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HomeMy WebLinkAboutdecember-9 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission December 9, 2009 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Justin Grussing; 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 OATH OF OFFICE Justin Grussing took the oath of office as a Park and Recreation Commission Member. APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Stroik, second by Hoium, to approve consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for an open bar on December 18, 2009 Windschitl stated that this request is for an open bar with a smaller group of guests and will be serving beer and wine. Windschitl indicated he felt this bar would be operated in a very responsible manner. He also stated that the Commission would be seeing more of these types of requests due to the policy change regarding open bar service. Motion by Hoium, second by McDonald, to allow the open far for this event. Upon vote: Motion Carried. All ayes. B. Request for the fee to be waived for use of the Huset Park East Jefferson building during a youth group fundraising event from St. Matthew Lutheran Church Evans asked if the group would need to use bathroom facilities. Windschitl indicated that at the Jefferson building the heat is maintained to keep the pipes from freezing and this group would use a key for the building and bathroom facilities, the heat would also be available for them. He believes that this type of event is a good cause and a good reason to waive the fee for the fundraising cause. The church will also cleanup after the event. Event date is to be determined but the group is flexible and will work with availability. Motion by Hoium, second by Stroik, to waive the reservation fee for the use of the Huset Park East Jefferson building for the St. Matthew Lutheran Church fundraising event. Motion Carried. Upon vote: All ayes. C. Letter of appreciation of staff and services at JPM on November 22, 2009 Windschitl indicated the letter of appreciation recognized staff members Saefke, Sue Wolney, Mark Gallagher and the Columbia Heights Lion’s Club for their quality services. Park & Recreation Commission 2 12/9/2009 OLD BUSINESS A. Huset West Playground Dedication Hansen indicated the need for some recognition of what has been accomplished in Huset Park. Tentatively May would be a good month to plan an event. Windschitl replied that one idea is to have a cook out and invite the Huset Park neighborhood as a family potluck get together. He contacted Jeff Bahe from the Jeff, Bobby and Steve’s Youth Foundation to have him determine who should be recognized for significant donations during the fundraising events. Hansen indicated from the City’s perspective there are three main entities that made this possible; GameTime whom the grant was received from, MN/WIS Playground facilitated the grant and whom we got the equipment from and Jeff Bahe because of the significant donations bringing the net cost on the playground equipment to zero. Staff feels that a plaque with names should be constructed. Hoium asked if a dedication or recognition of Jerry Foss, former Commission Member, would be included. Windschitl replied an idea would be to place a memorial bench along the path near the shelter, but would be open to discussion. Hansen asked if the original discussion by the Commission was to have this recognition at the Huset Park shelter or at Gauvitte Park. Members replied at Huset Park because of the ball fields and Foss’s involvement in baseball programs. Comments included support for holding this neighborhood event at the May Park & Recreation Commission meeting and including a small plaque recognizing Foss. B. Silver Lake Beach trail connection with Silverwood Park Hansen displayed the submitted plan for the trail connection. The plan needs to be approved through Silverwood Staff and meet ADA requirements. Silverwood Park would like to have a locking gate at the trail connection to be locked each night. City staff would construct the eight-foot bituminous trial, remove trees in the area and install a light by having Excel Energy extended a power pole. Hoium asked if the City would be funding this project. Hansen replied the funding is in the 2010 budget. He indicated the Three Rivers Park District is paying for the cost of the fencing removal, new fence and gate installation and any additional tree removals, if needed. In materials the cost for this trail is around $8,000 - $10,000. Hoium asked the length of the trail. Hansen replied 220 feet. Hansen indicated consideration of designing a path to come down the sliding hill. Installing a switchback trail system with heavy landscaping would improve the conditions and safety of the sliding hill. C. Ramsdell Park Hansen indicated that a proposal from Brauer & Associates would be about $20,000 for construction plans, plans and specs and all contract administration. This does need to go through City Council for approval. Hansen discussed prioritizing what could be completed at this time from the Master Park Plan as that has all of the detailed plans for future improvements; ball field, additional parking, playground equipment, additional Park & Recreation Commission 3 12/9/2009 parking, a shelter, skate park, a walking trail and other items. Drainage will need to be done at this park no matter what. Hansen stated that $275,000 is budgeted for improvements next year on this 2009 delayed project. Payne asked if the land for the proposed skate park is owned by the School District. Hansen replied yes, and the District is willing to work with the City to deed over the land for future improvements. The District is not interested in owning a skate park. He stated there are interesting designs in other cities that use concrete, which would reduce and eliminate maintenance. Stroik indicated past discussion on going to the public for donations for Ramsdell Park in