1998-03-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MARCH 10, 1998
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held
on Tuesday, March 10, 1998, in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101 Victoria
Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
The following Commissioners were present: Spicer, Kleinglass, Norton, and Linnell, and
Libra. Commissioners Liberacki and Damberg were excused from the meeting. Also
present were City Planner Meg McMonigal of MFRA, Recreation Programmer Bill Bird,
and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 10, 1998 PARK AND RECREATION MINUTES
Commissioner Libra moved to approve the February 10, 1998 Parks and Recreation
Commission Minutes with no corrections. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion.
AYES:
NAYS:
Mr. Hollister presented a memo from Mr. Kullander updating progress on Wentworth
Park Shelters.
Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that the Council direct Staff to build both park
shelters at Wentworth for a total cost not to exceed $40,000 and to come to the Parks
Commission with a proposal for a similar sized or slightly larger shelter for Friendly Hills.
AYES:
NAYS:
PARKS PROJECT MANAGER'S PRIORITIES
Mr. Hollister presented a list of projects for 1998 from Mr. Kullander and asked the
Commission to prioritize them.
Chairman Spicer said that his top five priorities would be:
1. Wentworth Park Shelters
2. Trail Segments for Senior Housing, City Hall, and the Middle School
3. Parks Maps
4. Finishing North Kensington Park
5. Finishing Ivy Falls Park
Commissioner Libra said that his priorities would be North Kensington Park and Ivy Falls
Park,
Commissioner Linnell said that the Commission should once again discuss improvements
to Friendly Marsh Park. Commissioner Linnell added that trail signage and safety were a
high concern, particularly ADA signage. Commissioner Linnell also said that the City
should build one Porta-Potty shelter just to see what it looks like, and then decide whether
or not to build any other ones.
Commissioner Norton said that her priority would be the creation of Cross -Country Ski
Trails,
PARKS AND RECREATION CHAPTER OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Planner Meg McMonigal of McCombs Frank Roos Associates discussed the Parks and
Recreation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Topics discussed included goals and
policies of the parks and recreation chapter, a parks inventory, parks types and standards,
recreation programming, the fixture of parks and trails, acquisition of more parkland, and
expansion of the trail system.
UPDATES
Recreation Programmer's Update
Recreation Programmer Bill Bird presented the programs for summer of 1998.
Chair Spicer congratulated Mr. Bird on the number and quality of the 1998 summer
programs.
Ordinance Recodification
Mr. Hollister said that the City was currently undergoing Ordinance Recodification and
asked if any of the Commissioners had any suggestions for revisions to the Parks
Ordinance (#913).
Chairman Spicer said that the fine in Section 10 was now $700.
Commissioner Norton said that there should be a section requiring people to clean up after
their dogs.
Commissioner Linnell said that there should be more trash barrels for dog waste along
trails. Commissioner Linnell also said that there should be a prohibition on open fires
2
except prescribed burns. Commissioner Linnell also asked if there should be an exotic
animal ordinance covering lions, tigers and bears.
Birdhouses
Mr. Hollister reported that at the last meeting of the City Council, the Council approved
$500 for birdhouses.
Senior Club
Mr. Hollister reported that at the last meeting of the City Council, the Council approved
$500 for the Senior Club.
Commissioners' Per -Diem
Mr. Hollister reported that all Commissioners in the City would now receive a $25 per
diem as reimbursement for time and expense incurred in serving on Commissions.
Chairman Spicer said that as a County Judge, accepting the per -diem would be
problematic and that he wished to decline his payment.
Commissioner Kleinglass
said
that
as a federal
employee, acceptance
of the per -diem
would be problematic for
him
also,
and that he
also wished to decline
his payment.
Commissioner Libra moved to ask the Council to allow the Parks Commission to create a
special Parks Commission Fund which the Parks Commission could use at their discretion
with each Commissioner having the option of contributing their per -diem payments to the
fund.
Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion.
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
Parks Report
There were no comments on this item.
ADJOURN
Motion made to adjourn by Kleinglass and seconded by Libra.
AYES: '7
NAYS: 0
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Patrick C. Hollister