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11/08/2004 - 00028740CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — NOVEMBER 8, 2004 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the November 8, 2004 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:11 p. m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dave Kondrick, Edward McDonald and Dolores Varichak Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Siah St. Clair, Naturalist Julie Jones, Environmental Planner APPROVAL OF October 4, 2004 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve the minutes of the October 4, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2004 MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to approve the agenda for the November 8, 2004 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the Program Update for the past month identifies some of the programs and activities of the Recreation and Natural Resource Department. Some of the events in the past month included the Senior Safety Camp, the Senior Flu Shot Clinic, the elementary age after-school program, the Lights on After School event, the ZONE activities, and the Springbrook Pumpkin Night in the Park. The Senior Flu Shot Clinic was a very interesting event because of all the media attention being given to the shortage of the flu vaccine. The clinic was able to provide shots for five hundred and twenty five people, but many individuals had to be turned away. The Springbrook Halloween event had 2,800+ participants and generated just over $6500 in revenue. More detailed information on the other activities is provided in the Program Update report. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 8, 2004 Paqe 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that Dave Lindquist could not be at the meeting tonight, but he had provided a list of accomplishments over the past month. The Parks Maintenance division has continued with the leaf pick up and mowing in all the parks during the month of October. They have also winterized the irrigation systems and started to prepare the hockey/skating facilities for the upcoming season. A copy of Mr. Lindquist's memo is included in the agenda packet. c. Springbrook Nature Center Budget Status Mr. Kirk stated that the proposed $275,000 levy referendum for Springbrook Nature Center was approved by the voters in the November 2"d election. 52% of those casting ballots in this election voted yes on the Springbrook question. To pass, the question required at least 51 % voting yes. The positive vote will allow staff to continue to offer programs and services at the nature center. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. 2004 — 2005 Skating Rink Locations Mr. Kirk stated that staff is recommending the same skating and hockey rink locations for the 2004 — 2005 season. The general rinks would be located at Briardale Park, Creekridge Park, Flanery Park, Hackmann Park, Hayes Elementary School, Logan Park, Madsen Park, Ruth Circle Park, Stevenson Elementary School, Summit Square Park and Sylvan Hills Park. The Commons Park — Fridley Middle School site would have the running track around the football field flooded as a skating oval. The hockey rink locations would include two rinks at Commons Park and one each at Flanery Park, Hayes Elementary School, Madsen Park, Ruth Circle Park, and Stevenson Elementary School. Mr. Kirk further stated that the only supervised warming house in our skating system would be at Commons Park. The warming house would be open weekdays from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Weekends, holidays and school out days, the facility would be open from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m. On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the warming house will be open from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve the staff recommended locations for skating rinks for the 2004-2005 season. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DELARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Springbrook Nature Center Wetland Restoration Construction Mr. Kirk stated that Siah St. Clair and Julie Jones are at tonight's meeting to talk about the Springbrook Watershed Project and some work that is being planned for this winter. This phase of the project will involve some major earthwork being done at Springbrook and will require the removal of a significant number of trees. The City of Fridley has a tree preservation ordinance that requires approval of the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 8, 2004 Paqe 3 Planning Commission and the City Council before trees are removed from public land. Julie and Siah have been working closely with this project since its beginning and they will explain the project to you, tell you why it is being done and what is going to take place. The Commission can then decide if you have enough information to make a recommendation for approval as it relates to our tree preservation ordinance. Ms. Jones stated that the first phase of the Springbrook Watershed project started back in 1997 and investigated why the emergent vegetation in the wetlands had disappeared rather rapidly in the nature center. After the first phase, a plan was developed on what we wanted to do to correct the problem. We have been working on an implementation plan since June of 2002, after we struggled for a while trying to get adequate funding to proceed. There are four different cities involved in this project. The City of Spring Lake Park, the City of Blaine, the City of Coon Rapids and the City of Fridley are all partners in this project. Parts of all four cities are in the Springbrook Watershed and impact the water flow into the nature center. All four cities have contributed to this project in both staff time and cash. The project has received funding from a variety of sources including the State of Minnesota, the MPCA, the Metropolitan Council, a private grant from the McKnight Foundation, the Six Cities Watershed District and other organizations have contributed. Ms. Jones further stated that each of the cities and several agencies have representatives on an advisory committee that really