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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 28, 11 City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission September 28, 2011 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: Tim Lund, Public Works Park Foreman; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Payne asked about the charges for G & K Services regarding how many mops and linens are ordered. Windschitl replied that is a weekly service with two wet and two dry mops that are used throughout Murzyn Hall. They need to be replaced each week with the mess that is created after each event. The cost is about fifteen dollars per week. Hoium asked if having the air conditioning unit fixed by Honeywell was under warranty. Windschitl replied that the current warranty with Honeywell for controls ends October 26,2011. They were called out for a major repair on a controls component. This cost would have been very high if it was not covered under warranty. Hoium asked about NSI. Windschitl explained that NSI is the current preventative maintenance company contracted by the City and provides HVAC support for many of the City buildings. Honeywell warranty covers any issues with the controls for the new system at John P. Murzyn Hall. Motion by Stroik, second by Payne, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Letter of request for an open bar reception on Saturday, October 22, 2011, for 150 guests. Windschitl discussed the details of the request. He informed the Members that the groom is a family member of the former Fire Chief Charlie Kewatt. This will be a responsible bar with 150 guests. Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to allow an open bar for Sunday, October 22, 2011. Upon Motion Carried. vote: All ayes. B. Letter of request for an open bar reception serving beer and wine on November 5, 2011 for approximately 160 guests. Windschitl indicated that the client is serving beer and wine with many guests not drinking alcohol. They are residents of Columbia Heights, have rented the facility in the past and will be renting again in the next year. They have hired Hoium to bartend. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by McDonald, to allow an open bar for November 5, 2011. Upon Motion Carried. vote: All ayes. C. Letter of request for a reduced rental rate for a once a month meeting of the Punsch Klubben, Swedish men’s club submitted by Columbia Heights resident Charles Sanders. Windschitl indicated the Punsch Klubben is a Swedish men’s social club similar to a Lion’s Club. They use a portion of the kitchen to make soup and Swedish pancakes and meet in the bar. The current rate is a 25% discount of the LaBelle Lounge rate due to Charles Sanders being a resident Park & Recreation Commission September 28, 2011 Page 2 of Columbia Heights. They currently pay $176.76 per meeting. Windschitl is suggesting a 50% discount with a rate of $117.84 because they are a repeat rental. Evans asked how many hours they are in the space. Windschitl replied 3-4 hours. He stated that this group will be renting on a monthly basis and the fee will be additional income as the building is already open on Thursday evenings for other events. Hoium asked if this would be an hourly rate instead. Windschitl replied that a set usage fee will increase with any JPM rate increase and be more efficient for payment rather than trying to figure out after each time when the left if it is different from time to time. He indicated that they do clean up the areas of use. Hoium asked if this would be considered for any type of group. Windschitl replied yes as long as the facility is available and it is a responsible group. Motion by Hoium, second by Stroik, to approve the 50% discounted rental rate making the fee Motion Carried. $117.84 per time for the Punsch Klubben. Upon vote: All ayes. OLD BUSINESS A. Ramsdell Park updates Lund indicated that the construction is mostly complete. There are approximately twenty items on a punch list to finish, man hole work, and a few items on the shelter. Stroik asked if the Ramsdell memorial had been moved. Lund replied that only the flag pole had been relocated. Stroik had heard a comment from someone about the Ramsdell family having some responsibility in putting money towards the moving of the memorial. Peterson indicated that the Police Department is in charge of the memorial. He had heard that they wanted to improve the current wood plaque to a stone memorial. Payne indicated that the slope of the ballfield in right fields slopes down to the catch basin. Lund replied that there needs to be some slope to avoid standing water. Evans asked if the City is watering the field. Lund will have staff look in to the slope of the field. Lund replied the contractor is manually turning the water on because the controller is not installed for the sprinkler system yet. Payne thanked everyone for the playground and it looks really good. Lund replied that playground was purchased at the same time as the Huset West playground with the grant from Game Time so the City only paid half price for the playground equipment. Stroik mentioned how nice the added green space in the corner looks with the trees. Windschitl indicated the possibility of holding a future meeting at Ramsdell Park. He stated there should be recognition of the Ramsdell family with the moving of the memorial and it might be better to do this in the spring once the park and memorial are complete. B. Future Park Development Lund stated that LaBelle Park would be the next park to pursue plans for redevelopment. Stroik indicated previous discussions of having McKenna Park next for improvements. Windschitl replied that McKenna Park was discussed for playground updates in regards to a grant that Kevin Hansen was applying for. He asked Lund where the used playground equipment from Ramsdell Park went to. Lund indicated it is being installed at LaBelle Park on Circle Terrace Boulevard. Evans stated that the playground equipment at McKenna Park may not need to be replaced, but the only equipment there is for younger children. Equipment should be added for the older children. Evans indicated that Keyes Park is the same way where there is a need for older children to play on. Park & Recreation Commission September 28, 2011 Page 3 Stroik indicated that she spoke with the Finance Director Kloiber regarding the United Way project. When people donate to the United Way they can allocate where their donations will go to and would like to see the City take part in that option. Stroik also spoke with Kloiber regarding a round up program with utility bill payments. In this type of program a resident could pay their utility bill and round up to an even dollar amount above your bill with those funds allocated to a designated fund or project within the City. Evans remembered a discussion on this topic in the past and the fact that the City does utility bills on a quarterly basis was an issue. Windschitl stated that the Park Development Fund has been depleted with the improvements to Ramsdell Park. In a discussion with Hansen, he indicated pursuing the LaBelle Park development plan to get an idea of what the costs would be. Regarding the boardwalk area the cost will be high. Windschitl would like