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Parks Commission Minutes 02-26-2014PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 MINUTES PARKS COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2014 - 9:15 A.M. "To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining City parks with a high standard of quality. " Members Present: Larry Nolan, Nancy McCaffrey, Jack Gregor, Tim Stalpes Members Absent: Brian Stumpf, Alan Heidemann Others Present: Tom Pawelk, Park Superintendent Beth Green, Administrative Assistant Brian Stoll, Parks Commission Applicant 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and declared a quorum present. 2. Approve Minutes of the December 5, 2013 Parks Commission Meeting. TIM STALPES MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 5, 2013 REGULAR PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 3. Citizen requests and comments. Tom Pawelk said that the Hockey Association celebrated their yearly jamboree at the 4th Street Park and the commented on how nice the facility looked and said they appreciate how well everything is maintained. Larry Nolan commented on how quickly the pathways have been cleared and maintained with all the snow this winter. 4. Added items. A. Tax forfeiture land abutting park property: Tom Pawelk distributed information on four tax forfeiture properties that the City may be acquiring. Page 1 of 6 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 ❑ Parcel #1: The first parcel is 6.54 acres that adjoins Rolling Woods Park and abuts Bakken Street. The benefit of this property will be to join the sidewalk to the park and include additional green space and a pond to the park. ❑ Parcel #2: The second parcel is 0.22 acres which includes a pathway connection in the Groveland Addition. ❑ Parcel #3: The third parcel is 0.81 acres which includes the pathway easement along Jason Avenue, going into the Carlisle Village development. ❑ Parcel #4: The fourth parcel is 7.39 acres which will allow the City to make a pathway connection from Hunters Crossing to the existing pathway on Farmstead and the Pioneer Park trail connection along Fallon Avenue (which was designated in the Safe Routes to School grant proposal). NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE ALL FOUR OF THE TAX FORFEITURE PROPERTIES AS LISTED TO ACQUIRE FOR CITY OWNED PARKLAND. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 4. Consideration of resignation of Alan Heidemann from the Parks rammiccinn Parks Commission member Alan Heidemann has asked to resign from his term on the Parks Commission due to his recent acceptance to the Monticello Planning Commission. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF ALAN HEIDEMANN FROM THE MONTICELLO PARKS COMMISSION. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 5. Consideration of reviewing Parks Commission applicants and motion to approve. Tom Pawelk introduced Brian Stoll to the Parks Commission. Brian originally applied to serve on the Monticello Planning Commission but he said that his qualifications and background would be better suited to the Parks Commission due to his involvement with the Hockey Association and other extracurricular sports activities with his children. Page 2 of 6 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 TIM STALPES MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE BRIAN STOLL'S APPLICATION TO THE PARKS COMMISSION AND APPOINT HIM TO FILL ALAN HEIDMANN' S TERM THROUGH 12/2015. MOTION SECONDED BY JACK GREGOR. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 6. Monte Hill discussion and meeting timeframe with MORC group. Tom Pawelk distributed notes from the joint meeting at the Monte Club Hill in August. There is an upcoming oint meeting with the Planning Commission and Parks Commission on March 4' at 4:30 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall to determine the appropriate direction for the recreational uses and development at the site. The 12 -acre site and hillside provide opportunities for unique uses and the Parks Commission agreed that a mountain bike challenge course would be appropriate, as well as a scenic overlook and picnic area. The disc golf course which was once an option at the site seems less appropriate as it would be more invasive to the natural hillside. Furthermore, upon researching disc golf courses, it was noted that there are a multiple number of courses available within a 30 mile radius of Monticello, as well as a course in Monticello at Par West Park and a future course being planned as an Eagle Scout project at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Tom said that if the result of the joint meeting is to go ahead with planning a mountain bike challenge course, then he would like to create a subcommittee and meet with the MORC (Minnesota Off -Road Cyclists) group to start the planning process. Once the plan is developed and approved by the appropriate commissions, then the development phase can begin. Tom explained that along with the Monte Club Hill development, there is a proposed trail connection planned along Fenning Avenue which will meander past the edge of the old Monte Club driveway. The trail will connect from Spirit Hills (at Jason Avenue) south along Fenning Avenue past the Monte Hill and on to the Hillside Farms Development. Tom said the benefit of this connection is that it is a major collector route which was identified in the Safe Routes to School grant proposal, as well as having the potential to connect in the future to the Pelican Lake Trail and eventually hooking up to the county trail system to the south. Tom explained that a small portion of the trail was included in the original Developer's Agreement for Hillside Farms. With the developer bankrupt and the lots in tax forfeiture, the City Council will determine whether or not to put assessments on the vacant lots to help offset the cost of the trail connection. Tom presented two alignment options for the trail connection. Option #1 alignment maintains the trail fairly straight and tight along Fenning Avenue but does not meet the ADA requirements. Option #2 alignment meets the ADA requirements by designing the trail in a more flowing or sweeping motion past the Page 3 of 6 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 hill. Tom is anticipating the possible trail development this year. A motion approving the trail alignment will be required in order to bring this proposal to the City Council on March 10th for approval of the feasibility report. TIM STALPES MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE FENNING AVENUE TRAIL CONNECTION USING OPTION #2 ALIGNMENT TO THE MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL OF THE FEASIBILITY REPORT. