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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-01 P & R Minutes Approved Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - 6:00 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Parks & Recreation Committee of the City of Centerville held the regularly scheduled Wednesday, October 1, 2008 meeting at City Hall, 1880 Main Street. Present: Chairperson Suzanne Seeley Vice-Chairperson Kevin Amundsen Committee Member Kevin Selander Committee Member Savannah Lee Absent: Committee Member Mark Haiden Committee Member Patrick Branch Committee Member Lori Harris Council: Council Liaison Tom Lee Staff: Staff Liaison Kim Stephan __________________________________________________________________________________ I. CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call Chairperson Seeley called the October 1, 2008 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. II. SET AGENDA Chairperson Seeley requested adding Officer Andy Dixon under Appearances to discuss park issues. Also requested was the addition of Centennial Youth Hockey Association’s request to use the Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park facilities for the 2008-2009 hockey season under Committee Business. Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Selander to set the agenda with the above additions. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. III. APPEARANCES Office Andy Dixon, Eagle Park Problems Officer Andy Dixon made an appearance to discuss lighting at the parks, as well as recent problems reported at Eagle Park. Ms. Stephan informed the committee that there had been multiple complaints from residents regarding teenagers at Eagle Park; loud, swearing, being hard on the equipment meant for smaller children and intimidating younger kids. Ms. Stephan recommended the residents call the police when they see this happening, but they seemed hesitant, one said they didn't want the teenagers retaliating. The Parks & 1 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 Recreation Committee did do a spring clean up of this park and found drug paraphernalia, empty bottles and hundreds of cigarette butts in a secluded clearing in the dense pine trees. Vice-Chairperson Amundsen trimmed up the trees so there would be a better view of what was going on, as well as making users of the trail feel a little safer. The resident’s complaints also included the park is too dark and the tennis court too isolated and completely surrounded by trees. The residents are asking for a more frequent police presence at this park and are asking Parks & Recreation and Public Works to consider removing some of the trees. Mayor Capra also had met with residents and received emails from other residents with these same concerns. Chairperson Seeley asked Officer Dixon for input regarding additional lighting at Tracie McBride Memorial Park and Eagle Park, does it help to have additional lights or does it encourage use after dark. Officer Dixon prefaced his answer with another officer, who regularly works evenings in Centerville, was supposed to come to the meeting instead of him and Officer Dixon did not regularly work evenings in Centerville. But, he stated he could never say more lights are a bad thing, though cost is certainly a consideration. Officer Dixon asked what the committee would like to see from the Police Department regarding the complaints at Eagle Park. Council Member Lee said they would like stepped up patrol at Eagle Park and when officers do make contact with the teenagers, make a point of letting the teenagers know why you are there, bring the teenagers home and talk to the parents. Perhaps have officers walk the trail at night. Officer Dixon stated the teenagers would be brought home if there were doing anything wrong and citizens should call the police. City Council is already looking at the light issue for Tracie McBride Memorial Park. Officer Dixon has information regarding park lighting he will get to Ms. Stephan before the next committee meeting and he will talk to Chief Makela about stepping up patrolling around Eagle Park. Park Signage The committee discussed why park signs stating the rules have not been put in place as this was something that went to City Council in early spring. If would be much easier for the officers to enforce the rules, c such as hours, if they were posted. The ommittee then also questioned why the signs requested in 2007 and again in the spring of 2008 have never been put up in Hidden Spring Park? There were also supposed to be 'No Trespassing' signs on the north and south borders of Hidden Spring abutting the St. Paul Water Utility property and the property owner to the south. Vice-Chairperson Amundsen asked why the entry signs into Centerville have not been replaced, he came across a discussion in his notes the committee had in 2005 regarding this issue and they have still not been replaced. The recycling and no parking signs are so faded they can barely be read. Ms. Stephan will forward questions to Public Works. IV. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES September 3, 2008 Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes The first paragraph under Committee Business regarding additional lighting states ‘committee members individually toured all the parks.’ Chairperson Seeley requested that be modified to ‘individually toured the parks’, as each member did not go to each park. Also in the same paragraph change ‘Tracie McBride Memorial Park is the only park without a street light in the immediate vicinity’ to ‘Tracie McBride Memorial Park and Eagle Park are the only parks without a street light in the immediate vicinity of the entrance.’ Vice-Chairperson requested changing the sentence under Fete des Lacs 8K Run from ‘discussion was had regarding planning of this event’ to ‘discussion was had regarding the design and ad 2 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 deadlines for this event.’ Motion was made by Chairperson Seeley, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, to approve the September 3, 2008 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes with the above corrections. