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2003-01-14 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY Or MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 149 2003 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Acting Chair Stan Linnell and Commissioners Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Raymond Morris, and Dave Libra. Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioner Missie Hickey were excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. This meeting was televised by NDCTV and replayed the following Friday at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. MINUTES Commissioner Morns moved to approve the November 12, 2002 minutes as written. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING: SKATE PARK DEVELOPMENT IN FRIENDLY HILLS PARK The following residents were present in the audience for this discussion (six adults and thirteen youth): Joe Spatafore Matt Spatafore 1070 Chippewa Tim Gadban Michael Johnson Brent Lucio RJ Sutich Jonathan Sutich Ben Cole Brett Hurlbet Mary Weber 2349 Copperfield Drive 2300 Lexington Avenue South 3645 Pinecrest Court 555 Abbey Way 555 Abbey Way 3371 Heritage Lane 755 Winslow Avenue 1901 South Lane [Councihnember Ultan Duggan also amved at about 6:50.] Mr. Kullander introduced the issue of installing a skateboard park on the paved surface of the tennis courts at Rogers Lake Park, Acting Chair Linnell then invited the residents in the audience to speak. Mr. Scott Miller said that he was in favor of a skateboard park. Mr. Miller added that as a next -door neighbor to the park, he had no objection to the skate park being at Rogers Lake Park, although he was concerned that kids may not have safe, convenient access on Wagon Wheel Trail to the park, particularly if they have to cross Dodd Road/Highway 110 to get there. Mr. Miller said that Rogers Lake Park was currently underutilized, and that this may bring more activity to the park. Mr. Matt Englehart said that he was in favor of the skateboard park, and that skateboarders felt neglected in comparison with participants in other sports. Mr. Michael Johnson said that there were not many skateparks in the vicinity of Mendota Heights and that he would like to see a skatepark at Rogers Lake Park. Acting Chair Linnell asked Mr. Johnson if a "Tier I" skatepark would be sufficient to hoId his interest. Mr. Johnson said that it would, and that any skatepark was better than no skatepark. Ms. Laura Englehart asked what the next step would be for pursuing the skateboard park. Acting Chair Linnell said that if the Parks Commission determines that this is a suitable site they would be making a recommendation to the City Council for their agenda next Tuesday. Mr. John Sutich said that skateboarders feel neglected and that building this skatepark would reduce the amount of unwanted skateboarding elsewhere in Mendota Heights, such as at Snyder's. Mr. Brett Hurlbet said that he has been asked to leave the "Big K" parking lot in Saint Paul because he was skateboarding. Mr. Hurlbet said that there are not many places to go to skate without getting in trouble. Mr. Hurlbet said that the skatepark at Rogers Lake Park would give him a legitimate place to skate. Mr. Meyers showed the Commission several ramp designs as examples. Mr. Meyers said that 35E would serve as a noise barrier so people would not complain about skateboard noise. Mr. Meyers suggested contacting either gshockskatepark.com or thirdlair.com for good skatepark designs. Mr. Meyers said that even though the skatepark at Rogers Lake would be only Tier I, at least it would be free, and so he anticipated that it would get a lot of use. Mr. Meyers said that the larger skateboard parks in the area charge from $11.00 to $15.00 for a day pass. Mr. Brent Lucio said that his only concern was that the City hires a good designer for the skatepark. Mr. Lucio urged the Commission to get good people to design the skatepark. Ms. Teresa Cosgrove, the cablecast technician for the meeting, said that her son is a skateboard enthusiast and that she supports his interest in the activity even though he has come home with occasional "bangs and bruises", occasionally even requiring a trip to the hospital. Mr. Meyers said that Rogers Lake is a good location because there are no close neighbors and no one will be bothered by noise. Mr. Meyers said that the skateboard park would increase the use of Rogers Lake generally. Mr. Meyers said that the city could even bring back the beach, although when he was a kid he used to have to wear perfume when he swam in Rogers Lake to keep off the leaches. Acting Chair Linnell said that the Commission wanted to encourage the use of Rogers Lake Park. Commissioner Craighead said that he would like to hear input from Ms. Gangelhoff and Mr. KullanderI Ms. Gangelhoff said that she had inquired with colleagues in other cities about skateboard parks, and that they had given her the following recommendations: • Have well-defined spaces and boundaries for the activities. • Have parents and kids design the park. • Be prepared for rollerbladers and BMX bikers to also want to use the same ramps. • Provide a payphone. • Provide a drinking fountain. • Provide signage with all the safety rules, including a recommendation that kids wear helmets. (The City cannot actually require helmets and maintain status