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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApr 24, 2013 min City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission April 24, 2013 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Sean Clerkin; Tom Greenhalgh; Stan Hoium; Kevin McDonald; Marsha Stroik Staff Present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Hoium asked about the bill for the Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement consumption permit and if both the Lions Club and John P. Murzyn Hall are required to pay. Windschitl replied yes, he researched that question years ago. It is a permit that is required by the State of MN just to have liquor in the facility. Motion by Stroik, second by McDonald, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for a reduced fee of John P. Murzyn Hall on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 from ChristLife Evangelical Church in Columbia Heights for a fundraiser. Evans asked if there are other programs happening in the building on that evening. Windschitl replied yes there are programs running in the building until 8:00 p.m. He recommends charging the $20 per hour fee for any time that the group is in the building after 8:00 p.m. Windschitl indicated the group would be in charge of cleanup after their event as well. Motion by Hoium, second by Greenhalgh, to charge $20 per hour for time needed outside of Motion Carried. regular business hours or for any additional staff needed. Upon vote: All ayes. B. Request for an open bar on Saturday, August 2, 2013 for a graduation party. Windschitl indicated this is an adult college graduation party. This family has rented the facility in the past. Windschitl discussed the changes in the alcohol policies with the renter and that there needs to be a trained bartender for the event such as a Lion’s Club member who does bartend for private events. Windschitl recommends allowing the open bar if the renter hires one of the trained bartenders. Clerkin asked if wrist bands needed to be used for an event like this. Windschitl indicated he is not concerned about drop in people who would not be invited. Stroik asked if security would be at the event. Windschitl replied yes. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Clerkin, to allow the open bar as long as they use an approved Motion carried. trained bartender. Upon vote: All ayes. C. Request to waive the rental fee of John P. Murzyn Hall for the Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on May 8, 2013. Peterson asked for the fee to be waived for the use of Murzyn Hall for the Prayer Breakfast and invited the Commission to attend the event. Motion by Hoium, second by McDonald, to waive the rental fee of John P. Murzyn Hall for the Motion carried. annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on May 8, 2013. Upon vote: All ayes. Park & Recreation Commission April 24, 2013 Page 2 OLD BUSINESS A. Wading Pools update Hansen indicated the sandblasting and recoating of the Huset Park and Ramsdell Park wading pools should be done in May. The recoating of the pool is dependent on temperatures above 50 degrees at night for the coating to adhere. Hansen is reviewing final plans for McKenna Park wading pool and should get the plans out for bids within two weeks. Evans asked if the plans were accepted by the state for the ADA requirements of the wading pools. Hansen indicated one pool was accepted for improvements this year and as long as opening permits are given the next pool requirement updates would be done in the third year. Stroik asked if this would affect any of the summer youth programs. Windschitl replied yes and resulting in more transportation of the participants when there are a lot of hot days to go to other parks with pools. Evans asked if the summer programs involve swimming. Windschitl replied that the park programs have always utilized the wading pools because it does get very hot in the park buildings where the programs are held. NEW BUSINESS A. Fireworks for the June 29, 2013 Jamboree Windschitl has the full proposal in hand if anyone would like to review it. Stroik asked if this was the same company as in previous years. Windschitl replied yes. Pyrotechnic Display employs Columbia Heights resident Ben Erickson who will shoot the fireworks that evening. Over the past years he has always heard positive comments. The show will be Saturday, June 29 and if it is rained out it will be Sunday, June 30. Hoium asked if more than one quote or bid was required. Windschitl indicated that he has not received any other quotes or found a company to do it. The way the process works is that the City budgets an amount, and the firework company puts a show together for that dollar amount so it is not really a bid process. McDonald stated that the amount has always been about $6,000. Windschitl replied yes and that donations have been minimal. Motion by Stroik, second by McDonald, to accept the proposal from Pyrotechnic Display for the June 29, 2013 Jamboree fireworks with the rain out date on Sunday, June 30, 2013. Upon vote: Motion carried. All ayes. B. Dog Park Stroik asked who was requesting a dog park. Commission Members commented that people do not pick up feces from their dogs while in the city parks now. Hansen reported a resident attended the most recent City Council meeting requesting that a dog park be considered somewhere in town. The Council showed interested in the idea and referred to the Park & Recreation Commission to evaluate if a dog park would work or be a good fit within the City. Peterson indicated the Council first suggested Lomianki Park; this resident does not have a car so suggested having dog areas in multiple parks. Evans indicated with the required drainage needed in the parks there is not a lot of open area to put in multiple dog parks. Hansen restated that the Commission needs to decide if they would like to explore the process for even installing a dog park within one of the parks. Greenhalgh asked how much the fees or costs would be to have a dog park. Hansen replied that he does not know the costs involved. He gave a handout from DogChannel.com with highlighted suggestions on how to start a dog park. Hansen indicated introducing a dog park can be a two to three year process, which includes sighting, budgeting for fencing, including usage fees, rules, regulations, and other considerations. Park & Recreation Commission April 24, 2013 Page 3 Stroik indicated she is familiar with using dog parks. It is recommended for dogs to have the proper shots, being registered to use the park, how does one monitor those types of issues and also having multiple fenced areas for the size of dog in the area. Clerkin suggested taking a quick financial assessment of what the City of Minneapolis did with the dog park at Columbia Parkway. Although we would not be able to have as large of a dog park that they do, it would indicate the cost to build and maintain. Hansen indicated that is a good idea and also referred back to the handout. Local cities are mentioned in the article regarding the process to start a dog park in your community from a dog owner’s perspective. Hansen reported the average starting cost for a dog park is $20,000, which mostly includes the fencing and signage. A five foot high fence is recommended to surround the entire area and gates. Stroik replied that gates are put at the main entrance and then at each sectioned off area. Evans commented on the maintenance issues regarding mowing the area and users not cleaning up after their dogs. She asked about situations when dogs fight. Stroik replied that it can be somewhat dangerous when dogs are not separated by size. Hansen reported from a funding perspective in operational and in parks capital improvement there is no available money. Peterson suggested sending the resident at the City Council meeting so that he can see the costs and process of starting a dog park. If he wants to get a group together to raise private funding to help with the park he could. Peterson indicated it is not as simple as installing a fence and letting people use the area. Stroik indicated the dog park is a great idea but there are so many other priorities that cost more money than we have available at the moment. Motion by Clerkin, second by Stroik, to send a letter from Chair Evans to the resident and City Council summarizing the discussion, indicating the installation of a dog park needs to be a Motion carried. fundraising or a community funded venture. Upon vote: All ayes. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl indicated spring sports programs have been postponed due to weather. The youth teams have been practicing at the Hylander Center many evenings which has resulted in less open gym time. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported seasonal employees are being hired and some are beginning to start. When the temperature gets warmer the staff will really be behind schedule once the grass starts to grow. In a typical year staff has been out for three weeks prepping and getting areas ready for mowing. As of right now there are three seasonals out of eighteen that have started. Evans asked about the burning in the ponds. Hansen replied that will happen as we are under contract with Prairie Restoration. The areas to be burned are at Huset Park pond, Prestemon Park and the public safety building. C. Commission Members Peterson report the bricks are on sale for the Community Heritage Tower. The Tower will be dedicated May 29. The stone work is being done by a company in New Ulm, Minnesota. The Legacy Garden will be across the street on the park side within the walking path. Peterson indicated Public Works employee John Nordlund will be working with the garden layout and plantings. Stroik asked how much the bricks cost. Peterson replied $60, $100, $500 silver level, $1,000 gold level and there was a platinum donation which the legacy garden will be named after. Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II