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. V. COMMITTEE BUSINESS YMCA/Wargo Programs At the September meeting the committee made a motion to request Council consider funding an additional $693 to the YMCA for costs incurred with the 2008 Park Play Days. At the February 2008 Parks & Recreation meeting the committee made a motion to recommend that City Council authorize up to $1000 to support the youth activities of the YMCA and Wargo Nature Center for the 2008 Park Play Days at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park. The February motion was approved by City Council for $1,000. Council was not willing however, to approve the additional $693. Chairperson Seeley requested the committee consider asking City Council again to support the additional $693, as she did not want the YMCA to operate in Centerville at a loss or not be willing to continue with the Park Play Days in the future for lack of funding from the City. The committee discussed the financial support of the program over the last few years which began with $300 the first year and in 2007 the City contributed $750. The majority of the committee felt $1,000 was more than adequate to subsidize a program in Centerville. It was originally stated the YMCA would keep the committee informed if there were low registration numbers for the program and the committee would review the proposal. The YMCA did not come back to the committee requesting more funding until the program was over. The skate park portion was cancelled due to low registration. The committee feels comfortable with funding the $1,000 portion which was invoiced to the City following the council meeting and has been paid. Ms. Liz Guimont from the YMCA asked via email whether the committee was interested in the program next summer as they were currently putting together their program guide. The committee is certainly interested. Ms. Stephan will pass that on to Ms. Guimont. Chem-Lawn / Tru-Green In response to the discussion at the last committee meeting regarding the City employing Chem Lawn and the possibility of phosphorus being put on the City’s parks, Mr. Palzer contacted the company representative at Tru-Green, which is actually the company the City uses, not Chem-Lawn. The representative said that Tru-Green only uses phosphorus in their lawn starter and not in any of the applications they applied in Centerville this year. The committee was satisfied that there is no need to change companies or do further research if the company the City uses is not using phosphorus. VI. UPDATES Tracie McBride Memorial Park Renovations Additional Lighting Request at Tracie McBride Memorial Park This item was discussed under appearances and will be included on the next Parks & Recreation 3 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 Committee Meeting Agenda. Message Board at Tracie McBride Memorial Park The committee asked at the last meeting when would the message board be installed in place of the faux window. Mr. Palzer had said there was a message board available at City Hall which could be installed at Tracie McBride Memorial Park, but he was mistaken, there is not a board available. Ms. Stephan informed the committee that if this is something the committee would still like to do they would need a motion to have staff purchase one. Also to please consider who would be keeping this board updated and what type of information would be posted. No action was taken at this time. Ms. Stephan also asked the committee to consider who would be responsible for an additional flowerbed installed around the Tracie McBride Memorial Park building as discussed at the last committee meeting. We have one resident volunteer who has adopted the flowerbed at this park, the rest of the parks (5) are being done by staff, as time permits. Another flowerbed would probably not fit into staff time. Dead Broke Saddle Club/Climbing Wall The Dead Broke Saddle Club met Tuesday, September 23, 2008 and discussed the donation to Parks & Recreation for the climbing wall and has donated $6,000 for this purpose. This information will be passed on to Public Works and Mr. Larson to order the equipment. Hidden Spring Park Ms. Stephan passed on the following update submitted by Mark Statz, City Engineer, via email 09-02-08 from Veit, the Hidden Spring contractor. Veit has replaced the hose-bib connection on the fountain again. We also straighten the fountain and talking with the fountain supplier they recommend a concrete pad poured around to help stabilize. If you want us to provide one please send a design. Regarding the damage to some asphalt areas, Veit is not responsible for these damages. We were substantially complete prior to Centerville’s Centennial celebration in the park and the damage was discovered after that. There were numerous trailers and heavy activities during that festival. The damage occurred during that time frame, not during construction. Once the raingarden plant replacement is finished, Veit will consider this project 100% complete and no other punch list items remaining. We will request full retainage released at that time. Thank you and if you have any questions let me know. Jesse Roush, Project Manager/Estimator Ms. Stephan discussed this with Mr. Tedd Peterson, Public Works who was adamant the damage was done by Veit and has nothing to do with the 'Centennial Celebration' and pointed this out to the contractor at the site as it was done. He also pointed it out to Bonestroo, multiple times. This information was forwarded again to Bonestroo and Veit then responded with Quality Restoration was out to fix the black top. Mr. Peterson has also asked that the Comcast cable hanging from the post at Hidden Spring Park be buried as it has been cut multiple times, not to mention it looks bad and is a Safety hazard. He has talked to Comcast and to Chris Long at Bonestroo and it is still not buried. Ms. Stephan passed this information on to Bonestroo, the Public Works Director and City Administrator. 