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2018-09-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS, DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING September 12, 2018 The September meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. 1. Call to Order – Chair Pat Hinderscheid called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call – The following Commissioners were present: Chair Pat Hinderscheid, Commissioners Steve Goldade, Ira Kipp, Bob Klepperich, Stephanie Levine, and David Miller. Commissioner Nissa Tupper was absent. Staff present: Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence, Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson and Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek. 3. Approval of Agenda The agenda was approved as presented. 4. Approval of Minutes from August 15, 2018 Motion Levine/second Miller to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2018 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. AYES 6: NAYS 0: ABSENT 1 (Tupper) 5. Unfinished and New Business 5.a Playground Improvements – Hagstrom King and Wentworth Park Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek reminded the Commission of the three potential layouts reviewed for Hagstrom King and Wentworth Parks. The Commission determined that they desired to get additional community input. Therefore, an open house was advertised and held on August 30, 2018. This open house was attended by seven residents with one additional resident stopping by City Hall following. The results of the open house were tallied and the preferred pieces of equipment popular among the attendees were shared by Mr. Ruzek. He also shared the League of Minnesota City’s guidelines to be considered when purchasing new playground equipment. Mr. Ruzek also requested a decision by the Commission regarding applying for a grant through the MN-WI Playgrounds with a potential savings of 50% – application deadline is October 31, 2018 – or purchasing the equipment through Landscape Structures by Thanksgiving. Landscape Structures has indicated that the city should expect a 6% increase if the project is put on hold until next year (the equipment could be purchased this year for installation in 2019). Motion Goldade/second Levine to direct staff to take the community and Commission feedback back to both MN-WI GameTime and Flagship Landscape Structures and come back with a second design proposal for both parks to be reviewed at the next Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting in October 2018; and continue the sub-committee for a possible second community feedback session after the October 2018 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting – dependent on what is decided at said October 2018 meeting. Commissioner Levine submitted a friendly amendment by requesting that the direction for pricing include the grant pricing as well as the non-grant pricing. Commissioner Goldade agreed to this friendly amendment. Commissioner Goldade submitted a friendly amendment by suggesting that a work session be scheduled to review the second design proposals rather than waiting until the October 2018 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. Both Goldade and Levine agreed to this friendly amendment. AYES 5: NAYS 1 (Hinderscheid): ABSENT 1 (Tupper) 5.b Introduction of Student Representative Mr. Matthew Boland, a junior at St. Thomas Academy and lifelong resident of Mendota Heights, was introduced to and welcomed by the Commission as the Student Representative to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Matthew’s term will go through the school year, ending May 31, 2019. Reappointment will be reviewed in the spring prior to the end of the term. 5.c Discuss Survey Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence explained that Vice-Chair Tupper requested a rejuvenation of the discussion on input from the community. At the July meeting the Commission had discussed a community-wide survey on parks, which was tabled as staff does not have adequate time to complete that at this time. Chair Hinderscheid clarified that the survey mentioned by Vice-Chair Tupper was a broader list of general park projects. Ms. Lawrence indicated that some of the items mentioned at the July meeting have been completed; so the list is narrowing. If the Commission decided to do a survey the list of projects would need to be revisited and brought up-to-date. Chair Hinderscheid suggested that the Commission and staff work with Vice-Chair Tupper with the input received from the City Council during the joint session and from the community during the Parks Celebration. Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson reminded the Commission that the joint session with the City Council included a prioritization of the project list and staff has been working on moving that priority list forward. If the Commission were to change the priorities, they would need to go back to City Council recommending a priority change and ask for their approval. Chair Hinderscheid requested a copy of the prioritization list be sent to each of the commissioners. In regards to a community survey, Ms. Jacobson mentioned that staff has been looking at other Park and Recreation surveys that other cities have done. This commission had talked about trying to achieve a more statistically valid survey and whether that would be contracting with a data company to administer the survey and do the analysis. She believed it would be a good recommendation and discussion to have as a commission. She noted that this could possibly be a college or high school project and is an idea that staff has been researching. The commission agreed to have this topic added to the October 2018 meeting agenda. 