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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-02 P R Minutes Approved Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - 6:30 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Parks & Recreation Committee of the City of Centerville held the regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Centerville City Hall, 1880 Main Street. Present: Vice-Chairperson Jon Grahek Committee Member Suzanne Seeley Committee Member Mark Haiden Committee Member Kevin Amundsen Committee Member Kevin Selander Committee Member Brian Peterson Absent: Chairperson Patrick Branch (participated via teleconference) Council: Council Liaison Steven King Staff: Absent Also in attendance were Ms. Liz Guimont, Ms. Katie Lowe and Ms. Sharna Braucks, Chain of Lakes YMCA, Ms. Mary Capra and Mr. Philip Capra, Eagle Scout Project. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. CALL TO ORDER Roll Call Vice-Chairperson Grahek called the February 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. II. SET AGENDA Vice-Chairperson Grahek requested adding two updates; Skate Night and DNR Tree Grant ~ Eagle Scout Project, Mr. Philip Capra. Motion was made by Committee Member Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Selander, to set the February 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Agenda with the above additions. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. III. APPEARANCES Ms. Liz Guimont, Ms. Katie Lowe and Ms. Sharna Braucks were present from the Chain of Lakes YMCA to discuss the Park Play Day Program and introduce the Day Camp at Heritage Lab, which is nd entering its 2 year. Heritage Camp is a 12 week program with participants (ages 4 through 15) able to attend one week or up to 12 weeks. This program is partnered with Anoka County. Handouts of all activities, transportation and registration fees were supplied to the committee, as well as a presentation from daycampheritage.org. 1 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 The YMCA proposes eliminating Centerville Park Play Days at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park and consolidating into Heritage Camp. In 2010 there were 22 children in session 1 and only 4 in session 2 of Park Play Days (15 from Centerville). The YMCA offers a Personal Pricing Plan for families in need with $300,000 in scholarships given last year. Of that amount $58,500 was expended for the Heritage Camp program. Scholarships are on a sliding scale based on income and the number of people in the family and can pay for up to 50% of program cost. This program is non-profit, so balance comes from other programs or memberships. It was suggested vouchers specific for Centerville residents are possible and adding a bus stop in Centerville would benefit residents. How to use a Centerville donation would need to be discussed further, but it was suggested if a family qualifies, then they would get a YMCA Scholarship and the Centerville donation could be over and above the YMCA scholarship. IV. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES January 5, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes nd Committee Member Haiden requested changing the word ‘conception’ to ‘inception’ on page 4, 2 nd paragraph, 2 sentence, under Music in the Parks. ndst Committee Member Haiden requesting adding the word ‘yards’ on page 6, 2 paragraph, 1 sentence yards "...would want to have an area about 400 x 400 (insert: ) weed free". Motion was made by Committee Member Haiden, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Grahekto approve the January 5, 2010 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes with the above corrections. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. V. COMMITTEE BUSINESS YMCA Park Programs Committee Member Peterson stated that it appeared to be a good program; however, Centerville does have a very tight budget and he would prefer to see an amount smaller than $1500 allocated for the YMCA Heritage Camp and a time limit after which unspent money would no longer be available for this program. Committee Member Seeley also stated that Wargo Nature Center has more affordable programming. Committee Member Haiden pointed out that the YMCA Scholarship Program was available for Centerville residents. Chairperson Branch’s recommendation is that Parks & Recreation should not fund the YMCA programs either in our parks or at the Heritage Lab as we could make better use of the $1500 and the committee should ask City Council to re-allocate those funds to other park activities. Motion was made by Committee Member Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Selander, to recommend to City Council that the $1500 budgeted for Centerville Park Play Days not be allocated to YMCA programs and to instead be made available for other City of Centerville Parks & Recreation uses. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. Centennial Little League Request to Use Ball Fields & Facilities at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park April through August 2011 Included in the packet was a letter received from Centennial Lakes Little League requesting use of the 2 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 ball fields and facilities at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the 2011 season. Mr. Pat Mahr met with Mr. Paul Palzer & Mr. Dallas Larson and worked out an agreement for the grooming of the fields, basically Public Works will continue with the same service as they have in past years and if additional mowing is needed Centennial Little League will take care of it. Centennial Little League still plans to move the lights, fence and scoreboards with no cost to the City. Motion was made by Committee Member