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1995-02-14 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FEBRUARY 14, 1995 - 6:30 P.M. ** 6:30 o'clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call and Introduction of New Member -John J. Liberacki (See attached resume) 3. Approval of January 10, 1994 Pazks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Election of Officers -Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary 5. Interview and Selection of Landscape Contractor for Ivy Hills Pazk 6. Consideration of South Kensington Park Funds Earmarked for Power Lines * Request from Soccer Groups 7. Pazk Vision and Philosophy Discussion * Continue Discussion of Recreation Programming - Shelli Morgan 8. Request for Official City Position on North Urban Regional Trail -Dakota County 9. Preliminary Discussion of Capital Improvements Plan for 1995 - 1999 10. Request from St. Thomas Academy to Reserve Tennis Courts 11. Updates * City Council Actions 9. Adjourn. Auxiliary aids for disabled persons are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids, however, this may not be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 4524850 with requests. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTI PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINtTTES JANIIARY 10, 1995 The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, January 10, 1995, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 o'clock P.M. The following members present were Linnell, Libra, Spicer, Damberg and Norton. Commissioner Kleinglass was excused. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander. Approval of the December 13, 1994 Parks and Recreation Commission minutes was held over until the February meeting. VALLEY VIE�P HEIGHTS TOT LOT The Parks and Recreation Commission had discussed a request at their December meeting from Mr. Dave Ayers, of the Valley View Heights neighborhood, for further improvements at the tot lot located in the neighborhood. Chair Spicer welcomed Mr. Ayers and five members of the neighborhood to the meeting. Spicer stated the Commission had discussed a request for half court basketball and other improvements at the December meeting and had requested staff to research referendum representations and expenditures at Valley View Heights Park and to invite Mr. Ayers to appear on tonight's agenda to discuss these improvements. Mr. Ayers stated that culvert work, grading and fill was needed to make the park suitable, but that these were initial start up costs prior to the referendum. Mr. Ayers acknowledged referendum improvements such as threes, signs, picnic tables, trash receptacles and benches. Mr. Ayers stated that he had received an initial memo from Parks Project Manager Kullander describing the costs that have been incurred to make improvements at the Valley View Heights tot lot since the referendum. Mr. Ayers stated he believes many of the costs on this list were start up costs to get the initial park in place and should not have been included as referendum costs. He stated that this original request came to City Council approximately seven years ago when the neighborhood requested a new play structure. Parks and Recreation Commission January 10, 1995 Page 3 A resident of the neighborhood stated it seems like this neighborhood is not being served by any City park. He stated children have to leave the neighborhood boundaries and cross busy streets to get to Roger's Lake or Marie Park. He stated there is a need to include this in the City's park system. He felt half court basketball was not an expensive proposition and that the City should move forward with this request. Chair Spicer stated the Special Park Fund is not a blank check and is limited because growth is slowing in Mendota Heights. Rullander stated that the City purchased the play equipment, and made improvements to this lot, which was acquired as a tax forfeited lot with the understanding that the Hofneowner's Association maintain the park. Chair Spicer stated there is a possibility that this park may have never been considered an "official city park" status. Spicer stated the Parks Commission should request Council make a determination so that the Commission could consider these proposed expenditures as part of the Capital Improvement Plan. Spicer stated the Capital Improvement Plan needs to be reviewed for 1995 at the February meeting. Commissioner Damberg stated that this area was designed for tot lot use which accommodates ages seven and under. Damberg stated that if a basketball court is put in this park, the complexion of the park may change and the little kids that use the park may be forced out by the older children. Mr. Ayers stated that, quite honestly, that the neighborhood feels the park would be better used if the complexion of the park changed. He stated that there is room for a half court basketball in this location and that, if this was installed, families could all use the park at the same time. Ayers stated that older siblings can play basketball when they are sent down to watch the little children play on the play equipment. Chair Spicer stated he was of the mind to send a recommendation to the City Council that the Council review the park status of this tot lot so that the Capital Improvement Plan can address this request for a basketball court. Spicer stated if the City Council determines that, yes this is an official facility of the City's park system, then the Parks Commission can then begin to include proposed improvements in the Capital Improvement Plan. If the City Council determines that this is not part of the City's official parks system then the Parks Commission can look at the referendum money to see if any of this money would be remaining after existing commitments in order that the City can better attempt to make referendum improvements that were promised with this area. Parks and Recreation Commission January 10, 1995 Page 5 Kensington Park. Libra stated that, while both these groups hate the power lines, they have not interfered with play enough to justify their movement. However, he stated both groups would prefer that other improvements be made with this money. Libra stated the other improvements these groups are asking for would total $17,000 and that they would ask that the remaining difference between the $17,000 proposed for improvements and the $25,000 budgeted for the raising of the power lines be released into the balance of the referendum fund. Commissioner Libra stated he feels the improvements that they are proposing be made to South Kensington Park would have more "bang for the buck" than spending the money on power Line movement. Commissioner Libra stated that in the interim prior to the February Parks and Recreation meeting he would be happy to coordinate meetings with Sibley Sting, Mendota Heights Athletic Soccer Association and City staff. The Commission discussed a memorandum from Parks Project Manager Kullander outlining improvements to the front yard at the Public Works Facility to accommodate T-Ball fields. Kullander had estimated a cost for backstops, bases and field preparation in this area in order to provide two T-Ball fields would be approximately $2,500. Commissioner Libra moved to recommend that City Council instruct staff to prepare a plan to add two T-Ball fields to the unused grass area east of the Public Works facility for an estimated cost of $2,500 to be provided from the Special Park Fund and to be done as soon as possible this Spring. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that after one full season of T-Ball use, if it is determined to be necessary, City staff could cut the sod out and install rec-rock for permanent base lines at these fields. Kullander stated that this proposal includes signage that would be posted stating that this is for T-Ball only use because of the short distances between the outfields for baseball play. Kullander inquired about the size of backstops that would be necessary for T-Ball play and was directed by the Commission that height of the backstops is not as necessary as the width of backstops is for this type of play. Parks and Recreation Commission January 10, 1995 Page 7 support of the school referendum. Linnell stated there is a need for additional field and gym space for the City recreation programs, as discussed at last month's meeting. Commissioner Linnell stated the Friendly Hills site, if the referendum is successful, would include fields and gym space and that obviously ISD 197 would want to cooperate on the use of those fields with the City of Mendota Heights, Chair Spicer stated he is not confused about what Commissioner Linnell is asking the Parks Commission to do, however he is confused about the Parks and Recreation Commission's role as an advisory body to City Council and as a non -political body for this type of recommendation. Spicer stated he'feels the best approach would an approach whereas "if the referendum is successful and passes, the City would be interested in discussing field and gym use opportunities with the School District." Commissioner Damberg stated she feels the Commission cannot come right out and support or oppose the referendum by the School District. Commissioner Norton stated that perhaps the City Parks Commission could adopt a finding stating the City is in support of additional resources because of needs for fields and gym space. Norton stated she feels the resolution could include a "whereas" stating that the community has demonstrated a need for field and gym space. Commissioner Damberg stated she could be in favor of something stated that the Commission would share in the planning of the fields if the referendum was successful, however, she feels the Commission could not support the referendum itself. The Commission discussed their role in supporting the availability of more facilities and fields. Commissioner Norton moved to adopt a finding whereby the Commission would be interested in discussing cooperation on fields and recreational facilities at a new middle school, if the referendum is successful. Commissioner Linnell seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 The Commission instructed City staff to inform City Council of their intent to support cooperation on fields and gym facilities but not endorsing the school district's referendum. Parks and Recreation Commission January 10, 1995 Page 9 Ms. Giese described the detention pond and the water circulation patterns for both the inflow and outflow of storm water. Giese described plantings in this area as being submergent grasses to short prairie grasses with the short prairies grasses extending to the knolls to define them. Giese stated in order to make the drainage work, we would need to remove fifty feet (50') of pipe at the inflow location. Ms. Giese stated this was necessary to allow circulation of water to maximize the cleansing of the storm water for a cleaner pond. Ms. Giese described an additional add alternate which is an overlook along Mendota Heights Road adjacent to the hike path. Ms. Giese described this as a sandstone structure whereby we would be using sandstone block from Acacia Cemetery to create an overlook into the pond area. Ms. Giese described this overlook as being 35' by 17' and the sandstone blocks incorporated into it would be used as benches. Giese stated this would be a nice,sitting area overlooking the pond from the north. Ms. Giese stated the overlook would be handicapped accessible. Ms. Giese described sandstone bench locations throughout the park and described the tree plantings. Ms. Giese distributed a handout on the cost estimates showing the total estimated costs for the park construction at $34,035. The add alternate for the overlook construction would be an additional $7,400 and the add alternate for the picnic shelter would be an additional $10,000. Giese stated that with both add alternates the park design would come to $51,4359 The Parks Commission discussed the costs estimates and methods of lowering the price. Parks Project Manager Kullander suggested that the $1,000 included for picnic tables might not be necessary as the City has an inventory and stock of picnic tables. He stated the trash receptacle and grills may also be items that can be supplied from the City's inventory. Mr. Dan Rostratter, of 2483 Stockbridge, stated he was in opposition to the picnic shelter and in September he had submitted a petition to the City Council with over sixty (60) signatures from nearby residents opposed to the inclusion of a picnic shelter at North Kensington Park. Mr. Rostratter stated all the neighbors in this area feel this is a very good design for the park with the exception of the picnic shelter. Chair Spicer stated the Parks Commission is on record as not supporting the picnic shelter. Mr. Rostratter stated there are three major reasons why he is opposed to the picnic shelter: Parks and Recreation Commission January 10, 1995 Page 11 Chair Spicer moved that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend to the City Council that the final plans and specifications be approved with the funding to come from the remaining referendum money. Commissioner Spicer stated that As motion includes that no picnic shelter be included with these final plans based on the fact there is no need for a shelter in this location and that there is neighborhood opposition to it. Spicer stated the approval of this plan should include the add alternate to fund the proposed overlook. Commissioner Norton seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 There being no further business, the Parks and Recreation Commission adjourned its meeting at 8:20 o'clock P.M. Respectfully submitted, Kevin Batchelder Administrative Assistant