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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDec 5, 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting December 5, 2018 David Payne called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Roll Call Members present: Anne Carder, Sean Clerkin, Bruce Evans, Kevin McDonald, David Payne, Marsha Stroik Staff present: Mike O’Reilly, Park Superintendent; Keith Windschitl, Recreation Director; Deanna Saefke, Commission Secretary; Nick Novitsky, Council Representative Also present: Connie Buesgens and Kat Audette-Luebke from HeightsNEXT Approval Consent Agenda Motion by Stroik, second by McDonald, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Letters and Requests A. Letter of request for a private bar using staff approved bartenders for a wedding on March 16, 2019 with approximately 300 guests-350 guests including many children and many families who do not drink alcohol. Windschitl explained the renter is a resident of Columbia Heights and have rented in the past. The family listed having a previous issue when using the Lions Club of which Windschitl believe that was in regards to using tickets. Windschitl would prefer to have a staff trained bartender that is known by city staff, who will serve for this family’s event because there is already a trust level with the bartender. The other option would have the family hire a company with a liquor license serve the alcohol. Windschitl indicated he approves the request because there haven’t been any issues with drinking in the past, but more with understanding the rules regarding cooking this cultural food. Stroik suggested increasing the damage deposit for such a large group. Windschitl replied no, that isn’t anything that we have done in the past and he doesn’t feel it is necessary for this event. He indicated it is very rare if the five hundred damage deposit is ever taken. Motion by Evans, second by Clerkin, to approve the request allowing a private bar with staff approved bartenders on March 16, 2019. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Old Business A. 2019 Parks Capital Improvement work plan Hansen redistributed the Capital Improvement Plan and the park list with amenities for review. He will discuss how the costs were generated at each park to see if it meets what the commission was thinking of for what work has been completed or what work is needed to be done in order to complete the park system. This will give a clear number to work with for the capital improvement plan. Huset West Park. The master plan has a complete rebuild of the east and west sides of the park. At Huset West the pond, splash pad, playground, and shelter have all been completed. The master plan calls for a pinwheel arrangement for the ballfields, replacing the block garage storage building to the center of the ballfields, and completely redoing the parking lot in back. A connection road would be installed from Mill Street alongside of Murzyn Hall to Huset Parkway. Stroik asked why this road would be installed. Hansen replied that is will divide the parking lot from the park and provide a connection from Huset Parkway to the front of Murzyn Hall. This master plan uses state funding to move the roadway east in order to fit in the four ballfields in a pinwheel pattern. City of Columbia Heights December 5, 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 Huset East. This park has the main adult ballfield, a full size soccer field, and a picnic shelter. Buesgens asked if the bridge is removed. Hansen replied yes. Hansen indicated the original cost estimate for the Huset Park Master Plan was 3.1 million. The splash pad, picnic shelter, and the playground have already been completed. The current estimate is 2.4 million. Gauvitte Park. This is the only park location to install additional storm water improvements. This location is in the Mississippi Watershed (MWMO) Capital Improvement Plan for storm water treatment. This can still remain a park setting by installing infiltration or underground treatments. The primary purpose of this park will need to transition for water quality regulations and storm water infiltration. Hansen reported in 2019 a master plan related to storm water will be developed with the MWMO. The park master plan for Gauvitte will include storm water infiltration, removal of the existing building and playground, installing a picnic shelter, replacement of playground equipment, and maintaining open green space. Hansen reported the storm water improvements would be very costly and staff would look into outside funding. Funding could come from the storm water fund or cost sharing with another organization. Stroik asked who the cost sharing would be with. Hansen replied either the State of Minnesota or the MWMO. He added in order to have the storm water infiltration area additional property would need to be acquired; at least one property. Clerkin asked why. Hansen replied in th order to bring storm water piping in and out from the main line on 44 Avenue. McKenna Park. A new playground was installed in 2012 or 2013. At this park the next step would be to develop a master plan, remove the wading pool, remodel the existing park building, reconstruct the athletic fields, install a parking lot, implement modifications to the hockey rink, and site grading, landscaping, and restoration. The estimate is $425,000 for park redevelopment. Sullivan Lake Park. All of the elements of the master plan have been completed. Hansen reported if the city wants to keep tennis courts these would need to be completely reconstructed. The main problem