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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 24, 2019 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting July 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 Stroik, second by Clerkin, to approve the consent agenda. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Letters and Requests st A. Letter of recognition for the Fridley/Columbia Heights Frights 18U softball team winning the Youth 1 Team Award. A letter is attached. Payne indicated this is a great recognition. Windschitl informed the Commission a few years ago the girls softball program combined with Fridley because neither program had enough participants to form a team alone. This has been a good way to form a team in every age group and has also been a nice partnership. This award was received at a tournament in Eagan for outstanding sportsmanship. B. Letter of request for the rental fee to be waived for a Columbia Heights Pride event sponsored by HeightsNEXT. Windschitl indicated although the event occurred, the request was received prior to the date and the Commission did not meet. Clerkin asked if the Commission was phasing out free events and having a discounted minimal fee for using city facilities. Windschitl replied that has happened for the most part in recent years. Staff recommends waiving the fee for this family event open to the public. He indicated when the event was first discussed with the coordinator the attendance was not expected to be very high but with the media attention in recent weeks they ended up with a larger crowd. Windschitl believes this is a good event for the community. Clerkin indicated there are costs involved for any use of the park regardless if there is payment received or not. He thought there had been a discussing regarding having all groups pay for the use of the parks. Novitsky agreed there should be a minimum fee for groups because there still is an expense to the city for the use of the parks. Even a non-profit group should not be stressing the city resources without giving something back for payment. Windschitl recommends using the resident rate for the rental of the park since it is only fifty dollars. Stroik indicated this Pride event has already occurred. Clerkin replied yes and he wouldn’t suggest charging for that now but moving forward suggests a minimum rate of fifty dollars for a park rental no matter what. Stroik suggested if the fee is waived for the Pride event that it should also be waived for the Lions Club family picnic. Novitsky replied the club is not asking for the fee to be waived. Greenhalgh asked what is stopping anyone from not booking the park and then showing up to use the park. Windschitl replied the renter who paid for the use of the park has a copy of their permit. Staff encourages all renters to put up a sign early at the park indicating it is rented that day and to have a copy of the permit with them during the rental. Besides renting the shelter or park building the rest of the park remains open to the City of Columbia Heights July 24, 2019 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 2 public, such as the playground, wading pools, splash pad, and green space. Motion by Clerkin, second by Carder, to waive the rental fee for the usage of Sullivan Lake Park for the Pride Event. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Motion by Clerkin, second by McDonald, moving forward the minimum rental fee for the usage of City parks is the resident rate for all groups or individuals using the parks. Upon vote: All ayes. Motion Carried. Old Business A. Wargo Court Master Plan – concept review Hansen reported the firm WSB was hired to prepare a master plan for Wargo Court. Three concepts are attached for review and discussion. Staff wants to address the issue in the west side of the park to avoid any camping or sleeping in the park. The second item to note is this is difficult to plan due to the size of the park. Wargo Court is more of a plaza than a true park. The third item is during the holidays this area does get used for holiday decorations. Hansen indicated all concepts need to have a monument included per the agreement with the donation from the Wargo estate. Concept 1 – Linear Hansen discussed features of concept 1. The plantings and walkways are all in line. This is a different layout than what is already there. Staff questions are if there should be benches and picnic tables. The maintenance of the area needs to be considered as well. Concept 1 has a lot of trees and mainly mulch underneath so there is little areas that will need a push mower. This concept also provides opportunities for lighting in the trees and st entrance areas. At the corner of 41 and Central Avenue is an open entrance area with a view to the back with an arbor seating area. Concept 2 – Organic The central feature of this concept is a mound of turf. Existing holiday decorations could be placed in that area as well. This concept keeps the back, west, area for a trail. The designer intended the west area to be planted with things that draw butterflies, bees, and birds as more of a nature walk. Clerkin likes the water feature option. Hansen replied yes there could be a water feature in this concept. The Wargo memorial is located out front. This concept has the layout of the trees in an organic layout which would be a different look for any string lighting. Stroik asked what the empty area along the west side is. Hansen replied that is already existing trees. They are old conifers. Clerkin suggested having a lower laying shrub along the west side to deter any camping. Concept 3 – Formal Hansen this concept maintains a central focus with the grass mound and has a pergola style entrance with the monument. There is a low lying water feature. Staff likes the presentation of the trees as far as seasonal decorating. There are a few picnic tables indicated. Is this area appropriate for