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1998-06-09 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES JUNE 9, 1998 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, June 9, 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: Liberacki, Linnell, Damberg, and Kleinglass. Chair Spicer and Commissioners Norton and Libra were excused from the meeting. Also present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister, APPROVAL OF MAY 12,1998 PARK AND RECREATION MINUTES Commissioner Liberacki moved to approve the May 12, 1998 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes with no corrections. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 HOCKEY RINK PAVING REQUEST Mr. John Hickey and Mr. Bill Wild of the Mendota Heights Youth Hockey Committee introduced themselves to the Commission. Mr. Hickey said that he was at the meeting to request that the City consider covering some hockey rinks in Mendota Heights with either asphalt or concrete to allow in -line skating in the spring, summer, and fall. Mr. Hickey said that communities such as Burnsville, Apple Valley, West Saint Paul, and Centennial have paved hockey rinks for in -line skate hockey and have had great success. Mr. Hickey added that kids also play soccer on these hard surfaces during the summer months. Mr. Hickey said that this would provide another reason for kids to go to the parks. Mr. Hickey said that he had estimated the cost to be roughly $9,000 to $15,000 to asphalt a single facility. Commissioner Damberg said that shortly after the Parks Referendum several years ago, the Commission had investigated the possibility of paving some of the hockey rinks, but had decided that maintenance of these rinks would be too expensive and that it would be difficult to maintain the ice on the surfaces during the winter. Commissioner Damberg said that the surfaces may have improved since that time and that this may no longer be a problem. Commissioner Linnell said that Staff should research the experiences of other cities in maintaining these rinks and whether or not ice melt -off is a problem on hard surfaces. Mr. Wild said that the cities he has talked to found that paved rinks held ice and kept ice longer than other rinks. Mr. Wild said that hockey players are always pressed for ice time, which is at a premium. Mr. Wild said that adding hard surface for in -line hockey could provide more skate time for hockey players. Mr. Wild said that it may also reduce the number of kids skating in the street. Mr. Wild said that Burnsville intends to pave two more surfaces this year and that Centennial will also be adding paved surface this year. Commissioner Damberg asked whether there would be an in -line hockey league or whether it would be free and unorganized. Mr. Wild said that it would be mostly unstructured. Mr. Hickey said that it would bring back spontaneity to park use. Commissioner Liberacki asked whether or not there were current in -line skate hockey leagues. Mr. Miller said that there was not enough time to form leagues in Mendota Heights, and that there were already in -line hockey leages for both boys and girls in Eagan. Mr. Wild said that he felt that in -line leagues would probably not work in Mendota Heights, Commissioner Damberg said that kids these days were over -scheduled and that the old days of pick-up games were better. Commissioner Liberacki pointed out that the ice on asphalt streets melts quickly on a sunny day in winter time. Mr. Wild said that water would freeze on asphalt sooner also. Mr. Miller said that cities have told him that if the hard surface were painted white it would actually be cooler than a dirt surface and hold ice better. Commissioner Kleinglass asked if paving the rinks would reduce the facilities available for soccer. Mr. Wild said that kids could play soccer on the paved surface with no problem. Mr. Hickey suggested that the City could begin by paving only one rink to see how it functioned before deciding whether or not to pave any more. Commissioner Liberacki said that it would be good to pave a rink where the boards are scheduled to be replaced soon. Mr. Kullander said that hockey boards are being replaced in Friendly Hills Park this year and Marie Park in 1999. Mr. Kullander added that Wentworth Park boards were replaced in 1997 at a cost of approximately $10,000, Commissioner Linnell said that the new hockey boards should be treated. Mr. Kullander said that he estimated that paving a rink would cost $30,000-$35,000 which included sub -soil drains and soil exchange. Commissioner Liberacki asked why it would be so expensive. Mr. Kullander said that the rinks are on heavy clay type soils and that the drain the system added to the expense. Mr. Kullander added that Marie park could be a little more costly because of longer piping for storm sewer. Mr. Wild said that he could get cost figures from the cities of Burnsville