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Home My WebLink About09-27-1988 PTRC Agenda-Minutes J • Minutes of Regular Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Village-of Arden Hills September 27, 1988 Village Hall 6:45 P.M. Committee members toured North Snelling Park, Pedestrian Trail Easement between Colleen and Norma, and MSI and Crepeau Nature Preserve Trails. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Chair Sand. Roll Call Present: David Sand, Keith Enrooth, Mary Gillies, Don Messerly, Alan Montgomery, Jim Mishek and Jim Otto. Absent: Pat Green, Dorothy McClung, Mark Peterson, Tom Suedbeck. Also Present: Councilmembers Tom Sather, Park Director John Buckley. Approval of Minutes The minutes of July 26, 1988 were approved as submitted. I Council Report Councilmember Sather reported: - negotiations of several park dedications - Valentine Hills #2 • (County Road F and Valentine Circle). Received 10% dedication - money $2,650. 1000 cubic yards of black dirt. - C. G. Rein Development (Future Good Year Tire and Burger King on Grey Fox Rd) - Receive 7% of purchase price, Amt. $19,950 to be made in two payments, in 1989 and 1990. 4% interest will be paid on unpaid balance. - The Park Fund Balance (9-30-88) is $344,970. This source of funding park acquision and development will diminish when Arden Hills is completely developed. Arden Hills is presently 90% developed. Committee suggested that a joint subcommittee from Parks and Finance be established to study the future use of the monies in the Park Fund. Colleen Pedestrian Easement (50' wide easement between Colleen and Norma). Chair Sand read a letter from Richard Colletti stating that 9 residents with property bordering the easement are requesting the possible purchase of the easement from the Village. After discussing possible future easement usage, pathway development vs leaving natural, natural surface vs asphalt. Mishek moved, seconded by Messerly, the Park Committee recommend that: (1) The Council seek present market value of easement property through appraisal. (2) Buckley secure a comparison cost of resurfacing the easement with concrete stepping blocks or 6' asphalt pathway. Motion carried. . Page 2 North Snelling Park Fencing Chair Sand read a request from Briarknoll and Royal Hills residents regarding fencing alarm Hwy. 10 in park and additional fencing for the tennis court. Park Committee requested that q Buckley contact Minnesota Highway Department regarding the establishment of highway fencing along Hwy. 10. The committee also requested the cost of adding netting on the tennis court siding. Crepeau Nature Preserve/MSI Trails This past year MSI constructed 8 ft wide asphalt trails in the wooded area and along the outer border of their corporate office site. Opinion and emotions are divided over the surfacing of the pathways in Crepeau Preserve. Misnek moved, seconded by Montgomery that Buckley check on the potential cost of developing a connecting trail north of the wet land area from Benton Way to the MSI asphalt trails. - Data should compare asphalt surface with ag-line surface. - The Committee recommend the remaining trails in Crepeau should • remain undeveloped retaining their nature surface. Motion carried. North Snelling Park Name Sather reported the Council's interest in Park Committee's recommendations for the naming of North Snelling Park. The committee discussed the methods in which the present Village parks were named. Present Parks were named: - Historic significance of site - Definite neighborhood identification (Hazelnut Patch etc. ) - Past mayors Gillis moved, seconded by Montgomery that neighborhood involvement through "name the park contest" be used to name North Snelling Park. Another option would be naming it after former mayor/state senator Robert Ashbach. Athletic Field Complex - Arsenal Property Buckley has been working with the Park Directors from New Brighton, Mounds View, and Shoreview regarding the potential development of the 25 acre arsenal site. Buckley showed the committee a topographic map of the site with the scaled layout of 3 regulation soccer fields, 1 400 ft. baseball diamond, four 350' softball fields, and three parking areas to hold 225 cars. The parks directors will continue working on the master plan proposal to bring back to their respective councils, and arsenal authorities for approval. • Page 3 Budget Adjustments Buckley mention that the 1989 Budget was $250,000 over the village levy limit and a priority list of department cuts were necessary. Park Dept. Priority cut list is: (top being first to last) Replace #35 mower $13,000 Replace 1979 Chev. 1/2 t pickup 12,000 Lawn Sweeper 4,000 Cut 4th Summer mt. crew 2,200 Eliminate diseased tree inspection 2,000 Delete 1/2 time program person 10,450 It may not be necessary to delete all of these expenditures from the 89 budget. No miscellaneous new business. The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 25, 1988. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. • Minutes submitted by John Buckley. SURVEY RESULTS NO. OF SURVEY RETURNED: 321 Ages of Respondents: 153 under 20 32% • 47 between 20 and 30 10% 197 30 to 50 42% 77 over 50 16% of years living in Arden Hills: 43 -- Under 2 167. 59 -- 2 to 5 22% 98 -- 6 to 15 36% 72 -- Over 15 26% Do you use parks? 34 do not 13% 223 do use parks 87% Seasons used: 197 use parks in the summer 35% 144 Fall 25% 96 Winter 17% 128 Spring 23% Are you satisfied with the appearance of your park? 63 always 30% 21 some times 10% 122 most of the time 59% . 1 Never 1% Are you satisfied with the level of development in your park? 156 yes 78% 44 No 22% Have you participated in any programs offered? 125 No 52% 114 Yes 48% How do you rate the program you participated in? Excellent - 44 32% Good 81 59% Fair 11 8% Poor 1 1% • GENERAL COMMENTS (for Council and Parks and Recreation Committee members) • Arden Hills is on track -- keep up the good work! "Enjoy the parks and open space when driving by. . .thanks for the parks and maintenance. It's worth it." "Excellent job of park planning and programming. "Tax money should not be used for baseball fields for people not paying taxes in Arden Hills." "Charge non-resident fees." "Have lived in Arden Hills for six months; delighted with parks, people, and Village service." "I don't know location of parks so don't use them." • throughout an individual's entire life. - Providing more active athletics for women and girls • - Stressing the importance of skill development and individual participation rather than winning, and - Coordinating activities with the school district, neighboring parks and recreational departments, athletic associations and private agencies to keep the duplication of effort at a minimum. Many of you in the Cummings Park area were concerned about having to pay non-resident fees for programs at Island Lake School, your home school. Most of the programs offered at that school are sponsored by the Shoreview Recreation Department, and it is their policy to charge non-resident fees, School district boundaries were established before the village boundaries and unfortunately, your children are attending Shoreview schools. • A complete tabulation of survey results is available in the Village Office. -30- October, 1985 sm • The most responses were received from the Hazelnut Park area, with Perry Park, • Floral Park, Crepeau and Cummings following closely. Valentine Park came next in numbers of respondents calling it their home park, Ingerson, Freeway and Arden Oaks following closely. The surveys indicated many of you interested in more pre-school equipment at your park, and adding that will become a high priority item in our 1986 planning. You seemed to greatly appreciate the tennis courts added in the last two years and asked for more. A few of you would like some of them lighted. The Parks Committee will consider these comments in its 1986 planning also. Dogs in the parks, and dog droppings in the parks, continue to be a problem' • which we' ll try to police, but we need you help on this too. It is the owner' s responsibility to remove any feces deposited by his dog, and dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times. We did have some negative comments. Some of you felt Perry Park too heavily used, with four league-sized ballfields. We think it's too heavily used too, and are continuously searching for additional locations for league-sized soft- ball fields. As soon as we can possibly do so, we'll find alternate locations for some of the teams using those fields. We received several comments suggesting we have a broader range of programs. The philosophical guidelines used in developing programs and activities have been: • - Emphasis on personal development through relaxation and fun. - Emphasis on skill development for activities that can be enjoyed -3- PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS 1. Longer summer play programs. .2. Gym and dance programs later in the day for working parents. 3. Have skating rinks open only every other night -- small numbers of skaters doesn't seem to warrent open every night. 4. Would like tennis lessons for all ages at Hazelnut and at Floral (5) 5. Summer basketball program. 6. Horseshoe courts. 7. Need a football field. 8. Nature walks in Fall and Spring. 9. Square dance. 10. Tour of parks for citizens. 11. Day time activities for people who work 12. CPR Instruction. 13. Saturday program for kids. 14. Preschool programs 15. Soccer in evening for working parents. 16. T-Ball for Kindergartners. 