Loading...
2007-04-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesApproved CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING April 10, 2007 The April 2007 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, April 11, 2007, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Richard Spicer, Commissioners; Paul Portz, Larry Craighead, Missie Hickey, and Brian Hallman. Absent were Commissioners; Raymond Morris and Tom Kraus. City Staff present were Teresa Gangelhoff, Recreation Programmer, Guy Kullander, Operations and Projects Coordinator, Jake Sedlacek Assistant to the City Administrator, and Recording Secretary Nancy Bauer. MINUTES Commissioner Hickey moved approval of the minutes and seconded by Commissioner Craighead. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 PAR 3 Co-Chair of the Save the Par 3 Conunittee, Sally Loberbaum, encouraged residents to get out and vote at the referendum to save the Par 3 golf course. There is good information at the City's web site regarding the facts of the referendum. She read a "Letter to the Editor" signed by several residents in support of saving the Par 3. Ms. Loberbaum reported that she was approached by someone who suggested the golf course, if acquired by the city, could be used for cross country ski trails in the winter and for disk golf. She added there is frequently asked questions information on the city's web site regarding the referendum. Commissioner Portz complimented the Save Par 3 committee for the professional and positive way they have handled the issue. He also reported The SouthWest Review had four letters in it regarding the Par 3. He then asked when the open house was at the Par 3. Ms. Loberbaurn responded that the open house was for all residents and flyers would be sent out. It will be Sunday, April 22'd from 1 P.M. to 4:00 P.M at the Par 3. There will be food, refreshments, and golf lessons. It will be a fun family event. It is also a fundraiser for the Sibley golf leagues. Page - 1 Approved Chair Spicer said the Save the Par 3 Committee has done a good job. The original parks referendum in the late 80's didn't pass the first time. When it did pass, the City spent money on 22 miles of walking trails, developed three new parks and added or upgraded play equipment. Residents now take these park facilities for granted. The referendum changed the quality of life for residents of Mendota Heights. People in the city realize the quality of life involves maintaining green space for the city. The Parks Commission is unanimous in its support of maintaining the Par 3 as city property and running it as a golf course. Buying the golf course is a no lose proposition. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Commissioner Craighead nominated Chair Spicer for the Parks and Recreation Chair. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. Chair Spicer nominated Commissioner Portz as Vice Chair. Commissioner Hickey seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT Chair Spicer mentioned that safety camp in August already is full this year. The Parks Celebration is June 2'd this year and will not be as big as last year's 50th celebration. There is quite a diverse range of activities planned by Ms. Gangelhoff. The fishing derby is July 11th this year and 340 fish were caught last year. Ms. Gangelhoff responded that out of 50 spots only 10 openings are left to fill for the fishing derby on Wednesday, July 11th. Commissioner Hallman complimented Ms. Gangelhoff and said his son had a great time at the water park trip last week during spring break. ROGERS LAKE SKATE PARK GRAFFITI Mr. Kullander reported that there is graffiti on several of the components at the skate board park in Rogers Lake. A resident has offered to paint a mural over the graffiti. He was waiting to hear if the resident was still interested and if the Parks Commission was interested in having this done. The paint and supplies would be paid out of the parks maintenance budget. Chair Spicer said that it sounded like a great offer. Mr. Kullander said he would bring back a sample of the artist's artwork for the Parks Commission to look at. Page - 2 Approved CIVIC CENTER FIELD IMPROVEMENTS Chair Spicer reported that the City Council has approved moving in the outfield fence at the Civic Center ball field. Mr. Kullander said he is waiting for the spring road weight limits to be lifted before rec-rock and heavy equipment can be brought in. The bids are coming in close to what he estimated. Commissioner Hallman asked if he selected a contractor yet to do the work. Mr. Kullander responded that he has in three fence bids. One contractor is ready to go in three days. Two excavator bids have been received also. Commissioner Hallman if a date had been set for lifting weight limits. Mr. Kullander responded that there are no set dates. It all depends on the weather, when the frost leaves the ground and MnDOT removes the load restriction. Chair Spicer asked what was happening at Hagstrom-King Park. Mr. Kullander responded that no improvements have been approved for this summer. Chair Spicer asked if the Council allocated $21,000 in Special Park Funds for the Civic Center improvements and if the rest of the funds were coming from the cell tower fund. Mr. Kullander responded that the balance was coming out the cell tower fund. Commissioner Portz said he could see the benefit of having two batting cages at the Civic Center ball field. