1996-11-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
NOVEMBER 12, 1996
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held
on Tuesday, November 12, 1996, in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101
Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM.
The following members were present: Spicer, Libra, Kleinglass, Linnell, Norton and
Damberg. Commissioner Liberacki was excused from the meeting. Also present were
Recreation Programmer Chris Esser and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister,
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner I{leinglass moved to approve the October 8, 1996 Minutes with no
corrections. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion.
AYES:
NAYS:
BRIAN BH2CH, 759 WH.LOW LANE
Mr. Birch appeared before the Parks and Recreation Commission to advocate preserving
the abandoned MnDOT right-of-way east of Mendota Plaza and south of Highway l l0 for
some sort of park or natural open space use. Mr. Birch said that he was under the
impression that the owner of Mendota Plaza was attempting to purchase this land and
develop it for commercial use. Mr. Birch suggested that the City purchase this land for its
own Nature Center and integrate it into the City's trail system.
Chairman Spicer remarked that the Commission had also looked at the MnDOT land for
ballfield use.
Commissioner Norton moved that the City perform an inventory and optimum use analysis
(including ballfields) of all remaining vacant land in the City, including the vacant MnDOT
right -of --way, the area around Lake Augusta, the "Superblock" and the land across the
street from St. Thomas,
Commissioner Libra seconded the motion.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 0
PARK RESERVATION POLICY
Mr. Esser presented a "redline" copy of the proposed revision of the Parks Reservation
Policy in order to verify that Staff had correctly interpreted the Commission's changes.
The Commission made a few minor revisions.
Commissioner Damberg moved to recommend that the Council adopt the revised Parks
Reservation Policy. Commissioner Norton seconded the recommendation.
AYE5:
NAYS:
FULL TIME RECREATION PROGRAMMER
Mr. Hollister explained that the Council had requested that Staff compile a list of new
programs and other benefits that the City would enjoy with a full-time Recreation
Programmer that the City was not currently enjoying with merely a half-time Recreation
Programmer. Mr. Hollister continued that Staff had placed this item on the Commission's
agenda this evening in order to provide one last opportunity for input from the
Commission on this issue before the Council discusses it at their regular meeting on
November 19, 1996,
Chairman Spicer said that he was impressed with the improved level of service that would
be possible with a full-time Recreation Programmer, and suggested that the Parks and
Recreation Commission claim authorship of Staffs memorandum when it went to Council.
Commissioner Norton agreed with Chairman Spicer, and added that Staff should do
analysis to demonstrate that the additional programs that would be provided by a full-time
Recreation Programmer would not be redundant with programs already accessible to our
residents from the MHAA, ISD 197 Community Education or other cities.
Commissioner Damberg moved that the Commission recommend that the Council
authorize Staff to create afull-time Recreation Programmer position, and that Staff
attribute authorship of the memorandum on this subject to the Parks and Recreation
Commission.
Commissioner Norton seconded the motion.
AYES:
NAYS:
Commissioner Damberg said that she calculated that this was the sixth time that the Parks
and Recreation Commission had recommended that the Council create afull-time
Recreation Programmer position.
Drought Conditions
Mr. Hollister reported that according to the Public Works department the drought this
summer had been relatively benign to the City's parks, requiring no extraordinary
measures on the part of Staff except additional watering of smaller trees.
Parks Report
Commissioner Linnell asked that Staff provide a yearly tree -planting update and suggested
that the City should plant more trees than we currently are.
Police Report
Commissioner Damberg asked Staffto provide a yearly Vandalism report totaling the
monetary value of all damage done in the parks and compare it to the amount recovered in
restitution.
Cross -Country Skiing
Commissioner Norton inquired about the status of discussions with the Par 3 Golf Course
on the possibility of cooperating on a Cross Country Ski Trail.
Mr. Hollister said that the Council had directed Staff to propose a master plan for the ski
trail to the Council before proceeding any further, and that Staff had been unable to
prepare this plan up to this time.
Chairman Spicer commented that he read that cross-country skiing is the nation's fastest -
growing lifetime sport, and thus it would be good for the City to pride this recreational
opportunity.
Parks and Recreation Commission/City Council Workshop
Commissioner Li ell moved to formally invite the City Council to attend the January 14,
1997 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss several issues, including
• A full-time Recreation Programmer
• Preservation of remaining open space
• Creation of additional ballfield capacity
• Other Issues
Commissioner Norton seconded the motion.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 0
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Kleinglass and seconded by Norton.
AYES:
NAYS:
The meeting adjourned at 7:29 PM.
Respectfully Sarbmitted,
Patrick C. Hollister
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