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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin-january 28, 09 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission January 28, 2009 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 6:27 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Tom Greenhalgh; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald; David Payne; Marsha Stoik; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director Also present: Dave Meyer, Booster Member APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Payne, second by Hoium, to approve consent agenda with amended October Motion carried. 22, 2008 minutes. Upon vote: All ayes. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for the reduced resident rate for the rental of John P. Murzyn Hall on Saturday, October 17, 2009 for the Columbia Heights High School class of 1969 reunion Evans indicated that in the past the Columbia Heights class reunions have received the 25% resident discount. Windschitl indicated that many times a class member lives in Columbia Heights and they are the renter for the event. Regardless of whom the renter is a copy of the renters insurance policy showing liability coverage is required. This group has had all of their class reunions at JPM. Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to offer the 25% resident discount to the CHHS class of 1969 reunion for the rental of JPM on October 17, 2009. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion carried. B. Letter of appreciation and a $100 donation from the Christopher Toastmasters for the use of John P. Murzyn Hall to conduct their monthly meetings Windschitl indicated that a thank you note was sent to the Toastmasters group. They have been using a meeting room at JPM for over 25 years. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on City Park Improvements and Park Planning Hansen informed the Commission that Sullivan Lake Park is near 100% completion. Silver Lake Beach is near 98% completion with some landscaping not done yet. Evans indicated concerns when sledding down the hill, going over berms and into the parking lot. Payne replied that he was under the impression that the slope of the hill was not going to be very steep or have a big jump at the end. Hansen replied that the original material for the berm changed when the contractors excavated the area. The berm directs runoff towards the smaller pond. Stroik suggested a sign to limit liability. Hansen indicated hay bales could be placed at the edge of the parking lot for a short-term solution. Evans stated that stakes and plastic fencing are near the other side of the hill. Park & Recreation Commission 3/30/2009 Page 2 Hansen indicated the Ramsdell Park Master Plan was accepted by the City Council and will be on hold for construction until a future date due to funding. He stated that only projects currently under contract and the approved Huset Park West shelter would continue. Stroik asked what will happen with the money planned for park improvements. Hansen replied that the $250,000 budgeted for the Ramsdell Park improvements are proposed to be used elsewhere. As of today’s meeting the Council has not acted on the funding shortfall. Evans asked for an update on the Honeywell project with Murzyn Hall. Windschitl replied that the City has not negotiated a maintenance contract for 2009 yet. JPM would have a contract with Honeywell. In regards to the building energy project, the updates are not yet completed. The heating is close to being complete, the doors are currently being worked on, the windows in the front of the hall and sheet rock will be finished this week. Windschitl indicated that some of the work on the windows was done in-house like the demolition and painting. He stated that the City building official said that the venting is not up to code so soffit venting had to be created. Windschitl believes that we are getting more and more for our money with this project. One additional concern has been the inner front door that is currently being negotiated. He indicated that the front main door replacement was due to the energy saving project, which makes sense. During this project we have discovered that the building is not insulated well. Throughout the project Honeywell has been adding insulation and fixing areas that have been missing. NEW BUSINESS A. Policies and procedures for the City gym Windschitl indicated that he would like to form a committee for the procedures of the new City gym. The Commission members are welcome to be a part of this committee. The purpose of this group would be to get questions answered regarding operation policies for the gym and to receive community input. Payne, Stroik, Greenhalgh and McDonald volunteered for the committee. Windschitl said that he would like to get some School District members on this committee. Stroik asked if the City would have control over this particular gym. Windschitl replied yes. He stated that some other questions are in regards to access to the pool, fitness area, concessions and how staffing will be handled. The underlying questions need answers. Payne indicated that the Northeaster newspaper article made it sound like the School District was in control of everything. Evans agreed with that statement. Windschitl indicated that the City would control our portion of the building. Peterson stated that after 6:30 p.m. the City could use the larger fitness area. Stroik asked if rental fees have been established. Windschitl replied that the findings of this new committee would be brought to the Park and Recreation Commission for a recommendation to the City Council. Another question to be answered is the busing situation after school hours and how the District is involved