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1991-08-13 Parks and Rec Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AUGUST 13, 1991 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, August 13, 1991, in the City Hall Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. Chair John Huber called the meeting to order at 7:00 o'clock p.m. The following members were present: Huber, Damberg, Lundeen, Hunter, Kleinglass, Katz and Spicer. Staff members present were Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander and Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Damberg moved to approve the minutes of July 9, 1991 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Commissioner Hunter seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 PROPOSED 1992 BUDGET The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the 1992 Proposed Park Maintenance Budget and the 1992 Special Parks Fund Budget. Specific items of discussion were the recreational contingency line item, the adopt -a -park line item, the trail map, and potential for a sign system. The Commission discussed whether it was appropriate to budget for a sign system for the new trails or to pay for that with referendum funding. The special park fund was discussed and the Commission decided to look at increasing the subdivision fee from the current $600 per lot. Commissioner Lundeen inquired if there was a maintenance plan for the new facilities that have been built with the parks referendum. Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander explained the fertilizer application procedures, the aeration procedures, and the regular schedule maintained by Parks Superintendent Terry Blum for fertilizing and weed killing. Commissioner Lundeen stated he was concerned that the new facilities were receiving the specialized attention necessary for turf management. Commissioner Lundeen also stated that he was concerned with the capital request for a snowblower attachment at $15,000. Lundeen stated that a $15,000 option seems to be very expensive. Kullander responded and explained the need for a new snow machine on the trails in order AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 MENDAKOTA PARK to keep them swept of snow in the winter. Kullander explained that the blower is a better option than the plow because in many portions the trail is less than eight feet wide which is the size of our plows. Commissioner Lundeen stated that he felt $15,000 for a single use attachment, as a snowblower, seems to be too much. Lundeen stated that he's not sure this is the only option that should be looked at, for $15,000 a multi -use vehicle should be considered. Kullander stated that City staff had researched snow clearing implements and checked with other cities and feel that this snowblower attachment is the best option. Kullander stated that this snowblower attachment will allow the new Toro lawnmower to be a piece of equipment that is used in the winter also. Chair Huber stated that the Commission has a concern about the $15,000 snowblower attachment. Chair Huber stated that a new employee is being added to the Parks maintenance. Chair Huber stated that capital equipment was being purchased and that new maintenance money was in the budget but that there was no money for a new recreation director. Commissioner Damberg stated that staff should work out a job description for a person to run a recreation program, and that this should be included in the 1992 budget. Commissioner Katz made a motion that the City Council should raise the park dedication fee and direct staff to prepare a proposal based on the appropriate amount in consideration of what other cities are charging. Commissioner Spicer seconded the motion. Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that the consideration of an ice rink at Mendakota Park was the result of a constituent request of Councilmember Koch. A discussion ensued in which the Parks Commission reviewed which neighborhoods use which skating rinks throughout the City. Chair Huber stated the Commission would need to determine what population would be served by an ice rink at Mendakota. Kullander reminded the Commission that at the time the Mendakota Park design was being considered an idea had been floated about flooding Rogers Lake and using that as a free skating rink. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that the easiest area to site a free skating rink in Mendakota Park would be under the NSP easement. He stated there would be a cost for grading even though this area is fairly flat. A total estimated cost for lights, warming house, moving a water hydrant across the street and grading would be approximately $15,000 to $20,000. Chair Huber stated that a hockey rink would have to be constructed also. He felt that you can't have a free skating rink without a hockey rink - it doesn't work if the uses aren't separated. Commissioner Lundeen inquired whether there really was a need to reconsider the decision not to have a free skating rink at Mendakota Park. The Commission responded that, no, they did not feel there was a need to reconsider this item. Chair Huber stated that the use of the other rinks could be monitored this coming winter to determine if our rinks are overcrowded, especially at Friendly Hills. Chair Huber stated that he doesn't find a need to make changes at this time, though it might be appropriate to have rink attendants monitor the use next winter. Commissioner Damberg moved to reaffirm the decision not to propose an ice skating rink for Mendakota Park and to monitor the use of the existing rinks this coming winter. Commissioner Spicer seconded the motion. PARK Administrative Assistant Batchelder explained the Kensington park dedication and the details regarding the park dedication that will be in the proposed developer's agreement. Batchelder stated that the intent for this park, at this time, was to build it in 1992 so it is ready for play in 1993. Chair Huber inquired even if the park was built in 1992, would the soccer teams be able to use it in 1993? Kullander responded that . . use of the fields would depend on the construction schedule in 1992 and that only limited use in 1993 would be considered. Chair Huber stated that staff should sketch out some soccer ideas and have Sting and Mend -Eagan come to a future Park Commission meeting to talk about the soccer design. The Park Commission felt that it would be appropriate for the Engineering staff to do the AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 design and bid construction for Mendakota Park. They felt that staff should put the pencil to the paper for some rough sketch ideas to bring forward at a future Park and Recreation meeting. The Commission felt it was important to determine a budget for this park and to begin examining amenities to be included. Commissioner Spicer moved that the City Council approve that the Engineering staff, at the direction of the Parks and Recreation Commission, design for grading and the construction of Kensington Park. