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1991-02-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES FEBRUARY 12, 1991 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, February 12, 1991 in the City Hall Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chair John Huber called the meeting to order at 7:03 o'clock p.m. The following members were present: Huber, Spicer, Lundeen, Hunter and Katz. Kleinglass and Damberg were excused. Staff members present were Parks Leadperson Terry Blum, Parks Worker Mike Mackzo, Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder. Guests present were Mike Dorsey, Earl Anderson Co., Inc., Keith Sjoquist, Station 19 Architects, and Jim Kilburg, resident. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Lundeen moved approval of the January 8, 1991 Parks and Recreation Commission minutes. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chair John Huber turned the meeting over to Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder for conducting the elections of officers. Batchelder stated that every February the Commission elects officers for the year and that these offices consist of Chair, Vice -Chair and Secretary. Batchelder stated that the Secretary does not have to be a Commission member. Batchelder called for nominations. Commissioner Spicer nominated John Huber for the position of Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission for 1991. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Huber nominated Vicki Katz for the position of Vice -Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission for 1991. Commissioner Lundeen seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 Commissioner Spicer nominated Kevin Batchelder for the position of Secretary of the Parks and Recreation Commission for 1991. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: SPECIAL PARKS FUND Batchelder reported on the status of the Special Parks Fund, as requested at the January meeting. Batchelder stated that the beginning 1990 fund balance for the Parks Special Fund was $327,776 on January 1, 1990. Batchelder stated that revenues for the year amounted to $41,800 and expenditures totaled $4,268 for an estimated year end balance of $365,308 on December 31, 1990. Batchelder explained that the revenues of $41,800 consisted of park dedication fees of $19,800 and estimated interest of $221000. He explained that expenditures included administrative time for the Treasurer and Accountant, Engineering time, construction of the hockey fences and postage. Batchelder stated that this fund is invested in the same manner as all other City funds and receives a blended rate of return that is a result of all City fund investments. The 1990 park dedications were received from Big Wheel/Rossi, Patrick subdivision and Gesell subdivision. Chair John Huber stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission historically has been reluctant to spend this money. Commissioner Hunter stated that he was not against spending dedicated funds on needed improvements but would not want to see the fund spent down to zero. Huber stated that this fund is dependent on park dedication fees from subdivisions and that the City was 85 o developed and would not be receiving many dedication fees in the long term. Huber stated that in the future the City would have to reconsider methods of funding if park dedications quit and the money is expended. SIBLEY PARK PLAY EQUIPMENT Chair John Huber stated that Council had expressed a concern with a Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation regarding the Sibley Play Equipment. Huber explained that the Commission had deferred any action on the construction of play equipment at Sibley Park, as provided for in the referendum. Huber stated that Dean Verdoes, Athletic Director of Sibley, and other individuals had expressed a concern that the play equipment did not mix well at a high school. Huber stated that the Commission had also been concerned that there has not been a demand from local residents to provide play equipment in this area of town and that the site is not easily accessible to neighborhood children. Commissioner Spicer asked when Sibley Park would come on line. Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander stated that it would be mid to late summer. Spicer stated that this would be after the Mend -Eagan season and that it was reasonable to defer this part of the project until it could be seen how the Sibley Park was coming along. Spicer stated that school officials had indicated to him that the play equipment is inappropriate and would be an inviting target for misuse and vandalism. Commissioner Hunter inquired if there was an area nearby that could serve this part of town where the play equipment could be built instead. Kullander stated that there was none that the City currently owned, however land might be developed north of Marie that could involve park dedications, or land could be purchased from the Dodd Road highway R.O.W. turnbacks in the North East corner of Dodd and Hwy. 110. Commissioner Spicer stated that he felt Mendakota Park would be the place for adults, with families, to play softball and that Sibley no longer has the demand for play