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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-05-16 PRC PacketAGENDA CITY OF MAPLEWOOD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:20pm Meeting Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East There will be a neighborhood meeting about the Gladstone Savanna in Council Chambers prior to the start of the Parks Commission. That meeting will run from 6:30pm- 7:15pm to discuss the phase 1 improvements. All Commissioners are encouraged to attend. The Parks Commission meeting will begin promptly at 7:20pm. (Enclosed you will find the letter to the residents regarding the project.) 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. April 18, 2012 5. Visitor Presentations a. MCC Banquet and Events (Christine Penn) 6. Unfinished Business a. Fish Creek (Chair Roman) b. Gladstone Savannah Timeline c. PAC Code Revision 7. New Business a. 8. Staff Presentations a. Arbor Day at Lion's Park 9. Commissioner Comments 10. Adjourn — (9:00 p.m.) CITY OF MAPLEWOOD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:OOpm COUNCIL CHAMBERS — MAPLEWOOD CITY HALL 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Roman indicated that there was a quorum and called the meeting to order at 7:01PM. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Commissioner Craig Brannon, present Commissioner Don Christianson, present Commissioner Peter Fischer, present Commissioner Dan Maas, present Chair Bruce Roman, present Commissioner Therese Sonnek, present Commissioner Roy Adams, present Commissioner RJ Erhardt, present Commissioner Kim Schmidt. present Sta Ayes: All Ayes: All 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Fischer requested a change under Roll Call; the minutes stated that he was present when in fact he was absent. Commissioner Sonnek requested that "as a member of the White Bear Lake library they have free computer classes" be corrected to "as a member of the Ramsey County library they have free computer classes." 1 Commissioner Brannon moved to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Erhardt S. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Gethsemane Park Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, presented the infor choosing the park. He presented which park tF showed the park equipment that is currently a equipment that was chosen by the residents.a!f from Gethsemane School. The Commission discussed and commented on Staff recommends that the Parks a for the Flannigan Sales Little Tike P neighborhood and the student rep Chair Roman Seconded by Commissioner Fischer b. Dog ParkReview Chair Roman wanted Doe Park located at F The Commission requested that discussed in the meeting. issioner led by C Ayes: All c. Gladstone Savannah Timeline Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the Gladstone Savannah Timeline of events that will occur throughout various phases of the project at the site. The Commission discussed and commented on the Gladstone Savannah Timeline. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. 8. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Spring Cleanup Update Ayes: All Commission the good and the bad points of the Pa on the Dog Park. back with the various Dog Park possibilities Ayes: All Abstain: Fischer, Christianson =gardingthe process for its and the school chose. He in comparison to the park p of student representatives nmission make a motion of support elected by the residents of the Gethsemane School. 2 Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the progress of the Spring Cleanup that is to take place on Saturday, April 21, 2012. b. Sponsorships at Goodrich Park Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on the Sponsorships at Goodrich Pa rk. The Commission discussed the Sponsorships at Goodrich Park. c. Arbor Day at Lion's Park Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, updated the Commission on Arbor Day at Lion's Park that takes place on Saturday, May 12, 2012. 9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Sonnek wanted to remind the residents that there are the two Geocaching classes coming up. One is at the Maplewood Library on May 12, 2012, Arbor Day, in the afternoon, so people will still have time to participate in the tree planting and then learn how to find the caches hidden in the trees. The class is free and to call the Maplewood Library to register. There is another class May 9, 2012, Wednesday night at 7:OOPM at the Roseville Library.'' Commissioner Schmidt inquired if Staff could send out an email the night before the neighborhood meetings as a',brief reminder. Commissioner Brannon asked if there was an email list that is used for the Parks Cleanup. The last two years by the time it gets to the boy scouts, the activities are already planned out. He inquired about a mailing list that is sent out for that activity Jim Taylor, Parks Manager, stated that his list includes all of the current athletic association contacts. The information is also put in the Maplewood Monthly and on the website. He would like to expand the list to get the information sent to other groups. He asked for help in getting more contact information so the list can be expanded. Maas stated that he thinks his term for the Parks and Recreation Commission is up and that this is his last meeting. He wanted to say that it has been a pleasure serving with the Commission and working with the Staff on everything and that he has enioved''his time here. Chair Roman asked Commissioner Mass how long he has served on the Commission. Commissioner Mass responded that it has been about three years. Chair Roman thanked Commissioner Mass for his service on the Commission and wished him luck for the future and his family. 