general. Hansen replied that is a good idea. He also stated there is not a lot of grant funding available for park improvements. Windschitl asked if fencing for the ball field is included in the plan. Hansen replied that it would be removable fencing for the soccer and baseball field. McDonald asked about removing or keeping the building. Windschitl replied that building is used for summer programming and is one of the most successful parks. He asked if the existing ball field could receive enhancements as opposed to reconfiguring the whole thing to save costs. Hansen stated the initial criteria in the planning stage were to use this field for softball, youth baseball and soccer. He also stated what the draw will be for people to attended this park and where parking will be best located. For drainage purposes relocating the orientation of the field is best. Hansen indicated that with any site improvements involving mass grading and there is a requirement for water quality treatment. Hansen stated that he would be requesting authorization from the City Council to prepare construction plans by contracting with Brauer & Associates, Ltd. Upon approval the design process would begin with Commission and public input. Payne expressed his opinion to see the improvements made on the ball field and green space. The skate park could be installed at a later date with fundraising efforts if public interest calls for that. He questioned the need to update the pool. Hansen replied this wading pool has a leak. All repairs that can be made have been done without tearing up the whole pool. To make further repairs the whole pool would need major renovation. NEW BUSINESS A. Sleigh ride event to be held at Huset Park Windschitl indicated Albert Thairn, owner of Albert’s bar, proposed an idea to hold an annual winter carnival community event along with the Columbia Heights Athletic Boosters and the Recreation Department. This would include games, food for sale, a horse drawn sleigh ride and ice-skating. The Jefferson building would be the main area of use. The tentative date is February 6, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Windschitl recommends waiving the reservation fee for the use of Huset Park. Windschitl spoke with Thairn regarding insurance requirements from vendors involved. Park & Recreation Commission 4 12/9/2009 Motion by McDonald, second by Hoium, to waive the fee for this winter carnival event with Albert’s, the CH Athletic Boosters and the CH Recreation Department. Upon vote: Motion carried. Payne abstain, all ayes. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl reported the Hylander Center attendance numbers have been increasing. The adult night and Saturday numbers are high, after school attendance is low for Elementary but at least those in attendance have some thing to do and the High School attendance numbers are high. The Police Department is on Tuesday and the Recreation Department is on Thursday for High School Students. He reminded the Commission that there is no charge for students to attend the open gym times. Windschitl indicated youth basketball is in the gym Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Games started and there were a lot of people in attendance. McDonald asked if basketball tournaments have begun. Windschitl replied yes. The City, School District and the CH Basketball Association are dividing the profits three ways. It is estimated that each entity will receive between five and six hundred dollars per tournament. Currently there are eight tournaments booked. The downside is that there will be no open gym on Saturdays during tournament weekends. Windschitl has informed current Hylander Center users that the fitness center would still be open for use on those weekends. He indicated the fitness center is open for use any time that the gym is staffed for use even during open gym or youth basketball programs. Windschitl reported presenting the annual budget to the City Council during a work session and invited members to attend the Council meeting next week. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen handed out an item from the Sullivan Lake Town Home residents. The request is for a trail around the Sullivan Lake, to trim brush and trees around the lake, to maintain the pristine view of the lake for the benefit of the town homes and to have the DNR dredge out the lake to eliminate weeds. Hansen suggested discussing this at a future meeting. Where the shoring has shifted or is nearing failure makes it difficult and expensive to redo in order to make the trail wide enough. Hansen stated the Parks Department currently trims and maintains trees around the lake. He indicated the DNR would not allow clearing the waterway unless 50% of the water surface area has been encroached upon by aquatic growth. Hansen stated when the Park & Recreation Commission held a public meeting at Sullivan Lake Park it was the gain input on what the focus area and long-term improvements should be at the park. The trail was discussed, as a future, but time undesignated improvement. He recognizes that the trail does need improvements around the lake. Hansen suggested placing the item on the next Commission meeting. Park & Recreation Commission 5 12/9/2009 C. Commission Members Hoium asked if there is a defibrillator in John P. Murzyn Hall. Windschitl indicated that is being worked on with a grant through Allina. The Lion’s Club has also discussed being trained as part of the requirements to receive the grant. Hoium asked about getting a better sound system for events at JPM. He witnessed an event where the sound was cutting out. Windschitl explained the cordless microphone was recently updated and at that particular event they were using a piece of equipment that was donated to the Recreation Department, which some one else unplugged prior to the program beginning. ADJOURNMENT Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II