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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-02 P R Minutes Approved Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 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, March 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 Brian Peterson Absent: Chairperson Patrick Branch Committee Member Kevin Selander Council: Council Liaison Steven King Staff: Staff Liaison Kim Stephan ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. CALL TO ORDER Roll Call Vice-Chairperson Grahek called the March 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. II. SET AGENDA Motion was made by Committee Member Seeley, seconded by Committee Member Amundsen, to set the March 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Agenda as is. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. III. APPEARANCES IV. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES February 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Committee Member Seeley requested changing each instance within the minutes of ‘Eagle Project’ to ‘Eagle Scout Project’. Committee Member Seeley would like the following sentence on page 6 of 6 clarified to state the trees will be 2.5” diameter. Mr. Capra would like the Parks & Recreation Committee to recommend that City Council accept the 22 trees (2.5” stalks) to be planted at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park. Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Grahek, seconded by Committee Member Amundsento 1 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 approve the February 2, 2010 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes with the above corrections. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. V. COMMITTEE BUSINESS Concession Stand at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park City of Centerville staff has been working on a feasibility analysis for offering concessions at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park during the little league ball season. The analysis started with evaluating the Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park warming house site to ensure it was suitable for such an operation. Staff also identified potential products for sale, distributors, # of employees, hours of operation, money safe guarding techniques, and the number of potential customers. Mr. Mike Jeziorski, Finance Director supplied the committee with the information gathered to this point for review. The committee discussed remodeling costs/options and whether there would be enough room in the current area for the equipment that would be required. While recognizing there is cost involved in bringing the current concession stand area up to code, the committee feels it has long been needed. The concession area has been used for Skate Night and the committee has repeatedly brought to staff concerns over the condition of the kitchen. The differences between a Class 9 Food License – allows selling of pop, chips, candy and hotdogs and a Class 8 Food License – allows selling of pop, chips, and candy were discussed and while recognizing a significant cost difference in the requirements for each, the committee felt if concessions were going to be sold, hot food choices should be offered to make this a more lucrative venture. For those members who attend sporting events with their children, having hot dogs, or something other than chips and candy, available for game nights, seems to be a big seller with parents rushing from work to the park. Mr. Jeziorski suggested approximately 170 people go through the park each game night; the committee actually thought that low, as many parents have siblings of the ball players with them also. Centennial Little League has 100 plus teams and currently has the ball fields dedicated 4:30 p.m. to dusk, Monday through Thursday. Ms. Stephan talked to the League Administrator and they will be requesting more time and additional days because of the new grass mounded field and the opportunity to use the lights for double headers. The committee requests staff research what other types of food can be offered with a Class 9 License, for example, would pizza be an option? Could a pizza machine be added? The committee thought Class 9 involved any food item which is not commercially packaged and has potential for the preparer to touch, where Class 8 involves food that is commercially wrapped. What other foods can be sold under Class 8; for instances sandwiches wrapped in plastic that could be sold cold or heated in a microwave? The committee questioned why a commercial refrigerator would be needed under a Class 8 license just for pop. It was felt this would be the biggest expense. Committee Member Peterson said the refrigerator required would have a National Sanitation Foundation Seal of Approval and may be able to be purchased less expensively used from a restaurant that has gone out of business. Council Member King suggested buying a concession trailer instead as this might be less expensive. The committee discussed the possibility of hiring a concession trailer, a business that is already set up and self contained, to sell concessions with an agreement that a percentage goes back to the City. It could then be evaluated at the end of the season as to whether it would be worth the up front expense of remodeling the concession area of the warming house. Motion was made by Committee Member Peterson, seconded by Committee Member Haiden to 2 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 support this proposal and continued research to determine the projects feasibility. