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2019-09-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS, DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING September 10, 2019 The September meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. 1. Call to Order – Chair Steve Goldade called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call – The following Commissioners were present: Chair Steve Goldade, Commissioners Patrick Cotter, Pat Hinderschied, Bob Klepperich, Stephanie Meyer, David Miller, Dan Sherer, and Student Representative Matthew Boland. Staff present: Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence, Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson, Public Works Director Ryan Ruzek. 3. Pledge of Allegiance The pledge of allegiance was recited. 4. Approval of Agenda Motion Klepperich/second Miller to add “Refurbishing of Tennis Courts” as item 8.c Motion Hinderscheid/second Goldade to add “Updating of City Hall Pictures” as item 9.b Motion Klepperich/second Meyer to approve the agenda as amended AYES 7: NAYS 0 5. Approval of Minutes from August 13, 2019 Motion Miller/second Klepperich to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2019 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. AYES 7: NAYS 0 6. Citizen Comment Period (for items not on the agenda) None received. 7. Acknowledgement of Reports Chair Goldade read the titles of the three updates (Par 3, Recreation, and Park Improvement Updates) and polled the Commissioners for questions. 7.a Par 3 Update Commissioner Miller asked if there were any significant changes in finances or will they be moving forward the way it has been. Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence replied, based on conversations with the consultant, this is the best the Par 3 has looked in the past few years: • Currently showing a profit of $24,000 • Revenue has been higher than can be remembered (through July 2019) • August 2019 revenue was higher than July 2019 • Revenue declining since school has been back in session Commissioner Klepperich asked if the need for rehabilitation to the greens was left over from winter or was it something that has developed over the summer. Ms. Lawrence replied that the damage to the greens were caused by: • a driver drove across the course two weeks ago causing some turf damage; most of the fairways were damaged • there were some irrigation issues with the new system 7.b Recreation Update Chair Goldade asked for a highlight of the MEA Field Trips and the Glow Dash. Ms. Lawrence noted that she and staff will taking children on field trips during the MEA holiday break including Bunker Park Stables and Severs Corn Maze and Eden Prairie Community Center Pool. Those interested should register through the city’s website. The Glow Dash will be the first annual event on Saturday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. at Garlough Park in West St. Paul. Registration fee is $15 per participant. This is an event with South St. Paul and West St. Paul. Commissioner Klepperich asked for the minimum age limit for the trip to Bunker Park stables. Ms. Lawrence replied that the age limit is 8 years old. Commissioner Meyer asked how the Music Together Class went today. Mr. Lawrence replied that she was not there and could not provide an answer. West St. Paul was in charge of the event today and she is in charge of the event tomorrow. 7.c Parks Improvement Update Commissioner Cotter noted that there was a start date on the Wentworth Park playground improvements and asked if there was any news on the Hagstrom King Park playground improvements. Public Works Director, Ryan Ruzek, replied that he does not have a solid date on the Hagstrom King improvements. His best guess would be September 23 or possibly September 30. There has been a lot of delays with the amount of rain days this summer and fall. There is a tree planting/dedication event at Hagstrom King on September 24. He has not received an update on the basketball court expansion at Hagstrom King. He believes the pad has been poured at Ivy Hills Park for the park bench donation. Commissioner Sherer asked about the pole frame building being considered for the Wentworth Park, in terms of programming space and bathrooms. Mr. Ruzek replied that he met with a representative from the structural buildings, they would provide a full construction of the building, he is waiting for an official proposal. From that point, he would need to check with the city’s purchasing policy – if other quotes need to be received or how it needs to be bid. It looks like the city would have a lot of options. With the pole frame building they would be back to the 30-foot by 40-foot footprint, it would have two bathrooms accessed from the exterior and one from the interior, and it would provide a storage room within the building. They do a winter type construction that would start on February 15, 2020; which would be nearing the end of the hockey season. Commissioner Hinderscheid asked for the advantages and disadvantages to a building of this type. Mr. Ruzek replied that this would be a post frame – the posts would be supporting the structure, similar to a deck. The actual slab that would be for the flooring would be a 4-inch slab poured on the ground. They are looking at in-floor heat with insulation. This would save the city from having to do footings around the structure. It can be fully insulated, air-conditioned, and climate controlled; the steel siding should have a 60-year warranty. Commissioner Cotter asked if there was any indication on the life expectancy of a building like this. Mr. Ruzek replied that based on the warranty he would assume 60 years. Commissioner Hinderscheid asked if these types of buildings have been puck tested. Mr. Ruzek replied that they are looking at different sidings and options; public works has some vinyl siding that could make it look like cedar shakes or a log cabin style building. However, they are concerned about the vinyl being brittle in the winter. Right now they are leaning towards a steel finish on the exterior with a stone-looking synthetic base. Commissioner Hinderscheid asked if the two exterior-entrance bathrooms would be unisex bathrooms. Mr. Ruzek replied that they have not gotten to those details yet. The thought is to have them be specific to the gender. Commissioner Sherer asked if they were going to try to get the water and sanitary sewer service hook ups in the ground this fall. Mr. Ruzek replied that he did not have the full details on that as of yet. Chair Goldade stated that he was excited to see that the Marie Park improvements appear to be finished. Mr. Ruzek replied that new surfacing was applied to the hockey rink at Marie Park, it is striped with four pickleball courts. There are permanent nettings to be installed; however, the surface is ready to be played on right now. 8. Unfinished Business 8.a Review Outreach Meeting