1978-08-29 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda PacketPARK & RECREATION
COM1"AISSION
Agenda
August 29, 1978
Conference Room
8:00 P.M.
1. Approval of minutes, August 1.
2. Review comprehensive plan for parks & open space. Howard
Dahlgren will be present.
3. Playground equipment - Mary Mills.
4. 1979 budget - Finn, Williams & Witt.
5. Adjourn.
MlR1 __OTA HEIGHTS PARK LAND RECREATION POSITION STATEMENT- .Augusta 1978
hon ran e needs for Mendota Heights include more parrs and an expanded
recreation program and recreational facilities. The 1978 comprehensive plan
for parks and open space addresses the acqu.:i.sition and development of an
adequate park program to serve the future needs of Mendota Heights. The lark
and Recreation Commission will keep the city council and administrator informed
as the long range plans develop.
The financing of long-range needs can be met through various methods:
1) the special park development fund, 2) a bond proposal, and 3) federal,
state or county grants.
The special park development fund has been and probably will continue to
be used for the addition of permanent park improvements i.e., the bridge in
Valley Park, playground equipment in the parks,etc. In any case, there is
not now nor will there be enough monies for park land acquisition.
We do not have adequate information to present a meaningful and accurate
estimate for a bond proposal. Some of the questions include the possibility
that MnIDOT will construct a bike trail on. Dodd Rd. (a primary route in the
proposed Mendota Heights Trails System), that the county may construct trails
on Wachtler-Wentworth and Lexington. Ave. The division of funding for these
projects is not known at the present gime. The county -local split is 55®45
which means Mendota Heights will be assessed a substantial amount for road
improvement and a bake trail..
Where is grant money available for bike trails and land acquisition,
but we have no one responsible for obtaining grant money. Our city admin-
istrator has more than enough to do and the efforts of DahQTan and Associates
has been sporadic at best. The one successful grant application had to be
returned due to lack of funding at the local level and engineering complications
at the county level.
'T'here are immediate nark and recreation needs which should be addressed
now. Our primary requirement is for additional personnel in park maintenance
and park administration.
In recent years CETA help has been employed to help with park maintenance.
This year, even though the usual complement of help was requested, there were
no applicants and we had to make do with a single half-time person. The
situation is intolerable as only basic maintenance was realized. There were
many complaints about the poor ball and soccer field conditions, the weeds in
the .flowers and shrubs and the general unkempt appearance of the parks. Tree
plantings were delayed or not done at all. Legitimate complaints by property
owners adjacent to park property have not been answered® Further, the addition
of more park area require additional staff to maintain it.
Administratively, the parks are suffering too® The present park and recre-
ation chairman spends many hours attending various meetings, writing letters and
reports, visiting problem areas within the city, taking dozens of calls regarding
the park and rec program, working with community organizations, the 'DNR, Mn DOT,
County, Metro Council, School District 197 and other community park directors.
She meets at least bi-weekly with the city administrator and is in continual
contact with the parks leadman.
We have been advised by -neighboring park directors that park business
cannot be conducted effectively on a volunteer basis® -We agree with that
assessment and feel the addition of an administrative assistant is essential.
The assistant can develop expertise in obtaining grant monies for park or park -
related projects® (The city of Eagan has received grants for park acquisition
and expansion, ski trail development, hiking -biking trails and tennis courts.
Costs of the grants have been split anywhere from 5C)-50 to 9010®) The assistant
can act as liason between government agencies and community organizations as
well as work with consultants on -park and open space plans. We think this
position might be filled initially under CETA auspices
The direction of park and recreation has been shifting as more parks and
programs are requested and less land and local monies are available® Mendota
Heights has been working closely with School District 197 and private schools
in the area to help meet the needs the shift', has 'thrust upon -the city® In
addition, we cooper9te with Mend -Eagan Athletic Association whose very existence
and excellent programs have saved the city tnousands of dollars annually®
We will continue to cooperate rnjitbi neighboring communities and community organ-
izations providing compatible services and working together on a trails system,
recreation prograrit or any other venture which might call for joint cooperation.
PARK & RECREATION
ANNUAL BUDGET
PROPOSED 1979
Salary additionss
Maintenance $12,500
Admin. AssIt CETA or $5500.
Rec director +600. to $5600.
BETTENBURG TOWNSEND STOLTE & COMB, INC.
ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS PLANNERS
Mrs. Elizabeth Witt
Mendota Heights Park Commission
750 South Plaza Drive
Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120
Subject: Mendota Heights
Valley Park Creek Crossings
BTSC Project No. 7825'
Dear Liz:
r /, CIVE /
J UN 2 7 1 S1-„
As directed, we have made a study and prepared the attached drawings to
show how creek crossings in specified locations can be installed. The
proposed bridge structure was located as shown based on our best judge-
ment with respect to field conditions.
The pedestrian crossing, as shown, appears to be elaborate but really
is quite flexible and can be easily modified depending upon available
funds and how extensively one wishes to provide a crossing at that
location.
I am sorry we have not had more time to spend on your project up to now,
but the press of other drainage problems in Mendota Heights has had
us tied up during the past several weeks.
We have made no effort to contact the D.N.R. with regard to these
proposals because of a lack of time. Maybe you will want to do so,
With regard to costs, a more current estimate suggests that for the
bridge structure the total cost will be about $15,000.00 to $17,000.00,
including the bridge, footings, approaches, erosion control, miscel-
laneous items as well as fees and administrative costs. The pedestrian
crossing will cost about $4,000.00, as shown, and can be cut back
considerably if the amount of work is reduced and/or local forces are
used.
I hope the above will give the commission something to work with and
if you have any questions, please call.
Very,'
truly yours,
Edward F. Kishel
EFK/jh
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Orvil J. Johnson w/Enclosure
1437 MARSHALL AVENUE SAINT PAUL MINNESOTA 55104 TEL (612) 646-2558