as merely a Tier I park for insurance purposes.) • Provide trash receptacles. • Provide seating for parents. • Provide a shelter for bad weather. • Provide restrooms. • The park needs to fit the surrounding neighborhood. • The park needs supervision unless it is next door to the police station, public works facility, community center, or similar City facility. Ms. Gangelhoff added that she had safety concerns about the lack of sidewalks or trails in the vicinity of Rogers Lake Park. Ms. Gangelhoff said that other cities typically leave their skatepark open until 9:00pm, and then lock it up for the night. Commissioner Moms told the skateboarders in the audience that if a skatepark in Mendota Heights were to be successful, those who use it would need to take some ownership in it and police themselves, keep the area clean, and prevent vandalism and abuse to the facility. Mr. Kullander pointed out that the design of the skatepark would be dictated by the amount of money available for the skatepark. Mr. Kullander advised the Commission that there is currently no line item in the City budget for maintenance of the skatepark. Mr. Kullander speculated that it might require one worker -hour per day for maintenance of the facility. Commissioner Portz noted that Mr. Kullander had made reference to padding the tennis posts to prevent injury. Commissioner Portz asked if it wouldn't be more advisable to remove the posts entirely. Mr. Kullander said that this is an issue that he would like to discuss with the eventual designer of the skatepark. Commissioner Morris asked if there was anyone in the audience who was opposed to the skatepark. [No one raised his or her hand.] Commissioner Moms said that this was the most public interest in a specific recreation facility that he had seen since he joined the Commission. Commissioner Moms said that Rogers Lake Park seemed to be an ideal location for a skatepark in most regards, except perhaps for pedestrian and bicycle access and safety. Commissioner Morris said that the number and enthusiasm of young residents for this facility has convinced him that skateboarding is a growing phenomenon, and that the City should accommodate it somehow. Commissioner Morris said that that the skateboarders in the community should have some input as to how it is designed. Commissioner Libra said that he agreed with Commissioner Morris that Rogers Lake Park was the best location for the skatepark, except for the issue of access. Acting Chair Lnwell agreed that Rogers Lake is a good location for the skatepark, but added that supervision could also be an issue. Commissioner Craighead said that he was concerned about the impact that the skatepazk could have on the Special Parks Fund and Park Maintenance Budget for 2003. Commissioner Morris moved to recommend that the Council authorize the construction of a skateboard park at Rogers Lake Park for up to $25,000, including benches for parents, and that the Parks Commission and Mr. Kullander work with local skateboarders on the design. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. Commissioner Craighead offered a friendly amendment asking the Council to allocate $10,000/year in the general fund for maintenance of the skateboard park. Commissioners Morns and Portz accepted the friendly amendment. Commissioner Craighead asked if the motion should wait until later in the evening, after the discussion of the parks five-year Capital Improvement Plan, Commissioner Morns said that he did not want to wait, since he had to leave the meeting soon for another obligation. Mr. Meyers commented that the police could check on the skatepark once per hour and that kids could volunteer to help in the construction of the skatepark. Mr. Johnson said that he wanted to comment about the issue of bikers and rollerbladers also using the facty. Mr. Johnson said that skateboarders, bikers, and rollerbladers could all use the facility harmoniously. Mr. Johnson said that he would be willing to help in the construction of the park. Commissioner Portz said that he thought the process leading to the Park Commission's recommendation on the skatepazk had been a good one. Commissioner Portz advised those skateboarders who felt neglected that baseball, for example, is over one hundred years old, and that it takes a while for a new sport to get established in the culture and accommodated by the society. Commissioner Portz said that the skateboarders today should consider themselves to be pioneers in a new sport, and that they will have to do the "heavy lifting" politically for future generations of skateboarders. Commissioner Libra echoed Commissioner Morns' call for responsible use of and pride in all park facilities. Commissioner Libra said that it is a shame that the City has to deal with vandalism in the parks. Commissioner Libra urged the skateboarders to take good care of a new facility if it is created. Acting Chair Linnell called for a vote on the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 [Commissioner Moms left the meeting at this point.] Acting Chair Linneli acknowledged the presence of Councilmember Ultan Duggan in the audience. