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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-06-05 P & R MinutesApproved Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes July6,2005 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, July 6, 2005 - 6:00 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Parksand Recreation Committee of the City of Centerville held the regularly scheduled meeting on July 6, 2005, at City Hall, 1880 Main Street. Present: Chairperson Tedd Peterson Committee Member Suzanne Seeley Committee Member Kathy Peil Ms. Linda Merkel Mr. Kevin Amundson Absent: Vice-Chairperson Wayne LeBlanc Council: Michelle Lakso. Staff: Kim Stephan __________________________________________________________________________________ I. CALL TO ORDER 1. Roll Call Chairperson Peterson called the July 6, 2005 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. II. SET AGENDA Motion was made by Committee Member Peil,seconded by Committee Member Seeley to set the July 6, 2005 Parks & Recreation Committee Agenda as is. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. IV. APPEARANCES IV. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES Consideration of May 4, 2005 Parks andRecreation Committee Meeting Minutes Motion was made by Chairperson Peterson, seconded by Committee Member Peil to approve the May 4, 2005 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes as is. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. 1 of 5 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes July6,2005 Consideration of June 1, 2005 Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes Motion was made by Chairperson Peterson, seconded by Committee Member Peil to approve the June 1, 2005 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes as is. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously. VI. COMMITTEE BUSINESS Acorn Creek Park Satellite This item was added to the agenda for discussion per request from the City Administrator Larson and Mayor Capra as a written complaint was received from a resident. Council Member Lakso inquired as to what has been done or discussed in the past. Chairperson Peterson and Committee Member Peil stated this issue has been discussed for multiple years. At one time all the committee members went as a group to each park to determine the best placement for the satellites in each park. Currently there are satellites at 4 of the 5 City parks, with Royal Meadows Park being the only park without a satellite. The satellite at Royal Meadows Park was removed a few years ago because of vandalismat that park. The only park that receives complaints regarding the placement of the satellite is Acorn Creek Park. The placement of the satellite needs to be handicapped accessible as well as easily serviced by the satellite company. The Acorn Creek Park satellite has been moved multiple times to accommodate one resident and then it was unacceptable to another resident. The spot it currently is placed at was determined to be the best spot for all factors involved. Screening has been discussed and the committee priced wooden structures to be placed around the satellites, but if one park was done, they would all need to be done. The structures were expensive to build, even with volunteer labor. Pine trees were planted around the Acorn Creek Park satellite when trees were thinned from the Eagle Pass tennis court area, but the trees did not survive transplanted to Acorn Creek Park. Council Member Lakso questioned whether a permanent structure for a restroom has been considered. In discussing this option the committee thought the expense of this would be considerable and difficult to justify for one park and not the others, especially since Acorn Creek Park will never have ball fields. The way the play structure was situated on the property does not leave any room for ball fields unless at some future time additional property was purchased by the City. Acorn Creek Park does not have parking, which would also be a necessity if ball fields were added to the park. There would also be the issue of maintenance with a permanent restroom structure. One of the resident’s complaints regarding the satellite at Acorn Creek Park was the odor coming from the satellite. Committee Member Seeley said that her experience with the park system is that if satellites are maintained properly they typically do not have an odor issue and she questioned whether the company we use for the satellites provides the city with the service we would like. Chairperson Peterson stated a few weeks ago at Acorn Creek Park the truck itself had an odor, but when the truck left the satellite was fine. The committee would like more information from the resident regarding the odor problem and have Public Works Staff try to determine exactly what the odor problem is so that it can be pursued with the satellite company. The satellites are currently serviced weekly. 2 of 5 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes July6,2005 The committee feels that the issue is mostly about aesthetics as it is unattractive to have a satellite close to your home, no one wants it near their home,but it is a necessity to the park. Committee Member Peil reiterated that the committee has already spent many, many hours on this issue and there are no easy solutions, even fencing eliminates accessibility to some extent. Council Member Lakso said she would talk to Mayor Capra about this issue and perhaps have the resident be proactive by notifying the city when the odor becomes an issue so Public Works can determine what the problem is. Participation in Fete des Lacs The committee discussed the volunteer needs and opportunities of Fete des Lacs. Tracie McBride Memorial Park Renovation Council Member Lakso requested this item be added to the agenda for a status report. The committee previously had a subcommittee involved with this project, but was put on hold waiting for a timeline