Platform Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence reminded the Commission of their discussion on an upcoming community engagement effort. The commissioners will meet with local stakeholders to gain insight on community parks and recreation needs. Ms. Lawrence is willing to help coordinate the meetings if necessary and provide any information they may need. Chair Goldade reminded the Commission of their objectives/goals: • Time for the commission to inform the public about what they are doing as a Commission • Time to receive information from the stakeholders on what they would like to see the Commission working on Commissioner Meyer shared a list of items she believed the Commission would want to bring with them to these outreach meetings; instruction sheet on how to run the meeting to promote good discussions; items and ideas to look for; and review the questionnaire to be provided at the meetings. Suggestions received from/given to the Commission included: • Including a Tennessen warning notice on any type of sign-in sheet or anything requesting personally identifiable information (PII) • Including information on how to sign up for the Friday News • Feedback is the goal; not necessarily the giving of information • Do not ask for donations; however, if anyone offers a donation they should be steered to staff or to the park bench donation project • Maximum length for meetings should be no more than 45 – 60 minutes; depending on the size of the group 8.b Parks Tour Reminder The Park Tour has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The list of parks to be toured, in order: • Marie Park • Ivy Hills Park • Friendly Hills Park • Kensington Park Members of the community are welcome to attend. 8.c Wentworth / Friendly Hills Tennis Court Feedback Chair Goldade asked if the Commission wanted to provide this feedback now, if they have visited the two tennis courts, or did they want to wait until after the Friendly Hills Park tour. The Commission decided to table the discussion until after the park tour. 9. New Business 9.a Discuss Date of October Meeting Ms. Lawrence noted that staff has been notified that there is scheduling conflicts with the meeting on Thursday, October 10. After conversations with Chair Goldade and Vice-chair Klepperich, they are recommending a possible work session in October or November to discuss the priority list that the Commission received this evening and review budget procedures. If the Commission decided to go with the November work session, they could reschedule the October meeting. For the work session, staff would ask that a date be chosen where everyone could attend. Chair Goldade stated that the regularly scheduled meeting would have been on October 8, 2019; however, due to a religious holiday it was moved to October 10, 2019. There are now conflicts on October 10, 2019. Vice-chair Klepperich suggested not having a regular meeting in October since they are meeting twice in September. Then they could have the work session and a meeting in November. After discussion, the Commission approved the following: • No Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting in October, 2019 • Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session – November 6, 2019; 4:30 – 6:30 • Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting – November 12, 2019; 6:30 p.m. (without Commissioner Meyer) 9.b Update City Hall Pictures Commissioner Hinderscheid asked how long the pictures in City Hall had been up on the walls. Assistant City Administrator Cheryl Jacobson replied that she did not know the exact length of time. She stated that the replacement of city hall pictures with student/resident artwork was a project that the Commission had assigned to a previous Student Representative Commissioner Hinderscheid noted that he recalled wanting to include the high school students in the process, but that it was not necessarily limited to student art work. Ms. Jacobson stated that she did not believe it ever was determined but it was put out there as an idea. Commissioner Hinderscheid and Student Representative Boland agreed to work together; Mr. Boland would work with his contemporaries at Henry Sibley High School to bring different classes together and to talk to the art teacher at St. Thomas Academy. 10. Staff Announcements Ms. Lawrence made the following verbal updates: • The Mom’s Club will have their annual tree planting on September 24, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Hagstrom Park • She encouraged all to continue promoting the Par 3 Golf Course and their fall rates 11. Student Representative Update Student Representative, Matthew Boland, provided the following verbal updates: • The Environmental Club is starting up again at St. Thomas High School. He asked for suggestions from the Commission and staff on which park needed cleanup 12. Commission Comments and Park Updates Commissioner Cotter • No updates Commissioner Sherer • There were a lot of activities at Friendly Hills and Hagstrom King • Everyone is looking forward to the new playground at Hagstrom King • He is enjoying the new bike racks at Friendly Hills Vice-chair Klepperich • Visited Mendakota and everything looks perfect • He saw someone putting down lines today for soccer at Mendakota Commissioner Meyer • Kensington Park is great; they are in full swing with soccer • Marie Park is wonderful as always; there is going to be so much pickleball play, which is going to be great Commissioner Hinderscheid • He has seen more tennis players at Ivy Hills then he has seen in years past • Still have the green lagoon in the pond at Ivy Hills • It is good to see the golf course doing so well and expressed appreciation to Ms. Lawrence • Thank-you to Ms. Lawrence for doing the outreach initiative • Excited to have the park tour • Excited to see the warming house develop Commissioner Miller • Victoria Highlands is in nice shape; however, he is seeing baseball equipment around the field and Little League has been over for a while • The two MEA field trips appears to be very well organized and nice ideas for children Chair Goldade • He noticed work vehicles parked in the Valley Park parking lot o Mr. Ruzek replied that there are two projects happening in Valley Park; one by Xcel Energy and one by MnDOT • He asked how to determine if there needed to be any bike path repair and/or replacement o Mr. Ruzek replied that a call should be made to Public Works and they would take the initiative • Request has been received that the Valley Park basketball court somehow be cordoned off from the parking lot o Mr. Ruzek noted that there are plans in the works when Marie Avenue is repaved • He would be interested in viewing a pole structure if Mr. Ruzek could provide the location of the one he mentioned earlier 13. Adjourn Motion Klepperich/Second Meyer to adjourn the meeting at 7:34 PM AYES 7: NAYS 0 Minutes Taken By: C. Darlene Oehlke Independent Contractor