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Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Packet 09-09-1993
Regular Meeting of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission September 9, 1993, 7:00 p.m. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes 3. Visitor Presentations a. Athletic Associations b. Staff - Mary C. Others 4. Report on Past Council Action a. b. c. 5. Unfinished Business a. Accessible playground update b. Community survey - continue discussion and review C. 1994-98 CIP discussion request to purchase 24 acres adjacent to French Park d. West Medicine Lake Park master plan update e. Lions Park/Birchview School update f. Equipment storage space update 6. New Business a. Study of unique open spaces - referred from City Council b. c. d. 7. Commission Presentation 8. Staff Communication 9. Adjournment Next regular PRAC meeting - Oct. 14 1 Minutes of the Park and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting July 8, 1993 Page 33 Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Mikula, Wahl, Johnson, Gutzke; staff Blank and Pederson Absent: Commissioners Burk and Watson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Council Chambers. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made Commissioner Mikula meeting as presented VISITOR PRESENTATIONS by Commissioner Wahl and to approve the minutes The motion carried with a. Athletic Associations. None were present. b. Staff. None were present. C. Others. None were present. REPORT ON PAST COUNCIL ACTION There was no past action to report on. UNFINISHED BUSINESS seconded by of the June all ayes. a. Review results of park and recreation survey - Pam Schomaker. Pam stated that 508 responses had been returned out of 752, which is a 68% return, and that is considered an- excellent response rate. Eight hundred total surveys were sent, with 48 coming back, due to people moving to other communities or states, or having incorrect addresses, etc. Pam went on to explain that with a 68% return, you can assume that 950 of the time, the answers given are within +4 or -4 in accuracy. Some interesting results of the survey were: 89% of the respondents want the City to continue controlling weeds in our parks, with 77% approving using chemicals, the highest attended activity is one-time special events, such as Music in Plymouth and the Fire and Ice Festival, followed closely by Concerts in the Park. Regarding what programs the City should offer more of, the number one answer was Concerts in the Park, followed by one-time special events. In reference to the activities done in Plymouth parks, the number one response was walking, followed closely by biking, and third was using children's playground equipment. Of the respondents who do not participate in our programs, 56% indicated that it was because they did not have the time. Eighty-eight percent feel that recreation programs are priced fairly. Regarding what, if any, improvements can be made in our parks, respondents want more satellites. In reference to PRAC Minutes/July 1993 Page 34 whether or not the City should build any new facilities, the number one response was trails, second was a nature preserve, third, a teen center, fourth, children's outdoor playground and fifth, an outdoor pool. Director Blank indicated that a study session with the Council is scheduled for July 19, and the results of the survey will be reviewed with them at that time. Director Blank asked Pam to cross tabulate some of the responses, such as what three (highest) activities the respondents participate in when they go outside the City. Director Blank also requested that PRAC review the survey over the next couple of weeks, looking for other results they might want cross -tabulated, so that Pam can do them all at once. b. Accessible playground update. Requests for Proposal are being sent out to playground manufacturers. C. West Med Park master plan update. This project is still in the information gathering phase, and the consultant is contacting a variety of different agencies such as Hennepin Parks, the City of Medicine Lake, the DNR, the Watershed District, etc. d. 1994-98 CIP discussion. Director Blank reviewed the items proposed for 1994 and stated that although park development has been identified for Seven Ponds and Cardinal Ridge, we still do not own all of the property. Some of the other projects include the replacement of four neighborhood park playgrounds, Plymouth Creek tennis/basketball court, a fishing dock at Medicine Lake, a contract for deed payment on the park land located north of County Road 9 and West of 494. Director Blank explained that the Council authorized the park replacement fund in 1989, and that it was funded with monies from the park maintenance budget and the park dedication account (which consists of community playfields/trails fund and neighborhood parks fund). It is an interest earning fund, and it will grow each year. The fund was established with the hope that only the interest earned would be spent. Last year, the Council authorized a transfer of $2,000,000 into the fund. Commissioner Gutzke asked if PRAC should recommend the start of a teen center fund for 1996? Director Blank responded that funding a teen center could come from three possible sources, a bond referendum, community improvement funds, or park dedication funds. Other items to consider that have not been included in the CIP is the relocation and renovation of the old log cabin on County Road 6, a skateboard area, moving the disc golf course, additional parking at Zachary, a permanent shelter building. at Ridgemount Playfield, a PRAC Minutes/July 1993 Page 35 teen center, senior center, outdoor pool and golf course. Director Blank suggested that PRAC might consider using focus groups on some of the items ranked high in the survey. Director Blank asked that PRAC review the results of the survey when further considering the 94-98 CIP. A resident wrote to Director Blank requesting that some play equipment be installed in Oakview Pond Park. This is a small, passive park located a couple of blocks from Gleanloch, which recently had its playground upgraded. e. Lions Park. The City Council recently heard the case against playing ball games at Lions Park. Director Blank indicated that some relief may come next year, because the Wayzata School District will permit Sunset Hill Elementary to be used. This could reduce the games at Lions Park to one per night, with none being scheduled on Saturdays. The small parking lot at Lions will also be striped, allowing cars to park more evenly, thus permitting a few more cars access to the lot. 14th Avenue has been signed "no parking" on the north side of the street. NEW BUSINESS a. Athletic Association equipment storage It was suggested by the Council that PRAC form a sub -committee to come up with ways to solve the storage problems for the athletic associations currently using the sheds at Oakwood. Director Blank said that he would continue to research the issue and report back to PRAC. Commissioner Gutzke suggested that if a permanent shelter is built at Ridgemount, it could be made large enough to provide storage. He thought another possibility would be to include storage space when the City Center is expanded. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATION None. STAFF COMMUNICATION Director Blank stated that approximately 5,000 to 6,000 people attended Music in Plymouth. The regular meeting in August will be cancelled unless something comes up. It's possible that a special meeting could be called in late August to discuss the West Medicine Lake Park project with neighboring residents. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. CITY OF PLYMOUTH 3400 PLYMOUTH BOULEVARD, PLYMOUTH, MN 55447 DATE: September 3, 1993 TO: PRAC FROM: Eric J. Blank, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET Representatives of the Save French Woodlands Association will be present at the Park Commission meeting to request the inclusion of funding for the acquisition of this property in the 1994-98 capital improvement budget. I believe you have all received the enclosed letter from Bob Donnley with regard to this subject. Bob tells me that he intends to contact each of you in an effort to provide you an opportunity to walk the property prior to Thursday's meeting. I would encourage each of you to visit the property either with Bob, or by yourself. I believe there are two basic questions which PRAC should consider with regard to this request. Question #1 - Is it in the best interest of the entire community of Plymouth to acquire this 24 acres of property? You will note later on the agenda the City Council has requested that PRAC do a study of unique open spaces and rank them throughout the entire community to determine if there are other sites which should be considered for acquisition also. Question #2 - if you conclude that it is appropriate for the City to acquire this property, you must then address the amount of funding and the source of that funding. Our latest timetable indicates that PRAC needs to finalize its CIP work by the November meeting. np enclosure To: Members, Park & Recreation Advisory Commission Eric Blank, Director - Plymouth Park & Rec. From: Save French Wetlands & Woodlands Assoc. Date: August 13,1993 Subject: Request to be Included on the September 9th Advisory Commission Agenda for Plymouth's Park & Rec. 5 -Year Capital Improvement Plan - CIP Save French Wetlands & Woodlands Association requests the City of Plymouth to establish a 26 acre nature preserve. This property is located on the east side of French Regional Park in Plymouth and is owned by Mission Partnership of Wayzata. This property has an abundance of natural resources that should be preserved for the enjoyment by Plymouth residents. The 26 acres contains: about 15 acres of wetlands, a mature hardwood forest, steep slopes and excellent habitat for diverse wildlife. This property will offer park visitors a centrally located secluded area from which to observe natures beauty and learn of her lessons. Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners have recognized the value of property by offering to revise their master plan to include this parcel within the boundary of French Park. Due to budget constraints, Hennepin Parks is not able to purchase this land on it's own. Our Association believes the best way to purchase this property is through a cooperative effort. This effort would bring together Hennepin Parks, City of Plymouth and Save French Wetlands & Woodlands. To facilitate the negotiation of the purchase our Association has been in contact with the "Trust for Public Land". The Trust will determine a reasonable market price and negotiate an acceptable price. Through their non-profit status the Trust can offer the owner a tax benefit on the sale of the property to the Trust. An appraisal of the property will be the first step in the purchase process. This will be done by the Trust and should be completed within the next 6 weeks. Once the appraisal is complete, the City's financial commitment can be better estimated. At the present time, we ask that,this project be included in the City's five year CIP and that no financial comment be recommended until a market based price is established. We encourage each of you to take the time to walk the property. By walking the property you will realize why this parcel is unique and should be preserved for future generations. We would be glad to assist by having someone walk with you. We will be calling to find out if you would like a guided tour of the property. Enclosed is a map of the area showing it's relationship to French Park and to the City of Plymouth. If you need further information please call any of the following: Bob Donley (553-1344), Rita O'Donnell (553-0971), Mike Ricci (559- 1041) . Thank you for your time and consideration on this important community issue. cc Hennepin Parks Board of Commissioners Plymouth City Council Trust for Public Land i proposed planLCMI o mission p.u.d. -Mdunm WETLANDS DATA John C. Anderson 7421 Franklin Avenue West St. Louis Park, PCI 55426 March 19, 1993 Mr. John Aehoe Planning Department City of Plymouth 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 J7,113 n1 1,90OV z6 tiss3 cjMY 0 p Eo votiPt MUNIZY OE Subject: Wetland Delineation Report Mission Ridge Residential Development E 1/2 of NE 1/4 of SW 1/4 Section #17, T118,R22 Dear Mr. Fehoe, I, John Anderson, WETLANDS DATA, delineated and documented wetlands on the subject property on November 11, 1992 by agreement with Baton, Inc. Minneapolis, MN. Documentation of the wetland boundary was subsequently provided to Baton, Inc. and Anderson -Johnson, Inc., Golden Valley, MN. The property is located south of 41st Ave. S. and east of Jonquil Lane in Plymouth. Dan Johnson of Anderson -Johnson, Inc. has requested that I re -format this information and provide an assessment of project impacts, regulatory ramifications and compensatory mitigation measure. Please find this information in the remainder of this statement. METHODOLOGY Wetlands were identified and delineated using the Federal Manual for.Identifving and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands (Interagency Task Force on Wetland Delineation, 1989) and the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1987). Revisions to the former method have been proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are currently under review. Pending the adoption of these revisions, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is applying the 1987 Corps Wetland Delineation Manual. The wetland basins were classified according to the methodologies set forth in Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (FWS/OBS Publication 79/31; Cowardin et al. 19790) and Wetlands of the United States(USFWS Circular 29; Shaw and Fredine 1971). L PU6VC bTcccY _{-- 71 1.1'i i March 5, 1993 Plymouth City Council City of Plymouth, Minnesota 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 To Whom It May Concern: It has come to my attention that a certain parcel of land in Plymouth is being considered for development. This would be a terrible mistake. I was 15 years old when my family moved to Plymouth from New Hope. I remember enjoying the beautiful woods behind my parents house where my brother and I and many friends loved to explore and generally have a great time. I also remember walking back there by myself many times, in all seasons, just to spend time by myself --I even did homework in a tree in those woods! I have always appreciated nature, animals and the "great outdoors". Since moving to California eight years ago after graduating from college) I have come to appreciate these things even more. My husband and I live 30 miles east of Los Angeles and I never stop telling him, and anyone else interested, that the last thing this world needs is more development of our lands! ANY land. I wish all Minnesotans could come and live here for awhile --they 'would so appreciate the space, clean air, quiet, and normalcy of Minneapolis and the rest of their state. They would also, hopefully, learn from the gross mistakes in growth management" that have been made here. It's no secret among those that know me that I would move back to Minneapolis in a heartbeat if given the chance due to these many simple but precious pleasures. Please don't allow money and the temporal satisfaction of some development company to destroy what can NEVE be replaced. I admit that I now live in an exceptionally fast-growing, overcrowded area of the country but what happened here can happen anywhere. Overdevelopment and uncontrolled growth create many problems, most of which I'm sure you're aware. But the most tragic result is the permanent loss of land, wildlife, and the natural order of each and every delicate ecosystem. I'm sure the most graphic evidence of this type of destruction is still fresh in your minds from the recent newscasts. The floods that Southern California experiences every year are a direct result of over -development and abuse not use) of the land. The natural infrastructure of trees and other vegetation has been stripped out, therefore h Qp, <, I,,, } 1992q°: k srE`' "CONCEPT PLAN --- j 1 : k' a lf•. , u/l+/'. era ••• 5 Y_ - `. 