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. Music in the Parks th Mr. Lee has committed to the August 16 date either solo or with his band. He suggests budgeting $300, if he plays solo he will perform for free with an ice cream social, but his band will require some funds and he does not have an answer at this time as to whether or not they will play. He was not however, th . able to secure one of the 3 teen bands he has worked with, so the committee has an opening for July 26 With the schedule of BBB Jazz Combo, Rusty's Rocking Jamboree, BBB Jazz Orchestra, Tom Lee, 7 th Cats Swing and an Ice Cream Social the budget would be$1850 without a band for the July 26 spot. If another band is also paid $350, that would mean raising the budget from $1500 to $2200 using $700 from the YMCA line item. th The two options for the July 26 spot, if they are available, would be Mean Gene & the Woodticks or The Maple Street Ramblers. Information on both bands was provided to the committee in the meeting agenda packet. The consensus of the committee was to have Ms. Stephan contact the bands in the above order to inquire as to their interest and availability. Ms. Stephan will research what other cities do for a rain policy and options for a band contract. Tobacco in Parks Policy (Grahek) Vice-Chairperson Grahek supplied the committee with information he had researched on tobacco policies within cities, counties and state parks. All Anoka County parks have been tobacco free since 2005. There are a number of cities that have adopted similar policies, most recently Blaine, with exemptions for special events such as street dances or summer festivals held within the parks. Vice-Chairperson Grahek is in support of Tobacco Free Parks and stated studies show most of these policies are youth-driven and supported by the general public. This item was discussed at length. Both Committee Member Haiden and Committee Member Peterson do not feel it is the committee’s, the City’s or government’s place to limit whether people can smoke outside in open spaces. Committee Member Haiden feels most smokers are polite and he hasn’t seen any problems at parks; he does not think government should encroach any more on people’s private lives, even if in a public park, he does not think we should be involved. Some members would be willing to go to a tobacco free zone area, such as a given amount of space around sporting events, but do not support entire parks being tobacco free. Committee Member Seeley stated the point is adults who smoke show a poor example to kids and would vote that all public spaces be tobacco free. Committee Member Peterson felt it is not the committee’s job to teach kids not to smoke; it is not Park & Recreation’s responsibility to control smoking. It was questioned how this would be enforced. People currently have the right to ask people not to smoke around them if they find it offensive or they can move. Vice-Chairperson Grahek said with a policy in force it would be a taggable offense and it would be enforceable by the general public. Committee Member Amundsen was undecided on a tobacco free policy for the park, but would consider a smoke free zone. Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Grahek, seconded by Committee Member Seeley to recommend to City Council that all City owned parks become tobacco free, following the lead of hundreds of other municipalities. Vice Chairperson Grahek asked for a roll call vote, Grahek – 3 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 aye, Seeley – aye, Haiden – nay, Peterson – nay, Amundsen – undecided. Motion fails for a tie. Signage for Trails (Seeley) Committee Member Seeley has tabled this item to the April Parks & Recreation Committee meeting. This is referring to informational trail signage. VI. UPDATES Re-allocation of YMCA Funding City Council requested the Parks & Recreation Committee be more specific in requesting re-allocation of the $1500 previously budgeted for the YMCA Park Play Days. Motion was made by Committee Member Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Peterson to request City Council re-allocate the $1,500 previously budgeted as a line item for the YMCA Park Play Days at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park as follows; Music in the Park Program $700 and Fete des Lacs 8K Run/In-Line Skate $800.All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. The Music in the Park Program is currently at $1,500. The program remains at 6 weeks, but with the addition of two (2) bands that require payment in slots previously used for the Teen Bands (which were rd less expensive), and a free performance, the budget needs to be increased by $700. Entering the 3 year of the Music in the Park Program the committee continues to strive to make this a quality program, both diverse and entertaining for all age groups. The budget for the 8K Run is also currently at $1,500, but with the addition of the In-Line Race the committee feels the additional $800 would be best used for costs associated with these races. Centennial Little League Use of Ball Fields at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for 2011 Season Ms. Stephan contacted Mr. Patrick Mahr, Centennial Little League President, to ask what the League’s needs were for nighttime play under the lights, how late they would use the fields/lights and whether they were scheduling tournaments at the park? Mr. Mahr is out of town, but the League Administrator replied they would be sending a request for additional time. Dead Broke Saddle Club Donation of $2,500 for Sand Volley Ball Court City Council approved the committee’s recommendation to 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 and any donations or income designated for this project will be held in a separate fund for this purpose. However, if the Parks & Recreation Committee is not able to raise sufficient funds to complete the construction by 12/31/2013 the Committee will return to City Council and Dead Broke Saddle Club for alternative projects. Trail Project Expectations The committee had asked that Mr. Greg Burmeister attend the March committee meeting to discuss the committee’s expectations for the Trail Project. The committee had also asked Mr. Burmeister attend the 4 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 February meeting. Mr. Dallas Larson, City Administrator, said Mr. Burmeister will attend a Parks & Recreation Committee meeting after the spring preconstruction meeting with the contractor in April. The committee was disappointed