decide what steps the project will take. The advisory committee approves the budget and the work plan. The group is working with WSB, an engineering consulting firm, on completing the plan and designing the improvements needed. Ms. Jones further stated that the first phase of the investigation for the project indicated that there was just too much storm water coming directly into the nature center and coming in too quickly. This was primarily a problem in the east inlet into the park. The storm water that comes in from the area by Wal-Mart and the Springbrook apartments generates a significant flow of water during rain events. A storm water retention pond was recently constructed just south of Northtown and that has helped with the problem, but the advisory group has been unsuccessful in finding another pond location to help further reduce storm water flows from this area. The group is now left with this final construction project to help reduce the storm water into the nature center. The map included in the Commission members' packets for this meeting is a preliminary design for the water flow project coming into the nature center. The consulting firm will be meeting with City staff next week to come up with a more detailed plan. Mr. St. Clair stated that the streambed construction project would involve a swath of 1400 linear feet and a width of 40 to 50 feet. The stream will be designed so that it has some curves to it and meanders its way through the park and is not flowing in one long straight line. Ms. Jones stated that the plan would include strategically planting some larger trees in this project using the landscaping dollars. Mr. Kondrick asked how deep the pipe would be under the streambed. Ms. Jones stated that the storm water pipe will be 48 inches in diameter and will be only a short distance, about one foot, below the bottom of the finished creek. The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 8, 2004 Paqe 4 storm water pipe is to prevent the severe erosion that has been experienced during heavy rain events. Mr. St. Clair stated that the goal would be to keep the creek as natural looking as possible and at the same time attempt to slow the water flow through the nature center. Mr. Kondrick stated that he did not like the 50-foot width that the construction swath will be. Is there any way that can be narrowed down to have a lesser impact on the park? Mr. St. Clair stated that when you are using big pay loaders and other heavy equipment in an area like this, you need a significant width to do the work. Mr. Kondrick asked about bridges that will be necessary to accommodate the trail system in the park. Mr. St. Clair stated that there are currently four bridges that cross the existing creek bed in the park and he would anticipate that those would need to be replaced. The bridges were originally built by Boy Scouts as Eagle Scout projects. Mr. St. Clair stated that although there are many trees that will come down with this construction project there really aren't any significant trees. He has walked this creek bed area and there are not trees that they would necessarily want to save. There are some cottonwoods and some aspens, but not oaks or maples. Mr. Kondrick asked how did you plan to cover up the construction work in the creek bed area. Mr. St. Clair stated that there would be vegetation planted on the banks of the stream and rocks to prevent erosion. Mr. McDonald asked if there would be a significant number of trees replanted to replace those being removed. Mr. St. Clair stated that they would replant a few trees, but he didn't think they would be replanting a lot of trees. From his experience of replanting trees at Springbrook after the 1986 tornado, was that most of the 7000 trees that were planted did not make it. When you are in a natural setting like this, it is very difficult to protect the young trees from the deer and other animals that like to graze on them. Mr. Solberg asked if there were plans to plant any wildflowers with this project. Ms. Jones stated they had talked about that in the streambed area. Mr. Kondrick stated that this project would involve the cutting down of many trees to accommodate the redesigned stream and water flow through the park. The City's tree preservation ordinance requires approval of the plan by this Commission. While this Commission has generally been opposed to the taking down of a large number of trees at a park like Springbrook, the greater good is going to be served by this project. We should consider that as we look at the possibility of approval. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 8, 2004 Paqe 5 Mr. Kondrick asked Mr. Kirk what action should be taken at this point by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mr. Kirk stated that as he read the Tree Preservation Ordinance, he would see this project as falling under section 3, which allows for removal of trees for the purposes of necessary utility construction. It does require a detailed plan, which is not completed for this project as of yet. It also requires a plan for reforestation and the restoration of the land to its original condition. This project will not restore the land to its original condition, but the finished product will actually be better for the overall 127-acre park. He further stated that the Commission could approve the concept of this Springbrook Watershed project tonight and get the final plan for approval at the December Commission meeting. A reforestation plan and idea of what the finished product will look like should be included with the additional information provided to the Commission. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve of the concept plan for the Springbrook Watershed project streambed restoration project being planned for this winter at the Nature Center. More details shall be presented at the December Commission meeting for a final approval of the project to comply with the Tree Preservation ordinance. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms.Varichak, to adjourn the November 8, 2004 meeting at 8:24 p. m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE NOVEMBER 8, 2004 MEETING ADJOURNED.