All messages in [ brackets ] are comments of the typist......
[4:45 Pre- meeting band concert in the parking lot for visitors and
press by the DeLaSalle students]
5:00 Planning committee is called to order by Commissioner Fine who
announces that there will be public input allowed on the DeLaSalle
action item and there are sign up sheets in the hallway.
Commissioner Young would like to have a plan for this open speaking
time so the meeting doesn't go to midnight
Commissioner Fine would like to see how many speakers sign up first
Commissioner Dziedzic claims he will be making an amendment to the
motion if it passes
4.1 That the board approve the schematic plan for the Berger Fountain
Rebuild ( this is the dandelion fountain in Loring Park )
Mike Kimble of the MPRB planning department, Merry Keefe of the Save
Berger Fountain Group, facilitator to the various neighborhood groups
and Robert Cook, architect make the presentation for the new fountain.
The dandelion appearance of the fountain will remain, but the splash
pools, plaza, orientation toward paths and the greenway and the
mechanics will be changed. It was also suggested that the shuffleboard
courts be moved. There would be new seating, new lighting for the
basin and fountain, and the fountain would be re-engineered to be
re-circulating. The various organizations involved would do $1,000,000
in fundraising and would hope to eventually use the Park Foundation as
the fiscal agent ( a task currently done by the Friends of Loring
Park). The current plan is that after the schematic is approved to
build a model to help further fundraising.
Commissioner Erwin mentions that the fountain currently costs $15,000
per year for water and electricity and understands the new design will
reduce that cost to $7500 a year and thanks the various groups for
their effort to save the signature fountain.
Commissioner Young asks if $1,000,000 will be enough.
Ms. Keefe states that $1,000,000 will cover the fountain and plaza
redesign and that further fundraising will be done to complete other
areas of the plan and that they will work with the MPRB staff on future
items.
PASSES
4.2 That the Board approve the terms for the implementation of a
Reciprocal Use Agreement with DeLaSalle High School
Judd Reitkirk Director of Planning gives some background on Nicollet
Island complete with old photos and ariel view maps
1977 The Central Riverfront Master Plan is developed
1978 the Met Council Approves $4.5 million for Open Space land
acquisition
1980 the MPRB decides to keep the housing on the Island and the Met
Council approves and additional $5.4 million for land acquisition
1983 a Contract for Acquisition and Transfer of Lands for Redevelopment
by Public Bodies by and between the MCDA and the City of Minneapolis,
by and through its Park and Recreation Board is signed [This is the
"key" document and DeLaSalle is not one of the parties on the title
page so hardly a major player] The Met Council then approves the
Nicollet Island Master Plan [ $ 9.9 million in Met Council Open Fund
Money which may need to go back ]
Commissioner Dziedzic asks if housing was in the plan?
Director Reitkirk says the original plan did not include housing. [Not
specific if it was the draft plan or master he is referring to at this
point ]
There is some confusion as to what comes next as Director Reitkirk
planned to next defer to the DeLaSalle architect and engineer who in
turn defer to Brother Michael Collins who begins his speech. He is
interrupted by Commissioner Fine who wants to know where they are in
the agenda [There is no public input listed on the agenda and
Commissioner Young's asking to have a plan was ignored so Commissioner
Fine is winging it here ] It is determined that the staff portion of
the presentation is complete and that Brother Michael does have some
time to spare before his duties at DeLaSalle for the evening call him
away so the meeting moves on to the DeLaSalle architects.
Kevin Halbach of KKE architects and Jay Pomeroy Landscape Designer and
Engineer of Anderson-Johnson Associates, Inc make their presentation.
Mr. Halbach states that their are many issues involved and that he sees
himself as not only the architect for DeLaSalle but also for the
neighborhood and the people of the city and the MPRB and would like to
include them as well. The design shown is described as a multipurpose
field for softball, soccer, football etc.... The area outside of the
field and bleachers would include pathways and pedestrian lighting.
The main change will be the closing of Grove Street. There would also
be plantings and landscaping, Brother's Park, recreation and bleacher
seating for up to 750 people and would address ADA requirements and
safety and security issues.
