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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 04-20 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION APRIL 20, 1993 • • CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Sorenson called the meeting of the parks and recreation commission to order at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL Present for the meeting were Chairperson Sorenson, Commissioners Russell, Shinnick, Rickart, Peterson, Mead and Pollock. Also in attendance were Councilperson Mann, Director of Recreation Mavis, Director of Public Works, Knapp, and Superintendent of Streets/Park, Cahlander. In addition, Mike and Jan Tieden and Marlys Groves, neighbors of orchard Lane Park, were in attendance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES, MARCH 16, 1993 Chairperson Sorenson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of March 16, 1993. A motion was made by Commissioner Russell and seconded by Commissioner Rickart to approve the minutes. The motion passed. STORM WATER PONDING Director of Public Works, Knapp gave an overview of the four storm water ponding meetings that were held. He also gave a memorandum to the park and recreation commission telling about the meetings. He went on to say that the city council and the MTC have agreed to go ahead with the plans for the site on 694 and Brooklyn Blvd. The site would have a park and ride, a storm water pond and-maybe some playground equipment. Chairperson Sorenson said that having a big pond at this site could mean there would not be a need for a pond in Marlin Park. Commissioner Russell asked if there would be traffic problems on 65th Avenue North. Mr. Knapp answered that yes, there could be some problems, and he showed on a map where the cars and buses would drive. The Director of Public Works mentioned that during rush hours is when most buses would be there. Chairperson Sorenson asked about how many buses would be there during rush hours. Director of Public Works, Knapp replied 10 to 15 buses. Commissioner Pollock asked if there would be walkways around the pond. The Director of Public Works replied that this was a possibility. Mr. Tieden asked if Brooklyn Blvd. would have an extra lane put in from 694 to 65th Avenue North. Mr. Knapp answered, yes. Mr. Tieden then asked if 65th Avenue North would be widened. Again Mr. Knapp answered, yes it would. -1- Mr. Tieden then asked about the buses getting out of the Park and Ride. The Director of Public Works said this would all be worked 40 out with the MTC. Commissioner Mead asked about the lighting. Mr. Knapp replied that this too would be worked out with MTC and the neighbors. Commissioner Shinnick asked if the pond would be fenced in. The Director of Public Works said this is another item that needs to be discussed more in the future. Commissioner Rickart asked when work would start on this project. Director of Public Works Knapp said that first the City would have to get a wetland permit from the Corps. of Engineers. Next the City would need approval from the Shingle Creek Water Shed Management Commission. This should not be a problem because it will help water quality. Third, there would have to be an appraisal of the vacant land. Mr. Knapp said he hoped to present a plan to the city council in June. Chairperson Sorenson asked what would happen if MTC pulled out. The Director of Public Works replied that he thought the City could still put in the bigger pond. He also said the MTC would be responsible for the Park and Ride while the City would be responsible for the storm water pond and the rest of the area. Commissioner Rickart asked if geese would be a problem at this site. The Director of Public Works replied that yes, it could be a problem, but the City would work to take care of it. Director of Public Works, Knapp went on to say if alternate plan #3 was used at 694 and Brooklyn Blvd., it would definitely effect what was done in both Marlin and Orchard Lane Park. Marlin Park would only need a dry pond; or maybe no pond at all, with the water being piped. Orchard Lane Park would still need a pond, but not as big a one. Mr. Tieden said he thought the pond in Orchard Lane Park would be where the skating rink is now. Director of Recreation Mavis said this was not the plan; and that if there is a pond in Orchard Lane Park, it would be the north end. Mr. Tieden asked about the flooding problem in the Orchard Lane Park area. Mr. Knapp replied that there is some flooding in streets, yards and basements. He also mentioned that the reason these ponds are being put in is that the water quality is important. Mr. Tieden asked if a bigger pond on Brooklyn Blvd. would take care of flooding problems to Unity Ave. N. The Director of Public Works replied that he was not sure of this, and that there would have to be more study done on this issue. Mr. Knapp went on to say that the ponding in Orchard Lane Park is not a high priority item right now; and nothing would happen there for at least five years. Commissioner Rickart said it seemed as if plan #3 was best. Mr. Knapp answered yes, it was. • -2- Director of Recreation, Mavis mentioned that storm water ponding would be done all over the City in the future. He also said that Eagan had 300 of these ponds in their city. Mrs. Tieden said she had heard most of these ponds were there before the houses were built. Commissioner Mead asked why the meeting about