3 Chair Roman also added that he would like to thank everyone at the Nature Center. They had an open house that was well attended with good information presented at the event. Commissioner Schmidt stated that summer swim lesson registration is going on now at the Maplewood Community Center. Ipw_ADa(G11J001Jllg111 Commissioner Fischer moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Brannon Th Ayes: All Ne Protecting Fish Creek Natural Area Greenway Paul, through Maplewood, to Carver Park in Woodbury. The heart of the greenway is Fish Creek and Ramsey County's 142 -acre Fish Creek Open Space. In 2010, project partners adopted a vision for the greenway and plans for protection, stewardship, and access to nature. Now is the time! The Conservation Fund has secured a key 70 acre parcel but we need $629,000 still to protect it forever. Surrounded on three sides by county open space, this site is a key link in the greenway. Once pasture land, today this land is open rolling hills with wide views, prairie remnants, oak and aspen woodlands, and a pine plantation. The southwest corner of the site is Mississippi River bluff land with a dramatic vista across the river valley. Part of the Mississippi River flyway, the site is frequented by raptors, songbirds, and wildlife species such as fox, coyote, deer, and opossum. 12/1/11 County Open Space. The Fish Creek Natural Area Greenway stretches from the Mississippi River in St. Views of Fish Creek from Ramsey 9 ai 0 W O L U E O W Y N N U N t O bD W 7 O 3 v v 0 v m `O bD c Y_ Y N N V t LL N N O Q O Q v t ai . v U T O N t Q 7 N Y E 0] C f0 Q N N U f0 LL s v 3 0 U_ 7 Q C C f0 N N u U_ C L U f0 t O U N t Q m E t 0 v v un v m s N f0 H f0 N 7 f0 i T 3 v v i� m v f0 7 f0 z Y N N V t H LL N t O C N G O U N r4 N N r4 May 4, 2012 Dear Resident, In 2011, Maplewood developed a Master Plan for Gladstone Savanna Neighborhood Preserve and Gloster Park, located at Frost Avenue and English Street. Phase I improvements for the preserve will begin later this month. The park and preserve will be closed much of this year, beginning in mid to late May. If you'd like to learn more about the work scheduled for Gladstone Savanna this year, please join us: Wednesday, May 16 6:30 — 7:15 p.m. Maplewood City Hall, Council Chambers This first phase of Savanna improvements will be split into two parts: Phase I -A Improvements May 2012 - October 2012 Phase I -B Improvements September 2012 - October 2013 • Removal of brush and selected trees in area • Native seeding to be graded . Buckthorn and invasive brush removal in • Soil remediation areas not graded • Grading • Landscaping of NE entry and possibly • Install trails other areas • Install stormwater features • Planting trees, shrubs, plugs • Geophysical work Additional improvements for the Savanna and Gloster Park will be done in future phases, including: installation of playground, historical design elements and interpretation, additional landscaping features and additional restoration work. The existing playground equipment at Gloster Park will remain in place until a new playground is installed in a future phase. The preliminary schedule for Phase I improvements are: May 14 — Council awards project to contractor May- October — Phase I -A work August— Council awards Phase I -B work to contractor September 2012 - October 2013 — Phase I -B work Parks and Recreation Department, 1830 County Rd B East,❑ Maplewood MN 55109 (651) 249 -2007 ❑ FAX: (651) 2492109 www.ci.maplewood.mn.us The detailed plans for the site follow the concept plan that was developed during the master planning process. There will be a significant amount of grading due to soil remediation requirements for this site and reshaping of the existing stormpond. At the May 16 meeting, staff will discuss grading, tree removal, and other elements of the project. We hope you'll join us. Sincerely, Ginny Gaynor Natural Resources Coordinator 651 - 249 -2416 Parks and Recreation Department, 1830 County Rd B East,❑ Maplewood MN 55109 (651) 249 -2007 ❑ FAX: (651) 2492109 www.ci.maplewood.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: James Antonen, City Manager FROM: Jim Taylor, Parks Manager SUBJECT: Park Dedication Fee Code Change DATE: May 9, 2012 INTRODUCTION The City Manager with Council support has requested that staff explore all areas of development for Park Dedication Fees to help generate additional revenue. Staff did research on what our code currently says, and in what ways it should be revised to address additional revenue opportunities to help sustain our Parks system. The first reading of this change occurred at the April 23'' meeting of the City Council. Staff will be recommending approval of the second reading at the May 14 meeting of the City Council Meeting. -1eCd "CC] :loll] L f In Maplewood, the purpose and intent of part of Chapter 26 (zoning code) is to ensure that the citizens of the city have additional open space for parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities, in addition to those spaces owned by the public. As authorized in chapter 26, a developer may provide cash payment in lieu of dedication of land. This is commonly referred to as a Park Availability Charge (PAC) and in Maplewood, it is also referred to as a Park Dedication Fee. The way the code reads currently, PAC is only authorized in circumstances of new development. Chapter 26 -126 thru 131 speak to the issue of development refer to the development of undeveloped land, and do not speak to redevelopment. Staff researched what other metro communities were doing with Park Dedication Fees to find out where we had opportunity to make changes to our code to capture additional revenue. What we found was that many communities in the metro specifically addressed redevelopment. This is an area that Staff is proposing changes to address redevelopment, while crediting the developer for any previously paid dedication. DISCUSSION Highlights from the Revision: - In cases of redevelopment, credit towards the park dedication due for such redevelopment shall be given for the actual amount of previous park dedication satisfied for the lots proposed. - If PAC charges