and Circle Pines and provide them to the City of Mendota Heights, Mr. Kullander said that in order to pave the hockey rink the City would have to take out 2,000-3,000 cubic yards of dirt and take out the boards. Mr. Kullander said that Mr. Hickey and Mr. Wild should send him cost estimates. Mr. Wild said that Mr. Kullander should talk to other cities that have paved rinks, such as Burnsville. Mr. Kullander said that he would look at the specifications if other cities would send them to him. Commissioner Damberg said that paving hockey rinks might be a good way to reduce the number of kids m4me skating in the streets. Commissioner Damberg moved to recommend that Staff conduct a feasibility study of in -line skating hockey and bring it back to the July 14, 1998 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 Mr. Wild said that he would help Mr. Kullander do the feasibility study by providing him with contacts and information. BATTING CAGE REQUEST Mr. Scott Miller of MHAA boysbaseball program introduced himself to the Commission. Mr. Miller said that he is requesting that the City install a batting cages for Mendakota Park. Mr. Miller said that many communities have batting cages. Mr. Miller added that Henry Sibley High School also has a batting cage, but that people need a key to use it and that Henry Sibley High School doesn't give out the keys. Mr. Miller passed around a photo of a batting cage. Mr. Miller said that the batting cage would be open for MHAA use and that MHAA and the City could work out a key and lock box system. Mr. Miller said that his organization had revenue left over from the AAU tournament, and that they would like to contribute some of this revenue towards the batting cage. Mr. Miller said that the typical use for the extra tournament revenue has been to buy items such as jackets for the kids, which most of them lose. Mr. Galan Funk of MHAA arrived at this point. Mr. Miller said that MHAA could probably contribute $1000-$1500 to the batting cage. Mr. Miller said that the ideal location for the batting cage would be between fields 3 and 4 at Mendakota Park. Mr. Miller said that the location would be a large enough space to put in a double -wide cage, approximately 30 feet by 80 feet. Mr. Miller said that it would be good to contain batting practice to the cage because kids currently use the soccer field at Mendakota Park for this purpose which can be unsafe. Mr. Miller said that the $1,500 contribution from the baseball program could go toward the blacktop base and the netting. Mr. Miller said that the project could accommodate a future second phase in which electricity and pitching machines were added. Mr. Miller said that a small building could be added to hold the pitching machines. Mr. Miller said that he did not know how much money the City had at their disposal, but that the batting cage could start small and grow. Mr. Miller added that it could be architecturally beautiful. Mr. Funk said that he had been involved in baseball for nine years, and that in that time the biggest issue has been batting practice. Mr. Funk said that it is possible for someone to get hit in the chest or otherwise injured. Mr. Funk said that other communities have batting cages and that he wondered why the City could not have a batting cage at Mendakota Park. Mr. Funk said that West Saint Paul had four batting cages at their main facility. Coxntnissioner Linnell asked why no-one had a key to the Sibley batting cage, since the City's joint Powers Agreement with the School District said that the athletic facilities should be available for use by the general public. Mr. Kullander concurred and said that the City should have a key to the batting cage. Commissioner Linnell said that the ballfields and the toilet facilities were also locked, and that the City should contact the school about this situation. Mr. Kullander said that the City originally had keys to all the facilities. Mr. Funk said that the fields are now primarily used by Sibley slow -pitch softball. Mr. Funk asked when softball took over the use of Sibley fields. Mr. Kullander said that the two fields by the soccer facility were originally for youth fast pitch and adult softball. Mr. Miller said that on the last ten years baseball has exploded, and that baseball used one field at Sibley and one at Mendakota. Mr. Kullander said that the City contributed roughly $20,000 per year towards maintenance of the Sibley fields and that the City and the community should have some use of the baseball field. Mr. Miller said that the area between fields three and four at Mendakota Park was begging for a batting cage. Mr. Miller said that its inconvenient to put a batting cage where there is no practice field such as at Sibley High School. Mr. Funk said that its better to go to the batting cage when other kids are in the field, because otherwise kids have to stand in line too long and