2001-01-09 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 9, 2001
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held
on Tuesday, January 9, 2001, in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101 Victoria
Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
The following Commissioners were present: Chair Spicer and Commissioners Stan
Linnell, Jay Liberacki, Lawrence Craighead, Raymond Morris, Dave Libra and Ann
Connelly. City Staff present were City Administrator Cari Lindberg, Parks Project
Manager Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Mary Hapka and Administrative
Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes.
INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME TO CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Mr. Hollister introduced City Administrator Cari Lindberg to the Commission. The
Commission welcomed Ms. Lindberg to the City of Mendota Heights.
MINUTES
Commissioner Libra moved to approve the minutes from the December 12, 2000 meeting
with revisions.
Commissioner Morris seconded the motion.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Mr. Kullander introduced Ms. Diane Hellekson of Barr Engineering. Mr. Kullander
reminded the Commission that one of the items for the year 2001 on the recently adopted
Parks Capital Improvement Plan was a Natural Resource Inventory and Management
Plan. Mr. Kullander explained that he and City Engineer Marc Mogan had met with Barr
Engineering since the last Parks Commission meeting and that they were very impressed
with Barr Engineering's experience and expertise in this area.
Ms. Hellekson gave a brief presentation of what a Natural Resource Inventory and
Management Plan would contain. Ms. Hellekson said that the process would begin with
an examination of aerial photos of the entire City to identify plant communities and
preliminarily assess the quality of natural areas. Ms. Hellekson said that the second phase
would be to create a management plan to resist the invasion of exotic or unwanted species
and to protect plant communities. Ms. Hellekson showed an example study and plan that
Barr Engineering had created for the City of Eden Prairie.
Mr. Kullander explained that Barr Engineering was seeking to be retained by the City to
write an application for a matching grant from the Minnesota DNR Metro Greenways
program to produce the study and management plan. Mr. Kullander said that Barr
Engineering would charge $2,200 to write the grant, and that the grant could potentially
yield $15,000 in matching funds for the actual study and management plan.
Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council approve $2,200 from the
Special Parks Fund to hire Barr Engineering to write the grant application.
Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
Commissioner Linnell and Commissioner Morris said that they would be willing to work
with Barr Engineering on the grant application.
Commissioner Craighead moved to appoint Commissioners Linnell and Morris to
represent the Parks and Recreation Commission for purposes of assisting Barr
Engineering in writing the grant application, if the Council approves the allocation of
$2,200 for Barr Engineering to write the grant application.
Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
Mr. Kullander said that he would place the item on the next Council agenda.
UPDATES
Staff provided updates on the following items:
• Project Updates
• December Recreation Report
• Police Report
OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS
Commissioner Craighead said that he would like Carolyn Krall of A Studio to come to a
future Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to discuss the open space and
recreational amenities proposed for the Town Center Development.
Mr. Hollister said that Staff would discuss this request with the Council.
ADJOURN
Motion made to adjourn by Liberacki and seconded by Morris.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Patrick C. Hollister