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2006-01-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 10, 2006 The January 2006 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 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, Raymond Morris, Paul Portz, and Larry Craighead. Commissioners Stan Linnell and Missie Hickey were excused from the meeting. City Staff present were Operations and Projects Coordinator Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff, and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. Also present in the audience were Councilmembers Ultan Duggan and Mary -Jeanne Schneeman, and Amelia Olson of the Mendota Heights Athletic Association, MINUTES Commissioner Libra moved approval of the November 9, 2005 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes, Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: CHAIR SPICER'S REPORT ON COMMITTEE MEETING TO PLAN 2006 PARK CELEBRATION/SOTH ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION Chair Spicer reminded everyone that observance of the City's 50`h Anniversary will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2006. Chair Spicer said that the festivities will include a Sk run and 5k walk. Chair Spicer said that there will also be an antique car show at Mendakota Park and Mendota Plaza. Chair Spicer said that in the afternoon there will be food vendors, dignitaries, bands, kids' activities, and a night dance. Chair Spicer said that the evening will conclude with a fireworks display. RECREATION PROGRAMMER'S REPORT Ms. Gangelhoff provided an overview of recreation activities, including holiday trips. Ms. Gangelhoff also said that the weather has not been good for the skating rinks, but that the softball letters had gone out for the 2006 season. Chair Spicer said that Ms. Gangelhoff has one a fabulous job as a part-time employee. CLIFF TIMM Chair Spicer noted that Mr. Cliff Timm had recently passed away. Councilmember Duggan suggested renaming the annual Fishing Derby to the Cliff Timm Memorial Fishing Derby, Chair Spicer moved to recommend that the annual Fishing Derby be renamed to the Cliff Timm Memorial Fishing Derby, Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Commissioner Morris asked if Rogers Park should also be named after Cliff Timm. Chair Spicer suggested installing a commemorative park bench for Cliff Timm near Rogers Lake. Chair Spicer said that the bench would cost about $750. Commissioner Libra moved to request that the City expend $750 to install a commemorative park bench at Rogers Lake for Cliff Timm. Commissioner Libra further moved that the source of the funds should be from the General Fund if possible, and only from the Special Parks Funds if necessary. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Craighead suggested renaming the pier itself after Cliff Timm. Chair Spicer asked Staff to place the idea of renaming the pier or some other honor on the next Parks and Recreation Commission agenda. AMELIA OLSON OF MHAA Chair Spicer acknowledged Ms. Amelia Olson, Program Director of the Mendota Heights Athletic Association. Chair Spicer told MS. Olson that the Parks and Recreation Commission supported MHAA's good work and that they would like a representative of MHAA to come periodically to Commission meetings to facilitate communication. Ms. Olson said that she had been in contact with Mr. Kullander and Ms. Gangelhoff quite frequently recently, and that registrations for some MHAA activities would now be taking place at City Hall. Ms. Olson said that registration for softball and T-ball will take place on January 26, January 28, February 2, and February 4. Ms. Olson said that there would be a $25 late fee for registration. Mr. Kullander said that there is information about these programs at the front desk at City Hall, Ms. Olson added that MHAA has started a girls' volleyball program and an NFL football program. Chair Spicer thanked Ms. Olson and asked her to return to a future Commission meeting sometime soon. ICE SKATING ON ROGERS LAKE Chair Spicer noted that the resident who asked about the possibility of ice skating on Rogers Lake was not present. Chair Spicer suggested tabling this issue until the resident appears at a meeting. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander if it would be possible to clear off a portion of the lake for ice skating. Mr. Kullander said that the Public Works has had bad experiences with this idea in the past. Commissioner Craighead said that he is concerned about the danger of someone falling through the ice, particularly because of the aerator at Rogers Lake. Mr. Kullander confirmed that near the aerator safety could be a concern. Mr. Kullander said that it is possible that the City's liability insurance costs would go up. Mr. Kullander said that some residents take the initiative to clear portions of the lake for skating, but that he did not think the City should be doing this. Commissioner Morris agreed, saying that individual residents who prepare rinks are doing so at their own risk. VALLEY PARK TENNIS COURTS Mr. Kullander said that resident, Mr. Kline, expressed concern about resurfacing Valley Park Tennis Courts, Chair Spicer noted that the City resurfaces on a regular schedule. Mr. Kullander said that the southeast corner of the skating rink has a problem, but that the public works crew was going to cut down turf and put curbing along the trail when they do maintenance in the spring. Mr. Kullander said that public works would address these issues in 2006 and resurface in 2007. