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1997-03-11 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY.MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 11, 1997 The regular meeting of the Mendota Ileights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 11, 1997, in the Large Conference Room at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:40 PM. The following Commissioners were present: Spicer, Libra, Kleinglass, Linnell, Damberg, Liberacki. Commissioner Norton was excused from the meeting. Also present were Recreation Programmer Chris Esser and Administrative Assistant Patrick C. Hollister, APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 11 PARK AND RECREATION MINUTES Commissioner Kleinglass moved to approve the February 11, 1997 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes with corrections. Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: TILSEN'S HIGHLAND HEIGHTS LANDSCAPING Mr. Tom Fahey of 979 Caren Road presented a letter to the Parks and Recreation Commission asking for consideration of landscaping on the City -owned property bounded by Caren Road. Mr. Fahey explained that he had distributed this letter to about a dozen of his neighbors and that conversations with those neighbors had revealed many differing views of what appropriate landscaping would be on this site. Mr. Fahey said that he is interested in building consensus among his neighbors as to what would be appropriate on this site and then approaching the City Council for approval and funding. Mr. Fahey added that his house looks directly upon the site and that currently there are all deciduous trees there, but that some variety of trees would be preferable. Mr. Fahey added that various neighbors on their own initiative had put plantings on the site. Commissioner Damberg said that as a resident of the area, she would like to "recuse" herself from voting on the issue but would like to contribute to the conversation about the area as a resident, not as a Commissioner. Ms. Damberg said a long time ago there were nice trees on the site but that Dutch Elm disease had killed them. Ms. Damberg continued that now there is mostly brush, but it used to be a meadow with wildflowers and monarch butterflies. Ms. Damberg added that just when the flowers begin to bloom, the City's contractor ruthlessly wipes them out. Ms. Damberg said that this site is one of those areas where the City should emphasize wild areas, and that neighbors should be involved in the decision. Ms. Damberg acknowledged that some neighbors would prefer a more formal park approach. Ms. Damberg concluded that landscaping on this site should be done after the roads are done. Mr. Fahey said that with the road project scheduled for this summer, now would be the ideal timing for a decision on this landscaping. Mr. Fahey added that the fence on the site is currently in disrepair. Chairman Spicer said that the Parks and Recreation Commission is a purely advisory body, and that they were at the mercy of the Council's and Staffs priorities and schedules. Commissioner Kleinglass said that Mr. Kullander should research what could be done at this site. Chairman Spicer said that he thought the Council would probably approve whatever the neighbors desired on the site if it didn't interfere with the storm water needs of the site and it didn't cost very much. Chairman Spicer asked for a motion. Commissioner Kleinglass moved to recommend that Staff investigate the landscaping possibilities on this site. Commissioner Liberacki seconded the motion. Commissioner Damberg wished to add an amendment to Commissioner Kleinglass' recommendation that the City also consider a path. The Commissioners Kleinglass and Liberacki accepted this friendly amendment. AYES: 5 (Damberg Recused) NAYS: 0 Commissioner Liberacki asked if someone from the Landscape Architecture program at the University of Minnesota could create the plan for this area. Commissioner Linnell said that the site is probably too small to interest the Landscape Architecture school, but that perhaps a horticulturist from the University would be interested. Commissioner Linnell added that although he himself could contribute some ideas, he didn't have time to create a plan. Mr. Fahey said that he would like to be involved in the planning process for this site. Commissioner Spicer said that nothing would be done without neighbors' input, and that the City would put a plan together, meet with the neighbors, and then send it to the City Council for approval and funding. 