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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 28 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission July 28, 2010 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Tom Greenhalgh; 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 Also Present: Derek Larson, Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Program Coordinator; Liz Bray Recreation Program Coordinator APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Stroik, second by Greenhalgh, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All Motion Carried. ayes. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for an open bar on September 18, 2010 for a wedding reception B. Request for an open bar on October 23, 2010 for a wedding reception Discussion was held on the two requests for open bar wedding receptions. Windschitl indicated that these renters are using experienced bartenders. Stroik asked if the previous bars have been successful and following the guidelines. Windschitl replied yes and the new security company there has not been any problems. Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, to allow an open bar reception for letters and Motion Carried. requests items A through B. Upon vote: All ayes. C. Request for a full refund from a canceled rental on July 3, 2010 Evans remembered receiving a similar request in the past that was granted a partial refund of fifty percent. She feels that a precedent was established it should not change. Windschitl indicated this date is a holiday weekend and does not always have a lot of interest for an event. Saefke replied after the cancellation the date was on hold, but no renter reserved the date. Windschitl discussed the personal situation stated in the letter and that this resident uses the City Parks frequently so she is known by staff. Payne stated that a fifty percent refund would be fair because of the advance notice of the cancellation and that the date was not rented to any one else. McDonald agrees that the five month cancellation was far enough in advance to be able to re-rent the date. Motion by Payne, second by McDonald, to refund fifty percent of the down payment for Motion Carried. the canceled rental on July 3, 2010. Upon vote: All ayes. Park & Recreation Commission July 28, 2010 Page 2 D. Request for a fee waived rental of John P. Murzyn Hall to hold an evening fundraiser in late August or early September Evans indicated in the past if the request is for a weekend there has been the $50 entry fee and $20 per hour charge, but if the date is a weeknight when other programs are in the building there is no charge. Windschitl indicated this pattern has worked in the past. He stated the group would need to provide a copy of the homeowner’s liability insurance from the Columbia Heights address. Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to charge the $50 entry fee and $20 per hour of use fee if the event is held on a weekend or to waive the fee if the event is held on a weeknight with other programs in the building. The renter would need to provide a copy of homeowner’s liability insurance from the Columbia Heights residence. Upon vote: All Motion carried. ayes. OLD BUSINESS A. Tobacco-Free Park Policy Derek Larson, Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Program Coordinator, explained policies and stated 150 Cities in the State of MN have adopted some version of a tobacco-free youth policy. He indicated that majority of Cities include their entire park system when passing these policies as it is easier to post general signs as opposed to trying to post signs for specific areas only on what is and isn’t included in the policy. Larson indicated the Tobacco-Free signs would be provided free of charge. Hansen asked how many signs are provided. Larson replied there is no limit. Hansen asked how many signs are posted at each park or if there are areas where signage is concentrated. Larson replied he has seen any where from two to ten signs per park depending on the layout of the park and the desire of the City. Hoium asked if there are other variations of the sign available. Larson indicated there are two signs. Either “No Tobacco Use During Youth Activities” and “No Tobacco Use On This Park Property.” Windschitl indicated this policy will be open for interpretation by those reading the signs. He stated that the majority of the ball fields in the City are designated for youth and adult activities throughout the year. Windschitl favors a policy designating children’s areas like the wading pools and playgrounds where children are all of the time. Stroik asked if the ball field areas would be included during youth games. Greenhalgh replied that has always been asked of coaches to remind parents of no tobacco use on the field during youth activities. Hoium feels that most smokers will abide by signage stating no tobacco use in specific areas. Hansen clarified with the Commission that the general understanding of the tobacco-free policy is a self policing policy. The Commission agreed. Hansen asked Larson how other Cities help to enforce the policy. Larson replied that is why most Cities adopt a policy and not an ordinance because an ordinance would have police involvement for enforcement. He indicated history has shown that when there are signs posted for tobacco use it significantly cuts down on the tobacco in the park. Hansen indicated that the question for the Commission is what areas to post the signs. Park & Recreation Commission July 28, 2010 Page 3 Evans asked the Commission if there was a problem with putting up signs in the parks or if the would deter any one from using the parks. Payne replied there are times when people would smoke in the park, for example during Jamboree or adult sports and a sign that states no tobacco use in the park would not be effective. He suggests signage by the pools and playground areas. Stroik replied that a sign near the ball fields would be needed during youth events. She indicated that it would be the responsibility of the Commission and the City to communicate the new policy to the public. Larson stated there is a sign that states