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090500 PK MIN CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5735 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD PARK COMMISSION MEETING SOUTHSHORE COMMUNITY CENTER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 7:30 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Arnst called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Arnst; Commissioners Dallman, Puzak, Berndt, and Young; Director of Public Works Larry Brown Excused Absent: Vice-chair Themig; Bix and Council Liaison Scott Zerby B. Review Agenda Puzak moved, Berndt seconded to approve the agenda. Motion passed 5/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of August 22, 2000 Dallman moved, Berndt seconded to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion passed 4/0. Puzak abstained. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR Chris Lizée of 27055 Smithtown Road was present to express her concern about a trail along Smithtown Road West of the LRT. She said that she and her husband would be willing to donate their right-of-way or easement to the city. She is in favor of a trail and would volunteer time to work with the Park Commission, Engineer Brown and neighbors. She said she is willing to act as a liaison to talk to her neighbors. She asked if the trail could be done in small segments at a time. She would like to see a safe street trail from Howard’s Point Road to Minnewashta School. Chair Arnst explained that this item would be discussed further under agenda item 6 tonight. 4. REPORTS A. Report on City Council Meeting of August 28, 2000 No report given. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 – PAGE 2 B. Report on Land Conservation and Environment Committee Activities Commissioner Berndt reported that there has not been an LCEC meeting since the last Park Commission meeting. C.Skate Park ? Update on Fundraising Schedule and Progress Chair Arnst reported that the City of Greenwood was meeting tonight and will decide what amount they will donate towards the Skate Park. Chair Arnst also reported that Tim Hughes is hoping to set up a booth at Apple Days. Chair Arnst plans on sending out letters to surrounding schools to the presidents of the PTO to see if they would be willing to donate towards the Skate Park. ? Update on Church Parking Lot Commissioner Puzak reported that there is no update. ? Status on Blacktop Surface Engineer Brown has a meeting scheduled with MnDOT to discuss what action will be taken to repair the parking lot surface. D. Status of Eddy Station Engineer Brown reported that the foundation and drain tile is in. The concrete slab will follow and after this is done, the project will come to a halt for a while until the products arrive on site. Brown explained that he wanted to make the Park Commission aware that the Freeman Park watermain project will be going down a segment of the LRT. He is hoping to have a letter go out to residents next week. E. Report on Park Foundation Meeting Dallman mentioned that the Park Foundation did write letters to the American Legion and Tonka Men’s Club for donations. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 – PAGE 3 5. DISCUSSION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW SPORTS ORGANIZATION USER FEE A.Review Administrator’s Recommendation Arnst explained that the fee would be paid at the time that the sports organizations bring in their Certificate of Insurance and Memo Agreement. Commissioner Puzak asked if there was a way to check on late starts. Brown explained the Minnetonka Community Education Services do not get rosters from the sports organizations. It was suggested that staff could check back with the sports organization later in the season to get an updated roster. Puzak felt that the letter is fine because the fee is based on the roster. Brown explained that since the Park Commission accepts the roster base method, staff would put this in process. Brown went on to say that throughout this process there hasn’t been any feedback at the public meetings from the sports organizations. He went on to explain that there has been phone calls and it was explained to the sports organizations that called that they should attend the Park Commission meetings to voice their concerns. B. Take Comments/Questions from Sports Representatives No sports representatives were present. C. Recommend Changes to Staff if Any There were no recommendations. 6. DISCUSSION ON RESPONSES TO TRAIL LETTER SENT TO SMITHTOWN ROAD WEST OF LRT RESIDENTS A. Discuss Next Step Based on Results Chair Arnst explained that the Park Commission needs to decide what the next step should be for Smithtown Road West of the LRT. Berndt felt that what Chris Lizée suggested about a liaison going door to door was a great idea. Berndt said that she would be willing to volunteer in talking to her neighbors on the east side, but felt that maybe the Park Commission should focus on which side of the street to put the. Then the Park Commission could be more focused on the neighbors. Commission Puzak said that he is not opposed to smaller segments of the trail as long as it is a good length of the road. His worry is that if the trail is broken into small segments and the segments cannot be completed later on, it may lead to more danger. