2014-09-09 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AGENDA
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Tuesday September 9, 2014 - 6:30 P.M.
City Council Chambers
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Approval of the August 11, 2014 Minutes
4. Marie Park Hockey Rink Update
5. Recreation Program Report
6. Par 3 Report
7. Par 3 Five Year Plan
8. Announcements
9. Commission Comments
10. Adjourn
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short notice. Please contact City Administration at 651-452-1850.
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CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING
August 11, 2014
The August meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on
Monday, August 11, 2014 at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve.
Chair Hinderscheid called to order the parks and recreation commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. The
following commissioners were present: Chair Hinderscheid, Commissioners Ira Kipp, David Miller,
Stephanie Levine, Joel Paper and Michael Toth. Staff present: Recreation Program Coordinator
Sloan Wallgren and Public Works Director/City Engineer John Mazzitello.
Chair Hinderscheid started the meeting with a moment of silence to honor Officer Scott Patrick.
Approval of Agenda
Commissioner Paper added the agenda item: Renaming Parks. Commissioner Levine added an
item: Protection of Pollinating Insects. Chair Hinderscheid added Splash Pad and Signs.
COMMISSIONER TOTY MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA; COMMISSIONER
LEVINE SECONDED THE MOTION.
AYES 6: NAYS 0
Approval of Minutes of July 08, 2014
COMMISSIONER LEVINE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES;
COMMISSIONER PAPER SECONDED THE MOTION.
AYES 6: NAYS 0
Marie Park Hockey Rink
Mr. Wallgren informed the commission that the hockey boards have been removed at Marie Park to
create a staging area for the contractor that is doing road work in the area the next few months.
When the project is complete the contractor will pave the hockey area and new boards will be
installed. The 2014 budget has money allocated to replace a set of hockey boards.
Commissioner Toth asked when this decision happened.
Mr. Mazzitello replied that it has been the intent of the city to pave all of the hockey rinks in town,
and that if we were to pave Marie Park rink now we would be saving over $22,000 which is about
half the normal cost.
Commissioner Paper asked what the condition of Friendly Hills rink was.
Mr. Mazzitello responded that the Friendly Hills rink was paved over 13 year ago and has held up
very nice. It easier to maintain good ice at Friendly Hills compared to Marie and Wentworth Park.
Friendly Hills rink will need some minor repairs in the future.
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Commissioner Paper asked if there were hockey nets at Friendly Hills during the summer for
people to use.
Mr. Mazzitello responded that the nets stayed out at Friendly Hills all year.
Commissioner Levine said that she was very concerned about removing green space from the park.
She has spoken to several residents that are also concerned about paving the hockey rink.
Honey Bees
Commissioner Levine started the conversation about the importance of being environmentally
responsible with the chemicals that are applied around the city. There is concern that the honey bee
population is being threatened by certain chemicals, and that the honey bees are very important the
environment.
Mr. Mazzitello stated that we currently do not blanket spray our parks for insects. Occasionally
maintenance staff does need to spray for bees, if they are presenting a danger to people.
The commission discussed the resolution that the city of Shorewood passed, which says that the
city will not spray chemicals that kill honey bees and that the city will encourage and educate the
residents about the importance of creating and maintaining pollinator -friendly habitats.
Tennis Practice Board
Mr. Wallgren informed the commission that he has received several emails and phone calls about
having a practice board installed at the Marie Park tennis courts. Mr. Wallgren informed the
commission that to have a quality practice board installed would cost between $4,000 and $5,000. The
board could be taken down and moved to another tennis court if it needed to be moved.
The commission discussed the need for a practice board and thought it was a good idea.
COMMISSIONER MILLER MADE A MOTION TO INSTALL A TENNIS PRACTICE BOARD
AT MARIE PARK. COMMISSIONER LEVINE SECONDED THE MOTIN
AYES 5: NAYS 1
Recreation Programming Report
Mr. Wallgren informed the commission that the summer recreation programs have finished. He
will present data with revenue, expenses and participation for each program at the September
meeting.
Mr. Wallgren also stated that he has been working with Trek and OneTen Cycles to organize a bike
ride on our beautiful trail system. The bike ride will be held on Saturday October 11, 2014.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and all the proceeds will go to the Breast Cancer
Research Foundation. More details about the event will be in the next issue of the Heights
Highlights.