1-7 Mu•• li: aeu e n n. tro ... ......... . w v..uaiw ae• oe uiu ..n.e[ ...w w ... ....F... s: ENOTES THE GRADING LIMITS FOR TREES DENOTES THE EDGE '--- OF THE WETLAND AND PONDING Iv DENOTES THE GRADING DENOTES THE BUILDING LIMITS FOR TREES ITE3PADS - T I,itl T i t a p L r' 1ai' 1 1 I / / // I I II , ' , i 1 .• II _ — ' 3 i _.-- c _• _ ________7____-__._ •.ur. __ ____ __ _.. 1 ipt/ 3 ! i :::'. .. :` _ s4?-:-ra ..M .. '.::t>'az:;:. t' U a 33 711; - i •' :: : ;fi$%` ::;3i!E::.:.: v.`f;:Li:' : //1/. I I - 1 Tom:•• ".• .if':' — __ r•u• // //6 1 I I 1 i i: ::S.y T`':.::::_.:'' .Qa7`•e •t•y yiwo''.nW•:::,• 1, i 1• • '•i•". iiaT•._ i r i o .:• wOF THE ET""- PONDING II AREA OF TREE SURVEY SHOWN BELOW. TREE COUNT 195 25 OUTLOT © p 75 TREES p p 0 p O 00 O UFV G+ cT. O a II AREA OF TREE SURVEY SHOWN BELOW. TREE COUNT 195 25 OUTLOT © p 75 TREES p p 0 p O 00 O UFV as O a 99 p 29 33 23 21 II AREA OF TREE SURVEY SHOWN BELOW. TREE COUNT 195 25 OUTLOT © p 75 TREES p p 0 p O 00 O 1994-98 CIP DRAFT, 6-25-93 Project/Year Balance 6/1/93 MSA Community Playfields/ Trails 218 Neighborhood Parks Grants T.I.F. C.I.F. Park Replace. Fund TOTAL 1994 10th playfield acquisition 450 000 450P0 Replace 4 nb park plygmds 1 200,000 200,000 W Med Park road and acq. 1,500,000 1 500 000 Ply Creek tennis/basketball 350,000 350,000 Gleason Elem playground 10,000 10,000 Medicine Lake fishing dock 29,000 28,000 Trails 1-0-0-10-0-0- 100,000 200,000 Seven Ponds n hhd park dev 120,000 120,000 Cardinal Ride nei hbad park 185,000 185,000 Contract payment SE ark 36,000 36,000 Transfer to park replace fund 0 25.000 11.000 0 0 36,000 Total 1994 100,000 539 000 526,000 1,500,0W 450 000 3.115.OW 1) Timber Shores, Mission Hills, Schmidt Lake, Hemlock Project/Year Balance 6/1/93 MSA Community Playiields/ Trails 218 Neighborhood Parks Grants T.I.F. C.I.F. Park Replace. Fund TOTAL 1995 West Med Park Phase II 500,000 500,000 Trails 100,000 100,0001 200,000 Phase I develop la field 1-1-50-0-10-0-0- 11 -50 -0 -10 -0 -0 - 500 000LastLastcontractpayment (KSE park) 38,000 38,000 Trnsfer to park replace fund 26 000 11,000 37,000 Playground equip. replace. 1 0 0 100,0001 100.000 Total 1995 100,000 626.000 149,000 1,500MO 2,375,000 1996 Trails 100 000 200,000 300,000 Transfer to park replace fund 27,000 11,000 38,000 Park lacement work 0 0 0 100.000 100 000 Total 1996 100,000 227,000 11,000 100,000 1438,000 1997 Trails 100,000. 200,000 300,000 Neighborhood Park 175,000 17-510-0-0- 75 000PhasePhaseIIdeveloplafield70-010-0-0- 700,000 Transfer to park replace fund 27,000 12,000 39 000 Park replacement work Q 0 I Q Q 100.000 Total 1997 100, 227,0001 187.50-61$700,000 100,000 100,000 1,314,000 1) East Beach, Maplecreek Project/Year Community Playfields/ Neighborhood Balance 6/1/93 MSA Trails 218 Parks Grants T.I.F. C.I.F. Park Replace. Fund TOTAL 1998 Trails 10-0-10-0-0- 200,000 300 000 Transfer to park replace fund 28,000 12,000, 40,000 Park mplacement work 0 0 0 100,000 100.000 Total 1998 $100,000 $228,000 $12,000 100,000 440,000 Draft 6-28-93 218 219 Park City Parks Neighborhood Replacement Playfields & Trails Parks Fund Jan 1, 1993 Balance 2,172,425 1993 Est. Revenue 1,592,576 469,399 177,621 1993 Expenses 985.250 66.000 0 12-31-93 Est. Bal. 607,326 403,399 2,350,046 1994 Est. Revenue 420,000 180,000 189,502 1994 Est. Expenses 539.000 526,000 0 12-31-94 Est. Bal. 488,326 57,399 2,539,548 1995 Est. Revenue 420,000 180,000 200,977 1995 Ext. Expenses 626.000 149.000 0 12-31-95 Est. Bal. 282,326 188,399 2,740,525 1996 Est. Revenue 350,000 150,000 219,877 1996 Est. Expenses 227.000 11,000 100.000 12-31-96 Est. Bal. 405,326 227,399 2,860,402 1997 Est. Revenue 350,000 150,000 221,020 1997 Est. Expenses 227.000 187.000 100.000 12-31-97 Est. Bal. 528,326 190,399 2,981,422 1998 Est. Revenue 350,000 150,000 229,071 1998 Est. Expenses 228.000 12.000 100.000 12-31-98 Est. Bal. 328,399 3,110,493 PAVILION CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 1993 SUNDAY MONDAY T[IF.SDAY WFnmpglAY THURSnev UTnAV Sn TTTnnAV 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 LABOR DAY 10:15-11 FFT HOLIDAY 11:15-12 P/P 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 10-11:30 ART 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:15-12:15 PTD 10:15-11 FFT 8-3 PM 11:15-12 P/P JOANN BRANDT 1-2:30 ART 540-4065 6:15-9 CHELSEA BILL O'LOUGHLIN 473-2329 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:15-12:15 PTD 10:15-11 FFT 11:15-12 P/P 26 27 28 29 30 10-6 ART FAIR 9:30-11:30 SC 9:30-10:30 MWO 9:30-10:30 MWO 10:15-11 FFT 11:15-12 P/P 12-4:30 HENN CO CORRECTIONS 475-4288 (SUE) w" alleela0 aaavlee pnc6f to, I lAalenwrelnCn. JUN 2 11991 Natural sites chosen for preservation Ry baeld Usislens" a';. Ch rbmf 7V, Otto M Eden Pmkrie llave been selabd mast "w" P"'d n"ropVt'• — and Oks Road N .*A of preaervalfon as Ireturol site Oelleovertmlit Re ge, andValleyWildlifeRefuge, and b area".a711! city's Netanl Resmrcm midered a gold eumpb uf oek-savelmek paWe, a nativeAYGxnm{Ilee cit nall ee eelecled examPI" punt a mmun{ty. The Riley Cm-ek Woods, abort pr"hie slat forest from alllong b aa imvl est of bel andeeeenRustislsforacityguns mol p,,,mtion pmgmm. I---IA7'e page 7fie two recmnmelded 80" htVSERVA710N: t Y'Oen fK&I rates Preservation: Debate Fnmi page IA amount of money referendum Stuart Fox, the city's natural voters will accept, and they Turnbull roads, in the Riley chose to recommend the two Creek valley. The woods is a areas considered least remnant of "Big Woods," native expensive. hardwood forest dominated by To me, that would be an ab hardwood trees. solute tragedy, that we had this If the Eden Prairie City Cour- opportunity to buy this properly cil approves, voters will decide for preservation for hundreds of in a Nov,. 4.rekrendum whetbLT years, and we got Lao greedy to spend tax money to buy the and we lost everything;' said properly. A referendum for $2 committee member Glenn million to $3 million was sug- Olson. gashed, but land prices are not Pleas to save Mitchell sal. Woods came from committee A notable absence on the members who are also recommended list is the Mil- members of the Eden Prairie chell Lake Woods, a 40 -acre Land Trust, a citizens' nature parcel of Big Woods south of Preservation group formed in Mitchell lake that is the subject reaction to development of a year-long preservation Pressure. The Mitchell Lake Woods isdebate. Along with the Peterson property — a 190 -acre bluffs up against it right raw," said area northeast of Highway Land Trust member Howard 169212 and the Chanhassen Kaertver'property owner border — the Mitchell Lake Tandem Corp. and builder Woods made it to a list of four Centex Homes are planning finalists, but was culled pr mart- housing development there, and ly bee use of cost, have sought rezoning for an The city'scurrent capital ion- 11-101 project that will encroach provern plan esLLs fora $2.a on the forst. mdhon referendum in [996 for It's the closest thing we have land preservation. H that to a climax forest here, and the referendum is merely moved to cleeesl thing we're going to have 1993 for the sake of urgency and in a hundred years to a climax the cost kept within that range, forest," Kaerwer said. A climax it would he easier to "sell" to forest is an nnusual self- voters,mid Bob Lambert, direc- sustaining canmunily of for of parks, recreation and mature trees, usually natural resources. dominated by one w a few Most committee members species - agreed there are Omits to the We're giving up a very weighed quality, cost of sites significant site," said Land Stuart Fox, the city's natural to purchase additional preserve Trust member Scott Wallace, resources manager, said skep- land• arguing for the MichelTake tical city officials will monitor The Imal four sites were selected from an original list ofWoods's historical and educa- tional "Inc. the development closely to see that Centex follows its plan W 40 over several months. Seven Others argued it would make save 66 percent of Mitchell fake sites remained on the list last sense to save one example of Woods trees. "I guarantee you, week, but the city learned that Prairie, at the Charlson site, and there are a lot of eyes watching three sites in southeast Eden one example of forest, at the what's going on out there," Fox Prairie are expected to be Pur - Riley Creek Woods, but not two said. chased to expand the Minnesota examples of forest. Some committee members valley Wildlife Refuge. The debate over development favored a fount choice, the Dar- Lambert judged the referen- of Mitchell Lake Woods may ril Peterson property, as a third Ain a "lough sell," even trough count against it when it comes runner-up over Mitchell Lake a recent poll showed 75 percent time for a referendum vote, said Woods. The Peterson land, ris- of city residents support buying committee member David ing in a bluff slope north of land for preservation. Kracum. He said some of his Highway 169212 and west of But with development neighbors are siding with Dell (toad, was rated lower for spading up in southwestern developers in the debate, and natural features but high for its Eden Prairie, untouched sites say developers have been potential as a scenic overlook of will not last long lambert said. treated badly. the Minnesota River valley. I think, quite frankly, folks, Mitchell Lake Woods develop. In the end, the committee you've got one shot, because if ment has been delayed while the decided to recommend two sitesYou lase it, you can't come committee and City Council but advise the City Council to back;' he said. make their preservation take any possible action to A report on the pawl's June 16 choices. But Lambert mid a pro- preserve the other two, or pre- decision is expected to be ap- posal to build homes in the re- vent damage from proved on Wednesday, June 23, mining 30 acres of Mitchel development. then reviewed by several other Lake Woods could be eepecled Land Trust members urged committees before the Eden within a year, if it is not chosen the committee W recommend Prairie City Council makes its for preservation. federal funding or other grants decision ASNNLS,ORILL!/1 UNAILOR HeDWOU Co. JUN 21993 PROPOSED SOUTHSHORE SENOR COMMUNITY CENTER may. 1 MFlsll• T .lE , j 1 + , 1 1 O e'.'j 1" Myrrvsc 1 to v 0 ! H 1 I I 1 1 I 1 I tot58Y I 1cr- r z U LIBRAR I ) t C L C \ 1 1 aeecr/ j It C O 1 C L C 4 & CAr OfrIL I vex I1 iD ---- r'-- IIj I Drawings unveiled The two archiledur'al drawings of a proposed Sadhshore Senior Center were unveiled last week at aBlueplateSpecial" fundraiser at the Excelsior Park Tavern. Nick Ruehl of Eos Architecture in Excelsiordeedthebuilding, which if approved by area city councils would contain 7,5W square feet of space. The building is proposed for land near Shorewood City Hall. Shorewood would donate the lend. TheSouthshoreSenorCentercurrentlyleasesspaceInMLClavaryluthemnChurchinExcelsior. Officialsandseniorstheresaytheyneedabuildingoftheirowninordertoathactmoreseniorstotheircenter. Incomingmonths, a task fora set up to propose the new building will be lobbying acre city councils to ap- prove the construction project. SIHIREVIBW /ARUEN HILLS FOCUS Ramsay Co. AN 151993 Indoor playground, gym to be 1 incluQed in proposed family center SHELBY NIcol.Aus-DuNSK1 Plans for a proposed family service center in New Brighton 'span beyond space for early childhood pro- grams. Its will be able to work out, see a play or concert performance or grab a snack in the proposed facility. 1'hc New Brighton City Council agreed to move ahead with plans last week by authorizing a $4,000 expenditure for soil testing on the sile. The city has so far authorized up to $7,000 be spent for the preliminary design of the building. The building is proposed to be constructed on City - owned property at the northeast comer of 10111 Sired and Old Highway 8 by the city and Mounds View School District. 711c joint effort is proposing to use $900,000 of motm- ey approved through a district bond referendum and ear- marked for improvements at the Ralph R. Reeder Com- munity Education Center, at the northwest corner of 100h and Old Highway 8. The Reeder Center houses ear- ly childhood programs. Amenities in the proposed two-story building are the following: Parks and Recreation Department offices on the first flour; about 1,000 square feet of space for occupational dhempy; the district's l'sarly Childhood Family Education pro - grain; awcong rooms; a stall singe; a gymnasium on the fust floor and locker monis; a 4,800 -square -foot indoor playground on the first Boor with the wall facing outside primarily made of windows; a running track on the second floor, built overlook - ung the pace for Norand thwest Youth and Family Services tNYFS); If the proposal is approved, con- struction could begin by late August. "It's fast -tracked in part by the architect and the construc- tion firm but it's do -able." Maurice Anderson and a lean lounge and snack bar. We think were getting petty close to some comen- sus on how to building would look and how it would work" Parks and Recreation Director Maurice Ander- son said. "We've pushed and pulled and tugged and massaged every idea he's (consultant Jim O'Brien) IIA,. The city is proposing NYFS purchase its space or lease it if it is a smaller square footage. The city is waiting for school board actio — June 28 is the earliest the board could vote. 1 think we're close to an agreement." Anderson said. If the proposal is approved, construction could begin by late August, he said. "It's fast -tracked in pan by the architect and the construction firm but it's do -able: The timeline also lakes advantage of a lull in the con- struction season which puts the city in a better bargain- ing position, Council Member Roger Williams said. The center is one of duee projects on fine to redevelop downtown New Brighton. The city is negotiating with Roulual Co., Stony lake Properties and the New Brighton Care Center for con- struction projects. Rottlund is proposing to build 76 townhouse units on the southwest Comer of 10th Street and Fifth Avenue. The Care Center is proposing an expansion just sunlit) of that property. Both projects are planned for spring 1994. Stony Lakes is proposing to begin building the New Brighton Business Center on % the southeast comer of 10th and Fifth this fall. e JUN 2 um 19 a oods advocates `disappointed A committee's decision favoring two southwestern Eden Prairie sites for city purchase has some preser- vation advocates "disap- pointed," according to an Eden Prairie Land Trust leader. The Land Trust was form- ed last year in reaction to imminent housing develop- ment in the Mitchell Lake Woods, a "Big Woods„ native forest remnant. The city's Natural Resources Study Committee last week chose a prairie remnant on the Minnesota River bluffs and another Big Woods rem- nant on Riley Creek for . preservation over the better- known Big Woods. We've put a lot of effort Into it, and there's a lot of emotion involved," said Bet- ty McMahon, president of the Land Trust. But the blow may be softened because there are "two excellent pro - parties' m line for preserva- tion, depending on the results o[ a vole by residents on property purchase, said McMahon. Land Trust members decided from the beginning that their preservation goals