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1996-03-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 12, 1996 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 12, 1996 in the City Council Chambers, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. The following members were present: Liberacki, Libra, Spicer, Norton, Linnell and Damberg. Commissioner Kleinglass was excused. Also present were Interim City Administrator Kevin Batchelder, Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Recreation Programmer Chris Esser. KENSINGTON SOCCER FIELD Commissioner Libra inquired if the Kensington soccer fields would again be top dressed this spring. Parks Project Manager Kullander responded yes, that the soccer fields at Kensington had already received two or three applications of top dressing at this stage and that a fourth top dressing will occur this spring including over seeding. INTRODUCTION OF NEW RECREATION PROGRAMMER - CHRIS ESSER Chair Spicer introduced the new Recreation Programmer, Mr. Chris Esser to the other members of the Parks and Recreation Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner L'onnell moved to approve the February 13, 1996 minutes with corrections. Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA PARK LIGHTS TASK FORCE Interim City Administrator Batchelder stated that the City Council had considered a feasibility study for lights at the Mendakota Park ballfields at their February 20, 1996 meeting. Batchelder stated the City Council discussed this issue for approximately two hours with the ballfield neighbors, Mendota Heights Athletic Association and adult softball representatives. Batchelder stated the City Council had directed staff to develop a potential task force consisting of no more than fifteen members that would represent the Friendly Hills First Addition, Mendakota Estates and representatives from the Mendota Heights Athletic Association and adult softball league. He stated that the purpose of the task force was to address scheduling issues and other alternatives to placing lights at Mendakota Park, as well as, considering alternative designs for lights at Mendakota Park. Batchelder stated the task force would be conducting its first meeting on Monday, March 18 at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. and that any Parks Commissioners that wish to attend are welcome. Batchelder stated that Commissioner Kleinglass had indicated an interest in being on the task force. Batchelder stated the City Council desired that the task force work on this issue and bring the matter back through the Parks and Recreation Commission and then to the City Council. Commissioner Libra stated he had watched the City Council meeting on television and had been impressed that the City Council was patient and made the right decision to listen to the residents and solicit their input throughout the evening. Libra stated this was a lengthy discussion but he felt it was valuable and he feels the task force will be a good effort to inform the neighbors about this process and to get their input. NORTH KENSINGTON PARK Parks Protect Manager Kullander provided an overview of the plan for North Kensington Park and the schedule for moving forward on this protect in 1996. Kullander stated that in order to bring this plan in under budget, the City would have to eliminate the muck grading and excavation that had been scheduled for reconstruction of the pond area. Kullander stated the rest of the plan could be completed as discussed by City Council. Kullander stated that the plan can come in under budget which had been estimated to be approximately $40,000 to do the design prepared by our consultant with the exception of the excavation of the pond and the redesign of the pond area. Kullander stated this protect will be bid out in April for June construction. Commissioner Linnell stated that improvements had been planned at the south end of the pond where the storm water pipes come into the pond and inquired if some of those improvements still could be included in the protect while staying within the budget. WENTWORTH PARK Parks Project Manager Kullander stated the 1996 Capital Improvement an had scheduled $20,000 to be budgeted from the Special Park Fund for improvements in Wentworth Park including a picnic shelter, grills, enlarged warming house and enlarged free skating area. Kullander stated that at the Park Commission's last discussion of this issue they had stated their intent to provide one shelter similar to the picnic shelters existing at Kensington Park. Kullander stated that if we go with a larger size than the 16' x 16' shelters in Kensington Park we will incur the costs of an architect to design the building. Kullander stated that if we go with a 16' x 16' picnic shelter then we can use the Kensington plan as is without the need to hire an architect. Kullander estimated the cost of this to be approximately $111000. Kullander described where the grills would be installed and stated that it was a possibility to place some stone benches in the picnic area. Kullander stated that the Commission had expressed an interest in brushing out the trees in the area north of the parking lot and that this could be done and a woodchip trail could be placed through these trees to open this area. Kullander stated the purpose of brushing out this wooded area would be to help the pine trees and significant trees thrive. Kullander described the enlarged free skating area. He discussed enlarging of the warming house and the potential that an enlarged warming house could also be used in the summer for recreation classes. The Commission discussed the appropriate size and number of picnic shelters for Wentworth Park. The Commission agreed that extra picnic tables should be placed around the picnic shelter as a place for people to congregate for picnics. Commissioner Ramberg moved to recommend that a 16° x 16° shelter similar to the design at Kensington Park be placed in Wentworth Park in 1996. