2009-05-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesApproved
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING
May 12, 2009
The May 2009 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday,
May 12, 2009, 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 Paul Portz, Commissioners: Tom Kraus, Maureen
Brackey, Michael Toth, Liz O'Brien and Steve Commers. Commissioner Ray Morris was excused. Staff
present were: Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrator, Guy Kullander, Parks Project Manager,
Teresa Gangelhoff, Recreation Programmer, and Nancy Bauer, Recording Secretary.
MINUTES
The minutes were approved with two minor changes.
Commissioner Commers made a motion to approve the minutes.
Commissioner Brackey seconded the motion.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 0
Chair Portz asked the cost of the temporary fence at the Pilot Knot site.
Mr. Kullander responded that it is $660.00 and is being charged to the Pilot Knob fund. It's a temporary
fence for 34 years to keep people out of the area where there is invasive knapweed so the seeds are not
transferred to other areas on the site.
RECREATION PROGRAMMER REPORT
Chair Portz said Ms.
Gangelhoff does a
good
job on the recreations programmers report. It's nice and
currentI
Ms. Gangelhoff reported that the youth trips are set for the summer. They are about %a full.
Chair Portz asked if they were listed on the website.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded they were listed on the website and people could register online or come in and
sign up.
Chair Portz asked if they could use credit cards on line,
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Ms. Gangelhoff said that they could use credit cards on line, but if they signed up in person they could not
use a credit card.
Ms. Gangelhoff said Simple Steps is a program with Dakota County to get walkers to keep track of their
walking time. She hopes to get her numbers up this year. Free t-shirts will be handed out at the parks
celebration for people who sign up for Simple Steps.
Chair Portz reported the 55+ program is a week long summer activity with the "Dog Days of Summer".
Ms. Gangelhoff said she is
working with the northern
Dakota County cities to offer a
senior softball game
followed by lemonade and
a band playing 40's, 50's and 60's music. Each night is a
different city with a
different event and Mendota
Heights' night is August
19`r'. She is looking for players
for the softball game.
Chair Portz said the skateboard camp is fun. He has noticed that the equipment is being used and is a great
success.
Ms. Gangelhoff said the camp is held at the end of July for all ages.
Chair Portz said the Parks Celebration is in three weeks and is looking forward to watching the Twins game.
Ms. Gangelhoff said the kickoff for the Parks Celebration is Friday night June 5`r'. There will be a band
playing first at the Village followed by the televised Twins game on a big blow up TV screen. The band is
Six Below and is a local band from Mendota Heights,
Chair Portz asked about the $8,585.00.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded that is how much she has collected in donations for the Parks Celebration to fund
the activities for the Parks Celebration.
Commissioner Kraus asked if she was looking for money.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded that she would welcome more donations. Last year she received $10,000 and
spent all of that. The amount she has so far should be adequate for the activities she has.
Chair Portz said it is quite a list of activities for the Parks Celebration.
Ms. Gangelhoff said Underwater World and a casting contest are new activities this year. There is also going
to be free entertainment. Also, District 197 is having their 150`h anniversary celebration.
There is a new tennis coach for 2009 his name is Terry Olson. The program will be the same as last year and
he has great experience.
The summer playground programs has a waiting list with 50 kids on it.
Commissioner Brackey asked if any more programs would be added for the summer playground programs
with the long waiting list.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded she will try to add more. A teacher is willing to help out with the program.
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Commissioner O'Brien asked what would be the deciding factor.
Ms. Gangelhoff said she would need to add another staff member also.
Mr. Sedlacek said it looks like there would be more offerings.
Chair Portz said the Summer Playgrounds was initiated by Commissioner Brackey and Commissioner
O'Brien.
Ms. Gangelhoff reported that the GPS program fell through and she is looking for anyone who knows about
it to help get a program started.
The soccer camp is in July by the Minnesota Thunder. Registrations are taken by the Minnesota Thunder.
Chair Portz said the golf programs are popular again. There will also be night golf with a glowing ball.
Ms. Gangelhoff said the Par 3 also offers birthday party packages.
Commissioner Brackey asked if there are any booked birthday parties.
Mr. Sedlacek responded he didn't know but a night golf tournament has been booked.
Chair Portz said there are about 10 performances in the parks.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded there are and performances are free.
Summer Playhouse presents "Eloise" has been moved from Marie Park to Mendakota Park for children to
see after summer playgrounds.