of when the old water tower will be taken down. Since that time, two of the three subcommittee members have resigned from the Parks & Recreation Committee. Chairperson Peterson reported the new water tower will be online approximately in September 2005 and the old water tower needs to remain functional for a year following the new water tower coming online. Committee Member Peil and Chairperson Peterson updated the new members as to what has been looked at for this park. Committee Members had walked around the neighborhood surrounding Tracie McBride Memorial Park and surveyed the residents as to what they would like to see at the park. Ms. Stephan will provide the committee with those results at the next scheduled meeting. At the time there were residents interested in being involved with the subcommittee when the park is actually being planned. Chairperson Peterson explained it is a small park, approximately 2 acres, so the options are limited. The current play structure is outdated and has some safety issues with equipment that is in bad shape. A completely new play structure will be designed and the space utilized to the best advantage. Council Member Lakso would like to see the pond used as a focal point for a picnic area. Public Works Staff does do safety inspections on all the park equipment,checking for things likelost nuts and bolts and broken objects, which are then replaced. A safety audit is more intense and requires a specific license and has not been done recently or required by the state. A League of Minnesota Cities representative (insurance) reviews the parks yearly and gives suggestions as to what could eliminate safety hazards. VII. UPDATES Church of St. Genevieve Trai l Chairperson Peterson explained to the new members that Park Dedication Fees will not be received from the Church of St. Genevieve in connection with the new church building as the church did not sell or subdivide property. The city had a previous agreement when Goiffon Road was vacated to give the city a trail easement through the church property, but there were 3 of 5 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes July6,2005 problems with this when the time came to actually deicide where the trail would be. With the new building the trail easements will be included with the survey and in writing per City Council request. There are three small trail easements on this property to connect to existing trails with the City being responsible for the installation and cost of the trail. Committee Member Peil stated that hopefully we will be able to piggy back the trail with the parking lot of the church The committee went over the locations of the parkswithin the city and what type of park each is with the new members. Committee Member Seeley informed the committee that she adopted a wood duck house and requested Mr. Drew Johnson install the house on the little Peltier Lake park property near Peltier Preserve. Committee Member Seeley had this approved by Public Works Staff prior to the installation and she will maintain the wood duck house. St. Paul Water Utility Property on Centerville Lake The Finance Director, Mr. John Meyer has submitted a DNR Grant Application for the purchase of 1601 LaMotte Drive. The City has not heard anything regarding this grant at this time. Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Play Structure Chairperson Peterson reported to the committee that a letter had been received from the Spring Lake Park Lions regretfully informing the committee that they did not have funds available at this time for the Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park play structure. The committee had requested $10,000. Committee Member Peil suggested the committee look into information on grants for the purchase and/or planting of trees as she felt that Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park is in desperate need of some shade. Chairperson Peterson said he would rather see an open sided structure for shade, but this does not really help in between the three (3) sets of ball diamonds. Committee Member Peil will look for more information and report back to the committee. Wheels Skate Park Chairperson Peterson stated all the new equipment has been installed and is actively being used by many residents. Committee Member Seeley said the sign however, has already been vandalized. Public Works staff will take a look at it. Chairperson Peterson gave the prospective new committee members a brief history of the committee regarding projects, funding, park dedication fees, trail systems, etc. Additional Lights at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Public Works received a bid from Rivard Electrical regarding the installation of the additional lighting at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the pleasure ice skating rink. Rivard Electric will be able to utilize wiring in the existing lights. The original amount approved by City Council was $3,000, this was in the event they would not be able to use the existing wiring. The bid received was $1, 595. Chairperson Peterson will talk to City Administrator Larson and have the work done as soon as possible. 4 of 5 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes July6,2005 Nomination of Parks & Recreation Members Ms. Linda Merkel and Mr. Kevin Amundsen Motion was made by Chairperson Peterson, seconded by Committee Member Seeley, to recommend to City Council appointing Ms. Linda Merkel and Mr. Kevin Amundsen to the Parks & Recreation Committee. All in Favor: Motion carried unanimously. Chairperson Peterson requested a discussion of the 2006 budget be included on the August 2005 Agenda. IX. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made by Committee Member Peil,seconded by Committee Member Seeley to adjourn the July 6, 2005 Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting at 8:15 p.m. All in favor. Motion passed unanimously. Transcribed by Kim Stephan 5 of 5