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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOct 23, 2013 min City of Columbia Heights Park and Recreation Commission October 23, 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; David Payne; Marsha Stroik Staff Present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary Also Present: Tom Sullivan; Tom Lahoud; Jack Lahoud APPROVAL CONSENT AGENDA Stroik asked what the line item on the bills if for regarding credit card fees. Saefke replied the item is a regular fee to be able to process credit card transactions. Motion by Hoium, second by Clerkin, to approve the consent agenda including minutes from Motion Carried. August 28, 2013. Upon vote: All ayes. LETTERS AND REQUESTS Evans asked if all three requests could be taken for consideration in one vote. Windschitl replied yes and reviewed each request. A. Request for an open bar on Sunday, November 3, 2013 using for a wedding reception with bar services provided by Famous Dave’s Restaurant. Windschitl indicated the liquor license and copy of insurance from Famous Dave’s has been received. The guest count is approximately 250. B. Request for an open bar on January 25, 2014 for a wedding reception. Windschitl identified this request is to have an open bar serving beer and wine using bartenders approved by staff. These bartenders are also trained Lions Club bartenders. C. Request for an open bar on September 27, 2014 for a wedding reception. Windschitl specified this request for an open bar would like to use bartenders from the Minnesota School of Bartending for their reception of just under 200 guests. Payne indicated concern with using people from the Minnesota School of Bartending and knowing their experience. Motion by Clerkin, second by Greenhalgh, to approve all of the open bar requests. Making a change to the September 27, 2014 request requiring the use of staff approved bartenders instead Motion Carried. of the MN School of Bartending.. Upon vote: All ayes. D. Memorial request for Dominick (Dom) Hebzynski. Community member Tom Lahoud gave a history of his family while living in Columbia Heights and of his experiences with Dom Hebzynski. He mentioned stories of Hebzynski and the emails from other past and present community members in favor of a memorial. Evans asked what their group would like to see for a memorial and how it would be funded because the city does not have a budget for memorials. Lahoud gave a handout of the proposed masonry brick or stone, four foot by four foot memorial with a name plate. They would like to see the memorial on the top of the hill across from City Hall at Huset Park. He estimated costs at $352 for concrete, $210 Park & Recreation Commission October 23, 2013 Page 2 brick or $240 stone, $350 bronze name place, for a total cost of materials at $1,020. Labor would average to approximately $640. Lahoud indicated a fundraiser has begun with $500 raised so far. He mentioned labor costs could be reduced by volunteers. McDonald asked if Lahoud had approached the City Council. Lahoud replied that he spoke with Mayor Peterson and the council secretary on how to approach the request. He asked if the Commission felt that Hebzynski was worthy of a memorial. Most Commission Members did not know if Hebzynski until this request. Windschitl specified talking with Dick Petkoff who was a former Commission Member and knew Hebzynski well. Windschitl stated that past memorials have included the placement of park benches with name plates and shelter dedications with plaques. He indicated that the City Council and City Manager are aware of the requested memorial but ask that the Park & Recreation Commission review the request and make a recommendation. It is not a situation that Hebzynski does not deserve a memorial but it is a matter of what type of memorial is done, where the funding is coming from, and where it will be placed. Stroik suggested that if the splash pad water feature in Huset Park is still an option it would be a much nicer memorial to dedicate that in his name rather than just a name plaque. Lahoud indicated that after three decades of work and volunteerism Hebzynski is more deserving of a memorial bigger than a bench or plaque. Evans stated the Commission will need to review and discuss the request before making a recommendation. Hoium shared a story being Hebzynski’s neighbor. Tom Sullivan voiced wanting to make this process go well, raise money, and work with the City. Stroik asked for patience from the group while the Commission reviews the request. Lahoud shared that with regards to fundraising efforts it is getting harder to find people who knew Hebzynski and might need the City to contribute. Evans thanked the three men for attending the meeting. Discussion continued by the Commission on the request. Concerns were mentioned with the placement of a larger memorial on top of the hill at Huset Park and having to maneuver mowing equipment around it. Items like this need to be placed within a landscaped area. Hebzynski did much of the work for the community as a city staff member and other hours of volunteer service. Hansen indicated the City Council directed this request to the Commission with some discussion being in favor of a bench or a plaque. Commission Members suggested benches at LaBelle Park, replacement around Huset Park overlooking the ball fields, or at the Legacy Garden. Hansen indicated that benches cost approximately $800. Motion by Hoium, second by McDonald, to consider two benches in Huset Park and look into the possibility of coast sharing, or if they want to elaborate more with a plaque. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. OLD BUSINESS A. Update on Sullivan Park trail smoking. Windschitl reported speaking with the Operation Supervisor from Medtronic regarding smoking near the walking trail at Sullivan Park. Medtronic’s policy is no smoking on their property. This policy will not change and they cannot tell employees what to do on other property or their own time. Windschitl indicated the bench near that area was donated by Medtronic. McDonald stated leaving the current park policies alone. Hoium replied that it is difficult to change current policies for one person complaining. Windschitl stated that a sign for no smoking could be placed in the area, but there would be no City reinforcement or regulation. Hoium indicated the park is an open area. Stroik suggested telling the resident to work the issue out with Medtronic. Payne agreed with Hoium. Evans stated a sign that cannot be enforced is not needed. Greenhalgh agreed with Hoium and Evans. Clerkin