Safety camp is full but people are encouraged to call City Hall to get on a waiting list to fill openings other
cities don't fill.
Chair Portz asked what kind of safety is taught.
Ms. Gangelhoff respond all kinds of safety. There is a fire smoke house, police safety, weather safety,
electricity safety, gun safety, and burn safety.
Chair Portz said the Cliff Timm Fishing Derby is July 8t' and is fun.
Ms. Gangelhoff said it is half full and people are encouraged to sign up now.
Chair Portz asked about the "Pay it Forward" grant.
Ms. Gangelhoff responded she received a grant for fishing equipment for the Summer Playgrounds program.
Chair Portz reported that the summer flyer will be going to schools for students to take home next week.
Commissioner Brackey asked if she was still looking for Parks Celebration volunteers.
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Ms. Gangethoff responded any help is appreciated.
Mr. Sedlacek responded there are enough volunteers for setting up and tearing down the celebration. Five
people are needed during the celebration such as greeting people and calling out numbers for the raffle.
Chair Portz said an item is being added at the end of the agenda.
Mr. Sedlacek reported that at the direction of Councilmember Vitelli the Eugenia Avenue alley vacation
request be brought back to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a recommendation.
2010 CITY BUDGET PROJECTS
Chair Portz reported that this is an important topic to decide what money to spend for 2010.
Mr. Kullander reported that most of the fencing is up at IIagstrom-King Park. The field is in playable shape
and work should be done this week. Work at Victoria Highland Park should be started in a couple of weeks.
Work at Friendly Hills Park has started, the timbers are being put down now and the equipment installed this
week.
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved a "Parks and Trails Five Year (2008-2013) Capital
Improvement Plan" in June of 2007. It was updated in June of 2008 — some projects were shuffled around.
Some projects were not included in tonight's memo. Projects 1-5 should maybe higher priority. Items 6, 7,
and 8 are projects not included in the five year capital improvement plan but have risen up in priority.
Mendakota Park— the playground was built in 1991. Some of the components are aged. Two pieces have
been repaired and two components added. There is a mixture of pea rock and a resilient surface. The main
equipment is in good condition. There are some sand tables and exercise play equipment for 2-5 year olds.
Some exclusive 2-5 year old play equipment should be added to the playground in the southern section like
at Rogers Lake Park,
Chair Portz said 2-5 year old equipment is a good idea because of the ballfieds.
Mr. Kullander said Mendakota is the main destination for playgrounds. It is the largest playground.
Chair Portz asked what action needs to be taken tonight.
Mr. Kullander said to pick four projects or more to possibly include in the 2010 budget. He would come
back with tighter dollar amounts for discussion next month. Then the Commission could make a
recommendation for the 2010 budget.
Commissioner O'Brien asked who came up with the idea for the 2-5 year old play equipment for Mendakota
Park.
Mr. Kullander responded that when the park was built after the referendum Mendakota Park had 2-5 year old
play equipment because it was the largest park. It was suggested by the vendors because of their experience.
Commissioner
O'Brien asked if someone was saying that 2-5 year old play equipment was lacking in the
parks.
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Mr. Kullander responded that the Parks and Recreation Commissioners have mentioned it. 2-5 year old
equipment will get a lot more use at Mendakota Park because of its size.
The Special Park Fund has about $300,000 in it and at the end year will have about $275,000 after
expenditures this year.
Commissioner O'Brien asked if she could say how the projects got on the list — is it community driven or
because the equipment is falling apart.
Mr. Kullander said none of the equipment is falling apart. Most are upgrades to provide additional services
to the user groups.
Friendly Hills Backstop — is the second project listed on the list. The backstop is sagging. Mendota Heights
Athletic Association (MHAA) has requested the backstop be modified or replaced to allow youth softball
similar to Hagstrom-King Park. An outfield fence can't be put in because of the soccer field and the hockey
rink.
Friendly Marsh Park— is the only large park in the City that could be developed with an active field. It used
to be an archery range. Because of vandalism it was stopped. It could be developed as a multi -use field.
City Council has not approved improvements there. They are waiting to see what happens with the Mendota
Plaza development. They would also like a lighted parking lot. Another issue is access. The only way to get
to it is on Apache Street,
Chair Portz asked if the time was right to develop the park. Is there a big demand for soccer and lacrosse
fields? There may be good prices from a construction standpoint. There may be $186,000 coming in from
the plaza.
