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021291 PK MINCITY OF SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MEETING ATHLETIC GROUPS- REFERENDUM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991 M I N U T E S CALL TO ORDER COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD 7:00 PM Chairman Andrus called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. i_Lla�2&1`0a Present: Chairman Andrus, Commissioners Lindstrom, Vogel, Dzurak, and Christensen; Park Planner Koegler; Council Liaison Lewis; and Administrative Assistant Niccum Absent: Commissioners Wilson and Laberee APPROVAL OF MINUTES Lindstrom moved, Christensen seconded, to approve the minutes of Tuesday, January 22, 1991, as written. Motion carried - 4 ayes and 1 abstain (Andrus). NOEL VOGEN - ASSOCIATED CONSULTANTS - UPDATE ON IRON REMOVAL PLANT Engineer Vogen appeared at the meeting to explain to the Commission that there had been a change in the location of the building, in order to comply with the Silverwood Park plan, and leave room for the additional parking area. The building will be 44' long, 28' wide, 14' high at the eve, will have a flat roof and will be finished in an earth tone split -face block. The filter in the building will be 36' long and 10' in diameter, and there will have to be enough room to get into the building and work on the filter. The embankment north of the building will be higher than the building. The new building will replace the existing 16' x 20' building. The existing retaining walls will be moved back, and another retaining wall will be built 6' behind those walls because they will be moving farther back into the hill. The walls will remain approximately the same height, 6.5 - 7' high. Plantings will also be placed on the south and east sides to screen the building. Commissioner Vogel asked if it was possible to build the structure underground. Vogen said the Department of Health will not allow this. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991 - Page two Vogen said he would like the Park Commission to review and respond to the proposal as soon as possible because he wants to take bids in mid - March. The Commission had four major concerns: 1. That fences be placed on top of the retaining walls as a safety feature 2. The location of the building. They approve of the location presented by Vogen. 3. The appearance of the building, is it attractive? Is it unobtrusive? 4. That the children will not be able to get up on the roof of the building, and if this is possible, that the design of the building be changed. The Commission was pleased with Vogen's description of the building and location. "SPRING CLEANUP" - LOCATION Paul Krueger, 6015 Burlwood Court, and Larry Langston, 6010 Burlwood Court, were present to voice their objections to using the Freeman Park site used previously. They stated the following concerns: People and children poking around after hours (although this was policed last year) Nails, glass, etc. working into the ground Possible hazardous residuals SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991 - Page three REFERENDUM - "NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATIONAL MEETING" FOR ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS Park Planner Mark Koegler explained that the Shorewood Park Commission has been working very hard on a Park Capital Improvement Plan for the Parks for six months, or longer. If the City tried to make these improvements using Park Dedication Fees, it would take 20 -30 years, or forever. What the Commission is asking for is input. How does this capital improvement plan meet the City's current and future needs? The City want's input from the residents of Shorewood. Koegler explained that when the Commission started working on the Park Capital Improvement Plan, and started considering a Park Referendum, There wasn't any talk of recession or cutting State Aid - or a war going on. He explained that the Park Commission and the Council are not taking this lightly, that is why they are seeking community input. Koegler then reviewed the PCIP, master plans, and the property tax impact. Mike Ellis, a Shorewood resident and President of the Shorewood Snowmobile Club, said he and his wife don't have any children to use the parks, but he feels recreation is good for life in general. He said he pays high taxes now, but he feels the increase would be minimal, that it would be more expensive to do the improvements piecemeal, and would probably cost much more to do the work in the future. He said he felt that the war was pulling the country out of a recession, not putting the country into one. Council Liaison Lewis said the Council wants to know there is a good chance, a positive vote, before going to the expense of a referendum. Commissioner Dzurak asked Koegler how long it would take to complete the improvements if the funds were raised. Koegler said 18 months to 3 years. A resident