indicated that the Commission has done things to prevent smoking in youth areas of the parks. Park & Recreation Commission October 23, 2013 Page 3 Motion by Payne, second by McDonald, to reply to the resident that the concern has been Motion Carried. addressed and discussed; no further action will be taken. Upon vote: All ayes. NEW BUSINESS A. Rental rates of John P. Murzyn Hall for 2015. Stroik asked on the policy for receiving discounts. Windschitl replied that only one discount is applicable; you cannot receive a resident discount and partial time discount. Also a two hour rental time discount is not available on a Saturday for the main hall package. Windschitl specified the last rate increase was for 2011 rates but in the current economy does not feel that an increase is warranted. He has compared rental numbers between the previous two years and the amount of rentals is similar. Evans asked if other nearby facilities such as Silverwood Park require the use of specific caterers. Stroik replied yes Silverwood Park requires the use of specified caterers. Windschitl specified that allowing renters to bring in any outside catering is a big attraction at Murzyn Hall. Hoium asked if a county license is required for caterers. Windschitl replied if food is prepared at another facility nothing is required, if cooking is done in our facility a catering license and insurance listing the City of Columbia Heights as additional insured is required. Motion by Hoium, second by Payne, to approve the rental rates of John P. Murzyn Hall for 2015 Motion Carried. with no increase in rental fees. Upon vote: All ayes. B. Rental rates for city parks in 2014. Evans asked if the fee is kept for the use of the parks. Windschitl replied yes. The key deposit of $100 is returned back to the renter of the park after they return the key for the restrooms or electricity in the shelters. Hoium asked about the alcohol policy within the parks. Windschitl replied that a beer permit can be filled out. Windschitl stated the rental rate for residents of Columbia Heights will increase by ten dollars. Staff felt no need to increase the rental rate for non-residents because that rental rate is not requested very often. The large group fee for corporate groups will not increase. Hoium asked if the shelter, indoor restrooms, building, water, and electricity are included in the rental. Windschitl replied yes whatever is available at each park. He specified the amount of rentals in 2012 were 127 and in 2013 were about 100. Evans asked at Silver Lake Beach shelter is the electricity is looked because the cover is ripped off. Does staff check the parks after rentals because the picnic table has been burned on the top. Hansen replied staff goes out for a cleanup and trash pickup if there is back to back rentals otherwise the pickup is done typically on Mondays. Evans asked if renters are charged for damages. Windschitl replied if the damage can be proven to a particular group, but that is almost impossible to prove because the parks are open to the public at all other times. Motion by Clerkin, second by Hoium, to approve the rental rates for city parks in 2014. Upon Motion Carried. vote: All ayes. C. Rental rates for event wagon in 2014. Windschitl stated the VFW donated the original event wagon and it contains, 8 foot tables, folding chairs, hand me down yard game or outdoor items. Two staff people drop off the wagon at the renter’s location and pick it back up after the rental with the city van. He indicated the proposed rental fee is a ten dollar increase from 2013. Hoium replied that is a very reasonable fee for the usage, including delivery and pickup. He suggested even a slightly larger increase and offering a discounted rate for community groups, because a thirty-five dollar fee is not covering Park & Recreation Commission October 23, 2013 Page 4 gas or staff rates. Windschitl replied when the fee was originated the felling of the Commission was to only offer one rate with no further discounts no matter what group was using the wagon. Motion by McDonald, second by Payne, to approve the rental rates for the event wagon in 2014. Motion Carried. Upon vote: All ayes. REPORTS A. Recreation Director Windschitl had nothing further to report. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen indicated the city council has authorized Staff to obtain pricing for a splash pad water feature. The LaBelle Park playground is completed and has received positive feedback. The MWMO watershed is paying for two small water quality ponds near the parking lot. Hansen identified after being turned down from outside funding sources the removal of the boardwalk will be bonded. The shoreline restoration and boardwalk removal will be done in 2014 with the possibility of adding in some of the master plan park improvements. Hansen reminded the Commission of the 2013 Hockey Day at Keyes Park. Spatially it was a good location, but the hockey rink was in poor condition. One idea for improvement was to overlay and level out the surface but after completing a survey of the area, the only way to properly fix the rink will be to rebuild the field. The whole rink would be pulled out; the boards repainted, and put in a sod field for proper depth of ice. Evans asked if there are still issues at Ramsdell Park with people bringing dogs in the area. Hansen responded no, the problem was terrible field quality in poor soil and compacted fields due to construction. Aerating and top dressing have been done but there is still an issue with irrigation in the field where there was improper design. This work will continue in 2014. Windschitl asked if the hockey day could be held at McKenna Park. Hansen replied that should be discussed with the organizing group. C. Commission Members Clerkin indicated the Lions Club is interested in holding a wrestling event He stated the boxing event did not happen in September due to teams backing out at the last minute. The rescheduled boxing event will be November 23. The professional wrestling event will be Friday, December 13. The club understands staffs concerns regarding the floor and will have the group in charge of the ring to communicate with Windschitl. Hoium asked if having an ATM machine at the hall has ever been considered. Windschitl responded the idea has come up in the past and will look into it. Clerkin indicated there are options to either own the machine or have an outside company maintain the machine and give a kickback from the service fees. Evans adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m. ______________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II