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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 23, 1989CiTY OF COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK BOARD MINUTES 'MARCH 23, 1989 ROLL CALL Members present: Members absent: Also present: Jim Fowler, Bill Hollo~.John Murzyn, Rita Petkoff, Veronica SchTagel, Fred~Salsbury, Director of Public Works/City Engineer A1 Kennedy Barbara Sandberg, Administrative ~ublic Works Greg Woods, City Attorney's Office The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bill Hollum at 6:40 p.m. SECRETARY PRO-TEM Agnes Riley was appointed secretary pro-tern. READING OF THE MINUTES Motion by Fowler, second by Schlagel to approve the minutes of the February 22 meeting presented in writing All ayes, motion carried. PAYMENT OF THE BILLS Bill Hollum noted that it appeared, from the bills, that we were preparing for spring. Motion by Fowler, second by Schlagel to pay the bills out of the proper funds. All ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS REQUEST TO RATIFY ACTION OF DIRECTOR TO ALLOW BYOB FOR ERICA J. STEINKE ~egarding this after-the-fact approval to ratify the actions o~ the Director, Jim FowTer questioned if the BYOB approval should.be put in the Management Plan or are we going to keep doing it on a request basis. Fred Salsbury said the Management Plan now states Board action is necessary and asked if the Board wanted to change this. Hollum asked if there were very manylrequests for BYOB. and Saslbury stated that we do get requests but tell the callers we would rather not and they usually choose not to bring their own bottles. Hollum asked about the risks to the City and Satsbury said that further discussion of this would be held later in the meeting. Motion by Schlaget, second by Fowler to ratify the action of the Director of Public Works to allow an exception to the Management Plan for Murzyn Hall.of forbidding bottles away from the bar for Erica J. Steinke wedding reception on June 2, 198~. All ayes, motion carried. REQUEST TO RESERVE A ROOM BY BROWNIE GIRL SCOUT TROUP #496 Motion by Fowler, second by Schlagel to reserve the Youth Lounge for Brownie COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES PAGE TWO Girl Scout Troop #496 every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and, furthermore, to waive'the rental fee for the same. All ayes, motion carried. REQUEST BY FRIENDS OF LIBRARY · Salsbury stated there may be a problem for people playing bridge because other events in the ahll may create noise. Friends of the Library are aware of this. Motion by~Murzyn, second by Schla§el to §ra~nt request to reserve the LaBelle Lounge from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. for the Columbia Heights Friends of the Library; and, furthermore,~to waive the rental fee. All ayes, motion carried. THANK YOU Park Board acknowledged receipt of the thank you note from the John Rak family for flowers sent. Hollum thanked Nancy French and Fred Salsbury for making the arrangements. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS GIRL SCOUTS In letter written by MaryLou Brunko~, Special Events Chairperson, Girl Scouts request use of one softball field and the warming house of McKenna Park. Salsbury explained that a rental fee is charged for exclusive use as is this request, and required Board action to reserve it. Motion by Fowler, second by Murzyn, to grant exclusive use to the Columbia Heights Girl Scouts for one softball field and the warming house at McKenna Park on April 29, 1989, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:O0 noon and waiver of rental fee. All ayes, motion carried. NEW BUSINESS .1988 JOHN P. MURZYN HALL FINANCIAL REPORT Salsbury noted from the report that .there wer 120 events with fees charged and 1,638 events with fees waived. Murzyn wxpressed concerns of not making enough money to cover heating, air conditioning, etc. because we waive to many fees. Hollum said it would be difficult to charge fees to local organizations and groups; money they make from events often goes back to the community. Salsbury again noted that in the past Board had aimed for a 50-50 split between rental fees and general taxes to pay expenses. Discussion continued on a possible increase of fees, that present fees are lowest in area, hall is rented completely on Saturdays through November 1990, present fees do not. deter prospective renters, and that expenses will increase in next few years. Hollum suggested if rental rate is increased, Columbia Heights residents would still receive a discount. Salsbury will check into rate structure and fees in