would include other sites, not just Mitchell Lake Woods, said McMahon. There is still a "window" to preserve the property, but nota large one, she said. Planned construction in a portion of the woods has been delayed for nearly a year in various City Council and committee decisions. Currently, developers Tandem Corp. and Centex Homes have agreed to await the city's final choices for land preservation before moving ahead with housing that will use about 4 acres of the forest. More than 30 acres of Mit- chell fake Woods will re- main, but that land is also slated for housing and owners have paid assessments on streets and utilities expecting to recoup costs through development. The Land Trust will meet next on July 21 to plan strategy, said McMahon. Because of its non-profit status, it may have to form a separate political action committee to campaign for a city referendum, she said. The Land Trust has asked Tandem Corp. to consider sale of Mitchell property at a reduced price to reap tax benefits. The group may also help form a regional land trust with a similar Washington County organization and others, McMahon said. MN11 CLI IMO fE11VICE t f;UF.N YRAIRIF. SUN -SAILOR Hennepin Co. JUN 2 um 19 a oods advocates `disappointed A committee's decision favoring two southwestern Eden Prairie sites for city purchase has some preser- vation advocates "disap- pointed," according to an Eden Prairie Land Trust leader. The Land Trust was form- ed last year in reaction to imminent housing develop- ment in the Mitchell Lake Woods, a "Big Woods„ native forest remnant. The city's Natural Resources Study Committee last week chose a prairie remnant on the Minnesota River bluffs and another Big Woods rem- nant on Riley Creek for . preservation over the better- known Big Woods. We've put a lot of effort Into it, and there's a lot of emotion involved," said Bet- ty McMahon, president of the Land Trust. But the blow may be softened because there are "two excellent pro - parties' m line for preserva- tion, depending on the results o[ a vole by residents on property purchase, said McMahon. Land Trust members decided from the beginning that their preservation goals would include other sites, not just Mitchell Lake Woods, said McMahon. There is still a "window" to preserve the property, but nota large one, she said. Planned construction in a portion of the woods has been delayed for nearly a year in various City Council and committee decisions. Currently, developers Tandem Corp. and Centex Homes have agreed to await the city's final choices for land preservation before moving ahead with housing that will use about 4 acres of the forest. More than 30 acres of Mit- chell fake Woods will re- main, but that land is also slated for housing and owners have paid assessments on streets and utilities expecting to recoup costs through development. The Land Trust will meet next on July 21 to plan strategy, said McMahon. Because of its non-profit status, it may have to form a separate political action committee to campaign for a city referendum, she said. The Land Trust has asked Tandem Corp. to consider sale of Mitchell property at a reduced price to reap tax benefits. The group may also help form a regional land trust with a similar Washington County organization and others, McMahon said. YMa CLVPINO SEIIVICE l HASTINGS STAR GAEErrE dsaols Ca. MAY 2 7 1993 Frisbee golf course proposed for Southwest Ponding -Basin SUMMARY'. A Hustings MSI - dent Is hoping that his nelaW bots won't reject his Idea of putting In a FripFrisbeegolfcourse In the Southwest Ponding Basin. The Idea Is supported by the city's Natural Resources and Recreation Commission, which wants to find col whet kind of neighborhood support there Is for the Iles before approving IL by David Welch atoll writerGiveChades Cadwell a Pds- bee, some open space and some- thing to aim at, and he will be a happy man. There all Cadwell is seting from his neighbors neer the city's southwest Ponding Basin where he has proposed putting in a Frisbee golf course. According to Cadwell, the come would be made up of 12 'holes' with the average length per hole being 300 feet. NRRC The City's Natural Resource and Recreation Commission Sup - porta Cadwelre idea, but would notgranteppmval of hie planuntil it found out how the neighborhood meidrnte Wt: strut the idea. Tf the mighborbood doesn't mind, how. ever, the NRRC to behind the plan wholeheartedly. it would be a ogot pmieet to start rrith; exp aiae C Chairperson Lynn Moretxko. 'It wouldn'tbepermment, atk+estfor the fust year. And the cost for doing it world be reel minimal. Like less than $600 for the whole mune" The course, which would be nothing more than stakes placed in the ground to signal where the holes were located, would go 1, around the Southwest Pending Basin, located south of Hawn I Homs. Players would travel the i coarse Mssing P ishees, trying to get them an chain, to the stakes an rible and totaling up the neon- bar of lasses, or strokes, it took to get near the stake. The mune would not effect the natural ending of the park, some- thingteeidento near the perk haw expresnedin thepostss important when park proposals haw been brought up. The Frisbee golf course would beno mom ora strain on the natural area than people already walking their dogs in the ponding heeds or other people driving golf bi a into WCadwell, who awn lobbied to have this story held until he could mntnrt neiohf rs in the arra about his plan, said a friend is writing a petition letter to send to people to the neighborhood. He added that he wants to first contact People who may be initial- ly opposed to the idea to alleviate any teen they may have about the plan. It makes sense to me to talk to the people who em apprsaed to it Drst," CedweD said, "beesuee if I need 100 paiwnt of the neighbor- hood behind me, or if I need the people who have homes right next. to the ponding tannin. rat going to need their support before I can do anything.' Cadwell also said the sport of Friaboa golf is s popciareport, and not Just among teens. He explained that more than 60 percent of the people actively involved in the sport ars 26 and older. A Frisbee golf player for the past 12 years, Cadwell said the sport in growa H by about 20 percent a year, lnd there en 11 Frisbee golf manes in the metro mea. The two closest eouroes em at North Valley Park at 70th Street and Cahill Road in Inver Grove Heights, and at Ifaposis Park at Buller and Minnesota Highway 3 in'%ith SL Paul. JUL 0 7 1993 New Hope Community center scuttled By Jennifer Francis After more than three Years of research, the New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission recom- mended June 28 that a proposed community center not be con- structed in New Hope at this time. The Citizen Advisory Com- mission made the recommenda- tion to the New Hope City Coun- cil based on a March survey of New Hope residents, in which 89 percent of the respoodeMs were opposed to the construction of a commudly center. The commission proposed, however, that the city work with the staff at North Ridge Car Center to determine if space in a new Adult Day Care Center at 55th and Boocan be made available for senior citizen meeting space. The commissim recom- mended reco- mended that New Hope's Parks and Recreation Department continue to work with Robbins - dale District 2111 to determine whether the school district can gyallot m space to the New Hope Athletic Association at ressaable rates. Significant negative feelings have existed between the city and the school district for a number of years, said Roger Lindy, chairman of the CitizenAdvisoryCommission. Il seems to me that the school district isn't playing fair with m," Landy said. District 201 has charged New Hope between $20 and $25 an hour for use of gymnasium space, while other government - funded buildings usually can be retained for between 27 and $10wandho, he said. Landy said he hopes the com- mission's report gets the negative feelings art In the open and "lets the school district know that they can't play with WI. We've been banging on the door of District 281 for a long tine," Councilmember Peter Enck said. "This report and the research done by the commis- sion will be an excellent vehicle usCareto e to bug them." Erick said the report should Wilmotne weIhold a significant ammt Of ght to confront and deal with problems the city has had with the school district. The district has made unrealistic canceling at the last moment of city and park and recreation eventsso they can do n what they want to," he said. In addition to proposed Naw Hop lGordan VMay Sun*PW—Wad., July 7, U93 -23A Most I siti-vey respotndents objected agreements with Nash Ridge and District 2111, the commission recommended that the $2 million in tax increment funds that the city could obtain to finance the construction be utilized in other means. hn- provements to Civic Center Park, including ball fields, ten- nis courts, volleyball carats, theater building and'demolitlon of the old five station were suggested. . The commission started discussing the need for a com- munity center in early 1990. By 1992, it decided that the dectsioa of whether or not to build a center should be left to the citizens of New Hope. The commission had five fawn meetings and sent out a survey in the city newsletter. Ali but two of the meetings were spe_rs ely allmided, and only 3.5 the community center would Mxa C""""NO sell t NEW NOPE—GOLDEN ceder would in - dal creased the taxes of the average VALLEY SUN -POST New Hope homeowrns• by about 18 a year, according to city Hennepin CO. JUL 0 7 1993 New Hope Community center scuttled By Jennifer Francis After more than three Years of research, the New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission recom- mended June 28 that a proposed community center not be con- structed in New Hope at this time. The Citizen Advisory Com- mission made the recommenda- tion to the New Hope City Coun- cil based on a March survey of New Hope residents, in which 89 percent of the respoodeMs were opposed to the construction of a commudly center. The commission proposed, however, that the city work with the staff at North Ridge Car Center to determine if space in a new Adult Day Care Center at 55th and Boocan be made available for senior citizen meeting space. The commissim recom- mended reco- mended that New Hope's Parks and Recreation Department continue to work with Robbins - dale District 2111 to determine whether the school district can gyallot m space to the New Hope Athletic Association at ressaable rates. Significant negative feelings have existed between the city and the school district for a number of years, said Roger Lindy, chairman of the CitizenAdvisoryCommission. Il seems to me that the school district isn't playing fair with m," Landy said. District 201 has charged New Hope between $20 and $25 an hour for use of gymnasium space, while other government - funded buildings usually can be retained for between 27 and $10wandho, he said. Landy said he hopes the com- mission's report gets the negative feelings art In the open and "lets the school district know that they can't play with WI. We've been banging on the door of District 281 for a long tine," Councilmember Peter Enck said. "This report and the research done by the commis- sion will be an excellent vehicle usCareto e to bug them." Erick said the report should Wilmotne weIhold a significant ammt Of ght to confront and deal with problems the city has had with the school district. The district has made unrealistic canceling at the last moment of city and park and recreation eventsso they can do n what they want to," he said. In addition to proposed Naw Hop lGordan VMay Sun*PW—Wad., July 7, U93 -23A Most I siti-vey respotndents objected agreements with Nash Ridge and District 2111, the commission recommended that the $2 million in tax increment funds that the city could obtain to finance the construction be utilized in other means. hn- provements to Civic Center Park, including ball fields, ten- nis courts, volleyball carats, theater building and'demolitlon of the old five station were suggested. . The commission started discussing the need for a com- munity center in early 1990. By 1992, it decided that the dectsioa of whether or not to build a center should be left to the citizens of New Hope. The commission had five fawn meetings and sent out a survey in the city newsletter. Ali but two of the meetings were spe_rs ely allmided, and only 3.5 the community center wouldSmofthe,8,597 households, in New Hope responded to the have come from the city's generalfund. The annual oppee The majoritymajority d those who op- ceder would in - dal creased the taxes of the average posed the community center cited high taxes and the need to . New Hope homeowrns• by about 18 a year, according to city cut expenses. Many senior citizens said they couldn'taffod officials. New Hope city officials Increased taxes migimpy hoped that the old fire The cost of a proposed corn. :, station could be used for a com- Moulty center was editnated at mnmity center, but they later3.5 million. The city, however, learned that the building would only has sz million in tax [acre- need extensive remodeling. meat financing available, an another $1.5 million would have had to come from a referendum. I think all the people want to have a community center ins long as it doesn't cost them any money," Mayor Ed Erickson said. The estimated $150,000 annual cost of staffing and operating The proposed construction sitewastohavebeenonthecityhag campus, west of the swimming pool and northwest of the new fire station. Components of the proposed community center were to include gym space with a walling track, meeting rooms for community groups and aerobics -dance room for parks and recreation instructional classes, a kitrdren facility and g. large multi-Purpese room. JUL 71993 Community center fills void on east sideforever " she said By Mark Johnston Coon" „Furl" "Awesome!' Great!" Those reviews came from four young critics who took time Out from making Rice Krispie Treats to comment on the new Northeast Neighborhood Com- munity Center in Bloomington. Based in several rooms of Minneapolis Lutheran High School at 82nd street and Park Avenue, the center opened two weeks ago with the help of a 5o,000 grant Iron Bloomington Citizens Crime Prevention Association. The grant was targeted for the violence prevention intiatives program facilitated by a cap- tion that includes the school district, the Bloomington - Richfield Family Center, Cor- nerstone Advocacy Service, the city of Bloomington, Storefront youth Action and Bloomington Education Center. The community center is targeting children ages 4-17 by providing a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, field trips, movies, cooking, games and sports, such as basketball, kickball and soccer. Wednesdays feature special guests who read to the children. Guests have included Police Chief Bob Lutz and Con- gressman Jim Ramstad. The children are supervised at all times by volunteer mothers and one father, so far). Older tudents also help out. Once children arrive at the center, they are required W stay udess permission to love is granted by a parent. The center is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday trough Friday, noon to 4 P.M. an Mondays, and 446 p.m. ou Sundays. Although the center Is design- ed to fill a recreational void for Children on the .east side of Bloomington, any child from anywhere is welcome to trop in, according to center coordinator Deborah Clark. Children are children," said Clark, who monitors a detention room at Olson Junior High School during the school year. We don't tum anyone away who needs a place to be." There appears to be plenty who need