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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 26, 2013 min City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission June 26, 2013 Eileen Evans called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Eileen Evans; Sean Clerkin; Tom Greenhalgh; Kevin McDonald; Marsha Stroik; David Payne Staff Present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Clerkin, second by Stroik, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. LETTERS AND REQUESTS A. Request for an open bar on Wednesday, July 6, 2013 using Las Mojarras restaurant for the bartending services. Windschitl added a request for July 5, 2013 requesting to use the Little Venetian restaurant and bar for bartending services. The Little Venetian has provided a copy of their insurance and liquor license. Windschitl has discussed the alcohol rules with both restaurant venues on the open bar policy. He indicated no cash will be exchanged during the event. Greenhalgh asked if security would be at the events. Windschitl replied security is required at all large events in the main hall. Clerkin asked what the consequence would be if drinks were sold at these events. Windschitl replied the bar would be closed down and that the hired security company knows what are rules are for events within John P. Murzyn Hall. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by McDonald to allow the host open bar for July 5 and July 6, Motion Carried. 2013. Upon vote: All ayes. OLD BUSINESS A. LaBelle Park playground review Hansen indicated the LaBelle Park Master Plan has been approved by the City Council. The playground equipment funded through a grant last year and was received by the end of last year. He displayed the design layout for the playground equipment. The new equipment will be to the west of the path and the current playground location will be restored to green space. Payne asked if the parking lot is too far from the new playground location and possibly use the current playground location for additional parking. Members indicated the original desire for additional green space from public feedback. Hansen indicated the playground location was shifted due to current tree locations and to save more trees. B. Dog Park update Stroik indicated the letter sent by Chair Evans to the resident regarding dog park concerns was very nice. Hansen replied the resident was in attendance at a City Council meeting prior to receiving the letter of response from the Park & Recreation Commission. NEW BUSINESS A. Silver Lake public boat landing Evans indicated the rock has helped a lot with the deterioration of the area and the public feedback she received was in agreement. Hansen indicated this is the only public access on Park & Recreation Commission June 26, 2013 Page 2 Silver Lake. Staff views the condition of the boat landing and the area leading up to the landing under water is in rough shape. Evans indicated seeing people use the landing one or two times every day when the weather is warm. Hansen agreed that the landing is used. He indicated researching funding such as DNR grant resources for boats and budget for this project down the road. Clerkin asked about a cost. Hansen replied and estimate could be between $45,000- $85,000 for the concrete, planks, permits and dredging. Evans asked the members if this should be pursued. Members replied yes. McDonald asked if the other surrounding cities would contribute to funding. Hansen replied generally items are taken care of by each City for their area of concern but other issues such as the carp study is being cost shared. B. “Henteges Legacy Garden” at the Heritage Tower Hansen indicated the Mayor’s project with the artwork on the Heritage Tower there was a desire to have a place for recognition of the donors to the project and compliment the artwork for a viewing area. Staff will lay the paver bricks and landscape the garden and try to reuse material from former projects. One of the major contributors to the Heritage Tower was the Henteges family and this garden is named after them. Stroik indicated the artwork looks wonderful. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl indicated the Star Tribune has published an article for Heights Idol interviewing Liz Bray, Recreation Program Coordinator, and the three judges; Don Shelby, Pat Proft, and Meesha Johnson. The performance will be on the stage outside of Murzyn Hall on Saturday. Friday night Liz Bray will also be the Grand Marshall of the Jamboree Parade. The Jamboree Men’s Softball Tournament has 16 teams and was filled last week. Approximately 12 teams have been turned away so far. The fireworks will be on Saturday evening with the same company as in previous years, however resident Ben Erickson will not be shooting them off due to an injury. If the show is rained out the fireworks will be rescheduled to Sunday night at dusk. The royalty program is back this year and the coronation will be on Saturday evening following the Heights Idol performance prior to the fireworks. Windschitl reported the City Council approved the purchase of a new City van. The previous van was purchased in 1999. The tile floor in the basement of John P. Murzyn Hall is being tested for asbestos. It has become hard to find matching tiles to replace broken ones and if the whole floor would be replaced it is required to do this testing. Stroik asked how old the flooring is. Windschitl replied staff estimates in 1985 when the addition was built. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported staff has been working on getting Huset Park ready for the Jamboree festival. Evans asked about tree damage from the recent storm. Hansen replied his first staff reports were sever but discovered on the following Monday that the conditions were not as sever. Approximately 30 public trees are down or need removal. Evans asked what budget it comes out of. Hansen replied public right of way damage comes out of the tree budget and if they are in the parks it comes out of the parks budget. C. Commission Members Clerkin requested to host a boxing event in John P. Murzyn Hall on Sunday, September 15, 2013. Windschitl indicated that the JPM Policy states no boxing events in the hall requiring the need for Commission approval. His main concern is damage to the wood floor from the boxing ring. As long as the ring can be on the floor with no damage he is in favor of the event. Clerkin replied the crew setting up the ring has installed it at other country clubs with similar flooring and no issues. Peterson spoke with the boxing ring crew about the type of floors in Murzyn Hall. Park & Recreation Commission June 26, 2013 Page 3 Windschitl asked if special liability insurance is required for the event. Clerkin replied the USA boxing provides sanction to hold the event. The Lions Club would be the renter of the hall and provide a copy of their liability insurance for the event. Clerkin stated this is an amateur boxing event with food from Tasty Pizza and a Lions Club cash bar; proceeds will benefit the Lions Club and the Firehouse Gym. The current Firehouse Gym location in the former fire department will not hold very many people and would not be able to have food or alcoholic beverages. Motion by Payne, second by Stroik, to approve the boxing tournament at John P. Murzyn Hall on Sunday, September 15, 2013 with a $50 entry fee and $20 per hour of use. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Resident Dave Hase lives in the LaBelle Park II condos is requesting the removal of the basketball court. He indicated the courts are a nuisance from the adults and young adults using the court with inappropriate behavior, drinking and fowl language. He realizes the LaBelle Park Master Plan has the removal of the court and there is no funding to move forward on the Master Plan, but would like to at least see the basketball hoop removed. Members asked if police are called when there are issues. Hase replied yes. Members discussed turning the lights off early. Payne encouraged all residents to call the police. Motion by Greenhalgh, second by Clerkin, to research the police reports of documented calls for the area, if the records indicated a problem then remove the poles and hoops. Upon vote: All Motion Carried. ayes. Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:24 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II