Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 06/11/2009 - Joint with CC

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Motion carried. Voting Yes, Chairperson Johns, Commissioners Barr, Erickson, Hansen, Shryock. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioners Backous and LaMere. COMMISSION BUSINESS Case #1: Consider Adopt~A~Spot Trailside Garden Improvements and Development and Maintenance Agreement Al Haugen, Management Intern presented additional letters that were received after the agenda was produced. He expressed the City Council concerns of inadequate parking at both sites, and would a different site be more appropriate, they asked which children will be recognized and questioned the timeline of completion and the funding. The applicants could not be present but their concerns were expressed regarding the higher cost of developing Site 2 and they wanted it noted that the garden is intended to recognize all of Ramsey's children and not just a memorial for one child. None of the adopting partners or applicant have signed the Development and Maintenance Agreement as of yet. Commissioner Erickson expressed her concern of who is going to maintain this 10 years from now and that it is already a busy road as it is and she has concern for the children. Chairperson Johns agreed that both sites have traffic issues and that needs to be taken off the table because that is not a legitimate argument in a sense and either way you are going to cross Sunwood. COnUnissioner Shryock agrees with a number of issues with the pedestrian and vehicle traffic concerns but wanted to express she doesn't see it as being a major destination that would generate a lot of traffic and noted that there is appropriate crosswalks in the area and feels it is designed for a passive peaceful area and just wanted to make note of this. Ronda Hahn, 14757 Krypton Court, submitted a letter to convey the impact her family would . have if Site 1 is recommended by reading a portion of her letter to document what has been conveyed previously 1) first she wanted to express sympathy to family and friends for the loss of a young life 2) when she purchased the property twelve years ago she was told that the area is city drainage land and no improvements would made to this property 3) if the memorial site is built on Site 1 she will longer be able to enjoy their property or their recently installed inground pool in their backyard and expressed the importance of this family value time 4) the memorial site benches would be 25 feet within their backyard and it would be too much of a reminder of personal grief of loss. They are asking that the Department Staff, the Park and Recreation. Commissioners, the Mayor and the City Council members and residents of Junkite Street to recommend another site. She agreed with the other letters of concern regarding the traffic and parking on Sunwood Drive, and the Krypton Court cui de sac and feels the foot traffic would be drawn in. Benches would impact their personal privacy and the schedule of the maintenance plan would interrupt their Park and Recreation Commission/April 9, 2009 Page 2 of 5