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to let Mr. Kline know about the steps the City will take to address the issue. Mr. Kullander pointed out that the Marie tennis courts get more use that the Valley Park tennis courts. Councilmember Schneeman pointed out that the Lilydale Tennis Club will be closing. Councilmember Schneeman said that she and others are trying to find a place to build a new tennis club nearby. Chair Spicer asked if the Valley Park resurfacing could be moved up for a year. Mr. Kullander said that there was no money in the budget for resurfacing the tennis courts in 2006. Chair Spicer suggested placing this item on the Council agenda. Commissioner Criaghead said that the City has aseven-year resurfacing plan for tennis courts and asked when the last time was that Valley Park tennis courts were resurfaced. Mr. Kullander said that it was done about five years ago. Chair Spicer said that it might be good to do the resurfacing now, because the Commission tries to make safety concerns a higher priority. Mr. Kullander said that he would get a couple of resurfacing bids in the spring and bring this itern before the City Council. COUNCIL/PARKS COMMISSION WORKSHOP SUMMARY Chair Spicer asked about the issue of funding for the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Kullander said that Mr. Danielson and Ms. Schabacker looked at the Cell Tower Revenues and that repainting the water tower would cost about $1.25 million. Mr. Kullander said that the water tower fund has about $1.3 million in it right now. Mr. Kullander said that the Council may discuss if money from the water tower fund could be transferred to the Special Parks Fund when planning for the 2007 City Budget begins this summer. Chair Spicer noted that the City had acquired the Pilot Knob site. Chair Spicer said that Resurrection Cemetery has extra land, and that the City has diminishing green space. Chair Spicer said that it might be possible to make a trail connection from the Augusta Shores development to the south part of the cemetery land. Mr. Kullander pointed out that Hoffman Homes had submitted a Concept Plan for Phase II of the Augusta Shores development and that the Planning Commission would discuss it in January and the Council would discuss it in February. Mr. Kullander said that the Concept Plan features an emergency vehicle access from Phase II to the south part of the Resurrection Cemetery property and that the City's trail idea might be worked into the emergency access. Chair Spicer recalled that at the workshop the Council had asked Mr. Danielson to contact resurrection Cemetery to see if they would be willing to sell a portion of their land to the City. Mr. Kullander said that the Council may wish to see this concept plan first before engaging into the discussion about acquiring land. Mr. Kullander also pointed out that the Great River Greening organization will be at the next Council meeting to discuss their plan for restoration and management of the Pilot Knob site. NURT TRAIL Mr. Kullander showed the alignment for the NURT trail on the north side of Highway 110. Mr. Kullander said that MnDOT reevaluated the safety aspects and decided to allow a mid -point crossing for the trail. Mr. Kullander said that the engineers for the County are now in the design process and that the design will be submitted to the Parks Commission and the Council for review. Mr. Kullander put a map of the proposed alignment on the screen. Mr. Kullander said that the mid -point crossing has really good site lines in both directions. Chair Spicer said that this compromise proves that community meetings work. COMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS Mr. Kullander passed out a list of candidates for Commission appointments. Mr. Kullander said that the Council would be interviewing these candidates next Tuesday. Commissioner Portz asked if any of the candidates are affiliated with MHAA. Mr. Kullander said that he had reviewed the applications of the candidates and that none of the candidates had mentioned any involvement with MHAA or any young children. Chair Spicer asked Mr. Kullander to pass along that the Council should ask the candidates if they have any involvement with MHAA. Councilmember Schneeman said that the Council is interviewing a total of twelve candidates. Commissioner Ports said that if the new Parks Commissioner is not affiliated with MHAA, one of the Commissioners should take the initiative to serve as the MHAA liaison. INVASIVE SPECIES Chair Spicer noted that Commissioner Linnell had a lot of knowledge about plants, the DNR, and grant opportunities, and that his departure from the Commission represents a big loss. Mr. Kullander said that he is getting proposals for the eradication of buckthorn. Commissioner Libra said that there are lots of Box Elders and Cottonwoods creeping around the neighborhood. Commissioner Morris said that there are ecological reasons why one would want trees on the edge of water. UPDATES Staff provided the following updates: Police Report Staff provided the Police Report for November/December 2005. OTHER COMMENTS (None.) 0 ADJOURN Commissioner Libra moved to adjourn. Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.