4 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 Fete des Lacs 2009 Centerville Lake Walk/Run In the packet was a copy of the Special Use Permit Request Form used by Anoka County Parks and filled out by Committee Member Branch. Ms. Stephan emailed this application to jeff.perry@co.anoka.mn.us and asked him how to proceed. He reviewed the application and gave preliminary approval. Closer to the actual race they will need insurance information and the $25 fee. Also included was a map which needs to have the specific spots marked for things such as start, finish, water stations and first aid. The City’s insurance representative had said adding the binder listing Anoka County is not a problem for the event, but it is not something that can be provided now. Committee Member Branch was unable to attend this meeting but the committee did discuss various routes and the problem with the first choice of the race going down Mill Road, Peltier Lake Drive and Main Street around Centerville Lake and ending at Laurie LaMotte memorial Park is the 2009 Street Project affecting Mill Road and Peltier Lake Drive. The goal is to make it an 8K and ending in the park where all the fete des Lacs activities are held. The route is yet to be determined, but will again be discussed at the next scheduled committee meeting Drinking Fountain at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park The committee was under the impression that a drinking fountain for Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park was to be installed and had questioned why it had not been. Ms. Stephan went back to Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes in late 2006 when pavilions were first being discussed for Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, all the way through current and there was not a motion made or requests for information concerning costs associated with a drinking fountain at this park by the committee. It was just discussed a few times vaguely. At this time the committee would like to move forward with researching costs and a precise location of where a drinking fountain would work in this park. Motion was made by Committee Member Selander, seconded by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen to request the Public Workers Director provide the committee with a cost estimate for a drinking fountain at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, as well as a precise location the fountain could be installed and a timeline of installation. The committee would like a spigot with spring loaded push button automatic type shutoff with an under access door to unscrew for maintenance. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. In discussing removing trees at Eagle Park is was suggested by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen that the committee should discuss ways to enlighten residents about the perils of buckthorn as it is in all of our parks, is very invasive and should be removed. The roots put out a toxic substance that will kill other trees. The berries are eaten by birds and widely spread by bird droppings. The berries are black and are abundant right now and the plant stays green into November. Buckthorn is not native. It was suggested information be included in utility bills as how it can be eradicated. There is also abundant poison ivy in Eagle Park that needs to be removed. The committee would like to meet at the Eagle Park to determine which trees to remove and perhaps do the work as a committee. This will be discussed at the next committee meeting. The goal would be to open up the park. Centennial Youth Hockey Association - Use of Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park 2008-2009 Season Included in the packet was arequest from the Centennial Youth Hockey Association for the use of Laurie 5 of 6 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes 10-01-08 LaMotte Memorial Park Hockey Rink for the 2008-2009 season. Mr. Tedd Peterson, Public Works to reviewed the request to see if there were any problems. He requested a few specific items from CYHA; do not use chalk or paint on the cement, use cones instead and they will need to go through the player gate opposed to the service gate as the service gate keeps getting vandalized and is currently locked. The Parks & Recreation Committee made the following recommendations at the October 1, 2008 committee meeting. Centennial Youth Hockey Association - Use of Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Hockey Rink for Dry Land Practice 2008-2009 Season The Parks & Recreation Committee discussed the use of the facilities for dry land practice and agreed to the usage with the following conditions: ? A schedule of usage, as well as a contact list of coaches responsible during the time it is being used will be provided by the association. ? There will be no use of the facilities after 9 p.m. daily. ? The nets will be padlocked when not in use. The key to the lights and padlock will be supplied in a lock box by Public Works. ? The Centennial Youth Hockey Association will sign a waiver releasing the City of Centerville from any liability and will take responsibility for any damage occurring while the association is using the facilities. ? There will be no use of chalk or paint on the concrete surface of the rink. Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Selander to recommend to City Council approving the Centennial Youth Hockey Association’s use of dry land time with the use of the park lights at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the 2008-2009 season with the above conditions. All in Favor: Motion passed unanimously. Centennial Youth Hockey Association - Use of Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Hockey Rink for the 2008-2009 Season Motion was made by Vice-Chairperson Amundsen, seconded by Committee Member Selander to recommend to City Council approving the Centennial Youth Hockey Association’s use of the hockey rink for the 2008-2009 season with a dedicated half sheet of ice from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. and a dedicated full sheet of ice from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. All in Favor: Motion passed unanimously. VII. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Committee Member Lee, seconded by Committee Member Selander to adjourn the October 1, 2008 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting at 8:25 p.m. All in favor. Motion passed unanimously. 6 of 6