HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 22, 2017 minutes
Park & Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
John P. Murzyn Hall
March 22, 2017
David Payne called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m.
Roll Call
Members present: Anne Carder, Sean Clerkin, Tom Greenhalgh, Kevin McDonald, David Payne, Marsha
Stroik
Staff present: Kevin Hansen, Public Works Director; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna
Saefke, Commission Secretary
Also present: Kira Greenfield
Approval Consent Agenda
Motion by Stroik, second by Clerkin, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion
Carried.
Letters and Requests
A. Letter of request for an open bar on October 28, 2017 for a wedding reception with approximately
210 guests.
Windschitl reported the couple is requesting to use bartenders for an open bar that have multiple years
of experience working at O’Gara’s Bar. Saefke indicated the groom also works in the industry and knows
that the bartenders need to be experienced and trained, but also not friends who are expecting to be at
the party as well.
Motion by Clerkin, second by McDonald, to approve the request for an open bar on October 28, 2017.
Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
B. Letter of request to waive the rental fee of John P. Murzyn Hall for a fundraiser for Columbia Heights
resident Alyce Lentz on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
Windschitl reported this evening fits within the schedule of other events that the facility will be staffed
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for on Wednesday, April 12 so he is in favor of waiving the fee. He indicated the Lentz family has been
involved in my of the Recreation Programs over the years and other groups within the City. Clerkin
stated verified this is during normal operating hours. Windschitl replied yes. Clerkin stated he agrees
with waiving the rental fee in that case. Resident Kira Greenfield explained the emergency medical
situation for Alyce Lentz and the reason for the fundraiser event. Greenfield is in charge of putting the
fundraiser together. Greenhalgh asked what type of activities they would have at the event. Greenfield
answered at this beginning stage of planning; there will be some choir students performing, student art
work displays, bake sale, baskets for silent auction. Clerkin asked if any local business have been
approached for donations. Greenfield replied not yet.
Motion by Stroik, second by Greenhalgh, to waive the rental fee of John P. Murzyn Hall for a fundraiser
for Columbia Heights resident Alyce Lentz on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion
Carried.
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Old Business
A. Circle Terrace Park building final design update
Hansen indicated some changes needed to be made to the original design. Due to the nature of the
proposed use of the building drinking fountains need to be installed inside. The building official also
changed the one unisex toilet to be two separate toilets; one for men and one for women. Stroik asked
why usage determined the changes. Hansen reported because of code. If it is a public building over 10
people there is a code section of what needs to be included in the building. These items plus other items
have added to the increased cost estimate of about $320,000. Since that is over the funding amount
staff has reduced the size of the building from 1500 to about 1280 square feet. This will allow 20-25
people in the building. More funding will be used from the parks capital improvement budget to meet
the estimated $260,000 to $265,000 cost. The final cost does depend on the bid estimates from
contractors. Staff is looking at alternate items to reduce costs such as using less tone, windows that do
not open, decrease the size of the building, changing the roof structures, and other items. Hansen
reported there is $240,000 grant funding to be used for this building. He indicated this building will get
used by various departments and other groups within the City. Windschitl replied that many groups
showed interest in using this facility from the school district, the county, and the food shelf. He stated
that the unfortunate piece is the lack of available parking.
B. Keyes Park Master Plan update
Hansen reported three separate proposals were received for the work at Keyes Park and the difference
between the proposals was one hundred dollars. Staff suggests using the consulting firm ISG, the
company that has done the master plan and work at other parks within the city. Clerkin reiterated Staff
is more familiar with ISG and knows the type of work they will be getting. Hansen indicated the other
company that gave a good detailed proposal does a lot of work on the parks in Fridley. Payne stated the
work that has been done by ISG has been good. Clerkin indicated they have stayed on budget.
Motion by Clerkin, second by Stroik, to accept the proposal from ISG for the Keyes Park Master Plan.
Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
New Business
A. 2017 Jamboree Fireworks
Windschitl stated the fireworks proposal for 2017 is similar to the 2016 proposal. Pyrotechnic Display
Inc. is the same company that has been used for many years. He feels they do a very good job with the
show. The budget is $6,000 for the fireworks. He invited the Commission to review the proposal if
desired. Staff recommends accepting the proposal. Windschitl indicated a few donations are received
from local business and groups like the Lions Club. Payne asked the Commission how the 2016 fireworks
show was since he was unable to make it. Many members were at the show and stated that it was a
good show.
Motion by Greenhalgh, second by McDonald, to accept the proposal from Pyrotechnic Display Inc. for
the 2017 Jamboree Fireworks. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
Reports
A. Recreation Director
Windschitl reported the Recreation Department will again be working with Loaves and Fishes to provide
free lunch for the youth summer programs. Volunteers are always welcome to help serve the lunch.
With that lunch program there has been left over food from Loaves and Fishes that the cooks cannot
reuse or the kids do not eat. Buesgens started a food compost collection last summer. Staff is now
looking at incorporating an organic food recycling program for summer lunches this summer at John P.