Seeley, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Grahekto recommend City Council approve the request from Centennial Lakes Little League to use the three baseball and softball fields and facilities located at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the summer months of 2011 beginning April 1 through August 15, Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. until dark with the maintenance agreement worked out with the Public Works Staff and Centennial Little League in regards to grooming the fields prior to games. All in Favor. Motion passed unanimously. The committee requested Ms. Stephan contact Centennial Little League to determine what their needs were going to be for nighttime play under the lights, for instance how late in the evening and whether they would be holding tournaments. Music in the Parks Mr. Tom Lee has said he would organize the Teen Bands again if that is what the committee would like, as well as perform one night himself either solo acoustical or with his band. Ms. Stephan has asked Ms. LaValle looking for input as to children’s bands, country music bands, bad weather policy and availability of the bands she is involved with. Ms. LaValle supplied information on all the above which Ms. Stephan passed on to the committee. Ms. LaValle stated rainouts are handled one of two ways: some pay regardless, so expect you to show up, and then if it is a rainout, you get paid, and leave. The other way is to say if the concert gets cancelled 4 hours before downbeat, early enough to avoid travel, or setup, then it is cancelled with no payment. Committee Member Peterson played a Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree clip. Committee Member Seeley stated that it was good to have a music night geared for younger children of Centerville. The following schedule was decided: July 12 BBB Jazz Combo July 19 Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree (popcorn and ice cream provided) July 26 Tom Lee or Teen Band August 9 BBB Jazz Orchestra August 16 Tom Lee or Teen Band August 23 7 Cats Swing th Committee Member Peterson to confirm Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree for July 19. The committee th requested Ms. Stephan ask Mr. Lee his preference on the dates July 26th or August 16, with the Teen Bands on the remaining date. 3 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 Movies in the Park thth After some discussion, the committee decided to set September 10 and September 17 as the Movie in the Park nights for 2011, with September 24th as a makeup night, if necessary. Parks & Recreation Hosting an Olympic Day Chairperson Branch brought this item to the committee for consideration stating there are 160 of these events nationwide, but only 3 in Minnesota. Chairperson Branch suggested funding could come from the $1500 now slated to the YMCA Park Programs, thinking the Olympic Day could be done for approximately $1000. The two biggest challenges would be the agenda and the participants. Playing on the idea of the Olympics, we could set up a series of teams that we would call nations. We would invite organized sports, neighboring towns and the YMCA to field a national team. So we could have the hockey nation, soccer nation, YMCA nation, Hugo nation, etc. For sports we could do a one or two day softball tournament, tennis tournament, skate board skills, and sprint distance track events. We could invite an Olympic speaker from the national training center in Blaine. Committee Member Seeley stated that it would be difficult to organize this event in the time frame allowed. Other cities known to host an Olympic Day are Burnsville, Rochester and Duluth. Reportedly they have had about 30 to 300 participants. It was suggested someone from the Parks & Recreation Committee try to attend one of this events and report back to the committee. The Committee decided to not participate in hosting an Olympic Day Celebration in 2011. VI. UPDATES Skate Night Update The committee coordinated the details of the upcoming Saturday, February 5, 2011 Skate Night event. Tobacco in Parks Policy (Grahek) This item was tabled until the March 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee meeting. Youth Corps Committee Member Seeley suggested an online timeshare signup for volunteers to offer skills they have. The committee is still concerned about how the youth would be chaperoned. Promotions ~ Handbook & Quarterly Flier Per the utility Billing Clerk, Ms. Kris Sweeney, it will cost the Parks & Recreation Committee/Wargo Nature Center approximately $50 to mail a flier with the utility bills, this does not include the cost of printing. Chairperson Branch and Committee Member Seeley have met with Ms Deb Gallop, Wargo Nature Center to discuss the concept of placing event notices on the opposite sides of a single sheet of paper, Centerville would send out these flyers with the quarterly utility bills and Wargo would cover the cost of printing. Wargo and the City would also hand out these flyers as part of their normal business with the public. Chairperson Branch will follow up with Ms. Krista Toomerdahl, Wargo’s graphic designer to work out what the fliers would look like. 4 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 Sand Volleyball Court City Council tabled the item at the January 26, 2011 City Council meeting regarding the committee’s request to reserve the money received from Dead Broke Saddle Club Charitable Gambling Funds with $2,500 dedicated to the future sand volleyball court at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Sand Volley Ball Court requesting more information from the Parks & Recreation Committee regarding the proposal. The following motion was made at the February 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee meeting for City Council