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1981-02-24 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES February 24, 1981 Members Present: McMonigal, Selander, Stein, Gustafson, Literski, Schneeman and City Administrator Johnson. Members Absent: Williams, Bayless, Abraham. 1. Introduction of new member Mary Jeanne Schneeman. 2. Election of Officers: Tom Bayless, Chairman Jim Stein, Vice Chairman Mary Jeanne Schneeman, Secretary 3. Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the November 25, 1980 and January 27th, 1981 meeting were unanimously approved. 4. Pedway to Wentworth Park: Jim Danielson, Public Works Director, discussed three alternate paths to the Wentworth Park. The third trail alignment would follow presently owned City right-of-way. The plan would be to fill and to place a bridge from Valley Park in this pedway and then to build a longer, more suitable bridge for Valley Park. The estimated cost would be $5,000. It was proposed to accept Trail Alignment #3 by Gary Gustafson, and seconded by Jim Stein, Approved. 5. Friendly Hills Ballfield Relocation: Material was presented by Jim Danielson. The field will have to be reconstructed as the existing Ballfield encroaches on private property. The members of the Park Commission agreed to meet on Saturday, March 21st at 9:00 A.M. to look at what must be done. Could it be possible to still have an adult baseball field? Dewey Selander explained the immediate need for adult ballfields. 6. Bream's Lakeridge Planned Unit Development: Mr. Orvil Johnson explained the 180 unit development on 66 acres. He discussed the hearing at the City Council meeting of February 17th. There was considerable discussion of the possibility of trading the Civic Center site and the 6.6 acres of park donation from the PUB. The Park Commission drafted the following resolution: WHEREAS, the Park and Recreation Commission reiterates its previous position of January 27, 1981, with regard to the Bream P.U.D.; and WHEREAS, consideration was given to the City Administrator's memo dated February 19, 1981, wherein it was suggested this land could be accepted in lieu Park Commission Minutes February 24, 1981 Page 2 of a cash contribution and traded for the "Civic Center Site which would then become designated open space and subject property would become available for any municipal use; THEREBY it is strongly recommended t0 the City Council that an appropriate cash contribution be made to the Park Fund in lieu of any land contribution. 7. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Mary Jeanne Schneeman Secretary rig NL) o:,� CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO February 24, 1981 T0: Park and Recreation Commission FROM: James E. Danielson Director of Public Works SIIBJECT: Wentworth Park - Access from the Avenues Since residents from the Avenues requested a path from Wentworth Park, staff has investigated three alternates. Trail Alignment #l: This was £elt.to be the best route, however, Mayor Lockwood has contacted the owners of the property on this alignment and they would not be willing to allow the City to acquire the needed easement. Trail Alignment #2: This would be the second best route, however, I contacted Jack Foote, a member of the Homeowners Association at Somerset 19. He states they would noto�willinglyHallow the City to acquire the needed ease- ment for this alignment. This alignment follows the worn path that is pre- sently used by residents going to the Park. Trail Alignment #3: This alignment follows presently owned City right- of-way. The disadvantage of this alignment is that it penetrates into a wetland. I feel that to avoid long acquisition battles, we should construct the path alongthisalignment and because it does penetrate a wetland that is designated by Ordinance, the City should go through the Wetlands Ordinance process before we proceed with construction. Staff feels path costs are a capital investment and should be paid for from the Park Fund. Therefore, I have included an estimated cost breakdown.: Cost estimate for City crews to install path at Wentworth Park. Materials $3,000.00 Labor 1,300.00 4,300.00 Contingency 700.00 $5,000600 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES January 27, 1981 Members Present: Mills, McMonigalI Williams, Bayless, Finn, Selander. Members Absent: Stein, Gustafson, Literski. 1. Since minutes of the last regular meeting, November 25, 1980, were not distributed, their review and approval will be deferred until the next meeting. 2. Bream's Lakeridge PUD and Rezoning Application - Public Works Director Jim Danielson attended the meeting to give us information on the PUD and the attendant park issues. The discussion revolved around the recreational areas being built into the development, the potential loss of some of the proposed park land to a fire station, the cost of develop- ment of the proposed park, and the need for additional park funds. As the result of these discussions, the Commission drafted the following recommendation to both the Mendota Heights City Council and the Planning Commission. "Whereas, our present parks are not maintained in a manner that satisfies our commission; and Whereas, our present parks need additional equipment and improvements; and Whereas, under present budget considerations the addition of additional park property and the cost of its development would compound the existing problem, We the members of the Mendota Heights Park Commission recommend that a cash contribution by the developer as being appropriate in lieu of the proposed contribution of park land." This recommendation was delivered to the Planning Commission at its regular meeting on January 27, 1981. 3. Friendly Hills Tot Lot - Discussion centered around the City Administrator's letter to the Commission of January 6, 1981, concerning the legal status of the Tot Lot and the concern of the City Council The result of this discussion was the following recommendation: "Since the Mendota Heights Park Commission sees no further use for the Friendly Hills Tot Lot in its park plans, we recommend that the property be abandoned." 4. Recreation Report - Numerous calls had been received by the Recreation Director (prior to the warm weather) about the poor ice on our hockey rinks. A suggestion was made that flooding be done at night after the rinks close as is done in West St. Paul which appears to result in better quality ice. If this is not possible this year, perhaps it can be planned into next years maintenance budget. Meeting Adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Thomas J. Bayless Acting Secretary CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS MEMO January 6, 1981 TO: Park and Recreation Commission Members FROM: Orvil J. Johnson City Administrator SUBJECT: Friendly Hills Tot Lot Sale/No Sale The City Council, at a recent meeting, discussed the matter of selling the Friendly Hills Tot Lot, consisting of 4 platted lots. The discussion centered primarily around the legal requirements necessary to dispose of the property. Several rather firm opinions seemed to prevail: 1. Sherman indicated that the legal requirements including circulating of petitions and other legal necessities would be an enormous task. He indicated that if the City sees no further use for the property that we should abandon the property and leave it to the Friendly Hills developer and his successors. (The property does not belong to the City, it belongs to the some 250 families living in the Friendly Hills plat.) 2. Most of the City Council members expressed a surprise and disagreement with the thought of selling or disposing of the Tot Lot. I was directed to inform you that the Council, at this time, is not convinced that this is a good move. In addition to the Council's thoughts, most of the officers of the Friendly Hills Civic Association have expressed a desire to keep the pro- perty in its present status. The issue of selling the Tot Lot seemed almost as important as the main purpose of the meeting, which was to discuss disposal of the Friendly Hills Water System.. In other words, it appears that your elected officials and at least some members of the Friendly Hills Civic Association are opposed to disposing of the Tot Lot. to either You are to be "sell" the reasons advised of this revelation. I would assume that you would want for disposing of the recreational facilities or succumb to the thoughts as made known above. Additional views on this (and not necessarily similar) may be obtained from the five elected officials.