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Information Requests
Theodore Wirth Park CAC, Meeting #19, May 1, 2012
1) Regarding the archaeology report and data practices, if the
archaeology report was paid for publicly, shouldn’t it be public data?
Response by Eve Terrell, Two Pines Resource Group: “The immediate answer is SHPO (State Historic
Preservation Office) has not concurred or commented on the report yet, so it is not at an appropriate
stage to distribute the info publically. The larger answer is the project was initiated under Section 106
and NHPA (National Historic Places Act) as a Corp (U S Army Corps of Engineers) permit. Section 324 of
NHPA specifically excludes cultural resources from FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) as sensitive
material, if the site is determined eligible. If SHPO concurs the site is eligible for the NRHP (National
Register of Historic Places), location, character, and ownership are all subject to protection if disclosure
of this information could expose the site to potential harm” (emphasis added).
2) The plan lacks in-depth analysis of environmental resources, has that analysis been done?
The Wirth Lake Concept Master Plan (drawing) which is being developed in this CAC process is only
part of the overall master planning that MPRB is developing for the park. The Master Plan document
will consist of multiple chapters which will contain in depth analysis covering multiple aspects of the
park. A specific chapter will be devoted to environmental stewardship of the park. Staff have been
working with the environmental consultant from the design charette and our environmental resources
group to develop this information. When the draft master plan document is complete, it will have a 45day public comment period announced to the public and after any changes are made based on those
comments, the Board of Commissioners will make a resolution to adopt it. After the board adopts it, it
will be brought to the Met Council for approval as a regional park master plan.
3) What about the comment presented on snowmaking costs decreasing revenue?
In 2007 (?), the MPRB Board approved a Wirth Winter Rec Plan that indicated the extent of snowmaking and lit
ski trails. Current snowmaking trails (including 2011 additions) are within the extent of that approved plan. If
approved, the current concept plan for snowmaking and lit trails will supersede the previous plan.
Staff estimates that the operating cost to conduct snowmaking on the current extent of snowmaking trails is in
the range of $15,000 per year (labor, utilities, equipment upkeep). The operating cost to expand snowmaking to
the extent shown in the current concept plan is estimated to increase costs roughly $6,000 - $8,000 per year.
4) Why are we adding parking by Xerxes when we cut the beach parking “by half”?
The former beach parking had 106 spaces. The reconstructed parking has 74 spaces. There is a parking
overflow area connection in the new parking lot to the east, but to address concerns with adding too
much parking in the previous CAC process, a decision was made to reduce the beach parking and
evaluate it after new uses became established.
The parking near Xerxes and Glenwood would serve the picnic area and allow bus drop off for
educational programs, events and the JD Rivers Garden. The proposed reserveable 250 capacity picnic
shelters and the two smaller 30 capacity shelters will require additional parking, but parking standards
vary greatly and there is no one standard for picnicking. The total new shelter capacity (not including
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the beach shelter or the JD Rivers Shelter) is 310 people. Parking percentages range from 25% in
Golden Valley, 30% in Minneapolis to 75% in Hopkins. This would suggest 78, 93 or 233 recommended
parking spaces. The picnic area vignette shows two options; one has 52 spaces with a single bay, the a
double bay could add up to 44 more spaces, for a total of 96 spaces (though less could be constructed).
5) What will happen with the old tennis courts at Xerxes and Glenwood?
The tennis courts will be removed this summer and will be restored to a natural area. This area could
be used as an extension of the existing nature play area. As discussed in the earlier CAC process, the
Court Sports Activity Plan which is currently underway will look at replacing tennis courts in this area.
6) North Wirth golf course changes will involve tree loss. How many and what kind of trees will
be lost?
The preliminary estimate includes 2.7 acres of tree clearing on the back-9 and 1.6 acres of tree clearing
on the front-9 to accomplish the concept master plan. Funding in the project budget estimates would
add 175 trees of average 2-1/2” diameter.
Staff will work on developing information for the Board presentation estimating the significant trees
which would be required to be removed. Staff will define significant trees by species, approximate size
and will also estimate damaged trees. Staff will also discuss a re-use plan for hardwood trees removed
for incorporation in park improvement projects. Some oaks downed by the tornado were set aside for
MPRB use and Forestry regularly works with Wood in the Hood to re-use trees which are removed
throughout the city.
7) What is capitalization of revenues, how does it work, under what circumstance is it used?
The idea behind providing general revenue projections for park improvements is that it will hopefully
give a fuller financial picture as the CAC makes decisions about priority investments. The topic can
quickly get mired in the weeds so the CAC is encouraged to keep the discussion at a high level. Here’s a
bit more description.
1. “Revenue capitalization” basically means taking out a mortgage to build aspects of the park and
using ongoing revenues from the park to pay off the mortgage over a period of 15-20 years. The
numbers plugged into the revenue capitalization column on your handout is a preliminary and
conservative estimate of how much could be mortgaged using the more significant revenue
generators proposed for the park.
2. The projections identified are very preliminary but also conservative. For instance, the $30,000
revenue projection identified under “A-11 back-9 golf course modifications” assumes there will
be a steady increase in the number of rounds played at Wirth because the quality of the golf
experience will improve with the proposed changes. In the revenue projections staff has made,
the $30,000 bump would be reached the second year after course improvements and
increasingly exceeded beyond that year.
3. The key points staff wishes to make regarding the revenue projections are these: The concept
master plan has elements that would capture ongoing revenues in the park in addition to what
is currently captured. When presenting the master plan to the MPRB Board, staff will encourage
discussion around the implications of capitalizing future revenues in order to build elements of
the park.
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