Mr. Kullander said it would be a good idea to get prices for development of the park.
Commissioner Kraus asked if the field demand was for practice or games.
Mr. Scdlacek said it is both and teams are practicing more. Field use is maximized right now. Fields do
need rest. Sting Soccer uses a lot of the fields and suggested doing a field registration night like parks
registration night.
Commissioner Kraus asked if groups could practice on the field as it is now.
Or. Kullander responded it is hilly and sloped for water to run off. It would be a safety issue.
Commissioner Kraus said it could be used when other fields need to be rested.
Mr. Kullander said it could be graded so it could be used for practice and then upgraded. City Council said if
we were going to do it we were going to do it right. To put in an access road would double the costs.
Commissioner O'Brien asked if it was possible to have MHAA come in before the projects are rated. They
could talk about their priorities.
Mr. Sedlacek said they could be invited.
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Commissioner Kraus said MHAA has been here in the past and it would be a good idea to talk about their
priorities.
Or. Kullander said most of the voices were from baseball. Not much input was gotten from soccer or
lacrosse.
Commissioner O'Brien asked if there was a commissioner for lacrosse. All the commissioners should be
invited to talk.
Mr. Kullander responded that sometimes it is hard to get all the commissioners here.
Commissioner Toth said Friendly Marsh Park is a good sized open area, if developed would mature trees
need to be taken down.
Mr. Kullander responded there is a small grove of popular trees that would need to come out.
Mr. Sedlacek said that there is uo demonstrated need for additional fields.
Commissioner O'Brien asked if by demonstrated does that mean that no one has come forward.
Mr. Sedlacek said no one has expressed a need for additional fields.
Commissioner Toth asked how long it would take to make it into a soccer field.
Mr. Kullander said it would take about one season. The topsoil is in place. It would be just moving soil
around and putting in some drainage.
Tennis courts —sports tiles were put down in 2005 in Valley Park. It has been successful and can be used
hour after a storm. They are still in good condition. In the five year plan it was planned to do all the tennis
courts and it was scheduled to do one each year. The Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended
using sports tiles but the City Council chose not to include it in the budget. Routine maintenance has been
done on the tennis courts. Next year it should be started to resurface a tennis court each year.
Commissioner Kraus asked for the explanation of the three levels of repairing tennis courts for the new
Commissioners.
Mc Kullander responded that when building a tennis court in our climate an asphalt base or concrete base is
builtI On top of that a leveling coat it put on about'/a inches thick. Then a color coat is put on. In Minnesota
there are heaves from the frost and cracks will open up on the surface. When this happens the surface is
leveled off and sealed.
Every four to
seven
years the top
two layers are striped off,
leveled off and resurfaced.
Crack
filling is where
the cracks are
filled
and the color
coat is touched up. Crack
sealing is about
$2,000 to
$2,500
per court.
Commissioner Kraus asked if this is done every year to every court.
Mr. Kullander responded it is done every year to every court except the sports the courts. It cost about
$12,000 a couple of years to resurface a court.
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Commissioner Kraus said
that
in Valley
Park a
couple
of years ago it was discussed to rebuild the court or
put in sports tiles. Sports
tiles
were put
in.
Mr. Kullander
said
to rebuild a
double tennis court out of concrete costs about $125,000 and out
of asphalt is
about $80,000.
To
build it out
of sports tiles is
about $30,000. The surface would be resurfaced
first and
then the sports
tiles
put down.
Sports tiles last
about 10-12 years, possibly longer.
Commissioner Kraus asked which courts needed repair beyond the crack filling.
Mr. Kullander responded all four of them. All the courts were built in 1970 and 1972. Sibley just rebuilt
their existing courts and added new ones. They are open to everyone on weekdays and weekends.
Commissioner Commers said he lives by Ivy Falls Park and sees the tennis courts from his window. It is
important to keep the tennis courts in good condition. He didn't know if it was justified spending $45,000.
Mr. Kullander responded that City Council was considering closing the Ivy Falls Park tennis courts and
about 50-60 residents came in objecting to the closing the courts.
Commissioner Commers said there are about 12 residents that use the Ivy Falls Park tennis courts.
Commissioner Kraus said that the Civic Center Ballfield has had a fair amount of improvements in the last
couple of years. It does not need a new irrigation system — but he could see skinning the infield. The
Friendly Marsh Parks fields are not ready to be done yet. The sports tiles at the tennis courts are the way to
go if a court needs to be resurfaced.