and want that place. Clark saidwhenthe Center open - Ed June 23, 10 children were registered. A week later, 65 children stowed up. That's fine with Clark. A single mother of tree — and Mom,, to toueands of other children who know her trough school — Clark said she im- mediately recognized the value of a place where children can fill their free time with fun and educational activities rather than trouble. We have been overwbelm- ied," she said. "I'm not surpris- j Ed because i live to the area. It's important to fill that void. If you ran catch children before senior high school and give them constructive things to do... I want them to know people One of those people is volunteer Julie Kaneakua, mother of six children, ages 5-14. Kaneakua said without the center, her children's time Might be spent on "nothing real constructive.' They've loved it. It's fit at of their categories," ershe said, laughing at how hshoes — covered with marshmallow fron the Rice Krispies creations were sticking to the Boor. We desperately need something like this on the east side." Kaneakua said an extra benefit for her — being a registered muse who has spent most of her summers working a busy schedule — is she gets to spend mine time with her fami- ly. she said the center also of- fers athletic activities in which she might not otherwise be able to afford to enroll her children. Ail Events at We center — in- cluding the field trips — are free. But the giant money, won't last forever. The center is scheduled to be open for to weeks. After that, Clark said she doesn't know what will happen, aldunigh she hopes the center will survive somewhere to offer activities to children on the weekends and off days during the school year. My dream is that there would be money to (wild a center where we could be there BlBloomington City Council Member Lee Krueger — who is helping establish a night basket- ball league for the older kids at the center — said it money was an object, that would be an ex- cellent goal. However, with tight belts prevalent everywhere, Krueger said the community will likely have to continue to pull together. schools have already offered use of their facilities — in- cluding Lutheran High School, which opens its gym to the kids an rainy days — and so have local churches. I think the thing that's work- ing out so much with this center is the sense of community that's building," Krueger said. There are enough resources in the community for something like this without worrying about city funding yet. I think this center is great. It's a classic Example of enough people getting together to solve a problem." And the payoff? Ask Julie Kaneakua's 12 -year-old son Justin, who designed the T- shirts given to center participants. The parts I like are the field rips and doing all that stuff," he said, keeping one eye on the basketball game from which he agreed to take a time-out. "It's so kids won't be doing bad sluff. They can mine here instead ofjfightingandthingslikethat.' i MtDCLIPrINO SERVICE LMINGTON SUN -CURRENT rtnarPi. Ca. JUL 71993 Community center fills void on east sideforever " she said By Mark Johnston Coon" „Furl" "Awesome!' Great!" Those reviews came from four young critics who took time Out from making Rice Krispie Treats to comment on the new Northeast Neighborhood Com- munity Center in Bloomington. Based in several rooms of Minneapolis Lutheran High School at 82nd street and Park Avenue, the center opened two weeks ago with the help of a 5o,000 grant Iron Bloomington Citizens Crime Prevention Association. The grant was targeted for the violence prevention intiatives program facilitated by a cap- tion that includes the school district, the Bloomington - Richfield Family Center, Cor- nerstone Advocacy Service, the city of Bloomington, Storefront youth Action and Bloomington Education Center. The community center is targeting children ages 4-17 by providing a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, field trips, movies, cooking, games and sports, such as basketball, kickball and soccer. Wednesdays feature special guests who read to the children. Guests have included Police Chief Bob Lutz and Con- gressman Jim Ramstad. The children are supervised at all times by volunteer mothers and one father, so far). Older tudents also help out. Once children arrive at the center, they are required W stay udess permission to love is granted by a parent. The center is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday trough Friday, noon to 4 P.M. an Mondays, and 446 p.m. ou Sundays. Although the center Is design- ed to fill a recreational void for Children on the .east side of Bloomington, any child from anywhere is welcome to trop in, according to center coordinator Deborah Clark. Children are children," said Clark, who monitors a detention room at Olson Junior High School during the school year. We don't tum anyone away who needs a place to be." There appears to be plenty who need and want that place. Clark saidwhenthe Center open - Ed June 23, 10 children were registered. A week later, 65 children stowed up. That's fine with Clark. A single mother of tree — and Mom,, to toueands of other children who know her trough school — Clark said she im- mediately recognized the value of a place where children can fill their free time with fun and educational activities rather than trouble. We have been overwbelm- ied," she said. "I'm not surpris- j Ed because i live to the area. It's important to fill that void. If you ran catch children before senior high school and give them constructive things to do... I want them to know people One of those people is volunteer Julie Kaneakua, mother of six children, ages 5-14. Kaneakua said without the center, her children's time Might be spent on "nothing real constructive.' They've loved it. It's fit at of their categories," ershe said, laughing at how hshoes — covered with marshmallow fron the Rice Krispies creations were sticking to the Boor. We desperately need something like this on the east side." Kaneakua said an extra benefit for her — being a registered muse who has spent most of her summers working a busy schedule — is she gets to spend mine time with her fami- ly. she said the center also of- fers athletic activities in which she might not otherwise be able to afford to enroll her children. Ail Events at We center — in- cluding the field trips — are free. But the giant money, won't last forever. The center is scheduled to be open for to weeks. After that, Clark said she doesn't know what will happen, aldunigh she hopes the center will survive somewhere to offer activities to children on the weekends and off days during the school year. My dream is that there would be money to (wild a center where we could be there Bl Bloomington City Council Member Lee Krueger — who is helping establish a night basket- ball league for the older kids at the center — said it money was an object, that would be an ex- cellent goal. However, with tight belts prevalent everywhere, Krueger said the community will likely have to continue to pull together. schools have already offered use of their facilities — in- cluding Lutheran High School, which opens its gym to the kids an rainy days — and so have local churches. I think the thing that's work- ing out so much with this center is the sense of community that's building," Krueger said. There are enough resources in the community for something like this without worrying about city funding yet. I think this center is great. It's a classic Example of enough people getting together to solve a problem." And the payoff? Ask Julie Kaneakua's 12 -year-old son Justin, who designed the T- shirts given to center participants. The parts I like are the field rips and doing all that stuff," he said, keeping one eye on the basketball game from which he agreed to take a time-out. "It's so kids won't be doing bad sluff. They can mine here instead ofjfightingandthingslikethat.' i MN/, OUPPINn lE4VICE t sovill sl. PAUL/ INv49t GROVE!I!]mrIs at N--fOaa EN'r DAM. Co. JUL 71993 Voters reject Inver Grove park bond By Heather Gay Residents shot down the pro- posed $5.9 bond referendum for park facilities and a Civic Center in Inver Grove Heights. on June 29 more than 22 per- cent of registered voters turned out at the polls. Out of 3,431 voles cast, 2,017 voted against the referendum and 1,414 voted for it. In May, the City Council voted to authorize the public referen- dum that would cost the average taxpayer less than $5 a month. A 36 -member Park Bond Referendum Task Force was established by the council in Oc- tober 1992 to look at the city's recreation needs. The task force unanimously adopted a plan in May. I'm very happy it was voted down," said Mary Tkoch, Plan. ning Commission member. "It gives a message to the council that residents want a different question asked and they'll have to be more conservative about their spending." If the referendum would have passed, the plan included con- struction of a community center/ice arena, upgrading the proposed National Guard Ar - From Page IA its Comprehensive Park Plan, residents said they wanted a swimming complex, a library, nature trails and land for preservation, she said. I think it (referendum) would have had a better chance of passing if they would have given residents a chance to vote on those things," Tkach said. There are some people who have been pushing for a hockey arena for a long time,and residents don't want one, she said. I guess we're disappinled about the result of our attempt to bring quality facilities to the community for children and adults," mid Holly Nelson, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, which worked with the task force. mory, and developing three parks — Rich Valley, North Valley and Ernester. Inver Grove Heights residents don't want an ice arena, said Tkach. When the city did a survey for PARKS: To ;;,_)A The Park Commission will ex- plore what alternatives, if any, exist, she said. We didn't have any sort of back-up plan," she said. A back- up plan would have shown a lack of support for the proposed plan, she said. There's not much use rehashing," said Mayor Joe Atkins. Cities have referendums to see what the residents want, he said. Atkins said he wasn't surpris- ed by the referendum's failure. Last fall when Allow was campaigning people had a "hold the line" altitude when it came to higher properly taxes, he said. And that came through loud and clear," he said. "People were saying enough is enough when it comes to property taxes." MNA r CLIIIINO aEPVICE JORDANINDEPENDENT Soon Ca. Shakopee vote By Shelia Evertz Special Correspondent Shakopee voters Tuesday. June 22. rejected an $8 million bond isshe that would have provided for a comp munity center, ice arena and second fire sun. on. The referendum question failed an a vole of 1.211 to 907, or by 57.2 to 42.8 percent. or 304 votes. The measure failed in each of the city,s five precincts. City officials said the turnout was slightly under that ofpari referendums and elec- tians.Of 7.353 registered voters, only 2.1 I8. or 29 percent went to the polls. W hilesomesupponenofthe bond issue blamed flooding for the low turnout, an one waiting for the final tally aT the Scott County Courthouse or city Hall late Tuesday said they believed the situation was enough to change the results. That ]results] suggests itwasnat a fluke that it lost:' said city Coun- cilor Bob Sweeney. "The'rm' semi_ in favor vs. 209 m disappointed," said Coun- Mike Beard. "After all the sur - to that was done that illustrated irs reject $8 m enhaned the own .1 mor:appunccu„,o.1 the forwmd-lookers in town came out to Vote" Beard said he accepted the voters' decision. "Those who supported it didn't feel pn ss ionic abou l i t io dame out and vote." Beard said he misread the intensity of the support. rDimrilnr loan Lynch said she were illion bond issue for facilities last year. Hocks enmusiasts nau hoped they want have an arena in Shakopee by next fall. Mayor Gary Lament said that al- though he believes each of the pro- posals will surface sometime In the futme, he does not expect it to be any time soon. I expect we will he hearing from dieseparate special-interest groups, Laurent said. "But 1 think the council will listen strungly to the voters de- cision. Laurent said that any similarpro- posalsin the future will tarty a higher price lag. "1 suppose ]interest] rates could go lower. but I dart l think so. he said. Sweeney echoed that s@humen4 saying he supposed the package be- cause the hest fuse to Mrrtow money is now. Some opponents said Tuesday night (June 22) they did not like the way the proposal was packaged. The City Council had said the three items were combined because each was given equal importance to the city. Councilor Gloria Vierling said she hoped the proposals would come up again in a different ckage. 1 had really b=he cornmu- nilywouldpuB togethefon this one;' the r said. hn Decile feel about thet I can road explain it's stale and federal money that pays For The roads — and that they should call the governor— they were still angry that we were even thinking of building a community center before the roads are finished." Some of those who opposed the proposal said they simply could not afford another tax increase. Jody GTynn of Shakopee said she is self-employed and can't afford to give herself a raise to pay for a com- munity center. I voted against it because they didn't put Them as three separate deals," shesaid. "Most army friends have two or three children, and they have anew house to pay for.Theyjust can't afford it.' - The only bright spm for commu- nity center and arenn supporters was thatt hecity wilIown Iandsouth otthehighschool, which perhaps will be the site for such facilities in the fu - lure. Shakopee School Board Member Janet Weadl said that although the vote does rot directly affect the school district, it has the potential to bun students as the community grows. Extracurricular things are needed and we're tight lfor spacel already," she said. Beard said he fears that the spe- cial-interest groups supporung the proposal will now blame the others for the failure. Indeed, before the fhnalvoteswerecounled twopeopleat the S conCounty Courthouse said they believed the referendum question failed because fuefighters did not support it. when 1 fust moved here there was an acrimonious relationship be- tween groups and it warn i hcallhy; Beard said. "There were schisms in town. I think keeping ]the proposals together] forced people to work to- gether.... Those withseparate inter- ests had to work toward a common god. For that reason alone the town is better off tonight." Precinct voting Theprecinetbreakdown: Precinct I — 139 yes, 281 no: Precinct 2 — 144 yes, 199 no; Precinct 3 — 198 yes, 241 no; Precinct 4 — 219 yes, 281 no; Precinct 5-207 yes, 209 no. Prior Lake vote In Prior Lake, residents Over- whelming supported a band issue foranewfirestationbyavoteof805- 211. MMA CLIgINO lEBVICE r,) i I ,r NEW BRIGNfON 5enib t'. c&ht10 A BULLETIN ', ' f } ' R'mR" Bti Pat Rickaby'lasks forerent iiii c iriiig''a 1' `p 1alelecti , M2 3 W3 and costs for eng fnmirR I t . not geNn1 (bC,p o input of anMotmds GO, rhe ardrlfecl ou.tle golf course OUND , it aquipmrni in 1993' d. Bollars. ' H'' :: Ylew residents on the pmkcL7 J b. said at t(j,,",,, e,`t,,'t'. requested new maps. I 1 We need N s 1[oot{ yt- I--r ltWebr themcetrrg. 1 r+ 10. ' t. F 1 (rtx. newer maps will include dim as 0ldhrtq said'I wtPRn+a vdeb]taid;t+ 'I'm willl g to gl along w11h lypsl t as November of 1992 and will help 6y yhrn Fuehmr of the larger Blies 'ih"abde on majority,)butlso fmlidoli't think lha ate!