HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 23, 2002 THESE MINUTES HAVE
NOT BEEN APPROVED
City of Columbia Heights
Park and Recreation Commission
January 23, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Eileen Evans at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present:
Eileen Evans; Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Gary Mayer;
Scott Niemeyer; Bill Peterson; Gary Peterson; Roger
Peterson; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City
Engineer; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director
Also present:
Laura Zagaros; Austin Zagaros
APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA:
Motion to approve consent agenda by Niemeyer; second by Foss. All ayes, motion
carried.
LETTERS AND REQUESTS:
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, discussed the Columbia Youth Wrestling Club's
request to hold a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser at JPM on Sunday, February 17, 2002.
Commission Member, Eileen Evans, asked if they were able to hold their fundraiser on a
Wednesday night. Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, stated that it would not be
feasible due to several students having church obligations on Wednesday nights. He also
stated that there is an event on Saturday, February 16, 2002 and there would be clean up
the morning of the fundraiser in order for it to be held. Motion by Bill Peterson, second
by Foss to enforce the $40 entry fee and $15 an hour, waiving all fees for clean up from
the previous night. All ayes, motion carried.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, discussed the request for fees to be waived for
Southern Anoka Community Assistance to hold a spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser to be
held at JPM on Wednesday, March 6, 2002. The proceeds from the fundraiser will go to
helping those in need within our community. Motion by Foss, second by B. Peterson to
waive all fees. All ayes, motion carded.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, discussed the request for fees to be
waived/reduced for Laura Zagaros to hold a fundraiser for her son at JPM. Laura
Zagaros explained the nature of her request and some possible ideas on how she would
run the fundraiser. Her son is one of three kids chosen from Columbia Heights to
participate in the People to People trip leaving for Australia during the summer of 2002.
She has no set fundraising date scheduled. Commission Member, Eileen Evans,
expressed her concern with having a private fundraiser and suggested that all of the
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kids chosen from Columbia Heights should hold one public fundraiser together. Mayor,
Gary Peterson, stated that alcohol is not conducive with the Murzyn Hall policy regarding
holding a fundraiser to be held at JPM. Commission Members suggested Recreation
Director, Keith Windschitl, suggest options for fundraising and indicate a weeknight
rental would be fee waived and a weekend rental would follow the Murzyn Hall policy of
$40 entry fee and $15/hr. to Laura Zagaros and will report any further developments as
they become available.
OLD BUSINESS:
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, handed out a letter addressed to the City Manager,
Walt Fehst, by the Senior Coordinator, Karen Moeller, following a meeting held on
December 4, 2001 with the Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl; Director of
Community Education, Judy Yantos; Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Kaldor; and
School Board Chair, Jan Ostazeski. He indicated that ISD #13 would like to have 25% of
senior activities held at the high school and learning center in order to justify paying 25%
of the Senior Coordinator salary. In 1990, a contract was drawn up between ISD #13 and
the City of Columbia Heights agreeing that the City would pay 75% of the Senior
Coordinator salary and ISD #13 would pay the remaining 25%. Currently, ISD #13 owes
for 2001. The school district wishes to withdraw the 25% of funding. The City Council
has recommended that the letter get forwarded to the district.
NEW BUSINESS:
Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, discussed the National Park Service
Urban Park Federal Grant possibilities. Unlike the state grant that matches the city 50/50,
the National Park Service Urban Park Federal Grant matches the city 70/30. He also
stated that out of 177 grants that applied for the DNR grant, only 32 were awarded.
Columbia Heights was one of the 145 applicants not awarded the DNR grant. Motion by
Greenhalgh second by Niemeyer to allow Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin
Hansen, to proceed with inquiring information to be placed on the National Park Service
Urban Park Federal Grant list of distressed cities that would qualify for the grant. All
ayes, motion carded.
Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, informed the commission that
Silver Lake Camp has been purchased by to Hennepin County. Commission Member,
Jerry Foss, asked Kevin what the possible dollar amount would be if Columbia Heights
were to sell Silver Lake Beach and boat landing and if that money would go back to the
parks fund. Kevin stated that as long as there is no federal money tied to the original
purchase of the beach and boat landing, all of it would go towards the parks fund. There
is no exact dollar amount determined on the beach and boat landing.
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Mayor, Gary Peterson, informed the Commission Members of the property that the City
owns west of Main Street and 37th Ave. N.E. He has met with Bruce Nedegaard,
developer, to discuss possible options that the City can do with the property. It has
potential to be turned into a park or have 10 houses or 22 town homes built on the
property. The property comes up as parkland but is zoned commercial. Gary is hopeful
that a decision will be made to further develop this area.
Commission Member, Eileen Evans, asked Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin
Hansen, when the railroad was to be removed from behind Murzyn Hall. Kevin stated
that a company in Calgary, Canada has the signed contract to remove the railroad, which
is to be removed this spring.
REPORTS:
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, stated that the City Council has voted to go with
web press for the 2002 City newsletter. Going web press will save the city approximately
$1426.00/year.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission Members that Kelly
Becker is the new Youth Enrichment Coordinator. Kelly started with the Recreation
Department on January 22, 2002. Half of her salary will be paid out of the CHASE grant
and the other half will be paid by the City.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission Members that he would
be out of town for the February 2002 meeting.
Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, reported to the Commission that
skating finks have been open 15 days this skating season. Aside from a two-week period
around Christmas, the skating finks have been used lightly.
Commission Member, Scott Niemeyer, asked if the purchase Sharky's by Walgreens is
final. Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, reported that Walgreens has
signed the agreement with the City of Hilltop but no formal date has been established.
Currently, Sharky' s still has five years left out of their six-year lease.
Commission Member, Eileen Evans, asked Commission Member, Jerry Foss, what
amount of revenue pull tabs brings in a year for the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters
Association. Jerry stated that pull tabs generates approximately $110,000 yearly, of
which most goes to the school district and the Recreation program. He also indicated that
the Booster Association has indicated that they will continue to support the Recreation
program and consider it a top priority.
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ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Tina Foss, Park and Recreation Commission Secretary