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 – PAGE 4 Commissioner Puzak explained that the City has spent the trail budget on the Vine Hill trail and he believes the only funding available for Smithtown will be State Aid dollars (MSA) and with that will come the minimum standards of a trail. He feels this needs to be expressed to the residents. Brown went onto explain that if it is an off street trail project, then the road can stay where it is. He suggested going back and looking at the concept plans that were drawn up and review what was done. It is believed that curbs were added for safety reasons. Brown expressed his concern to be the crossing by the cemetery, if smaller segments were done. He pointed out that Commissioner Puzak did bring up a good point that there could be serious liability from an insurance standpoint if the trail is done in segments. Commissioner Young asked if there would be a problem with the state funding if the trail was done in segments. Brown explained that there would be. Chair Arnst explained that people are not responding because they don’t know what side the trail is on and they don’t want to offer an opinion until they know which side it will be on. Arnst suggested that the Park Commission pick a side as a concept. She also noted there hasn’t been any neighborhood leaders until tonight. Engineer Brown suggested bringing back the maps and reviewing them in order to pick a side. He explained that when the trail process began there were three alternatives put together for Smithtown trail, and feasibility and cost estimates were also prepared. Chair Arnst asked if it would work to have Chris Lizée and Commissioner Berndt do some leg work to see if there is enough interest to put together a neighborhood meeting that the Park Commission could attend. Commissioner Puzak suggested that the commission put together a packet of factual data that would include the surveys, the easement, the right-of-way, the current regulations and requirements of MSA. Then the neighborhood leaders would have something to show when they go out to talk to the neighbors. Commissioner Berndt asked if MSA would be the only way to fund the project. It was explained that the trail money was spent on Vine Hill, and the park fund is taped for the next six years. Engineer Brown explained that the only funding options are is MSA or Council action. He wondered if there are other areas of the city where there is a united segment of neighbors who are interested in a trail. It was suggested that this would be a great question for the newsletter. It could explain how Vine Hill was accomplished, the neighborhood support, and the design, to see if there are neighborhoods willing to do that again. It was also decided to put a packet together with the facts and survey and see if there would be more interest. If interest develops the park commission has a responsibility to decide the outcome of the trail. Staff will put a draft packet together with a letter and bring back to the Park Commission for review. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 – PAGE 5 Commissioner Puzak suggested that maybe the council and the commission could use what is left of the trail fund to do plantings and separation for those that are concerned about privacy. This is something that could be included in the letter for the packet. A.Make Recommendation to City Council No recommendation at this time. 7. REVIEW AND COMMENT ON NEXT DRAFT OF RFP FOR EDDY STATION This will be put on the October agenda. Engineer Brown needs to review the draft with the attorney. 8. NEW BUSINESS Engineer Brown brought to the Park Commission’s attention that Little League is proposing changes to one of the adult softball fields. Commissioner Puzak thought the commission invited the Little League to do this, as adult softball was not paying their user fees. Chair Arnst voiced concern that last year, the girl’s softball used some of the adult softball fields, and she doesn’t want them to lose using fields. Commissioner Puzak moved that the Park Commission ask that Minnetonka Community Education Services (MCES) invite all potential users of fields to the field assignment night. This would include boys, girls, adult softball and baseball, and this would also extend to other sports. Engineer Brown will draft a letter to Minnetonka Community Education Services and fax to Commissioner Puzak and Arnst for their review. Engineer Brown will ask Little League to wait on doing anything to the softball fields until he gets answers to the questions. Chair Arnst reviewed the letter that was received regarding girl’s football. It was decided to put something in the newsletter. Chair Arnst will write a letter to the young girl to thank her for her interest and let her know that there will be something in the newsletter. 10. ADJOURNMENT Puzak moved, Dallman seconded to adjourn. Motion passed 5/0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Twila Grout Recording Secretary PARK COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 – PAGE 6