HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 24, 2019
Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting
April 24, 2019
David Payne called the meeting to order at 5:30 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; Nick Novitsky, Council Representative
Approval Consent Agenda
Motion by Clerkin, second by Stroik, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
Letters and Requests
A. Letter of request for a private bar using experienced bartenders for a wedding on July 20, 2019 with
approximately 250 guests or less. A letter is attached.
Windschitl informed the Commission that this is a responsible couple who will use experienced bartenders to
serve alcohol at their wedding reception. Saefke has been working with the couple on multiple occasions and
they want to make sure that all of the rules are being followed correctly. Clerkin asked if a security officer will be
present. Windschitl replied yes.
Motion by Greenhalgh, second by McDonald, to approve the request for a private bar using experienced
bartenders for the wedding on July 20, 2019. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
B. Request for the rental fee to be waived for the use of Murzyn Hall for the Cheers for Beers event on May 17,
2019 with Heights NEXT and the Top Valu Liquor stores.
Windschitl indicated this event was done in 2018 and is a fundraiser for Heights NEXT. The City is involved with
this event because the Top Valu Liquor stores offer tastings and gets the vendors. The fee was waived last year.
Motion by Clerkin, second by McDonald, to approve the request for the rental fee to be waived for the use of
Murzyn Hall on May 17 because this event is partnering with the city liquor stores for the alcohol service. Upon
vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
Old Business
A. Wargo Court Master Plan
Hansen indicated the Wargo Court is budgeted to create a master plan in the 2019. Three proposals were
received from; ISG who did Keyes Park and Nawrocki Park, WSB who did Sullivan, Silver Lake Beach, Huset West,
and Ramsdell Parks, and then BE Land Designs a local Northeast landscape artist who has done some of the
private developments in Columbia Heights. Pricing for the three bids varied with ISG the highest, BE mid-price,
and WSB the lowest bid. Staff reviewed the proposals and do not see any major differences. Payne asked if Staff
had any opinions on what company to use. Hansen replied all three companies and has done work within the
City. He indicated there is an extra step with Wargo Court because as part of the donation from the estate the
executor of the estate does need to review and give input to any changes at the park. Hansen reported if WSB is
selected the City Manager can sign off on the proposal because it is under $15,000.
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Motion by McDonald, second by Stroik, to authorize WSB to prepare the Wargo Court Master Plan. Upon vote:
All ayes. Motion Carried.
Hansen will report back to the Commission with concepts at a future meeting. Staff plans to post park concepts
online for public feedback.
New Business
A. 2019 Jamboree Fireworks
Windschitl reported Pyrotechnic Display has given a full proposal for the 2019 Jamboree Fireworks. They are the
same company that has been used for the past few years. Clerkin asked if the price has increased. Windschitl
replied there is a $6,000 bid and the show is very similar to what it has been in the past. It is a 15 minute show.
Staff recommends using Pyrotechnic Display for the 2019 Jamboree Fireworks.
Motion by Clerkin, second by Greenhalgh, to use Pyrotechnic Display for the 2019 Jamboree Fireworks. Upon
vote: All ayes. Motion Carried.
Reports
A. Recreation Director
Windschitl reported the Recreation Coordinator Carissa Goebel has taken another job and left on March 20.
Applications were being taken for the part-time position at that time so interviews were done for both positions.
The part-time person will start Thursday and the full-time person will start on Monday at three days per week
for a few weeks and then full-time after that. There were a lot of good applications for both positions.
Windschitl reported the theater program will return this summer. The director is a former student from our
programs that is going to college for theater arts. He stated the grant program we are working with the school
district on is centered around the arts so with this program we will be able to use that funding.
Windschitl relayed the Senior Coordinator has offered pickle ball at the Hylander Center for a few months. There
was a lot of interest in the beginning but then with the snow storms the gym was closed and people have
stopped coming. Mulligan is hoping to reinstate the program on Thursday mornings. He asked the Commission
to spread the word.
Windschitl reported the wood floors in Murzyn Hall are in poor condition. Last year a few of the boards were
cracked and a flooring company came in and replaced a number of boards. The job was on a short timeline last
year so Dave’s Floor Sanding coming in to look at the floor. The plan would be to sand down the whole floor in
order to get the areas to match the rest of the floor. Due to the nature of the oak floor the boards are so small
and need to be taken off in a larger area to fix them properly. The floor sanding and refinishing would be done
as usual in May. Clerkin indicated it makes sense to do the repairs and do everything all at once.
Windschitl indicated youth baseball and softball are starting soon. Adult softball leagues start this week.
Saefke informed the Commission that there will be an Art and Craft Fair inside Murzyn Hall on Thursday, June 27
during the Community Picnic and the first night of the Jamboree carnival. If anyone knows of a vendor for the
art fair have them contact her. Windschitl indicated a free fishing clinic will be happening at the picnic as well.
Windschitl reported the garden plots on Reservoir Boulevard are full with 48 plots.
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B. Public Works Director/City Engineer
Hansen concurred there is a staffing shortage. The department will soon be fully staffed with full-time positions.
The seasonal staff is typically at eight to ten at this time but is currently at four. Previous staff has either found
jobs elsewhere or has graduated from college. MNDOT starts at $18 per hour so it is hard to compete with that.
Without seasonal staff it could affect the hours of the pools. The wading pools are inspected twice per day even
on the weekends and that is typically done by a seasonal staff person. Stroik suggested contacting the High
School. Hansen replied they have. Windschitl reported he has as well for summer playground staff.
Hansen reported Lomianki Park is underway for the neighborhood food forest. HeightsNEXT has met with the
th
residents twice. Staff are tilling two times. The first planting is scheduled for May 18. The City is providing a
water source and tilling the dirt.
Hansen indicated one of the full-time employees, Jeff Kline, is retiring next week after 31 years. A seasonal
employee will be moving into that position.
C. Commission Members
Stroik asked if the plantings at Lomianki Park are starting by seed. Hansen replied Buesgens and others have
been starting plants at their house. He indicated the native plantings and milkweed has been planted at Keyes
Park and at Prestemon Park is a good thing and helps with the declining bee population. Stroik would like to see
a tree farm in the city.
Payne adjourned the meeting at 6:07 p.m.
Deanna Saefke, Recreation Secretary