get into trouble. Mr. Funk said that it is better to keep kids busy. Commissioner Damberg asked if Mr. Miller had spoken with Chair Spicer about the batting cage idea. Mr. Miller said that he had, and that Chair Spicer was in favor of the batting cages. Mr. Miller said that the baseball coaches and parents were also in favor of it, and that was why they were willing to contribute seed money. Mr. Linnell said that the baseball program should At input or funding help from the softball leagues also, since softball would also be the beneficiary of the batting cage. Mr. Funk said that MHAA had gambling revenues and that if they did not use them in the City then MHAA would use them for something else. Mr. Funk said that MHAA would be willing to shoulder part of the cost for the batting cages. Commissioner Kleinglass asked if Mr. Funk had the authority to offer the gambling money for a batting cage. Mr. Funk said that he could not commit the money, but that the money exists. Mr. Funk said that there was a consensus on the MHAA board to use the money for facility improvements. Mr. Funk said that his organization and the City could come together for many improvements, and that MHAA's gambling revenues were over $100,000 per year. Mr. Funk said that the gambling money came entirely from pull -tabs at two locations and that a third would soon be added. Commissioner Kleinglass as what the restrictions were for the use of this money. Mr. Funk said that all the money had to be disbursed and allocated each year. Commissioner Kleinglass said that the pull -tab money could be used for the in -line skating rink and the batting cages. Comrissioner Liberacki said that the pull -tab money could be used for dug -outs for baseball. Commissioner Liberacki asked Mr. Kullander how much of the Sibley complex the City owned. Mr. Kullander said that the City owned one acre of the ten acre complex and that under the Joint Powers Agreement the school district provided the land and that City built the facilities and that the maintenance costs were split evenly between the City and the School District, Mr. Funk said that the AAU loves having tournaments at Mendakota, and that the 1997 tournament grossed about $6,000 in revenue and netted $2,300. Mr. Funk said that Terry Blum and the parks crew did a superb job in preparing and maintaining the parks for the tournament and that even though it was raining at the time they were the only tournament that day that managed to complete all of their games. Mr. Funk said that the revenue was also there from the tournament to contribute over the next ten years. Mr. Funk said that MHAA could meet the City part way on the funding for the batting cage. Mr. Funk said that the MHAA Board determines how the revenue is to be used. Commissioner Damberg asked if there was a consensus on how the money should be used. Mr. Funk said that he thought that there was and that $1,500 per year could be used for five to seven years for the batting cage for a total of $5,000 to $7,500. Commissioner Linnell said that the City spends a total of $25,000 to $30,000 from the Special Parks Fund every year for items such as additional fencing for the Civic Center ballfields, benches, etc. Mr. Kullander said that he could prepare a feasibility report for the batting cages at Mendakota Park for the July 14th meeting. Mr. Miller said that the cage would look like fencing and that they would try to make most people happy with the design. Mr. Miller said that MHAA people pay taxes and are part of the City. Commissioner Liberacki asked if the plan was to build the facility this fall for use in 1999. Mr. Miller said that that would be excellent. Mr. Miller said that Mendakota was a good location for it, and that his organization would help fund the batting cage. Mr. Miller then passed around his fund raising letter. Commissioner Liberacki suggested talking to other communes to get funding figures and specifications for the batting cage, and talk to MHAA about pull -tab funding for the batting cage. Commissioner Funk said that the City should make a plan to take to the MIIAA board. Commissioner Linnell said that the City should find a good location for the batting cage and do cost sharing at a level that the Council and Mayor think are reasonable. Mr. Funk asked what happened to the idea of a baseball park. Mr. Kullander said that the Mayor had been working with Resurrection Cemetery and had contacted the National Guard Engineers for assistance in grading the site, but that Resurrection had lost interest. Mr. Funk said that it was unfortunate that the City had no concept of a Community Center many years ago when land was less expensive. Commissioner Liberacki asked if bating cages were part of the master plan for Mendakota Park. Mr. Kullander said that they were not. Commissioner Liberacki asked how much baseball was being played on the four fields. Mr. Miller said that it was being played Monday, Wednesday, and on weekends. Commissioner Liberacki said that smaller fields were better because you could hit more home runs. Commissioner Damberg asked if the MIIAA board was willing to pay half the cost of the batting cage with some money coming from the tournament. Mr. Funk said that the MHAA board may be willing to pay for half over time. Mr. Funk said that the MHAA board would probably not write a check up front for one half of the cost, because MHAA uses a good portion of the gambling revenue to buy down the cost of participation in their programs. Mr. Funk said that the gambling and tournament money could pay for half the cost over four or five years. 