Parks Commission Minutes 04-24-2008Park Commission Minutes: 4/24/08
MINUTES
PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday,
April 24, 2008 - 4:30 p.m.
G°To enhance community pride through developing maintaining
City parks with a standard of quality."
Members Present: Gene Emanuel, Nancy McCaffrey, Larry Nolan and Rick Traver
Members Absent: Mark Larson and Council Liaison Brian Stumpf
Others Present: Tom Pawelk, Park Superintendent
1. Call to Order.
Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum
present.
City Administrator Jeff O'Neill provided an update to the Parks Commission on the YMCA
property. Even though legislators seemed supportive of the project, there were several factors
that kept the YMCA project out of the bonding bill. The House version of the bonding bill
included funding for the YMCA but the Senate version did not. The project did not make it
through the conference committee as the senate felt it was too much of a local project without
sufficient state benefit. There is a remote possibility that if there is a second bonding bill this
item could be included.
The City met with the YMCA and they are still interested in working with the City and the
County on the sale of the property. The YMCA would possibly consider entering into an
agreement wherein the land could be purchased over a period of 3-4 years. The City and County
would match the$1,000,000 received from LCCMR (Legislative-Citizen Commission on
Minnesota Resources) funds and purchase what land they could with those funds. They would
likely focus on acquiring the ballfield area and some of the lake property but the area has not
formally been defined. The YMCA would lock in the price of the land for the term of the
agreement. This option would allow the City and County to go back to the legislature again for
funding.
Larry Nolan asked if there were any grants available. Jeff O'Neill stated he didn't know what, if
any grants were available and at this point he didn't have time to research the grant programs
for this type of project.
2. Approve minutes of March 27, 2008 regular Parks Commission meeting.
Larry Nolan asked if the June 10, 2008 date for the tour of the parks worked out for the
Park Commission members and that date seems to work out fine. The Parks Commission will
leave from City Hall at 3 p.m.
RICK TRAVER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MARCH 27, 2008
REGULAR PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED THE
Park Commission Minutes: 4/24/08
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Consideration of addins items to the agenda.
The following items were added to the agenda: 1) East Bridge Park cleanup; 2) Larry Nolan
noted that the financial report submitted by the Lions for the renewal of their charitable gambling
license contained a number of substantial donations for various park improvements. Tom
Pawelk added that the Lions are taking care of the plantings for the roundabout. The Parks
Commission felt that some recognition in the form of a letter should be sent to them. Tom
Pawelk stated it is his policy to send a letter to those organizations that donate time or money
to various park improvements; and 3) The "Welcome to Monticello" sign for the east side of
town.
4. Citizens comments and requests.
There was no one who spoke under citizens comments or requests. Tom Pawelk reported that
he had received many positive comments on the tree planting. This past weekend a softball
tournament was held at the ballfields and there were good comments from the amps and ball
players about the fields.
Larry Nolan indicated his grandchild enjoyed the equipment at Hillcrest Park but he questioned
the safety of crossing CSAH 75. Tom Pawelk stated the County has jurisdiction over the road and
the County did not approve the City's proposal for a crossing over CSAH 75. Gene Emanuel
suggested that if the County didn't feel a pedestrian crossing was appropriate may be they would
consider lowering the speed limit.
5. Park Maintenance.
Park Superintendent, Tom Pawelk submitted a list of the work completed. They have been doing
a lot of work on getting the equipment ready and preparing the concession building at Xcel
ballfields to meet the requirements of the Minnesota Department of Health. They have also been
working on getting the other park buildings ready for rentals. Materials have been ordered for the
roundabout plantings.
410 trees came in and approximately 50 trees were planted by park staff at various park
locations and along the boulevard. The remaining 360 trees will be picked up by residents this
Saturday. Tom Pawelk added that the following Saturday, May 3`~ is Junk Amnesty Day so they
are also preparing for that. He reported vandalism at West Bridge Park where someone had
stolen the aluminum rocker. Nancy McCaffrey stated that in observance of Earth Day she and
her husband were doing some clean up at the park and were amazed how little debris was in the
park. Tom Pawelk said Resurrection Lutheran Church had done some clean up as part of an
Earth Day Project and the Boy Scouts were also scheduled to do some cleanup of the parks.
6. Sunset Pond Playstructure Installation.
Tom Pawelk reported the Council had approved the playstructure for the Sunset Ponds Park and
the equipment was ordered. The Eagle Scouts will be working on the installation in July.
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Park Commission Minutes: 4/24/08
7. Update on Park Tour:
The tour will be on June 10, 2008 at 3 p.m. Larry Nolan suggested also inspecting the cemetery.
8. Update on Walk N Roll.
Larry Nolan confirmed that the Parks Commission table will be in the same location as last year.
The Parks Commission talked about doing a ring toss game where the participants try to land
their toss on one of the parks identified on the map. Staff will get the map prepared and also get
some handout items to be distributed to those who stop at the table.
Added items
East Bridge Park Cleanup: After discussion May 5th was selected as the cleanup date with May 12th
being an alternate date. A rolloff will be located at the park so the debris from the clean up can be
hauled away and a member of the Park Department staff will be there to work on cutting back the sage
and assist with other clean up work.
Tree Planting: Gene Emanuel asked about the lift station area at Sunset Ponds and whether there
couldn't be some landscaping work done to make this feature blend in with the area. Tom Pawelk
indicated they do have a landscaping plan prepared. He added that the developer of the project owes
the City some trees for this area.
Welcome to Monticello Sign: Nancy McCaffrey noted there has been some landscaping work done in
the area of the Union Crossings development and asked if this would be an appropriate site for the
"Welcome to Monticello" sign. If that site didn't work, could the sign be located somewhere by the
exit ramp area. Rick Traver stated that at one time they had talked about locating the sign in the
Liberty Bank area. Larry Nolan suggested looking at possible sites when the Parks Commission does
their tour on June 10th. The Parks Commission acknowledged that setbacks and easements may restrict
where the sign can be located.
9. Adiourn.
RICK TRAVER MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 5:20 P.M. GENE EMANUEL SECONDED
THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Recording Secretary