Parks Commission Agenda Packet 01-21-1999
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AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, January 21, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.
Call meeting to order.
Consideration of approving the minutes for the meeting on December 17, 1998.
Add items.
Discussion on construction of the River Mill Park.
Discussion on construction of the Pioneer Park.
Update on discussions with the Baseball and Softball Associations.
Goals and/or objectives for 1999.
Update on subcommittee reports.
A. Naming Parks
C.Fallon Park locations
9.
Update on Maintenance items.
10. Added items.
11. Adjourn
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, December 17,1998 - 4:30 p.m.
Mcmbers:
Larry Nolan, Earl Smith, Fran Fair, Rick Traver, Jennifer Fearing
Staff:
Jeff O'Neill, Gregg Engle, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Earl Smith.
2. Consideration of approving the minutes for the November 19. 1998 meeting.
FRAN FAIR MADE A MOTION "1'0 APPROVE TIlE MINUTES OF THE
NOVEMBER 19, 1998 MEETING. SECONDED BY JENNIFER FEARING. Motion
passed unanimously.
3.
Consideration of adding items to the agcnda.
The following items were added to # lOon the agenda:
A. Naming of parks
B. Dogs in the park
C. Pine Meadows Subdivision
D. Signs
E. Maintcnancc Rcport
4. Citizens request.
There were no citizens requests.
5. Discussion on development of 7th Street soccer fields.
Grcgg Engle, Park Superintendcnt, had been requestcd by the Commission to report on
the possibility of developing soccer fields along City owned property on Wcst 7th Street.
Mr. Engle stated that two regulation fields and a parking lot could be constructed in the
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Parks Commission Minutes - 12/17/98
spacc. lie thought the lighting along the field would not interfere with the freeway
traffic.
Jeff O'Neill, speaking as soccer club president, added that, as of today, there are over
600 kids in the soccer program. Although there is enough field space at the present, part
of the present space is still private fields owned by Dalheimer Distributing. The
agreement with Dalheimer was that this arrangement would be tcmporary until there were
enough public fields or the company needed the space.
The Commission compiled a list of the reasons for recommending the area along 7th
Street for soccer fields: playing fields along the freeway would present a good image, this
area is zoncd for multi-family housing and considering the land is along the freeway thcre
is a high probability that lower income housing would be built, and multi-family housing
would be faeing the backyards ofthe existing neighborhood.
RICK TRAVER MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCil,
DEVELOPMENT OF TWO SOCCER FIELDS AND PARKING ALONG THE WEST
7T11 STREET AND COUNTY ROAD 39. SECONDED BY JENNIFER FEARING.
Motion passed unanimously. (Larry Nolan absent)
6.
River Mill Park - Coneept plan
Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reported on the eoneept drawing for the River Mill
Park. He stated that the concept plan was the result of a meeting with the residents in the
addition. It was felt that this concept plan would take three to five years to complete.
The first phase would be started in 1999 with the engineering, excavating, a tot lot
playground structures, two open air shelters, partial landscaping, and signage constructed.
The second phase would include a parking lot, pathway, landscaping, lighting, and
building materials.
The third phase would be pienie tables, shelters, basketball court, volleyball court,
softball baekstop, irrigation, park grills, building material.
The total project cost of approximately $260,000 was discussed. The commissioners had
some eoneerns that the eost was too high with a three year completion date. A complete
eost estimate had not been done earlier because the idea was to meet with the River Mill
residents and ask for their assistance with the park plan. Once this was done, the park
plan, with the phasing, was completed. The commissioners agreed this pllil would
probably take longer thlil 3 years. Another recommendation was to send a letter, with the
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Parks Commission Minutes - 12/17/98
park plan, to the residents requesting volunteer time and/or donations to completc the
park on a hlster timc linc.
FRAN FAIR MADE A MOTION TO SEND THE RIVER MILL RESIDENTS THE
CONCEPT PLAN, A COVER LETTER STATING WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE
1999 BUDGET FOR PHASE ONE, AND TO REQUEST VOLUNTEER TIME OR
DONATIONS TO SHORTEN THE COMPLETION SCHEDULE. SECONDED BY
RICK TRAVER. Motion passed unanimously. (Larry Nolan absent)
7. West Bridge Park - Discussion on Special Meeting
Wanda Kraemer, Administrative Assistant, reported that a spccial meeting with the City
Council, I-IRA, and Parks Commission will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at
6:00 p.m. to discuss the East and West Bridge Park improvements. Michael Schroeder,
City Planner for the redevelopment of the downtown/river front plan, will be attending
the meeting.
