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1999-01-12 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda PacketCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION 7anuary 12, 1999 6:30 p.m. -Large Conference Room 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of the December 8, 1998 Minutes 4. Scott Miller, MHAA -Baseball Improvement Requests 5. Congratulations, Thank You and Farewell to Bill Bird 6. Recreation Programmer Interview Panel Volunteer 7. Updates • Recreation Report, January 1999 • Parks Report • Police Report (Available Tuesday) 8. Adjourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids. This may not, however, be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 452-1850 with requests. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 1998 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, December 8, 1998, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following Commissioners were present: Liberacki, Norton, Linnell, Craighead, and Libra. Commissioners Liberacki and Damberg were excused from the meeting. Also present were Recreation Programmer Bill Bird and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister. SPECIAL OLYMPICS Mr. Bird presented a letter from the City of Inver Grove Heights asking other cities in Dakota County to provide assistance to the Special Olympics. The Commission asked Mr. Bird to do further research and to come back to a future meeting with more information. MINUTES Commissioner Liberacki moved to approve the November 11, 1998 minutes with no corrections. Commissioner Craighead seconded the motion. AYE5: NAYS: CROS5-COUNTRY SKIING DISCUSSION The following residents were present for this discussion: Sibley High School cross-country Ski Coach Tom Gustafson and Team Members Joe Aden, Sarah Malone, and Ryan Noack. Also present was Janny DeVore, sister of Par 3 Golf Course owner Mike Cashill. Mr. Bird introduced the subject by saying that the Parks and Recreation Commission had discussed for several years the idea ofcross-country ski trails at Par 3 Golf Course, and possibly extending into Valley Park. Mr. Bird announced that a partnership of between Sibley High School and the Par 3 Golf Course had been formed to create cross-country ski trails on Par 3 for use by the ski team and the general community. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO January 1, 1999 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Guy Kullander, Parks Project Manager SUBJECT: Meeting With Mr. Scott Miller of MHAA DISCUSSION: Mr. Miller met with me at City Hall on January 6, 1999, to discuss several park improvement projects that he wishes to discuss with the Commission on January 12". Some of the following items have previously been discussed by the Commission. Batting Cage at Mendakota Park This project was discussed by the Commission and the subject left to the MHAA Board to make a cost participation proposal to the City before the Commission would consider making a recommendation to the City Council. Mr. Miller and I discussed design options in an effort to "firm" up a cost estimate that he could present to the MHAA Board. The batting cage would be fully fenced with an asphalt pathway connected to the inner hub area. The inside of the cage would be turf with aglime at the batting boxes and pitching mounds. Electricity for pitching machines could come from the south instead of the hub area, if cost effective. A small storage building was also discussed. Using volunteer labor for some aspects of this project may be difficult to coordinate. Because the fields are extensively used this project should move very rapidly so as not to inconvenience field use or scheduling. 2. Civic Center Designated as Baseball Only. Adding a permanent pitching mound and turf infield was discussed. If work was done in August/September seed could be used in lieu of sod. Modifications of the irrigation system would require a professional firm, but the earth work could be done by volunteers. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO January 8, 1999 TO: Parks and Recreation Conunission FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Congratulations, Thank You, and Farewell to Bill Bird It is with a mixture of pride and regret that I inform the Parks and Recreation Commission that Recreation Programmer Bill Bird has accepted a full-time permanent position with the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Apple Valley. Please see the attached letter from Bill. The Apple Valley City Council is scheduled to ratify Bill's appointment on January 14, 1999. Bill's last day with the City of Mendota Heights will be on January 12, 1999. Bill was a hard working, efficient, and courteous Recreation Programmer for the roughly fifteen months he worked for the City. Bill broke considerable new ground within the confines of this half-time position. In addition to the germane duties of his office, Bill also facilitated the founding of the Mendota Heights Seniors Club, initiated a closer relationship with Fort Snelling State Park, and most recently helped forge the agreement between the City, various community groups, and Par 3 Golf Course for cross- country ski trails this winter. All of us at City Hall will miss Bill and wish him all the best in the future. Action Required Join me in thanking Bill Bird and wishing him well in his new venture. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO January 8, 1999 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Patrick C. Hollister, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Request for Volunteer for Recreation Programmer Interview Panel Discussion Staff is requesting that one member of the Parks and Recreation Commission volunteer to serve on the interview panel for the next Recreation Programmer. Interviews are scheduled to take place on the morning of Tuesday, February 9, 1999. The interview panel will consist of Senior Secretary Kim Blaeser, Public Works Director Jim Danielson, one volunteer from the Parks and Recreation Commission, and myself. Interviews will be roughly twenty minutes with a 5 minute break between interviews and a mid -morning break of about 20 minutes. Staff anticipates interviewing roughly six to eight candidates. The volunteer will receive a packet containing the application forms and resumes of the finalists by Friday, February 5. There will be no further commitment required of the volunteer beyond February 8. Former Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steve Ueinglass served on the interview panel that selected Bill Bird and Staff greatly valued his input and perspective. Staff hopes that someone from the current Parks and Recreation Commission will volunteer for this brief but important task. Action Requested Please volunteer to serve on this interview panel if you are interested and have the time availablC. Recreation Report January'1999 TO: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FROM: BILL BIRD, RECREATION PROGRAMMER DATE: JANUARY 7, 1999 Mendota Heights Senior Club On Wednesday, December 23, 1998 the seniors met at Parkview Plaza for their Holiday Cookie Exchange. The group size was small due to the close proximity to Christmas. Despite the small group the afternoon was enjoyable. Many stories of past holidays were told while they enjoyed coffee and cookies. Cross Country Ski Trail Meeting The cross country ski trail proposal received financial assistance from the city. The city will contribute $4,000.00 to pay for the purchase of a snowmobile by Henry Sibley High School and to pay Dakota County for their weekly grooming services. The snowmobile will be used to pull a small groomer. An agreement between the city, Par 3 Golf Course and School District has been established. The city will be responsible for managing the finances and scheduling practices, meets and events at the golf course. The golf course will be responsible for laying out a trail, setting up a grooming schedule with Dakota County, opening the club house up to student skiers as needed and the storage of the snowmobile and groomer. Henry Sibley High School will be responsible for the daily grooming of the trail with their small groomer. They will also be responsible for communicating to the city when their practices and meets are taking place. A trail has not yet been laid because of the lack of snow. There must be at least 12" of now on the ground before Dakota County is able to safely operate their groomer on the golf course. Ice Rinks The Rinks officially opened on Saturday, December 26, 1998. This is truly remarkable since it was still 50 degrees only the week before. The low temperatures made for ideal ice creating conditions. It should be noted that Friendly Hills Ice Rink was skatable after only 2 days of flooding. The paved surface held the water extremely well. The Marie Park and Wentworth Park rinks took approximately a week to get up and running. All rinks have good ice and are being used despite the low temperatures. There are currently 10 Rink Attendants who have been scheduled through February. Parks Report For Month of December General maintenance and trash pick up 2. Trim trees along pedways and pick up brush along pedways 3. Work on equipment, repair broom and snowblower -trucks 4. Prepare warming houses, check furnaces, and repair doors where needed 5. Start flooding 6. Work in back shop reorganizing shelves -store summer equipment in water tower