#ieid CIearlydefrne,we0ands on the golf toarse she and to respect. lMoundsVimofficialshavetakentheanypaniddarlssue, if the ptukslte ItWe vellce r geWng 16. Wine said g rw seal: i, next step in a plan that could lead to the l saalchedl,we'd ,La 10 know non' awe +' rLihke,said teal Plsge IpF eIaS Pq `a ,n ;_,gym con onofareglon,alscglacSq+Ff,.e.r. stmtlooldo at 11 q ld-beil!0 Bou r sl S iso; . apnq. 51Iceu Mourtus "lira 1a(RMfll¢ IaM 1h 3etibrCen hot' , it ic}y'.BoQ urse,Svel meet .. At iia Jhrhe ja meaMg;'ma ° 'i rt thd dill hbout 1500 IC r + 1 P VIev4 City Council voted 4.1 on e I tat month whe Ma , Y PenP resolution That "expresses preliminatyl: Space C.i11romute redacted ptads* Nrlld' hartmaticipated in surular elatloro. 'The council also approve) nt Findresolutiothat. r` treaarumon Anoka County park pmpenyj; lwanlld kok atanumber of tlarigs, SlQ, in the Park lmpmvInteresitement Fund 1D6oilt, the regional senior ked*p Tbp etropolitsn Council,coulM I he -aid; including posocardsrtelephone' rdmSJver Yew Paklotlillvicw ParkiwouldbeajointprojectbetwcenM01114 .1 ovatan aommit(ea's decision', but if k1' surveys a d the eleegdnr"Qlnly 1,5 ` According to Mary Saarion, director of i View andthe cities of New Brighton, Y dmsn'4 the project could be jeopardyi "people h s eq. the^staodard in an elks, recreation and forestry. the shiftydeelroni • "a new need. A Ml of teenage youth Fridley and Spring Lake Pat f i Mayor Jerry Linke iakl. 'Right lam, my . . This is act a formal decision Wal 1' P'r view P were back to eq t if 1t nits 3,000 or•2,50b from getting (in -litre skates) and are uvng 1 dot's the woPi 44kk (hem on tennis courts. But you can't usecommitsthecitytoanyexpenditureofoneifwe'to at of the pack site;' he said '; arodnerIsdnee. funds," Cfly.AdministrelorSamk400 Council Member Pat Rickeby, wh also need{ro knout what h will cost ftr:}. j courts for' both tennis: and Oidtmd said. "Itjusl pursues the pmjecr to submitted her resigNtloehom the each way; Linke sold i ^ n ' . Thislie the next step." effective July 1, sdid that city officials. a", Coonc I Member biane'Wuorf said The city's Park and Recreation . With We resolution, city officials Will I could include the senior ceatet do th0;fl!,thBl she hat supported Urc idrn'M a senior"' pmmission looked for a place "where - work with the other cities in drafting d l ballot for the Special election to fill her'W'ci nia frtxn rbe.slauand will conttn} (sgkaattes)scould be used option wouldebe toxclusively," joint -powers' agreement. The agreement ! unexpired train. I do so.'The anomer of time that hal will govern the opcmtion of the Proposed I "There's going ld he a special" hxo tie senior center has put it fn a laghaf Dove the H. view Pertik hockey rink. center. ' election," the sa!d, Why not use the' priothy' that other projects• she said. 1 It alts Idle in the summer months. As part of the joint -powers agreement, election to find out die residenla' view In',) -Council Member Phyllis Blanchard What we wbdid be doing is putting a Mandl View city bfl-POWofficinig want einem, . the srnioraenterT' ` " t vow for the resolution, but said that she Winter facility to use in the summer;' Io Several Woes, tial were raised during Rickaby added that she agreed with}r,.- hen, awhmo s about the pmposd•.M 14MM said.' public fnfotmall anal meetings on the concept of a regional seta center, !'out feel Mot View may have bitten off.i i 'fie Cost far to paving is estimated to aL I could ou longer support" the project p mom than it= chew: shesaid 6e about $6 000. be said. The rest of I Rickaby said that last year the city I I I I .. the money will be used foe the THOSE ISSUES INCLUDE staff passe) a franchise ice to help lessen lax. IN OTHER MATTERS, the city development of a youth lellfreld a' City salaries and the passibility of contact increases to properly owners. But so faro, council approved spending up to $2,000 m H— There am no all. services, weighted votes on the main' she added, thatlasn'lbeen treatise. .4 ,, buy updalQd, topographies maps of 16e needed at Silver View Park. ressing " she said. governing board, site acquisition Costs if We chn't he adding more and rrrbre proposed golf course and driving range the Mebopditan Council docs not approve Iexeal on our sm'ms;'Rirkaby said "or site. We'd just l e using the money on a plans m build the center cn Anoka County soon, Residentwe' t havethWhileya agrees. "We're map hof Wedurm sssite arid e from 19t the 88 and that Planned:' pork Improvement than aigioallY • rok land in Fridley near 69th and Central, JUN 3 0 1993 INature'sites endorsed By David ph I - Aistiscn g Two Eden Prairie city com- missions have recommended a plan to buy and preserve natural areas. The city Planning Commis- sion and Parks, Recreaflon and Natural Resources Commission both gave unanimous en. dorsements Monday to a propos- ed referendum to raise money for purchase of two sites.The Heritage Preservation Commis- 1 sign and Cultural Commission are expected to consider the plan. H the Nov. 4 referendum Is ap- proved by the= Council, Eden Prairie, will con- siderq,6opd.lsi iii to buy: The W4I4t Creek Big Woods, aWoods, 40-acre area of old-growth maple-basswood forest nor- theast of Dell and Turnbull roads. n The "Charlsonn site," 60 acres northwest of Highway 1212 and County Bind 4, with native prairie and oak savanna, an unusual mix of burr oak forest and undergrowth. The proposal came from an ad hoc Natural Resources Study Committee assigned to select the best natural areas in the city for possible preservation. These arespectacular piens of property," committee chair Chuck Reubling told the Ph ml - Ing Commission. "Each one las its own set of characteristics." Ruebling said the committee would have liked to recommend four sites, including a scenic river bluffs area owned by Dar- ril Peterson and the 40 -acre Mit- chell take Woods, currently slated for housing development. But the recommendation of the committee and the commis- sions is to save two sites by pur- chasing them and to "do anything possible" to preserve the character of the Mitchell lake Woods and Peterson site. Asking ref enandum voters to buy all four sites, Ruebling said, is outside of what would be Politically passible or even politically responsible." The study committee's report dotes that the Eden Prairie Land Trust, a citizen's group, sparked the city's preservation effort with a campaign to stop housing construction plans in Mitchell Lake Woods. The Mitchell take Woods was not one of the recommended rytesesvetlon sites in part because of its cast and the fad that development is "on the doorstep," Ruebling said. That's the current reality. It could change," said Betty McMahon, president of the land Trust. McMahon and other land Trust members said the city should keep the door open for possible preservation measures at Mitchell lake Woods, par- ticularly after the recent Land Trust campaign raised public awareness of that woods' value. Both sites are currently private property, and no pur- chase price has been negotiated. A $2.8 million referendum has been suggested. YRA CUP"Na aFRV1cE t EPRAIRIExnNSAI1.nRSUNIlenneFint'n. JUN 3 0 1993 INature'sites endorsed By David ph I - Aistiscn g Two Eden Prairie city com- missions have recommended a plan to buy and preserve natural areas. The city Planning Commis- sion and Parks, Recreaflon and Natural Resources Commission both gave unanimous en. dorsements Monday to a propos- ed referendum to raise money for purchase of two sites.The Heritage Preservation Commis- 1 sign and Cultural Commission are expected to consider the plan. H the Nov. 4 referendum Is ap- proved by the= Council, Eden Prairie, will con- siderq,6opd.lsi iii to buy: The W4I4t Creek Big Woods, aWoods, 40-acre area of old-growth maple-basswood forest nor- theast of Dell and Turnbull roads. n The "Charlsonn site," 60 acres northwest of Highway 1212 and County Bind 4, with native prairie and oak savanna, an unusual mix of burr oak forest and undergrowth. The proposal came from an ad hoc Natural Resources Study Committee assigned to select the best natural areas in the city for possible preservation. These arespectacular piens of property," committee chair Chuck Reubling told the Ph ml - Ing Commission. "Each one las its own set of characteristics." Ruebling said the committee would have liked to recommend four sites, including a scenic river bluffs area owned by Dar- ril Peterson and the 40 -acre Mit- chell take Woods, currently slated for housing development. But the recommendation of the committee and the commis- sions is to save two sites by pur- chasing them and to "do anything possible" to preserve the character of the Mitchell lake Woods and Peterson site. Asking ref enandum voters to buy all four sites, Ruebling said, is outside of what would be Politically passible or even politically responsible." The study committee's report dotes that the Eden Prairie Land Trust, a citizen's group, sparked the city's preservation effort with a campaign to stop housing construction plans in Mitchell Lake Woods. The Mitchell take Woods was not one of the recommended rytesesvetlon sites in part because of its cast and the fad that development is "on the doorstep," Ruebling said. That's the current reality. It could change," said Betty McMahon, president of the land Trust. McMahon and other land Trust members said the city should keep the door open for possible preservation measures at Mitchell lake Woods, par- ticularly after the recent Land Trust campaign raised public awareness of that woods' value. Both sites are currently private property, and no pur- chase price has been negotiated. A $2.8 million referendum has been suggested. ICE IT Trail, road work in Blackhawk Park moving ahead By Terrance Menne' Eagan lit% should have new trails to explofe and playground equipment to use by fall. That's when much of the fust phase will be completed in Blackhawk Community Park. Other area parks will ex- perience some development this summer. Blackhawk Park is a com- munity park northwest of In- terstate 35E and Deerwood Drive in west -central Eagan. Glaciers shaped the park's roll- ing hills long before it became heavily cultivated and Brazed. Still, naturalist Pat Jolstad has identified several diverse plant species thriving in the 83 -acre parut it's also a park that has faced opposition from neighborhoods on two of its sides. Several meetings took place before the City Council approv= Ned the park development plan in May 1991. About $9oo,000 will be needed to complete the park over the next few years. A 140,000 state grant and funds from the city's Park Site Ac- quisition Development Fund, i. supported by park fees required 1 of developers, will cover the re- maining cast. Plans call for a nature - oriented park that meanders through prairie, hardwoods and around the shores of Blackbawk Lake. The fust phase includes trails and a 100car parking lot reached from Murphy Parkway, just north of Deer - wood Drive. Parks Director Ken Vraa said he expects trails to be paved in the next few weeks. Delays have pushed back seeding to the fall. A ;43,000 Boating boardwalk already spans the narrow por- tion of Blackhawk lake for hikers to traverse and canoeists to paddle under. While neighborhood groups ARKS: To Page nen e.not.eetsa tCOV MIJi V TIpN M tICNC e OKM[ • 1 , 111Otp M r n J\ 1 iy tt u j]:. µtliw7rcl rc nt. nucn unnwa This neap depicts what Blackhawk Community Park will look like when It's fully developed. MNDCLI INO xERVICE PLYMOUTHSVNSAILOR Heil.& Co. JUL 141993 Controversial develbpment before City Council '. a Lymangood opposes the pro - e jest. He says ,t will needlessly fLymangood are neighbors, but they are less than amicable "'- destroy trees and wetland areas, and leave dozens of wildlife Ra, oldPead animals without a Mme. i neighborhood. Baton Corp. is. Clifton E. proposing to French locate 10 single Regional family homes ,i Park and 16 Plymouth neighborhood and Iwinhomas on N this 26 -acre site. ickrer • 'a Developer; residents at odds over parcel By Jay Maxwell brad. discussed more than 75 residents packed City Bad in a show of opposition. 7fiat was in March. Council members are now set to act on a new study that weighs the pro- jcet's environmental effects on the properly, said John Keho, Plymouth associate planner. The study, a so-called en- vironmental assessment worksheet (EAW), was ordered by the council atter neighbors asked the Minnesota En- virwunemal Quality Board to in- / DISPUTE: 1, Pali, Lymangood opposes the pro - Richard Zejdlik and Chuck jest. He says ,t will needlessly fLymangood are neighbors, but they are less than amicable "'- destroy trees and wetland areas, and leave dozens of wildlife about plans fortheir animals without a Mme. i neighborhood. Lymangood and other neighbors i Zejdlik is president of a Min- say the property is a natural ex- rimpolfs corporation that plans tension of French Park and to develop a heavily -wooded should be preserved as a nature i parcel sandwiched between W area. Plymouth neighborhood and The disagreement doesn't and Clifton E. French Regional there. Nor is it likely the two will Park. On the property Zejdlik is see eye to eye when the matter proposing to build 10 single- is reviewed by the Plymouth Ci - family homes, 18 twinhornes, a ty Council next Monday; July 19. culdesac and a pedestrian The last time the issue was residents packed City Bad in a show of opposition. 7fiat was in March. Council members are now set to act on a new study that weighs the pro- jcet's environmental effects on the properly, said John Keho, Plymouth associate planner. The study, a so-called en- vironmental assessment worksheet (EAW), was ordered by the council atter neighbors asked the Minnesota En- virwunemal Quality Board to in- / DISPUTE: 1, Pali, I i Dispute: Goes before botincil Monda rota page IA tervene. The muneu will now decide if it is satisfied with the project's current scrape, or if modifications are necessaryto lessen its affects on natural resources. Or the council could order another more scrutinizing and costly study — an En. EIS). EIS). ntal Impact Statement Lymangood denounces the EAW as inaccurate and in- complete. He recenBy wrote a six-page letter to city officials pinpointing 30 items he believes discredits its worth. He says the council should reject the study and order a new one, or require an EIS before giving developers the go aheait to proceed. zejdlik said he wouldn't com- ment ou the results of the study. He said he can't speak in specifics because neighbors have cluttered and stalled the project by challenging "minute details." Disharmony also exists over who should own the properly. The property is currently owo- ed by three companies — Nor. inland Financial Co. of Blomn- ington, Lundren Bros. Construc- tion Inc. of Wayzata, and Baton Corp. — known jointly as Mis- sion Partnership. While Lymangood and a group of neighbors have organized a campaign to buy the 29acm parcel, the two sides have yet to agree on a price or. on the other's intent. Lymangood contends that the owners have waffled on price since neighbors initially ex- pressed interest, from as low as 349,300 to as high as 3794,390 We would like to meet with reasonable hslividuals of aB parties involved and disnsa purchasing the site, but to do that we can't be talking about these off-the-wall figures — 1797,3%1 that's excessive," said Lymangood. He said neighbors consider 400,000 a fair price for the land, and have commitments from a variety of sources to acquire the site and deed it over to Hennepin Parks. last October, the park agency agreed to include the property in the F`ench Park master plan. That arrangement, however, is contingent upon a donation from neighbors. Hennepin Parks of- ficials say they do not cur eoUy have money appropriated to buy or maintain the land. Zejdlik said he will settle for no less than $794,000 by Aug. 1. We certaiNy