the area as a comparison and the Board will consider a rental increase in the next few months to become effective January 1, 1991 · COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES PAGE TBREE REPORTS SILVER LAKE BEACH Following discussion in the last meeting of Park Board, Salsbury continued discussion of closing the Silver Lake beach because of needed $75,000 to repair the facilities and it may not be to the Board's advantage to maintain this swimming beach. Salsbury brought to City Council the possible potential of removing the beach from the park system and putting it up for potential development. Fowler asked if the.re were any restrictions on this. Salsbury said this was bein9 checked out by the City Attorney. Murzyn questioned condition of bathhouse and if money is being made (now managed by Recreation) and number who swim. Salsbury said number of swimmers have declined because lake has gone bad. Murzyn expressed concern about getting rid of the park and how Salvation Army can have a beach which is right next to ours. Water pollution and drainage was discussed. Murzyn stated it must be cleaned up that it's like anything else, one must take 'care of it and that it costs money, and that if we let it 9o, soon we will have nothing. Fowler asked why we would want something that was worth nothing and continue Pouring money into it. Hollum asked if the're was potential to clean it up, would it justify the expenditure of funds? Hollum said he Woul~d not'be opposed i~5 something could be done to clean the lake up. Schtagel said the lake condition is the problem. Salsbury explained the only entity that is going to deal with the lake is the Rice Creek Watershed District. Ramsey County has some authority over lake also, but the only one who can deal with it is the Rice Creek Watershed District and is a very low priority now. They are maintaining and monitoring what the degradation rate is, but it isn't in theiP 20 year plan for bringing it-up to snuff, as other lakes are more critical to their system. Salsbury doesn't see anything happening at Silver Lake for 20 years. Silver Lake is used for storm water rentention and almost all of the Southeast quadrant of town water is going '~to Silver Lak.e, in addition to a portion of Minneapolis, Apache Shopping Center, and other portions of St. Anthony and New Brighton. Following ~tiscussion, Salsbury asked if the Board was changing their opinion. Murzyn said he expressed his opinion that we have to work at it and that l~arks have low priority in Public Works. Salsbury disagreed. Fowler asked where would the money go if it was developed. Salsbury responded that the Council wag talking about it going into the park fund to be used for park facilities.. Hollom felt that if the. beach is sold, a fund should be established for a pool. Salsbury said that is already in the Capital Improvement Program for 1991, 'and the timing is about right to see what comes if the citizens group looking into the facilities complex. Petkoff reported that a consultant firm has been hired to research and recommend installation of facilities by the committee. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES PAGE FOUR Petkoff asked if the Board is on same wavelength to proceed. Salsbury .said it sounds like the Board seems to be, although Murzyn disagrees. Salsbury stated that he will not include the major repair funds for the beach in the 1990 budget unless the Board indicates otherwise. No one indicated he should include them. OLD BUSINESS LIQUOR IN HALL' Greg Woods of the City Attorney's office was present to give legal advice on the Park Board's/City'~ 1'lability with renting the hall, plus alternatives. Hollum mentioned possible options: providing list of 6 bartenders, or become employer of bartenders, or City becomes fully licensed and becomes full fledged bar and provides liquor, corkage fee, etc., or stay the way it is. Salsbury said if it stays the way it is, can we control liquor, increase security, or increase the damage deposit to protect our. investment in hall and what about insurance coverage? Woods advised as follows: damages are costs of doing business the more the City becomes involved, the more open to suit, the less you do the less likely to end up paying. Each option that has been suggested elevates risk to City. Just rent hall - no security - nothing else. .The worse Scenario is City going into bar business. Each person who leaves the door of the hall is a potential litigant. The less'the City gets into, the better off it is, and he advised the Board to stay away from liquor operation. Petkoff asked clarification