7 Mr. Miller said that he is the baseball director for 12 year olds, and that he could probably get money from the tournament to contribute towards the batting cage for about three years. Commissioner Damberg said that the City has already spent a lot of money on baseball. Mr. Funk said that MHAA should pay for half the cost of the batting cage and the City should pay the other half. Mr. Funk added that adult softball would get use of the batting cage also and that both the batting cage and the fields should be used by Mendota Heights residents first. Mr. Kullander said that Mendota Heights leagues and teams get priority and that non- resident teams fill the remaining openings so that the league can offer viable competition. Commissioner Liberacki asked if the equipment could be bought from the Special Parks Fund and if MHAA could then donate over time to the Special Parks Fund to re-imburse the City for part of the cost. Commissioner Damberg asked if the donation could be specified for the Special Parks Fund. Mr. Hollister said that Treasurer Shaugnessy could probably find a way to make it work. Commissioner Liberacki asked if Bill Bird was involved in the activities of the MHAA board. Mr. Miller said that Mr. Bird wasn't really involved, but that the organization would put in money if the City is willing. Commissioner Kleinglass moved to recommend that Staff conduct a feasibility study for the batting cage and bring it back to the next Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: CIVIC CENTER BALLFIELD SAFETY Mr. Kullander explained that the City had received a request from a resident to address the problem of overthrown balls hitting spectators at the Civic Center ballfields. Mr. Kullander said that he had received a phone call from a resident suggesting that the fence should be higher. Mr. Kullander said that the current situation is unsafe and that overthrown balls to 1st or 3rd base easily clear the fence. Mr. Kullander suggested extending the fence to a height of 8 feet and/or putting up a sign warning people about stray balls. Commissioner Linnell asked how high the fences were at the Sibley ballfields and at the Mendakota ballfields. Mr. Kullander said that they were eight feet high. Mr. Funk said that the Civic Center field was used exclusively for baseball and that the if the City ever tried a ball reclamation they could get about 1000 baseballs from the pond behind the backstop. Commissioner Klienglass asked for a recommendation from Mr. Kullander. Mr. Kullander said that he recommended extending the fence from four feet to either six or eight feet. Mr. Kullander said that the additional fence should wrap around the corners of the players' benches for a total distance of about 80 feet on each side of the backstop. Mr. Kullander said that he would suggest putting four feet of fencing up and that it should be a good heavy gauge. Commissioner Kleinglass said that he thought the current situation was a safety hazard. Mr. Miller said that the main problem was a first base overthrow. Mr. Funk said that overthrown balls come down right into the bleachers. Commissioner Damberg moved to recommend to City Council that the baseline fencing at the Civic Center field be extended in length for the safety of spectators. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 MARIE PARK CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA IMPROVEMENT REQUEST Mr. Kullander said that he had received a request from a resident for additional shade trees near the play equipment at Marie Park and for additional bucket seat baby swings. Mr. Kullander said that the existing swings are in the shade now because the sun is so high, but 0 that most of the facility is not. Mr. Kullander also said that according to the resident, arguments had broken out over use of the swing. Commissioner Damberg said that she solves the sun problem by putting a hat on her grandson. Commissioner Damberg asked why people were arguing over the swing and why they didn't just take turns. Commissioner Liberacki asked if the shade was For the kids or for the parents. Mr. Kullander said that the shade was for both. Commissioner Damberg said that the answer should be "no". Commissioner Damberg