aren't going to back off without collecting what we've put into this site, plus a reasonable fee for our Involve- ment," he said. He also questions the sincerity of "offers to buy the site. They've got $50 in the bank 1 eM 3500,000 in ideas. How am I supposed to negotiate with pen. pie who are all talk and have shown me nothing. I'm running a business here:'said Zejdlik. Zejdlik said he has already scaled the original project back from 100 buildings to 28 to satisfy residents. He said he has lost money by holding up the Project on several occasions to include neighbors in the project. We've given in to that are so involved with the environ- ment why don't they object to other projects that are hurting the environment? Theydan'tob- ject because there's no benefit." Lymangaod said he wmdd not be surprised ata suggestion that the neighborhood is only looking out for its own interest. "This is not a small group of disgruntled homeowners who don't want something In their backyard. We will have collected more than 2,000 signatures tosh mowthisisacommunityissue." fS cursUN -CURRENT BronePio Co. JUL 211993 City lends support to teen summer dance plans By Katy Koch t Ninth and loth graders who complain they have nothing to do in the summer have a chance to dance later this month, thanks to the city of Edina and parent Dawn Kerrison. Kerrison is organizing a se- cond warehouse dance party, this one scheduled AdY 30 for eligible students entering ninth and loth grades. The dance is an attempt to provide tobacco- and alcohol - free entertainment for an age group of students and their parents having difficulty finding safe parties, Kerrison said. Kerrison has one success to her credit already this summer: a party for 125 eighth and ninth graders on the night that schools recessed for summer vacation. Gordon Lewis, owner of the warehouse where the party was held, told the City Council he received bugs and thank yeas from several appreciative teens when he dropped by to see the June party. we think our formula is dif- ferent;' Kerrison said, noting other efforts have been tried in the past. "We're taking it one dance at a time," she said. 1 think it is important to keep the kids aware that we will only continue to provide this oppor- tunity for them it the parties go without trouble," Kerrison told the city, seeking council support. The Edina City Council July 2 approved an expenditure of "up to $500" for the July party. Total cost of the party is projected to be more than $MD. Mailings will be sent to eligi- ble students. They must follow rules when they purchase tickets and attend the dance, organizers said. Students need to show their school ID card and purchase on- ly one ticket each prior to the dance. There are 900 tickets available at $3 each from 8 a.m. to noon July 27-29 at Edina City Hall, 9861 W. 50th St. 1 There will be no tickets sold at the dance, which will be from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. July 30 at the former Lewis Engineering warehouse on Eden Avenue near Vernon Avenue. The dance will feature disc jockeys producing a sound and fight show in the warehouse, Kerrison said. Refreshments will also be served. Organizers are laking special Reps to maintain security and prevant alcohol usage. There bill be two Edina police kers on hand and some 20 parent volunteers monitoring doorways to make certain party -goers do not leave without a responsible adult to take them home. Inside the dance there will be 10 college-age bouncers to pre- vent fights, protect the property and "keep the kids safe." Philosophically, I think this is the thing we as a city should try to do when the interest, volunteerism and willingness to work is there," City Manager Ken Rosland said, recommen- ding city support. I have very high hopes for this event to be successful in the eyes of kids, parents and city of- ficials," Kerrison said. RVICe t UEMMA CLIPPING CURRENT Dho4 Co. JUL 211993 Community center referendum a go i By Doug Erickson Residents will vote on $12.9 million package Nov. 2 lhwest corner oof 1 th Avenue After years of planning and delays, the fate of a proposed Burnsville community center will be decided by voters this fall. City Council members of- ficially approved a timeline Monday that will deliver the issue to residents Nov. 2. It's time to let the voters decide whether they want this or not," said Councilmember Glenn McKee. "I hope they ap- prove it. it will be a tremendous asset to the community." The $12.9 million referendum includes $9.7 million to turn Diamondhead Mail into a com- munity center and $3.2 million for parks improvements. The need for a referendum was fust identified by the city in a 1964 master plan for parks. It's been on and off several times. last fall, a vote on the proposal was delayed after a survey showed a perceived lack of awareness about the issue by potential voters. Since then, the proposal has changed dramatically. At one lipe, the city proposed building a $9 million, 75,6"uarefoot community center adjacent to City Hall. Now it hopes to buy and renovate the financially - troubled Diamondhead Mall, located on Burnsville Parkway just west of Nicollet Avenue. The 200,000 -square -foot site would house a mix of retail, recreational and governmental uses, including community education programs run by Burnsville -Eagan -Savage School District 191, and possibly classrooms for the space - crunched district, said City Manager Greg Konal. A pool and gymnasium would be added. The joint city and sebool district senior center would remain. County and private social services could also have offices in the mall, Komi said. The $3.2 million in parks im- provements (play equipment, tennis courts, parking lots, trails) would be spread primarl- Iy over 16 sites in the city. Included in the proposal is a new four -field softball complex, tentatively planned for the nor - and ". Hoa : T C y Is negotiating a purchase price for the vacant land, as well as for Diamondhead Mall, said Knot. He's confident the final price for the mail won't throw off the $93 million budgeted for the com- munity center conversion, he said. Although the Diamondhead Mall proposal costs slightly more overall than building a new facility, Kasai listed the following benefits of the plan: Provides significantly more space at a lower cost per square foot; Revitalizes Diamondhead Mall, which could became a pro blem area for the city; and Promotes partnerships bet- ween the city and school districts, other social service agencies and the business community. All council members voiced enthusiastic support for the concept. However, Councilmember Charlie Crichton voted against the November election, saying he fears a low voter turnout because it's an off year for us- tlalal or state races. Although be personally likes the proposal, Crichton said he's concerned a momentous decision will be made by a small number of residents. I think, in principle, it's wrong," he said. other council members called Crichton's voter turnout predications pessimistic, saying the issue should be of wide in- terest to voters. Crichton said he'll work hard to get people to the polls. "I tape I'll be proven wrong," he said. A campaign to inform residents about the referendum will begin next month and inten- sify each month before November, Konat said. RVICe t UEMMA CLIPPING CURRENT Dho4 Co. JUL 211993 Community center referendum a go i By Doug Erickson Residents will vote on $12.9 million package Nov. 2 lhwest corner oof 1 th Avenue After years of planning and delays, the fate of a proposed Burnsville community center will be decided by voters this fall. City Council members of- ficially approved a timeline Monday that will deliver the issue to residents Nov. 2. It's time to let the voters decide whether they want this or not," said Councilmember Glenn McKee. "I hope they ap- prove it. it will be a tremendous asset to the community." The $12.9 million referendum includes $9.7 million to turn Diamondhead Mail into a com- munity center and $3.2 million for parks improvements. The need for a referendum was fust identified by the city in a 1964 master plan for parks. It's been on and off several times. last fall, a vote on the proposal was delayed after a survey showed a perceived lack of awareness about the issue by potential voters. Since then, the proposal has changed dramatically. At one lipe, the city proposed building a $9 million, 75,6"uarefoot community center adjacent to City Hall. Now it hopes to buy and renovate the financially - troubled Diamondhead Mall, located on Burnsville Parkway just west of Nicollet Avenue. The 200,000 -square -foot site would house a mix of retail, recreational and governmental uses, including community education programs run by Burnsville -Eagan -Savage School District 191, and possibly classrooms for the space - crunched district, said City Manager Greg Konal. A pool and gymnasium would be added. The joint city and sebool district senior center would remain. County and private social services could also have offices in the mall, Komi said. The $3.2 million in parks im- provements (play equipment, tennis courts, parking lots, trails) would be spread primarl- Iy over 16 sites in the city. Included in the proposal is a new four -field softball complex, tentatively planned for the nor - and ". Hoa : T C y Is negotiating a purchase price for the vacant land, as well as for Diamondhead Mall, said Knot. He's confident the final price for the mail won't throw off the $93 million budgeted for the com- munity center conversion, he said. Although the Diamondhead Mall proposal costs slightly more overall than building a new facility, Kasai listed the following benefits of the plan: Provides significantly more space at a lower cost per square foot; Revitalizes Diamondhead Mall, which could became a pro blem area for the city; and Promotes partnerships bet- ween the city and school districts, other social service agencies and the business community. All council members voiced enthusiastic support for the concept. However, Councilmember Charlie Crichton voted against the November election, saying he fears a low voter turnout because it's an off year for us- tlalal or state races. Although be personally likes the proposal, Crichton said he's concerned a momentous decision will be made by a small number of residents. I think, in principle, it's wrong," he said. other council members called Crichton's voter turnout predications pessimistic, saying the issue should be of wide in- terest to voters. Crichton said he'll work hard to get people to the polls. "I tape I'll be proven wrong," he said. A campaign to inform residents about the referendum will begin next month and inten- sify each month before November, Konat said. Mxa CLIPPING SERVICE I AC E I — ROSEMOUNT THIS -WEEKOekwleCo. JUL 11 1993 a ROSEMOUNT CITY E` r W MAYOR'S MESSAGE Let me put this in good plain, simple terms. I want economic development in Rosemount. I campaigned for it before the last election and I've been working for it since elected. You have probably heard or read that several different businesses are considering locating in Rosemount. it's true. The port authority is presently workingwith dB- ferenot people proposing amotel, Wexler, restaurant, a grocery store, and an on, I hope all of these new businesses do come to Rmemounll The new businesses will give us the opportunity to do more shopper ing locally. It will be more convenient for us. The new businesses will provide more local jobs, some full-time jobs for adults and some part-time jobs for students. The grocery store, for example, would have 30 full-time employees and 45 part-timers and 60 people would have part-time jobs in the theater. The list goes on. Tax base also gains. Add up the construction costs of the proposals before the city and the total is nearly eight million dollars. And while some of this value wouldn't come on the tax roles for a few years because of lax increment financing, in the long run the added tax base will help pay the costs of local government. more sales and mare sales mean more profit. without this growth, Rosemount evolves to nothing mare than a trade area for other commercial and retail centers. All of the employment, shopping, convenience, and tax benefits are lost. 1 believe the city's commercial, and retail growth will benefit every business and citizen in Rosemount. z x. /n, At4—r-d- ROSEMOUNT PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR JULY The Rosemount Parks and Rxrembn De- panmat has a variety of tun and exdling programs planned to keep your child alive' and enlenalned over the summer. Mmng these acilwlies are several Inns planned lot the month of Jury em Include a trip for ages 6 to 11 years to see the Mlnnesola Twins fake on the Gabon Tigers on Wadnaday. July 7 al a coal of $7.75 per person. Also forages 6 m 11 yaws them is a alp ogerad Wednesday, July 21 to Cour lake Farms where such child will have the opponolly to pet and feed a variety of animals and "- parlance a hayrla enough the woods and a pony ride all at a cost of $12.50 per per. son. Fm the older child them Is a Imp plann- ed [or ages fi to 15 to Beaver Mountain on Friday, July 16 that endues one mund at mini -galling and 3 hours of unllmlled walersllding for a charge of $11.25 per Person. Kids Cerner is a drop -In park program at - Read Iree of charge lot ages 6 and aver at Manual area parks with constodiva so. tlwtfes that focus on games, fitness. nature, and fun. Puppets In the Park Theater Is ol- lered free of charge and brings entenain. Ing puppelar shows filed with laughter and Ianiesy Imre fairy tales and favorite story lines to arm parks. Call the Raeknanl Parks and Recreation Department for a list of parks and days Ia each at these programs. For Inco community members that have a bit aero ambition the Run lot the Gold and Family Names Walk will be offered again this year on Saturday, July 31, doing Leprechaun Days. The Run for the Gold will be offering a 1 mile and/or 4 mile run at i7.0111 per person which Includes a I -shin, and the Family Films Walk Is seeking a 1 mile or 4 mile trail at $1.00 per child, 52.00 per adult, or $5.00 per family max. am wMra Includes an Insulated six pack cooler. For more Intonation or to register b these trips and programs, please all the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Deun- manl at 423-4415 from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. weekdays. This year's Recreation Leedom an: Eden Huss, Mary Biasing, Amy Anderson, Nikki Kleist, Bridget Grant. N CLLIPPINa SERVICE 0 pW CROW RIVER Nr.N:S N'RIGIIT C'UVNI\'- GT. MICHAEL 4whh tAnlon JUL 2 6 1993 Legion Park Task Force repo ta'Medina council, costs revi Tom Anderson from the Legion LAND QUESTION Park Task Force of the Hamel Li- The American Legion is willing ons presented a report to the Medina to donate its land to Medina, City Council at its Tuesday, July including a hall field, dt the starting20meeting. point for developing a facility that The reported noted Medina has a will serve the recreational needs of population of more than 3,000 with Medina families. The land is valued the greatest concentration in the at $250.000. Hamel area. The comprehensive Two other pieces of land will plan amendment stales growth is also need to be acquired for the expected m occur in the Hamel area. park. The fust is a seven acre piece The other areas of population of land referred to as the Hyberg concentration are the Median Property. In 1991 it was appraised Morningside and Independence at $87,000. The second piece of Beach areas. Both have fewer people land, the Finazzo Property, is 24 than Hamel and have access to acme. In 1991 it was appraised at Baker Park and older oral -by parks. 