He asked about the "You Are Here" signs. Twelve were constructed and only nine were installed.
Mr. Kullander responded that the project is over budget. Additional funding needs to be requested from the
City Council.
Chair Portz asked if Mr. Kullander has received any feedback regarding the signs.
Mr. Kullander responded he has received a few calls that they looked good.
Chair Portz asked if the people like the sports tiles.
Commissioner Kraus says he sees people playing on the sports tiles.
Mr. Kullander said he hasn't received any negative calls.
Valley Park —Mr. Kullander said it is an usual request. It would be to ask for funds for a study to bring the
park back to its natural state. A restoration management plan for Valley Park would be similar to the Pilot
Knob site. The walking trail is highly used. Adding walking trails would enhance the park. Matching funds
would be possible for restoring the park to its original state.
Commissioner Kraus said it was a unique piece of land.
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Mr. Kullander said this request would be a special request to the City Council and it would not use Special
Parks Funds.
Commissioner O'Brien said she did not feel comfortable going through the list and would like more
information from the community before prioritizing the projects.
Commissioner Commers said Sting expressed to City Council at the April 21" meeting a concern for the
future of having enough fields to play on. There may be a real need for fields down the road.
Commissioner Kraus said it's a matter of time. There is development going on down in the area.
Commissioner Commers asked if it was possible to open up a field without spending $150,000 such as not
doing a parking lot with lights.
Commissioner Kraus said Council did not want to do it that way. They wanted to do the whole project at one
time.
Mr. Kullander said if you do a field a parking lot is needed. A gravel parking lot could be put in but Council
did not want a gravel parking lot. The drainage needs to be addressed. There is one way in on a residential
street that residents won't be happy with. A plan needs to be done.
Commissioner Kraus said he would advocate doing a plan in 2010 for the 2011 budget.
Mr. Kullander said the key things to look at are the parking lot and access.
Chair Portz said it is a good list of projects, there is time to think about them and get more information.
MHAA should be invited to the June meeting. Each Commissioner could rate the projects.
Mr-. Kullander asked if he should expand the projects that are still in the five year plan. It might be difficult
to get MHAA to the meeting.
Chair Portz said it would be their benefit to come to the meeting.
Commissioner Toth said all the attention should not be put in MHAA. The Parks and Recreation
Commission should be able to make some good decisions but they should be invited to the next meeting.
The backstop at Friendly Hills should be redone to protect the residents in the neighborhood. It has been
sagging for two years. hnprovemeuts at the Civic Center field could have shared funding by St. Joes and St.
Thomas. It is a great field and should not be put on the back burner. A shelter at Hagstrom-King park would
be beneficial as there are no trees for shade.
Mr. Kullander said shelter/shade at Hagstrom-King park would be beneficial to the residents. Trees could be
planted versus a shelter.
Commissioner Toth asked if there was a program for tree donations.
Mr. I{inlander replied that there wasn't any formal program.
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Mr. Sedlacek said there was no formal program, but staff will accommodate citizens looking to donate trees.
Citizens can email lovetheparksna mendota-heights.com with their ideas.
Mr. Kullander said he would provide more information on the projects at the next meeting. The June
meeting may start at 6:00 P.M. at the Pilot Knob site with Buck Wiley with a short tour of the site.
Chair Portz said there should be a way to rank the projects by the Commissioners.
Mr. Kullander said he would include that in the memo.
PAR 3 UPDATE
Mr. Sedlacek reported that April was a great month for the Par 3. Expenditures for 2009 were $7,100
through April and revenues were $10,200. The course is in great shape and came out of winter great.
Improvements for this year are managing the turf, clean the fallen brush (4 dead trees), landscape around the
clubhouse, and plantings will be done in June. Staffing is good.
Chair Portz commented that the Par 3 is off to a good start.
Commissioner Kraus asked if there was an operating loss last year in April.
Or. Sedlacek responded there was. Last April there were snow outs, rain outs and cold outs. Next month he
will include reports for April and May.
Chair Portz asked if emails were sent out for the city invitational.
Mr. Sedlacek said any sitting Councilmember, Commissioner and staff member have gotten the word.
It is June 30`h at 10:00 with a shot gun start. It will be $15.00 per person and prizes will be given out. There
will be hot dogs and chips with people encouraged to bring a dessert or side dish to share.
