HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-November-05
Park & Recreation Commission
November 23,2005
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City of Columbia Heights
Park and Recreation Commission
November 22,2005
Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members present:
Eileen Evans; Jerry Foss; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald;
David Payne; Marsha Stroik;
Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director;
Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Absent:
Tom Greenhalgh, Gary Peterson
APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA
Motion to approve revised consent agenda by Foss; second by Payne. All ayes, motion
carried.
LETTERS AND REQUESTS
Darrell Gauvitte the grandson of William Charles Gauvitte addresses the commission on
the request to place a memorial in Gauvitte Park for William Gauvitte. Gauvitte served
on the Village of Columbia Heights cOlUlcil from June 1912 until December 1916 and
May of 1920 until August 1921. He was elected as the first Mayor of the City of
Columbia Heights in 1921 and served until May 1923. The rock that would be used to
place the memorial marker is in place at Gauvitte Parle Director or Public Works Hansen
asked about the details of the plaque; if it would be a written memoriam or have a picture
on it as well. Mr. Gauvitte explained that because of the costs their family had decided to
make the plaque with just the writing for now and at some point in the future they would
maybe add a picture. Motion by Foss to recOlmnend to the City Council to approve the
memorial rock at Gauvitte Park with the plaque for William Charles Gauvitte and to have
a dedication ceremony at a later date. Second by McDonald. All ayes, motion carried.
Recreation Director Windschitl presented the request from the family of James Labelle to
place a memorial picture in the bar/lounge area. This would be something similar to the
existing picture in the Keyes room. Motion by HoilUll to approve the placing of a
memorial picture of James Labelle in the bar/lounge area, second by Foss. All ayes,
motion carried.
Discussion on the placement of a display cabinet for the Sister Cities organization in
Murzyn Hall. Commission members would like to know the size of the cabinet, what
would be displayed, why display in Murzyn Hall and where would it be. The
Commission would also like to request that a member from Sister Cities be present at the
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November 23,2005
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next Park & Recreation Commission Meeting to present more details. This request was
tabled by Evans to await fmiher details.
OLD BUSINESS
None at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
RENTAL RATES FOR MURZYN HALL 2007
Recreation Director Windschitl discussed the reasons for the proposed increase of the
rental rates for 2007. Currently the all of the Saturdays in 2006 from April 8th until
November 4th are booked. By raising the main hall rental rates we would create
additional revenue as discussed in the previous budget meeting. Another means of
creating additional revenue would be to add a charge for decorating on a Friday during
business hours when the rental is on a Saturday. Currently if the Friday prior to a rental is
not booked a client can decorate at no additional charge. During business hours we are
staffed in the office so there would be no labor costs. Evans confirmed that we do not
give two discounts on one rental and suggested that we do not offer a 50% discount on a
Saturday night rental. Windschitl also said that the adveliising costs for Murzyn Hall are
low, about $1000.00 per year. Hoimn asked on the status of the CSO officers and if we
are getting charged more if it is a Police Officer. Windschitl stated that the city is hiring
reserve officers for now until the positions are filled. Evans asked if there were other
additional charges that would bring in revenue. Windschitl said a few ways would be to
make all rentals with an open bar use our PreMix and to charge for using a room for
storage or for getting dressed; although charging for storage goes against our current
policy of the renters having every thing out of the building by 1 :00 am. Motion by Foss
to recOlllinend to the City Council to approve the proposed rental rates for 2007 with no
Saturday discount on a 2 or 4 hour rental, second by McDonald. All ayes, motion
carried.
REPORTS
RECREA nON DIRECTOR
Windschitl informed the commission that the Consent Agenda for the City Council
Meeting on Monday November 28 includes the request to authorize the feasibility repOli
for addition of Prestemon Ballfield Park lighting. Hansen explained that the feasibility
repOli is a request for staff to investigate the costs for lighting and that this is the first step
in moving forward with this motion. Windschitl added that cunently there is no use of
the field as it gets darker in the fall evenings, there are new facilities at the park, the
walking trail would get lighting and the residents arOlmd the park would not be affected
by the ballfield lighting because the lights are concentrated on the fields. He also invited
the cOlllinission members to attend the City Council Meeting on Monday night to show
support for the lighting proposal.
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November 23, 2005
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Windschitl reminded the COlllillission members about the Commission Dinner on
December 14 and to send their RSVP.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER
Hansen reported to the commission that he meet and spoke with a company for the
remodel of the city park wading pools. It would cost an estimated $60,000 and that does
not include the fencing, peripheral or pump house work. A formal process for a bid may
bring the bid down in cost. To put in a brand new wading pool costs between $100,000-
$120,000. We need to have a plan in place soon to have the wading pools open next
year. The next step is to look into other options with the City Manager. Evans suggested
that we do not need to put money into the Huset Park wading pool if a water feature
would be in the future plans of the Huset Park Project. Foss commented that we do lmow
that the pools get used on a regular basis, but are the State and County standards going to
keep rising each year. Hansen cOlllillented if we should plan for future water features in
one or more parks then careful evaluation needs to be given versus putting money into
our existing wading pools for the size of our community. We have never had a health
related issue with our current wading pools.
COMMISSION MEMBERS
None at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
Eileen Evans adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Deanna Saefke
Recreation Clerk Typist II