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. Commissioner Linnell expressed a concern that a 16° x 16' shelter might be too small for Wentworth Park. Linnell stated that both Valley Park and Roger's Lake Park have 20' x 24' picnic shelters that are capable of holding four picnic tables underneath the roof. The Commission discussed the appropriate size of a picnic shelter in Wentworth Park and the appropriate amount to budget for a shelter that is of a similar design and size as Kensington Park. Commissioner Damberg withdrew her motion. The Commission directed staff to get a quote for one large picnic shelter or two 16' x 16' picnic shelters with a similar design to Kensington Park. Commissioner Linnell moved to recommend that City Council improve the installation of a picnic shelter in Wentworth Park depending upon the quotes received that would include three new grills and one light for an expanded free skating ice rink. Commissioner Linnell stated that this motion should also include the brushing out of the wooded area. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 UPDATES Commissioner Damberg submitted an article on the City of North St. Paul°s efforts to get a pedestrian bridge over Trunk Highway 36 and MnDOT's positive response to these efforts. Commissioner Damberg inquired why MnDOT had not been positive in responding to the City of Mendota Heights' request for a pedestrian bridge over Highway 110. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that the Dodd Road trail project had been submitted to MnDOT for cooperative agreement. He indicated that MnDOT had approved $100,000 for the installation of a right turn lane and culvert extension to make for a safer trail between the Amoco and Dodd Road. Kullander stated the rest of the project is waiting for ISTEA funding approval and that we should know about that in the next month. Kullander stated the City could reapply to MnDOT next year for the remainder of the project if it is not approved for ISTEA funding. He stated we now know that if this is approached as a safety issue, MnDOT will do the road improvements and the City can consider contributing the construction of the bike path. Recreation Programmer Chris Esser informed the Commission that Mayor Mertensotto had instructed him to respond to a constituent request. Esser stated the Mayor had received a phone call from a parent upset with the T- all program operated by the Mendota Heights Athletic Association because of their age limitations and restrictions. Esser stated this resident wanted City response and City action on the Mendota Heights Athletic Association's age restriction for T-ball because the City provides an annual subsidy for the T-ball program. The Commission discussed this constituent's request and instructed Recreation Programmer Esser to invite the T-ball Commissioner to visit with the Parks and Recreation Commission in April so that the Parks Commission could review the T-ball program, its costs and the City's annual subsidy. Chair Spicer stated that Mendota Heights Athletic Association T-ball program has age restrictions because of safety issues and the abilities of children at those ages. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission moved to adjourn its meeting at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batcheldat Interim City Admi ator j .oho C m SA[NT.PAUL PIONEER PRESS SUBURBS Highway 36 is barrier to foot traffic ■ North St. Paul proposes bridge for pedestrians JIM BROEDE STAFF WRITER It's no Ber- WHAT'S lin Wall. NEXT Still, Min- nesota 36 is if funding is seen as a pe- granted for the destrian bar- $800,000 rier in North pedestrian St. Paul, di- bridge, viding north construction and south could start in sides of the 1997* city of 12,500 residents. "We have everybody from stu- dents at North High School to el- derly citizens crossing that busy highway;' assistant city manager Linda Cummings said. "It can be a scary experience. One of these days somebody is going to get se- riously hurt or killed." To solve the problem, the city has proposed building an $800,000 pedestrian bridge in the vicinity of Margaret or First streets, If fund- ing comes through, construction could begin in 1997, The city has applied for a $640,000 federal grant under the Intermodal Surface Transporta- tion Efficienev Act. "If that gets approved, we will be on our way,". Cummings said, "But we will still have to find a way to raise the remaining 20 per- cent of the -cost" Actually, part, if not all of it, could come from the Minnesota Transpo���,�Ion Del aciment �e think a pedestrian bridge in North St. Paul is a desirable pro- ject " metropolitan division, engi- "One of these days somebody is going to get seriously hurt or killed." LINDA CUMMINGS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER NORTH ST, PAUL neer Chuck Siggerud said, '`and we are willing to participate si the costs." The state also has offered to conduct a study to determinean appropriate location. I "We want to make sure that the bridge is where people will use it," Siggerud said. "Otherwise, they wilI continue to walk across or, the highway, and we will have wasted our money." Cummings said it's more a case now of pedestrians having to scur- ry — rather than walk — > ass the highway. Those 'walk' lights aren't on for very long," she said. "Some people get caught in the median. It's a dangerous situation. Siggerud was unaware of the "walk" lights' timing problems: "We'll look into it," h, said.