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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-July-05 Park & Recreation Commission July 27,2005 1 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission July 27, 2005 Jerry Foss called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Gary Mayer; David Payne; Gary Peterson; Marsha Stroik; Kevin McDonald; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Excused Absence: Eileen Evans Absent: None APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve consent agenda by Payne; second by Mayer. All ayes, motion canied. LETTERS AND REQUESTS REQUEST FROM MIDWEST POLKA ASSOCIATION Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl received a request from the Midwest Polka Association to use Murzyn Hall at a reduced rental rate. At present they do not have a specific date in mind. Commission members stated they would like some other day besides Friday or Saturday as to not lose the high rental days. Commission Member Payne suggested a Sunday rental with a reduced rate and added that it would be more beneficial to rent the space than have it empty. Motion to offer the Midwest Polka Association a 25% resident discount rate for a Sunday through Thursday rental by Stroik, second by McDonald. All ayes, motion carried. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FENCING AT RAMSDELL PARK Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Hansen reported that Marv Sowada, resident, called questioning additional fencing to be put adjacent to the pool at Ramsdell Parle Sowada is requesting fencing that would need constant maintenance. Hansen is not in favor of this type of fencing but rather a more natural landscape screening. Hansen suggested sending a letter to Resident Sowada explaining that there is uncertainty of the Ramsdell Park wading pool due to new County regulations. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Payne to send a letter to Resident Sowada stating that the future use of the pool is in question at the present time. All ayes, motion carried. Park & Recreation Commission July 27,2005 2 UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE OF P ARK WADING POOLS Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Hansen reported Anoka County took over pool inspections for the Department of Health; minor corrections were made this year to enable the pools to be opened. In 1996 the Department of Health informed us that the pools were not in compliance, since that time we have made minor corrections to keep them safe and operating. Total reconstruction of each pool would cost between $75,000- $85,000. New guidelines require the bottom drain to be part of the filtration system and have more frequent water turn over. We have never had any water quality issues or health problems in the past. Commission members felt that Huset should not be repaired, as a water splash pad is included in the Huset Park Master Plan. It is unclear at this time where the county stands on the pool situation for next year. The City Manager would like to continue to operate the pools as we have in the past as long as they are safe. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Recreation Director Keith Windschitl welcomed Deanna Saefke as the new Clerk/Typist II for the Recreation Department. She started full time last week. The 2006 Recreation Budget has been submitted to the City Manager. There are not alot of changes from 2005 to 2006. The joint budget meeting with the City Council will be held in October. Recreation Director Keith Windschitl updated the Commission on the success of the summer recreation programs. The camps went very well this year with the Twins, Timberwolves and Vikings. All summer programs went well and are coming to an end in August. Recreation Director Keith Windschitl announced that Commission Member, Gary Mayer submitted his letter of resignation. Commission Member Mayer explained that his employment is requiring him to be out of town during the next several meetings. Keith thanked him for his commitment to the Commission. The Commission members wished him well. Commission Member Peterson asked if it would be beneficial to have a Lion's Club member on the Commission. Commission Member Stroik said that they could apply just like anyone else would; she also asked if there were specific rules for replacement. Recreation Director Windschitl said that a Lion's member would improve communications between the Recreation Department and the Lion's Club, but the new member would not need to be a Lion's Club member. Park & Recreation Commission July 27,2005 3 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Hansen reported that a notice on grant funding was received; the request for funding was denied. They had 90 applications for the $2.4 million of funding and only 14 applications were awarded. At the June 13 Council Meeting the Huset Park 2 year project was awarded to Frattalone Excavating. Commission members questioned how much of the ball fields will be affected with the development. Hansen infOlmed the Commission that only Huset #3 would be affected, moving the backstop up 15 feet and removal of the score box. COMMISSION MEMBERS COlmnission Member Torn Greenhalgh reported that there have been requests for more youth events during the Heights Jamboree. Requests have been made for 3-on-3 youth basketball and adult co-ed softball. Commission Member Marsha Stroik reported a burned out street light on Hart Street. Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen said that he would call Excel Energy that area is their responsibility. Commission Member Gary Mayer gave a report on his visit to Ramsdell Park. The bleachers are set back too far from the field and there is a small area for parking. Commission Member David Payne thanked the Commission for the great fireworks show during the Jamboree. He also requested help on acquiring a scoreboard at Columbia Heights High School for baseball. The VFW and Tri-City were recommended as contacts for monetary contributions. Payne stated that the VFW has indicated that they do not have funding for this type of project. Commission Member Jerry Foss stated that we need lights at Prestemon Park before the renovation of Huset Park begins. Foss informed the Commission that without lights on an adult field we will lose teams to another city due to all fields at Huset being unavailable when improvements are being made, and once teams leave our City it will be tough to get them back. Mayor Gary Peterson suggested that it be made a matter of record to the City Council. Foss indicated that all fields would be impacted with the Huset Park Master Plan that the Commission recommended to the City Council. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Deanna Saefke