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Parks
and Recreation Commission
|
Meeting
Minutes
September 1, 2015
Langton Lake Park Walking Tour -
6:00pm
Sandcastle Park - 6:45 pm
PRESENT: Becker-Finn,
Bogenholm, Diedrick, Doneen, Gelbach, Holt, Newby, O'Brien, Stoner
ABSENT: Heikkila
notified staff ahead of time of absence
STAFF:
Anfang, Brokke
1. INTRODUCTIONS
2. ROLL
CALL/PUBLIC COMMENT
Community members Sherry Sanders
& Lisa McCormick plus Andy Berg & 3 representatives from the Rosedale
project in attendance.
·
Sherry Sanders extended an invitation to the Commission to visit
Tamarack Park
·
Other guest deferred comment until later in the meeting
3. APPROVAL OF
MINUTES - August 4, 2015 MEETING
August 4th minutes
approved unanimously. Doneen abstained from vote because he was not at the
August meeting.
4. DEBRIEF FOLLOWING TOUR OF LANGTON LAKE PARK IN
RELATION TO TWIN LAKES AREA
The Commission met at 6:00pm
tonight at Langton Lake Park to tour park properties in relation to proposed
Twin Lakes development. Commission members then convened for their September
meeting at 6:45pm at Sandcastle Park. Commission follow-up discussion included;
·
Holt suggested the Commission work to solidify the opportunity
for developments to be flagged when received by Community Development.
o
Look into the possibility of creating a City document that leads
to flagging projects that have implications to the parks
·
Stoner commented on the minimal distance/buffer between
development areas & park land. Suggested looking into plantings that grow
into a natural barrier of sorts.
·
Becker-Finn added comments on the amount of potential sound
developments could bring to the area's park.
·
O'Brien asked about the footpath neighbors had spoken of at an
earlier Commission meeting.
o
Stoner inquired into whether development plans included a sidewalk
along the parkway.
5. PARK
DEDICATION - ROSEDALE MALL EXPANSION
Brokke briefed Commission on the
proposed development on the north side of Rosedale between Penney's & DSW.
This project involves a replatting of the area and triggers a park dedication
recommendation. The role of the Commission, at this time, is to recommend to
the Council accepting cash in lieu of land (7% of the FMV, $102,300 or .105
acres of land).
·
Doneen commented that a land dedication of this size does not make
much sense.
Commission Recommendation:
Commissioner Doneen moved
recommending the Council that cash in lieu of land be accepted for park
dedication with the Rosedale Mall Expansion. Second by Holt. Motion passed
unanimously
No public comment took place on
this item.
6. PARK DEDICATION
- USE OF FUNDS
Public Comment from Lisa McCormick;
·
Thanked Commission for considering the acquisition of land as
park dedication in the Twin Lakes area.
·
McCormick inquired whether park dedication funds are dedicated to
the area from which the funds are collected.
·
McCormick would like to see funds used west of Snelling and
suggested that a specified percentage of funding be required to stay in the
area from which the funds were generated.
·
Lastly, McCormick asked that park dedication funds be used to address
safety concerns in the Twin Lakes area.
Commission Comments;
·
Becker-Finn asked McCormick to provide the Commission with
specifics about reports of crime.
o
Staff will check with police to learn more about possible crime
activity in the Twin Lakes area.
Following public comment, Brokke
presented the Park Dedication information included in the Commission Packet
which included a draft of a Park Capital Funding Policy from Mayor Roe.
·
Commission voiced their concerns about the policy's direction
that could enable the Council to transfer funds between sub-funds.
·
Doneen asked for a clarification on the use of CIP in this draft
policy and worries that park dedication funds would be used for Capital
Improvement Projects.
o
Doneen commented that the ability to move park dedication funds
around could lead to an over-reliance on funding of Parks CIP with park
dedication funds
·
Doneen also is concerned that land acquisition funds could get
too lean under this policy set-up.