equipment now that Mendakota Park is the premier softball site. He stated Sibley would be more youth oriented field use. Spicer stated that should it be determined that Sibley needs the play equipment it could always be built in the future, that the site accommodates it and the money has been set aside. Commissioner Lundeen inquired about the number of houses in the area and if there were a lot of children in the area. Kullander stated there were 18 houses within a quarter mile. Spicer stated his opinion would be different if Sibley was the only site we had, but now that Mendakota was being developed it might not be necessary to put play equipment at Sibley. Chair John Huber stated that the kids will be at Sibley whether it is youth or adult oriented. Chair John Huber stated that he senses the Commission wishes to stick with their original recommendation. He stated this recommendation was to defer the play equipment project because the Sibley Park was not on line yet, and wouldn't be until the Mend -Eagan season was over, that Mendakota would be a primary site, that a need for AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA PARK the equipment should established, that the School District was averse to it, and that the density and accessibility to neighborhood children was not great. He stated that by deferring it for one year, until Sibley Park was established, was not saying no to the project. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that the Sibley Park play equipment be deferred until the park is established and the need can be better understood. Commissioner Lundeen seconded the motion. Commissioner Katz arrived at 7:35 o'clock p.m. Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander outlined the final plans and specifications for Mendakota Community Park that City Council had approved for bidding at their February 5, 1991 meeting. He described the changes that had occurred since the Parks Commission had reviewed the preliminary plans. He stated the changes were the observation deck on the comfort station, the combining of the picnic shelter/band shell, the addition of an entrance kiosk, the addition of lighting in the parking lot and the area adjacent to the pavilion, the internal loop walking trail, the enlarged community size handicap accessible play structure and an enlarged parking lot. Kullander described the hub area of the softball fields and the landscape plan. Kullander described the estimated development costs that had been presented to City Council as: Construct Fields, Etc. ................. $480,000 Utilities: $30,000 divided by 2 Sewer and Watermain................... $ 15,000 Play Structures... 0 ....... $ 70,000 Buildings: Comfort Station. $ 75,000 Picnic/Shell ............... $ 25,000 Entrance Kiosk ............ $ 51000 Bleachers ........ 6 a a ...................... $ 20,000 Consultant and Architect Fees ............. $ 40,000 Staff and Overhead ........................ $ 70,000 Est. Total $800,000 Kullander requested that the Commission consider the amount for the play equipment and consider what type of equipment they desire, now much and at what cost. Kullander stated that when this was determined he would draft specifications and that the City would go out for competitive bids. Kullander described the handicapped accessible element envisioned for this park. Kullander stated that he feels the estimate might be high for bleachers. If the City provides the type of bleachers similar to the Civic Center ballfield, Kullander stated that eight similar bleachers would cost approximately $6,000. The Commission concurred that this was the appropriate type of bleachers to provide. Kullander stated that the plan shows one main play equipment area for the handicapped accessible play equipment and one area for neighborhood tykes. Kullander introduced Mike Dorsey, of Earl Anderson Co., Inc whose firm supplied the play equipment installed in seven city parks last summer. Mr. Dorsey explained how the area designated for play equipment by Barton-Aschman's plans could be used to accommodate handicapped accessible play equipment and able bodied play equipment. Mr. Dorsey stressed that the handicapped accessible equipment could be used by all children, that they don't distinguish or even notice they are using handicapped equipment. Mr. Dorsey stated anyone interested in seeing the type of equipment he was describing could visit Veterans Memorial Park at 64th and Portland Ave. in Richfield. The Commission discussed the various pieces of play equipment. The Commission considered the feasibility of having two separate sites for play equipment in the same park. After a lengthy discussion, the Commission concurred that only one main area should be provided for play equipment and it should be full service for all ages and abilities. The Commission felt that dollars could be saved by compressing it into one main area, and that this would provide a nicer main facility. The Commission discussed the estimated cost of $70,000 for play equipment. Commissioner Katz noted this amount was significantly higher than other parks. Commissioner Lundeen stated that if the two play equipment areas are combined and if Mendakota was the premier city park site that $70,000 would provide an excellent play structure for the whole City. Kullander stated that this amount was reviewed by City Council when they approved the final plans and specifications for the park. Kullander explained the competitive bid process. Commissioner Lundeen moved Co recommend that $70,000 be allocated for the Mendakota Community Park play equipment structure, in one combined site. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 iui�l� i►%`:(�1Wetdi�SisCi7;� 4 STATION Mr. Keith Sjoquist, of Station 19 Architects, appeared to present the schematic designs for the three buildings in Mendakota Community Park - the comfort station, the picnic shelter/pavilion and the kiosk. Mr. Sjoquist showed the floor plan and exterior material drawings. He stated that all the buildings are of similar materials and roof lines. He stated they were designed to match City Hall with cedar shakes and white cedar fascia and soffits. The masonry would be a terra Gotta colored rock faced block. He stated the colored masonry would add about $1,000 to the whole project versus the cost of painting and maintaining non - colored block. He stated the railings on the observation deck would be metal. Mr. Sjoquist gave a preliminary estimate of $110,000 for all three buildings. He stated that he would structure the bidding for alternates on the shingles, the soffits, and the trusses. He stated one of the biggest cost items was the wood shingles, which are approximately three times the cost of asphalt shingles. Mr. Sjoquist stated that he would like to keep the pitches of all the roofs the same as a uniform appearance would be more aesthetic. He stated he felt that the picnic shelter would be too squat with 4:12 pitch roof similar to the City Hall building, and therefore he is proposing all the buildings to have 8:12 pitch. Commissioner Lundeen stated that he felt the lower pitch would not fit the shape of the comfort station and stated that the City Hall is a much longer and wider building and therefore the 4:12 pitch roof was the only option. Mr. Sjoquist discussed the internal layout of the comfort station. Mr. Sjoquist explained the colors as white for soffit and fascia, terra Gotta for the masonry and darker grey for the horizontal railings and doors. Kullander explained that there would be a telephone line for a pay phone and one line for future use should this comfort station ever be leased, or a private line needed. The Commission discussed the railings, the grading of the picnic shelter, the cost of the shingles and the bathroom fixtures. It was suggested that asphalt shingle could be bid as a deduct. Kullander stated that if the Commission felt comfortable with the schematics, then the building plans would proceed with the intention of having working drawings and specifications by the end of the month, at which time he would seek bidders. Commissioner Hunter moved to recommend that all three buildings have the same 8:12 pitch to the roof, and that the architect should proceed to complete the final plans and specifications based upon the presented schematics which are acceptable. Commissioner Lundeen seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA PARK UPDATE Guy Kullander stated that staff had begun calling the park "Mendakota Community Park". He stated that last year the Commission had named the park "Mendakota Park", but now that the scope of the park had changed and the community focus had been emphasized by the Commission and Council that this seemed an appropriate name for the park. The Commission discussed possible names and decided there was no preference now and that this should be revisited. Kullander described the two alternatives for light standards in the parking lot and picnic area. He described them as 13' high, with one alternative being a round globe and the other a shoe box design similar to parking lot lights used at City Hall. After discussion the Commission felt the round globe light was appropriate on a 2-1-1 vote. Kullander stated that a water line to the picnic shelter for a drinking fountain would cost $5,000. The Commission felt this was not a priority and should be a bid alternate. VERBAL UPDATES Batchelder stated that the recent state budget decisions had affected the City to the tune of $44,000 in cuts for the first half of 1991 and that the Recreation Contingency line item is being ADJOURN examined for any excess or unused funding. Batchelder stated that the proposal was to take out $2,500 from this item and the remaining amount would allow us to pay for After School Program, T- Ball, Mens Softball and the Trail Map, but that would use up the fund for the fiscal year 1991. Commissioner Lundeen directed a maintenance request to Terry Blum on pruning around trails. Chair Huber questioned Blum on when rink use ends and why the hockey nets were removed early this year. Blum responed the weather had forced the closing of the ice rinks for the year. Chair Huber stated he had received a complaint from a group that wanted to use the ice rink for broom ball which doesn't need perfect ice. There being no further business, the Commission adjourned at 9:10 o'clock p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevirt atchelder Administrative Assistant