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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes-January 25 06 Park & Recreation Commission February 10, 2006 1 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission January 25, 2006 Jerry Foss called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Jerry Foss; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald; Tom Greenhalgh; David Payne; Gary Peterson; Marsha Stroik; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer Absent: Eileen Evans Also present: Cliff Shedlov APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve consent agenda by Payne; second by Greenhalgh. All ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS Request from the Columbia Heights Fire and Police Explorers to host a fee waived event on Wednesday March 8, 2006. Recreation Director Windschitl explained that in the past the fee has been waived for the Explorers. Being that this event is on a Wednesday evening the building will be staffed for other meetings and events already. Motion by Greenhalgh to waive the hall rental fee for the Columbia Heights Fire and Police Explorers on Wednesday March 8, 2006, second by Hoium. All ayes, motion carried. The Columbia Heights High School Class of 1971 has requested to receive the resident discount for their class reunion, as many of their classmates are residents of Columbia Heights. Windschitl explained that typically a resident discount is given for class reunions from Columbia Heights High School. Motion by McDonald to offer a resident discount to the CHHS Class of 1971 for their rental on Saturday October 28, 2006, second by Payne. All ayes, motion carried. A donation was given to Murzyn Hall from the Columbia Heights Women of Today. The commission would like to extend their appreciation to the Women of Today. The Recreation Director sent a thank you note on behalf of the commission. Mayor Peterson requested a fee-waived rental for the Columbia Heights fundraiser, “Rock Around the Clock,” on Friday March 17, 2006. This event is to raise funds for the th Columbia Heights Peace Clock that will be located on 40 and Central Avenue. Motion by Payne to approve the fee-waived rental, second by Greenhalgh. All ayes, motion carried. Park & Recreation Commission February 10, 2006 2 Mayor Peterson spoke about the joint Columbia Heights Ambassadors Program and SACA benefit on Saturday March 25, 2006. This benefit dance and silent auction will be serving soda and food only; it will last from 6:00 until 10:00 and focus on a teen dance event held by the City. Recreation Director Windschitl informed the commission that the Ambassador Program is a City sponsored event and the special events fund is used for the Ambassador Program. Motion by Greenhalgh to waive the fee for the benefit, second by Hoium. All ayes, motion carried. OLD BUSINESS Sister Cities International member Cliff Shedlov attended the commission meeting to discuss the request for a display cabinet in Murzyn Hall. This cabinet will mostly be used for posters and flyers to advertise for the Sister Cities organization. It will be similar to the display cabinet in city hall, 5 to 6 inches deep and 4x3 feet with one shelf. The placement would be by the Recreation Office glass doors, across from the coatroom. Windschitl asked if the Lion’s Club was willing to use some of their space in the LaBelle Lounge. Hoium replied that there was no interest from the members at their last meeting. Mr. Shedlov thanked the commission for their time on this request and will wait for a response from Recreation Director Windschitl. Commission member McDonald asked if this location was okay with the recreation director. Windschitl responded that he approved of the location, as this would be a better place than in the LaBelle Lounge where glass is replaced frequently due to breakage. Motion by Payne to accept the request for a cabinet not to exceed 5 to 6 inches out from the wall and fully funded by the Sister Cities organization, second by McDonald. All ayes, motion carried. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen gave handouts to the commission about the wading pools. The handout included a quote, not a bid, from the company that the City of Minneapolis is using for updating their wading pools and a list of the violations received at the Columbia Heights wading pools during the inspection on June 14, 2005. Anoka County does have the authorization to shut down the wading pools. The annual inspection packet was received. Hansen asked if there is a true desire to have the wading pools in operation. Commission members discussed and agreed that the public wading pools are very highly used by the community. The estimated cost to bring each pool into compliance $60,000; that does not include any fencing or electrical work. One possible option would be to reconstruct one pool per year within our budget or if there is an interest in shutting down the wading pools, and possibly building a water feature at one City Park. Commission member Payne asked if anyone had brought this issue to the attention of the City Council. Hansen replied that it was brought to their attention in the summer and the proper improvements were made