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 7. Motion to approve T -Matt surfacing improvements on CR 75 West Pathway. Tom Pawelk explained that he will be meeting with the City Engineer to prepare the RFP's for the T -Matt surfacing improvement son the CR 75 West Pathway. Tom explained that this product has been working out very well and the City has been experimenting with patching panels since 2007. Tom said that Three Rivers Park District has over 80 miles of trails done with this surfacing. Tom said that he has $50,000 in the budget for pathway improvements. He said that the Parks Department will do all the crack filling and sealing. The first coat of the surfacing will go into the imperfections and the final coat is the wear course. Tom said there is a small window of opportunity to apply the surfacing based upon the weather. If the quotes come in too high, then Tom will look at doing a mill and overlay instead. TIM STALPES MOVED TO APPROVE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT REQUEST FOR QUOTES FOR T -MATT SURFACING IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CR 75 WEST PATHWAY. MOTION SECONDED BY JACK GREGOR. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 8. Review and discussion of Rolling Woods Park survey. Tom Pawelk explained that he received a request from Carlisle Village Development for a park in their area. There is a neighborhood group that has formed up there. In the Monticello Park & Pathway Plan, the neighborhood park is designated to serve an area within a 1/2 mile radius so Rolling Woods Park falls within that boundary for the Carlisle Village Development. That park needs to be updated and needs trail connections as well. The thought is to send a survey out and get information from residents of the two developments and then bring back to this group and start identifying areas that are in need of improvement. The consensus of the commission is to send out the survey. 9. Motion to approve updated proposals for 2014 River Mill Park Playground improvements. Tom Pawelk informed the commission that he received three quotes for the playground improvements at River Mill Park. Tom said that there is a change in Page 4 of 6 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 the MN tax law so we will no longer be charged tax on playground equipment so the quotes were reduced by a considerable amount of money. Tom distributed the quotes for review with the lowest quote from Miracle Recreation for $43,513.85. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ACCEPT THE QUOTES AND AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF THE PLAY EQUIPMENT AND DESIGN FROM MIRACLE RECREATION BASED UOPN THEIR LOW QUOTE. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 10. Motion to approve electrical power hookups throughout Pioneer Park. Tom Pawelk noted that more power outlets are required in Pioneer Park with all of the community events the park hosts throughout the season. Currently there are only electrical boxes on the building itself. Tom distributed a map pinpointing the four areas where the need for electrical boxes has been identified. The electrical requirement would be 50 amp outlets. Tom said that he will approach the Monticello Lions about donating towards the cost of the electrical improvements since Pioneer Park is a dedicated Lions park. Tom said the goal is to do the work when the trencher is out there digging for the irrigation lines so it will be more cost effective. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL POWER HOOKUPS OF FOUR PEDESTALS AT 50 AMPS EACH LOCATED AT THE AREAS IDENTIFIED ON THE DISTRIBUTED MAP OF PIONEER PARK. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 11. Motion to approve a small irrigation system at Pioneer Park. Tom Pawelk explained the need for irrigation improvements at Pioneer Park. With this park becoming a premier community event park, more landscaping and planting is being done. Furthermore, the grass at the park gets beat down with the high traffic use at the park. Irrigation will be important in maintaining the aesthetics of this premier park. Tom said that the Parks Department plans to install the irrigation system in -house TIM STALPES MOVED TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT PIONEER PARK. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. Page 5 of 6 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I Feb 26, 2014 11. Review and discussion of BCOL Update. Tom Pawelk shared a power point presentation on the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park highlighting the recent grant approvals and upcoming land acquisitions. The grant has been secured for the first phase of the Athletic Complex and this acquisition is scheduled to close in June. A recommendation will be made to the City Council to support submitting two grant applications to the 2014 Outdoor Recreation Grant Program for two additional parcels as part of the overall Athletic Complex with local city and county match dollars. Once all of the land is acquired for the complex, the City will be able to apply for outdoor rec funds to develop the fields. It is planned to develop the complex in phases as determined by the Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Field Subcommittee. 12. Update on Springy Tree Sale. Tom Pawelk noted that the Spring Tree Flyer has been sent out with the utility bill. Residents must have their orders in by February 28th. This program has been very successful in the past and they are looking forward to this year's sale. 11. Next regular meeting scheduled for March 27, 2014. The next regular Parks Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2014, with the time changed to 4:30 p.m. in the Public Works Conference Room. 12. Adiourn. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AT 10:35 A.M. MOTION SECONDED BY JACK GREGOR. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. RECORDED BY: cgeth &Ycen DATE APPROVED: March 27, 2014 ATTEST: /' 41, , _ ` Page 6 of 6