were not previously paid on the purchased property, the developer would be responsible for the full 9% of the market value of the property. In the event that park dedication was previously satisfied for a larger land area than the lot or lots currently proposed for development, the previously satisfied park dedication amount shall be prorated on a per square foot basis to the lot or lots currently proposed for development. While credits may fully satisfy Park Dedication due credits shall not result in refunds of park dedication previously paid Not all redevelopment will be eligible, there still needs to be an added use or burden on our parks system. Most of the time this will be from a density /use change, subdivision, or re- platting. Each development would be looked at individually to determine whether additional PAC is warranted. RECOMMENDATION No action required this is an update from our March meeting. 1. Ordinance Amendment to Section 26 — 126 thru 130 Attachment 1 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT CONCERNING THE CITY PARK DEDICATION BY DEVELOPERS The Maplewood City Council approves the following revision to the Maplewood Code of Ordinances. (Additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out.) Chapter 26. Section 26 -126 thru 130 of the Maplewood Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as follows: Sec. 26 -126 — Purpose and intent. The purposes and intent of this division are to ensure the citizens of the city that additional open space for parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities will be the responsibility of every sort of eew development in the city, not just residential development, so that the city's vast amount of privately owned open spaces with potential for development are partially available for orderly park, recreation, and open space development ; to ensure that, in fact, such facilities will be provided; and to preserve, enhance and improve the qualities of the physical environment of the city for commercial and industrial uses or a combination thereof, regardless of whether such developments or subdivisions are within the context of chapter 34, which pertains to subdivisions. Sec, 26 -127 Required dedications generally. The developer of any tract of land in the city which is to be developed or redeveloped for commercial, residential, governmental, institutional or industrial or like uses shall dedicate to the public, for public use as parks, playgrounds or public open space, such portion of his /her development tract equal to 9 percent, with such portion to be reviewed annually in December. The percentage of the development tract to be so dedicated may be amended by resolution of the council. Sec. 26 -128 Delineation of dedicated area on preliminary plat or site plan. The actual area to be dedicated for public use as parks, playgrounds or public space pursuant to this division shall be delineated on the preliminary plat or site plan by the developer. Such plat or site plan shall be referred to the park and recreation commission for its scrutiny and report to the city council of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations, with this referral being in addition to any other referral to other commissions or committees. Sec. 26 -129 Revision of dedication If the city council, after receiving the report from the park and recreation commission and the planning commission, shall determine that such area delineated by the developer pursuant to section 26 -128 is unsuitable for such purposes, it may require the subdivider or developer to relocate or rearrange such area or to make such changes or revisions of the proposed dedication as it deems necessary; reasonable; and in the best interests of health, safety, general welfare and convenience of the city. Sec. 26 -130 Cash in lieu of dedication. 101 ;u1 , 0 1 (d) f0] The term "undeveloped land value" as used in this section shall be the market value of the subject land at the time of the application, and to be determined by the city council in its reasonable discretion. As a basis for its decision, the council may request a appraisal at the expense of the subdivider or developer for the purposes of determining such value. Such additional appraisal shall be obtained, if the council deems advisable, from an appraiser selected by the council. Thereafter, the council, with the aid of both appraisals, shall determine the "undeveloped land value'. In lieu of the dedication of land required for the purposes enumerated in the division, the city council may require the subdivider or developer to pay the city, as an equivalent contribution, an amount in cash equal to the product of the percentage of land required to be dedicated, multiplied be the undeveloped land value of the tract to be subdivided e+, developed or redeveloped Such cash payments shall be made to the city prior to the issuance of a building permit, fe-F All cash contributions received by the city are pursuant to this division shall be placed in a special fund and used only for the acquisition of land for parks, playgrounds, public space or the development of existing parks and playground sites, public open spaces and debt retirement in connection with land previously acquired for such public purposes. In cases of redevelopment, credit towards the park dedication due for such redevelopment shall be given for the actual amount of previous park dedication satisfied for the lots proposed. In the event that park dedication was previously satisfied for a larger land area than the lot or lots currently proposed for development, the previously satisfied park dedication amount shall be prorated on a per square foot basis to the lot or lots currently proposed for development. While credits may fully satisfy park dedication due, credits shall not result in refunds of park dedication previously paid. The Maplewood City Council approved this ordinance revision on Attest: Mayor City Clerk