Par 3 Report
Mr. Wallgren informed the commission that the golf course ran two promotional offers in the
month of July, one with Groupon and one with Living Social. The sales from the two offers
produced over $5,000 in revenue. We also had 60 youth from the metro area play in a Jr. PGA
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event on July 31St. The 6th hole at the golf course was closed for much of the moth because of the
rain in June. We allowed golfers to play and extra hole during slower times, and offered league
golfers a $2.00 discount. The decrease in Greens Fee revenue for the month of July is a result in
the discount.
Mr. Wallgren told the commission that staff was looking in to integrating Footgolf into the golf
course. Footgolf is a relatively new sport, and is a combination of soccer and golf. The initial cost
to set up the Footgolf course is roughly $1,500.00. Mr. Wallgren would like to get the Footgolf
cups installed at the course before Labor Day so that the course could capitalize on the soccer
season.
The commission was very supportive of the idea of Footgolf.
Total sales for the month of July were $28,998 and total expenses were $17,711. Total sales year to
date are $94,482 and expenses are $66,667 resulting in a net profit of $27,815
Renaming Parks
Commissioner Paper presented the idea of changing the name of a park to honor Officer Scott
Patrick. The entire commission was supportive of doing something to honor Office Scott Patrick.
Mr. Wallgren said that there is talk of doing something, but at this time it was too early to do
determine what the appropriate action would be. If a park name is changed the commission would
be involved in the process.
Park Signs
Chair Hinderscheid asked if there has been any progress with installing signs that describe the
history of each park. Commissioner Paper said that he has talked with staff at Friendly Hills
Middle School, and he will update the commission on the progress in the future.
Commission Comments
Commissioner Toth thought it was a good meeting.
Commissioner Levine said it was a good meeting and encouraged people to recycle in the parks.
Commissioner Miller said it was a good meeting and thanked staff for their work.
Commissioner Paper thought it was a good meeting and would love to see Footgolf at the Par 3.
Commissioner Kipp thought it was good meeting and echoed commissioner Paper's comments
about Officer Partick.
Chair Hinderscheid thought it was a good meeting.
COMMISSIONER PAPER MADE A MOTION TO ADJOUN THE MEETING; COMMISSIONER
TOTH SECONDED THE MOTION.
Ayes 6: Nays 0
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted by Sloan Wallgren
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1101 Victoria Curve 1 Mendota Heights, MN 55118
651.452.1850 phone 1 651.452.8940 fax
www.mendota-heig hts.com
ILI CITY OF
MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DATE: September 9, 2014
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Sloan Wallgren, Recreation Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Marie Park Hockey Rink Update
Update
At the August 19, 2014 city council meeting the council voted to approve the change in the work
order to the Victoria/Rolling Green road construction project. The contractors will pave the
hockey area at Marie Park when they are finished with their street project. Once the pavement is
set a different contractor will come and install the hockey boards, this should be done in late
September or early October.
Action Required
No action is required.
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CITY OF
MEINDOTA HEIGHTS
1101 Victoria Curve 1 Mendota Heights, MN 55118
651.4521850 phone 1 651.452.8940 fax
www.mendota-heights.com
DATE: September 9, 2014
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Sloan Wallgren, Recreation Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Recreation Program Report
Update
We offered many of the usual popular activities this summer We expanded some of the programs
that we offered, as well as introduced some new classes. We received a lot of positive feedback
about the changes and additions that were made. I have attached a chart that shows the
participation in our programs the past few years. We will continue to offer these programs next
year and again will expand some of the programs and also introduce new programs. Staff has
created online surveys that will be sent out this week to help evaluate each of the programs, the
result will be provide to the commission at a future meeting.
Gymnastics Lessons
For boys & girls, ages 3 and older. Classes include: balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise, tumbling
& more. Classes are held at Sibley High School (small gym.) Girls should wear leotards; boys may wear
shorts & t -shirts.
Saturday mornings: 10 weeks
December 6, 13, 20
January 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
February 7 & 14
Tumbling Tykes Ages 3 & 4 8:30am to 9:OOam $90
Tumbling Tots Ages 4 & 5 9:05am to 9:35am $90
Kinder Tumbling Ages 5 & 6 9:40am to 10:20am $90
Beginner Ages 6 & Up 10:25am to 11:25am $125
Advanced Beginners Ages 6 & Up 11:30am to 12:25pm $125
0
0
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Breast Cancer Awareness Bike Ride
The city has partnered with One Ten Cycles and Trek to host a Breast Cancer Awareness Bike
Ride on October 11, 2014. The cost is $30 per person and all of the proceeds will go to Breast
Cancer Research Foundation. The ride will offer participants a 3, 10, and 25 mile course on our
beautiful Mendota Heights Trails. More information will be in the next issue of the Heights
Highlights that will be delivered to homes in early September.
