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Home My WebLink AboutJuly 17, 2008 PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING "............................................................................................................................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I:::~~~{~.~~::~:::I 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of July Agenda 3. Approval of June meeting minutes 4. Memorial Field Usage- AI Frieges 5. Jeffers Pond - DVD 6. Projects/Updates - AI Friedges 7. Summer Programs - Angie Barstad 8. Lakefront Days Ice Cream Social Volunteers - Angie Barstad 9. Future Meeting Date a. August 215\ at 6pm in the City Council Chambers Adjournment Parks Advisory Committee Minutes 6/19/08 Prior to the start of the meeting, the Parks Advisory Committee participated in a demonstration open to the public on buckthorn removal. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Feriancek. Members Present: Mike Feriancek, Dan Ruhme, Kelly Loose, Kendall Larson (arrived at 7:30pm), Kyle Haugen. Ron Ceminsky. Staff Present: Kelly Meyer, Danette Moore, Al Friedges, Jeff Matzke, Carrie Witta Citv Council Liaison: Warren Erickson (not present) 2. APPROVAL OF JUNE 19. 2008 MEETING AGENDA: Motion by Kyle Haugen, Second by Ron Ceminsky; Ayes by all, the motion carried. 3. APPROVAL OF MARCH MEETING MINUTES: Motion by Ron Ceminsky, Second by Kyle Haugen. Ayes by all, the motion carried. 4. NATURAL RESOURCE SECTION OF MASTER PARK PLAN Moore: Discussed a change in the schedule for taking this item to the City Council. It is now targeted for October rather than August. Advised that tonight's discussion would include potential improvements and review of Pike Lake park, future Campbell Lake park, and Whitetail Island park. Pike Lake Park: 30 acres, 2790 feet of lakeshore, 650 feet of creek. Restoration needed along west side of Pike Lake Trail. Further land acquisition will occur with development as easements for parking and trail access. Discussed other planned amenities including trail, play areas, nature center at existing house, engineered turf parking area, arched bridge/boardwalk to allow access into YMCA bay. Some restoration areas have been identified. Also discussed potential for interpretive/education components and the location of the 4th FiN program site. Ruhme: Asked about carp kill. Friedges: Advised that it may be necessary. It is too preliminary at this point for us to know the extent of any water quality issues. Also discussed the potential for a number of green initiatives in developing the park - chip trails, turf parking areas. Haugen: Commented that there is really great potential for something unique at this park that could be a real community asset. Ruhme: Asked if a trail would circle the lake, and how that might be accomplished safely next to Pike Lake Trail. Moore: Advised that the vision is for the trail to circle Pike Lake. The trail along Pike Lake Trail would be added with development, which will drive the realignment and paving of Pike Lake Trail. Feriancek: Asked if the improvements programmed for County Road 21 will affect the site. Moore: Advised that the extension of 21 will only improve future access. Feriancek: Asked about the potential connection to Jeffers Pond. Moore: Discussed a trail connection along County Road 42. Feriancek: Commented that community volunteer organizations might be interested in providing interpretive components in the park. Friedges: Advised that there is potential for getting funding through the DNR as well. At this time, moving forward with this type of planning is premature until a public access to the area is in place. Ruhme: Suggested an ice skating and other activities for winter use as well. Camobell Lake Park: Moore reviewed the proposed development related to natural resources, prairie restoration, shoreland restoration, and community park amenities including athletic fields, pavilion, tennis courts, volleyball, parking, and a trail around the lake ). Ceminsky: Asked if buckthorn was a concern in the area. Friedges: Advised there is not as much buckthorn at Campbell Lake as there is at Lakefront. Noted that the wooded area would not likely be part of the park due to its attractiveness for residential development. Haugen: Asked what the vision is for the pavilion. Friedges: Advised that it is envisioned to be similar to the pavilion at Lakefront, rather than just a gazebo or picnic shelter. Ruhme: Asked if Campbell Lake had potential as a FiN program site. Friedges: There is potential, although Pike Lake park should be ahead of Campbell Lake in its funding and development. Haugen: Asked if this park is located in the City limits or the annexation area. Friedges: Confirmed that the property is not owned by the City and is in the annexation area. The park should be identified in the MPP, but any acquisition and improvements will be driven by development in that area. Whitetail Island Park: Moore provided the overview of the proposal, noting the location of the island near Deerfield Industrial Park, the size as 94 acres, and the concept to keep the island as natural as possible. There are very few invasive species on the island. Cattails seem to be the biggest issue. A boardwalk is planned to provide access. Ceminsky: Asked how cattails are removed. Friedges: Advised that once there is ice, staff can cut the plants off at ice level. Then when the ice melts, the water runs down the hollow stem of the plant and kills it. Ruhme: Asked if staff anticipated any resident concerns with trail access to the island. Friedges: Advised that Deerfield residents seem excited about the additional amenity. No formal action required. 5. MAINTENANCE PROJECTS UPDATE: Friedges: Updated the PAC members on the summer activities. · Athletic Fields: All seasonal staff are in place. Fields are in good condition despite the wet spring. Noted that closing wet fields in the spring a few times promotes better condition in the fall. Need to address improvements to Memorial park in the future. There are a lot of tournaments scheduled. This is definitely the busiest time of year. . Fire Station 2: Advised that the landscaping will be done by maintenance staff and starts next week. Sheoherd's Path: This summer the staffwill complete an arched bridge that will connect the gazebo/park to the Church. Equioment: City Council recently approved the purchase of a replacement sidewalk broom for snow removal. Tree Inventorv: Carrie has started a project to inventory the trees the City has planted, including variety, maintenance required, etc. . . . Ceminsky: Asked if there is a potential to decrease the number of trails we plow and redirect that effort to sidewalks. Friedges: Advised that it could be considered. The difficult task is assigning priorities. Ceminsky: Asked for an update on the new compost center. Moore: Advised that the compost site is a joint effort with the SMSC and is open the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings of each month. We've received a lot of calls about the site and in the first two weeks had approx. 75 people on Memorial weekend, and 45 the past weekend. Ruhme: Asked staff to explain the purpose ofa compost site. Moore: Explained that the Prior Lake residents can use the site to dispose of yard waste rather than paying a refuse hauler, or disposing of it in ditches or wetlands where we are trying to preserve natural areas and water quality. The material is composted on site, and then the City and SMSC use the composted material in its parks and golf course. Eventually, there will be a surplus of composted material at which time it will become available at no cost to the public. Larson: Suggested that an extension of the hours might make it more accessible to weekend schedules. Feriancek: Asked about City conservation efforts related to fuel costs. Friedges: Reviewed several initiatives in place, including no idling of vehicles when not being used, looking into hybrid vehicles, having seasonal staff report directly to their work sites rather than transporting them from the Maintenance facility, converting from B2 biofuel to B5 with the ultimate goal of B 1 O. Also considered an electric Cushman vehicles, but determined that they can't meet our needs. 6. FUTURE MEETING DATE - Julv 17.2008 (6om) at City Hall. Motion to adjourn was made and seconded, motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:20pm. Submitted by Kelly Meyer, Asst. City Manager