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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin-august-26, 09 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission August 26, 2009 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Tom Greenhalgh; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald; David Payne; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to approve consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Evans asked if the Tessman Company listed on the Public Works bills did the work at Silver Lake Beach Park. Hansen replied no, they are the company that grass seed is purchased from. Silver Lake Beach was redone and re-sprayed yesterday. Evans asked what the line item is for on Murzyn Hall expenses for Creative Vision Technologies. Windschitl replied that is the software system that allows the Honeywell air system to be accessed from an external source. The IS Department required the purchase of this switch to be able to conduct this process without using the City network and to protect from any computer hacking. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for Open Bar on September 18, 2009 Windschitl indicated that the most recent policy does not allow open bars without an exception of approval from the Commission. He would like to take these requests on an individual basis. This particular renter will run a professional bar with responsible bartenders. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Hoium, to allow an open bar on September 18, 2009. Motion Carried. Upon vote: All ayes. B. Request for the Columbia Heights Resident Discount for a CHHS Class Reunion Windschitl stated that in the past the resident discount has been approved for Columbia Heights reunions. There may be a class member living in the City but the question has always been in finding a person to provide their homeowner’s insurance policy. Windschitl stated that whoever the renter will be for this event, they would provide a copy of their policy. Motion by Hoium, second by McDonald, to give the 25% discount to the reunion group Motion carried. on October 9, 2009. Upon vote: All ayes. C. Request for an extended rental time until 2:00 a.m. for the Ethiopian New Year event on September 5, 2009 Windschitl indicated a letter of request was added to the meeting from the renters on September 5, 2009. Evans stated that our policy ends all rentals at 1:00 a.m. and does not want people in the neighborhood to be inconvenienced. Motion by Payne, second by Hoium, to deny the request of an additional hour until 2:00 Motion carried. a.m. on September 5, 2009. Upon vote: All ayes. OLD BUSINESS A. Park Playground Equipment Hansen indicated that the swing set and diggers have been ordered for Huset Park West. The equipment is in the back shop of Public Works and is waiting to be installed by staff. Evans asked if the funding was received from the Auto World Foundation. Hansen replied no and that it was purchased for $3,500 to begin equipment installation. He stated that a second fundraiser golf tournament and raised money with that, but did not know about results. Mayor Peterson indicated that a check would be presented at the upcoming City Council Meeting. Hansen stated that a grant has been applied for through the equipment manufacturer, Game Time. The equipment at both Sullivan Lake and Silver Lake Parks is from Game Time. The grant is taken on a first come, first served bases and is a 50/50 matching grant with the equipment being purchased from Game Time. Hansen indicated that if received this grant would be applied for equipment at Huset and Ramsdell Parks. B. New City Gym Windschitl stated the Heights Happenings Newsletter has information for public use at the new City gym. The current schedule of times is just a start to allow the public into the facility. Future times and programs will be added. He indicated additions for after school hours and recreation basketball times will be starting soon. Windschitl stated to get the program started the open times would be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Fees are $1 Daily Drop In, $10 Monthly Pass Residents and $20 Monthly Pass Non-Residents. An adult open gym time will be Wednesdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at a rate of $1 per time. This would avoid conflicts for youth church activities on Wednesday evenings. Times and rates are only for the City gym and exercise side of the Hylander Center. Windschitl requested volunteers to supervise the area and help to subsidize the supervision. The School District would decide on rates for their gym and fitness area with discounted rates for Senior Citizens and CH Athletic Booster Club members. Windschitl indicated a request was made from the City Manager to work with the School District in setting up the option for using the School District’s exercise room for an additional fee along with the monthly pass in the morning on the City side. He stated the School Board debated whether or not to charge a fee and some members voted against having a fee. Windschitl stated that a minimal fee would create a buy in and respect of the facility; a fee would offset costs for utilities, staffing, repairs, cleaning and supervision. He indicated a concern for the public might be getting time in the gym during the