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2004-08-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2004 (The Parks Commission held a workshop the same evening as the regularly scheduled meeting at Wentworth Park from 6:00 to 6:25 to discuss playground equipment maintenance and accessibility issues. Chair Spicer, Commissioners Linnell, Morris, Craighead, and Portz, and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander were present for the workshop. The Parks Commission then convened their regularly scheduled meeting in the Council Chambers.) The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, August 10, 2004 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Acting Chair Stan Linnell and Commissioners Raymond Morris, Larry Craighead, and Paul Portz. Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Dave Libra and Missie Hickey were excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister, and Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Commissioner Portz moved approval of the July 13, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Commissioner Morris seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoff provided an update of Safety Camp and other recreation activities plaimed for Fa112004. Acting Chair Linnell commended Ms. Gangelhoff on a successful summer and fall recreation schedule. 1 DISCUSSION WITH MHAA Acting Chair Linnell welcomed Greg Springer, President, and Amelia Olson, Athletic Director, of the Mendota Heights Athletic Association. Mr. Springer thanked the Commission for their invitation to their meeting. Mr. Springer said that MHAA would be happy to send representatives to future Parks and Recreation Commission meetings and that MHAA valued cooperation with the City. Mr. Springer explained that MHAA has only one full time paid employee, Ms. Olson, and 12 part-time employees who are involved with their charitable gambling sites, and that the Board consists of twelve volunteer Commissioners. Mr. Springer said that MHAA offers baseball, basketball, softball, flag football, soccer, t-ball, tackle football, and volleyball for area youth. Mr. Springer said that MHAA collaborates with West Saint Paul for many programs, particularly hockey and basketball. Mr. Springer asked if the Commissioners had any questions. Commissioner Portz said that the idea to invite MHAA to Parks and Recreation Commission meetings came out of the Joint Workshop with the Council several months ago. Commissioner Portz said that the Commission wanted to be informed about MHAA's activities. Commissioner Portz said that we was impressed by MHAA's website and asked if it was created in-house or with a consultant. Mr. Springer said that MHAA used a company called "eteamz" which provides a baseline site that MHAA can then customize. Mr. Springer said that MHAA pays a nominal fee each year for use of the site. Mr. Springer sad that in the future MHAA would like to convert more of their paperwork, registrations, etc. to electronic form. Mr. Springer said that another aspect that MHAA was working on right now is the "emotional aspects" of youth sports. Mr. Springer said that MHAA was working on an education program covering issues such as competitiveness, fair play, and appropriate conduct for both the kids and their parents. Mr. Springer said that MHAA has had very few problems in this regard, but that it was a good idea to be proactive about these issues. Commissioner Portz recalled that back in the 1990's when he was involved most of the coaches were parent volunteers and asked if this was still the case. Mr. Springer said that this was still the case, and that the only cases where they use paid coaches are for more competitive traveling teams. Mr. Springer said that this year MHAA did hire two baseball coaches. Mr. Springer said that MHAA does have some income for charitable gambling, but that they rely heavily on parent volunteers to coach the teams. Commissioner Portz asked if MHAA had sufficient access to indoor facilities. Or. Springer said that MHAA is working with ISD 197 Community Education for more gym space for basketball. Mr. Springer said that MHAA needs to rent more space, particularly on the weekends when there is a high concentration of activity. Mr. Springer said that ISD 197 charges a custodial fee for use of the gym of $35/hour because MHAA is not affiliated with a school program. Mr. Springer said that MHAA is also vulnerable to getting "bumped" from the schedule on any given evening if the gym is desired for a school -related activity, even if MHAA has already reserved that space. Mr. Springer said that MHAA has a shortage of quality gym space. Mr. Springer said that in terms of outdoor space, MHAA would like to see one ball field in Mendota Heights converted into a little -league baseball field for 1041 year olds. Mr. Springer added that MHAA would also be interested in contributing financially to installing a more permanent paved surface on the floor of the batting cage at Mendakota Park. Commissioner Portz noted that MHAA has contributed to certain parks projects in the past. Mr. Springer asked how often the Commission would like MHAA to attend their meetings. Commissioner Morris suggested four meetings per year. Commissioner Portz asked if there was a particular cycle that worked best for MHAA. Mr. Springer suggested timing MHAA's visits to coincide with the "down time" between seasons. Mr. Springer suggested three visits per year, in August, November and March/April. Commissioner Portz said that the Commission was interested in hearing from MHAA when they had good news to report, such as the recent victory by the youth baseball team, or when they would like help