Commissioner Kraus said he saw it in the Friday News.
Chair Portz asked how people were to respond and asked Jake to send out an email so it is easier for people
to respond.
Chair Portz asked about the Mendota Heights Open on June 13`1'.
Mr. Sedlacek replied it is a youth invitational run in-house. There will be two flights -one for ages 4-8 and
ages 8-12. Shotgun starts for both. Lunch will be in the middle. In the younger group it will be 3 per hole.
Registrations will be taken by Tom Perkins.
Commissioner O'Brien asked what the maximum number that was being looked at.
Mr. Sedlacek replied 27 in the young group and 27 (with exceptions) in the older group.
Commissioner Brackey asked if parents would be going out with the 4-8 year olds.
Mr. Sedlacek said that is being encouraged.
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Chair Portz said the greens committee and himself would be willing to help get the invitational going.
EUGENIA AVENUE
Chair Portz said this has been discussed by the Commission in February and April. No recommendations
had been made. The Council has asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to weigh in on the matter.
Mr. Sedlacek reported that a Councilmember requested Yhat the Parks and Recreation Commission make a
recommendation regarding the request to vacate Eugenia Avenue. The right-of-way is i/2 of a right-of-way in
the Cherokee Parks Heights subdivision platted in 1924. In 1989, the Ivy Falls North subdivision was
created and they did not complete the right -of --way of what could be a road. City procedure is to follow state
mandates. If it is unused right-of-way the people in the plat adjoining that property may request that it be
turned back. State law says that if the request is granted it goes to the adjoining landowners. This is a big
point of contention because the landowners on the south side would like a portion of the land. State Statue
says that the land goes back to where it was platted from — in this case it was platted from the north. We
have three requests now. The first application has been withdrawn. 574 Hiawatha has requested that
Eugenia Avenue be vacated, 591 Hiawatha Avenue has requested that Eugenia Avenue be vacated along
with y2 the alley, and 606 Sibley Memorial Highway has requested that Eugenia Avenue be vacated and a
portion of the alley.
The Parks and Recreation Commission is an advisory body to the City Council and provides back to them on
parks and recreation matters. The Council has asked that this body to look at this request as a parks use.
Does this parcel have a valid use today or in the future for parks purposes? The City of Mendota Heights has
moved away from accepting small and disconnected parcels as parks dedication when there is a
development.
The staff recommendation is to vacate Eugenia Avenue — it is looked at as right -of --way that is not used and
there is no potential use for it as right-of-way. Staff also does not recommend using it as a trail because it
brings people out on an uncontrolled intersection on Highway 13. Staff would rather see people using
Sutcliff Circle and Garden Lane. There is one trail in the area in Ivy Hills Park and on the other side of
Highway 13 is the Bruce Vento Nature Center.
Commissioner Kraus said the discussion would most likely be about trail use and not park use.
Mr. Sedlacek said that was correct.
Commissioner O'Brien asked about the staff recommendation not wanting to put people out on Highway 13
from that area.
Mr. Sedlacek said staff would rather have people come out on Sutcliff Circle or Garden Lane. It is a very
narrow highway on the bluff side.
Commissioner Morris had commented by email that he thought he does not see a use for it today but he
would like to retain the property for a possible future trail connection.
Chair Portz said the Commission needs a motion to vote on tonight and it could be deadlocked with six
Commissioners here tonight. A recommendation could be that the Parks and Recreation Commission
recommends keeping this property as public property.
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Commissioner Kraus said that Council has asked for whether there is a parks or trail use for the property.
Commissioner Couturiers said
a vote should be taken
on whether the
land can
be used as a trail in the future.
My personal belief is that the
land can not be used as
a park or trail in
future
use.
Commissioner O'Brien made a motion to approve Staff s recomnendation to vacate Eugenia Avenue.
Commissioner Kraus asked if the Commission was being asked to provide Council with a recommendation
whether or not to vacate the land or advise the Council whether or not the Commission sees a parkArail use
for the land. They are two separate issues. I would respond differently depending on whether it was stated
there was a parks use for it or if it should be vacated.
Mr. Sedlacek said if there was
a motion to
vacate that
would
be saying there
is
not a parks use for the
property in the future. If there
is a motion
to maintain
it for
a parks use then
it
would not be vacated.
Chair Portz said the issue is do we vacate it or keep it.
Mr. Sedlacek reminded the Commission that a motion to vacate had been made.