2 Mr. Fahey said that he had talked to the Engineering Department about traffic, road realignment, and drainage. Commissioner Libra said that Staff could provide some guidelines and/ recommendations on whether or not this area should be left natural and allowed to "run wild", and whether or not to involve a neighborhood group. Libra added that the private contractor hired by the Public Works department to mow street boulevards cut the brush and the wildflowers, and that the City should have a policy on such matters. Commissioner Liberacki asked what the feeling was among the neighbors about the site. Mr. Fahey said that preferences varied widely. Mr. Fahey added that the Todds and Bergs had done plantings, and that the northeast parcel within Lilydale was a commercial tree farming operation. Mr. Fahey added that he has had three trees planted on the site through the City's Boulevard Tree Program and that two of them had died. Commissioner Liberacki said that this landscaping should be a Public Works responsibility and that the Special Parks Fund should not be used for this purpose. Commissioner Liberacki continued it is important for the City to set a good example by keeping its own property clean and attractive while it reminds residents to keep their yards clean. SIBLEY JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT Mr. Esser presented a copy of the Joint Powers Agreement with ISD 197 to clarify the Commission's concerns regarding the scheduling of the Sibley baseball complex. Commissioner Libra asked if `organized youth programs in Mendota Heights' refer to only City programs. Mr. Esser said that it was his interpretation that MHAA programs were included in this category (Category 1). Chairman Spicer said that Sting and Fast Pitch would also fall into Category 1. Chairman Spicer added that this applies to organized youth programs, not individual teams. Commissioner Li ell said that MHAA may be doing a blanket reservation of all fields whether they use them each day or not. Chairman Spicer said that baseball uses the Sibley field heavily, but that the other two fields were underused. Commissioner Damberg asked why the West Saint Paul VFW was on the list of organizations using Sibley fields. Chairman Spicer said that the WSP VFW includes kids from Mendota Heights, and that the coaches work scheduling out and that it has never been a problem. He added that the VFW gets the lower Junior Varsity field, and that there have never been any complaints. Commissioner Libra said that he merely was not clear on who was getting priority, and that this item was only for clarification. FULL-TIME RECREATION FACILITATOR Mr. Hollister explained that at the joint Workshop between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council, various Councilmembers had set certain parameters upon a Full -Time Recreation Facilitator. Mr. Hollister continued that volunteers among the Commissioners had formed a Full -Time Recreation Facilitator Job Description Drafting Subcommittee, and that the Subcommittee had met to develop the job description. Mr. Hollister concluded that the presented proposed job description had been the result of the conversation and asked for any revisions or suggestions. The Commissioners discussed the Subcommittee's work made various revisions to the document. Commissioner Damberg moved to recommend that the City Council create the Full -Time Recreation Facilitator Position as described in the proposed Job Description, as revised by the Parks and Recreation Commission, Commissioner Libra seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: Chairman Spicer commended the work of the Full -Time Recreation Facilitator Job Description Drafting Subcommittee. WOOD DUCK HOUSES IN CITY PONDS Mr. Hollister presented a memo from Mr. Kullander on Wood Duck Houses. Mr. Hollister explained that Tom Olund of the Public Works Department and members of the Park Maintenance Crew had asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to consider recommending to the City Council that they authorize funds for 20 wood duck houses to be installed in various City park ponds. Mr. Hollister continued that the houses could cost up to $600. Commissioner I{leinglass moved to recommend approval of the duck house expenditure of up to $600.00 from the Special Parks Fund. Commissioned Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Libra said that the duck use project should involve the Cub Scouts if possible. UPDATES Staff provided updates on the following items: • Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Waiver • North Kensington Park • Recreation Programmer Probation Completion • Softball Scheduling and Registration • Dodd & 110 Safety Improvements • Ice Skating Rink Status • Parks Report • Police Report Commissioner I{leinglass asked Staff to send a reminder on Friday to the Parks and Recreation Commissioners asking them to attend the City Council meeting on March 18, 1997 to request in person that the Council approve the Full -Time Recreation Facilitator position. Commissioner Kleinglass also asked any Commissioners who could not attend to write a letter to the Council on the subject. Commissioner Linnell asked Staff to bung back the Park Dedication Policy issue, and to bring back prioritization of Open Space, complete with a comparison chart of the various open spaces left. Commissioner Liberacki asked Staff to organize a van tour of open space within the City for all Parks Commissioners to participate in. Commissioner Linnell asked if restoration services for Ivy Falls Park had already been hired. Mr. Hollister responded that he believed that service had already been contracted. Commissioner Liberacki said that if the service had not been contracted yet, he recommended looking at North American Prairies. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Kleinglass and seconded by Damberg. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM. Respecv"lly Submitted, Patrick C. Holltster