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Parks Commission Agenda Packet 08-20-1998 . . . AGENDA REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION Thursday, August 20,1998 - 4:30 p.m. Members: Chairman Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith, Rick Traver, Jennifer Fearing 1. Call meeting to order. 2. Consideration of approving minutes for the meetings of July 16 and July 30, 1998. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.. 4. Citizens requests. 5. Presentation by Jean Emmonds - DNR A. Prairie Creek Park B. DNR River Floatation 6. Consideration of request from School District regarding upkeep of tennis courts. A. Letter from School District dated July 29, 1998. 7. Discussion on Park Maintenance items - Greg Engle. 8. Discussion on budget items for 1999. 9. Set time for neighborhood meeting in River Mill Park. 10. Updates. A. Water Tower Park - John Simola B. Restaurant Tour 11. Consideration of added items. 12. Adjourn. . . . MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION July 16, 1998 - 4:30 p.m. Members Present: Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith, Rick Traver, Jennifer Fearing Staff Present: John Simola, Gregg Engle, Jeff O'Neill, Wanda Kraemer 1. Call the meeting to order. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Nolan. 2. Consideration of approving minutes for the meeting on June 25. 1998 and Julv 9. 1998. EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 25, 1998 MEETING, SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion carried unanimously. EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING ON JULY 9, 1998, SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion carried unanimously. . 3. Add items. A. B. West Bridge update The Forest 4. Citizen requests. A. Mike Jacobson, with the Monticello Baseball Association, reported to the Commissioners that the Baseball Association would like to see Field #4 primarily for baseball and requested the dirt infield be seeded with grass. If future expansion occurs his advice was to designate another field for baseball only and one for softball only. Also, if lights were added, the current fields could be used in the evenings. The Commission also discussed the need for soccer fields and whether they should be combining the baseball/softball fields with soccer or budgeting for separate soccer fields in the future. Page 1 . . . Parks Commission Minutes - 7/17/98 5. Discussion on Planning Items. A. Requiring park fees in developed area (example Elm Street Crossing). This item was not discussed. 6. Discussion on Park Maintenance items. Greg Engle, Park Superintendent, will report on this with #8. 7. Discussion on the tour of parks. The Commissioners discussed the tour and agreed it was worth the time to include a visual tour in the meeting schedule at least once a year. 8. Discussion on budget items for 1999. Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reported on items that will be addressed in more detail at the budget meeting. The items listed included: remodeling of 4th street building and restrooms; Cardinal Hills Tot Lot - open shelter, picnic table, playground equipment; Lions Pioneer Park-shelter, playground, trails, volleyball, firepit; Prairie Creek Park and Trail. The Commissioners discussed each item briefly and requested Engle bring cost estimates to the budget meeting. 9. Added items. A. West Bridge Park The City Council made a request to have the Park Commissioner review the plan and costs for the improvements to Bridge Park. The Commissioners directed Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, to research alternative ideas for retaining walls and fencing. Mr. Engle stated that he would like to also research a playground with a river theme. The Commission scheduled a special meeting on July 30, 1997 to review the Bridge Park improvements and also to discuss the 1999 budget. Page 2 . . . Parks Commission Minutes - 7/17/98 B. The Forest Jeff O'Neill, Deputy City Administrator, reported on a new subdivision, The Forest, which is on the east side of the River Mill subdivision. Mr. O'Neill explained the location of the subdivision in relation to the River Mill area and the Commissioners agreed that the River Mill Park would be in the service area of The Forest. EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PARK DEDICATION AS CASH FOR THE FOREST SUBDIVISION. SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion carried unanimously. Earl Smith volunteered to contact a few residents along Gillard to get an opinion of their acceptance to a trail easement along their rear property lines. 