No Tobacco Use During Youth Events. Some members agree with that wording. Hoium asked what the cost of a new sign with different wording would be. Hansen indicated that a new sign typically costs sixty to eighty dollars per sign. Windschitl replied the hope is to mount these signs on existing posts or fencing. Grussing asked if the Tobacco-Free Program would give some of each sign for use in the City. Larson replied yes and stated that he would help to word a policy to communicate the needs of the City. Windschitl agreed with using both signs throughout the park system. Evans indicated that Larson would help to draft a few policies to fit using both signs in the Parks. Windschitl will be in contact with Larson and bring the proposed policies to the Commission. Discussion was held on what areas to consider as tobacco-free areas and which sign would be the best fit throughout the Parks. B. Huset Park West Playground & Shelter Signage Hansen reported working with Windschitl to get some recognition signage up for the donations provided for the Huset West playground. The signage can be ordered through the same playground vendor to match the colors in the equipment and custom made to our needs. Hansen distributed a photo example of what the signage would look like. Hansen indicated the main contributors to the playground are; MN/WI Playground, Gametime, and Bobby & Steve’s Auto World Youth Foundation. Jeff Bahe from Jeff, Bobby & Steve’s Auto World has a list of primary contributors to add to the list as well. Windschitl replied that he received the names listed as Bobby & Steve’s Auto World Youth Foundation sponsored by Jeff, Bobby & Steve’s Auto World, Coca-Cola and Egan Oil. Hansen stated that wording could be on one side of the sign and the other could list Gametime; who gave the $34,000 plus grant and also MN/WI Playground. He suggested a simple title of “This playground was made possible by generous donations from…” Evans asked where the sign would be located. Hansen replied that it would be right in the playground in the concrete perimeter area. Hoium asked how much the sign will cost. Hansen stated the custom made sign with graphic art is about $1500. Peterson asked how big the sign will be. Hansen replied five feet tall. Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, to move forward with the recognition sign for Motion carried. the Huset West playground donations. Upon vote: All ayes. Park & Recreation Commission July 28, 2010 Page 4 Windschitl indicated previous discussions were held to place a sign at the Huset Park West shelter in dedication to the years of service of Commission Member Jerry Foss. Windschitl informed the Commission of a new problem at the Huset Park West shelter where people are reserving the shelter and when they arrive for their event there are people there using the shelter and grills. This problem as primarily occurred at the new Huset Park West shelter. He suggests trying out a plaque where the renter could place a sign provided by the Recreation office when the reservation is made, that would state the shelter is reserved for a specific group on the date of use. This would place the responsibility on the user to alleviate the problem of another group using the shelter when they arrive. Windschitl indicated that the residents of the town home development have been under the impression that the playground and shelter belongs to their development. Grussing offered, as a resident of the town home development he would bring the park reservation information to a board meeting for distribution to residents. Windschitl indicated that it is not only the residents of the town homes that have used the shelter without reservations. Grussing replied that the shelter and playground were installed at the same time when some of the town homes have been built so it is easy to see how the residents could mistake that. Stroik asked if there is information in the City Heights Happenings newsletter about park reservations. Saefke replied that information is printed every Spring and some times in the Summer editions. Evans agrees that a reserved sign would be a good idea. Peterson indicated it is a good problem to have and shows that the Parks are being used, he agrees with a reservation sign. Hoium asked what the fee is for park reservations. Windschitl indicated thirty dollars plus tax, or thirty-two dollars and fourteen cents for residents of Columbia Heights. Motion by Payne, second by Greenhalgh, to place a plaque or sign in the Huset Park West Shelter for recognition of Jerry Foss’ years of service on the Park & Recreation Motion carried. Commission from September 1993 to May 2008. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Hoium, to place a reserved sign at the Huset Park West shelter and include contact information for the Recreation Department to reserve Motion carried. the shelter for future use. Upon vote: All ayes. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl had no further information to report. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen had no further information to report. Park & Recreation Commission July 28, 2010 Page 5 C. Commission Members Grussing indicated a problem with the drainage over the walkway near the playground at Huset Park West. He feels this will be a problem when there is ice. Hansen indicated this will be a Fall project to fix the problem. Stroik reported hearing a comment about how nice the Huset Park West playground, shelter and path looks, but then the garage is an eyesore. She suggests painting a mural or landscaping around it to make it look better. Evans asked if there is a problem with the chlorine in the water because a specific hydrant is running a few times per day. Hansen indicated there is a complex problem with the water chemistry and that chlorine is just a part of the problem. What is happening is trying to draw fresh water through the line and although it is a waste, it is one way to improve the water quality. This particular problem is all over town. Staff are replacing water mains, lining and flushing water to control the problem. ADJOURNMENT Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II