from the City in some way. Commissioner Craighead noted that MHAA's office is now in West Saint Paul on Marie Avenue. Commissioner Craighead recalled that there was discussion before the hockey arena was completed that MHAA may use part of the arena for office space. Mr. Springer said that MHAA's office was originally next to Tom Thumb, but then after the City's Town Center redevelopment started, MHAA moved to office space on Northland Drive for one year. Mr. Springer said that the Northland Drive office space proved to be too expensive and geographically inconvenient, and so they moved to Marie Avenue where the rent is only 1/3 that of Northland Drive and is more centrally located. Mr. Springer said that MHAA would like to be located in Mendota Heights, but that they cannot find equivalently priced space in Mendota Heights. Mr. Springer added that MHAA is also trying to become more user-friendly by allowing parents to register their kids either on-line or in person. Commissioner Craighead asked how participation numbers have changed recently for hockey. Mr. Springer said that about half of the hokey participants are Mendota Heights kids, even thought it is administered by West Saint Paul. Acting Chair Linnell thanked Mr. Springer and Ms. Olson for coming to the meeting and said that the Commission looked forward to continuing the conversation in the future. MENDOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND UPGRADES Mr. Kullander provided this as an information item only. Mr. Kullander said that Mendota Elementary is almost finished with their playground improvements that include removal of CCA-treated wood timber edging and installation of wood fiber surfacing in place of the existing pea rock. Commissioner Craighead said that he has visited the site and that the improvements look very nice. PARKS 5-YEAR CAPITAL IMPRVOEMENT PLAN Mr. Kullander presented a draft five year Capital Improvement Plan for 2005-2009. Mr. Kullander said that these improvements would be funded through the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander said that the "big ticket" items were upgrading 10 playgrounds, building picnic shelters and extending trail segments. Mr. Kullander asked the Commissioners for comments. Commissioner Morris complemented Mr. Kullander on his work. Commissioner Morris said that it was important to maintain beautiful parks for the quality of life in Mendota Heights. Commissioner Morris said that he has noticed that the skateboard park is heavily used and that the Commission may want to add more elements to it next year. Commissioner Morris added that Chair Spicer would someday like to see his coveted trail signage. Commissioner Portz said that he lives next to Mendota Elementary School and that he has also noticed the high -quality work that the school is doing to improve their playgrounds. Commissioner Portz said that the City should emulate Mendota Elementary School's example to "do it right" when it comes to infrastructure improvements in the parks. Commissioner Portz said that Mr. Kullander's draft CIP is a step in that direction. Commissioner Morris said that park improvements are expensive but that they are reflected in the value of people's homes. Commissioner Linnell said that the City expects residents to keep their homes well maintained and that the City should set the example with its own facilities. Commissioner Criaghead said that he has changed his mind since the last meeting when he expressed objections to the high cost of playground maintenance. Commissioner Craighead said that in the past when there was more development activity in the City, the Parks Commission could rely on income from subdivisions for the Special Parks Fund. Commissioner Criaghead said that now that development has slowed down, the Special Parks Fund needs another source of income. Commissioner Craighead said that he supports asking the Council for this income. Acting Chair Linnell noted that Mr. Kullander's draft CIP showed picnic shelter installations, over a number of years. Acting Chair Linnell said that it might be more cost effective to install all of them in a single year. Acting Chair Linnell also said that the Commission might want to add one more skate park expansion in the later years of the CIP. Commissioner Criaghead suggested adding handicapped accessible toilets. Acting Chair Linnell said that he hoped to be able to add more trails. Commissioner Morris said that some trails will need rehabilitation. Acting Chair Linnell pointed out that trail rehabilitation would come form a different budget than the Special Parks Fund. Acting Chair Linnell said that although it was beyond the scope of the five-year CIP, he would eventually like to see an overpass over Highway 110 after the NURT trail is completed. Acting Chair Limiell also said that he would like to see replacement of some of the older picnic shelters in Rogers and Valley Parks, but that these did not need to be in the current five-year plan. Commissioner Morris moved to approve the five-year CIP as written and ask the Council to authorize a spending level of $185,000 for each year of the CIP. Commissioner Criaghead seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided an update on the following items: • News Article: "WSP Parks to get Face Lift" • Saint Thomas Academy Temporary Field house 0 Police Report Staff also informed the Commission that the September meeting would either have to be cancelled or rescheduled due to primary elections. Staff told the Commission that they would speak with Chair Spicer about what to do for September. ADJOURN Commissioner Portz moved to adjourn. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. 0