Press Alt + R to read the document text or Alt + P to download or print.
This document contains no pages.
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-April-05
j
City of Columbia Heights
Park and Recreation Commission
April 27, 2005
Jerry Foss called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLLCALL
Members present:
Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Gary Peterson; Gary Mayer;
David Payne; Marsha Stroik; Keith Windschitl, Recreation
Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City
Engineer
Also present:
Carrie Day Aspinwall; Richard Aspinwall
Excused Absent:
Eileen Evans
Absent:
None
APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA
Motion to approve consent agenda by Gary Mayer and second by David Payne. All ayes,
motion carried.
LETTERS AND REQUESTS
REQUEST FROM CLASS OF 1976 FOR DISCOUNTED RENTAL RATES
Resident, Roxanne Sorenson would like to request the 25% resident discount for their
30th class reunion on August 5th, 2006. Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director, stated that
many of their classmates are Columbia Heights residents, but none of them want to put
the lease in their name and provide their home owner's liability insurance. Motion to
approve the resident discount of 25% provided they show proof of personal liability
insurance by Payne, and second by Greenhalgh. All ayes, motion carried.
REQUEST FROM RESIDENT TO REMOVE THE BASKETBALL HOOP FROM
KEYES PARK
Resident, Clli'Tie Day Aspimvall, t.l].ar.ked Mayor Ga.ry Peterson for I'l11111ing a great city.
Carrie Day Aspinwall and her husband Richard reside at 1407 46th Avenue in Columbia
Heights. Resident is requesting that the basketball hoop from Keyes Park be removed.
She and her family have lived there for the last 15 years. Over the past four years this
basketball hoop has drawn a number of concerns for the surrounding residents. Huge
crowds of youth congregate at this site, some are actually playing basketball, others are
engaging in drug use, littering, urinating in the bushes or surrolmding area, swearing and
just being a nuisance. Some residents have had their cars broken into. They are also
PAGE 2
concerned about the vulnerable adults in the neighborhood that have been harassed by
these individuals. Recently the Aspinwalls have been tagged by gang graffiti as well.
Resident brought in photographs of the graffiti and the gangs congregating in the park.
When resident asked the youth what the gang graffiti meant they told her "boys are
coming to town". Their immediate neighbor was so fed up with all the activity that he
went over and took the hoop directly off the pole hoping for relief. Resident, Carrie Day
Aspinwall, works closely with the Columbia Heights Police Department and calls 911
when necessary. Resident has observed the kids actually climbing up the pole and sitting
in the hoop, and is concerned about the liability for the City should that child fall or cause
injury to themselves. The residents are very concerned about the drug use in the park.
They are fmding Marijuana butts on the ground. They are also concerned about the park
being too dark at night.
Commission Member, Marsha Stroik, indicated that there was a similar problem with a
park in Minneapolis and when they took the basketball hoop down the problem was
resolved.
Commission Member, Tom Greenhalgh, suggested to take the hoop down for a month
and see what happens. Motion to talce down the backboard and hoop for a month then
reassess the situation by Greenhalgh and, second by Stroik. All ayes, motion carried.
REPORTS
RECREATION DIRECTOR
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, introduced Beth Sarna, new Clerk Typist II for the
Recreation Department. Members welcomed Beth to the City.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission that second interviews
are being done this week for the new Recreation Coordinator and someone should be
starting in a few weeks.
Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, suggested to the members that we take a tour of
all the parks for the next meeting on May 25,2005 due to the fact that the floors will be
refmished.
PT TBLTC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER
Public Works Director/City Engineer, showed the Commission the copy of the Grant
Application for the Huset Park master plan. He informed the Commission that there is
less money available for grants this year. Public Works is worldng on Silver Lalce Beach
and tlle erosion problem They can do some berming to slow the water down. They can
put in rain gardens that will help filter the water. The Rice Creek grant program could
provide funding for this project. Some of the parking lot would have to be removed and
this would clean up the water, be low maintenance and improve water quality.
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Commission Member, Jerry Foss, asked about the Silver Lake Beach building and what it
would cost to open. Kevin, Public Works Director/City Engineer, stated that the lake is
still swimable. It would cost between $6,000-$10,000 to fix it and get the building in
shape, put in a sidewalk and make it ADA compliant.
Commission Member, Jerry Foss, informed the Commission that we should set up a
meeting with the neighborhood regarding lights at Prestemon Park. He informed the
Commission that we need to provide lights on an adult field before we work on Huset
Park. Once teams leave our City it will be tough to get them back.
Commission Member, Jerry Foss, stated we should hold some meetings in the park again
this year. It was agreed that we would meet in the parks for the next meeting and take a
possible tour of the parks. The meeting would start at 5:30.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
Beth Sarna, Clerk Typist II