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2004-09-09 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMBER 9, 2004 The September 2004 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Thursday, September 9, 2004 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. (This meeting was rescheduled from September 14, 2004 in order to avoid conflict with the Primary Election.) The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Chair Richard Spicer and Commissioners Dave Libra, Missie Hickey, Larry Craighead, and Paul Portz. Commissioners Stan Linnell and Raymond Morris were excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff was excused due to illness. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Commissioner Libra moved approval of the August 10, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes with one typographical revision. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Mr. Hollister explained that Ms. Gangelhoff had been excused because of allergies. Chair Spicer asked if there would be a fall softball league. Mr. Hollister replied that at far as he knew, there was none. Commissioner Craighead noted that the tennis program had received a nice donation. FLAG FOOTBALL AT MENDAKOTA PARK (Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman was present for this discussion.) Chair Spicer said that he had told Tim McManus the flag football coach that he did not need to attend the meeting since he had a conflict with coaching duties this evening. Chair Spicer said that he was in favor of MHAA's request to allow flag football on the softball fields at Mendakota Park despite the concerns raised by the parks maintenance crew about the impact on the fields. Chair Spicer said that he felt that the impact on the fields would be minimal. Chair Spicer asked for motion to allow flag football at Mendakota Park this fall for one year only on a trial basis. Commissioner Hickey moved to allow flag football at Mendakota Park this fall for one year only on a trial basis, with the condition that no games be held in the rain to avoid damage to the grass. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Mr. Kullander suggested that this change be presented to the Council prior to allowing flag football at Mendakota, since this represents a change to previous policy not allowing flag football at Mendakota. Chair Spicer said that he would not normally object to placing the item on the Council agenda, but that by the September 21" Council meeting the season would be almost over, and that he believes that the Parks Reservations Policy states that the Commission has the authority to issue permits. Mr. Hollister suggested that the City Administrator could announce the Commission's decision in this week's Friday News and see if any Councilmembers objected. Chair Spicer asked Staff to place this item in the Friday News. (Councilmember Schneeman left the meeting at this point.) Mr. Kullander said that this was an information item only. Mr. Kullander informed the Commission that the Council had rejected the Commission's proposal to widen the shoulder along Wagon Wheel Trail for pedestrian/bicycle use and said that they preferred to wait until a total reconstruction of Wagon Wheel Trail from Lexington to Dodd is built to make any such improvements. CITY SKATING RINKS Chair Spicer said that Councilmember Mary Jeanne Schneeman had requested that the Parks Commission discuss the future of the skating rinks at their October meeting. Chair Spicer said that Councilmember Schneeman had expressed concern that the skating rinks were too expensive to operate in light of how little usage they received. Chair Spicer said that although he disagrees with the Councilmember on this point, he wanted City Staff to place this item on the October Parks and Recreation Commission agenda. Chair Spicer asked Staff to research the costs of rink operation and maintenance and to bring back the numbers compiled by the rink attendants on usage for the October meeting. Commissioner Craighead said that he also felt that the rinks have received impressive usage over the last two years, particularly in light of how short the last two winters have been, and that he knew of some residents who would like the City to build one additional rink instead of removing rinks. DRAFT 2005 CITY PARKS BUDGET Mr. Kullander reported that the Council had granted eight out of the Commission's ten requests for parks funding in the draft 2005 City parks budget, including requests regarding trails. Mr. Kullander said that the Council did not approve the requested $10,000 for planning grant applications and had not approved an alternative revenue source for the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander said that instead the Council had suggested spending down the existing balance of the Special Parks Fund. Chair Spicer said that he was grateful to the Council for the eight requests that they approved, but that he did not want to spend down the existing Special Parks Fund and wished to maintain a minimum balance of $300,000 in the fund. PARKS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. Kullander presented the draft Parks Five Year Capital Improvement Plan and asked for feedback. Commissioner Libra said that he liked items 1-4 for 2005. Commissioner Libra said that he would like to see the trail on the east side of Dodd Road from Town Center to Marie Avenue paid for from a source other than the Special Parks Fund, such as MSA funds. Mr. Kullander agreed and said that installation of the trail on the east side of Dodd Road would probably have to wait until the townhomes along Dodd Road were finished in 2006 or 2007. Chair Spicer asked if lowering the amounts allocated for the Wentworth and Marie playground equipment would compromise safety. Mr. Kullander responded that it would not. Chair Spicer suggested lowering the amount allocated for Wentworth Playground equipment from $55,000 to $40,000 and the amount allocated for Marie playground equipment from $45,000 to $30,000, Mr. Kullander recommended waiting until actual cost figures came in from vendors before making such decisions and said that he thought that the cost of the playground equipment at Marie Park may be more difficult to cut that than the cost of the playground equipment at Wentworth Park, Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to move forward the five items for 2005. WENTWORTH AND MARIE PARKS: 2005 COMPONENTS Mr. Kullander referred to the fall -color playground equipment catalog in the Commissioners' packets and explained that he had requested the color booklets showing various playground components from a vendor. Mr. Kullander suggested that the Commissioners take the booklets home and look them over to think about which playground components would be most desirable, especially components suitable for 2-5 year -old play. Chair Spicer suggested placing a notice in the next Heights Highlights inviting residents to come to the November Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to discuss playground equipment. Commissioner Libra noted that at this year's Celebrate Mendota Heights Parks event, the children seemed to really enjoy the playground equipment at Mendakota Park. Chair Spicer asked Staff to schedule a "workshop" on location at Mendakota Park before the October 12 Parks Commission meeting at 6:00 pm to discuss the playground equipment before convening the regular meeting at City Hall at 6:30 pm. VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided the following updates: • Police Report OTHER COMMENTS None. ADJOURN Commissioner Hickey moved to adjourn. 0 Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.