Commissioner Commers seconded the motion.
Commissioner Toth asked if the motion is to vacate it as far as pad< use and give it back to the homeowner.
There are a couple of things to look at before the decision is made. The future of highway 13 and the Bruce
Vento trail is unknown. The property could be made into a park with wildflowers and grasses and keep it
until it is found out what is going to happen to Highway 13 and Bruce Vento park. His thought is not to
vacate the land yet.
Commissioner Commers said the land has been maintained by the homeowners for the last 15 years. They
are asking to put up a fence because it is a meeting place for teenagers with inappropriate activity. This is
the reason I would like to vacate the land.
Commissioner Kraus said the challenge is the Council is not asking the Commission to make a public use
policy but does the Commission want to keep the an for park use. Why does staff recommend it be
vacated?
Mr. Sedlacek said staff looks at the land as right -of --away and it will not be used as right -of --way. State law
says that right -of --way is returned to the area where the land was platted from. There has been a creation of
issues that turned it into a parks issue and safety issue.
Commissioner
Kraus said there are issues that cloud the request. What the Commission is being asked to
decide on is — is there a legitimate reason for this land for a parks use. As a park do we plant flowers and
shrubs? If that is the question, my thoughts about fairness and safety issues is irrelevant. Is that a fair
statement?
Mr. Sedlacek said that is fair statement — is there a park use for this property.
Chair Portz said the recommendation reads that the Commission is in favor of vacating.
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Commission Toth said he can't answer the question today. Because it is unknown what is going to happen to
Highway 13 and Bruce Vento park.
Commissioner Kraus said suppose Highway 13 is widened and a huge berm put up on the side of the road.
Would we connect trails to Eugenia Avenue.
Commissioner O'Brien said no. It is a dangerous place to put a trail on Highway 13 because of the curve in
the road.
Commissioner Portz said a walker in Mendota Heights was disappointed when she ran into a "no
trespassing" sign that was put up after a piece of land was vacated. I see it as open or green space. There is
a little park in Mendota village. If we vacate it is gone forever.
Commissioner Kraus said the argument is that we could say there is a public use for the land even though it
is small.
Commissioner Commers said the land by Highway 13 is overgrown and that person is requesting a vacation.
I don't think people walk through there because of the overgrowth. I don't think there is a future park use for
the land now or in the future.
Commissioner Kraus asked if he was talking about just that segment or the whole thing
Commissioner Commers said the whole thing.
Commissioner Kraus asked about keeping it for public use.
Commissioner Commers said there is a park two blocks away — Cherokee Park.
Commissioner Toth asked how wide and long the parcel is.
Mr. Kullander responded it is about 400 feet long and 30 feet wide.
Commissioner O'Brien withdrew her original motion. Commissioner O'Brien then made a new motion to
accept staffs recommendation that there is no parks use for the property.
Commissioner Kraus said staffs recommendation is to vacate the property.
Mr. Sedlacek said staff s recommendation is against making the property into a trail and to vacate the
property.
Commissioner Kraus asked for clarification — the motion is just that there is no parks use for the property.
Commissioner Commers seconded the motion.
Mr. Sedlacek said the motion is to accept staff s recommendation that this land is not suitable for park use.
Commissioner Brackey asked if the Commission was in agreement that the land will not be used in the near
or long term as a path. But is the Commission in agreement that it is not green space?
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Commissioner Kraus said there is no general agreement about it.
Chair Portz said then you get into definitions of parks, green space, and open space.
Commissioner Commers said the owner's intent is to put up a fence in the back of his property and not on
the side of his land.
Commissioner Kraus said the homeowner wants to put up a fence but may not put a fence.
Commissioner Commers called the motion for a vote.
Chair Portz asked for the vote.
Commers
Aye
O'Brien
Aye
Portz
Nay
Brackey
Nay
Toth
Nay
Kraus
Aye
The motion failed to gain a majority of votes.
COMMISSION COMMENTS
Commissioner Kraus asked Mr. Sedlacek if there was any feedback from the love the parks email address.
Mr. Sedlacek responded he had one person respond.
Chair Portz reminded everyone about the golf open coming up.
Commissioner Commers asked if at the next meeting they should have the project list ranked.
Mr. Kullander responded yes they can rank them at the next meeting.
Commissioner Brackey made a motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Kraus seconded.
AYES
NAYS 0
The meeting adjourned at 8:48 P.M.
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