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2003-02-11 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY ll, 2003 The regulaz meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, February 11, 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: Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Stan Linnell, Larry Craighead, Raymond Morris, Missie Hickey, and Dave Libra, Commissioner Paul Portz was excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Councilmember Ultan Duggan and Scott Miller of MHAA were in the audience. 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 Morris moved to approve the January 14, 2003 minutes with revisions. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 PARK MAINTENANCE ISSUES Mr. Kullander reviewed a memorandum that he had provided to the Commission regarding various parks maintenance items. ROGERS LAKF, PARK TIER I SKATEBOARD PARK Mr. Kullander informed the Commission that the Council had agreed to allocate $25,000 for the construction of a skateboard park facility at Rogers Lake Park. Mr. Kullander added that the Council had instructed him to work with local interested skateboard enthusiasts regarding the design of the skateboard park. Mr. Kullander said that this item would appear on the March and April Parks Commission agendas and would be submitted for Council review and award on April 15. WENTWORTH WARMING HOUSE Mr. Kullander informed the Commission that the Council had decided that it was preferable to add on to the existing warming house at Wentworth Park, rather than to remove it and build a new one. Chair peers that he felt that the existing warming house at Wentworth was not worth adding on to. Chair Spicer asked for an informal survey of the rest of the Commission as to how they felt on this matter. The rest of the Commissioners present agreed with Chair Spicer on this matter. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to convey their sentiments to the Council and to ask the Council to reconsider their decision. PARKS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. Kullander presented the Parks Capital Improvement Projects scheduled for 2003. Mr. Kulander stated that in the past two years costs were about $125,000 each year and that in 2003 over $225,000 in expenditures were planned. Mr. Kullander said that he did not have sufficient time to complete all of the scheduled projects for 2003. Mr. Kullander also said that the City was concerned about the potential impact on the City of the state budget situation. Mr. Kullander suggested that the Commission might to wish to move some of the items for 2003 to 2004 or later years. Councilmember Ultan Duggan said that he wished to clarify two points. Councihnember Duggan said that although he was not yet a Councihnember, he did attend budget discussions late last year and understands that the City had prepared itself for the possible impacts of unallotment for this year. Councilmember Duggan said that in regards to the Wentworth warming house issue, that it was the lack of use of the rink at Wentworth that influenced the Council's decision on this matter. The Parks Commission made several revisions to the 5-year CIP. Commissioner Hickey moved to adopt the changes. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: BALLFIELD LIGHTING — SCOTT MILLER Mr. Miller said that he had spoken with the Council about the possibility of lighting some or all of the ballfields within the City of Mendota Heights. Mr. Miller said that the Council had decided to ask the Parks Commission to investigate the possibility of lighting only three sites in the following order: Saint Thomas Academy, Civic Center, and Sibley High School. Mr. Miller said that he remembers well that the last time the subject of lighting Mendakota ballfield was discussed, the surrounding neighborhood came out against lighting the fields. Mr. Miller said that nevertheless, he would like to put Mendakota on the table again. Mr. Miller said that the demographics of the City are changing and that there is now a shortage of ballfield time. Chair Spicer said that this would be the fourth time he has participated in discussions about lighting ballfields since the beginning of this tenure on the Parks and Recreation Commission in 1988. Chair Spicer said that since both he and his children have been heavily involved in baseball, he is sympathetic to the issue. Chair Spicer said that Mendota Heights is the only community in the south metro area that does not have lighted fields. Chair Spicer added, however, that he saw two problems with lighting the fields. Chair Spicer said that the first issue was money, and that the second issue was neighborhood opposition. The Commission then discussed the idea of folding ballfield lights into a larger parks bond referendum and/or utility bond to cover various items and asked Mr. Kullander to convey that idea to the Council for their reaction. UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: • Recreation Programmer's Update • Police Report OTHER COMMENTS None. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Craighead and seconded by Libra. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.