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1993-04-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION APRIL 13, 1993 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, April 13, 1993 in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Katz, Norton, Spicer, Linnell, Damberg and Libra. Commissioner Kleinglass was excused. Also present was Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder. Mr. Dan O'Keefe was in the audience. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Spicer moved to approve the March 9, 1993, Minutes with corrections. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYSe 0 ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES FOR DEDICATING FIELDS IN THE PARK SYSTEM The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed a proposed policy for the naming of fields and parks in the Mendota Heights park system. Commissioner Spicer commented that the City had a need for such guidelines in order to handle the requests such as the one Mr. O'Keefe had brought forward at the previous month's meeting. Chair Katz stated that the guidelines appear to be well organized and had incorporated the Parks Commission's intent for guidelines. The Commission decided to revise the Adopt -A -Park Program stipulations to read "the Adopt -A -Park Program is also an appropriate vehicle for recognition". Commissioner Spicer moved to approve the Guidelines for Dedication of Park Fields and Facilities. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: REQUEST TO DEDICATE FIELDS Chair Katz introduced this item by stating that last month the Commission had considered a request from Mr. Dan O°Keefe to name a park or a field after Richard (Jake) Grauman, a Korean War Veteran missing in action. Administrative Assistant AYES NAYSo Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 2 Batchelder stated the School District had been in contact with Mr. O'Keefe regarding their procedures for obtaining School District approval. Batchelder stated that Mr. O'Keefe would be submitting a request to the School District for their consideration. Mr. O'Keefe stated that he was grateful that the Parks and Recreation Commission were considering his request to name Sibley Park baseball field after Richard (Jake) Grauman. Commissioner Spicer stated the Commission had been very impressed by Mr. O'Keefe and his friends at last month's meeting and their commitment to their old friend. Spicer stated that after all these years it was touching to see that Jake°s friends still cared enough about him to take action on dedicating a field in his honor. Mr. O'Keefe stated there is z possibility when the annual Korean War Veteran's National Convention is held in Bloomington on July 24 through July 29th, there might be a ceremony in conjunction with this dedication. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that City Council approve the naming of Sibley Park baseball field as Jake Grauman Field in honor of Richard (Jake) Grauman. Spicer stated this recommendation also includes direction to staff to contact Independent School District No. 197 to inform them of the Commission's recommendation and if possible to have the City participate in a ceremony in conjunction with the Korean War Veterans convention in July. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. Commissioner Spicer was excused at 6e50 o°clock P.M. DAKOTA COUNTY ISTEA APPLICATION Chair Katz introduced this item. Batchelder stated the City Council, at their April 6th meeting, had adopted a Resolution in support of an ISTEA application by the City of Eagan for trail connections in the Cedar Avenue/Minnesota National Wildlife Refuge area. Commissioner Linnell stated that the DNR is currently developing trails in the Minnesota Valley from Fort Snelling to Cedar Avenue and he believes these trails will hook into the Eagan trail connections that are being proposed for ISTEA funding. Batchelder stated Dakota County was applying for a series of three ISTEA Grants due to the fact that each grant has a maximum award of $500,000. Batchelder stated the proposed Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 3 Resolution of support is for the underpass at the Highway 13 Frontage Road into the City of Mendota along the Soo Line Railroads Commissioner Linnell stated this underpass may be up to about 200 feet in length and that he is concerned about this length for an underpass. Linnell stated that if funding is not received for this underpass, it may be possible to do at grade crossings for a trail in this area. Commissioner Linnell stated that preserving the railroad corridor is worthwhile and that the Dakota County ISTEA application should be supported by the City, however, if the tunnel cannot be built, Dakota County should look at options for at grade crossings. Commissioner Damberg presented an April 7, 1993 Pioneer Press article stating that this tunnel will cost approximately $250,000. Batchelder stated that the second phase of the Dakota County ISTEA Grant applications would be for the removal of the railroad ties and the construction of a regional trails Batchelder stated their third proposal for ISTEA funding would be to link Mendota Heights Road and Pilot Knob Road trails to the Mendota Bridge and the Soo Line trail. The Commission discussed the future Soo Line trail, Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that City Council adopt a Resolution supporting Dakota County ISTEA Grant application for construction of an underpass for a regional trail along the old Soo Line railroad bed at the new Mendota Frontage Road. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 REPLACEMENT OF PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES AT WENTWORTH AND VALLEY PARK Batchelder introduced a memo from Parks Project Manager Kullander informing the Parks and Recreation Commission that there are four bridges in Valley and Wentworth Parks that have deteriorated and now constitute a safety and liability issue for the City and must be considered for replacement. Batchelder stated that the 1993 Budget had included an amount of $25,000 for bridge replacement in Valley and Wentworth Parks. Batchelder stated that the budget had indicated that this $25,000 would come from either the Special Park Fund or from 1989 Referendum Funds, The Commission discussed the appropriateness of using the Special Park Fund or Referendum Funds for bridge replacement as opposed to the General Fund. Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 4 Commissioner Linnell inquired what was remaining to be done with the Referendum and how much money remains. The Commission directed staff to prepare an accounting of the Referendum funding and remaining projects. Batchelder stated that in the past few years, Special Park Fund money had been used to increase the fencing at the hockey rinks and to construct the Civic Center ballfield including an irrigation system and backstop fencing. The Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff to provide a report on the Special Park Fund for their May meeting. Commissioner Ramberg inquired if the Engineering Department had received cost estimates and bids for this bridge construction. The Commission also inquired about the bridges in Rogers Lake and Friendly Hills Park and when it would be necessary to replace those bridges as well. Commissioner Linnell stated that Wentworth Park could use a bridge instead of the proposed culvert on the north span. Linnell stated that a bridge does have some amenity to it and that kids can fish for minnows off of it instead of having a culvert with a path over it. The Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff to come back with this information at the May meeting where they will consider making a recommendation to City Council on the bridges in Valley and Wentworth Parks. Batchelder stated he had received a memo from Parks Project Manage Kullander and Parks Leadperson Blum requesting the installation of concrete pads for bleachers at eight ballfields in our parks system. Batchelder stated the approximate cost per installation would be $750 for a total of $6,000. Batchelder stated the eight ballfields are located in Valley, Ivy, Marie, Wentworth, Friendly Hills, Civic Center, Hagstrom- King and Victoria Highlands Parks. Batchelder stated the maintenance department feels that concrete pads would make maintenance of the park easier and would provide a secure base to fasten the bleacher unit which will minimize vandalism or abuse of the bleacher unit. Commissioner Ramberg inquired if crushed rock or gravel would work as well as an expensive concrete pad. Commissioner Ramberg stated she was reluctant to have more of the park paved into hard surface. The Commission discussed whether the bleacher unit should be fastened and secured because some of them are used in the Fall for soccer where they are moved to different locations in the park. The Commission directed Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 5 staff to look at the appropriate surfaces for bleachers and to come back to the May meeting for a recommendation to City Council. Batchelder stated the recreation program was in full swing. Batchelder stated the City would have three new sanctioned softball leagues this year including Men's D, Men's C and a Women's C Leagues. He stated there would be eight teams each in the Men's D and C League and that there would be four teams in the Women's C League. Batchelder stated that our two existing softball leagues, the Men's Over 30 and the Kittenball League, are also filled as well. He stated the sanctioned leagues would be using the Metro Umpire Association and had been sanctioned through the American Softball Association (ASA). Batchelder stated some league play begins on April 26th. Batchelder stated Recreation Programmer Morgan would be advertising in the upcoming City Newsletter for both a nature camp and a safety camp. Batchelder stated the safety camp is co -sponsored with the Cities of West St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul involving police, fire and recreation departments. Batchelder stated the safety camp would teach children about stranger danger, drugs, alcohol, fires and other safety issues. Batchelder stated sand volleyball would also be advertised in the upcoming City Newsletter. League play will be on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and these are going to be informal, non -sanctioned leagues. Batchelder stated they are co-ed leagues and there would be a league each for beginners, intermediates and advanced volleyball players. Batchelder stated the fees for the sand volleyball leagues will cover the hiring of a part time person who will act as a supervisor for the programs. Batchelder stated Recreation Programmer Morgan had been contacted by a horse riding stable from Inver Grove Heights about advertising their programs through the City Newsletter. Batchelder inquired if the Parks Commission would feel comfortable advertising a program that the City did not take registrations for. The Parks Commission felt that this was not appropriate and that a private stable operation could conduct their own advertising. Batchelder stated he had been contacted by Ms. Sheri Hanson, of 930 Douglas Road, who wanted to plant wild flowers between the City trail and pond at Victoria Highlands Park. Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 6 Batchelder stated he had talked to Parks Leadperson Blum about putting wild flowers in this area of the park. Batchelder stated Blum had indicated this was an area of the park that is not mowed and that wild flowers would be appropriate in this area. The Commission discussed having the park crews help with tilling and watering to establish wild flowers in this area. Commissioner Damberg stated that native wild flowers in this area on a volunteer basis is to be encouraged and the City should publicize this so that others would be encouraged to do the same. Batchelder stated that Public Works was considering the use of native wild flowers on the east side of the soccer fields at Kensington Park in order to provide a buffer between the fields and some low lying wetlands to the east. The Commission directed staff to cooperate with Ms. Hanson about wild flowers at Victoria Highlands Park. Batchelder stated the new meeting time of 6:30 P.M. established by unanimous vote by the Parks Commission would need to be approved by City Council according to the By Laws adopted in the Parks and Recreation Ordinance. Batchelder stated he would place this item on the City Councils Consent Agenda for the April 20th meeting. Batchelder stated that the City had been contacted by two different home owners in the Mayfield Heights neighborhood about providing trail links to their neighborhood. Commissioner Damberg stated the Parks and Recreation Commission had explored every avenue in providing trails short of condemnation of property in 1991. The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the Highway 13/I-35E and the road construction in this area. Commissioners Norton and Damberg stated they were upset with MnDOT's plans to put the trail crossing for the bridge on the north side of the bridge away from the Mendota Heights trails. Commissioner Linnell stated construction of the new trail along realigned Victoria Road provides a great overlook of downtown St. Paul and that he felt this would be an opportunity for the City to provide a bench or widened overlook in this area. Chair Katz inquired if the City could provide the Parks Commission with a calendar page listing all recreation activities, tournaments, celebrations, etc. Chair Katz directed staff to provide a new roaster of Parks Commission members. Commissioner Linnell stated he had provided staff with a copy of the City of Maplewood®s open space regulations. Linnell Parks and Recreation Commission April 13, 1993 Page 7 stated these open space regulations include a discussion of how to prioritize pieces in the City for preservation purposes and he felt this would be a helpful document for the City's Parks and Recreation Commission to review. The Commission directed staff to place this item on a future agenda. Commissioner Linnell stated he had attended the Somerset Area Study meeting the previous evening. Commissioner Linnell stated a good portion of the study area is wetlands and this will eventually determine what development occurs in this area. Linnell stated the City's Comprehensive Plan calls for a park in this area and that the Parks Commission should be providing comments during the course of the Somerset Area study. Commissioner Libra stated that he was concerned that piecemeal development of these properties will cost the City opportunities to provide the park that is designated on the Comprehensive Plan. The Parks Commission directed staff to have the Planner consider possible park uses in this area. Commissioner Linnell stated a park size chunk of land with trails would probably be the most appropriate approach for the City. Commissioner Libra inquired if the dirt road from the Mendota Plaza to Friendly Hills neighborhood was a trail that the City owned and could pave. Batchelder stated that the City had attempted to pave this trail and that MnDOT would not allow it to be done on their right-of-way. The Commission discussed the unsafe approach of the bike trail from Valley Park to the Highway 110/Dodd Road intersection. The Commission felt that all of the trail crossings at this intersection were very dangerous. Commissioner Linnell inquired if a tunnel or bridge options had been looked at by the City. Batchelder stated the City Council was currently in the process of designing a survey to poll the residents of the community about the Highway 110/Dodd Road intersection and surrounding area. Batchelder stated the City Council's major concern in this area was pedestrian and bicycle safety at this intersection. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:20 o°clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, SZevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant