Bettendorf Park Board Minutes 11/12/03

MINUTES
BETTENDORF PARK BOARD
NOVEMBER 12, 2003

The Bettendorf Park Board held a regular meeting on November 12, 2003 at City Hall in the Council Chambers at 7:00 pm.

Present: Kamp, Glenn, Beckman, Makoben, and Worley
Absent: None

Chairman Kamp opened the meeting to anyone present to address the Board regarding any item of interest that does not appear on the Agenda. There was no one present.

On motion by Glenn, seconded by Makoben, that the minutes of the special meeting held on October 14, 2003 and the regular meeting held on October 15, 2003 be approved and placed on file for future reference.

Roll call on motion: Ayes: Kamp, Glenn, Beckman, Makoben, and Worley
Nays: None

On motion by Worley, seconded by Makoben, that the bills be allowed as presented and that the Secretary be instructed to have checks drawn in the respective amounts.

Roll call on motion: Ayes: Kamp, Glenn, Beckman, Makoben, and Worley
Nays: None

A list of the bills is annex #1 to these minutes.

The public hearing notice was published in the Bettendorf News on November 6, 2003. A copy of the affidavit of publication is annex #2 to these minutes.

Chairman Kamp opened the public hearing for any citizen present to comment on the proposed plans, specifications, and form of contract, for the Field Sike Park and Greenspace Areas Development Project.

Steve Grimes stated that this was the 2nd public hearing on this subject and is a follow up to the October 15th meeting. Sandy Doran from Shive-Hattery Engineers is here with details and an updated cost estimate. Also present is Wally Mook, Public Works Director, and Stu Smith, Parks Maintenance Manager.

Sandy Doran, of Shive Hattery Engineers, showed slide photos of a similar project in North Bettendorf where highly eroded banks existed. The slides showed one-year construction phases and problem-solving techniques such as repairing stream banks to a more uniform slope, using smaller detention areas to work with the drainage of the site from a higher point, saving existing trees and planting new ones, using a second detention basin at the upper end to take care of sediment from the farm field, planting a lot of native seeds, allowing for vegetation to occur, and using eyebrow berms to help with infiltration.

Sandy informed the audience that the plans for planting and grading the area were not available for viewing due to a power outage at her office earlier this afternoon. The plans showed prairie plants along the creek corridor and how their root structures are the tools for maintaining erosion and infiltrating water.

Sandy had also prepared a proposed tree plan as requested from the last public hearing, which she did have on hand for display. The plan, which included a detailed legend, marked the types of existing trees in the area and the types of new trees to be planted. She explained the trees in the park area that would be removed, but 114 others were proposing to remain.

Steve Grimes mentioned that even though most of the proposed new trees along the creek corridor were 4-feet in size, some would come from Trees Are Us, tree farms, and donations and would be 10-15 feet minimum such as oaks and ashes.

Various questions were asked by the audience for the Board to address regarding the proposed tree plan. Some were concerned with trees on their property.

Steve Grimes explained that they would not take any trees from anyoneís property without speaking with the property owner first. And when we hire a contractor, we will explain the sensitivity to this issue so that accidental tree removal will hopefully be avoided.

Steve explained that the further down the creek you go, more trees will be removed due to the flood plain and less quality trees existing. Weíll have to do more grading due to the erosion in those areas.

Other questions involved the bike path details. Sandy explained that the bike path was going to run along the east side of the creek starting at the north edge of the park. Sandy did not have the exact location plans due to the power outage.

Steve Grimes explained that the long range plan for the bike path would be to start at Forest Grove Road and continue along Field Sike Park and connect at Crow Creek. The long range plan for trails in the community would be to have a trail that cut down from Crow Creek at Field Sike Road and go all the way down to Crow Creek Park. Eventually, we would like it to go all the way down to the riverfront.

Phil Allen, 6485 Eagle Ridge Road, stated that realigning the creek is going to cause a lot of grading to tie into his lot. He would like to have something in writing stating the work that is to be done in that area prior to plans being finalized.

Bruce Norton, 6489 Eagle Ridge Road, stated that the last public hearing referred to this project as a prototype. However, tonight he was glad to hear that a similar project had taken place in Moon Stream. Can you give us a further location, so we can take a look at this property? Regarding the grove of trees, please tape around this to make us feel a little better about it. The more specific you could be would make us feel better. And when you send the plans out, please put a supplement in as to where the bike path is curving in towards our properties. He would like to request one more hearing to voice opinions and comments before the final plans are set. Bruce stated that Commissioner Worley had made the comment that he understood where we were coming from because he had some trees in his backyard that he cared for. So if this project was in your backyard, I think you would be a little concerned, too. We just want a little more detail and blue tape.