if renters provide homeowners insurance, does the renter or City need dram shop coverage? Woods advised affirmative to both situations and that homeowners insurance requires a 'rider for an event at hall. Renter must become more aware of potential liability. Petkoff cited situation where clubs or group have an event, and was advised person who signs lease agreement and submits their homeowners insurance becomes liable. Liabilities of BYOB also were discussed and attorney advised renter becomes more liable than City. Salsbury will check with Columbia Heights Insurance Commission on (1)' obtaining a one-time policy for an event either for City or renter, and (2) Dram Shop rider in homeowners policy. Cost of these could be added to City's rental rate or group events ticket price. Also discussed was having the lease agreement reviewed by the City Attorney to include disclaimer of liability to City, and that renter has read and understood the lease. Hollum summarized that with Greg's advice, we should continue the way we are, do not provide bartenders and make people aware of their reponsibility in case of a lawsuit and they should verify with their homeowners insurance agent if they have coverage for this event~ Salsbury would like to add the City policy to brochure and ~lease agreement, with instructions, rules and regulations. Woods added that lease would not be effective without proper insurance coverage. COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES PAGE FIVE Petkoff suggested changing waiting period after request to hold hall from 2 weeks to put $100 down to 48 hours so that hall can be~ rented rapidly, and when $100 deposit is made at that time they receive rules and regulations. Schlagel said that whoever puts the money down first should get the hall. Salsbury explained that these points would require changes in the Management Plan. These changes, attorney recommendations, and information of adjustments to rental fee will be presented at meeting in May. BUSINESS OPERATIONS AT THE JPM HALL The subject was discussed of renting hall to people who will sell tickets for profit and the possibility of (1) charging two different rates for businesses, and (2) appearing before Board for approval. Also, do we want to rent to people who are conducting a business or money-making event in the hall? Rita Petkoff suggested charging business-type rentals a higher rate. Concern is about negative-type businesses rather than positive-type businesses, and control would be by Park Board approval.~ Pe'tkoff advocated promoting more business conferences and seminars, for the hall, particularly during th~ week, and suggested~fees based on number of people. STAFF REPORTS Salsbury requested a discussion of the. budget to present to the City Council, and a special meeting to discuss the budget solely will be held-in ~April~ RECREATION & COMMUNITY EDUCATION STAFF Fowler requested that pop machine in downstairs location at JPM Hall be fixed and be kept filled. He asked if people used room do they have any responsibility to clean it? Salsbury said it was the City's responsibility, based on the Management Plan. It was noted that a letter was sent to Dave Rogosheski concerning the House League Hockey Banquet and inappropriate behavior by attendees and the actions the Park Board will take in the future if their act is not cleaned up. OTHER BOARD MEMBER REQPORTS Petkoff suggested having a consent agenda for certain items as a timesaver for approvals. The Board agreed and asked Salsbury to begin using a consent agenda. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Fowler, second Isy Schlagel to adjoun. All ayes, motion carried. Agnes M. Riley, Secretary pro-tern Lang Tank Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Gardner Hardware Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Zacks Industrial Cleaning Hans Rosacker Co. Voss Electric P~inters Service, Inc. A-OK t~ocksmi th Ace Hardware Diamond Vogel Diamond Vogel Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Ace Hardware BFI Portable Services Ace Hardware Garelick Steel Co. Twin City Garage Door Co. Fran zen Construction Ace Hardware Northern Sanitary Supply Minnesota Elevator Ace Hardware Ace Hardware Leer Brothers, Inc. Ace Hardware Ryco Supp!y Coca-Cola Coca-Col a Bill Antzaras American Linen Superior Products Loop Belden Porter Minnegasco PARK EXPENSES $954.80 9.60 3.54 5.O0 6.72 7.17 10.67 36.60 52.50 210.00 13.00 89.90 7.17 1 88.25 41.71 11.67 11.67 12.26 18.40 9.08 150.00 7.50 9.OO 710.O0 2,384.00 5.9O 187.80 62.95 29.90 6.95 57.10 20.90 29.75 4O.OO 160.00 15.00 12.03 251.70 200.00 112.42