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2008-2012 Mr. Kullander presented the list of projects to be prioritized by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The parks employees also ranked the projects as well as myself. To trim the final list he planned to take the low priority projects off the list and return to the next meeting with the final group of projects to plan in a new Five Year Capital Plan. Commissioner Craighead suggested the scores be combined from the Commission, parks employees and Mr. Kullander's rankings. Then rank the projects based on those scores. Chair Spicer reported that he was surprised that the Commission seemed to be in agreement with what were high and low priorities. Mr. Sedlacek asked the Commission if there were any questions about the projects. Commissioner Hallman asked about the new bridge at Valley Park. Page - 3 Approved Mr. Kullander responded that the bridge should be widened because Public Works can't get their truck through when plowing and some emergency vehicles may not be able to get across. Commissioner Hallman said he didn't know the conditions of existing tennis courts. Mr. Kullander said he is looking at a new product to use to resurface the tennis courts which has been successfully used around the country. The product is a raised plastic title that covers the entire court and is placed on the existing asphalt surface. Little cracks won't matter and courts won't have to be resurfaced every three or four years. It would cost about $40,000 to redo one of our double tennis courts, about what maintenance now costs us over a 20 year span. Mr. Hallman asked if the tennis courts were in bad shape now or if it's just a matter of maintenance. Mr. Kullander responded that all of our courts are 30 plus years old and maintenance costs are high. It is about $2,000 - $3,000 to fill the cracks each year plus they need to be resurfaced every three to five years at $8,000 per time. Commissioner Craighead asked if the $40,000 was for one tennis court or two and if other cities were using the new material. Mr. Kullander responded that it was about $40,000 for one of our double tennis courts and other cities were using this material. He and Mr. Blum plan to look at some local courts in metro cities that have used this material to see how it wears. Chair Spicer asked if the new material was easily to vandalize. Mr. Kullander responded that is an issue to consider. Commissioner Craighead asked if the new product when locked together were hard to unlock. Mr. Kullander responded they are hard to unlock. Commissioner Hickey asked if the surface is used at competition level. Mr. Kullander responded they are used at competition level and are suppose to be easier on a person' s joints. Commissioner Portz asked Mr. Kullander to consider when looking at other cities tennis courts - how it holds up and do players like it? Commissioner Hallman asked about the conditions of the hockey rinks, warming houses and lights at the rinks. Page - 4 Approved Mr. Kullander responded that the Wentworth warming house is in the worst shape. New lights were put in at Marie Park six or seven years ago. Lights should go in at Wentworth and Friendly Hills in the future. Mr. Blum likes the paved hockey rinks because they ice up more quickly and need less work to maintain good ice conditions. Commissioner Hallman asked if Mr. Kullander could provide information on when things were last updated. Mr. Kullander said he would include more background information next month with the items in groups. Commissioner Hallman asked if lacrosse was being played in the parks. Mr. Kullander responded that Kenington Park, Sibley and St. Thomas fields are being used for lacrosse play. Mr. Blum is concerned how well the turf will hold up with lacrosse play so early in the season under wet conditions. Chair Spicer said that next month there will be a nice prioritized list of future park projects for the next five years. Mr. Kullander informed Chair Spicer that the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council approved the "You are Here" signs. Mr. Boland of Public Works is working on a prototype for approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mr. Sedlacek said the Par 3 referendum is on April 24th at the regular city polling places. The hours are from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. The City Council will meet that night at 8:30 P.M. to canvass the results of the election. The public is welcome to the canvass meeting. There are absentee ballots available to people who won't be in the city the day of the election to vote. It's a simple majority election — those who vote will make the decision. It's a single issue ballot. Commissioner Hallman made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 7:26 P.M. Page - 5