added that this park is no different than the other neighborhood parks and that if the City added swings here then it could get requests for swings at other parks. Commissioner Linnell said that the City parks crew should put in a couple more trees to be dug from the City's tree farm by the water tower. PARK BENCH REQUEST Mr. Kullander explained that the Council had received a request at their June 2, 1998 meeting from a Friendly Hills resident for a park bench where the senior housing trail and the Apache cul-de-sac meet. Mr. Kullander said that there was a nice shady area there, and that perhaps the bench could provide a good resting place for seniors. Commissioner Damberg moved to recommend to City Council for the installation of the park bench. Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion. Commissioner Linnell said that there should probably be more benches and that for ADA accessibility purposes there should be a bench every 400 to 900 feet. Commissioner Linnell said that there was a nice view from the top of the hill. Commission Linnell said that there should be one on the hill and one at the pond for a total of two. Commissioner Linnell also asked about progress on the MNDOT trail from the senior housing to Mendota Plaza. Mr. Kullander said that he wrote to MnDOT and that their replies usually took three to four weeks. Mr. Kullander said that he hoped to get a reply soon. Commissioner Damberg amended her motion to ask for two benches. Commissioner Linnell suggested arm rests for the benches. Commissioner Liberacki seconded the amended motion. AYES: 4 E[� NAYS: PARKS CAPITAL i1NI1rROVE1Vj-rNT5 PLAN Mr. Hollister presented to the Commission the draft of the 1998-2wa Parks Capital Improvements Plan for further revision by the Parks Commission. Commissioner Damberg asked why the City was spending so much on porta-potty enclosures. Mr. Kullander said that the estimated costs were $2000 - $3000 apiece. Commissioner Linnell said that it would be cheaper to put a stake or a pole into the ground to secure the existing porta-potties from being tipped over. Commissioner Damberg said that she would rather see the money on something else. Commissioner Linnell said that the City should find a good location for aporta-potty, and plant some bushes around it to make it look less conspicuous. Commissioner Linnell said that some porta-potties are sticking out like sore thumbs. Mr. Kullander asked whether the Parks Commission wished to keep the proposed horseshoe pits and sand volleyball court in the Capital Improvement Plan.. Commissioner Damberg said those items should not be in the plan if nobody has been asking for them. Commissioner Damberg suggested taking the horseshoe pits out of the Capital Improvements Plan, Commissioner Linnell asked if the 1998 items would get done this year. Mr. Kullander said that the park maps should be in place this year. Mr. Kullander said that Public Works could build them in the winter and install them in the spring. Commissioner Damberg said that the porta-potties should just be anchored for security purposes and that they did not need to be hidden, because people should accept them as a fact of life. Commissioner Linnell said that if the public works crew drilled holes they could install poles for the porta-potties with plain wood for under $500 total cost for materials. Commissioner Damberg said that $11,000 over five years would be too much to spend on porta-potty enclosures. Mr. Kullander asked if the Commission still wanted a sand volleyball court as an item in the Capital Improvements Plan for $6000. Commissioner Damberg asked if the City has had any requests for sand volleyball leagues Commissioner Liberacki said that the porta-potty enclosures and the batting cages have to be considered for 1998 Commissioner Damberg said to put sand volleyball in the CIP for 1998 for $6000. Commissioner Damberg said that the City has already spent a lot on baseball and softball. Commissioner Damberg said that the picnic shelters in Friendly Hills Park will cost $28,500. Commissioner Damberg suggested approval for 1998 only. Commissioner Linnell submitted a list of other potential CIP items for the July meeting. Commissioner Linnell said that the culvert was washed out on both ends in Valley Park. The Commissioners asked Staff to bring the CIP back for next month. UPDATES Mr. Hollister provided updates on the following items: Friendly Hills Tot Lot Development Mr. Hollister said that the City Council had ordered a public hearing for 8:00 p.m. on August 4 to discuss the release of the four Friendly Hills Tot Lots for residential development. Parks Report There were no comments on this item. Police Report There were no comments on this item. C:]SIZ�II��i;i Motion made to adjourn by Kleinglass and seconded by Damberg. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. RespeciWly Submitted, Patrick C. Hollister 12