to the wading pools to keep them open for the 2005 season. Peterson asked of Ramsdell Park would be able to hold a new pool. Hansen stated that the park is going through a process of consolidation over time as the park continues to settle. Commission member Stroik suggested that we spend the money on one stable area to have at least one wading pool available to use. Peterson suggested building a type of wood deck around the edge of the pool to make the surface around the pool even with the edge of the pool. Hansen replied that the major cost of bringing the Park & Recreation Commission February 10, 2006 3 pools up to code is fixing where the pool water is drawn from and how it is filtered. The current filtration system does not cycle the water as often as required by code. Hansen indicated that the City Council would be receiving wading pool information at she next work session. Commission member Foss suggested tabling this matter until next month. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen updated the commission on the status of the ball field lighting for Prestemon Park. The City Council authorized staff to put a feasibility report together regarding this project. The estimated total cost would be $85,000 for the installation of and six 60-foot poles with a total of 22 luminaries. This particular lighting would have very low light spillage, about the same as a pedestrian light on the street. Windschitl informed the commission that the parking would generally be the same as it has been in previous years. He believes that Prestemon Park is currently not being used to it’s full potential, this is a very nice park with fairly new amenities and any lighting of the field would add safety for people walking around the park especially in the early spring and fall as it gets dark earlier in the evening. The ball fields at Prestemon Park will not only be used for men’s softball games, but for all of our youth teams, girl’s softball and other recreational youth activities.If the Huset Park Project moves forward the fields at Huset will be unusable for an undetermined amount of time. At that time there will be an increased need for ball field space. Hansen felt that a public hearing should be set for our Park and Recreation Commission meeting possibly in March. NEW BUSINESS At the City Council Meeting on January 9, 2006 the Recreation Director received a donation of $30,000 for youth recreation. The commission would like to express their gratitude toward the Columbia Heights Athletic Booster Association for their donation towards our youth recreation programs. REPORTS RECREATION DIRECTOR Windschitl informed the commission that new beer coolers were installed behind the bar. One cooler went out at the end of the year and the other one has had many problems in the past. He thanked Mayor Gary Peterson for his assistance in removing the old coolers. By doing all of the installation in-house we were able to save money. Windschitl invited any of the commission members to attend the joint City Council and School Board meeting on January 30, 2006. The major topic of discussion will be the possible addition of gym space in the City. The commission members held a discussion about gym locations possibilities. The commission was in agreement that we need to move forward with this issue and that more gym space is needed within Columbia Heights. Park & Recreation Commission February 10, 2006 4 Windschitl informed the commission that the proposed John P. Murzyn Hall rental rates for 2007 were approved by the City Council. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER Hansen reported to the commission that the ice rinks will be shutting down for the year due to the poor weather conditions for the ice. Foss informed the commission that he had received complaints from the neighborhood around Gauvitte Park that there are no warming houses available. Greenhalgh asked about the status of Huset Park field #3. Hansen reported that the backstop will be up shortly, and the field will be completely ready by April 1, 2006. The High School varsity coach was contacted to ensure the dimensions of the field would work for the girl’s softball team. Greenhalgh asked about the placement of the first baseline bleacher seating. Hansen indicated the bleachers would need to be moved further down than the previous year. COMMISSION MEMBERS Commission member Stroik reported that a light at Keyes Park is out the top of the hill. Hansen indicated that he would follow up on that matter. Stroik informed the commission that a resident in the Prestemon neighborhood spoke to her about the lighting of the ball fields. This resident was not aware of the need for our youth league programs to have more fields to use in the City. Hansen asked if there was a way to rearrange the concentration of what field is used for adult leagues versus youth leagues. Windschitl replied that in the past the Recreation Program has not had that opportunity with the lack of lighted fields, but the schedule could be restructured in anyway based on numbers of teams. ADJOURNMENT Jerry Foss adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. _______________________________ Deanna Saefke Recreation Clerk Typist II