the pond in Orchard Lane Park had so few people in attendance. Mrs. Tieden said the people in their neighborhood did not understand the letter. She went on to say that after the meeting she talked to the neighbors, and that's when they became concerned about the plan for Orchard Lane Park. The parks and recreation commission was then given a petition from the neighbors of Orchard Lane Park who oppose the "Proposed Wetland Drainage Pond in Orchard Lane Park." Mr. Tieden said, the petition should have also said, "on the skating rink area." Commissioner Pollock made a motion which was seconded by Commissioner Shinnick to accept the petition. The motion passed. Commissioner Rickart asked where the money would come from for this work, Mr. Knapp replied, from the storm drainage utility. Councilperson Mann said she liked alternative plan #3 which would put the bigger pond on the Brooklyn Blvd. location. Director of Public Works Knapp said the Brooklyn Blvd. Task Force also liked this plan. Commissioner Russell made a motion that was seconded by Commissioner Mead to recommend to the City Council that alternative plan #3 be used on the 694 and Brooklyn Blvd. site. The motion passed. RECESS Commissioner Mead made a motion that was seconded by Commissioner Peterson to recess. The motion passed and the Park & Recreation Commission recessed at 9 p.m. The Park & Recreation Commission reconvened at 9:10 p.m. CIP (CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM) The Director of Public Works explained to the commission about the CIP program and how it will work. He said that the commission would be very involved in this process but needed to get busy on it right away. The Director of Public Works then gave the commissioners a draft copy of the program. Chairperson Sorenson asked what happens at Bellvue park. Mr Mavis said the National Little League uses this park a lot plus there are more younger children in this area. Commissioner Shinnick said Little League really needs to use this park for their program. Chairperson Sorenson asked if some of the shelter buildings could be torn down. Mr Knapp said yes this could happen. The Director of Public Works then continued to go over the plan. Commissioner Peterson questioned if the commissioners should visit the parks to see what shape they are in. -3- IL Commissioner Mead said that the commissioners had gone to the parks not to long ago but mainly to look at playground equipment. Director of Recreation Mavis said that it could help to visit the parks again if anyone had time. Mr Mavis then said the commission needed to set a special meeting date . Commissioner Russell made a motion seconded by Commissioner Pollock to set Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.for a special Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed. Commissioner Rickart said he thought the first draft of this CIP plan was very well done but had a few questions about the ADA part of draft. Director of Public Works Knapp said he would have more information about this at the special meeting. Commissioner Peterson said he was very happy that the Parks & Recreation Commission was being involved in this process. Mr Knapp said that all commissions were being asked to participate. He also said it was possible there would be a bond referendum in the future. PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT The Director of Recreation showed the commission the plans for the playground equipment that could be installed in Northport and Freeway Park. He then showed them a new produce called Fibar which would be the surface the equipment would be placed on. This surface would take care of the ADA requirement on the playground. The commissioners said the plans looked good and they hoped they could be installed as soon as possible. ADOPT A PARK The commissioners received a copy of who had adopted a park. The Director of Recreation said maybe the Parks & Recreation Commission could adopt the area around Centerbrook Golf Course. Commissioner Mead suggest that maybe Northport Park could also be considered. Commissioner Russell said maybe we could get Northport School to adopt that park. Commissioner Shinnick made a motion that was seconded by Commissioner Russell that the Parks & Recreation Commission adopt the area around Centerbrook Golf Course.' The motion passed. Chairperson Sorenson said the commissioners would meet on May 8 at 9 a.m. at the National Little League club house. He also asked if the Director of Recreation would make sure the clean up equipment would be there. The Director said he would. LEAGUE REGISTRATION AT CENTERBROOK The Director of Recreation reported he had a request from a person to change the league registration process at Centerbrook. The Director of Recreation said that the golf course manager and himself thought the current system worked fine. In the current system the league golfers from the previous year got to register first. He asked if the commission had any suggestions. The commission agreed to keep the current system. -4 ADJOURMENT Chairperson Sorenson asked if there was any other business to discuss. After no comments were made the chairperson asked for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner mead made a motion to adjourn whcih was seconded by Commissioner Shinnick. The motion passed and the parks and Recreation commission meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m. 0 0 -5-