10. Adiourn. JENNIFER FEARING MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion carried unanimously. Wanda Kraemer Administrative Assistant Page 3 . . . MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION July 31, 1998 - 4:30 p.m. Members Present: Members absent: Liaison: Staff Present: Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith, Rick Traver Jennifer Fearing Roger Carlson Jeff O'Neill, John Simola, Gregg Engle, Wanda Kraemer 1. Call the meeting to order. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Nolan. 2. Added items. Maintenance of the tennis courts. 3. Discussion on improvements for Bridge Park Brad Johnson, Developer with Lotus Realty Services, reported on an idea for Bridge Park and the area directly to the west of the park. He was requesting the Parks Commission consider delaying any improvements in Bridge Park until mid-October. This would allow time for discussion and research on the new concept for the park. Mr. Johnson explained the main idea for the park area is to create a riverwalk area, a more linear park. He explained a preliminary concept idea that would add a restaurant to the west side of the park, a hotel across Walnut, and high density housing next to the hotel. Mr. Johnson added that the restaurant would compliment the park area by providing activities outdoors such as volleyball and broomball. Land would need to be purchased west ofthe current park boundary and "traded" for the section of park on which the restaurant would be built. Mr. Johnson asked the Parks Commission if they would consider this concept. Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, was concerned how this would impact commercial development in this area and possible effects to the entire park system. Bridge Park is reserved by many groups for reunions and large gathering; if the park was changed where would this type of activity be moved too? Mr. Johnson asked the Parks Commission to delay any decision on improvements until the middle of October to explore the possibilities. He will return to the October meeting and report on the findings. Page 1 . . . Parks Commission Minutes - 7-3l-98 After a short discussion, EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO TABLE ANY FURTHER ACTION ON WEST BRIDGE PARK UNTIL THE OCTOBER PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH TIME BRAD JOHNSON WILL RETURN WITH CONCEPTION DRAWINGS TO THE PARKS MEETING. SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion carried unanimously. Paul Wurm, owner of apartment building to the west of the park, commented it is very important to work on ways to improve this park. He has noticed many kids smoking, and vandalizing the park equipment. Many kids are also using the fallen trees on the riverbank to congregate. Mr. Wurm was concerned and suggested the trees in this area be removed. Mr. Engle stated the DNR has strict regulations on clearing of the river bank and he would check on this. 4. Discussion on budget items for 1999. The Commissioners discussed the 1998 budget and which items need to be completed before the end of the year, which items need additional funds in the 1999 budget, and what can be realistically accomplished with the amount of staff. A. 1998 budget - Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reported that he would be getting bids for the irrigation system for Ellision Park this month. The process had taken longer than Engle originally thought because there was not a surveyor plan of the park on file and therefore measurements would need to be taken for the irrigation bids. The Commissioners directed Engle to have a survey of the park completed that could be used for this project and others in the future. The Commissioners discussed the effects of tabling any improvements in Bridge Park until October. This would stop any improvements to the park now until the Spring of 1999. The amount in the budget was for the River Parks and could be used in Ellison Park. The Commissioners directed Mr. Engle to concentrate on Ellison Park and install new playground equipment that meet ADA requirements. Mr. Engle also recommended frisbee golf equipment for the Par West Park. The Commissioners agreed with this idea for the park. B. 1999 budget - The Commissioners discussed the need for a ball field complex in the southwest area ofthe City. The need for soccer fields will be a future budget item. Jeff O'Neill, City Deputy Administrator, will call Charlie Pfeffer for land prices in the area the Commissioners were suggesting. Page 2 . . . Parks Commission Minutes -7-31-98 The Commissioners recommended adding a budget line to complete a survey for each park. This could be done over the next couple years. C. The Parks Commission recommended requesting another full time staff person in the parks department in the 1999 budget. They would like to see Mr. Engle spend more time planning the parks, purchasing the equipment, and working with the various organizations rather than spending all of his time in the parks. 