5.d Winter Disc Golf at the Par 3 Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence explained that Chair Hinderscheid has requested a discussion of adding winter disc golf to the Par 3. This has been discussed in the past and just from the staff perspective, she mentioned the following points: • Concerns by staff regarding damage to the turf • Costs to have the course laid out and purchasing/installation of equipment • There is no budget for staffing the course • Cross country skiing takes place at the Par 3 in the winter Chair Hinderscheid asked if there would be a fee to play disc golf. Ms. Lawrence said there would not be; however, staffing of the course would be to have the club house open for bathrooms and warming up. A suggestion was made to look into the possibility of having a disc golf course at Mendakota Park rather than the Par 3. Additional discussions were had regarding the potential for damage to the Par 3 and the hard work that staff and the commission has put in to keeping the Par 3 looking good. Commissioner Levine noted that she would not support having disc golf at the Par 3. 5.e Communications for November Heights Highlights Chair Hinderscheid reminded the Commission of the Heights Highlights coming up and asked for ideas/suggestions of events and information that should be included for the resident’s benefit. Content is due by October 12, 2018 and would hit households in mid-November. 5.f Marie Avenue Trail Realignment Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek noted that staff was planning on having the feasibility study for the Marie Avenue Trail Realignment project completed in October; so if any commissioners wished to review the site and provide recommendations they needed to schedule that time before the end of October. It was decided to meet at Valley Park at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018. This ‘meeting’ will be posted. 5.g Rogers Lake Skate Park Update Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek explained that the City of Mendota Heights temporarily closed the Rogers Lake Skate Park from August 22nd to August 31st due to users of the park making unauthorized improvements that needed to be removed. Public works was able to go into the park and remove the concrete structures and then the streets department filled in some of the chiseled areas with an asphalt patch material. Signs with the new rules have been posted and staff has received a lot of negative comments (i.e. helmets required). He noted that the city is insured by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, which provides minimum requirements that are necessary to maintain said insurance. Mr. Ruzek informed the Commission that they were welcome to discuss the future operation of the Rogers Lake Skate Park and make recommendations, or defer this to a future meeting as the park is currently operational. Comments and feedback from the Commissioners were that they really liked the skate park and wanted it to continue to be there. Commissioner Goldade suggested having the Rogers Lake Park, including the Skateboard Park, on the October agenda and that a working group (Commissioners Kipp and Goldade, Student Representative Matt Boland, and a police department representative) to bring suggestions for improvement to the park – both globally and specifically to the skateboard park. Motion Goldade/second Hinderscheid to establish a working group in regards to Rogers Lake Park and making suggestions for possible improvements with Matthew Boland, Ira Kipp, and Steve Goldade, and invite a police department representative, with the goal of bringing back a report to the October 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Meeting. 6. Reports 6.a Par 3 Update Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence provided an update on the Par 3, including a financial report (May, June, and July). Total revenue thus far is $96,340, less $91,041 in expenditures, equaling a profit of $5,299. Nothing came out of the Par 3 budget for the purchase of the rough mower (City reserves were used). Staff plans to keep the course open through October 2018, weather dependent. The Par 3 will be closed all day on Monday, September 17, 2018 and the AM of Tuesday, September 18, 2018 for aeration of the greens and fall maintenance. 6.b Recreation Update Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence explained that Fall Registration is open, which opened on September 1, 2018. Options include gymnastics, fall field trips, family fall party, and the superhero masquerade. Additional details available on the city’s web site. Movie in the Park will take place at Mendakota on September 22, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. The movie “Moana” will be shown. This event is free to the public. 