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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 27, 2016 minutes Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Keyes Room, John P. Murzyn Hall January 27, 2016 David Payne called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Roll Call Members present: Anne Carder, Bruce Evans, David Payne, Marsha Stroik Staff present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Gary Peterson, Mayor; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Secretary Approval Consent Agenda Motion by Stroik, second by Carder, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Letters and Requests None at this time. Old Business A.Keyes Park Master Plan - Initiation Hansen distributed the proposal for the Keyes Park master plan. Based upon staff reviews the Park Planning consultant, ISG, has been chosen. The consultants at ISG will meet with parks staff and then with the Park and Recreation Commission members to discuss plans continued elements or the redevelopment within the park. After that is complete a public or neighborhood meeting will be held for public discussion and input. Payne asked if the members should review the proposal by the next meeting. Hansen replied yes within the next few months the consultants would be at a future Park and Recreation Commission Meeting depending on schedules. He mentioned this process will follow the same format as has been done with all other master park plans. Public input is a critical step. The other important step is to involve the police department for a review of the plan from a public safety perspective. B. Update on the Huset Park splash pad Hansen spoke with staff from the police department to invite them to be a part of a grand opening for the Huset Park splash pad around Memorial Day. Police staff would not be available until after the Jamboree at the end of June. Windschitl indicated June 1 had been set as the grand opening date. There is a community group called Heights Next being led by resident Connie Buesgens, and they are very interested in holding a community spring fest. This event would have food trucks, tables with other civic or volunteer groups, and just an evening for the community to come together. Windschitl spoke with Buesgens about the spring fest event and the possibility of incorporating it with the splash pad grand opening. June 1 was a possible date discussed. Hansen indicated the police staff were interested in the event but did not work with timing of the date and would prefer to wait until after the Jamboree. Windschitl continued that the Heights Next group liked the idea of having a spring fest along with another city or neighborhood event such as the grand opening of the splash pad. Their idea is to have Mill Street blocked off with the food trucks and tables in the street. Windschitl discussed options if the weather is not good on that evening and the event could either use the shelter or Murzyn Hall as a City of Columbia Heights January 27, 2016 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 backup option. Hansen asked if the Heights Next group holds formal meetings. Saefke replied yes, the group has met a few times at Murzyn Hall. Hansen replied that it would be a good idea to coordinate the efforts with this group because the grand opening of the library will be some time at the beginning of summer also. Windschitl stated the discussion just took place today. Some of the ideas mentioned were to get other volunteer or civic groups at the spring fest, if the City was interested the departments could have tables set, and other ways to get the youth, families, and all citizens involved at the event. Saefke indicated the main focus of Heights Next is to get more involvement from the community and make positive changes in the City. They want to invite many different civic groups to have a presence at the spring fest. Peterson stated that many people are interested in the focus of the Heights Next group. Windschitl reported Buesgens has become involved with the Beautification Committee and began a project involving local Girl Scout groups to plant milkweed which helps the monarch butterfly population. She is also a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Hansen asked the Commission what their thoughts were in working with a group like Heights Next during the grand opening of the Huset Park splash pad. Stroik and Carder replied it is a good idea. Carder likes the idea of having civic groups represented at the event to expose new residents to the many different resources available for community involvement. Payne stated to move forward with the Huset Park splash pad grand opening on June 1. A discussion was held on the construction progress of the new public library. Evans asked what the plan is for the old library building. Hansen replied the item is going to be on the City Council agenda in March with ideas for potential building use, plans, and other background information such as estimated value if the building were to be for sale. Peterson asked for input from the Commission on how they would like to see the building used if the City were to keep the building. Stroik asked what the size of the building is. Peterson replied the building is about 14,000 square feet. Hansen replied the building is 6500 square feet per floor that is usable and thirteen parking spaces. Carder asked if the buildings on the other side of the street from the library, like the plumbing building, are owned by the city. Peterson replied no they are privately owned. Hansen indicated the June 1 spring fest date should be kept on the agenda for the next meeting. This would allow time for staff to meet with Heights Next and discuss details to put together the event. Windschitl indicated it is a good idea to bring the community together and introduce the splash pad to the public. Carder asked if people would purchase food. Windschitl replied he brought up the idea of keeping food costs low, getting county food permits, and have a group like the Athletic Boosters serve hot dogs. Stroik indicated it would be nice to have food donated. She suggested contacting Dave Rudolph from SACA for connections to food trucks. Peterson replied there was a good example of the community coming together last night for the Young Artist Showcase where local restaurants donated food, the new Chipotle, Noodles and Company, and Little Caesars. He appreciates their cooperation