5. Added items. A. Maintenance of the Magic Kingdom Playground. Greg Engle, Park Superintendent, stated he received a request from Joel Lundin, Principal of the Pinewood Elementary School, requesting the City's assistance in maintaining the Magic Kingdom Playground. FRAN FAIR MADE A MOTION TO CONTRIBUTE $1000 TO THE MAINTENANCE FUND FOR MAGIC KINGDOM PLAYGROUND AREA. SECONDED BY EARL SMITH. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Adiourn EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion carried unanimously. Wanda Kraemer Administrative Assistant Page 3 . . . PARKS COMMISSION AGENDA AUGUST 20,1998 5. Presentation bv Jean Emmonds - DNR Exhibit A - Prairie Creek Park Exhibit B - DNR River Floatation . . . EXHIBIT A - PRAIRIE CREEK PARK Prairie Park West Plan The circle and grid has been moved to the far side of the remaining large inlet, in response to the Park Committeets request to leave a grassy area for recreation.The limestone blocks that sit there now will be used as seating in the center of the circle. The boulder walls of the circle contain fonnal groupings of the native plants that can be found in the remnant prairies and oak savatJJ1ahs nearby. Interpretative signs will educate visitors about these plants. There is the possibility of placing waist high planters so that handicapped children from Pine Wood Elementary can experience the plants and perhaps garden. The grids contain native grasses in various combinations. As the park area has become more inviting and accessible, people, especially children, are drawn to the stream. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate about water quality and stream ecology. Some native stream and edge vegetation. such as water lilies, hoary V'ozvain and arrowhead~ remain, but undirected access to tho stream could erode the banks and trample the plants. I propose that we pick an access area and define it funher with the careful introduction and placement of a few flat stones or pavers. It doesnt need to be very bigt in keeping with the scale of the park.. Here students can kneel and take water samples or wade out to look at plants. A clean border of native sedge interpersed with flowers can separate the turfed area from the stream. The inlet can be planted with beautiful wetland plants, such as blue flag iris and swamp milkweed. Many of these plants blossom along the banks of the Mississippi river. This provides a transition from the turfed area to the circular garden, and demonstrates other habitat plantings. .... , b,f\ . . Minnesota DNR ... Wild & Scenic RiverForum2 ... Microsoft IntPage 2 of 3 EXHIBIT B - DNR RIVER FLOATATION Mississippi RiverRunlFlotilla Monticello to Otsego - July 11, 1998 .<~ The 1 st annual Mississippi RiverRun was J}:...,~,~.:~':,;;'-:;l held in conjunction with Monticello's RiverFest Art Fair, and was co-sponsored by the Minnesota DNR and the Monticello Chamber of Commerce. The event was designed to increase recognition for the Mississippi River Management Proiect, a commWlity..based effort currently underway to revise the 1976 State Wild and Scenic Management Plan for the St. Cloud...Anoka stretch of the Mississippi River. Against the festive backdrop of Monticello's RiverFest7 eight canoes launched from Ellison Park and paddled downstream to Otsego County Park. The canoe run was prefaced by a water safety demonstration featuring conservation officers Traci Hanson and Cathy Larson. Both conservation officers accompanied canoeists downstream in a motor boat. Participants received disposable cameras and a logbook to record their impressions of the Mississippi River. The river was high Saturday and canoeists glided to the takCHlut point at Otsego County Park in just a few hours. Along the way, participants took opportunities to linger and admire the lushly vegetated islands, explore backwater channels, observe \vildlife, compare notes with neighbors, and go swimming. Cameras, logbooks, and exit .... .... . The RiverRun gets people out on the Mississippi who havent ventured the river before and 9~ encourages exploration. Residents can see the entirety of Montiq,eilo's shoreline from a river 'Vantage point. This is another way to view Monticello's riverfront parks. River Fest gains another level of activity with people out on the water having fun. The St. Cloud! Anoka stretch of the Mississippi is considered a novice stretch for canoers. . . . P ARKS COMMISSION AGENDA AUGUST 20, 1998 6. Consideration of request from School District regarding upkeep of tennis courts. Exhibit A - Letter from School District dated July 29, 1998. . . . M MONTICELLO PUBLIC SCHOOLS Independent School District No. 882 302 Washington Sl.. Monticello, Minnesota 55362 Telephone (612) 295-5184 Fax (612) 295-2330 July 29, 1998 f.,' ~-r.:--'. " '."