to see some improvements done in that area. A park plan would cost about $12,000. Then if funding would become available we would have to decide what steps to take. Evans questioned doing a park development plan at this time when there isn’t any money to make any changes. She stated the Huset Park plan was made and then nothing ever came out of those plans. Windschitl read an email response from Hansen. On LaBelle Park and master planning this plan would cost in the $12,000 range. Hansen put money in the 2012 Parks Budget for a Master Park Development Plan for future improvements. The Park Development Fund has been expended with the improvements at Sullivan Park, Silver Lake Park, Huset Park and this year Ramsdell Park. The primary revenue source for this fund is through park dedication associated with new development. With the current economy this is not likely to be a short term revenue source. We can explore other sources of revenue such as grants but those are very limited and focused on projects of regional significance. With a Master Plan we can budget for phased improvements based on available revenue over time. Evans indicated with a smaller amount of money, she feels it would be better to use it for added playground equipment for older children at Keyes and McKenna Parks rather than to use it for a plan that will sit around for years. Greenhalgh stated that those are two of most used parks. Windschitl suggested putting the topic on hold until the next meeting when Hansen is available for discussion. He restated that by having a plan improvements could be made over time. Motion by Payne, second by Greenhalgh, to table the discussion of future park development until Motion Carried. the next meeting. Upon vote: All ayes. NEW BUSINESS A. LaBelle Park closing time Evans reported visiting the basketball park and that the court is not exactly boarded on three sides by buildings with the location at a lower level than the parking lot. Greenhalgh stated that yes the noise does travel when there isn’t much of any other noise, but where else are kids supposed to play outside. The court was removed from Keyes Park due to problems. Windschitl replied that removing the court at Keyes did make a difference and has received good comments. Evans stated Prestemon Park was a problem for a while too, but hopes that police are patrolling the area more often and she has not seen the gang activity at that park. Peterson asked what time the parks close. Windschitl replied that the City Code of Ordinance states that the parks close at 11:00 p.m. Hoium asked if the court is lit. Windschitl replied there is no light on the court but the street light may provide some over flow lighting. Park & Recreation Commission September 28, 2011 Page 4 Windschitl indicated he has corresponded via email with a resident in that area. This resident indicated there is a sign on the fence at the court stating no basketball after 10:00 p.m. but it is very faded and hard to read. The resident would like the sign replaced or renewed. Windschitl indicated this is not an ordinance and would not be enforced by the police. The resident also mentioned seeing use of alcohol in the parking lot and would call the police if he sees that kind of behavior in the future. Windschitl suggested putting some sings up at the courts as the resident is requesting. Greenhalgh mentioned previous discussion of renewing signs at all of the parks because so many of them are difficult to read. Windschitl replied he would like to see the signs updated and consistent at all of the City parks. Windschitl reported speaking with this resident regarding the need for the park closing time to be at 11:00 p.m. in the City Code of Ordinance due to the need for men’s softball league with games sometimes ending after 10:00 p.m. Therefore we would not want to change the ordinance. Hoium asked why the time should be changed for one complaint. He indicated that no one knows why or when the sign was place stated there is no basketball after 10:00 p.m. Peterson asked about the curfew and if the people playing basketball are youth or adults. He agreed with leaving the sign up for no basketball after 10:00 p.m. to see if it helps, but to make sure that this resident knows it will not be enforced. Windschitl indicated Staff will update the current sign. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl reported two part-time staff was recently hired for Murzyn Hall to help out in the times where current staff is unavailable to work. Windschitl attended a recent City Council meeting to receive approval on replacement of the Murzyn Hall fire alarm because it is not a budgeted item. Over the previous three months there have been numerous problems with the fire alarm going off with no fire or smoke. The current system was installed in the 1970’s and the panel is malfunctioning. A motion was approved to get bids on a new system from Council. Windschitl indicated the money would come from the head custodian position that has not been replaced therefore there is money within the budget for personnel and not go over the current 2011 Recreation budget. It will hopefully be replaced in the next few weeks. Windschitl reported speaking with another resident concerned about people smoking along the trail around Sullivan Lake Park near the Medtonic building. This resident has contacted Medtronic and was told that employees are not allowed to smoke on Medtronic property. Windschitl contacted Medtronic’s operations department and is working with them to create an area outside of the building for smokers to be at so they are not on the trail system. Hoium indicated that smokers do have the right to smoke on the trails. Windschitl replied that yes according to our policy there is no organized youth event going on and they do have the right to smoke on the trails. Windschitl indicated the rear parking lot of Murzyn Hall is in rough condition and very cracked. He had put money in the budget this year for improvements, about $12,000. The streets department had been working to create a situation for the water to drain and funnel out of the back of the lot. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Lund reported the seasonal crew was very good again this summer. Three employees will remain on staff until the end of October which really helps. Staff is working on top dressing some of the Park & Recreation Commission September 28, 2011 Page 5 areas in the Parks where the grass is not growing very well. Areas include Huset Park along the parkway and the new areas at Sullivan Park near the shelter. The salvaged playground from Ramsdell Park will be moved to Circle Terrace. C. Commission Members Greenhalgh reported the CH Basketball Association used the Hylander Center for a tournament this past weekend and continue to receive a lot of positive feedback on how nice the facility is. Evans stated that during this summer she has noticed how clean the parks have been. She often cleans different areas of the parks that she uses and it seems to help when others use the park that they keep it clean. Stroik asked if the ice rinks will be open again this year. Lund reported yes, it will be the same three as last year. ADJOURNMENT Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II