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS/PROJECTS Mr. Kullander reported that the Council had decided not to allocate funding for exotic species eradication for 2003. Mr. Kullander explained that although the Council was sympathetic to the idea, they were concerned about the potential financial impacts to the City of the new Governor's effort to balance the state budget. Mr. Kullander said that there was a possibility that at mid -year, if it appeared that there would be some unspent funds for the year 2003, the Commission could approach the Council to reallocate some money towards this effort. Acting Chair Linnell said that Mr. Kullander should see if the Public Works crew would be willing to work on eliminating some of these plants if it does not detract from their other duties. Acting Chair Linnell also suggested that volunteer groups in the community might be able to help with the problem. Commissioner Libra recommended that an article be placed in the city newsletter advising residents about what they can do as individuals to identify and eliminate unwanted species, and that the Commission should focus on the 2004 budget in trying once again to get some funding allocated toward this purpose. Commissioner Craighead said that the City had allocated $16,000 for weed control in 2003, and that perhaps some of that money could be used to remove exotic species. 2003 PARKS MAINTENANCE BUDGET Mr. Kullander reported that the Council did follow the Commission's recommendation to increase funding for several maintenance items. Mr. Kullander said that the trail maintenance allocation was increased in the 2003 budget from $10,000 to $20,000, funding for play equipment repairs was doubled from $2,000 to $4,000, maintenance of Ivy Pond increased from $1,000 to $2,000, and $10,000 was included to resurface the Wentworth tennis courts. Mr. Kullander added that the Council also allocated $1500 for the Public Works crew to start up the tree nursery again. Mr. Kullander said that the trees from the nursery would most likely go to the parks, rather than boulevards. Mr. Kullander also said that the Council decided to convert the Quest building in Kensington Park to storage. Commissioner Libra said that he wished to thank Mr. Kullander and the previous Council and Mayor for resurfacing the Marie Park tennis courts. Commissioner Craighead said that he wished to thank the Council for allocating $2Q000 for trail maintenance for 2003, and that he hoped that the Council would allocate funding for noxious plant eradication for 2004. Commissioner Libra said that the Commission appreciates the Council's willingness to allocate cell tower revenue to the Special Parks Fund. Commissioner Libra also thanked Councilmember Duggan for attending tonight's Commission meeting. PARK BENCH DONATION PROGRAM Mr. Kullander announced that in the first year of the park bench donation program, four benches were donated to the City. Mr. Kullander said that last year the required cash amount for the donation was $750. Mr. Kullander said that the actual cost of installing a bench had proven to be slightly higher than $750, and so each bench was partly subsidized out of the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander asked if the Parks Commission wished to increase the required donation amount to cover the entire cost. Mr. Kullander added that it might be possible to close the gap by finding a lower -cost local supplier. Acting Chair Linnell said that he did not mind partially subsidizing the benches, and that he would rather keep the required donation low and pursue a lower cost supplier than raise the required donation. Acting Chair Linnell also announced the park bench donors for 2002 for the benefit of the television audience: Donor Schneeman Children Honorees Location Dan & MJ Schneeman Wachtler Avenue Raline Paper Bill Paper Ivy Park Ken &Lynne Malloy William &Renee Malloy Marie and Lexington Karen Baudette James Baudette Rogers Lake Pier Acting Chair Linnell thanked the park bench donors for their generosity. SPECIAL PARKS FUND BALANCE Mr. Kullander announced that the Special Parks Fund balance was approximately $336,000 dollars as of the end of 2002. Mr. Kullander added that he did not anticipate incoming revenue into the Special Parks Fund from either the Pilot Knob development or the Town Center development in 2003. Mr. Kullander said that the Council has agreed to contribute 50% of the cell tower revenue for 2003 into the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander stated that if all the projects currently in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan were built the balance in the Special Parks Fund in December 2005 would be approximately $110,000,00, PARKS FIVE YEAR (2001-2005) CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. Kullander said that the projects in the remaining three years of the five-year capital improvement plan were loaded heavily towards 2003, and that for both fund balance considerations and staff time considerations it would be advisable to move some of the 2003 projects into either 2004 or 2005. The Pazks Commission discussed moving some 2003 items into future years, but decided to wait until a future meeting when there would be more Commissioners present. UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: • Recreation Programmer's Update • Ballfield Lighting • Police Report (no incidents for Nov or Dec) OTHER COMMENTS None. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Portz and seconded by Libra. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.