consideration: Motion was made by Committee Member Haiden, seconded by Committee Member Amundsen to recommend City Council approve a request for a regulation sized Sand Volleyball Court(s) to be constructed in Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park providing that no general funds from the City are requested at this time. Any donations or income designated for this project are to be held in a separate fund for this purpose. All in Favor. Motion passed unanimously. Concession Stand at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Mr. Dallas Larson, City Administrator has tasked Mr. Paul Palzer, Public Works Director and Mr. Mike Jeziorski, Finance Director to come up with a business plan for opening the Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park concession stand. The City has committed to groom the little league ball fields and are considering hiring a part time employee whose duties would include the ball field grooming, cleaning the restrooms and operating the concession stand. Mr. Larson stated the committee will have information regarding this proposal at their regularly scheduled March 2011 meeting. Trail Project Expectations This discussion item was tabled until the March committee meeting. The committee asked that Mr. Greg Burmeister attend the March committee meeting to discuss the committee’s expectations for the project. Bald Eagle Water Ski Show (Haiden) Committee Member Haiden informed the committee that he had a telephone discussion with Ms. Tina Lobin, Bald Eagle Water Ski Club to discuss the committee’s expectations for research and any required permits or permissions to conduct the ski show in the area desired. Ms. Lobin confirmed the club would contact the DNR about lake weed control as well as any other concerns the DNR may have about the area use. The club would also contact the Saint Paul Regional Water Services about any requirements to place a dock on the shores of Centerville Lake. Committee Member Haiden suggested that Ms. Lobin may wish to present the findings at the next Parks & Recreation committee meeting in March. Native American Artifacts and Historic Sites in Centerville There was a January 18, 2011 meeting at Wargo Nature Center regarding preservation of Native American artifacts and historic sites in Centerville which included representatives from Parks & Recreation, Wargo Nature Center, MN Science Museum and Centerville residents. The discussion centered on past archeological surveys on Native American sites within the present City of Centerville. 5 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 02-02-11 Chairperson Branch reported that while the committee has discussed the possibility of trying to pursue grants to purchase Mr. Leibel’s property where the burial mounds are located, the committee was only in the earliest stages of thinking through what could be done in this area. Before grant money can be seriously pursued, the committee would need a much better defined project than we currently have. Chairperson Branch suggested the committee start thinking of what we want to do in Centerville for this burial mound area. Some possibilities may be to erect a roadside sign or to consider purchasing the property. Committee Member Seeley stated this site is designated as a burial mound and is protected by law. Committee Member Seeley would prefer the City buy the property if at all possible and maintain in its current state with signage on the trail. Perhaps, Anoka County might want to buy the land and add it to Rice Creek Regional Park. Committee Member Haiden stated that if the site is already protected by law, the Parks & Recreation Committee may not need to purchase the site in order for it to be preserved and the committee should find out what can be done by any new purchaser. For example, could they build between the mound and the road so as to block the view? The committee would request the City Attorney look into what the owner can do with the property going forward given the historic designation. Tree Diversification Eagle Scout Project - Philip Capra & Mary Capra Mr. Philip Capra attended the committee meeting to discuss his Eagle Scout Project which the committee had motioned to support at the July 7, 2010 committee meeting. Mr. Capra applied for and received a DNR grant on behalf of the City and was awarded $7,200 for planting trees. DNR grants typically require a covenant on property where improvements are made with federal funding and the City would need to enter into a covenant agreement regarding any park the trees are planted in. If park property is sold for any reason, the City would need DNR approval. While the original Eagle Scout Project called for adding trees to multiple parks, because Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park already has DNR covenants in place, Mr. Dallas Larson, City Administrator, suggested adding trees to just this park. Mr. Capra is working on a site plan for the committee’s approval. The trees would be purchased from Rum River Tree Farm. Mr. Capra would like the Parks & Recreation Committee to recommend that City Council accept the 22 trees (2.5” diameter stalks) to be planted at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park. Motion was made by Committee Member Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Seeley to recommend City Council approve all 22 trees funded by the DNR grant be planted in Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park to save cost, time and dealing with future covenants. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Grahek, seconded by Committee Member Seeley, to adjourn the February 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee meeting at 9:15 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by Committee Member Haiden 6 of 6