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1995-06-13 Parks and Rec Comm Agenda Packet (2)CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION June 13, 1995 - 6:30 P.M. ** 6:30 o'clock p.m. ** 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of May 9, 1995 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. 4. Introducfion of Steven Shimek, Voluntary Consulting Horticulturalist 5. Discussion of Private Improvements on Public Park Land * Lexington and Marie Open Space 6. Continued Discussion of Capital Improvements Plan for 1995 Establish Five Year CIP for 1996 - 2000 7. Discussion about Vandalism in the Parks 8. Updates * Ciry Council Actions -Ivy Falls Park, North Kensington Park, Dakota C]P * Schedule Trail Stencilling * Others. 9. Adjourn. Auxiliary aids for disabled persons are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. H 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, MINNESOTA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 9, 1995. The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, May 9, 1995, in the City Hall Large Conference Room, 1101 Victoria Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 o'clock P.M. The following members were present: Spicer, Kleinglass, Libra, Damberg, Liberacki, Norton and Linnell. Also present were Administrative Assistant Kevin Batchelder and Parks Project Manager Guy Kullander. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Libra moved approval of the April 11, 1995, minutes with corrections. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 5 NAYS: 0 COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner Kleinglass stated that he felt the previous meeting in April was a very good meeting because controversial issues generated a good discussion. Commissioner Liberacki inquired about having the Police Chief at the June meeting to address the vandalism issue. Commissioner Damberg stated the graffiti and destruction in our parks is serious and was wondering if the Commission can do more to address this issue. Commissioner Damberg stated the Commission does not want to just sit there and see this happen without being proactive. The Commission discussed people practicing golf in the parks and a broken window that was reported. The Commission discussed regulatory signage in the parks. Mr. Ram Muthyala, of 699 Apache Lane, stated that he does not want to limit park use but that he wants people to respect his private property and not golf in the direction of his home. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN 0 Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that in his discussions with people involved in tennis, their response has been that ball machines have generally replaced bang boards due to the cost of a ball machine being about $200. Or. Muthyala stated that he feels a ball machine and a bang board wall serve two different purposes. Commissioner Kleinglass inquired if there was a fence in a strategic location that we could experiment with a plywood tennis wall. Kullander stated that it would have to be structurally based to support for wind load. Commissioner Damberg inquired of Brian Muthyala if there were other youths interested in using this tennis wall. Brian Muthyala stated yes, that he has approximately a dozen friends that play tennis and that they are interested. Commissioner Kleinglass moved to recommend that City staff look at providing a tennis wall at a minimal cost in the City. Commissioner Kleinglass stated that it was nice that someone approached the Parks and Recreation Commission to ask for a neighborhood improvement. Commissioner Damberg seconded the motion. AYES: 7 NAYS: 0 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CONTINUED Parks Project Manager Kullander distributed a handout describing funds available for park and trail improvements in the coming years. This handout included the 1995 City Budget, remaining referendum projects, items approved by City Council in 1995 that are not in the Budget and improvements funded by the Special Park Fund in 1995. This list also included Special Park Funds committed in 1995, Mendakota Park assessments, Kensington turf improvements, anticipated additions in 1995, and referendum fund expenditures and balance to date. Estimates were also provided for park improvement projects that have been newly placed on the agenda. The Parks Commission reviewed the new improvement items that have recently been suggested. Chair Spicer stated that Valley View Heights Park basketball court should be addressed and that Mr. Dave Ayers had contacted him and stated that a particular neighborhood resident is in the concrete business and could provide the City with an estimate on the cost of building a half court basketball at this location. Kullander stated that the City must receive quotes from contractors based on plans and specifications 3 that it appears the City Council is using the Special Park Fund to pay for replacement items such as bridges in Wentworth Park. The Commission discussed the spending down of the Special Park Fund, The Parks Commission reviewed the improvements funded by the General Fund in the 1995 Budget. The Commission reviewed the improvements funded by the Special Park Fund in 1995. The Commission was of the consensus to delay the installation of Wentworth Park grills for $600 and the Wentworth Park picnic shelter for $18,000 until 1996 with the caveat that this project would begin its planning stages in January so it could be built in the early summer of 1996. Commissioner Linnell stated that the enlarging of the skating area at Wentworth Park should be looked at if the warming houses are being switched between Ivy Falls and Wentworth Park. The Commission directed staff to look at the possibility of enlarging the skating area at Wentworth Park. The Commission directed staff to add Wentworth Park rink enlargement to the 1995 Special Park Budget. The Commission discussed the Wentworth Park bridges and culverts which are estimated to be $25,000 from the Special Park Fund in 1995. The Commission felt that this was a priority item and that it should be addressed in 1995. Commissioner Liberacki inquired about resurfacing the tennis court at Roger's Lake Park as funded in the 1995 General Fund Budget. Commissioner Liberacki stated that he had visited the tennis courts in the City and that Roger's Lake tennis court was still in good condition and that he felt that Valley Park tennis court was in very poor condition. Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated he had received a phone call from a resident upset about the condition of Valley Park tennis court surface. Parks Project Kullander stated a resurfacing contractor will be visiting the tennis courts in Mendota Heights in the next week to prioritize the courts for resurfacing. Kullander stated that resurfacing involves sealing the cracks and adding a top coat of 1/4 inch of colored asphalt. Commissioner Liberacki inquired about sweeping the trails and seal coating the Mendakota Park trail. Liberacki inquired if it would be better to overlay as opposed to seal coating. Kullander stated the slurry seal machine will not it on the City bike trails and that seal coating has proven to be more cost effective than overlay. Commissioner Linnell stated that this issue had been examined by the Parks Commission during last year's discussion. Commissioner Liberacki inquired about sweeping trails and Parks Project 5 it at that time. The Commission directed staff to review the success that other cities may or may not have had with paving a rink for rollerblading. Commissioner Liberacki stated that he feels there is a general lack of picnic tables in City parks. Parks Project Manager Kullander stated that the City budget includes the purchase of ten picnic tables in 1995 and that the City has a general supply of picnic tables that the park crews move around as requested. Commissioner Liberacki stated that there should be more picnic tables near the ball diamonds for use by the parents attending games. Commissioner Libra stated that Ivy Falls Park could definitely use some picnic tables near the ball diamonds. The Commission directed staff to include picnic table purchases on the 1996 CIP list. The Commission directed staff to put together these pieces of their discussion on the Capital Improvement Plan for review at the June meeting at which time the Capital Improvement Plan for 1996 through the year 2000 would be put into final draft form for City Council review. DAKOTA COUNTY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that Dakota County was seeking comments on its Capital Improvements Plan. Commissioner Norton stated that the County's Capital Improvement Plan includes a massive development scheme for Lebanon Hills Park to which there is organized opposition. Norton stated she feels the County is making these capital improvements at Lebanon Hills Park because the Cities of Eagan and Apple Valley are putting political pressure on the County. Norton stated that $2 million is budgeted for expenditures in Lebanon Hills Park and that she feels this money would be better spent on acquisition of additional park land. Commissioner Norton stated that Thompson Park is the only County park in northern Dakota County and that it is very small and does not meet the needs of northern Dakota County. Commissioner Norton stated that the City has approached Dakota County about purchasing park land on the Resurrection Cemetery site but that the County has ignored this site in their acquisition program. Norton stated that the County Park Policy is not to acquire any more park land until existing parks are developed. Commissioner Damberg stated she felt Dakota County was unwise in not making acquisitions at this time while the land may still be available. 7 Heights Park. Batchelder stated that the City Council had met with neighbors in Bridgeview Shores regarding the trail extension as part of the Mendota Heights Road/Dodd Road traffic signal project. Batchelder stated City Council had directed staff to contact the contractor regarding whether this project could be put off until the fall under the terms of the contract. Batchelder stated the City and the contractor are currently discussing doing this project later in the year during the fall. TRAIL STENCILING The Commission decided to set aside a night or an afternoon in June in which they could tour the park and participate in trail stenciling. VERBAL UPDATES CONTINUED Administrative Assistant Batchelder stated that finding a civic group or organization to operate the concession stands at Mendakota Park has been very difficult because while many people would like to do the concessions on the big weekend tournaments there are not many groups who are willing to do the Monday through Friday night time periods. Batchelder stated that the City Council had told staff that if no civic groups or booster groups could be found to upgrade the concessions stand, that it should be advertised for a private vendor. The Commission inquired if lease money through a private vendor situation could go into the Special Park Fund or be earmarked for park projects. Commissioner Norton reported that on the pond at the corner of Marie and Lexington Avenue a resident had built a path down to the pond including stone steps. Norton stated that she feels this stairway was unattractive. and inquired if it was on park land and in a designated Wetland. IThe Commission directed staff to have the Code Enforcement Office look at the construction of a pathway to the pond at Marie and Lexington. The Commission discussed the vandalism at the Marie Park warming house. Administrative Assistant Batchelder informed the Commission that Acacia Cemetery had approved our request for the use of up to 300 stones to include in our projects in North Kensington Park and Ivy Hills Park