and encourages people to visit their businesses. New Business A. LaBelle Park Circle Terrace Hansen updated the Commission that the master plan for LaBelle Park was approved with the amendment of the Circle Terrace Park. This includes the multi-purpose park building. The police chief has been very instrumental in finding funding for the area. Community Development Director Hogeboom applied for Community Development Block Grant money. The results should be in sometime this spring if there is additional funding available to build the building. Hansen stated this year’s budget has money for the replacement of the small playground equipment. It is intended to remain a small park area. Evans asked how big the building will be. Hansen replied maybe a 24 foot by 36 foot building or City of Columbia Heights January 27, 2016 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 slightly larger. Evans asked if the old library could work for a community building. Hansen replied no because of the location and size of the building. Peterson indicated he would like to see the community building be a nice facility with windows overlooking the view from the top of the hill over LaBelle pond. Hansen indicated staff is also looking into installing a half-court basketball area. Carder asked if there is a worry about vandalism with the new equipment and building. Peterson replied no because there is a lot of support from the residents in the neighborhood around Circle Terrace to make improvements to the area. He indicated the neighborhood was surveyed on foot three separate times and the residents are very excited to see the updates. Reports A.Recreation Director Windschitl reported that Liz Bray the Recreation Program Coordinator was named the 2015 Employee of the Year. She is very deserving of this recognition and does a great job with all of the programs. He reported the recreation office was remodeled; staff painted the walls, and new carpet was installed and looks very nice. There were marketing posters done for the rebranding of the city logo and office staff framed the posters and they are hanging in the office. The city is going to start selling smaller versions of the posters due to the positive comments when residents see them. Windschitl reported there are a few HVAC problems that are being worked on. When the software system was installed the contract was through Honeywell and the City is no longer contracted with Honeywell. The problem is finding someone who knows how to use the software program. The heat is working and everything is working, but not as efficiently as it could be if the software was running correctly. One additional problem over the past year has been with a broken humidifier. Windschitl is getting prices on replacement with a range of $4900 to $6900 from three different bids. Evans asked why there was a departure from Honeywell services. Windschitl replied some city staff felt that they were not getting the full services in the contract. At the time there was a full time custodian at the recreation department who worked closely with Honeywell technicians and was very happy with the service. When the contract was switched recreation staff thought that there would be a technician who would be able to work with the controls of the software program. One resolution may be to contract with Honeywell for the Murzyn Hall building only. Stroik clarified that there is no longer a full time custodian at Murzyn Hall. Windschitl replied there has not been a full time custodian for 5 years or so. There are part-time custodians and one in particular who does a lot of maintenance projects. Public Works has been really good to work with and help out with various items such as a plumbing fix. Windschitl indicated that he is very involved in the overall operations and projects within the building. There is a fulltime maintenance supervisor who sees over all the city operated buildings and he is very busy at the liquor stores and public safety building. Stroik asked if the liquor stores are still making a profit. Peterson replied yes, not as much currently due to the cost of the buildings but we are building equity with city owned facilities. B.Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen reported the Public Works maintenance department typically operate with 21 staff and are currently staffed with 16. There have been two positions filled recently and two more positions to fill within the next few months. Luckily the water main breaks and snow plowing for this season have been minimal, which would be very tough to handle a large number with a 25% less workforce. There have only been two or three full city plows. C.Commission Members Peterson indicated there will be promotional items for sale with the city logo such as coffee mugs, City of Columbia Heights January 27, 2016 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 coffee tumblers, a cell phone card holder, and posters. Payne asked where these items can be purchased. Peterson replied at city hall, the public safety building, and the recreation department. He indicated the Activity Fund donated the startup money for the first order of the promotional items. Peterson invited the members to the Fire & Ice Plunge at Silver Lake Park on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a food truck from Stanley’s, a heated beer tent, and the police department will have a shuttle bus running from the nearby church parking lot. He stated that for this event only in its second year it has really grown. It is $40 to jump. Last year there were 40 jumpers and this year they are expecting even more. Peterson reported over 10% of the citizens are trained in CPR so we are qualified as a heart safe community. Payne thanked Peterson for a wonderful Taste of Columbia Heights Holiday Kickoff event. He said it was a fabulous event and twice as many people from last year. Peterson replied that it was a great evening and is planning to presale tickets for the next year. It is a very good fundraiser with the ticket sales and silent auction. Payne enjoyed the various types of music. Peterson invited members to a music night being planned for March 9. He is currently searching for a band. Last year was a bluegrass theme and would like to showcase a different style of music this year. Payne adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. _________________________________ Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II