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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 24, 2001 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission January 24, 2001 The meeting was called to order by Bruce Magnuson at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Members absent: Also present: Jerry Foss; Bruce Magnuson; Gary Mayer; Scott Niemeyer; Roger Peterson; Bob Ruettimann; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Eileen Evans; Gary Peterson; Bruce Nawrocki, Council Member APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Mayer, second by Foss to approve the consent agenda. All ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS REQUEST FEES WAIVED FOR 1sT ANNUAL DIVERSITY FORUM/TASTE OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS Columbia Heights Human Services Commission member, Julienne Wycoff, submitted a letter of request to waive the fees for the 1st Annual Diversity Forum/Taste of Columbia Heights, to be held on a Sunday in either March or April of 2001. Bob Ruettimann wanted to clarify whether or not this is a city function. Bob Ruettimann made recognition to follow the Murzyn Hall Sunday policy of $40.00 entry fee and $15.00 per hour. Motion by Ruettimann, second by Foss to waive the hall rental fee of $550.00 and follow Murzyn Hall Sunday policy, and to let the City Council vote on waving the Sunday policy fee if the City Council finds this to be a city sponsored function. All ayes, motion carried. OLD BUSINESS SEPARATE MURZYN HALL BUDGET FOR MAJOR EXPENSES Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, talked to the City Manager in length regarding the addition of a capital improvement budget for Murzyn Hall which the city does not currently operate. The problem faced every year is that these large expenses are taken from the regular Murzyn Hall budget which makes it fluctuate greatly depending on what is needed. Commission member, Bob Ruettimann, indicated that it might be good to have other city departments pay for their usage of Murzyn Hall any time they use it for meetings, programs, (etc.). Currently, no city department is being charged anything for the usage of the hall. PAGE TWO NEW BUSINESS MURZYN HALL ROOF LEAKS Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, reported on the leaks in Murzyn Hall. The Recreation office, senior center, and the main hall porch area have all had leaks this year. The most significant of these three being in the main hall in the back left comer. Public Works steamed parts of the roof over a period of four days. At this time, the leaks appeared to have ceased but little can be done to prevent further leaks in the future. YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE The Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, stated that the Recreation Department is looking at different options for our Youth Football League. Currently, the Youth Football League participates in the North Metro program. Due to the problems of constant changing of schedules, weight limits, referees not showing up for games, Columbia Heights losing all home field advantage, and only having six to eight games, the Recreation Department is looking at the Blaine Organi?ation which would guarantee ten games with some home games. No decision has been made at this time. NEI MAINTENANCE Harry Wilcox, from NEI, contacted the Park and Recreation Department stating that the Recreation Department would be unable to use the east gym due to the problem in the gym floor. The center of the floor is soft and weak with no support underneath the suspended floor. Gregg Gagnon contacted a wood floor company to inspect the damages. The floor contractor put two cases of epoxy down underneath the floor costing $400.00. The Columbia Heights High School Athletic Director said that the school would pay for half of the cost due to them also using the NEI gyms. Commission member, Jen-y Foss, asked if any work has been done on the west gym due to the poor condition that it is in. He stated that the west gym is used extensively by the high school and traveling basketball teams. The Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters also sponsor an annual youth state basketball tournament that is held in the west gym. Due to the poor shape and unsafe conditions of our gyms, the Boosters will be losing the tournament in 2003 which generates a loss of around $10,000.00 for the Boosters. REVIEW 2001 DNR OUTDOOR RECREATION GRANTS Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, stated that the state is holding over the denied grants from last year for this year on Ramsdell Park and Prestemon Park. Commissison member, Jerry Foss, asked if it looks like we will get the grants this year. The Program Administrator couldn't say one way or the other if the grant would be approved but she said there is federal money being offered in 2001 which doubles the program dollar availability that can be distributed. Applications are due by March 31, 2001, and they usually make notification at the PAGE THREE end of May, first part of June. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Keith Windschitl passed around the Star Tribune paper which featured the Senior Safety Camp in which our Senior Program participated. The Senior Safety Camp featured: home safety, medications, and daily preventions. Twenty seniors from our Senior Program participated. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER Kevin Hansen made members aware of the band shell that had been demolished. Public Works will be removing the debris. This spring they will be laying top soil, and seed will be brought in. CommisSion member, Bob Ruettimann, questioned the hill at Labelle Park on whether or not Public Works was able to keep the hill from washing out the seed. Kevin Hansen said they have been grading and fertilizing, but it is just washing in certain parts. COMMISSION MEMBERS Jerry Foss asked Kevin Hansen if Public Works had received any preliminary hearings on how the ice skating rinks were doing this year. Kevin Hansen stated that due to the weather we have had this winter, the attendance was up this year. He did not have any numbers with him. Public Works usually has the report done in February. Jerry also inquired about the ability to staff the ice skating rinks. Kevin Hansen said that the staffing turnout was high as the summer help staffed the ice skating rinks this winter. Jerry Foss asked the Park and Recreation board if the scoreboard in Huset Park would be replaced. Kevin Hansen stated that the scoreboard was not in the five year capital plan. Keith Windschitl thought that the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters might want to put their name on the score board. The Recreation Department is trying to get a scoreboard to be used from one of the dugouts which would eliminate hiring staff to run the scoreboard. Jerry Foss also stated that the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters gave $20,000 to the Recreation Department for the year 2001. Bob Ruettimann also inquired whether or not the fence would be moved back to regulation size in Huset Park on the softball field and stated that unless the city can acquire the railroad, nothing will be done to redesign the park. Nothing will be done unless the city ends up with the land or expands. Kevin Hansen stated that land acquisition costs for park development are ineligible costs under the Recreation Grant. PAGE FOUR Bob Ruettimann announced the he would like to spend more time with his family resulting in this being his last year on the Park and Recreation Commission Board. He will serve on the Park and Recreation Commission Board until his position is filled. Motion by Foss, second by Niemeyer to adjoum. All ayes, motion carded. Meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Tina Foss, Park and Recreation Commission Secretary