that a representative was not at the meeting and felt communication needs to start before the pre-construction meeting, not after. They do not want the project started and then have their input heard. The committee spent considerable time and many meetings on this project with Bonestroo representatives and would like to meet with Mr. Burmeister as he has not previously been at a Parks & Recreation Committee meeting. The committee had multiple concerns over the Hidden Spring Park Project and felt had there been more communication between all parts involved some of the problems may have been alleviated instead of committee members continually coming to staff and council members to report problems, some of which were never resolved to the committee’s satisfaction. Bald Eagle Water Ski Shows Mr. Mark Spitzmueller, Bald Eagle Water Ski Shows, updated the committee via email: Mr. Bill Tschida, St. Paul Water Utility said we would be able to place a dock on the site, but the permit request would need to come from the city. There is a nominal fee of $25 per year for the permit. If we are to move forward, the city would work with Mr. Tschida for the permit. I believe the main requirement will be for us to add the City of Centerville, St. Paul Water Utility and the City of St. Paul as additional insured on our liability insurance through USA Water Ski. The current insurance coverage required by the St. Paul Water Utility for a private landowner is 100k/300k. Mr. Tschida is going to speak with his risk manager to discuss whether or not they would require more because of our specific use and let me know. Our current liability coverage is well over the amount required for private landowners and I believe we can increase if necessary. Committee Member Haiden reported he had talked to Ms. Tina Lobin, Bald Eagle Water Ski Club and they had received a quote from a company for killing the lake weeds in an area 400 x 400 yards on Centerville Lake. This estimate was much higher than they had first envisioned so the club needs to go with a smaller area. Committee Member Seeley questioned whether this company was harvesting or treating with chemicals? Committee Member Haiden said the treatment was chemical, but DNR approved. Committee Member Seeley would request the Bald Eagle Water Ski Club share with the committee whatever DNR information they have acquired. Committee Member Haiden reminded the committee that the intention is for the committee to not take on any responsibility for this project with the onus being with the Bald Eagle Water Ski Club to come to the Parks & Recreation Committee with a proposal and supporting DNR/St. Paul Water Utility documentation. PA System Ms. Stephan asked Mr. Tom Lee if he had any updates regarding the purchase of the PA System or if the committee needed to allocate more funding to this item to purchase the PA System at full price (not on sale). Mr. Lee said the current budget ($2,700) should cover everything that is a must have and he could loan the committee a few things if needed. He was continuing to watch the prices trying to get the best possible deal. Promotions ~ Handbook & Quarterly Flyer Ms. Stephan provided the committee with an alternate plan for advertising; insert a flyer or postcard into 5 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 03-02-11 the local Press Publication (Citizen) for .06 per insert. Ms. Stephan also reminded the committee that if they want to insert a flyer into the next utility bill it will need to be provided to staff the week prior to April 15, 2011. Chairperson branch has contacted Wargo Nature Center’s graphic department regarding the idea of working together on a flyer. Festival of the Lakes 8K Run Chairperson Branch reports the 8K website is up and running and requested the committee look at the site and give him your critical feedback. He will make whatever corrections are needed and then send the link out to the public. The website is www.centervillemn8k.com. Chairperson Branch was able to find and secure a much more economical way to time the 8K and the in- line. Vacation Sports, who has timed the last two races, would charge $1,000 for timing. Chairperson Branch secured Running Ventures, instead with the representative Ms. Barb Leininger reporting, ‘I still do it the "old fashioned" way - with the bib and spindle routine. I am still able to produce printed results on the spot for races under 300 finishers. I charge $1.50 per registered runner, $2.00 for race day entries. That means for your event if you have 200 people who sign up in advance it would cost $300. Right now I am available on July 30, 2011. I do charge $50 for a large finish clock if you want to add that on.’ Ms. Leininger measured the course for the 8K the first year. Native American Artifacts and Historic Sites in Centerville The committee requested staff provide information as to what can or cannot be done with property designated as a historic site. Mr. Dallas Larson, City Administrator supplied the committee with Minnesota laws on burial sites, adding ‘it appears that the law protects these sites if they have been authenticated, and I believe the one on Leibel's property has. The site does spill over the property line to the south so it would occupy part of the lot owned by Myrna Rehbein. Most of it does appear to be on Leibel's land.’ Committee Member Haiden would specifically like the City Attorney’s opinion; if someone were to purchase this piece of property could they build between the road and the mound obstructing the view of the mound? If they cannot and the mound is already protected, what would be the purpose of the City buying the property? Committee Member Seeley said she is continuing to work with the Minnesota Science Museum on research for this project and will report back to the committee. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Committee Member Seeley, seconded by Committee Member Amundsen, to adjourn the March 2, 2011 Parks & Recreation Committee meeting at 9:15 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by Kim Stephan 6 of 6