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1995-08-08 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AUGUST 80 1995 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, August 8, 1995, 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: Spicer, Liberacki, Linnell and Norton. The following members were excused: Damberg, Libra and Kleinglass. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Kullander. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Linnell moved to approve the June 13, 1995 minutes with corrections. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Linnell moved to approve the July 11, 1995 minutes. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 DISCUSSION OF MINUTES The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the nature of the minutes. The Commission expressed a concern about the consistency in the minutes where some comments are very detailed on some issues and other issues are more of a summary nature. The Commission was of the consensus that verbatim quotes are not necessary in the minutes and that they desired the minutes to be more summary in nature. 1 MARIE/LEXINGTON POND Chair Spicer stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission had made a recommendation at the June meeting that the City should budget up to 53,000 from the Storm Water Utility Fund for additional plantings, landscaping and restoration of the Marie/Lexington pond. Spicer explained that at the time of this action, the Commission and staff were unaware that landscape plans had been included in the pond dredging project. Spicer inquired if the Commission desired that this $3,000 recommendation be forwarded to City Council or if they are satisfied with the $1,500 expenditure from the pond dredging budget for plantings and restoration of the pond area. Parks Project Manager Kullander explained the progress of the restoration project and stated that City staff is currently considering seeding with wildflowers instead of a turf grass seed in this area. He explained that it is the Engineering staff's intent to plant the bigger nursery quality trees up along the pathway and possibly put bare root stock down by the pond ditch. Kullander stated that there could be a larger turf area on top if the park crew is directed to regrade this area. Kullander stated it would be best to make the bank of the pond uninviting to keep people out of this area. Commissioner Liberacki moved to recommend that the Parks and Recreation Commission not forward their earlier recommendation to budget $3,000 for landscape restoration in this area and to hold off on that recommendation until we see how the current restoration project goes. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 REQUEST FOR TENNIS COURT RESERVATIONS The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed a request from the Convent of the Visitation to reserve tennis courts at Roger's Lake Park and Marie Park for the upcoming fall season. Commissioner Norton moved to recommend that the City Council approve the Convent of Visitation's request to reserve Roger's Lake Park and Marie Park tennis courts for the period of Monday through Friday from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., August 14, 1995 through October 24, 1995. 2 Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 VERBAL UPDATES Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that the City Council had recently approved the installation of higher backstops at Mendakota Park for all four softball fields. He stated that the winning bid was approximately $8,400 and that the fences had been installed within the last week. Commissioner Linnell inquired if a contractor had been chosen for the work at Ivy Falls Park and North Kensington Park. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that he is having a difficult time in getting bids for the stone work in both these parks. He stated he has a bid from a contractor which appears to be a very good bid but there is no second bid to compare it to. He stated he does not want landscaping to be installed and then torn up by the stone workers and he wants to arrange this work to occur first. The Commission decided to conduct their September meeting at 5:30 o'clock p.m. until 6:30 o'clock p.m. and then at 6:30 o'clock p.m. they would venture out onto the trail system in order to stencil trail distances on the trails. The Commission discussed the potential plans for two youth size fields at the Mendota Plaza, Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that in order to build fields this fall and have them potentially open for play next year, the City would have to move quickly. He stated that there is a possibility the funds for this ballfield construction could come out of the Special Park Fund before the Parks Commission has a chance to meet again. The Commission discussed possible field sizes and amenities. The Commission was of the consensus that Mendota Heights Athletic Association be brought into the planning process. Chair Spicer stated that the City should consider building large infields with adjustable outfields and collapsible fences. Commissioner Linnell inquired if the Parks Commission wanted to set some parameters for spending out of the Special Park Fund for ballfields at the Mendota Plaza. The Commission discussed getting a five year lease if the City is going to be spending money in this area. The Commission was of a 3 consensus to recommend to the City Council that if over 925,000 is spent from the Special Park Fund the Parks Commission should have the opportunity to review and discuss these ballfields. Commissioner Norton stated she wants to make sure the City is not spending money primarily for boy's baseball and that we are looking at offering fields that would provide sports for girls as well. Chair Spicer stated that of the 1,300 Mendota Heights Athletic Association participants, 450 are in girls softball alone. Spicer stated the fields are to be multi use and that the softball program gets as much priority as the baseball program. Commissioner Spicer stated he had received some complaints from softball players. in the Men's Over 30 League. He stated that one person told him of the 18 games they had this year, there were 12 games in which umpires did not attend their scheduled game. Spicer stated some of the participants in this league were unhappy over the organization of the playoffs and were mostly concerned about the poor performance of the umpires when they showed up. Chair Spicer requested that staff investigate this and report back to the Commission. Commissioner Norton stated that we do not want to lose site of opening up other recreational opportunities. The Commission discussed the expansion of the recreation programs and the half time recreation position. The Commission requested that for the October meeting, Recreation Programmer Heinsch provide an action plan for implementing additional recreational ideas that had been discussed at a previous Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that the items on the preliminary 1996 capital improvement plans for the parks system have been submitted for the 1996 budget. He stated some cuts had been made during departmental reviews, however, the City Administrator had not produced the proposed budget at this point. The Commission discussed new requests and where to place these in the capital improvement plan. The Commission was of the consensus that the bang board for the tennis court at Friendly Hills Park, estimated to be $1,500 to $2,000 for wooden bang board, should be tabled until such time as there is more interest and demand for a bang board. The Commission discussed installing a basketball court at Valley View Heights Park. Chair Spicer stated he feels there is a sound basis for the neighborhood petitioning the City for this improvement and he feels this facility would be used if installed. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated this could be tied in with the street project in order to save money and install an asphalt court. Spicer stated that if the basketball court is installed, there will not be as big of a concern about mowing the grass. The Commission discussed notifying the neighborhood about the possibility of installing a basketball court and changing the nature of this park. Commissioner Liberacki moved that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommends that an asphalt basketball court be included in the 1996 Capital Improvement Budget to be funded from the Special Park Fund in an amount not to exceed $6,000, and that the immediate neighbors be notified. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 The Commission discussed installing higher safety nets at the Friendly Hills Park ice rink because the new free skating area is closer to one of the goals. The Commission decided it is not necessary at this time until more complaints or incidences occur in this area. The Commission discussed the area at Sibley High School where the old tennis courts had been removed and directed staff to contact the School District to find out the plans for this area. The Commission felt this would be an ideal location to install transitional t-ball fields with skinned infields. The Commission discussed installing a tennis court at Hagstrom-King Park and that this discussion had been put on hold until such time as it was determined if the new middle school will include tennis courts. /_1 ��I�I�I 1 i •1 u I _� i� r> r There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission moved to adjourn its meeting until 5:30 P.M. on September 12, 1995 for their regular meeting with trail stenciling to follow afterwards. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 o'clock p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant 5