is the soil under the tennis courts which creates constant movement and shifting. The park building is used for storage and would need some reconstruction. There are continual problems with the lighting around the trail that would need replacement. rd 53 Avenue & Central Avenue. Construct an entrance sign to the city. Ramsdell Park. The master plan of the park was completed in 2013. One proposed item at this location was to create more areas designated for walking. The wading pool would be replaced with a smaller splash pad. Light a portion of the trail away from the residents. Hilltop Park. This park has a nice green space and the only item is to replace the current playground equipment. Silver Lake Park. Construct a pathway from Stinson Boulevard to Benjamin Street that was indicated in the original master plan. Keyes Park. Construction was just completed at this park based on the master plan. Staff is monitoring sledding in regards to the removable fencing. Due to lack of funding the items not completed from the master plan th include the trail on the back side and the sidewalk that goes up 46 Avenue along Stinson Boulevard. The picnic shelter and update of the current building is a future improvement. City of Columbia Heights December 5, 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 Ostrander Park. This park does not have a master plan. It has significant soil problems. Currently the sanitary and sewer system has sunk on the north side of the park and will require significant work. Future park updates include updating the playground equipment, removing the building and installing a picnic shelter, reconstruction of the hockey rink. Stroik asked if green space could be kept to accommodate a multi-use field. Hansen asked what type of field. Stroik replied a lot of people use the open space and hockey rink in the summer for soccer. She indicated the area is not an even grade. LaBelle Park. The last item in the master plan is to install lighting around the north and east trail. Silver Lake Boat Landing. There is a stormwater retention pond that was built in the late eighties or early nineties and is not in good working condition. A state grant was received for funding in 2019 to completely reconstruct the pond. There is additional grant funding available to reconstruct the boat landing. Staff would like to reconstruct both items around the same time but there is a problem with the lift station for sanitary/sewer along the shoreline. This lift station will be due for rehab work in five years. Prestemon Park. The master plan was completed in 1999/2000. The parking lots are at an age that needs reconstruction. The park building would be replaced with a picnic shelter. Reconstruct the basketball court. This park has a potential location to construct a dog park. Lomianki Park. Replacement of playground equipment and rehabilitee the park building. Edgemoor Park. Replacement of playground equipment. Wargo Court. The 2019 budget includes the development of a master plan. All of the features at the park need to be replaced. th Hart Lake. Install a trail on the west side of Hart Boulevard. This would then connect from 37 Avenue, along th Hart Boulevard, continue along 39 Avenue and connect with Prestemon Park. Easements have been received from the new church and Heights Manor to develop a trail connection to Stinson Boulevard. Hansen concluded the Parks Capital Improvement Plan review. He indicated if all of the improvements were done with 2019 pricing the estimate is around 6.4 million in construction costs. Approximately $50,000 from the general fund is put into park funding annually. Previously the primary revenue stream was coming from redevelopment of residential areas. The six parks that have been completed so far have cost around $500,000 each. That is over 3 million reinvested into the parks system. Stroik suggested selling community bonds. She had seen this done in Madison, Wisconsin. Hansen replied he had seen this done in Coon Rapids five years ago or so. He indicated the city council is authorized to sell bonds. Clerkin asked what the difference is between a bond and a referendum. Hansen replied it is a similar process. Cities have the authority to sell bonds out right and that is subject to a reverse referendum. If the selling of bonds were challenged once enough signatures are received from citizens it would go to a vote during the next election. The city could also put the question on the ballot to sell bonds for park improvements. Hansen stated the most important step in getting funding approved is educating the public on what work is being requested for funding. City of Columbia Heights December 5, 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 New Business A. Consideration of a food forest Buesgens indicated she has been thinking of this concept for a few years. She hears stories from the community gardeners and the gardens at the schools where the public is taking the produce without asking. There are a growing number of cities in the country creating food forests. Buesgens introduced Kat Audette-Luebke who is a resident of Columbia Heights and a horticulturist. Together they will work on implementing a possible food forest in the city. A food forest is a low-maintenance sustainable plant-based food production and agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields directly useful to humans. Making use of companion planting, these can be intermixed to grow in a succession of layers, to build a woodland habitat. Buesgens indicated a smaller version of this would be started in Lomianki Park. The first year would