2018-11-28 Council Work Session minutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minutes of the City Council Work Session
Held November 28, 2018
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a work session of the City Council, City of Mendota
Heights, Minnesota was held at the City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Garlock called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. Councilmembers Duggan, Miller, Paper
and Petschel were also present.
City staff present included Cheryl Jacobson, Assistant City Administrator; Meredith Lawrence,
Recreation Program Coordinator; Ryan Ruzek, Public Works Director; and Lorri Smith, City
Clerk.
Others present included Youth Football Commissioner Kaan Cercioglu; MHAA Executive
Director John Masica; Lucas Kanavati, MHAA Board member; Sibley Area Youth Hockey
Association representative Ted Kronschnabel; SALVO representatives Lisa Wolf and Peter
Rivard.
DISCUSSION OF 2019 FIELD AND FACILITY USE FEES
Cheryl Jacobson and Meredith Lawrence presented a revised fee schedule for the Councilmembers
to provide direction on. It has been discussed that there is a need to offset the maintenance and
administrative costs associated with field usage through the implementation of use fees for all
users. Ms. Jacobson reviewed the handout showing the breakdown of the proposed fees. They
included either a per participant per season fee or a per hour rate. The fees would be added to the
City's 2019 fee schedule for approval by the City Council. By having a usage fee, this could also
free up some of the field time available for users by reducing blanket permits. City staff
recommended a `per hour' rate be charged since it would free up some of the fields that are
permitted but go unused. It would also involve less field prep for fields that do not get used.
John Masica, representing Mendota Heights Athletic Association (MHAA) stated the field usage
is expected to be the same for 2019 as it was in 2018. He stated that the association does not
anticipate the name of the association to be changed, but that they may absorb the West St. Paul
Youth Athletic Association at some time in the future but not in 2019. He stated the amount
charged should reflect the actual costs for field prepping. He recommended that a `per user' fee
be charged.
Kaan Cercioglu, Mendota Heights Youth Football Commissioner, stated they expect to pay a fee
for field usage, but encouraged the Council to keep it reasonable and fair. Cercioglu stated that
any additional costs would be passed along to the users. He encouraged the Council to keep the
fees at a minimum and suggested that a `per user' fee be charged.
Mayor Garlock encouraged MHAA to communicate to city staff when fields would not be used,
so fields are not prepped when not being used.
The Councilmembers were in agreement to set the Tier 3 usage fees at $7.00 per player per season.
The Tier 4 usage fees would be set at $10 per player per season. Ice rink usage fees for the Hockey
Association would be set at $3.00 per player per season. The Tier 5-6-7 usage fees would be set
at the new per hour rates as proposed by city staff. Team rosters, to calculate the usage fee, would
be collected by the City at the end of the sport's season.
It was agreed that these rates would be reviewed in one year.
Councilor Petschel suggested the tennis court usage fees be reviewed at an upcoming meeting.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 2:57 pm.
Lorri Smith, City Cleric
Neil Garlock, Mayor
November 28, 2018 City Council Work Session page 2 of 2