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2-22-1999OPEN SPACE & RECREATION COMMISSION JOINT MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL February 22, 1999 Commission members present: Linda Loomis, Tom Zins, Roger McConico, Chuck Cahill. Also present was Jerry Sandler, soon to be appointed Commission member. City Council members present: Jan LeSuer, Gloria Johnson, Marti Micks Staff present: Rick Jacobson, Sharyl Thompson, Tom Klatt, Mark Grimes. Residents present: Dave Fellman, Floyd Anderson, Sheila Miller, Hugh Maynard, Faith Wood- man, Martha Briggs, Allen Flory, Robert Meller. With no quorum present, no action was taken, but the following items were discussed. SALE OF CITY OWNED LOT — SOUTH END OF SWEENEY LAKE The City Council requested this joint meeting to get feedback from the Commission as to their reasons for recommending that the City retain ownership of the lot adjacent to Floyd Anderson's home. Linda Loomis pointed out that the lot in questions is not under the jurisdiction of the Commis- sion but is considered city property. If it is specifically designated as park or open space prop- erty, then the Commission would be involved in recommending use of this property. Tom Zins expressed his concern about keeping access to Sweeney Lake for the public, and he doesn't favor selling the lot to a private party. Chuck Cahill felt the City should keep the lot at least until it has been fully decided what amount of public access there will be to Sweeney Lake once the Hidden Lakes development is finalized. Linda Loomis pointed out that keeping this lot could possibly give access to the lake from the Hennepin Park trail that is going to be constructed. It also improves access to Schaper Park, Wirth Park, and the regional trail for those in the neighborhood. Roger McConico requested input from Floyd Anderson. Mr. Anderson said he had asked the Council to reconsider selling the land because there is now public access to Sweeney Lake at the Hidden Lakes site. He stated that people from many areas outside the neighborhood come into his yard through that lot and fish. He feels the trespassing has increased over the years, and when the trail goes in, he believes it will become even more of a problem. If the lot stays public, he stated that he would like the fence replaced. If he owned the lot, he would plant evergreens, put up "private property" signage, and dispose of the fence. Jan LeSuer asked the Commission what procedures they felt would be best in dealing with this lot. Linda Loomis felt the fence issue could be resolved by working with Mr. Anderson and the Sweeney Lakes Association in installing other fencing. Rick Jacobson and Tom Klatt agreed. Chuck Cahill stated that the City should work with the neighbors to help alleviate the trespassing problems. Mr. Anderson spoke favorably to this, and offered to bear some of the cost of new fencing. Tom Zins stated that should the City keep the lot, a plan for the site should be formulated. He thought a final decision should be put off until a study is complete as to what could go on the lot. HIDDEN LAKES PENINSULA DEVELOPMENT When Phase I of the Hidden Lakes development was put before City Council, the Open Space Commission recommended that land dedication be made to the City providing public access to the lake. They were not pleased that private homeowners could use the public access to put their boats into the water, when the general public was limited to canoes. The Commission felt that the homeowners' boat access should have been located on a different part of the lake from the public access for canoes. The Commission was also disappointed that an easement for park land was granted, and the parcel is not city owned. Marti Micks said that she is looking for input from the Commission as to what should happen with Phase II (development of the peninsula). Mark Grimes explained that when the developer applies for the PUD, the plan would be forwarded to Rick Jacobson who would bring it before the Commission for their recommendations. WINTER MAINTENANCE OF TRAILS A letter had been received by the City Council from residents near the General Mills Research area requesting that the trails in the Research area be plowed in the winter. After much discussion, it was stated that it was important we continue plowing "transportation" trails and other paths that were plowed this year, but the "recreational" trails in the Research area should not be plowed because of cost, ice problems and safety. Others were not satisfied that a need for plowing additional trails had been established. The letter received represented a small group of walkers, and it doesn't appear that the number of requests for plowing justifies the cost of plowing. Chuck Cahill asked about the possibility of having groomed cross-country ski trails. Rick Jacob- son explained that the equipment for grooming trails is expensive, and groomed trails are already available at Theo Wirth Park in Golden Valley and nearby French Park. NEW BUSINESS Jan LeSuer asked the Commission how they felt about the level of communication they were get- ting from the City Council. Linda Loomis and Tom Zins replied that they were concerned that there was no formal means to bring attention to matters originated from the Commission to the Council. OLD BUSINESS Roger McConico brought up the design of guardrails on bleachers in the parks. After some gen- eral discussion, Rick Jacobson responded that when the guardrails for the bleachers were made, they were constructed to meet the building code requirements. ADJOURNMENTADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.