8.
Church ofSt. Hcnry's - Park
Jeff O'Neill, Deputy City Administrator, commented on the park for the St. Henry's plat.
'fhe questions were asked: Is this still a good location for a park? Will the park appear to
be privatc and not a public park? Would it be a benefit to people using thc pathway to
have a resting place in this location? Thc Commissioners decided to create a
subcommittee to research these questions and report back at the next meeting. The
subcommittee members will be as follows: Rick Traver- Parks Commission, Frml Fair-
Park Commission, Gregg Engle-Park Superintendent, and Jeff O'Neill-Deputy City
Administrator. Rick Traver would chair the meeting. Jeff O'Neill will call John Olson-
Business Administrator at St. Henry's to attend the meeting. The meeting was scheduled
for December 21, 1998 at 3 p.m. on the St. Henry site.
9.
Gardening project
Wanda Kraemer, Administrative Assistant, reported that thc Wright County Master
Gardeners called to oiler the City and/or any organizations assistance with planting
flower gardens next Spring. The Parks Commission did budget "sccd money" for this
type of project. Ms. Kraemer stated the areas for planting flowers suggested by the Park
Superintendent are under signs in the parks and NSP Ball Fields. The Merchants are
intercstcd in helping with the southwest corner of Ellison Park; the Girl Scouts are
discussing the NSP balltlelds. The Master Gardeners will meet with each group over the
wintcr and then plmlt in the Spring. Each group would be responsible for maintaining the
gardens.
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10.
Added items
A. Naming the Parks - The Commissioners discussed developing a policy for nanling
the parks. The current policy is to name the park after the addition it is in such as
Par West Park. There has never been a written policy for naming city parks. It
was decided to create a subcommittee to develop a policy or standard for naming
parks. The committee will be Fran Fair-Parks Commission, Jennifer Fearing-
Parks Commission, Gregg Engle-Park Superintendent, and Wanda Kracmcr-
Administrative Assistant. Fran Fair was chosen to chair the committee. The first
meeting was set for Monday, January 4, 1999 at 3 p.m. at City Hall.
B. Dogs in the park - Jennifer Fearing stated she had been to Ellison Park on
occasion mld witnessed people stopping and letting their dogs run in the park
without a leash. She suggested dispensers for animal feces be added to the parks
and pathway.
c.
Pine Meadows Subdivision - The next added item was the Pine Meadows
subdivision. Jeff O'Neill, Deputy City Administrator, reported on the park areas.
T'he Park Commission had alrcady reviewed the concept plml for Park Meadows
with not many changes to the park concept. The park area will have trails with
wide areas of green space throughout the subdivision. The city would be
responsible for keeping the pathway clear and mowing the green space. This
would be considered the park area. The Commissioners inquired as to whether or
not the park land was above flood elevations. Mr. O'Neill will get that
information and report back to the Commission.
D. Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, stated he was in the process of working on
signs that state the rules and regulations of the parks. This would include dogs
must be on a leash and under the control of the owner.
FRAN FAIR MADE A MOTION TO ADOPT A SIGN ORDINANCE FOR THE
CITY PARKS AND INCORPORATE INTO THE CITY ORDINANCE.
SECONDED BY JENNIFER FEARING. Motion passed unanimously. (Larry
Nolan absent)
E.
Maintenance Report - Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reviewed the work
completed by the maintenance department during the last month. Mr. Engle
stated they would be interviewing for a new park maintenance employee at the
end of December. The main emphasis will be getting the skating and hockey
rinks ready for use. The City would be flooding twice during the day and the
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Hockey Association would he flooding in the evening. He has been working with
the rink attendants and displayed a manual that would be used so all of the rink
attendants kncw thc policies.
11.
Adiourn
JENNIFER FEARING MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion passed unanimously.
Wanda Kraemer
Administrative Assistant
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