115.000. Medina's rural population also has seems to the Hamel area and parks FUNDING in other areas. It is expected that the tota, cost The Legion Park as it exists m- of Ur facility will be $1.5 million. day, offers very limited facilities This would be spent during a xvrn- given the number of potential year period. Approximately uses." states the task force report. 600,000 will come from Medina, Families„living"in Medina deghnd 100,000 from the military and011andtolllesserdegrrF odiet hi`uificipilitieayJo_p S8W,000 in public support. Ovide Funding breaks down m: general lacilities [or their tagli;. , fund 22%; park fund 17%; military iiisicaeauon 7•. ........ 7%; and public support 54%. As PIPIymouth condnum grgw The prrtposed facilites are eaten - an_ p pmwure isplac edoa,theix_ fscilitim L'y"tAeir cn¢ens,-..tbe.. sive and affordable because of do, availabilhiy oftjhui facilities, to. Rated improvements. The funding proposal is alRac- uuidets' will,°lie6toughlinto five with 5330,000 coming from question. t some point—Medina the general fund and $248,000 from needs to take more responsibility the park fund; the report stales. for serving the recreation needs of The park fund was established for its cihirns." - '- capital improvements to parks and given expected future inflows, ce well afford this expenditure. The geaeml fund expenditure 330,000 secures a developme that will eventually represent a $1. million investment. More that 50% of funding is public sourc which would benefit the citizens o Medina for years m come." The council was also presented listing, from public works direct Jim Dittman, of additional time an expenses that will be required t maintain the park Items m be con sidemd are labor and equipment f mowing and trimming, skating rinks, facility maintenance an miscellaneous expenses ranging from weed control to snow rem fmm parking kers. TASK FORCE CONCLUSIONS The task force reported that Med ince is a community with a snort orientation b quality of life. It stressed moderate to low densis development, open apse", rural settings and a responsible alterna- tive to the stressful urbanized envi- mnmenls of Plymouth and other western suburbs. the proposed park provides "- ellen[ but not overdone facilities which would be used by a large number of Medina citizens," states the report. 'It would be a great place for children to congregate as its I ed n lives. In this 1CdpGt1, n would be within biking access for a large of number of Medirreb young people." eat The task face thinks this is an 5 opportunity for Metlina b provide a n major facility for its citizens at a e very small cost a taxpayers. f We respectfully ask the city council's sopport endorsement a of this project," tared the task or face. h d I o COUNCIL; INPUT The mm .1 re . ed the infer - or notion and sketch fthe park pm- videdby Andnson.: d I Cma" Phil Ziedow said he was against using general funds and oval asked if the council amid approve W of Ute plan and complete the Pink in stages. Mayor Anne Theis pointed out the largest obstacle was P g the City clerk Jeff Ison said the g big issue for thec uncit and task hat fame is looking at the hmd acquisi- y tions Without that{ there is noth- ing this can be dao on the projecL Anderson was questioned by the council shout what he would like to do. He said the task force was looking for Slim Dmweiler to negotiate the land pmdhmes. The council authakined Dorweiler to negotiate the land purchases as long as he does not fxceed the bud- get. A 1' ) arvks referendum \ would bolster youth and adult sports By Doug Erickson If a $2.2 million parks referen- dum passes this fall, the largest chunk of money will be spent to increase the number and quaflty of youth and adult sports fields in Burnsville. We just do not have enough capacity," said Randy Oppelt. director of parks and public works. "That's one of our primary goals and. the most ex- pensive part of the refer- endum'• . The parks improvements are part of a $12.9 million package voters will be asked to approve Nov. 2. The rest — 59.7 million — would be spent to convert Diamondhead Mail into a com- munity center. With the number of softball. baseball, soccer and football teams burgeoning, the city's playing fields are overtaxed, Oppelt said. We don't have enough fields for practices, and practicing is a big part of it," he said. Everywhere there's a piece of flat grass, they're practicing. And it's qunddy coming to the point where we don't have enough fields for games." At public hearings held by the 1 city's Parks and Natural tRemurces Commission, "the youth sports people. in large detafl with the City Cm nciL' -. The- answer will:. llkelyr F6htge: am advime ,fibro the, i city's lawyers-and.bond couur cil;Konatsai&- :.. r , .... As Funderstmxl'it; Minis,' to do-m"th,how different are-. ttie?projects; aod! depe rhgr oo.how.diReremt:. theprojecs' are'tliecwarcilmaymot haven 3arloice`- 't-_ _ numbers, came and said, 'We don't. have enough fields to- day' " Oppelt said. Money from the parks referendum would be used to purchase land for a new adult PAK: aTn i 1_ CLIeANa 3EInVICE B mntkrfr aD ca. J!!L 2 a iss3 Parks: Part of N Fran previous page are big areas softball complex. The fav -field, weeds." wheel -formation complex is Planned for vacant land at the northwest comer of 12th Avenue and Cliff Road. The city is negotiating a purchase price. By building a new adult com- plex, the city would free up adult fends. at Alimagnet Park for youth games, Oppelt said. At some point, the youth fields at- Alimagnet could be recon- figured into a wheelformation, although that plan isn't part of the fall referendum, he said. Additionally, the referendum would allow the city to convert an existing soccer field at Alimagnet Park into a combina- tion soccer and softball field, light an existing older youth and adult baseball field at Alimagnet, develop four youth soccer fields at Rosemount Inc. Park (with one overlaying soft- ball field), and renovate the fighting at two adult softball fields at Neill Park. By bumping up the number of fields in the city, maintenance of the system would be easier, Op. pelt said. We need toull out a certain number of fields each year to let them rest, to overseed them, to give them a chance to re- establish," he said. "if you don't do that, what you end up with ov. 2 ballot of mud and Oppe t. said the rest of the parks referendum money would be divided among more than a dozen of the city's 69 parka to ac- complish the following goals: Expand existing un- developed neighborhood parks Burnhaven (grading. soccer and softball fields, parking lot). Day Park (trails, picnic shelter, parking lot), Hollows Park trails, hard surface play area, volleyball cola[, Picnic shelter. parking IoU. Keller fake (play equipment. lard suiace play area, trails); Provide additional parking and access trails in heavily used community parks — North River Hills and Red Oak; Provide entry trails to neighborhood parks so all sur. rounding residents have access to existing facilities — Knob Hill and Wolk; Provide amenities within existing neighborhood parks — Colonial (play equipment). Roil- ing Meadows (play equipment), Tennisioux (single tennis court), West Buck Bill (single tennis court), Wolk (play equipment, hard surface play arca); and Provide natural resouros amenities such as native prairies, wildlife feed and shelter planting, woodland wildflowers and bbd watching The eight- member Parks and Natural Resources Commission prioritized the list of needs after visiting each of the city's parks, Oppelt said. Public hearings were held with groups that use the parks for suggestions, he said. Mis is not a staff proposal." Oppett said: "We. agree it's needed, but it's the ctizeas who have said, This is what we need to be a full-service com- munity.' " While the parks referendum's dollar amount is significant, it's important for people to know we're talking about basics," Oppelt said. "We're not talking about buying a Cadillac." For instance, money for lights and permanent restroom facilities at the new adult soft- ball complex is not included in the referendum, Oppelt said The referendum would pay primarily for the park's framework, including land aquisition, fields, a parking lot and irrigation. Amenities would be added later as budget allow- ed, he said If the parks referendum is ap- proved, most of the projects would be completed by the fall/ of 1995, Oppelt said. JUN 2 3 1993 liot er_ piece of the' puzzle 2!!!, sea year's school bond referendum. Pan building, according to Maurice BULLETIN w .BRIGHTON :+- it m G. JUN 2 3 1993 Thla artist's "OtCh Showa 111111Na ouncings proposes lar wnauw:wu.a . •.,.uwwsl ., nn.r of .v.n Street and Fifth Avenue by Stony lake Propertles: Wak on the project Is expected to begin this fell. liot er_ piece of the' puzzle Family center' proposed --for downtown sea year's school bond referendum. Pan building, according to Maurice w .BRIGHTON :+- of those -funds are designated for Anderson, the city's parks director. facilities for the Ralph Reeder Coater But W of early June, neither had JyAm Srhwartr ... which houses mos[ of the district's i dirated.they would def rmely Seek spasm the building. The future of downtown New J\\ j\ of litigation may be poised for Change. four acres is high enough to be y•j Pinsity` developable, .according to New building will look, Anderson told the Construction is expeaai to begin Brighton City Manager Dave Childs city comcil at its Jule 7 meeting. He this fail oo an OfficalbushiCSS campus Based on preliminary architectural added that under a "fast-track" a.ihe southeast corer of 10th Suet A approach, construction on the fid FSfth.Avenue. In the spring of hl. --+-- building could begin this fag with an A offices for the city's park and bion opening sometime met spring. starting work on 76 townhornes on department; sand north of the New Brighton Care offices fo the North Suburban PAUL DONLEY, executive Qsntra. At about the same time, the Thla artist's "OtCh Showa 111111Na ouncings proposes lar wnauw:wu.a . •.,.uwwsl ., nn.r of .v.n Street and Fifth Avenue by Stony lake Propertles: Wak on the project Is expected to begin this fell. liot er_ piece of the' puzzle Family center' proposed --for downtown sea year's school bond referendum. Pan building, according to Maurice w .BRIGHTON :+- of those -funds are designated for Anderson, the city's parks director. facilities for the Ralph Reeder Coater But W of early June, neither had JyAm Srhwartr ... which houses mos[ of the district's i dirated.they would def rmely Seek spasm the building. The future of downtown New community edlration services- Of the 115 Sent site, only about we think we're getting pretty litigation may be poised for Change. four acres is high enough to be close to a consensus on how the Pinsity` developable, .according to New building will look, Anderson told the Construction is expeaai to begin Brighton City Manager Dave Childs city comcil at its Jule 7 meeting. He this fail oo an OfficalbushiCSS campus Based on preliminary architectural added that under a "fast-track" a.ihe southeast corer of 10th Suet work, the family center would approach, construction on the fid FSfth.Avenue. In the spring of hl. --+-- building could begin this fag with an 6994, Rotdund Homes should be offices for the city's park and bion opening sometime met spring. starting work on 76 townhornes on department; sand north of the New Brighton Care offices fo the North Suburban PAUL DONLEY, executive Qsntra. At about the same time, the Youth Service Buenm; :::'. d'aecia for operations for the school 40%; Brighton Care Centra will Slso I , a 4,800 square foot indoor district, said the school board will begin work on an expansion project discuss the proposal at its June 28 se elbow amThatwillgreatlymanro playground: a gymnasium with a stage and meeting. at the facility on Eighth Saw and bA moomLs: RD Avenue. a kitohen equipped to handle At the June 7 city council Il catered -m meals; meeting, the council authorized the s A NEW ENTRY in the down- a teen lounge; expendinue of up to $4,000 to begin Sewn redevelopment derby is a New classrooms and other facilities soil testing the site for possible Orighton "family center" on the for the school district's Early construction. the city council is northeast cleadman of 10th Street and Childhood and Family Education expected to take up the topic at its Pft Avenue that would house city, pmt. and July 13 meeting. amiyadschooldistrici a jogging/walking track ora Officials from the city and the suspended above the gymnasium The council at that time may also AIo®ds View School District bait consider a development agreement been meeting the past two months to THE CITY HAS'BISb'iniade with Rottlund Homes for the discuss the possibilities of a shared overtures to the Ramsey County tewnimomes that would replace most facility. Pan of the funding for public health and social services Of the old commercial area of on would come from IBM departments fen space in the purposed downtown. Mxa CLIPPING SERVICE I AC E I — ROSEMOUNT THIS -WEEKOekwleCo. JUL 11 1993 a ROSEMOUNT CITY E` r W MAYOR'S MESSAGE Let me put this in good plain, simple terms. I want economic development in Rosemount. I campaigned for it before the last election and I've been working for it since elected. You have probably heard or read that several different businesses are considering locating in Rosemount. it's true. The port authority is presently workingwith dB- ferenot people proposing amotel, Wexler, restaurant, a grocery store, and an on, I hope all of these new businesses do come to Rmemounll The new businesses will give us the opportunity to do more shopper ing locally. It will be more convenient for us. The new businesses will provide more local jobs, some full-time jobs for adults and some part-time jobs for students. The grocery store, for example, would have 30 full-time employees and 45 part-timers and 60 people would have part-time jobs in the theater. The list goes on. Tax base also gains. Add up the construction costs of the proposals before the city and the total is nearly eight million dollars. And while some of this value wouldn't come on the tax roles for a few years because of lax increment financing, in the long run the added tax base will help pay the costs of local government. more sales and mare sales mean more profit. without this growth, Rosemount evolves to nothing mare than a trade area for other commercial and retail centers. All of the employment, shopping, convenience, and tax benefits are lost. 1 believe the city's commercial, and retail growth will benefit every business and citizen in Rosemount. z x. /n, At4—r-d- ROSEMOUNT PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR JULY The Rosemount Parks and Rxrembn De- panmat has a variety of tun and exdling programs planned to keep your child alive' and enlenalned over the summer. Mmng these acilwlies are several Inns planned lot the month of Jury em Include a trip for ages 6 to 11 years to see the Mlnnesola Twins fake on the Gabon Tigers on Wadnaday. July 7 al a coal of $7.75 per person. Also forages 6 m 11 yaws them is a alp ogerad Wednesday, July 21 to Cour lake Farms where such child will have the opponolly to pet and feed a variety of animals and "- parlance a hayrla enough the woods and a pony ride all at a cost of $12.50 per per. son. Fm the older child them Is a Imp plann- ed [or ages fi to 15 to Beaver Mountain on Friday, July 16 that endues one mund at mini -galling and 3 hours of unllmlled walersllding for a charge of $11.25 per Person. Kids Cerner is a drop -In park program at - Read Iree of charge lot ages 6 and aver at Manual area parks with constodiva so. tlwtfes that focus on games, fitness. nature, and fun. Puppets In the Park Theater Is ol- lered free of charge and brings entenain. Ing puppelar shows filed with laughter and Ianiesy Imre fairy tales and favorite story lines to arm parks. Call the Raeknanl Parks and Recreation Department for a list of parks and days Ia each at these programs. For Inco community members that have a bit aero ambition the Run lot the Gold and Family Names Walk will be offered again this year on Saturday, July 31, doing Leprechaun Days. The Run for the Gold will be offering a 1 mile and/or 4 mile run at i7.0111 per person which Includes a I -shin, and the Family Films Walk Is seeking a 1 mile or 4 mile trail at $1.00 per child, 52.00 per adult, or $5.00 per family max. am wMra Includes an Insulated six pack cooler. For more Intonation or to register b these trips and programs, please all the Rosemount Parks and Recreation Deun- manl at 423-4415 from 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. weekdays. This year's Recreation Leedom an: Eden Huss, Mary Biasing, Amy Anderson, Nikki Kleist, Bridget Grant. CUee1Mo ae1; 1 aLUUM,=" SUt"UaaLd'r He eWa Co. JUL 211993 Council to discuss proposed By Mark Johat =.ODD to pm in seating on the . 