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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-February-05 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission February 5, 2005 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Bruce Kelzenberg; Gary Mayer; David Payne; Marsha Stroik; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Also present: Liz Bray, Kay Stickler Excused Absent: Kevin McDonald Absent: None APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve consent agenda by Payne and second by Greenhalgh. All ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS REQUEST FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM MURAL Liz Bray discussed the proposal of creating a mural during one of the sunmler youth recreation programs. The mural would be done by a professional aliist and paid for by the 21 5t Century grallt. The mural theme would be the history of the City of Columbia Heights. The COlmnission discussed the location of the mural. COlmnission members felt it should be painted onto a canvas so that it could be moved around the City. Motion to approve the mural provided it be done inside a park building or on a canvas and that the project be paid by the 21 5t Century grant by Greenhalgh, second by Payne. All ayes, motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING FOR DNR GRANT APPLICATION FOR HUSET PARK Chairperson, Ilene Evans, informed the Commission of the public hearing for the DNR grant application for Huset Parle Public Works Director/City Engineer, Kevin Hansen discussed the improvements that are to be included in the grant application for Huset Parle The proposed plan has had community input from the Huset Neighborhood Association and the plan has been very well received by the community. Proposed redevelopment would better utilize the space PAGE 2 of Huset Park. Huset Park is the City's largest park at 30 acres. Financing has been the largest problem for tIns project. The total cost breakdown for this project is $2.5 to $3 million. Some of this project could get done from roadway improvements. These improvements would be completed with a phased in approach. The first phase of this project would cost $1.7 million. The date for these improvements to be stmied within Huset Pm-k would be in 2006. Maximmn grmlt application is $250,000. One of the items included in the first phase would be a walking trail. Some ofthe big-ticket items would not be included right away. Chairperson, Ilene Evans opened up the public hearing for the Huset Park Plan. Resident, Kay Stickler, Co-Chair of the Huset Neighborhood Association indicated that the neighborhood group has been very suppOliive of the Huset Pm"k plan. She indicated that the new plan has many of the amenities that the group has wanted to see in Huset Parle. Members she has shared the new plan with have been very happy to see it. Chairperson, Ilene Evans opened up the public hem-ing to the Commission Members. Commission Member, Marsha Stroik asked why this would not be started until 2006. Public Works Director/City Engineer stated that some of these improvements would be done with the roadway improvements that would be done at this time. Commission Member, Dave Payne, asked about the pm"k bench donation program. Public Works Director/City Engineer indicated the benches cost about $800 that is donated by the public. The City puts a plaque on each bench mld does the installation. Motion to recommend application of the DNR grant for Huset Pm"k and to apply for grant money in phases stm"ting with phase one in 2005 by Payne, seconded by Greenhalgh. All ayes, motion cm-ried. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl, informed the Commission that we are currently working on replacing the Clerk Typist II position and the Recreation Coordinator position. Recreation Director, Keith Windsclntl, informed the COlmnission that we are working on the fees for park rental and fees for the neighborhood event wagon. We will continue working on this and bring a proposal back to the Commission. PAGE 3 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER Public Works Director/City Engineer, informed the Commission that we closed the warming houses in the parks this year due to budget cuts and a Columbia Heights resident had opened the warming house at Ostrander Park this year for his hockey team to use. COMMISSION MEMBERS Conunission Member, Tom Greenhalgh asked about getting lights at Prestemon Park before we lose Huset 5, the only adult field with lights. Recreation Director, Keith Windschitl indicated that new lights would cost approximately $60,000 to $70,000 to put on that field. It would be an asset to have this done prior to tearing up Huset Park. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director