picnics? Commission members stated no they do not feel picnic tables are needed at this site. Payne indicated this concept is similar to the Hentges Garden at Huset Park. Stroik asked what the pricing is for each concept. Hansen replied the concepts have not been priced out. Concept 1 would be the most expensive due to the amount of concrete. Clerkin asked if the time capsule would be embedded into the ground and what type of monument would be installed. Hansen replied yes it would be embedded. In Concept 3 the parkway monument is part of the pergola entrance and a memorial to Judge Wargo would be placed there. Clerkin asked what the life expectancy is of a memorial like that. Hansen replied it would be metal and it would last about twenty-five years or so. The park monument sign would be approximately the City of Columbia Heights July 24, 2019 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 3 same or longer depending on the design. Stroik asked if a water feature is desired by the members. Clerkin replied yes. Stroik asked if it is high maintenance. Hansen replied any style of a water feature will require some level of maintenance. Where else in any of our parks would we want to place a water feature? Most often they are in public areas and plaza types of parks. Carder asked if Concept 1 would require less maintenance over time. Hansen replied yes. There are more trees that would require frequent maintenance within the first five years but once they are established it is just maintaining the shape. Clerkin asked if Concept 2 has picnic tables. Hansen replied yes. Based on the conversation he has noted to remove picnic tables and maintain benches. Greenhalgh likes a water feature at this location. Carder agrees. Hansen indicated there is an opportunity for an LED message board at this location if desired. The police brought this idea up for public messaging. Stroik agreed that is a good idea. Hansen asked what the Commission feels about installing more lighting throughout the plaza. Clerkin agreed with more lighting and does not want to have any accessible outlets in the area. Stroik suggested having the area more open and visible when police drive by to see into the area clearly. Hansen asked if the Commission likes any of the concepts best or represents more of what they want to see in the area. Stroik replied #1. McDonald and Clerkin likes #2. Greenhalgh likes the gateway entrance area in #3. Hansen replied the comments will be taken into consideration, staff will narrow the concepts to two options, and they will be presented to the public for review. The final concepts will be presented back to the Commission in the fall. Hansen indicated at least one option will include a water feature. New Business None at this time. Reports A. Recreation Director Windschitl reported the enrollment numbers for the summer programs are very good. The Wild Wednesday trips have had full or almost full participation. The free lunch program with Loaves and Fishes is also going well. Recreation staff attended the police neighborhood picnic at Gauvitte Park. The CH Athletic Boosters provided hot dogs. Hansen asked how the attendance was. Windschitl replied since the original date had to be rescheduled it was not well attended. The Hylander Center gym will be closed from July 29 through August 11 for floor refinishing. The Sunday open gym hours are changing to match the hours on Saturday. In August the gym will be open from 9 am – 12 noon. B. Public Works Director/City Engineer Hansen indicated one consequence with having half of the typical seasonal staff is that they are behind in grass maintenance. Seasonal staff often takes care of trimming, weeding, and spraying so those are the types of things that are behind and they have received some public calls. Hansen reported some funding has been approved through a DNR grant to reconstruct the boat landing at Silver Lake. This project will happen in 2020 or 2021 budget depending on how the grant works out. The maximum grant amount of $250,000 was approved. The lift station in the middle of the boat landing is due for replacement as it is from 1960. This will be a complex project and the boat landing will need to be reconstructed prior to the boat landing. Staff will meet with the lake association to discuss the projected timeline. The boat landing will be closed for approximately three months with no work around for lake access. The water quality pond in that area should be completely redone in about four weeks. C. Commission Members Clerkin asked how many streets were reseal coated this year. Hansen replied none, the only work being done is City of Columbia Heights July 24, 2019 Park & Recreation Commission Minutes of the Meeting Page 4 crack sealing. Reseal coating will be done in the northeast quadrant of the city during 2020. Clerkin noticed Central Avenue was redone right up to the boarder of Columbia Heights. Hansen replied the work was done by th MN Dot. The county is currently working on 49 Avenue. Stroik asked what the status is with HyVee. Hansen directed her to speak with the Community Development Department. Stroik indicated residents of Heights Manor ask her about the variance between the church and their building because they want a trail. Hansen replied it is going to happen by city staff in 2019. Payne asked the CH Lions Club members how the Jamboree went. Clerkin replied it went very well but attendance was slightly down due to the heat. The carnival workers were very pleased. The beer sales were slightly down from last year. Novitsky replied there were a lot of families. Clerkin reported the car show had a great turn out on Saturday for it being the first time. Greenhalgh said the Home Run Derby was good and won by Heights alumni. Payne reported the softball tournament went really well. Carder replied the fireworks were good. Payne adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m. Deanna Saefke, Recreation Secretary