0 The Bloomington City Council north side. eoriginally bid seating for ice rink additionsisschedulednextweektodecidethesouthside," said Bloom - whether to spend upto an add[- tional half million dolkrs on the ingtm Port Authority Director Clark Arneson "We bid the 4.3 million Olympic -size ice north side as an alternate, in rink being built at Bloomington case the bids came in lower. Ice Garden (BIG). - the bid didn't come in where The project, as approved last we expected. It was much fall, consists of the LOD400t- higher. Sp seating on the north by-anafoot rink, seating on the side went, as did some heating, south side of the rink, far new lighting and other features." locker rooms, improvements to Arneson said the intent was lockerrooms and firealarms in always to install north side the two existing rinks, and win- ..seating in the future and onJuly down in rials 2. 12, the council- did allorAte The cidu group which suc- 40,000 for footings and plumb- cessfully lobbied for the rear ing rum far future seating. The arena returned to the council Ju- comwil agreed it would be much ly 12 to ask for seating on the cheaper to put in those north -side of the rink, locker preliminary items now—before rooms for Kennedy and Jeffer- the areas, is complete — than at son high schools, and a locker a later date. room for a Jefferson women's But the bucks stopped thee, hockey team. - at least for now. Seemingly The burgeoning women's taken abaci by the suddenessd team is a key factor in the m the latest developments, several quest. Bob Lange, spokespeam council members said they were for the citizen group, said 52 out prepared to make a quick yourhg women have signed up decision on a potential 5450.000 for tryouts for the team, expenditure and requested that scheduled for the fust week of the latest proposal be remanded August at BIG if ice time can be to the city's park and [,,,,,tion scheduled. commission far study. The team is not being funded Blit a dectsion needs to. be by the school district but nada soon became construction through fundraising efforts of is proceeding -quickly. Thee is the Bloomington Amateur also an underlying tension sur - Hockey Association and is ex- rounding the perception by petted to play similar teams in some that "if you don't support Edina, Richfield. Burnsville and this, You don't support woman's other suburbs. IMemberLangearguedalloftheBIGCouncil Coral Houk locker rooms are designed an afro asking Iauge to define that they are tied together by his role in this whole process — commm urinals, showers and said she supported the addi- toilets. in the past, that situation tional ice rink and has bad no has prompted women players at difficulty defending her BIG to sometimes change their decuim• . clothes in adjacent hallways, However, she said: she has rather than in a locker room ad- been angered by - calls tram jacent to a men's locker room. friends and constituents Basically, we've got to get a pressuring her to approvethe place for women to change," additional expenditure, which Lange said. "It's hard to put she said could go into physical boys and girls in the locker fitness programs the entire rooms at the same time." community — including young In the configuration of the new women — could enjoy. rink, a logical place to put locker She also said women's spats rooms would be under the north which she supports — is not seating. And as long as they're the issue. putting in the seating, it would 1Lat is separate from the be cast -effective to build the process we have to go through in Kennedy and Jefferson locker making this kind of financial rooms now, rather than doing it decision" she said. lata. Lange argued. In fact, it Where the money would come could save an estimated from is also a big question 100,000. mark. Funds could come from The problem is the north the city's capital projects =_ seating and Kennedy -Jefferson tingency fund but $650,000 is locker rooms were eliminated already being taken from there from original plans due to cost constraints. Although the Figures are being debated, it would cost anywhere from 175,000 to T21.000 to do the i sucker rooms. and an additional I Bob Lange. for the rink. An additional M,00o is being taken from the city's recreational facilities fund. The balance is being paid through a $3 million bond issue that will be paid back by revenue from ice time fees. Fee increases last year generated a $98,000 profit, which Lange said has already been committed to the project - There's also little doubt that women's hockey is an economically viable enterprise for BIG. Past women's tour- naments have brought up to 24 teams into Bloomington at a time, Iangesaid.- __ City staff said they woui study several scenario the might allow mm and women t use the existing locker room without interfering with eac other. Thee is one further debate Some residents have indicate they think it's unfair for th community to pick up any pot tion of the tab for a project rtes is used perhaps by only 10 per mat of the local population - especially if the community get snuck repaying the bond issue increased ice time fees came cover the costs. But Lange contends thoser creased ice fees somewha equate to user fees for hocks and skating enthusiasts, - burden rink supporters are wit ing to bear but one not impose on users of Bloomington' ballhelds or many other recrea tional amenities. .... If we're going to implemer user fees, where do we draw th lice?" Lange said. "We're goinc to put this rink on the backs c the parents who use it. (The c- ty) has an obligation to do th project in a manner a economically feasible a possible." Play dela By Mark Weber Eden Prairie youth a:bledc teams sure learning this summer's rain served s double whammy: It not only messed up this year by canceling games, it wreaked havoc for next year by postponing the completion of filler Park's many new ball fields. The 100 -sae city park under construc- tion new Mitchell Lake was once expected to host limited youth baseball, softball, soccer and football action next year. But city officials this week decided the project is so fu behind schedule that 1994 play u out of the question. Instead, 1994 will be spent getting the park's turf in condition, and teams won't be using the new park's facilities until spring '95. Last Friday s target date—when most of the park's construction wu once ex- pected to be complete —came and went with much left to be done. And the blame, according to city officials, rests with Mother Natue: run jut fall, frost Jut winter and more rain this Yen has left the clay -rich Miller Park one muddy mw. – Coutmction work on the roads, all 13 ball fields and the playground all rem.;". U. A— t,.r",. n..0 seed is spread. but delay is hindered by wet sous, uxoramg m nar- bars Penning Cross, a landscape architect with the city's P arks, Rea eation and Natu- ralResources Department. It's not jmt the rain day involved, it's the dry up day. too." said Parka Dnector Bob lambert, explaining that the sublime mored ridiculous when even Minnesota River flooding affected Miller Park work bridge closings made it difficult to obtain aglime from a quarry in Shakopee). It'sjut been one thing after another," he added. Lambert says the general contractor, Richard Knutson, Inc., hu had crews working evenings and weekends in an at- tempt to Mich upp._ We've beeff'9lf7.9Mrmd with the mntnctor," hesaid. 'Tbey've done what- ever they Mn do to ger the job done." Still, the most omimisttc outlook this week has construction being finalized by mid-September and initial grass seeding being done u portfou'of the park aro to '95 completed. But there's no way we're going to min that complex by letting people on it next year," said Lambert, who added that leaving th a puk idle in 1995 will allow th e turfs root system to establish itself. The delay shocks few of the youth athl s officials who have been closely watching Miller Park's slow progress this year. It was very obvious to me they were in enough behind that the fields were going to be unplayable next yyen." uid Dave to be a board memberfor the soft- ball arm of the Eden Prairie Girls Athletic Association (EPGAA). ft's really a disappointment. Not a surprise, but a disappointment." Girls fast -pitch softball teams most affected by the delay are those in the ad- vanced program, he said. Only two Edea Hills and Prado paries —but Miller Park would have added four more next yen. The advanced program drew appmxi- mately 140 participants this Yen, an in - cruse of about 10 percent from 1992. A similar increwe is likely in 1994, said Hetzel. About 600 othergrris are involved in developmental and in-house softball prolfdelay is not expected to affect EPOAA's eff ort to draw a national touma- med to Eden prairie in 1995. The orgad- ntion had already plauned to enter Round Lake Park as its designated site. Similarly, the delay affem the EdenPrairieBaseballAssociation's older kids, who need the Luger, 90 -foot base paths, said EPBA President Steve Haha The rulinundoe has access tofour meb fields now; Miller Pwkwouldpruvide two more fields to the orpniradon, which topped the 2,000 -participant mark this year. It mean additional nights and addi- tional times' next yen, Hahn said about the Postponed rase of Miller Park. It's a disappointment. But there's nothing you an do when you have u much rain as we've had this yen." Wu eYOt u I 79EMU' S°- .; Vs 3, SW—'>m J L a W j98n o•'._uvg y°T. F W9 yyvim= lEd EA.3Ey •; 2- C 5 go; SA E m "•o _ m E a? E'v wm9vo:: ... SY? oyG•in"a>12 E'3 CEL uu¢' Sy _ m58r'v 2 '.5q u's c> o E`d ° Fl, y aa aw E CZZF iHIM O E mEoSwnarL° 0 pool , 1 C0 •..; 3" 00o 12 y O y Y_ y E %b r z •o , Jc, D'$ E T op"y V Y :E FNM(v E t.. c o r a, ai mE K 8 w 3@ w F-1 • G'm 3 gP $s4`wF H'Er w N• CLI]PINe SERVICE m w'QUUBCRY BULLETIN wtehunxloe ('e. I U L 2 1 1993 Acquisition of property for Bailey Road athletic complex site to be negotiated By Ken Surbaugh Staff Writer ,i Vj The fust step in adding more recreational opportunities in the city took place last week as the city council authorized staff to negotiate a purchase agreement for the acquisition of land at the mtersec. tion of Tower Drive and Bailey Road. City staff has been looking at potential sites for an athletic eon. Alex for the last Couple of years. Recreational uses that are tentative- ly planned for the complex would, include lighted and non -lighted softball, baseball and soccer fields. There would also be picnic and play areas, muld-purpose field areas and parking for 700 vehicles. Originally, the city identified I I potential sites located throughout I the city, and that list was narrowed down to two candidates last fall. The area known as site one is located south of Bailey Road and east of Tower Drive. Site two is located south of Valley Creek Road I and cast of Woodbury Drive. At a public hearing on Oct. 20 of last Year. the Park Commission took input from the public on which site was preferable. Following that mating, the commission agreed to proceed with the acquisition of site one. This site, approximately 80 acres in size, was chosen over the Valley Creek Road location because it pro- vided better access and was more visible, Nuscreating improved sec- unry for users of the facility. Two letters were received by the city secendy that slated concerns about the acquisition of land at site one. One, from Richard Ryan of Woodbury, stated that he felt the issue should be tabled until the rex meeting because he did not receive a notice from the city until the las minute. It is important to notify indivi- duals within a time frame that is more Conducive to a person's sche- dule," Ryan wrote. "Receiving a notice two days prior is not fair to anyone. Most peopje cannotchange thew Schedule in a short time to accomodate such action." But city officials claim that pets. pie have known about the athletic comp]= being considered for site one and have participated in discus. Bions in the past. As far as 1 know, all affected people have been notified and most Of them were present at the public input meeting," Park Commission Chairman Jim Reilly said. "All of the people who should have been notified were notified in adequateecautimebeen- they did come to the Public meeting." A second letter was submitted to the Council by Howard Markus, who is also a member of the Park Commission. He voted in favor of site two because it would be able to Provide additional recreational opportunities for Woodbury residents. If you review the public Lad- mony regarding the athletic field site selection, many citizens not associated with organized sports wanted a multiple use facility that everyone Could enjoy. Alternative one does not do that Alternative Oft is Iso limited and narrow in its audience." Council Member Lee Slagter said that he's received the impress- ion from people that they think the complex will be up and running immediately. But he said nothing I could be farther from the truth. That just isn't the case. We t don't have anything in the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) plan at this point in the next five years that will fully develop this project." Wayne Schilling, a resident liv- ing new the Bailey rower intersec- tion, explained that drainage is going to be a major problem at site one and needs to be addressed. He said in the future, water will probab. ly continue to run from his property onto the land when the athletic complex would be located. City officials said storm water holding ponds we, proposed to be constructed on the site and the city would be responsible for the drain. age on that property. , Another resident, Bill Krueger, mentioned that he was Concerned about the fields being lit I can sec the fights from theCoa• tiger Grove bailfields from mypiaoe and I wonder what it's going to be like with this. These people that were complaining about the gravel Pit site are going to be in fee an awful awakening when they we thou ballfield lights go up," S129W replied by saying that affected residents have (mown since the beginning that the fields would contain lights and that message has been stated clearly all along. Council members were pleased that the athletic complex issue had reached this point and unanimously approved a resolution Nat author. izm city staff to negotiate a inch. Oft a agreement for the 80 acres. Members told thectmeemed indivii. duals that plans for the site ate only conceptual and issues such sa fight. ing and drainage can be addressed as the project is graduallydeveloped 7 ? YY. v=q e rw ts i m wL'L 5 F' ev10a i' GGG g O.www i7iy y 8p^ S$yYqyaa' `$ gQ i3 T.. 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