Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNRRCMinutes-20070710 City of Hastings Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes City Hall Volunteer Room July 10, 2007 – 6:00 pm 1) Roll Call at 6 pm: Commissioners Miller, Nelson, Popp, Rohloff, Schommer, Vandehoef, and Vaughan, Parks and Recreation Director Bernstein, Superintendent Smith, Councilmembers Hazlet, Hollenbeck, and Schultz. 2) Approved June meeting minutes. Motion by Vandehoef. Seconded by Rohloff. Passed unanimously. 3) Departmental updates were passed out to the commissioners. 4) Parks Comprehensive Plan Presentation: Jeff Schoenbauer from Brauer & Associates presented the proposed Parks Comprehensive Plan to those present. Mr. Schoenbauer explained that the plan is meant to build on the current infrastructure. Since more and more neighborhood parks are being used for organized athletics, he encouraged cooperation between the City and the School District. Councilmember Schultz asked if this should be done by expanding the Joint Powers Agreement. Mr. Schoenbauer suggested having the athletic associations get more involved with requests to the School District for facility use. Vet’s Athletic Complex is a great facility, but the entrance to the park is not ideal. Mr. Schoenbauer suggested a concept which would move the main entrance to be off Highway 61 through Vermillion Falls th Park. Commissioner Vaughan suggested another possibility could be to use 10 Street by Bull Frog Pond. Another concept that was a part of the comprehensive plan was a destination loop trail. Mr. Schoenbauer explained that the quality of trails has been found to be more valuable than just the quantity. Dakota County has similar ideas for some of the trails that would connect Hastings to other parts of the County, so we could get some help from them. Mr. Schoenbauer stated that greenways and trails are the highest valued amenities in a community. This plan will also take a look at utilizing riverfront opportunities more. People in the community seem to feel that this is an underutilized resource that the City should be taking advantage of. Commissioner Vaughan asked what should be done with parks as demographics change, perhaps including more seniors instead of young families. Mr. Schoenbauer encouraged designing parks with all age groups in mind – perhaps adding more gardens, benches, and walking paths, in addition to play features for children. Councilmember Schultz expressed concern that some of our current trails run along busy roads and highways. Some parts of the community get cut off because of these busy crossings. Mr. Schoenbauer explained that there is a need to create safe trail crossings, perhaps overpasses or underpasses and that having a major destination loop makes this more economically feasible. Councilmember Schultz added that eventually, there will be a new bridge over the Mississippi River, and that it is important that it be bike & pedestrian friendly. Mr. Schoenbauer will add more detailed bridge and trail concepts to the plan. Councilmember Schultz discussed the redevelopment of Levee Park and stated that the Council still feels very strongly that this park be redeveloped and that the original plans are still valid. Mr. Schoenbauer agreed that if the plans are still valid, there is no need to get rid of them, but that we can consider adding other amenities if desired. Commissioner Vaughan asked about the possibility of a community center. Since this would be a large, stand-alone building, a feasibility study should be done. This is not focused on in this plan. Councilmember Hazlet asked about the plans that were done some years ago for Lake Rebecca. Could those plans still be a part of this new plan? As long as the plans are still current, there is no problem in keeping them – they can possibly just be updated a little if necessary. Councilmember Hazlet also expressed concern that while the idea of a destination loop trail looks good, it may be difficult to implement with the developers. Mr. Schoenbauer stated that at this point in the planning process, we are just trying to focus on whether or not the vision looks good. If it does, implementation strategies will be developed at a future time. He also emphasized the need to think in terms of, “What do we need to do to get the developers to go along with our plan?” instead of the zero-sum gain ideal that has been the norm. Director Bernstein and Mr. Schoenbauer both stated that future park plans cannot be funded strictly through park dedication. Other funding sources will need to be developed. Director Bernstein asked if those present would be in favor of expanding Vet’s Athletic Complex to minimize the use of our neighborhood parks for organized sports. There was agreement that this would be a good idea as long as access to Vet’s Park can be improved. Councilmember Hazlet also said that having sports fields in one complex would minimize staff having to drive all over town to maintain them. Mr. Schoenbauer stated that he will speak with the Planning Department regarding access to Vet’s park and other traffic concerns that were raised. He anticipates having the Parks Comprehensive Plan ready by the end of September. 