Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-August-05 Park & Recreation Commission September 26, 2005 1 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission August 24, 2005 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Tom Greenhalgh; Stan Hoium; David Payne; Gary Peterson; Marsha Stroik; Kevin McDonald; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Excused Absence: Jerry Foss Absent: None APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve consent agenda by Stroik; second by McDonald. All ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS None at this time. UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE OF PARK WADING POOLS Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported that the yearly inspection of the pools has been taken over from the state authorities to the county authorities. The citations from the 1996 inspection stated that our wading pools are not up to code. In the past minimal adjustments have been made to meet the state code in order to keep the wading pools operating and safe for the community. One day the McKenna Park wading pool did not pass the random county inspection because it had rained and the chlorine levels were off. The city received a large number of calls that day asking about the pool closure. It would cost an estimated $125,000 to reconstruct each pool and they are looking for lower cost options. SULLIV AN PARK IMPROVEMENTS Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen spoke about Sullivan Park; the park improvements have been delayed due to lack of funding during the Huset Park Project. The City Council needs to review funding to decide what level of improvements to malce to the park. Sullivan Park has the second highest level of usage next to Huset Park and it also has the largest picnic shelter. The playground does not meet code. The concrete under the shelter is cracked. Also, the wood pergolas need to be replaced, maybe with Park & Recreation Commission September 26, 2005 2 another type of shelter because the wood pergolas are a maintenance headache. It has not been determined as to where the playground would be located when it is redone. Within ten days the walkways will be resurfaced with a heavy seal coat. The tennis courts need to be resurfaced every 3 years; that has been kept up. The tennis fence also needs maintenance work. Commission member Payne suggested moving the playgrmmd out from the sand area and putting in grills so that they are not underneath the shelter. Commission member Evans suggested placing a new playground north ofthe shelter where the pergolas are because that area is not used as often as the area under the shelter. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen said that the 1997 Needs Assessment indicated fixing the walking trails and wood pergola areas. BALL FIELD LIGHTS AT PRESTEMON PARK Recreation Director Windschitl stated that we only have one ball field in the city that has lights. Prestemon Park has a great ball field, but it can only be used while it is light out. In the" fall it gets dark too early therefore we can not schedule any games on this field. The park has recently been updated with a new playground and a great trail system. He feels that we need to add lights to this park before we start any improvements to Huset Park. If Huset Park gets redone it may be a year or two before we can use the field again. It would cost an estimated $80,000 for lighting this ball field. We would like to add wiring for a scoreboard that could be added at a later date. The Recreation Director stated that we could use funds from the 881 Recreation Donations account to cover the expenses. Motion by Greenhalgh to recommend to the City Council to use the money from the 881 Recreation Donations account to install ball field lights at Prestemon Park with wiring for future use of a scoreboard. Second by Payne. All ayes, motion carried. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Recreation Director Windschitl thanlced Mayor Peterson for the sound system for the Youth Program, which was donated from the Columbia Heights Activity Fund. Our Puppet Wagon and Theatre Programs will utilize tins new sound system throughout the year. The budget meeting is scheduled for Wednesday October 26th at 7:00 pm. The Park and Recreation Commission Meeting will be prior to that at 6:00 pm. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen asked the commission members who walk the trails at Sullivan Lake to report back to him on the condition of the trails after the resurfacing. The Huset Road project will be stmiing Monday. The power boxes have been pulled from the fields to be able to reuse them. Park & Recreation Commission September 26, 2005 3 COMMISSION MEMBERS Mayor Peterson talked about the 4-wheeler that will be raffled as a fundraiser for the non- profit Columbia Heights Activities Fund. Commission Member Stroik reported that city residents have asked her about the working condition of the fountain at LaBelle Park. Stroik also indicated that the overall maintenance needs to be improved at LaBelle Park. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen said that the fountain is broken in the center and that the only way to fix it is to dig up the whole area around the fountain. This renovation was not planned in the 2005 budget. Commission Member Stroik stated that Ostrander is a heavily used park for family picnics and asked if it is possible to put in a small shelter. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen suggested that she get a neighborhood petition together to present to the City Council. ADJOUHNIvrENT Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Deanna Saefke Recreation Clerk Typist II