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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 25, 2003 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission November 25, 2003 The meeting was called to order by Eileen Evans at 6:33 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Bruce Kelzenberg; Gary Mayer; Kevin McDonald; David Payne; Marsha Stroik; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Also present: Bob Surbrook Excused Absent: None Absent: None APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve consent agenda by Foss; second by Mayer. All ayes, motion carried. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS Commission Chairperson, Eileen Evans, introduced Kevin McDonald and Marsha Stroik as new Commission Members. The Commission welcomed them. LETTERS AND REQUESTS Commission Chairperson, Eileen Evans, asked Commission Members how they would feel about setting a policy for fee waived groups to only be able to have weekend rentals if rented within a six-month time frame. Eileen feels that wedding rental dates are infringed upon due to fee-waived groups being allowed weekend rentals that are booked a year in advance. Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, noted that changing the current policy would lead to an increase in fee-waived groups attending Park & Recreation Commission meetings with requests to make exception to the policy. This topic of conversation is being tabled at the present time. REQUEST FOR FEES WAIVED FOR SISTER C1TIES INTERNATIONAL Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission that the Sister Cities International is requesting fees waived for a spaghetti supper to benefit Wheelchairs for Peace / Poland Project to be held at JPM on Saturday, March 20, 2004. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Foss to reduce fees to $40 entry and $15 per hour for their spaghetti supper. All ayes, motion carried. PAGE TWO REQUEST FOR FEES WAIVED FOR COLUMBIA HEIGHTS FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, indicated that the Columbia Heights Firefighters Association is requesting for fees waived for their annual meeting and banquet to be held Saturday, January 31, 2004 at JPM. Keith also noted that the 2003 fees were completely waived. Motion by Foss, second by Payne to waive the fees entirely for the annual meeting and banquet. All ayes, motion carried. REQUEST FOR FEES WAIVED FOR OPPORTUNITY PARTNERS Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, indicated that Opportunity Partners is requesting fees be waived for their annual awards ceremony to be held Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at JPM. Keith also noted this event would be held on a Wednesday evening, which is typically not rented. Motion by Payne, second by Foss to reduce fees to $40 entry fee and $15 per hour for their awards ceremony. All ayes, motion carried. OLD BUSINESS REVIEW OF HUSET PARK MASTER PLAN PLANNING OBJECTIVE Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, reviewed the Huset Park Master Plan Planning Objective, which has to be approved by the City Council. Kevin handed out background information to the new Commission Members so they would be well informed for the December Commission meeting. The Public Works department is underway with the creation of the Master Plan and has met with Huset Park residents. A summary of that meeting was passed out to the Commission along with wish a list that the Huset Park residents voted on. Each item was ranked in terms of priority and comments for each criterion were noted. Bonestroo Rosene Anderlik & Associates will be at the December 2003 meeting. CHANGE OF PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION DECEMBER MEETING DATE Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, discussed with the Commission Members the need to change the December 2003 Park and Recreation Commission meeting date. Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, noted that December 18th would be a preferable date, allowing Bonestroo Rosene Anderlik & Associates ample time for preparation of their presentation of the Huset Park Master Plan. Motion by Payne, second by Greenhalgh to move the December Park and Recreation Commission meeting date to Thursday, December 18, 2003. All ayes, motion carried. PAGE THREE NEW BUSINESS REPLACE CARPET IN LABELLE LOUNGE Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission that there is money left in the Murzyn Hall budget and he is recommending the carpet in the LaBelle Lounge and north stairwell be re-carpeted. The existing carpet is in very poor condition and has been in place since 1985. It is fraying and has many cigarette bums. Samples were shown to the Commission Members. Keith noted that the lowest carpet quote received, including baseboards, was $3796.00. Commission Member, Jerry Foss, asked the possibility of converting JPM into a non-smoking facility. Keith stated that it can be done but should be phased in over a period of time. This non-smoking may impact the number of rentals. Motion by Foss, second by Evans to replace existing carpet in the LaBelle Lounge and north stairwell in 2003 and to make JPM a non-smoking facility in 2005. All ayes, motion carried. POSSIBLE TABLE LINEN RENTAL OPTIONS FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, stated that he is in the process of negotiating with G & K Services on table linens. At the present time, there are several different sizes of tables in JPM and the renters are required to provide their own linens themselves or their caterers. G & K Services negotiated linen and napkin prices of $3.10 to $3.50 for hall tables, $1.30 for bar tables. Our charge to renters would be $6.00 per table linen. Commission Member, Tom Greenhalgh, asked if there was a minimum of table linens that would need to be ordered per year. Keith stated that there is no minimum amount needed. The rate structure is not set at this time. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Payne to move forward with renting linens through G & K Services. All ayes, motion carried. 2005 JPM RENTAL RATES Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, recommended reducing the 2005 Friday rental rates by approximately 15% to attract potential renters. Commission Chairperson, Eileen Evans, proposed lowering the rates for 2004 renters allowing any existing 2004 renter may write a letter to the Park and Recreation Commission requesting their rates be reduced to the lower rental rate. Keith also stated that premix cost would go up from $22.00 to $23.00 in 2005. Commission Member, Kevin McDonald asked if Keith felt the Friday rental rates were too high. Keith explained that Friday rentals are typically last minute rentals but lower rental rates may attract more business. Motion by Foss, second by Greenhalgh to lower the Friday rental rates to $800 for 2005 and any new 2004 Friday rentals and to increase premix to $23.00 for 2005. All ayes, motion carried. PAGE FOUR DISCUSSION OF BACKSTOP FENCING AT KEYES PARK Columbia Heights resident, Bob Sm'brook, residing at 4608 Pierce Street NE, expressed his concerns with the backstop fencing at Keyes Park. It is his belief that the new fencing reduces the sliding space for children at Keyes Park. The northeast ball field was recently awarded the Minnesota Twins Grant of $5000 allowing for several upgrades to be put in place. This particular bail field was in most need of repair within the City and needed to be upgraded to make the field playable. Commission Member, Tom Greenhaigh, stated there was a safety concern of the players on the player benches. The new benches would protect the players'. The Commission does not feel that this type of fencing infringes on the amount of space the children have for a sliding hill. Commission Chairperson, Eileen Evans, noted that Commission Members would look at Keyes Park. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission of the Commission Dinner to be held Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at JPM. Social hour will start at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. This event will be in conjunction with all other volunteer groups (Boards, Commissions and Beautification Committee). Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, stated that he is still currently researching possibilities for additional gym space. NEI, which has been utilized in the past for gym space, it is not available this year. Any new information pertaining to available gym space will be passed onto the Commission as it is received. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEF. R Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen, handed out a notification for the 2004 Grant Application Round for local grant applications. Kevin stated that the grant is applied for every year but have been unsuccessful in being awarded the grant. A public meeting will need to be held in February. The grant is due March 31, 2004. Kevin will research how to make the grant more competitive to increase the likelihood of being the awarded recipient of this grant. COMMISSION MEMBERS Commission Member, Tom Greenhalgh, addressed to Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen the parking situation at Keyes Park and inquired if the hockey rink could be used for additional parking. Kevin stated that it would be a good area for parking due to the rink elevation difference of 12" to 15" from side to side but that it wouldn't be conducive as this particular rink is open for skating for the 2003-2004 skating season. PAGE FIVE ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. Tina Foss, Park and Recreation Commission Secretary