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. Administrative Assistant Batchelder explained that at the June meeting, based upon a discussion of the role of the Park Commission, the Park Commission had directed staff to prepare survey questions for inclusion in the Heights Highlights newsletter in order to survey the community about recreation needs. Batchelder stated that he felt a more comprehensive approach had to be taken to determining recreation needs in the City prior to any type of survey. Batchelder stated he'd like to have an opportunity to research what other cities are doing with recreation programs, to inventory what programs exist in Mendota Heights, to explore cooperative avenues with West St. Paul and Independent School District 197 for co- sponsoring activities. Batchelder stated that the Commission should discover what they are willing to provide before we open up the universe to survey questions. Chair Huber stated that it was his recollection that the survey should be designed to query the community on the use of current facilities that we do have or that have been recently constructed. Huber stated that the survey should not be an open ended survey, but one that is designed to query about recreation uses just for Mendota Heights and its existing facilities. Chair Huber stated he thought it was not a bad idea to do the background research and use it as a springboard to future planning of City park resources. Commissioner Katz felt that it was important to have the survey and stated we need to have the community decide for us what recreation needs are and not to have seven Commissioners telling the community what the needs are. Commissioner Lundeen stated that he felt a recreation coordinator in the future might be necessary for Mendota Heights. Batchelder stated that he would begin the process of researching the recreation resources and possibilities and would bring items back to the Park Commission beginning next month on a monthly VERBAL UPDATES Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that he had had six organizations adopt parks in Mendota Heights. He stated that they are: 1. Gopher State One Call Service Roger's Lake Park 2. Rotary Club - WPS/Mendota Hts. North Valley Park 3. Weissner Insurance South Valley Park 4. Mendota Heights Taxidermy Victoria Highlands Park 5. Centre One Dental/Dr. Hunter Marie Park 6. Robert Suchomel/Tracy Schabacker Wentworth Park Batchelder stated that letters had been sent to the homeowners he had identified on option three and option four for providing a trail length through Mayfield Heights to the City. Batchelder stated that he had not received a response to any of the letters that had been sent out, approximately ten days prior. Batchelder stated that the City Council had approved reservations of tennis courts at Roger's Lake Park for the girls fall tennis season for Visitation Convent. Batchelder stated that the tree planting grant at the Department of Natural Resources had not gone through as the City did not qualify as a Tree City for the grant money they had available. Batchelder stated that he had recently had two requests for the City to build a community pool. A few members of the Commission stated that a community pool had been looked at in the past and that the City had decided not to build one. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired what is the objection to a community pool. He felt that a pool was a good recreation use for the community. Batchelder stated that it was probably possible for the City to build a City pool, but the tax burden for the yearly upkeep and operation of the pool probably would be quite an impact on the City's Budget and the taxpayers. Commissioner Kleinglass stated that he thinks a community pool should not be rejected as an idea and that it sounds attractive. He stated that he has seen smaller communities who have community pools and seem to be able to afford them. He stated that any research work in to recreational activities should include a look into a community pool. Commissioner Kleinglass stated that he had used the Grass Junior High swimming pool on quite a few occasions, however, he did not feel this is the type of facility to take your family on a nice summer day. Commissioner Spicer stated that he often works in Chaska and has used their community facility which has an indoor pool and is quite nice and it was his understanding that Chaska is similar in size to Mendota Heights. Guy Kullander explained the progress at Mendakota Park. He stated the contractor is finishing the irrigation and all that remains for the buildings is plumbing and electrical finish work. Kullander stated that Mendakota Park would need approximately 19 or 20 picnic tables to be included on the second deck of the comfort station and in the picnic pavilion. Kullander stated that he estimated the cost of purchasing these picnic tables to be approximately $4,000. Kullander stated that this item is not in the budget for 1992 and inquired of the Commission if they felt that this should be a referendum expenditure. Commissioner Lundeen stated that for the first year of operation it was probably appropriate to fill the upper deck of the comfort station, however, picnic tables could be phased in for the pavilion and outside areas. Kullander stated it was his intention to get the Commission discussing this item so that as other demands are made on the remaining referendum money, the picnic tables do not get left out. The Parks Commission was of a consensus that the referendum should provide picnic tables for Mendakota Park. Kullander discussed a signage system for Mendakota Park. He stated that a total sign plan is needed for the park and that would include signs such as a no motorized vehicle sign, field number signs, a sign stating the rules of the park, bathroom signs, a distance of the outfield signs, and a tackboard for the kiosk. Kullander stated that the kiosk has eight sides for signage. Kullander also stated an address sign would be needed at the park. The Park Commission directed Kullander to prepare a proposed sign on park rules for Mendakota Park for the next meeting. Commissioner Spicer inquired about the lime rock that is being used to grade the infields on the softball fields this summer. He stated he felt the composition of the rock was not good and wondered if we should switch suppliers. The Commission directed Parks Superintendent Terry Blum to check the infield composition of the lime rock that is being used this year. There being no further business the Park and Recreation Commission adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batc O