17. Expand programs to be more like Shoreview's. 18. Puppet show. 19. Better swimming lessons. 20. Walking group for adults. We need a map and a description of the parks. . . . (5) NEGATIVES 1. Too noisy, and too late in the evening - Broomball for Bethel at Hazelnut (3) 2. Need better supervision of softball leagues. 3. Felt softball league excellent (school age), T-ball poor. 4. Reduce softball at Perry Park. 5. Resent paying non-resident fee to Shoreview for programs at Island Lake. (10) • Cummings Shelter/Picnic/Benches (5) More playground equipment (5) Soccer net and goals (2) Lighted hockey rink (3) General We need a community sized park. More equipment for younger children. Buy Lindey's Triangle for softball. • • CONSTRUCTION COMMENTS Hazelnut • Slide too dangerous for little kids. More pre-school play equipment needed for kids (5) More swings Better tennis net (John tok care of this) Less sports and more nature trails No more construction -- (2) Drinking fountain More tennis courts (3) Somewhat concerned about vandalism. Valentine No more development -- keep it as it is. Too wet! More landscaping and trees More climing and play equipment (2) Perry Park More preschool and play equipment, particularly swings (5) Tennis courts (2) Freeway Tennis courts Pre-school play equipment (3) Picnic tables • Bigger warming house Crepeau Very happy with nature preserve and trail (5) Can we have some play equipment? (2) Don't remove sumac Delighted with bridge Ingerson Need another park access Tennis court Arden Oaks Preschool equipment swings (2) Tennis court Basketball hoop Softball field ,%ccer nets Better grass Sod on bank to prevent erosion Floral More swings and preschool equipment (5) wading pool More tennis courts (5) Light the tennis courts (2) More parking Soccer fields More picnic tables and benches PARK YOU CONSIDER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK: • Sampson 8 Hazelnut 40 Perry Park 35 Valentine 24 Floral 38 Crepeau 34 Freeway 13 Ingerson Park 15 Arden Manor 1 Arden Oaks 13 Cummings 31 TRAILS 58 persons stated they used, and made comments, about the trails. • • REQUEST FOR LEASING PROPERTY AT TWIN CITIES ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT Four cities; Arden Hills, Mounds View, New Brighton, and Shoreview; are requesting the leasing of the 25+ acres identified as "Area A" in the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant for the purpose of developing a North Ramsey County Sports Complex. Proposed Sports Complex would include: 3 - regulation soccer fields 1 - 400 ft baseball field 4 - 350 ft softball/youth baseball fields 2 or 3 parking areas for 200/225 cars 1 - portable concession/equipment storage building North Suburban Ramsey County is one of the fastest growing residential areas in the St. Paul area. This growth has caused a marked increase in participation in the youth and adult athletic associations. The demand for practice and game facilities has grown beyond the space available for these activities. Organizations needing additional sports facilities: Youth • North Suburban Soccer Assn. New Brighton Soccer Assn. Mounds View Athletic Assn. Little Lakes Little League North Suburban Pony league North Metro Summer Baseball Mounds View School Dist. 621 American Legion Baseball Adult Arden Hills Parks Dept. Mounds View Parks Dept. New Brighton Parks Dept. Shoreview Parks Dept. Minnesota Soccer Assn. Minnesota Adult Baseball Assn. JC's (North Metro) North Suburban Church League Proposed Changes in Property The topographical map indicates that the area is relatively flat. A minimum amount of earth moving will be necessary to grade the playing areas and direct and control the drainage. The playing areas could be graded on various levels to best suit the existing topography. • i • Page 2 Many of the volunteer trees will have to be removed to clear the playing areas and parking. Access to "Area A" can be provided from the military houses service road off County Road H. An opening will have to be made in the security fencing. A gate system will be constructed to control access. Additional security fencing will have to be constructed in the northeast section of the area to fence the sports fields from the Arsenal. The existing patrol road inside the security fence can serve as the roadway to the playing fields and parking lots. Proposed New Construction - S separate infield areas and backstops for baseball and softball - 8 to 12 portable bleachers for spectators - 10 to 12 portable toilets for players and spectators • - 3 sets of portable soccer goals - portable building for concession stand and equipment storage - Electrical services will be needed. Sewer and water service will not be provided at this time. Project Time Schedule Winter 1989 - negotiating and securing agreement for leasing "Area A" rrom U.S. Army. Spring 