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2005-01-11 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 115 2005 The January 2005 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 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 Dave Libra, Missie Hickey, Stan Linnell, Larry Craighead, Paul Portz, and Raymond Morris. City Staff present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. CLIFF TIMM DONATION Chair Spicer acknowledged Mr. Cliff Timm in the audience. Mr. Timm explained that he would like to make a donation to the fishing derby each year out of a trust that he has created. Mr. Timm said that he would like to donate $500.00 in place of tackle boxes in the form of $10.00 gift certificates for Ace Hardware in Inver Grove Heights for each participant of the fishing derby. Mr. Timm explained that this hardware store had fishing tackle for sale and had contributed worms to the Fishing Derby in the past. Mr. Timm said that the owners of the Ace Hardware had also helped out at the Fishing Derby with the measuring and weighing of fish. Mr. Timm added that he is also continuing work on other issues, such as the feeding of fish, goose overpopulation, and increasing the catch limit on sunfish. The Commission thanked Mr. Timm for his generous donation. MINUTES Commissioner Morris moved approval of the November 9, 2004 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S UPDATE Ms. Gangelhoff updated the Commission on winter and spring recreation programs. Ms. Gangelhoff said that the City would be having its first annual "Skate with the Mayor" on Saturday, January 22 and Friendly Hills Park Rink from 1 lam to 1 pm. Ms. Gangelhoff said that softball registration forms would be sent out next week. Chair Spicer commended Ms. Gangelhoff on her winter/spring recreation schedule. ICE SKATING RINK HOURS Chair Spicer recognized Mr. Ned Rukavina in the audience. Mr. Ned Rukavina, 1794 Vicki Lane said that he would like the skating rinks to be open later. Mr. Rukavina said that currently the rinks close at 8:30 pm and that he would like to see them close at 10:00 pm to give skaters more time. Mr. Rukavina said that he was aware that some neighbors complain about the lights, but that such issues should be resolved by the design of the lights, rather than by closing earlier. Chair Spicer asked Ms. Gangelhoff what the hours of the rinks were. Ms. Gangelhoff said that on weeknights the hours were 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Ms. Gangelhoff said that those hours were set before she started at Mendota Heights. Ms. Gangelhoff mentioned that Councilmember Schneeman had requested that the hours be extended at Wentworth Park during Christmas. Chair Spicer asked if it would be possible to extend the skating hours until 10:00 pm at Mane Park on Friday and Saturday nights for the next four weeks. Ms. Gangelhoff said that she had already sent out the schedules for the rink attendants, but that she could try to adjust their work schedules. Commissioner Craighead moved to request that the rink at Marie Park be kept open until 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday nights for the remainder of the skating season, that the rink attendants keep records of how many skaters are using the rinks during those hours, and that Ms. Gangelhoff keep a record of complaints received about leaving the lights on at later hours. Commissioner Morris seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 VERBAL UPDATES Staff provided the following updates: • Police Report OTHER COMMENTS Commissioner Portz noted that the rinks were not open the weekend before Christmas and asked what the reason was. Ms. Gangelhoff said that even though it was cold enough to make ice, there had not been enough snow to contain the water within the rink boundaries and that Public Works had therefore could not open the rinks until one week later. Mr. Kullander said that buckthorn removal was completed in Friendly Hills Park this past week and reminded the Commissioners that Councilmember Schneeman had requested that the Commissioners observe rink usage this winter. Chair Spicer asked about the Mr. Kullander's and Ms. Gangelhoff s interview with NDCTV. Mr. Kullander said that the schedule for broadcasts of the interview was in last week's Friday News. Mr. Kullander said that NDCTV interviewed many cities in Dakota County for the one -hour show, and that the Mendota Heights' portion is near the end of the program. Commissioner Linnell asked if there was any possibility of planning for a future bridge over Highway 110 as part of the NURT trail. Mr. Kullander said that this was unlikely because no funding source existed to pay the $500,000+cost for such a bridge. Commissioner Portz commented that one of the new homes built in the Hidden Creek Estates development had a pool with no fence around it. Commissioner Portz said that he did not consider this to be a safe situation. Mr. Hollister that that the home is still under construction and that the pool has a temporary fence around it as required by the Code Enforcement Officer. Mr. Hollister said that the homeowner is in discussions with the Council about the possibility of changing the ordinance to allow a pool to not have a fence if the pool has an automatic pool cover. Commissioner Portz said that he hoped that the Council would not amend the current ordinance requiring fences around pools. Commissioner Portz said that he did not think that allowing pools without fences was in the interest of safety. Commissioner Morris said that he agreed with Commissioner Portz. Mr. Hollister said that so far it appeared that a majority of the Councilmembers were inclined to leave the ordinance as it is. ADJOURN Commissioner Linnell moved to adjourn. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.