1989-10-10 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES, OCTOBER 10, 1989
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Park and Recreation
Commission was held on Tuesday, October 10, 1989 in the City Hall
Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve, Commission Chair John
Huber called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M. The following
members were present: Huber, Katz and Spicer. Lachenmayer,
Lundeen, and Damberg were excused. Absent: Owens. Staff
members present were Acting City Administrator Danielson, Parks
Project Manager Kullander and Administrative Assistant
Batchelder.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes were not approved as there was
not a quorum present. No official commission
action was taken during the meeting because
of the lack of a quorum.
CONSULTANT SELECTION
Acting Administrator Danielson presented a
brief update on the consultant selection by
City Council and the progress of the contract
that Council directed be executed between
Barton-Aschmann and the City.
MENDAKOTA APPRAISAL
SCHOOL DISTRICT 197
Danielson explained that Barton-Aschmann
would prepare a contract which City Attorney
Hart would review. Danielson stated the
contract was expected to be ready for review
on October 17. Danielson explained how City
Council had directed staff to prepare the
contract in incremental portions, by parks,
trails and ballfields, so that the City has
flexibility in implementing stages of the
construction. He explained that this was
important because there are park dedications
that the City does not legally own yet and
that we can control the project better if it
is done incrementally.
Acting Administrator Danielson stated that
the appraisal on the Mendakota site was
finished and that the appraisal would be
reported to City Council for action.
Acting Administrator Danielson explained that
School District 197 had finished their study
on facilities and use needs for athletics and
has appointed a task force to meet with City
officials to negotiate the development of the
Sibley site as part of the City's referendum
package. Danielson stated he had met with
Bruce Anderson and Lois Rockney and that
their preliminary concern seemed to be with
the amount of money available and the
maintenance of the site. The task force that
was authorized by the School Board consists
of Bruce Anderson, Lois Rockney, Bob Doffing,
James Nikolai and Lee Bakewell and their task
is to work out an agreement with the City.
KENSINGTON PARK Acting Administrator Danielson stated he had
met with the President of Centex and the City
Attorney concerning the dedication of the
land designated for Kensington Park.
Danielson stated that Centex wants to obtain
PUD approval for their whole project before
they release the land. Danielson stated that
Centex will finish acquiring the land by the
1st of the new year. Danielson stated that
Centex has PUD approval for the 1st phase of
Kensington, but not the whole project. He
stated that Centex would be applying for this
approval before the new year.
PAVED HOCKEY RINK
AT FRIENDLY HILLS Commission Chair Huber began the discussion
on the paving of the hockey rink at Friendly
Hills by asking about the timing of the
proposal. He questioned the need to move
forward on this right away and stated he felt
this was an item that could wait until staff
had time to survey surrounding communities
about the acceptance and feasibility of hard
surfaced ice rinks in those communities. He
stated that construction could not begin this
year and that there was ample time to
consider this item. Huber inquired if the
hockey supporters at Mend -Eagan were gung-ho
about this item. Commissioner Katz responded
that yes, the hockey people at Mend -Eagan
seemed to be supportive of this and pushing
for it.
Chuck Bangasser addressed the commission and
stated that
that there
this was. not his project
were many people at
alone,
Mend -Eagan
that wanted
to see this happen.
He agreed
that there was time to consider this
item and
that it was
important to do it
right the
first time
Bangasser
if it proves feasible. Mr.
identified Cottage Grove,
Roseville,
Edina, Eden Prairie,
Minnetonka
and Orono as some communities that had hard
surface ice rinks.
Commissioner Katz inquired about the
liability involved in rollerblading on
asphalt. Michael Bangasser replied that it
was illegal to skateboard on the public
street, but that it was okay to do it in your
driveway. Commission Chair Huber directed
staff to ask the City's risk manager to look
into the liability of rollerblading on a hard
surface rink. Acting Administrator Danielson
stated that the risk manager would be out to
look at all aspects of the Park's referendum
and that he could look into this too.
Commission Chair Huber requested that staff
survey the local communities that had hard
surface ice rinks and prepare a report for
the Park and Recreation Commission,
PROJECT PRESENTATION
Referendum Project Manager Kullander
presented his project timeline schedule and
estimated cost projections. He discussed the
design, construction and maintenance of each
trail segment of the project and its
associated level of difficulty and a time
schedule that corresponds with the level of
difficulty. Kullander explained that the
schedule of trails and timing of construction
is somewhat dependent on the large parks and
when they come on line.
Commissioner Spicer inquired if it was the
Commission's job to set priorities for the
different segments and portions of the
referendum. Commission Chair Huber responded
yes and that was what the Commission had
hoped to do but lacked the quorum in
tonight's meeting to do so. He stated that
priority setting would be necessary as the
project moved from conceptuality to designs
and construction schedules and that based on
Guy's work we are beginning to arrive at that
point.
SPECIAL MEETING Commission Chair Huber stated that he felt
the need to move rapidly on the referendum
projects and that because no decisions could
be made tonight that it was necessary to meet
in two weeks. By consensus it was decided
the next meeting would be scheduled for
October 24, 1989 at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall.
ADJOURNMENT There being no
further
business
the meeting
was adjourned at
9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Kevin Batchelder
Administrative Assistant