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1991-03-12 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MARCH 12, 1991 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, March 12, 1991 in the City Hall Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Vice -Chair Vicki Katz called the meeting to order at 7:05 o'clock p.m. The following members were present: Katz, Damberg, Hunter, Lundeen, Kleinglass and Spicer. Chair Huber arrived late. Staff members present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Lundeen moved approval of the February 12, 1991 Parks and Recreation minutes. Commissioner Spicer seconded. AYES: 6 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA COMMUNITY PARK Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander stated that the bids for construction of Mendakota Park had been opened on Monday, March 11, 1991. Kullander stated that there had been intense interest in this construction project and that 57 bid packages had been sold at $25 apiece. Kullander stated this money would return to the Parks Referendum Fund. Kullander stated that 12 contractors had bid on the project and that Friedges Landscaping Company, out of Lakeville, had been the low bidder. Kullander stated that the bids had been examined to determine if the numbers were correct. Kullander stated that the City estimate for the project had been $480,000 and that the low bid submitted by Friedges Landscaping was for $408,531, Kullander stated that Friedges is ready to begin work. Staff will recommend that City Council award the bid to Friedges Landscaping on March 19, 1991. The Commission discussed the low bid with Parks Project Manager Kullander and queried Kullander about Friedges Landscaping and their ability to complete a quality project. Kullander stated that references had been checked on Friedges and had come back positive. Kullander stated that the references had been four metro area cities and Dakota County. BID ALTERNATES Kullander provided the Commission with the low bids on the alternates that had been included with Mendakota Park construction. Kullander stated that a tennis court had been an alternate, in response to the Mendakota Estates homeowners request. He stated this bid came in at $23,900 for one tennis court, grading, base material, bituminous surface, color surface, tennis net, court fencing, trail connection and landscaping berm. Kullander stated that this item had been included in our bid as an alternate if the homeowners association desired to piggy back on our contract. Kullander stated that in earlier discussions with the homeowners association's representative, Keith Heaver, that the association would pay for the construction and then dedicate the land and court to the City. Kullander stated that the City would provide parking and all maintenance in the future as it would become a City facility after the dedication. Kullander stated our tennis courts are resurfaced about every five or six years. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 Kullander described the second alternate, a bangboard at the tennis courts for $6,000. Kullander stated this item had been added at the request of Councilmember Jan Blesener. Commissioner Hunter stated that he felt 40 feet of bangboard was more than necessary and that a smaller bangboard could be provide for less. The Commission decided to wait to see if the neighborhood would build the tennis court and then they would make a decision on the need for the bangboard. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that staff contact Mr. Keith Heaver about the tennis court bid alternate and the dedication of the land and to seek a response from the homeowners association. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. Kullander described the third bid alternate, using concrete instead of asphalt on the basketball court for an additional $11,750. Commissioner Spicer inquired if the extra cost for concrete bought that much better of a basketball court. Kullander stated that the tennis courts are asphalt and need resurfacing every five years. Kullander stated this resurfacing was similar to seal coating and was not too costly, that the Parks maintenance budget provides for two courts to be resurfaced AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 PARR BUILDINGS every year. Kullander stated that the soils in this area are of sand and are stable and that a good six inch sub base was specified. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend not to include the bid alternate providing concrete for the basketball court in the park construction. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. Kullander stated that the plans for the three park buildings in Mendakota Park are almost ready, that modifications had been made to satisfy the building code. He stated a column in the middle of the comfort station had been added to provide a vent for the bathrooms. Kullander stated that once the plans and specifications are ready, that the bids from suppliers and subcontractors would be sought. PLAY STRUCTURES Kullander described the proposal package that would be used for seeking bids from playground equipment suppliers. The Commission inquired if Earl Anderson and Co. would be used again this year. Kullander stated that the City was required to seek competitive bidding for any project over $15,000. Vice -Chair Katz stated it was healthy to have competition for the bidding, even though everyone was extremely happy with the product provided by Earl Anderson. Kullander stated he would have the bidders provide presentations, if the Commission so desired. Kullander stated that once a bid is awarded the equipment has to be ordered and that the play equipment might be installed later in the summer. Kullander stated that at the last meeting the Commission had discussed a name for Mendakota Park. Staff had been using the name Mendakota Community Park and had sought Commission approval. Kullander stated that the parks crews were inquiring so they could build the sign. Kullander stated that West St. Paul city crews did the carving of our park signs and that now would be a good time to have this done before they are busy with summer duties. The Commission discussed the merits of Mendakota Community Park and Mendota Heights Community Park as names for the park. The Commission felt that usually parks are named after the neighborhoods because they are dedicated. The Commission felt that in this case the City paid money for the park and it should reflect that this is a community wide City facility. Commissioner Katz moved to recommend that the park be named Mendota Heights Community Park. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: 6 NAYS: 1 Spicer. The name is not catchy enough. ST. THOMAS TENNIS TEAM Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder stated that he had received a request from the St. Thomas tennis team to reserve Friendly Hills Park and Rogers Lake Park tennis courts from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, from April 1st to June 1st. Batchelder stated this was identical to the request that had been approved last year. Batchelder stated that City could use the same sign that we provided in 1990 and that the City had received no complaints from residents regarding the reserved times. Batchelder stated that in addition to the signs posting the reservations, that the City could provide the coaches with letters documenting the reservations. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired if the notion of renting the fields had been discussed. Commissioner Spicer stated that St. Thomas reciprocates by providing fields to Mend -Eagan for numerous sports. Commissioner Spicer stated that there was a good relationship between the City, Mend -Eagan and St. Thomas and that our letter of approval should state this. Commissioner Spicer moved to recommend that City Council approve the request to reserve Friendly Hills and Rogers Lake Park for the tennis teams in the requested times. Commissioner Kleinglass seconded the motion. AYES: NAYS: BALLFIELD FENCE Kullander stated that the idea to eliminate the outfield fence on the south west field at Mendota Heights Community Park had been raised. He stated the purpose was to provide room for a second soccer field where the outfield fence would be. Commissioner Spicer stated that soccer could fit in the outfields without eliminating a fence and that AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 VERBAL UPDATES ADJOURN if the fence was eliminated that field would never be used for softball. Commissioner Lundeen stated that the commission had gone with a pinwheel design after considering soccer and softball. He stated the pinwheel design was decided on in order to provide softball fields and that other alternatives providing more soccer had been disregarded in favor of the pinwheel. Commissioner Spicer stated that if Kensington ever comes on line that soccer will be provided there. He stated that Mend -Eagan soccer has sufficient fields now. Commissioner Lundeen moved to recommend that the outfield fence stay in place and be constructed. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. Guy Kullander stated that the City had been contacted by Gopher State One Call about providing a park clean up along the lines of Adopt -A -Highway. He stated Gopher State wants to provide this civic benefit. Batchelder stated that a spring clean up or adopt -a -trail would be a good idea and that the City would look into this as a program and begin recruiting other business or civic groups. The Commission felt this was a wonderful civic event and that they remember the Cub Scouts being recognized for a park clean up or two. Kevin Batchelder stated that the Mayfield Heights residents were encouraging the City to move forward on determining the feasibility of a trail connection to their neighborhood. Batchelder stated that the Commission, during their priority setting discussion in January, had recommended that this trail section be fulfilled, if possible. Batchelder stated that the engineering office would provide a feasibility study and contact the neighbors for trail easements for next months agenda. Batchelder stated that the City was providing a visiting University of Minnesota Professor, Joan Nassauer, with the City Hall Council Chambers, on April 11 at 7:30 p.m. for an Ecological Yard Seminar in conjunction with Arbor Day. There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:00 p.m.