winter months due to the high demand from winter programs. Adjustments will have to be made to best accommodate all groups. Evans asked if the gym space would ever be rented out to outside groups. Windschitl indicated that tournaments would be run together with the CH Basketball Association, School District and City for a three way split on the revenue. The gym will not be open to the public on days when there are tournaments or holidays. A decision would need to be made with the Joint Powers Committee in regards to renting the space out to other groups. NEW BUSINESS A. Gateway Pedestrian Bridge Hansen updated that the consulting firm of Bonestroo had done the preliminary work. Bids were taken for the final design and the consulting firm of SRF will prepare the final design. Public feedback on the project was received through the internet, phone calls and a display at the Library. Majority of the comments were positive and in favor of the two designs displayed at the Commission meeting. Hansen indicated a truss style design would be pursued for pricing to match a similar color and aesthetic design as in the City Parks. Public comments indicated a preference to letter design for the City logo and not the circle design and that the bridge is well lit. The Council selected a spiral design on the East side of Central Avenue and a switchback design on the West side of Central Avenue. Hansen stated this structure would have a large presence on Central Avenue. He has requested for SRF to incorporate some street-scaping design that directs people to use the bridge and not cross on the street. Hoium asked if there would be a speed steps option for faster crossing than using the switchback or spiral. Hansen replied that was a recommendation from MnDOT and will be bid as an alternate. There will be a power point presentation at the upcoming City Council meeting. He stated that the main design elements of the bridge are done, the truss style, switchback, spiral and no center support column. By the end of the next week a 15% plan is due for MnDOT to review. B. Neighborhood Event Wagon Windschitl informed the Commission that the event wagon was parked in the street along st 41 Avenue and Jefferson Street due to not being able to fit the van and the wagon in the alley to get to the driveway of the renter. At 2:30 a.m. the wagon was rear-ended by a drunk driver and was pushed up into front yards. He indicated that no one was seriously injured but the insurance company totaled the wagon out. Windschitl priced out a new trailer and purchased the same size, put logos on it and made adjustments inside for the chair and table racks. Two weeks after the accident the wagon was reserved four times in one week. C. Recreation Department Federal Grant Funding Windschitl indicated this is a similar grant in which the Recreation programs have been operating under and would be a continuation of funds. He indicated this new grant would be a partnership with the Columbia Heights School District, the Columbia Heights Library, Stages Theater and other groups. The amount approved would be $45,000 each year for the next three years. Windschitl indicated this funds summer programs and youth trips on school release days. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl stated the youth football program has had many participants who are unable to afford their own shoulder pads and helmets. Many scholarships are used and every piece of donated equipment has been given out. Some of the teams were struggling to get enough players and within the last few weeks the numbers have increased. Windschitl asked the Commission Members if the 5:30 p.m. meeting time would work for the regular scheduled September meeting. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen indicated that the playground equipment at Circle Terrace is vandalized often. He stated that due to the vandalism it is time consuming for cleanup and repair. This is an item to watch and make a possible decision in the future for removal. The children that are seen in the area would not be in the correct age group to use the type of equipment that is there. Hansen stated that seven seasonal employees would be leaving this week and the remaining three within the following week. The Department would hire a part-time employee for the fall and winter. The season began with twenty seasonal employees. Hansen stated the pools would close on Labor Day. Windschitl and Hoium indicated the Huset Park pool was drained over the previous weekend. Hansen replied he was unaware of that condition and would look into the situation. C. Commission Members Payne indicated the shelter at Sullivan Lake Park is really nice to use. He liked the lights that stay on inside the shelter. Mayor Peterson informed the Commission about a pig roast fundraiser to be held on Sunday, September 20, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at JPM. He is requesting the rental fee to be waived for the fundraiser benefiting the statue at the new public safety building honoring past, present and future police and firefighters. Motion by Payne, second by Greenhalgh, to waive the fee for the police and fire statue Motion carried. fundraiser on September 20, 2009. Upon vote: All ayes. ADJOURNMENT Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II