with that. B. Columbia Heights Athletic Booster request for concessions Payne indicated that the Athletic Boosters would like to have a trailer or tent to sell concessions for baseball, softball and football games. He stated that Huset Park for Park & Recreation Commission 3/30/2009 Page 3 example would be a great place to sell pop, candy bars, water and other items that do not require any food preparation. He asked what the City requirements are to do this type of activity. Windschitl replied that an application for a peddler’s license would need to be obtained from Community Development. There would be a fee for this license. Windschitl informed Payne that a letter of request for fees to be waived should be brought to the Council along with the application from the Booster’s organization. Peterson stated that he believed the Council would waive the fee because of the significant donations made back to the Recreation Programs. Dave Meyer, resident and Booster member, asked if a small trailer with 2 wheels be okay to use for the concessions. That would make it possible to bring the concessions to other areas than just Huset Park if the City would allow that. Stroik added that it would be similar to what Jeff’s Bobby & Steve’s uses. Windschitl indicated that the permits may be applied for by location and if that is the case the organization could then apply for an all desired locations within the City. Greenhalgh added that a good location for the concessions would be at Prestemon Park during softball tournaments. Windschitl replied that the Puppet Wagon and Event Wagon gets really hot in the summer so a type of tent might be nicer as opposed to a trailer. Stroik asked if the permit could be applied for in general terms for all City Parks. The permit department would have to answer these questions. Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, for the Park & Recreation to support the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters in operating a concession stand at the City Parks during recreational events. Upon vote: Stroik - abstain, Payne - abstain, all ayes. Motion carried. Added request from Mayor Peterson Peterson indicated that fundraising events would be taking place for a bronze statue to be placed at the new public safety building. The group would like to hold a Fire/Police Ball at Murzyn Hall on Saturday, March 21 with a request for the rental fee to be waived in order for all proceeds to go directly to the 501 C-3 fund. Hoium asked if the Lion’s Club would be used for the bartending services. Peterson replied yes with a request to the club for proceeds to go towards the fundraising efforts. Motion by McDonald, second by Stroik, to waive the rental fee of Murzyn Hall for the Motion Fire/Police Ball fundraiser on Saturday, March 21. Upon vote: All ayes. carried. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl reported that in the budget reductions are being looked at for 2009 due to the tax limits being previously set by the City before the funding was cut from the State. The City Manager asked all departments to make recommendations for budget reductions. The City Council will then make the final decisions. Windschitl indicated that one possible situation is to reduce the fours of operation for JPM. There are evenings where the building is only open for civic groups and the question is whether we continue to staff Park & Recreation Commission 3/30/2009 Page 4 for that situation or not. The building would then only be open when there is a paid rental or recreation program in operation. Windschitl stated that these are good civic groups with some residents involved in the programs. There will need to be a way to offset the costs for evening staff and a morning clean up crew in the used rooms. Peterson indicated that the last thing the City wants to do is lay people off from their jobs. He stressed his desire to use the new City gym as much as possible by all ages of Columbia Heights. Evans asked if there was a walking trail inside the gym. Peterson replied that people could walk inside the gym or on a treadmill. Windschitl invited the Commission to tour the gym. One item that has been redone is a larger window at the office to be able to see people entering the facility. Another recent change is to install cable jacks now before the walls are completed and the process would cost more. Stroik asked how the District Athletic Director got the used fitness equipment from Lifetime Fitness and if it were by donation. Windschitl replied that it was a donation and there is a request in for 6 additional pieces for the City gym side of the facility. Stroik indicated that the Athletic Director supplied volunteers in exchange for the used equipment deal. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported that budget reduction recommendations were given to the City Manager. Evan asked what ice-skating rinks are open this year. Hansen replied that Ostrander, McKenna, Keyes and Gauvitte Parks are open. Greenhalgh asked if the lights are on timers at the parks. Hansen replied yes, that they turn around 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Evans asked if there was a water main break on Stinson Boulevard that went into a vacant house. Hansen replied that we have had water main breaks on Stinson Blvd. this past year, but he did not believe that water entered any buildings. C. Commission Members Greenhalgh thanked Mayor Peterson for the good comments during the Council meeting about the positive work that the commissions do and why they exist. Stroik asked when the public would know of the budget reduction decisions. Peterson indicated that would be out by April as far as he knows. ADJOURNMENT Eileen Evans adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II