Mr. Pomeroy then speaks to the loss and possible relocation of the
tennis courts and the relocation of the batting cage to a small
softball infield.
Commissioner Dziedzic asks about the size of the wall necessary along
East Island Av
Mr. Pomeroy says it will range from 6 ft to 10 ft tall but would be
sensitive to a historical look
Commissioner Dziedzic then asks how close it will be to the railroad
tracks
Mr. Pomeroy says that from the end of the field to the tracks is
between 36-40 feet
Commissioner Berry Graves asks if there would be some sort of net at
the end of the field by the tracks
Mr. Pomeroy says that yes and it could of a type to come up and down
Commissioner Berry Graves mentions that there is currently parking
issues on a day to day basis and how would they be mitigated during
games
Commissioner Fine interrupts to give the floor to Commissioner Erwin [
Yeah what about the parking which at the other end of the island is
contractually reserved for the Nicollet Island Pavilion and will get
you a $235 tow if not followed ]
Commissioner Erwin asks if there has been some consideration for berms
to help with sound mitigation
Mr. Pomeroy says there may be some in the Southwest corner but not
elsewhere
Commissioner Erwin then asks about lighting which is described as a 4
pole system by Mr. Pomeroy
Commissioner Hauser moves 4.2
Commissioner Berry Graves asks about noise containment to which Mr.
Pomeroy says there would only be noise at an event and berms would not
help
Mr. Halbach speaks of acoustical sound imaging which can be done within
the planning with walls and that they hope to have a stone memorial
wall.
General Manager for Administration Don Siggelkow then goes through the
list of 12 terms that have been submitted for the Reciprocal Use
Agreement
They are as follows...
1. All construction costs associated with the "Athletic Facility" as
defined by the 1983 agreement, will be the responsibility of DeLaSalle.
[Does that mean the MPRB will be reimbursed for the cost of the
original tennis courts?]
2. The Athletic Facility will be on MPRB and DeLaSalle property as
outlined in the 1983 agreement.
3. No park land will be transferred or leased to DeLaSalle as part of
the reciprocal agreement. [ Well there.. no need for that pesky
super-majority 6th vote by an unwilling commissioner. How "it's not
a tax it's a fee" or rather "it's not a lease its an agreement" .]
4. All maintenance associated with the Athletic Facility will be the
responsibility of DeLaSalle. [ Does the MPRB get reimbursed for the
resurfacing of the aforementioned tennis courts? ]
5. DeLaSalle will be provided with priority use of the Athletic
Facility during the school year. [ Would this be the MPS school year
or does it differ from a private school which can set its own
calendar???]
6. If the MPRB determines that the tennis courts will be relocated,
DeLaSalle will be responsible for the construction of two (2)
regulation tennis courts.
7. The MPRB will have access to the gymnasium at DeLaSalle High School
for youth sports. [This needs to be very specific with a set number of
specific days ]
8. DeLaSalle will indemnify the MPRB for all DeLaSalle activities held
or sponsored at the Athletic Facility.
9. The term of the reciprocal agreement will be 30 years. [ Gee, a
stadium that is only good for 30 years, where have I heard that before
]
10. No public funds, including property tax dollars or regional park
funds, will be used in the construction or maintenance of the Athletic
Facility. [ What about attorney's fees when this fight drags out in
court??? Will property tax dollars be used there, or enterprise
dollars or sports use fees or any other MPRB funds at all for that
matter??? and who is footing the bill for the staff time devoted to all
this planning and negotiating????]
11. DeLaSalle shall provide 1,000 hours of community service
activities annually to the MPRB including but not limited to; clinics
for youth sports, student mentoring and public service. [ Too vague,
difficult to measure and we're already getting it from the U of M for
the boathouse land ]
12. The DeLaSalle parking lot will be provided to the MPRB at no
charge when there is no conflict with school events. [ What
constitutes a conflict ??? ]
Commissioner Mason asks when the access to the gymnasium would be?
GM Siggelkow says that has not been negotiated but probably in the
summer [ and the motion is to approve these terms????]
Commissioner Fine decides that public input will be next......
end part 1
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
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