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2004-01-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 13, 2004 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 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 Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, Stan Linnell, Dave Libra and Missie Hickey. Commissioner Raymond Morris was excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff, Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. IuTil►liT1 Y�.y Commissioner Craighead moved to approve the November 13, 2003 minutes with revisions. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoffpresented the Recreation Programmer's Update. SNOWMOBILING ON ROGERS LAKE Mr. Clifford Timm addressed the Commission. Mr. Timm said that he would like permission from the City to ride a snowmobile on Rogers Lake one time this winter to attempt to "herd" the fish from the north end of Rogers Lake to the south end. Mr. Timm explained that thanks to the aerator in Rogers Lake Park there is more oxygen in the south end compared to the north end. Mr. Timm said that he would like to entice the fish to migrate to the south end for the lake while the culvert is still passable. Mr. Timm said that he is confident that this technique would work, because when he was growing up on the farm he used to hit the ice with a sledgehammer to scare the fish to an ice hole where his friend would then spear them. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Timm how long he thought he needed to ride the snowmobile, and if the snowmobile run would be a one-time event or if he would need to do this repeatedly. Mr. Timm said that he would like to crisscross the north end of the lake with one other person on two snowmobiles for one or two hours. Mr. Timm said that he felt this would be sufficient to drive the fish to the south and that if it were not, he would conclude that it is a lost cause. Mr. Timm said that he was also interested in discussing feeding the fish. Chair Spicer said that the Parks Commission should limit this evening's discussion to the snowmobile proposal and save the feeding discussion for another evening. Chair Spicer asked for a motion on the snowmobile idea. Commissioner Portz moved to recommend that the Council grant permission for one snowmobile run on the north end of Rogers Lake involving up to two snowmobiles and up to two hours, provided that the neighbors around the lake are notified in advance. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 Chair Spicer invited Mr. Timm to come back to the Commission in the spring to discuss feeding the fish. RULES AND RENTAL FEES FOR USE OF CITY PARKS AND PROPERTY Mr. Kullander presented his proposed changes to the rules and rental fees for the use of City parks and property. Mr. Kullander said that he had made contacts with several representatives of MHAA and the other local youth sports organizations about these changes. Chair Spicer recognized the sole person in the audience for this issue, Mr. Rob Meyer, 1399 Clement Street, of the Sibley Area Sting Soccer. Mr. Meyer asked for clarification of how these changes would impact Sting soccer, particularly the use of the two fields at Kensington and the field at MendakotaI Mr. Kullander said that there would be a $25 registration fee for all three fields, but that this would be a one-time fee for the entire season and would not be charged for each separate game. Mr. Kullander said that the intent of this fee was to cover administrative expenses. Mr. Kullander also said that the youth athletic organizations needed to be more specific when defining the needs for field space before the season starts. Mr. Kullander said that many times MHAA or Sting will reserve fields for more time than they actually end up needing them, and then other groups question why they cannot use the empty fields. Mr. Meyer said that he would work more closely with the City to more precisely define when they need the fields, but that this as difficult because of the unpredictability of the weather. Chair Spicer asked for a motion on Mr. Kullander's first recommendation, the $25 registration fee. Commissioner Craighead moved to recommend that the Council authorize a $25 registration fee for fields, with the provision that Staff may waive the fee requirement in the case of financial hardship. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 Chair Spicer asked for a motion on Mr. Kullander's second recommendation regarding tournament fees. Commissioner Craighead moved to recommend that the Council authorize a tournament fee of $150 for the first day and $100 for each subsequent day. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kuilander about his third recommendation, the removal of the exemption for MHAA from the requirement for a damage deposit. Ms. Gangelhoff said that MHAA had left a real mess last year after a tournament and that the parks crew had to use specialized equipment to complete the cleanup. Mr. Kullander added that after the tournament, the Public Works crew had suggested that the City collect a damage deposit in the future. Commissioner Libra moved recommend that the Council authorize Staff to collect a damage deposit of $200.00 from MHAA for use of the Mendakota Park facility. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Mr. Kullander alerted the Commission that next month he would be addressing the subject of a standard use agreement between that City and groups wishing to use the concession stand at Mendakota Park during non-MHAA events. III1T7,]Jrl�,l7i;li;liceZl.r_ze77f.1L11�z�z��9 Chair Spicer said that he was disappointed that the Council had not allocated any money for grant programs for trail improvements or extensions because a little money from the City can leverage a lot of money from other sources. Chair Spicer said that the Parks Commission should keep lobbying the Council for these funds. Mr. Kullander pointed out that even though funds for trail planning were not placed in this year's budget, the Council had responded to another request by the Parks Commission by allocating money for buckthorn removal. Mr. Kullander said that the Council had allocated $7000 dollars for this purpose and that the work would be begin soon in some City parks. VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: • Playground Improvements in 2004 • Wagon Wheel Trail/Rogers Lake Improvements • Buckthorn Control • Clifford Timm Article • E-mail Addresses • Police Report OTHER COMMENTS Chair Spicer asked Staff to provide a copy of the section of the City's current Comprehensive Plan on trails for the February meeting. Commissioner Craighead asked Staff to inquire as to whether or not MHAA is using the new Saint Thomas ice arena, and whether or not there is open ice time at the new arena for the general public. ADJOURN Motion made to adjourn by Linnell and seconded by Portz. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.