 2014. Nielsen explained the Park Commission is going to shift projects in the CIP around. He explained the City had to tell soccer and lacrosse organizations if they were going to be able to use the ball field this year. Being it was likely the project was not going to be started staff told them to schedule their events. Woodruff stated he would like the design work to at least get done. Nielsen clarified that has been the plan all along and that anything that can be done that will not disrupt the activities that go on there will get done. Mayor Zerby stated he is really excited about the solar option. He then stated he has been looking into the possibility of new LED lighting for the field and the parking lot. He went on to state there has been some discussion with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) about doing a joint water reclamation project. He noted that Council is interested in having the field watered. He recommended applying for a MCWD grant sooner versus later. He stated there is a resident who will make a presentation to Council sometime in the next month or two who is interested in bees and coming up with more bee friendly plantings. From his perspective he has been thinking about Badger Park 2020 and he thought Council and staff can come up with some forward thinking ideas that can be implemented for this Park and then used for some of the City's other parks as well. He noted that he also agrees that if a little more time is needed to do this right then more time should be taken. Director Nielsen stated he understands Council to be in agreement with taking somewhat of a dual path for now until the costs for each Concept are better known. Councilmember Woodruff asked staff to develop a high level pro -forma timeline so Council knows when it will have to make decisions and to establish expectations. Councilmember Siakel asked if demolition of the hockey rink could be done this year. Director Nielsen responded it could if the City decides it does not want to offer hockey the next winter season. Nielsen stated there are a number of things that could be done this year that would make the efforts next year go smoother and easier. Siakel stated re -doing the parking lot will be a big project and when it is done getting to the SSCC will be an issue. Woodruff moved, Hotvet seconded, Adjourning the City Council Work Session of February 10, 2014, at 6:56 P.M. Motion passed 4/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder Scott Ze y Mayoy ATTEST: J' n Panchyshyn, City Clerk