Upcoming MEA Field Trips
Our next field trips will be held October 16th & 17th. On October 16th we will be going to Bunker
Stables for a horseback riding trip & on October 17th we will be going to Base Camp for rock
climbing and archery, followed by lunch and bowling at Drakula's. More information on these
trip will be in the next issue of the Heights Highlights.
Winter Break Future Field Trips
Rock Climbing and a Movie -December 22, 2014
Science Museum and Omni Theater -December 23, 2014
Grand Slam Sports and Skateville-December 29, 2014
Wild Woods Water Park -December 30, 2014
Dog Sledding in Hastings -Presidents Day or Martin Luther King Jr Day
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Mendota[Heights[Tark[ EiRecreationE Programs
Programs Ice[ kating Tennis Softball Youthirrips Playgrounds Safety3Camp Fishing®erby Skateboard[ramp Disc.[ olf Gymnastics Totals
2012 32 151 285 132 254 43 52 0 0 30 979
2013 16 190 285 161 285 35 32 0 0 19 1019
2014 30 245 285 75 285 50 30 33 11 NA 1044
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CITY OF
MEINDOTA HEIGHTS
1101 Victoria Curve 1 Mendota Heights, MN 55118
651.4521850 phone 1 651.452.8940 fax
www.mendota-heights.com
DATE: September 9, 2014
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Sloan Wallgren, Recreation Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Par 3 Update
Update
Staff has installed the Footgolf Course. We are now open for people to come and try this new
sport. The fee that we will be charging for Footgolf this fall is $7 for youth and $8 for adults.
These prices are comparable with other area footgolf courses, and reflect our mission to offer the
most affordable rates at the facility. We will be working with the Mendota Heights Athletic
Association as well as the local schools to help promote the new opportunity.
The cities of Mendota Heights and West St. Paul are again hosting the annual Thompson
Oaks/Mendota Heights Par 3 Open on Saturday September 27, 2014 at 9:OOam. The event consists
of 9 holes of golf at both courses. The entry fee is $30 and includes: golf, prizes, breakfast and
lunch. Please call the golf course to register.
Staff is working on a survey to send out to participants in our Golf Camps, Jr Golf Leagues and
Wednesday Women's League. We will try to expand these programs for next year and would like
some feedback from the participants.
Maintenance Update
The golf course is in great shape. We will be aerating the greens on the golf course around
September 8, 2014 depending on weather conditions. Staff is in the process of getting quotes to
install cement to replace a gravel sidewalk and area to park golf carts. By replacing the current
gravel and dirt areas with concrete it will clean up the area around the clubhouse.
Budget
Financial data will be emailed out Monday September 8, 2014.
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CITY OF
MEINDOTA HEIGHTS
1101 Victoria Curve 1 Mendota Heights, MN 55118
651.4521850 phone 1 651.452.8940 fax
www.mendota-heights.com
DATE: September 9, 2014
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Sloan Wallgren, Recreation Program Coordinator
SUBJECT: Par 3 Five Year Plan
Background
The city of Mendota Heights passed a referendum on April 24, 2007 to issue bonds in the amount
of $2,790,000 to purchase the Mendota Heights Par 3 Golf Course. The bonds are payable over
15 years, meaning the golf course will be paid off in 2023. The city pays approximately $250,000
a year in bond payments. The city currently owes $1,875,000 in bond payments.
When the city purchased the golf course a Par 3 Fund was created. The golf course is intended to
use revenue to cover all of the operating expenses for each year. The Par 3 Fund is supposed to
maintain a cash balance of at least $40,000 for emergencies and capital improvements. In recent
years the Par 3 Fund has fallen below the $40,00 goal.
I have attached to 5 Year Plan for the golf course. The goal of this plan is to continue to contribute
revenue to the Par 3 Fund, while at the same time making improvements to the golf course,
clubhouse and maintenance equipment.
Action Required
No action is required at this time. This information is provided for discussion purposes.
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Mendota[lieights[Par[ C olf1 ourse
5LfearMlan
Cash
E:
alance
2011 2012 2013
$21,782 $17,152 $28,180
2014
$33,000
2015
$38,000
2016
$43,000
2017
$48,000
2018
$58,000
Projects
New[oof
Clubhouse Footgolf
Sandpro
Clubhouse
PatioE Furniture
Furniture0nside
Concretellvork
4Clarts RoughlNlower GreensCK/lower
NEWLDPPORTUNITIES
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Footgolf Revenue Increasegfees
LessonE Programs
RentL EIubhouse