1989 - Walking and surveying area laying out playing areas setting grading stakes removing trees Summer 1989 - Begin the grading of the area for playing fields, parking areas, roadway. (We hope to negotiate with the National Guard to do most of the grading). Fall 1989 - Install the infields Construct the field backstops Seed the playing areas Construct the parking areas Spring 1990 - Have the sports complex available for play in the spring • or early summer. w 1 • Page 3 The cities of Arden Hills, Mounds View, New Brighton, and Shoreview will enter into a Joint Powers Agreement to: - Finance and construct the North Suburban Sports Complex. - Supervise the sports area. - Schedule the use of the sports area. - Maintain the sports area. - Provide police and fire protection. Sports Complex Schedule Prime usage of the sports complex will be during the spring, summer, and fall. April 1 through October 31. The complex could be used during the winter on demand. Prime time usage of the Sports Complex will be 5 to 10 pm; however, the complex could be used on a daily basis from 8 am to 10 pm. • • s � 3 August 16, 1988 Arden Hills Parks Board Members A i.. r . I\can't attend your August 23 meeting, so I am writing to express my feelings about blacktopping the pathiq.a-vs in the rre-eau Mature Preserve. The Arden Hills City Council, in 1983, unanimously designated this park as the "Crepeau Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary". The intent of this action was to set aside an area for those who appreciate a natural, undisturbed area to observe wild flowers, trees, birds and in some instances, even insects and butterflies. Those who enjoy this type of environment certainly don't object to natural pathways. Usually they wear hiking boots and appropriate attire for this type of landscape. This has been demonstrated by the Roseville Bird Club and the Roseville Wild Flower Club who tour the nature preserve at least twice a year. Many of these club members are in their 70's and 801s. (Some nature hikes in other preserves require the use of high rubber boots and even hip boots. Nature lovers, bird watchers and wild flower enthusiasts actually enjoy this type of activity. ) Granted, the majority of people in Arden Hills probably enjoy walking on hard surfaced paths and don't really care if a particular area is designated as a nature preserve. It appears that MSI has accommodated this majority. But does it make sense to blacktop paths in the nature preserve for the sake of linking MSI paths to an adjoining neighborhood? Those who enjoy walking and biking on hard surfaced paths are certainly welcome to go to the MSI property and use their pathways : It appears their need has been fulfilled. Has there been a large number of calls to Village Hall requesting the pathways in the nature preserve be blacktopped? I've casually interviewed everyone I've met there over the past five years. The response has unanimously been, when asked what they would like to see in the nature preserve, "leave it the way it is!" When I,mentioned blacktopped paths to one long-time resident, she replied, "Over my dead body!" Is is possible that we are being pressured by a very vocal minority? • -2- As mentioned above, we are not talking about the majority of Arden Hills residents. I am referring to that not-so-small and growing group of enthusiasts who want to leave the preserve as it is - natural. It is for this group of naturalists, nature lovers, nature nuts, whatever you want to call them, that the Crepeau Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary was originally designated. Areas in other parks have been set aside for basketball players and tennis players. These are certainly not majority groups but we should accommodate them and we have accommodated them. Should we destroy their recreational facilities in order to establish a nature preserve? I don't think so. Why can't we leave Creapeau Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary the way it is for that group of people that enjoy it this way. It's a very unique piece of land unlike any other parkland found in the Twin Cities or other suburbs. Blacktopping equipment requires a 12 foot wide swath to lay down an 8 foot blacktopped pathway. 'This would probably require the bulldozing of many trees, including oaks and black cherries. The damage would be irreversible. The nature preserve, is a rare resting spot for many species of warblers during their spring migration. I haven't been able to identify even half of them. I would really hate to see this resting area disturbed any more. Sorry this letter is so long. I sincerely feel I am speaking for that not-so-small and growing group of nature enthusiasts I have mentioned. Thanks for your time. Sincergl.y, v Don Messerly DMM/Qsa i �J