Parks Commission Agenda Packet 09-16-1999]
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AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, September 16, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.
Members:
Larry Nolan, Earl Smith, Fran Fair, Rick Traver, Nancy McCaffrey
1. Call meeting to order.
2. Consideration of approving the minutes for the regular meeting August 19, 1999 and the
special meeting on August 31, 1999.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
4. Update on soccer field development. - Jeff O'Neill
5. Update on maintenance items. - Gregg Engles
6. Discussion on City Council budget meeting.
7. Added items.
8.
Adjourn
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, August 19,1999 - 4:30 p.m.
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Larry Nolan, Earl Smith, Rick Traver
Fran Fair, Nancy McCaffrey
Jeff O'Neill, Gregg Engle, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call meeting to order.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Nolan.
2. Consideration of approvin~ the minutes for the meeting on July 15. 1999.
A motion was made by Earl Smith to approve the minutes for the July 15, 1999 meeting
and seconded by Rick Traver.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
Consider changing the meeting night to another time.
Discussion on improving the entrances to the City with gardens.
4.
Update on maintenanee items.
Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reported on the aetivity in the Parks Department
during the past month. 1 - The cost estimates for the Bridge Park retaining wall were
discussed. One idea that was suggested was to terrace the retaining walls with rock and
low lying easy maintenancc plants. This would be attractive and the cost would bc less
than doing all rock. 2 - Mr. Engle did request the opinion of the Commissioners
regarding the shelter at Freeway Fields. After discussion, it was agreed the shelter should
be located adjacent to the parking lot to allow for the shelter to be ADA accessible. This
might require the drainage to be reviewed because this is a low area. 3 - Mr. Englc added
that the park crew had hit many large stones and boulders at Pioneer Park with the
mowing equipment. He suggested that they spend the time and money now to disk down
about 1 foot and remove as many large stones as possible. Mr. Engle stated it could save
money in the long run because of equipment repair that has already been needed this year
due to hitting rocks. The Commissioners agreed it was a good idea to remove the
problem. 4 - Mr. Engel stated the crew would also remove rocks at the Cardinal Hills
Park. 5 - Baseball would be wrapping up and the fields are being prepared for the
football season. 6 - The Rotary Club would be working on Otter Creek the following
Saturday. Mr. Engle added this park would be in good shape going into Spring. Next
Spring there will be a controlled burn coordinated with the Fire Department to enhance
the growth of the wild flowers in the park and along the pathway. 7 - The Commission
discussed involving high school students to harvest the seeds of the native prairie plants.
The seeds could be used to plant additional prairie plantings along the pathway. 8 - There
were only 18 trees removed with Dutch Elm disease in 1999 compared to 73 in 1998. 9-
The Parks Department bought a used truck from the Becker fire department to use in
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Parks Commission Minutes - 8/19/99
flooding the skating and hockey rinks this year.
5.
Update on soccer field development.
Jeff O'Neill/Deputy City Administrator reported on a meeting with Mike llammer/ NSP,
Mark Mattice/Wright County Park Superintendent, Virgil Hawkins/Monticello Soccer
representative, and Wanda Kraemer/city statIo The meeting was scheduled to discuss a
location for future soccer fields on NSP property adjacent to the Wright County
Montissippi Park. Mr. O'Neill cxplained that after discussion with Mike llammer a lettcr
would need to be sent to Darrin Lahr at NSP outlining a financing plan, current relations
with the baseball fields, security issues such as fencing, maintenance, and frequency of
field use. IfNSP does give authorization to proceed this request will go to City Council
as a formal request.
6.
Discussion on budget items for 2000.
The Commissioners discussed the current budget plan for next year and agreed there
should be an amount added that would be for future parks.
7.
Added items.
The Commissioners discussed changing the time of the Parks Meeting to Wednesday. It
was decided to wait until thc entire Commission was in attendance to decide.
Earl Smith reported he had recently visited a city that had flowers and a welcoming sign
at the entrance of the city. Commissioncr Smith thought it was a great way to make
peoplc feel welcome without a huge amount of cost. The Commissioners agreed this was
a good idea but would require the dedication of an organization or group to maintain the
entrance gardens. This would be a good project for Adopt-a-park. It was also mentioned
there is an area of vacant land owned by Rick and Bob Murray ofRDI, next to Hawk's
Bar and Grill, that would make an excellent location for this type of project
8.
Adiourn.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY EARL SMITH AND SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER
TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
Wanda Kraemer
Administrative Assistant
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MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Tuesday, August 31, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.
Members Present:
Fran fair, Larry Nolan, Earl Smith, Rick Traver, Nancy McCaffrey
Staff:
Gregg Engle, Rick Wolfsteller and Jeff O'Neill
1 . Call meeting to order.