asked if the parks were for all ages. Koegler said yes, there are both active and passive areas. Another resident felt that the residents with children would want to see the parks improved for their use. Mike Anderson, a nonresident but President of the Tonka United Soccer Association, said that their Association is growing by leaps and bounds, last year they had 820 kids in their program and 25 -35o were from Shorewood. He handed out an inventory of available fields throughout the cities to show the need for additional fields. Ellis said he felt the two most valuable assets as a tax base are a good school system and a good park system. SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991 - Page four Jim Latterner, a Shorewood resident and a member of the Tonka Men's Club, expressed concern over the maintenance cost of the improvements, say 10 years down the road. Public Works Director Zdrazil agreed there will be more maintenance, and the City will have to plan for it. The organizations discussed the fact that although people from other cities use Shorewood parks, Shorewood people also use parks in other cities. Bill Kullberg, nonresident and President of the State Snowmobile Association discussed alternative funding. He said the Polaris Snowmobile Company offers a yearly grant of $1000 that can be used for park purposes, and that it doesn't have to be used in connection with snowmobile trails. He also mentioned the 1991 DNR Trail Plan, referred to as the "pizza coalition ", which will award funds to states that provide a multiple usage trail plan. The Athletic organizations present appeared to consider the proposed improvements adequate for their needs, with the exception of the Soccer Association, who felt that with the rate of growth they are experiencing, more fields will be needed in the future. Commissioner Lindstrom suggested that the Soccer Association look into possible future purchase of part of the Wagner property for this purpose. Public Works Director Zdrazil asked the Athletic Associations present to keep in mind that fields do need rest and upkeep time. Although there were several Athletic Organizations represented at the meeting, only about half of them were residents of Shorewood. When asked two questions, if they would vote for the referendum, and if they thought their neighborhood would vote for it, the possibility of them voting for it was about even, but the majority did not feel their neighborhoods would approve it. You have to keep in mind that a very small majority was represented here, the next two meetings will present more of a total picture. The Athletic organizations present did offer to aid the City in any way possible if they decide to continue with the referendum. Bill Kullberg Southwest Trail Association Mike Anderson Jim Kohrt Dave Rouse Tonka United Soccer Association Todd Hoffman City of Chanhassen, CAA, S. Lake Baseball Mike Ellis Southwest Trail /Shorewood Snowmobile John Anderson Excelsior Park and Recreation Commission Dennis Tone Tonka Football /Lake Mtka. Athletic Assn. David Anderson South Tonka Little League Jim Latterner /Quast Tonka Men's Club SHOREWOOD PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1991 - Page five FREEMAN PARK - BABE RUTH FIELD Dick Brown, of South Lake Baseball Association (which includes South Tonka Little League, South Tonka Babe Ruth, Chanhassen City CAA, and Chanhassen AAU Baseball), was present to state that the Babe Ruth Field is unsafe to play upon. The infield needs to be dug out to a depth of 5 -6', regraded and dragged, the outfield needs to be rolled, and the fence posts need fixing. He asked that the City upgrade the field to a playable condition. Public Works Director Zdrazil was present. He said the majority of the work could be done by Public Works, but he would have to check on the fence posts to see if they can do the work, or if it would have to be contracted out. The Park Commission requested that Public Works upgrade the Babe Ruth Field (Field #2). MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR Niccum reported that the skating rinks were closed for the season on Monday, February 11, 1991, due to the long stretch of warm weather. The rinks melted down to the dirt and are no longer usable. The phones have been disconnected and an order put in to remove the satellites. AD JOURNME N T Lindstrom moved, Vogel seconded, to adjourn the meeting of Tuesday, February 12, 1991, at 10:15PM. Motion carried - 4/0. *REMEMBER THE TWO REFERENDUM MEETINGS: EAST END OF SHOREWOOD - WEST END OF SHOREWOOD - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1991 EXCELSIOR COVENANT CHURCH 19955 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1991 MINNETONKA MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHWAY 41 (ACROSS FROM SHOREWOOD SHOPPING CENTER) RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Susan A. Niccum Assistant City Clerk Parks Administrative Assistant