1980-01-22 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
PARK AND .RECREATION COMMISSION
Minutes
January 22, 1980
Present: Mills, McMonigal, Williams, Bayless, Stein, Literski, Selander.
Absent: Gustafson, Finn, Murphy and Lundeen.
1. Welcome and introduction of new members.
2. Minutes for October - December meeting approved.
3. Update on Rogers Lake -
Literski reports play area was scraped clean of old wood chips and weeds
and lime rock and sand were put in place. Work was not completed because
oI inclement weather. Basketball is recommended to be added in the Spring.
Literski reports rinks are flooded now and in good shape and that the
attendants are working out fine.
4. Selanders report -
Volleyball not real active. Perhaps ladies softball will be revived in
Spring. Selander also reported that Spring activities are being planned
and will be printed in brochures. T-ball registration will be at the end
of March.
5. Park Commission requested Selander keep log of gas and mileage. Selander's
salary was raised from $5,350 to $5,750, an 8% increase. His salary does not
compare favorably to salaries for recreation director in West St. Paul, Eagan,
or Inver Grove Heights.
Motion made by Bayless to recommend to City Council to consider raising
Selander's salary to $7,500, whereas in previous meetings it was unanimously
agreed Selander works an ever increasing amount of time and whereas he was
granted an 8% salary increase and the Commission feels this increase is not
adequate in todays market.
6. Park Acquisition Update -
Explanation by Mills, to new members, of recent issued discussed by Commission,
from Rogers Lake Park clean-up to land acquisition and bond issue. Wachtler
property is currently being appraised. Nothing is currently being done regarding
school property.
7. Organization for coming year -
Mills would
accept Chair for coming
year. Stein would accept Secretary
position.
Priorities: Rogers Lake
Park, Selander's
salary, special
- interests such
as ski trails, bike
trails, pedways
and newsletter. Also
improve our
relationship with City
Council. Their
concept of our job and
our concept
are not the same.
RECEIVED
DEG r 4 1979'
December 15,19Z9
Your Ao-nor, Members of the Council,
We would like to call to your attention in the December 11 minutes
of the Park and Recreation Commission, our request, once again, for you
to approve of a budget to secure professional services for assessing,
surveying, planning, and cost estimating our future Park and Recreational
needs.
At the November 6th Council meeting, you "generally concured" with
this request, but took no action due to an absent member. At the November
20th meeting, you again discussed our proposal for a Park Bond referendum,
but again took no action.
We
are frustrated by
your lack
of decisiveness in this matter. We
would
like some direction in this
important
topic, and some of us will
try to
attend your next
meeting to
discuss
this issue.
Sincerely,
Mary Mills
Gerald Finn
Gary Gustason
llorothy McMonigal
Gerald Lundeen
N7ike Williams
MI NUTES
MENDOTA HEIGHTS PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
December 1111979
Members Present: Williams, Mills, Gustafson, Finn, Literski
Members Absent: Lundeen, Murphy, McMonigal
1. The minutes of the October 23 meeting were approved as mailed.
2. Gene Lang, representing the Fire Department, presented an outline of the
plans they have for expansion of facilities. One of their alternative plans
calls for the building of a additional station in the Wentworth Park area
and Lang asked the Commission to begin consideration of giving up a small
portion of the west end of that property to build a facility to hold one truck
and some office facilities as well as possibly some additional facilities to be
used by the park.
3. Chairperson Mills then reported that the Council had essentially reversed
itself from the meeting where we presented the resolution in the October
23 minutes to them. At the time the resolution was presented to the Council,
several members of the Commission were there and although four Council
members were present and all appeared to be in favor of proceeding, they
asked that it be deferred to the next meeting wherein all members of the
Council could vote on it. However, late in the evening at the next
Council meeting, the Council had apparently reversed itself and no action
was taken. At that point, several members of the Commission expressed
their frustration as to the lack of response on the part of the City Council
and concern with the function of the Commission in the future.
The Commission then adopted the following resolution unanimously:
Whereas the portion of the revised comprehensive plan relating to parks
has been approved by the Council, and
Whereas the comprehensive plan calls for the development of two large
parks, one to be located in the north part of Mendota Heights and the
other in the south portion, and
Whereas open space and ball fields are referred to as the Number One
priority in the comprehensive plan as to park issues, and
Page two
Whereas land values are increasing at an accelerated pace, and
Whereas it is the unanimous opinion of the Commission that professional
help in planning is of paramount importance in developing plans for
acquisition and improvement of park lands, and
Whereas the Commission feels it is important to complete preliminary
planning, including cost analysis, so the Council can decide if it is
appropriate to present a plan to the citizens of the community,
Therefore be it resolved that the Mendota Heights City Council approve
a budget of up to $20,000 to secure professional services for surveying,
planning and cost estimating for future park acquisition and development.
4. Chairperson Mills noted that the terms of McMonigal and Gustafson would
be expiring in January, 1980. She indicated that a public notice will
be posted and printed in the paper indicating that these positions are open.
She indicated that if the members whose terms are expiring wish to seek
reappointment on the Commission, they should do so by letting Mayor
Lockwood know.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary C. Gustafson, Acting Secretary