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2006-03-14 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 14, 2006 The March 2006 meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 14, 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: Commissioners Paul Portz, Dave Libra, Tom Kraus, and Larry Craighead. Chair Spicer and Commissioners Raymond Morris and Missie Hickey were excused from the meeting. Commissioner Dave Libra served as Acting Chair for the meeting. City Staff present were Operations and Projects Coordinator Guy Kullander, Recreation Programmer Teresa Gangelhoff, and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. Councilmember Duggan was also present. Mr. Hollister took the minutes. MINUTES Cormnissioner Craighead moved approval of the January 10, 2006 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes, Commissioner Portz seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 REPORT ON COMMITTEE MEETING TO PLAN 2006 PARK CELEBRATION/SOTH ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION Acting Chair Libra acknowledged Councilmember Duggan in the audience and asked him to present a report on the SOth Anniversary Committee Meeting. Councilmember Duggan started by saying that he was asking each member of the City's three Commissions to recruit two volunteers for activities at the Anniversary Celebration. Councilmember Duggan said that he would also be asking the members of the Airport Relations Commission and the Planning Commission to recruit volunteers also. Councilmember Duggan said that the fun will start on Friday evening at the Village at Mendota Heights with a wine and cheese tasting. Councilmember Duggan said that Saturday morning will feature bagpipes and a 5k walk and run. Councilmember Duggan said that there will also be a MHAA tournament at Mendakota Park. Councilmember Duggan listed the eight "light sports" events he is featuring and for which he hopes to get sixteen neighborhood teams. Councilmember Duggan said that other activities will include tennis at Visitation, an Art and Poetry Competition, and fourteen photographs by Bernie Friel on display. Councilmember Duggan said that there will also be a "history theater" presentation with five different historical perspectives. Councilmember Duggan said that current and former Councilmembers will present on stage. Councilmember Duggan said that he has successfully identified roughly 50 or 60 "golden citizens" of Mendota Heights, who have lived in Mendota Heights for at least 50 consecutive years or more. Councilmember Duggan said that later there would be dances with the Paul Heffron Band and the Rockin' Hollywoods, Acting Chair Libra asked Councilmember Duggan to explain where the dances and the bands will be. Councilmember Duggan said that they would be in the front section of Mendota Plaza. Councilmember Duggan said that the 50a` Anniversary will be a fun event for all. Councilmember Duggan said that the City had 2200 people attend last year's Halloween event, and that he expected even more people to attend this event. Commissioner Craighead complimented Councilmember Duggan on a superb job and commended him for all his hard work. Commissioner Kraus asked if the volunteer information was in the newsletter. Councilmember Duggan said that it was in the newsletter and displayed the newsletter on the overhead camera and TV monitors. Commissioner Libra said that for the 1950s car show he is hoping for approximately 75 cars and that fifteen to twenty-five will be in the parade tentatively set to start at 4:00. Commissioner Duggan invited anyone watching on television to call City Hall if they wish to volunteer for any aspect of the event. Ms. Gangelhoff provided the Recreation Programmer's Report. Ms. Gangelhoff described the youth trips over winter break. Ms. Gangelhoff also announced that the annual Fishing Derby has been renamed to the Cliff Timm Memorial Fishing Derby. Ms. Gangelhoff gave an update on the upcoming tennis program with instructor Tim Garvey. Ms. Gangelhoff said that the skating rinks this year were well attended and provided rink counts. Ms. Gangelhoff mentioned that there will be a tennis tournament for the 50`h anniversary. Ms. Gangelhoff said that she is still looking for male and female softball players for the City's "D" teams. Commissioner Portz said that the rink counts were particularly impressive. Ms. Gangelhoff said that Safety Camp would take place August 15, 16 and 17 this year. Acting Chair Libra noted that Terry Blum of Public Works had commented that the 2001- 2002 season was the worst season for ice in recent years. NURT TRAIL Mr. Kullander reviewed the plans for the NURT trail. Mr. Kullander said that the trail would be federally funded and constructed by Dakota County. Mr. Kullander said that the final trail design will be presented to the City Council on April 4th. Mr. Kullander said that last year a compromise was reached on the exact location of the trail. Mr. Kullander said that half of the trail would be on the north side of the frontage road and half on the south side of the frontage road. Mr. Kullander said that the County has contacted 10 of 15 homeowners regaling landscaping and other issues. Mr. Kullander said that there would be a minimum of a four -foot buffer between the trail and curb. Mr. Kullander indicated the approximate area where the trail will cross over. Commissioner Craighead asked if the trail would be built this summer. Mr. Kullander said that is basically correct. Mr. Kullander said that the bids need to be out by June and it can be constructed this year. [Councilmember Duggan left the meeting at this point.] PILOT KNOB Mr. Kullander