6.c Commissioner Park Updates Commissioner Levine stated that all is ‘so far, so good’ and have a shout-out to the public works for doing a really nice job. Commissioner Miller stated that the things happening at Market Square are pretty well known. Victoria Highlands is in very nice shape and looks very good. Chair Hinderscheid noted that the resident who recommended the tables be installed at Market Square was very happy with the end product and people have been using them. The Dog Park now has a shaded picnic table, a very nice addition and will be very much appreciated. He also expressed his appreciation to Public Works for all of the work they have done. However, he did notice an issue at Ivy Hills and that being the pond is completely green and he wondered if that was due to the dredging and if that was a good or bad sign. Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek noted that he has not received any calls regarding that pond but he would certainly go out and take a look. Commissioner Klepperich echoed the comments made about the great job being done by Public Works. He visited Mendakota this week and the baseball field is in good shape. He also welcomed Matthew Boland to the Commission. Commissioner Kipp expressed his appreciation to Public Works for taking care of the issue at the skate park so quickly and so readily. Commissioner Goldade had no additional comments. 6.d Parks and Natural Resources Update Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek noted that Ms. Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician started her position on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 and has jumped right in by looking at improvements to the city’s welcome sign on Dodd Road, prairie plantings at city hall, rain gardens for the Lexington Highlands Project, Wagon Wheel Trail, and Par 3. It was requested that Ms. Spreiter attend a future meeting to allow the commissioners a chance to meet her in person. Mr. Ruzek also provided an update on the Marie Park Tennis Court rehabilitation project, which started on Wednesday, September 5, 2018. The Marie Park basketball improvements should start in early October. City Council approved the purchase of new adjustable basketball systems, two tennis net systems, and eight pickle ball net systems. The Bike Racks base pads are scheduled to begin in late September and the Dog Park Picnic Table and Market Square tables have already been mentioned. Upon request, Mr. Ruzek provided an update on the culvert over at Wagon Wheel Trail and the fishing. City Council has awarded a contract to install a 6-foot tall black vinyl chain link fence along the south side of Wagon Wheel Trail, to eliminate fishing on the south side of the culvert area. The safety issues with people running across the road far exceeds the ability to allow people to fish at that spot. 7. Announcements and Commission Comments Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence made the following announcements: • September 25, 2018 – a tree will be planted at Victoria Highlands donated by The Mom’s Club • The city did receive the grant for the Marie Park Tennis Courts in the amount of $20,000 • Winter warming house positions will be posted in the next few weeks Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek noted that at the last City Council meeting, they awarded a contract to CNH Architects for $4,100 to do a feasibility study for the Wentworth Park Warming House structure. This is the same architect that is doing the design work for the Fire Hall expansion. Commissioner Goldade: • Welcomed Matt Boland to the Commission and suggested that he be added to the agenda each month to provide updates / comments • Expressed his appreciation to Mr. Ruzek and staff for all of the work done on the two new playgrounds and the good information provided this evening • Congratulated staff on receiving the grant for Marie Park Tennis Courts • Encouraged residents to attend the Commission meetings and sending emails with input • Looking for a connection to a college student that wants to do the Park & Recreation Commission survey – encouraged connection suggestions Commissioner Kipp: • Welcomed Matt Boland to the Commission and is looking forward to hearing his input • Congratulated the city for receiving the $20,000 grant Commissioner Klepperich: • Gave his comments during other updates • He echoed what everyone else said Commissioner Miller: • Welcomed Matt Boland to the Commission • After a number of very lean years, it is nice to see that there are funds available in the Parks Fund that can be used for a lot of the upgrading that is going on; skate park, the playgrounds, etc. Commissioner Levine: • Echoed everyone else’s comments • Welcomed Matt Boland to the Commission • It is really heartwarming working with all of the people and hearing enthusiasm about community input • Encouraged everyone to go out and enjoy the trails as they are very beautiful this time of year Chair Hinderscheid: • As there are sometimes people in the audience, should the Commission add a section to the agenda for public comments (yes, it could be added) – protocol was briefly discussed • Welcomed Matt Boland to the Commission • Expressed appreciation to the public that participated in providing input on the playgrounds • Acknowledged great work done on the grant 8. Adjourn Motion Goldade/Second Klepperich to adjourn the meeting at 8:44 PM AYES 6: NAYS 0: ABSENT 1 (Tupper) Minutes Taken By: C. Darlene Oehlke Independent Contractor