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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes-April 25, 07 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission April 25, 2007 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Jerry Foss; Tom Greenhalgh; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Gary Peterson, Mayor Also present: Residents from the Silver Lake Park neighborhood; Ramona Anderson, Dana Caraway-Church of All Nations, John Brannon, Mark & Cheryl Blinkman, Mark Heinrichs, Tammy Schmitz, Carolyn Laine and others not signed in. APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Foss, second by Greenhalgh, to approve consent agenda. Upon vote: all ayes, motion carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS None at this time. OLD BUSINESS A. 2007 Parks Capital Improvements: Silver Lake Shelter Hansen presented a brief history of the facilities and uses at Silver Lake Park to the residents. He stated that improvements at Silver Lake Beach are budgeted in Parks Capital Improvements for 2007. The purpose of the neighborhood meeting is to receive input and comments to gain an understanding of what neighbors feel are important needs for Silver Lake Park. The existing shelters are on the schedule to be taken down in May. Hansen stated that the playground swings should be taken down permanently or replaced. $30,000 is allocated for the improvements at the park. Hansen discussed recommendations for the future shelter. The shelter should be more durable and vandal resistant. He suggests a minimum size of 20 to 25 people, rectangular in shape with seating and grills. The structure should have a steel roof with a height of 10 to 12 feet. Hansen stated that the current shelters have no salvage value. Resident concerns and suggestions: Silver Lake Park is widely used as an unofficial dog park and is very well kept clean. Multiple residents clean up garbage from the park on a regular basis. The Church of All Nations would like to see more volume under a shelter. The sand volleyball court does not get used. Games are usually played in the flat grass area; they would like to see a large grass area kept open. Suggested basketball hoop in parking lot. Suggested benches near wooded area by the water to view the lake. Many people walk along the lake. The Church of All Nations would be willing to partner with the City to install steps along the hill from the church to the park. Parties in the wooded, dark area are a concern. Would like more lights within the park area. A walking trail Park & Recreation Commission 4/25/2007 Page 2 would be a benefit. Residents would also like to see a drinking water fountain or some kind of water source. The current swimming area is a concern and would like to see the area moved away from where resident’s boats and docks are located. Hansen replied to the concerns and suggestions: The recommended shelter for 30 people will be around $18,000 for material cost, not including footing, concrete or installation. The new shelter will need to be placed closer to the parking lot to make it more accessible and because of the storm and sanitary systems under the current structures. More lighting within the park is recommended. A pedestrian plan is currently being prepared for the City. A walking trail could be connected with Stinson and connections could be make with destination points in cooperation with the Three Rivers District. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Hoium, to install a steel hip style roof shelter at Silver Lake Park, accommodating 25-30 people, benches and a concrete floor, placing shelter closer to the parking lot than the existing shelters. Upon vote: all ayes, motion carried. Evans asked if the swing set could be painted. Hansen replied that the swing set is not ADA compliant. Windschitl stated that the building structure is in decent shape and would like to see the bathrooms fully accessible to the public reserving the park. Hansen stated that the building structure is needed to store some of the City’s equipment. There is approximately $6,000 to $8,000 of work needed on the building structure to make it useable to the public. Hansen suggested for building and shelter colors to be the same. B. Sullivan Lake Park Playground Safety Hazards Hansen reported that a formal inspection was done at Sullivan Lake Park. The May Park and Recreation Meeting will be held at Sullivan Park. NEW BUSINESS A. John P. Murzyn Hall roof inspection Windschitl reported Stock Roofing Company performed an inspection of the John P. Murzyn Hall roof. A proposal was submitted for needed repairs at an estimated cost of $4,400. The evaluation done by the roof consultant gave Murzyn Hall a total of 19 points, suggesting the estimated remaining service life of the roof would be 2-3 years if the indicated repairs were conducted. The consultant indicated that existing roof valleys are located in the incorrect areas for runoff. The proposal includes relocating valleys to proper areas on the roof. Head Custodian Henry feels that the minor repairs can be taken care of in-house for a reduced cost. Valley relocation would be done at time of total re- roof. A rough estimate of a total roof replacement at the current time is $42,000. Before any major roofing repairs are started Windschitl would like Honeywell to conduct an engineering study to evaluate the current HVAC units. This study would be done at no charge if Honeywell were to be used for any of the recommended improvements. Hoium asked if Xcel Energy would be capable to conduct the testing. Hansen indicated that Xcel Energy does conduct some testing but not what is needed for JPM. Windschitl indicated that Honeywell has provided a valuable service for JPM, the contracted parts and labor are cost-effective and service calls have a quick response time which can be critical for the operation of JPM. Park & Recreation Commission 4/25/2007 Page 3 st B. 21 Century Grant Windschitl reported that the Recreation Department and The Columbia Heights School st District did not receive the 21 Century Grant funding for the first time in about 10 years. The Recreation Department has received approximately $50,000 annually from this grant since 1997. The current funding will run out at the end of the summer. The funding has covered summer programs, school out trips and after school programs for Middle School age youth. In anticipation of the funding loss the Recreation Department will internally look at the park programs costs, staffing and raise rates if needed. The scholarship program will still be offered for students on the free or reduced lunch program within the school district. Windschitl reported that additional funding would be pursued. REPORTS Recreation Director Windschitl reported that the summer baseball and softball programs have begun. Baseball uniforms have been given out. He observed the first night of the adult softball league at Prestemon Park. There were no signs of inappropriate behavior or parking on the wrong side of the street in front of the houses. Windschitl commented that he was at the park during the transition between the first and second game when the most vehicles would be at the park. The latest adult softball game for this season will be at 8:15 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. He also reported that the Parks Department did a good job at fixing the bump in the field from the installation of the field lighting wires. Evans stated that she has observed the basketball hoop at Prestemon Park being misused. She is concerned with the safety of the youth that are climbing the hoop. Windschitl would not recommend taking down the hoop as the neighborhood watches the park closely. Hansen stated that he does not think it is a bad idea to remove the basketball court at Prestemon Park and keep basketball at more open parks like Huset. McDonald stated that he would like basketball to remain at Prestemon Park as he feels that too many basketball hoops are being taken down. Hoium commented that it is better for youth to be playing basketball at the parks than not doing any activity at all. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported that the replacement of the mulch in the planting beds would continue thst on Central Avenue between 39 Ave. and 41 Ave. The Department will also continue thrd to clean and maintain University Avenue between 37 Ave. and 53 Street. Hansen expects the Public Works Department to have full seasonal staffing by the first week in June. Two park wading pools are scheduled to be open on Memorial Day. Commission Members None at this time. ADJOURNMENT Chair Eileen Evans adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke Recreation Clerk Typist II