overviewed restoration efforts on Pilot Knob. Mr. Kullander showed photos depicting the "brushing out of the site. Mr. Kullander said that the "brushing - out" operation included cutting out trees, small vegetation, and brush. Mr. Kullander said that the City has contracted with a firm to clear those out. Mr. Kullander said that the next step will take place on March 25, Saturday, 9:00 am to noonI Mr. Kullander said that professional crews will be cutting down the smaller trees. Mr. Kullander said that the crews will then be moving on to remove invasive buckthorn. Mr. Kullander said that much of the work is "grunt work", removing the logs. Mr. Kullander said that all of it is supposed to be done in 2 hours. Mr. Kullander said that the event on March 25 will take place from 9-noon. Mr. Kullander said that the day requires a minimum of 25 volunteers. Mr. Kullander said that Great River Greening has done a of of these activities, such as buckthorn removal in Saint Paul. Mr. Kullander said that the site restoration process involves spraying, burning, killing the plants, spraying them again, and burning them again. Mr. Kullander said that the seeds are concentrated in the soil. Mr. Kullander said that ultimately the trail and overlook connect to the Big Rivers Trail. Mr. Kullander said that the MNRRA grant calls for the creation of a Prairie Oak Savannah. Commissioner Craighead asked if restoring the land would be a two-year project. Mr. Kullander said that the planting of oak trees would not occur until the 5`h year. Mr. Kullander said the restoration work will take nine years. Commissioner Portz asked Mr. Kullander to check with Mr. Danielson and Ms. Schabacker to see if there was money available for Coffee and Donuts for the Pilot Knob volunteers. NEW TRAH. CONSTRUCTION IN INDUSTRIAL PARK Mr. Kullander said that there is a missing link in the trail system on Mendota Heights Road. Mr. Kullander said that since there is a street project on the part of Mendota Heights Road west of Pilot Knob Road, a trail project would "piggyback" on the street project. Mr. Kullander said that the result would be an east -west trail on Mendota Heights Road from Delaware Avenue to Pilot Knob Road. Mr. Kullander said that there will be a trail along Northland Drive. Mr. Kullander said that the trail would help get students off the street and keep them on the trail. Mr. Kullander said that trail construction would be funded with MSA funds. Commissioner Craighead asked if the trail would connect to Pilot Knob Road. Mr. Kullander said that it would. Acting Chair Libra said that it would be nice to eventually loop down to Highway 13. CELL TOWER IN WENTWORTH PARK Mr. Kullander explained that T-mobile was about to make a planning application to place a cellular tower in Wentworth Park. Mr. Kullander explained that T-mobile had initially proposed a "stealth" design. Mr. Kullander showed a "crow's nest" design. Acting Chair Libra asked if the tower would be less intrusive on the south side of the pond. Acting Chair Libra said that that location would be less visible and have less tree growth. Mr. Kullander explained that in addition to the poles, each vendor has to have a fenced enclosure. Mr. Kullander said that the enclosure is typically 25 x 25 feet with an ice bridge. Mr. Kullander said that a trellis is usually put above the enclosure. Acting Chair Libra asked if some of the cell tower revenue could be added to the Special Parks Fund. 0 Mr. Kullander said that Staff would pass on that suggestion. Mr. Kullander said that the park was selected by T-mobile because it is flat and low. Mr. Kullander said that there is almost no suitable land south of the pond. Commissioner Kraus asked the height of the stealth tower. Mr. Kullander said that the height would be 75 feet. Commissioner Kraus asked if it would be less offensive to have multiple shorter cell towers. Mr. Kullander said that in that case all of them would have to be at least 75 feet high. RESURRECTION CEMETERY MASTER PLAN Mr. Kullander said that he, Mr. Danielson, Mr. Hollister, and Councilmembers Duggan and Krebsbach were meeting with John Cherek of Resurrection Cemetery Wednesday to discuss the Cemetery's Master Plan, Acting Chair Libra asked Mr. Kullander to inquire about the Cemetery's vision for the land immediately north of the water tower. Acting Chair Libra noted that the City had long regarded that area as a potential acquisition for park land and that at one point there were discussions about ballfields on that land. UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: Council Adoption of Tobacco -Free Parks Policy Mr. Hollister said that Michael Coyne, Chemical Health Coordinator for Saint Thomas Academy and Visitation School, along with members of CHOOSE, presented the topic of a Tobacco -Free Parks Policy to the City Council at their February 21 meeting. Mr. Hollister said that the Council decided to adopt a tobacco -free policy for the City parks. Mr. Hollister said that this policy will be non -binding and that the Council may wish to re-evaluate the policy in a year or so to see if they would like to make it an ordinance. Police Report ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE -CHAIR Acting Chair Libra said that election of the Chair and Vice Chair would be postponed to the April meeting when most Commissioners should be present. Commissioner Libra said that although he had accepted the appointment of Acting Chair for the March meeting, he was not interested in the position of either Chair of Vice -Chair for 2006. ADJOURN Commissioner Portz moved to adjourn. Commissioner Kraus seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.