5) 2008 Budget Discussion: Director Bernstein reviewed the major expense items for the 2008 budget. Included in these items were Office Supplies and Equipment, Vehicles and Equipment, and Park Facility Improvements. Commissioner Vaughan questioned the use of the wording “Capital Improvement Plan” when some of the expenses are for repair or maintenance items. Director Bernstein acknowledged that the terminology is probably incorrect as he just tends to include any high value projects in this plan. Councilmember Hazlet recommended renaming the plan the “Major Improvements Plan” and listing which of the items are capital improvements and which are parts of the maintenance plan. Director Bernstein mentioned that the mini-golf course that is being considered for the HFAC would be to increase revenue. By adding amenities, it is hoped that people will continue to visit the HFAC year after year. The course would in no way affect the Roadside Memorial, and could be either 9 or 18 holes, depending upon space. There would be two separate fees charged – one for the pool and one for the mini-golf course. Two controlled entrances are envisioned – one leading directly from the pool area into the course, and one that could be accessed separately, without entering the pool at all. It was recommended to get neighborhood input on this idea and things like lights, noise, etc. Commissioner Vaughan also recommended having 18 holes if at all possible, and stressed that location is key for an amenity like this – it needs to be with another high traffic area, like the HFAC. Commissioner Vandehoef mentioned that having a mini-golf course at the pool could possibly add to the seasonal usage of the concession stand. Commissioner Nelson then asked about the Park Improvement Request Process that the NRRC has created. Councilmember Hazlet stated that as we assist people through this process, we should mention that cost sharing and community fundraising for projects is very helpful. He expressed appreciation for the hard work of the NRRC and said that the Council values their input. Councilmember Schultz mentioned that she still gets people who try to circumvent the process by coming to her directly, and that as an elected official, she has a difficult time turning them away. Commissioner Vaughan hoped that this process was in the best interests of the entire city and that we could encourage our residents to use it. Commissioner Schommer commented that maybe instead of having residents skip the process, any NRRC members or councilmembers who are approached for park improvement requests could offer to assist the resident with the process. Commissioner Vaughan asked about park dedication funds – can they be used for the entire city or do they need to be used in each specific ward? Councilmember Hazlet said that the only stipulation is that it has to be used for capital items. Councilmember Schultz added that the state regulations say the money must be used “in the area of the development.” Director Bernstein stated that the city does use the ward system, but that it is his understanding that if a park is designated a community park as opposed to a neighborhood park, money from other wards can be used. Councilmember Schultz expressed concern about the relatively low amounts of money in park dedication for both Wards 2 & 3 and the limited opportunity for development in those areas. She also stated that she has a difficult time telling residents in her ward that money from their developments was used to fund a park project across town. Commissioner Schommer stressed the need to find other ways to fund projects, besides state money or park dedication funds, because they will not always be available. Councilmember Schultz added that 2008 would be a lean year for the city financially. Commissioner Schommer asked if the money we have budgeted for 2007 is “use it or lose it?” Director Bernstein replied that he can request a carryover for any projects that don’t get completed in the current budget year, and that those requests are generally approved. Commissioner Nelson asked if the NRRC should look at raising the park dedication fees. Councilmember Schultz cautioned that while it would be o.k. to raise the fees, we have to be sure that those fees are justified. There was a situation a couple of years ago where a developer challenged the fees and it became a legal issue. She suggested looking at what other cities are doing regarding park dedication. Councilmember Hazlet added that with park dedication, we need to be using it or have a 10 year plan in place showing how it will be used. Director Bernstein stated that our 10-year Comprehensive Park Plan should satisfy that requirement. 6) New Business - Joint Meetings with NRRC & Parks and Recreation Committee of Council: Director Bernstein asked if joint meetings should be held more often than once a year. Those in attendance agreed that once a year is fine unless some issue would arise that would necessitate an extra meeting. - Joint Powers Agreement: Commissioner Vaughan asked the councilmembers present about the Joint Powers Agreement with the school district. Director Bernstein explained that there is a separate Joint Powers Board that meets quarterly. Councilmember Schultz stated that she felt the local associations should be making connections with the school district. She also said that there are some difficulties due to the fact that not all of the Hastings School District is with city limits. Commissioner Schommer questioned the money that the City is paying to Community Education for league fees considering that city staff does all of the maintenance for these leagues. He felt that the agreement should be revisited. Commissioner Vandehoef asked how old the agreement is. Director Bernstein replied that he thought the original agreement is from 1973. It was decided to table this discussion for a future meeting. th Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at City Hall. Adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Kristin Behrens