- j 0 ,---.W "-, iU',_4t ~g~, I CITY OFMO---} i ... ---, - N!.~C~! J n,' Mr. Jeff O'Neill Assistant City Administrator City of Monticello 250 Broadway E. Monticello, MN 55362 Dear Jeff, We recently spoke about tennis courts. As I told you, the school district finds itself in a situation of repairing the existing tennis courts. The courts are not unlike any other court in other cities as they need continual maintenance to keep them in good playing condition. The district owns the only tennis courts in Monticello which does seem to create a problem at times when it comes to determining who should be involved in upkeep of the courts. With so many citizens of Monticello using the courts it seems to make sense to have the city involved in the maintenance of courts within the city. In our conversation we talked about the potential for the city to get involved through your budget process or grant writing to help offset the cost of repairing the courts. The school district is currently seeking information from contractors regarding to what extent repairs are required and cost estimates on those repairs. I would like you to consider a partnership in this project and have you involved from the very beginning. We are planning to let bids in February of 1999 so that we can hopefully get repairs done before the spring tennis season starts. Please give this request consideration and let me know how you would like to proceed. Thanks again for the tour of the developments. It is very encouraging to see what is currently happening and the potential for the future. Sincerely, Jd;;f JJ. Kent A. Baldry Superintendent of Schools ~f\ KAB/ja . . . PARKS COMMISSION AGENDA AUGUST 20, 1998 8, Discussion of budget items for 1999. Exhibit A - Budget - Capital Improvement Items. EXHIBIT A - BUDGET - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEMS 08114198 Capitallmrovement Items - Monticello trail and park system Updated for Parlts Commission August 14, 19!M1 Funding Sources jPARKlGENERAL IACTMTY ICOMMENTS IYr iFNe year STEA Street PaIt1way IPark Budget ICarrv over i iCons! Cost Boone! Malnlfund 1997 11998 1999 2000 2001 ; [Adopt A Park Seed Monev for Communllv Park Continua Illlf vision stalemant a. $20,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 SS,ooO !Communllv Celebrlllions Mise Funds for Communllv G8therIn<lslcelhi Onaoinll lei $20,000 $5,000 , $5,000 $5,000 55.000 iMalnlll11llnee l~Waed - Contntd soraVona Dnooinn all S25,ooO $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5 .000 Park Land Acaulslllon Fund Purnhasa PDI1ion Emmerich SouttI 20Acres Bulk! war cI111St all $90,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 Play structure maint. . Safety and ADA imD/lMlmants 10 exislloo 1998 . Bison . fUture undel8rm1ned ian S170,000 $10,000 $40,000 lIeS $40,000 $40,000 $40.000 Meadow Oak Park !Bas1retb811 Court nllIII' DIIIv struclUrB6 ComDlele 1n 1998 1997 $2,000 $2,000 Maedow Oak Oullol A ,S! buldlna 1n 1998 - Dress-uo 1997 S12,000 S12,000 Prairia Creek P8IIc. General tIe\/eIoDmenlllXD8nS8S Bud!Ief more br 1999 19!M1 S10,5OO $3,500 no S7,000 I Cardlnlll Hills T 01 LoI re/gradino IlIndscl1Dlna Moye FdJn Awnue Park Eaulnmlll1l 19!M1 $20,000 $20,000 no Meadatri Oak outlot A PeIiliiO Ial ComDlate In 19!M1 1998 5Zti,OOO $13000 S13,ooo no ~ iKIeIn Farms Park Pioneer P8IIc. ConsIruclln 1 998 - 99 1998 1 S75,ooo $12,000 $40,000 iIIlIs ! $23,000 INS? BaU lield ThrlIa new IleIds 1Il the exlstlna Dark Looklll LlDhllna . does no! h81D socoar 1998 $80,000 $40,000 Iws $40,000 I I Park Surveys - SIte Plans EsIebIsh sKa D1ans for exi&llna Derks Three D arks to be dlIlermlned 1999 S7,500 $7,500 Genllflll EouiPmenl !FIeld eaulDmenl e!e BIeactw! rs /3\ GoeIs 1999 $10,000 , $10,000 Sians !Three monumenl sians oar V8IIr Locatiot 10 be de!erminlld 1999 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 RMlr Mill Park IPlavaIlJ\/l1dlBaD Fields end DIlIkina !ConsIructln 1999 . resident inout in 98. 1999 $80,000 $80,000 RlverlBrldae Parks River Pesk Enhancements - MCP imDlmnl 1- - IllllhlIDS refocus on Ees1 1999 $120,000 $60,000 Iws i $20,000 $20,000 $20.000 10181 I SO SO $0 $54,000 $231,500 1$282, , I $115.000, $778,000 PlIl Pal Pa RMIf Walk. Connect EUlson to Miss 01' Rlwrw81k . wutewater Ireatmenl IMeadow Oaks to the Middle School IRMir Road Plaza III Middle School CSAH 75 UNDERPASS. MIDDLE SCH like oIheI' eKIes 1997 $75,000 1998 $40,000 1999 $30,000 1999 $60.000 1999 $80,000 $15,000 $40,000 ,000 $10,000 5,000 $10,000 $30,000 $15,000 , $15,000 like other cIlies Ake olher cIlies IIal oIher eKies $15,000 $&0,000 . . .