09-28-04 PTRC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Arden Hills Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 28, 2004 Page 6 of8 . Motion by Committee Member Crassweller, Committee Member Straumann seconded to recommend an all or nothing vote from Council on the bridge and sidewalk. Motion carried unanimously 5. FIELD USE BY ASSOCIATIONS Ms. Olson explained that several associations utilize the ball fields every spring through summer for baseball and soccer. She stated that many of the associations do not help in any way to maintain the fields, noting that City Staff provides the majority of the maintenance for the fields and receives nothing for the service. She stated that staff researched how other cities in the metro area manage their ball fields to try and come up with options to help gain enough funding to reasonably maintain the fields. She noted that currently, the funding is received through donations or from the CIP fund. She stated that they reviewed the fees charged by other cities noting that the fees are based on resident/non-resident status and practice versus games. She suggested sending a letter to the associations explaining how they classify the costs to maintain the fields. Chair Henry clarified that the reason they are not currently charging fees is because the assumption that the people using the fields are residents. . Ms. Olson explained that one of the problems they have found is that both Mounds View and Vadnais Heights are charging fees for field use and the coaches are bring their teams to Arden Hills to use the fields because they know the city does not charge for their use. Committee Member Crassweller asked what difference a $10.00 fee would make for the City. Ms. Olson stated that it would be a form of revenue that could be used for better maintenance of the fields. She stated that it would also make the teams and associations more accountable for their keeping their reservations and helping with the maintenance of the fields. Committee Member Thompson expressed a concem that ifthe teams and associations were paying a fee, they would have a higher expectation for better maintenance and upgrades for the fields. She asked if the City would be able to keep up with this kind of expectation. Ms. Olson agreed that this could be an issue. She clarified that she is not in full support of charging a fee, adding that if they try and work with the teams and associations they might agree to help with the maintenance. She noted that they are at the beginning stages ofthis issue. Committee Member Crassweller asked how the timds would be allocated. Ms. Olson explained that all of the funds received from fees would be allocated for field maintenance. She reviewed the number of fields involved with the Committee stating that they have not yet determined a e pncmg.