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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin-October-28, 09 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission October 28, 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; Marsha Stroik Staff Present: Gary Peterson, Mayor; Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Greenhalgh asked about the Public Works bill listed as a traffic light charge. Hansen replied that was a charge for the safety lights in the parks. Greenhalgh asked about the Prestemon House item versus the Prestemon Park item. Hansen replied that Prestemon House item would be for the field lights. Windschitl replied that football games are being played there. Motion by Stroik, second by McDonald, to approve consent agenda. Upon vote: All Motion Carried. ayes. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for a non-profit rental rate on Friday, March 19, 2010 Windschitl stated that the Midwest Polka Association has rented JPM in the past. The reduced rate of the $40 entry fee and $15 per hour charge was previously applied. Motion by Payne, second by McDonald, to charge the non-profit rate of $40 entry fee and $15 per hour in the building and to send a bill if extra cleanup is required after the Motion Carried. event. Upon vote: All ayes. B. Request for an open bar on September 5, 2010 Windschitl indicated that he met with the renters for this reception on September 5, 2010 and they will be having a small and responsible group. He discussed the rental rules with them and they will make sure to operate the bar under the guidelines provided. Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, to allow the September 5, 2010 rental to have an open bar for their reception. Windschitl stated that a staff meeting was held with all part-time JPM staff to go over the policies for each rental. The goal is to make sure that all staff are aware of the policies and properly enforce the rules during all events. Park & Recreation Commission 2 1/12/20109 OLD BUSINESS A. Sliding Hill at Silver Lake Beach Evans stated the biggest problem at Silver Lake Beach is that there is no flat space at the bottom of the hill. Hansen indicated the need for a recommendation to implement the suggested items from the LMC with exception of two. The suggestion for additional hay bales is not needed around the erosion control logs because they have been removed during construction. The other removed suggestion is to increase the height of the burm, which is where the trail will come down from the hill, and this would create more opportunities for a jump at the end. The purpose of these recommendations is to reduce a liability perspective with the insurance carrier. Evans responded to the recommendation of placing additional hay bales by the burm increases the problem of not having enough flat space at the end of the hill to come to a stop. She asked if the area could be posted as a no sliding hill. Hansen replied that initial plans are to fence the area of the hill eliminating a portion of the hill at the top near the parking lot and rerouting the sliders to wrap around the long side of the hill and come down along the side of the burm. This would take a little bit more fencing, but would create a longer area to come to a stop at the bottom of the hill. Placing a sign for no sliding will not eliminate people from using it. Windschitl indicated that the City Manager would like to keep this as a sliding hill and make the needed adjustments to do so. One suggestion is to place a snow fence to section off the first row of parking stalls. Evans stated the holding pond never drains and is always filled with water. Hansen indicated that this pond does not have amended soil in it like the larger pond does. It was also known from the beginning of the project that these two ponds, and particularly the larger pond would hold some water in it. The ponds have under drains and may need additional monitoring. Evans questioned the pond near the playground area and was told earlier in the design process that this pond would not hold water. Hansen replied the general theory is for the infiltration basin to not hold water for no more than 72 hours when there is an under drain. Windschitl asked about the trail connection with the Three Rivers Park District. Hansen indicated that he and Mayor Peterson attended a meeting with their staff. They are supportive of the connection. The alignment has been completed and surveyed, the trail connection is being designed and plans need to be approved by the Three Rivers Park District. Hansen stated the connection would be made some time in the spring. Evans asked if the District would be replacing the fencing. Hansen replied that the City would build the trail and the District would replace the fence and install a gate. Hansen indicated that he would bring the plan to the next Commission Meeting. Park & Recreation Commission 3 1/12/20109 Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, to recommend making the four sliding hill Motion carried. recommendations at Silver Lake Beach. Upon vote: All ayes. B. Huset Playground / Jeff, Bobby & Steve’s Auto World Youth Foundation donation Hansen indicated that one third of the playground has been installed and should be close to completed by the end of the week. Surfacing wood chips and drain tile will be finished in the next week. Stroik asked how much the donation was from Jeff’s, Bobby and Steve’s Auto World Youth Foundation. Peterson replied $38,000. Hanson replied that with the addition of the grant from Game Time the playground equipment did not cost the City anything. Stroik asked how much the playground equipment cost. Hansen replied $70,000. NEW BUSINESS A. John P. Murzyn Hall 2011 rental rates Windschitl indicated there are no changes to the current JPM rental rates for 2011 other than increasing the hourly rate of the security officer by one dollar. He stated that trying to compare the JPM facility and policies with other facilities is not a true comparison especially when talking about food and bar policies. He feels that the current rates are fair. Windschitl indicated the linen rentals are a positive service to offer clients and we do make money on the resale. The security rate is being increased due to projected 2011 increases. McDonald asked how many Saturdays have been rented in 2009. Saefke indicated that most Saturdays were rented with only one or two last minute cancellations were the down payment was kept. She stated that for 2010 the first Saturday in April is available and then there are no more Saturdays until the month of November. Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to approve the proposed 2011 rental rates for JPM. Motion carried. Upon vote: All ayes. B. November meeting Park & Recreation meeting date Evans suggested combining the November and December meeting into one meeting at the beginning of December. After discussion among the Commission the meeting will be th on Wednesday, December 9 at 5:30 p.m. Hansen indicated placing an item on the agenda for the next meeting regarding Ramsdell Park and making a decision to move forward with the master park plan. McDonald asked if there is money in the budget to complete the park. Hansen indicated that because of the grant and donation money received for Huset Park West there are monies to apply toward Ramsdell. McDonald indicated that Ramsdell Park would be nice to complete. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl reported that the youth football season finished this week. Men’s Fall Softball ended last week and had a few rainouts. The Hylander Center Gym is being Park & Recreation Commission 4 1/12/20109 used every week. Adult fitness times are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday open gym from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon and Wednesday Adult Nights. The Wednesday evening participation numbers are increasing each week. It is a great deal for one dollar per time or ten dollars per month for residents. Windschitl indicated that Liz Bray and Deanna Saefke assisted with a youth basketball and a youth wrestling kickoff night at the Hylander Center. The goal was to get kids registered for the programs. There was a good turn out with many families enjoying the evenings; we offered food and activities during the kickoff event. During the basketball night the Timberwolves organization sent college students to conduct activities and drills with the kids. At the beginning of the wrestling night the coaches offered a demonstration in the wrestling room with students. Windschitl reported that during the previous City Council meeting Mayor Peterson thanked the volunteer members of the Beautification Committee. He stated that the committee did a great job with the Parks, Murzyn Hall, the gateway to the City and all of the areas. The season went well, Saefke helped with the ordering of supplies. He indicated that member Sue Murzyn was a great help in guiding us, having taken on the Beautification Committee responsibilities for the first year. Windschitl thanked the Beautification Committee volunteers. Evans asked where the water source is for the flower garden near the railroad tracks on th 37 Avenue. Hansen replied there are irrigation and a spigot that runs under the railroad tracks into the park. He is unsure if it is active because there were problems with leaking to the spigot underneath the tracks. Hansen stated that with the dry season Staff did a lot of watering throughout the City and at one point a staff member was driving around the water truck 3 days a week. In order to replace the water source and fix the leak we need to work within railroad right of way. We have talked about doing a pipe underneath the railroad and with the insurance requirements and the cost to do piping with the casing that they require is difficult. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen stated that the next item would be to get the plans going for Ramsdell Park. There is funding available in the park development fund. The playground equipment is currently in storage. The Columbia Heights School District has expressed interest in building a skate park and expanding the parking lot. Hansen stated the need to meet with members from the C. H. School District regarding the new pedestrian bridge over Central Avenue. The current bridge will need to come down during the school year and wants to minimize that time frame. The reason is due to the large amount of utilities in that area for the construction of the new bridge. C. Commission Members Evans asked about getting new garbage cans or a new company and since the State has mandated using biodegradable bags for yard waste, will there be a separate can for that. Peterson replied no that you would need to buy biodegradable bags. He indicated there is a new company and would be given two cans for each residence, one for recycling and Park & Recreation Commission 5 1/12/20109 one for garbage. Hansen replied that bids were taken and the bids received for 2010 were less than a 2% increase, but that the rate increase in tipping fees make up the 12% increase overall. Hansen stated the Anoka County RTT currently receives all of the City of Columbia Heights’ refuse. Peterson asked about the status of the round about area on Jefferson Street. Hansen replied that there has been no further progress. Windschitl replied that the agreement made with the housing management company along Huset Parkway was that the City would supply the products for the flower area around the development and round about and the management company would maintain these areas. Public Works supplied the woodchips and the management company weeded and spread the woodchips. Hoium asked if all groups are being charged for the use of JPM. Windschitl indicated that most non-profit groups are not being charged each night due to Recreation programs already in session in the building. There will be occasional days when there are no programs and any group using JPM would be charged a $10 per hour fee. Hoium indicated this arrangement is legitimate. Windschitl replied due to budget reductions made earlier this year, groups are now encouraged to meet on the same night during the week to best utilize the space and reduce staffing costs. Now that our full time custodian is cleaning the Public Safety building, our part time staff costs will increase to cover his absence. This will be included in the 2010 budget. ADJOURNMENT Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II