·
Holt questioned the set split of park dedication funds and
recognizes that when an opportunity comes along there needs to be a way to make
it happen.
·
Holt added that a plan should be in place for the CIP to address
assets without needing to tap into a percentage of the park dedication funds.
o
You can't plan for park dedication funds.
·
Stoner commented on how this policy might help others better
understand how park dedication funds are used/intended.
·
Newby suggested that perhaps the policy could read that the funds
are only able to move one direction, from the Capital sub-fund to the
acquisition sub-fund. Newby also suggested that a minimum level of funding be
set and that the balance of a fund cannot dip below that level unless being
used for a significant acquisition.
·
Stoner asked Brokke to talk about his discussion with the Mayor
in regards to this draft policy.
o
Brokke responded that the policy is a way to memorialize allocations
and a way to protect park dedication funds as Councils come & go.
·
Holt suggested taking information from this discussion to the
upcoming joint meeting with the finance committee.
7. CEDARHOLM
GOLF COURSE REVIEW UPDATE
Holt briefed the commission on the
recent joint meeting between the Parks & Recreation Commission and the
Finance Commission.
·
Much of the meeting was spent informing the Finance Commissioners
on the reasons why the Golf Course is a value to the Roseville community. Holt
interpreted the Finance Commission as questioning the value of Cedarholm based
only on the spreadsheet numbers. Holt recognized that the joint meeting was
enlightening for all and that the group had agreed to meet again.
·
The direction of the conversations included;
o
Do we look at Cedarholm as an asset that should be on the same
level as the rest of the park system?
o
How long can we go and accept that the Clubhouse & Shop are
adequate, when do we begin to look ahead & work to improve this community
asset?
o
Shouldn?t we be looking at the Community and its Park System as a
whole with unique features and special assets?
§
Cedarholm is an asset that should be invested in.
·
The Finance Committee asked about a Financial Feasibility Study
for Cedarholm. Brokke shared a recent study from Minneapolis Golf Courses.
Based on what staff has seen in reports done for other local golf courses, staff
questions the return/value of investing in a feasibility study.
8. POWERPOINT
VIRTUAL TOUR OF RENEWAL PROGRAM PROJECTS
Staff shared a PowerPoint "tour" of Renewal Program Projects completed to date, currently under construction and
those scheduled to be completed in the coming months. The visual slides
demonstrated the expanse of work that has taken place in the parks over the
past 15 months.
9. STAFF REPORT
Anfang reported that staff are
making the transition from Summer to Fall;
·
30 kids are still taking part in summer Recreation programs at
Autumn Grove. The Summer Spectacular Program is one of the only opportunities
in the area for recreation activities the week before Labor Day.
·
Fall Soccer is about to begin. 270 kids are playing on 20 teams
with over 40 coaches. Some teams have already begun practicing. Games begin
after Labor Day.
·
The Park Buildings continue to be busy. There are multiple
reservations most weekend days throughout the fall.
·
The Roseville Youth Football Association played their opening
week games at Rosebrook Park. The park was crazy busy with young players,
siblings at the playground and family & friends along the sidelines
cheering the kids on.
·
Parks & Recreation Facebook page ?likes? have increased by
over 10% in the past 8 weeks.
Brokke updated the Commission on
the Fairview Fire Station. The building is currently used for Parks &
Recreation equipment & supplies storage. There has been some interest by
developers to purchase the property. Because of this, staff are exploring
options for storage for Recreation programs, Parks & Recreation equipment,
Skating Center equipment, as well as Public Works vehicles and equipment.
Brokke also commented on the heavy
use of the park system over the summer, it appears that use has increased since
the Renewal Program Projects have been completed. Good use is good for the
parks.
10. OTHER
·
FORParks Tapped & Uncorked event is October 2nd at
the OVAL. Tickets are now available at the Parks & Recreation office and
from FORParks members.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Anfang, Assistant Director