2.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Nolan.
Review Council goals regarding the year 2000 budget. establish proiect prioritization and
revise budget.
Rick Wolfsteller reported that the City Council desires to achieve the goal of no tax
increase for City residents for the year 2000. After reviewing all the various department
budgets, and after selecting items necessary for maintaining the same level of service, it
appears that approximately $136,000 remain available for park capital improvements.
W olfsteller noted that expenditures above this amount would require an increase in the
levy at a level that would result in an increase in taxes even after taking in consideration
the increase in City valuation.
W olfsteller went on to note that the pedestrian bridge crossing over the interstate is
planned for budgeting in the year 2000, currently there is approximately $80,000 in
unspent funds for pathway development. He noted that the total cost of the project to the
City is likely to amount to the neighborhood of $175,000. It was the consensus of the
parks commission to recommend that the City use available funds from funds unspent
that were earmarked for pathway improvements to help fund the "ice tea" project in the
year 2000. The balance ofthe funding to come from other sources within the City. It
was their view that the parks budget should not be sacrificed to fund this important
project.
The parks commission then went on to review the various items planned for construction
in the year 2000. The following is a list of items removed or modified from the original
budget:
1.
2.
3.
Park land acquisition fund should be removed.
Play structure and ADA requirements to be reduced from $60,000 to $30,000.
River Mill Park modified from $128,000 to $50,000 with a goal of installing the
parking lot in the year 2000.
West and East Bridge Parks - it was determined to recommend installation of the
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Parks Commission Minutes - 8/3 1/99
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play structure equipment in the year 2000 at an estimated cost of $35,000. The
cost of making major improvements to the park should be spread out for a period
of 10 years at a cost of approximately $50,000 per year. It was suggested that the
City bond for the cost over this 10 year period with the park fund paying off that
debt service over the 10 year period.
The general equipment category should be modified by removing the blower
attachment from the budget in the amount of $6,000 and the hydraulic pole saw in
the amount of $1,500.
Total adjustments to the budget: Original budget at $683,500, reduced to $349,000.
It was requested that the Council be informed that in the event the City Council wishes to
cut parks capital improvements further, that the budget be brought back to the parks
commission for establishing park priorities.
The conclusions noted above were adopted by consensus.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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Jeff O'Neill
Assistant City Administrator
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6.
Discussion on the City Council Hudeet meetine. (W.K.)
A. REFERENCE AND BACKGROUND:
The City Council had a special meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 1999 to discuss the
budget for 2000. The goal of the council is to have no tax increase for residents in 2000.
Rick Wolfsteller, City Administrator, reported that he had not received the tax capacity
values from Wright County and until this information has been distributed it is
impossible to complete the budget. At thc September meeting of the Parks Commission
it has been suggested the items are prioritized as to the importance by the Parks
Commission. I have included a summary from Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent
showing his recommendations. The amount of approximately $81,000 should be used
and if this amount is less the City Administrator will use the prioritization list that has
been completed by the Commissioners.
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Broom Attachment Toro Mower
Adopt-a-Park Program
. Riveriest Celebration
Replacement 1-ton truck with dump
Bleacher Retrofitting
Snow Blower attachment for John Deer 935
Various Park Improvements..
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TOTAL-ALL DEPARTMENTS
$3,500 General
$5,000
$5,000
$35,000
$10,000
$4,500
$81,386 ..see below
$144,386
$410,161
-Specific Park improvements could be taken from the following revised list of projects recommended by the Parks Commisison:
Play Structures - 4th Street Park & Parwest Park
Prairie/Otter Creek
Cardinal Hills Tot Lot Paystructure & Landscaping
Pioneer Park. Shelter & Pathway
River Mill Parking Lot
Playground - West Bridge Park
Lighting (2) Fields @ NSP Park
Soccer Field Development
Adopt-a-Park Seed Money
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$30,000
$2,000
$10,000
$94,000
$50,000
$35,000
$35,000
$30,000
$5,000
Gregg Engle, Park Superintendents' recommendations for prioritization. (There is
approximately $81,000 for park projects. The following are not in the budget at this time.)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Snow blower attachment for new Ford Tractor
City Ballfield Improvements ($40,000 in budget from 99)
Cardinal I-Iills Tot-Lot (will complete project)
River Mill Park Improvements
West/East Bridge Park Improvements
Pioneer Park
Gazebo and Landscaping - Otter Creek Park
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2000 Budget.xls:Capital Outlay Items:9/1/99
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$ 6,000
35,000
10,000
50,000
35,000
94,000
2,000
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