2007-09-05 & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes August 1,2007 placement and the budget for this renovation. The tennis court is desired, but will be quite expensive and with a small budget it is cost prohibitive at this time. Chairperson Seeley suggested the committee might want to leave the space open for a future tennis court. The priority at this time is to upgrade and do the maintenance. While the idea of a looped trail has benefits, Chairperson Seeley's concern is having two entrances could encourage children to shoot out onto the road. Committee Member Harris said a merry-go-round was requested and while the committee likes the idea, they questioned whether it is a safety issue as they are not seen very often in parks anymore. A resident abutting the park requested any play structure or climbing wall be done in neutral colors such as brown as to better blend in with the neighborhood. The committee had previously discussed having a sand play area, but have since found out sand is not allowed in playgrounds at all. The shredded recycled material used at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the fall zone is the preferred material to use at Tracie McBride Memorial Park, but because of the cost, the committee discussed other options and decided they would like to use pea rock. Recycled timbers will still be used as border. Committee Member Harris discussed the idea of a picnic area behind the building covered by a pergola which would provide some shade. Council Member Lee reminded the committee that a pergola could involve engineering because of specs and city requirements and did they really want to involve engineering costs with a limited budget? The committee discussed eliminating the water fountain as the cost is approximately $3,400, but Vice-Chairperson Amundsen suggested keeping everything in the proposed plan, it will just have to be done in phases. The most expensive pieces will be the proposed tennis court and the asphalt for the trails and resurfacing the basketball court. Council Member Lee suggested this could possibly be included with the 2009 street project. Council Member Lakso felt the current trail leading from the street to the play structure needed more immediate attention as it is becoming a safety hazard and questioned would this area not be considered maintenance. The ultimate goal of the trail is to get people to the pond and play areas. The committee split the various pieces to get costs for the next committee meeting. Mr. Dallas Larson asked the committee to consider policy for trimming of trees and shrubs in the parks abutting residential properties. The concern was abutting property owners were dumping grass clippings/compost on park property making it difficult to mow and a resident complained that the trees/shrubs on the north border of Tracie McBride Memorial Park needed to be trimmed. Once trimmed by Public Works the resident felt they were trimmed too much. The committee felt the City does not typically let neighbor by neighbor dictate how the Parks & Recreation Committee or Public Works take care of parks and stated the property lines should be kept clean and visible. The committee stated they would prefer Public Works continue to keep areas clean and trimmed and if residents wanted to they could plant shrobs and or trees on their property to block the view of the park. 30f4