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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989 02-21 PRM4. MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 21, 1989 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sorenson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Sorenson, Commissioners Mead, Peterson, Pollock, and Propst. Also present were Councilmember Jerry Pedlar, City Manager Gerald Splinter, Director of Public Works Sy Knapp, Director of Recreation Arnie Mavis, and Recording Secretary Tom Bublitz. Chairman Sorenson noted Commissioner Skeels was absent and excused from this evening's meeting and also noted Commissioner Burnes was absent from the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 17. 1989 There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Mead to approve the minutes of the January 17, 1989, park and recreation commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed. TWIN LAKE STUDY City Manager Gerald Splinter reviewed for commission members the 1981 park bond improvements including neighborhood parks, Central Park, Palmer Lake Park, and the Arboretum. He explained City property includes the island on Twin Lake and part of the peninsula on Twin Lake. The city manager explained the city completed the park bond improvements two years ago and also completed the golf course. The County is developing the park along the Mississippi River, and he pointed out the remainder of the open space in the city of Brooklyn Center is primarily in the southwest part of the city. The elements remaining to be completed in the park plan include park areas in the southwest of the city and the trail system. The city manager explained Mr. Tim Erkkila was retained to do planning on the southwest neighborhood park areas, and in conjunction with his work, staff members at Crystal and Robbinsdale also gave input on the planning process. Mr. Erkkila's task was to provide all options for development and usage of the area. The city manager reviewed the Joslyn property, noting its size as approximately 40 acres. He explained the next phase of the planning process would include development of more detailed plans, and the final phase would be the final construction plans. -1- 4. Mr. Erkkila began his presentation by explaining the Twin Lake area was studied during all four seasons, which was important to make a determination of the best recreational usage of the area. He reviewed the study procedure including the land parcels inventory, analysis of water resources, and the use of aerial photos for planning purposes. Mr. Erkkila explained staff members from Crystal and Robbinsdale were contacted for their input, and staff members from both cities expressed the concern over maintaining the water quality of the area and expressed a concern over an appropriate water usage. Mr. Erkkila pointed out MNDOT's proposed improvements to T.H. 100 may result in reduction of green space in the area, but the plans have not yet been refined regarding highway improvements. Continuing his review of the findings in the study, Mr. Erkkila explained the Joslyn site presents a possible opportunity for land acquisition for park purposes. Additional findings included Brooklyn Park's possible interest in tying in the development with their existing trail system. The City of Crystal has also looked at the preserve area and has begun work in this area already. Opportunities for the preserve area included trail routing for regional trails and wildlife preservation. Mr. Erkkila pointed out the lakes represent a real resource for recreation, but in the course of this study, it was discovered there are some potential conflicts in surface water management particularly with regard to power boat usage, use of four-wheel drive vehicles, and snowmobiles. He then explained the usage around the lakes can be independent of the surface water management. He then reviewed the five general goals for Twin Lake, one of which included broadening the use of the area as a recreational area. Mr. Erkkila then reviewed the concept plan for the Twin Lake area, including a trail system concept to loop around the lakes for biking and hiking. The trail routing system would include on- and off-road routings. He reviewed the Joslyn site potential and pointed out three major areas for possible development including the preserve area, Bass Lake Road site, and Middle Twin Lake area. He then reviewed the area near Kylawn Park for potential usage and explained the usage in this area would most likely be similar to the development in the Palmer Lake area. The city manager explained he would review the concept plan with the city council and inform them that the park and recreation commission is reviewing the plan. He summarized the major issues in development in the Twin Lake area including new development of the Kylawn area similar to Palmer Lake, acquisition of the site east of the island on Upper Twin, and possible development of the Joslyn site. -2- The city manager then reviewed the space analysis study authorized by the city council. He explained this study would have potential impacts on the Civic Center complex, and the park and recreation commission should review the portion of the study addressing the recreational space in the Civic Center complex. The city manager summarized the next steps in the planning process for the Twin Lake and preserve area. The first element would be to start to make recommendations on specific elements of the plan, then determine which parcels should be considered further. The planning maps would be modified accordingly and the next step would be to hold neighborhood meetings to gather neighborhood input on the plans. Mr. Gordy Anderson of Westwood Professional Services, Inc. emphasized to the commission that they should visit the parcels considered in the study. Commissioner Propst arrived at 9:10 p.m. The director of public works explained the City staff is reviewing the entire trail system according to the concept plan approved by the park and recreation commission. He explained the staff is reviewing the system with regard to standards for on- and off-street trails. The standards allow trails to be put on roadways with traffic counts of less than 600 vehicles per day. The area near Twin Lake is in the less than 600 vehicles per day category. The city manager explained the staff can give a preliminary sequence of events for various items related to the potential development of the Twin Lake area and the preserve including the possible purchase of the Joslyn site. The commission continued its discussion of the recreational study of the preserve and Twin Lakes area. The director of recreation noted a ball field facility could be built on the Joslyn site. The commission continued its discussion and generally expressed favorable comments on the use of the Joslyn site as a possible recreational area. Chairman Sorenson directed the commission to review the complete report by the next meeting and take particular note of the Joslyn site. Commissioner Propst explained he had a conflict with the park and recreation commission meeting on the third Tuesday and explained he had a Heart club meeting that same evening. Commissioner Propst proposed a change in the meeting night so he would be able to attend the park and recreation commission meeting. After discussion by the commission, there was a motion by Commissioner Mead and seconded by Commissioner Propst to schedule the next park and recreation commission meeting for March 28, 1989, at 7:30 p.m. The motion passed. It was also noted that -3- 4 any permanent change of the meeting date would have to be considered further. 0 ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Pollock to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center park and recreation commission adjourned at 9:37 p.m. Chairman • • -4-