Chairman Kamp stated that their intent tonight was to provide more detailed plans but because of the power outage, they could not. That is beyond our control. You are more than welcome to view the plans and give your comments through Steve. We can also make changes as the project goes along.

Jim Bradley, 6471 Eagle Ridge Road, is concerned with the ìcloudî marked on the proposed tree plan. He believes that everyone would feel better if Shive-Hattery would tape off every tree within that ìcloudî.

Chairman Kamp closed the public hearing.

On motion by Makoben, seconded by Glenn, to adopt Resolution #40-03, approving plans, specifications, and form of contract for the development of Field Sike and Greenway areas. The resolution is annex #3 to these minutes.

The Park Board discussed the need for another public hearing. They agreed that another public hearing was not needed, but they would make the plans available for viewing prior to next monthís board meeting, and Shive-Hattery would mark the trees within the ìcloudî area on the proposed tree plan.

Steve Grimes explained to the audience that the reason this area was chosen was because this is a contained area of a watershed that we can show a systematic change to the ecosystem and we have had some extensive conversations with the property owner to the north and he is very interested in using some of these types of methods when he goes to utilize his property. The City has been moving in this direction for some time. We are making some of these types of methods at the golf course, as well, but a golf course doesnít provide a lot of room to work with.

Roll call on motion: Ayes: Kamp, Glenn, Beckman, Makoben, and Worley
Nays: None

The monthly financial reports are annex #4 to these minutes.

Ryan Goff, Eagle Scout Troop 82 reviewed his project of pruning and mulching trees along Scheck Park. He showed the Board members pictures of 6-8 trees that needed repairs, debris that was cut away, and planting of 27 additional trees along the Crow Creek Road by the new hospital. He had about 20 volunteers that put in a total of 160 hours of labor. He wanted to thank the City for the use of mulch and funding.

Steve Grimes mentioned that Ryan submitted a grant proposal through Keepers of the Land, which was approved for an additional $1,000 of funding toward the project.

Ted Tulon, Eagle Scout Troop 82, reviewed his project of adding mile markers, staining 16 benches, and planting along the bike path. He also showed the Board pictures of before and after scenes of the project. He thanked the Board for their funding and supplies.

The Board thanked both troop members for their projects and contributions to the community.

On motion by Glenn, seconded by Makoben, to adopt Resolution #47-03, approving the fee increases for the Life Fitness Center and Splash Landing. This resolution is annex #5 to these minutes.

Roll call on motion: Ayes: Kamp, Glenn, Beckman, Makoben, and Worley
Nays: None

The following items appeared on the consent agenda and were enacted by one motion:

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to receive and file the letter dated October 10, 2003 from Ross Harrison, REAP Coordinator for the State of Iowa, informing the Board of grant awarded for the Field Sike Park and Greenway Project in the amount of $150,000. The letter is annex #6 to these minutes.

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to receive and file the e-mail from Roger Kean, Scott County Conservation Board, dated October 14, 2003, informing the Board that they are not interested in exploring a regional dog park facility. The e-mail is annex #7 to these minutes.

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to receive and file the minutes from Trees Are Us Committee dated October 8, 2003. The minutes are annex #8 to these minutes.

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to adopt Resolution #45-03, approving payment #2 in the amount of $5,160 to Shive-Hattery for design of Field Sike Park and Greenway Areas. The resolution is annex #9 to these minutes.

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to approve, receive, and file the letter from the ARC of Scott County requesting fees be waived for their Winter Party at the Community Center on December 5, 2003. The letter is annex #10 to these minutes.

On motion by Beckman, seconded by Worley, to approve, receive, and file the special event request from Jeffrey Bozman for an overnight event for Boy Scout Troop 46 at the Community Center December 20, 2003. The request is annex #11 to these minutes.

Chairman Kamp wanted to congratulate all those involved in the Veterans Memorial. They did a great job getting it funded and completed. The memorial is very nice, and people should check it out.

On motion by Makoben, the meeting was adjourned at 8:17 pm.

Kamp (Chairman)

Glenn (Vice Chairman)