focus on preparing the soil for planting. Cover crops and flowers would be planted to aerate the soil and provide nutrients. This process would provide opportunities to hold classes for the public on how to prepare their gardens for the following year. Soil testing would be done this first year, designing a basic garden layout with pathways, and tilling. She indicated this could be a five to ten, to fifteen year project based on the large amount of land at that location. The second year includes preparing rules, planting berries, herbs and perennial vegetables, distributing education materials to local residents, and watering plantings until they are established. Buesgens stated they are presenting this information and asking for permission to pursue a food forest in Lomianki Park and to approach the neighbors for their opinion on this project. Audette-Luebke added that it is really important for the neighborhood to be interested in this project. She understands there is a significant amount of work with this type of project in the first few years that she is willing to volunteer for and knows of other people willing to volunteer their time. Having the garden look really nice adds to the park. In the first few years there is a lot of work that needs to be done but after that the plantings are easier to maintain. They want the design of the garden to be easy to maintain and keep that open nature of the park. Buesgens replied this would be open and free to the public so if there are berries or herbs ready to be picked anyone will be allowed to do that on their own for free. If there are leftovers the plan would be to donate the produce to SACA. Payne recalled discussing a possible tree farm at Lomianki Park and feels this would work fine as well. Buesgens reported there are master water stewards from the Mississippi Watershed who would setup rock type nurseries where they raise saplings and something like this could be incorporated at the space. Hansen showed an aerial of the park parcel and indicated there is plenty of land to have this type of project. Buesgens indicated the project would start at the baseball area of the park and as the project develops over time it can slowly build up. She has a contact willing to build fencing if needed. Payne asked who is funding this project and who will be responsible for the upkeep. Buesgens replied the funding for the plants it will be donations. HeightsNEXT has started a perennial plant exchange and each year it has gotten bigger with more people. That event will provide a source for promoting this project. HeightsNEXT is willing to fund for seeds and plants. Hansen replied the city will provide soil preparation that is similar to the tilling at the other community gardens. Stroik stated it is a good idea for this unused space. Windschitl asked how it would be regulated to prevent people from taking the produce too early. Audette-Luebke replied that is a real possibility and believes through signage and offering community events in the space will enforce the message of how to use the garden. The public will be encouraged to pick their own produce for free but also to share with others. She indicated if the neighbors feel invested in the project the chances of success is much higher. For past community gardens that she has worked with there was a separate area from the family gardens versus the open public gardens and a sign that indicated the areas. McDonald asked how many acres are available for this project. Hansen replied the park areas are .35, .58, and 1.1 acres. Stroik replied there would be plenty of space for a tree farm as well as gardens. She has heard of successful food forests in other cities. Payne indicated the general consensus of the commission is this is a good idea. Evans asked who would be deciding what would get planted and what activities would take place City of Columbia Heights December 5, 2018 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 5 there. Audette-Luebke replied it would be dependent up on the results of the soil testing as to what is planted along with what the neighborhood is interested in. She indicated the group would make sure that the plantings would all be edible and the plants would be appropriate for the usage of the park. Hansen agrees with starting th the gardens on the north side of Lomianki Park and if the project is successful to continue south of 38 Avenue. Buesgens asked staff if the project is received by the neighborhood would the group be able to receive tiling of the park. Windschitl and Hansen replied yes. Buesgens restated if the neighbors of Lomianki Park are on board with the food forest she would come back to the commission and start preparing the soil in the spring. Payne replied yes he would like to receive more information and discuss the process at a future meeting. Reports A. Recreation Director ndth Windschitl reported there is a boys basketball team in every grade level from 2 through 6 grade. A volunteer nd coach is still needed for 2 grade, practice schedules are determined by the coach. Practices are held at the Hylander Center. Windschitl indicated security cameras have been installed throughout the building in John P. Murzyn Hall. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Nothing more to report. C. Commission Members None at this time. Saefke reminded the members of the retirement party next Thursday for the City Manager Walt Fehst. She also reported the Cookies, Cocoa, and Santa event is on Wednesday evening for $7. Payne adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m. Deanna Saefke, Recreation Secretary