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Murzyn Hall. Windschitl’s concern is having a garbage container outside that might smell bad. He has
met with a representative from the Anoka County grant recycling program to order containers with
funding for that from the grant program. There will be a fee for the pickup service. Hansen indicated an
application was sent in for the funding towards that service as well. He reported that within the next
three years the public will see more programs offered to reduce the amount of weight in garbage. All
trash service fees are charged by the total weight. That is why the City is pushing recycling as much as
possible to residents and will start to see more opportunities for organic recycling; even as a State wide
initiative. Stroik asked if a service picks up the organic recycling. Windschitl replied that is the cost that is
being investigated. Hansen replied that is a service that is provided at Public Works for residents to drop
off their organics and is picked up there. Stroik said that can be an expensive service. She asked what
the process is with the material after that point. Hansen replied Anoka County processes the material
into loam compost and then the Kiwanis sell it at Public Works during the summer. Windschitl indicated
the staff and volunteers will need to promote using this type of recycling process. He doesn’t know how
this type of recycling would work for most of the large events such as weddings that are held at Murzyn
Hall. Clerkin agreed it could be a challenge. Hansen stressed the importance of having only the specific
types of recycled materials in those containers as other materials can damage the equipment used
during the recycling process. Payne replied that this is a good idea for everyone to do and he recycles a
lot of things at home.
Windschitl reported registrations are currently being taken for youth and adult baseball and softball.
Staff is working with the schools to help promote the youth activities. Discussions are being held with
the City of Fridley and the Fridley Heights Soccer program to find a location for soccer during the
summer. The two entities claim that many of their youth participants are Columbia Heights residents.
The hope is to find an available green space on school district’s property. Stroik asked if any of the City
parks have undeveloped space that would be big enough to put in a soccer field. Windschitl replied that
is on the plans at Keyes Park but is a half field. Other than that there is not a large enough open area.
Clerkin suggested the space in Fridley where the old Columbia Arena was located. Windschitl replied the
City of Fridley is developing that area with their new city offices and other buildings and that is why the
soccer groups are looking for alternate locations. Stroik asked about McKenna, Gauvitte, or Lomianki
Park. Hansen replied those areas are not wide enough for a full field. Windschitl replied Lomianki is too
close to the railroad tracks as well. Gauvitte Park could potentially be used for a youth field. Hansen
indicated a long term plan for Gauvitte Park to be a non-park. There area would become a flood control
area. The City will soon fall under a State ruling to reduce phosphorus pollutants draining into the
Mississippi river. The long term plan will be to use Gauvitte Park for flood control and treatment. Stroik
asked if Prestemon Park is large enough to put a soccer field. Hansen replied no. The best location for a
full size soccer field is Huset Park.
B. Public Works Director/City Engineer
Hansen reported this is the first year in a long time that applications for seasonal park employment are
very low. Not all of the crew is returning from 2016. Staff needs to be 18 years old at a minimum. The
season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Hansen indicated safety improvements are being done along Central Avenue. The sidewalks are being
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replaced from 47 Avenue to 51 Avenue. The reason is to replace the street lights along that corridor.
A $900,000 grand was received from MNDOT for this project. Hansen reported that a massive
rehabilitation project will be happening on highway 94 for the next two years and this project will
impact traffic along 694 and possibly University Avenue and Central Avenue.
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C. Commission Members
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Carder reported seeing workers at the building on 40 Avenue and University Avenue after a long time
of not seeing any progress. Hansen replied the original owner is back in the area. Stroik asked what the
building will become. Hansen replied it is unknown. The last mention from the owner was that for it to
be a European deli.
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Windschitl asked what the progress is with the bricks falling down at the building on 40 and Central
Avenue. Hansen replied a developer from Minneapolis has owned the building for approximately two
years. The Fire Department and Community Development have been working with the owner regarding
the condition and future use of the space. They are working on the inside of the building for commercial
space use. Stroik stated it should become apartments. Hansen stated Planet Fitness will be breaking
ground soon behind LaCasita and White Castle. A Slim’s Restaurant will also be building a sit down
sandwich shop along Central Avenue.
Clerkin asked about the installation of a second bench around Huset Park West. Hansen instructed
Clerkin to give him the exact location of where the Lions Club wants it installed.
Stroik asked if a port a potty was at LaBelle Park over the winter because at one point there was one
tipped over. Hansen replied if the City clears a walking path at any park over the winter they are
required to have a port a potty.
Greenhalgh reported the CH Athletic Boosters will be hosting a youth baseball tournament for 12U/13U
and 10U teams at Huset Park in May. The CHAB will have the food wagon there for concessions.
Stroik reported there have been a lot of water main breaks in her quadrant of the city and since that
time there have been problems with water pressure and faucets seizing up. Hansen replied flushing the
water mains will happen during the first week of April. If she is still experiencing problems after that she
should contact the department.
Payne adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
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Deanna Saefke, Recreation Clerk Typist II