Parks Commission Minutes 10-30-1997
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MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING. PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, October 30,1997 - 4:30 p.m.
Members Present: Chairman Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith,
Robbie Smith, Rick Traver
Staff Present:
Jeff O'Neill, Roger Mack, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call meetin~ to order.
Chairman Larry called the meeting to order.
2. Add items to the agenda.
There were two items added to the agenda:
A. Tree planting
B. Prairie West Park.
Discussion on budget items for 1998.
After a discussion on possible cuts in the parks budget the following changes were
agreed on:
A. Change the $75,000 budgeted in 1998 for soccerlbaseball fields at the NSP
site to $40,000 in 1998 and $40,000 in 1999.
B. Move the $20,000 for the Cardinal Hills Tot Lot from 1998 to 1999. These
changed reduced the parks budget by $55,000.
The Commissioners requested Jeff O'Neill advise the City Council, during budget
discussions, the main emphasis for 1998 will be to concentrate on restoration of the
river parks that were severely damaged in the storm. (If the City Council needs a
suggestion on further budget cuts.)
EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS AMENDED,
SECONDED BY FRAN FAIR. Motion passed unanimously.
The Commissioners requested an update on the council decisions at the next
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Special Parks Commissin Minutes - 10/30/97
meeting.
4. Address Oct. 16. 1997 agenda items (refer to previous agenda-attached),
There was not a quorum at the Oct. 16, 1997 regular meeting so the items from the
previous meeting were discussed.
5. Consideration of approving the minutes for the regular meeting
September 18, 1997.
6.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY EARL SMITH TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE
SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 MEETING. SECONDED BY ROBBIE SMITH. Motion
passed unanimously.
Discussion on "Adopt an Area"
Wanda Kraemer, DST, reported that in the spring there would be a campaign to
have organizations and interested residents adopt and area to keep free oflitter.
Kraemer would be working with Monticello Community Partners and the Chamber
of Commerce to publish the program. Kraemer gave an example of a girl scout troop
that has "adopted" Hillside Cemetery (across from Maus Foods) and collects about
five bags of garbage every two weeks. Kraemer added this project will be expanded
in the future to add planting of flowers by volunteers.
7.
Discussion on the comprehensive park plan.- Steve Grittman
Steve Grittman, City Planner, will attend the November meeting to discuss the
park plan with the commissioners.
8. Discussion on the Monticello Expo Booth.
Wanda Kraemer, Development Services Technician, stated that help is needed at
the City booth during the Monticello Expo this year. The City will be doing a
survey collecting comments for the National Guard/Community Center and also
there will be sign-up sheets for helping with spring plantings. The Expo will be
Sunday, November 16, 1997, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the Commissioners
can call Kraemer if interested. Larry Nolan volunteered to help.
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Special Parks Commissin Minutes - 10/30/97
Discussion on the si~ed snowmobile trails.
Wanda Kraemer, DST, reported she had asked Rick Wolfsteller, City Administrator
and staff to the Police Commission, as to the status of the signed snowmobile trails.
W olfsteller did not know if the trails would be signed for this season. The
commissioners were concerned that if the snowmobiles trails were not signed people
would be using the pathways. Larry Nolan volunteered to call Wolfsteller and
discuss the issues.
10. Update on City Council meetin~:
Pathway - The City Council approved purchase of a machine to clear the snow from
the pathway and the skating rinks.
11.
Update on National Guard/Community Center.
Jeff O'Neill, Assistant Administrator, reported the task force for the National
Guard/Community Center would be interviewing the top three architect firms the
following week. Robbie Smith, the Parks Commission representative, would be
attending the interviews but the meeting was open to the public.
12.
Update on 4th Street Warming House:
Roger Mack, Parks Superintendent, reported that the window had been installed in
the 4th Street Warming House. Mack was waiting for the Hockey Association to
submitted the bids for the inside repairs as agreed to at the fall meeting.
13. Discussion regarding Bridgeview Plat.
Jeff O'Neill, Assistant Administrator, discussed the possibilities of Bridgeview Plat,
an area of land directly across the river from Monticello. This area is one of the last
remanent of undeveloped land along the Mississippi River. O'Neill requested the
Parks Commission to state their support/or non-support of preserving a portion of
the property for a public park. This would be an area park targeted at keeping the
land in the natural state. The Commissioners were given a two page "draft"
resolution" regarding Bridgeview Plat. O'Neill informed the commissioners of a
public meeting on Nov. 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the River Inn. This would be a joint
meeting with Big Lake Township, Becker Township, Sherburn County, DNR, City
of Monticello, the developers, and anyone interested in attending.
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Special Parks Commissin Minutes - 10/30/97
After discussion, ROBBIE SMITH MADE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION FOR THE BRIDGEVIEW PLAT DEVELOPMENT, SECONDED BY
RICK TRAVER. Motion carried unanimously.
14.
Added items.
A. Trees - Planting of boulevard trees was added to the agenda. Mter a short
discussion a subcommittee was formed to order 900 trees for a spring
planting project. The committee was Earl Smith, Rick Traver, Fran Fair,
Roger Mack, and Wanda Kraemer. The committee would meet on November
4, at 3:30 p.m. to decide type and size of trees to order. After the trees are
ordered the committee will organize volunteers to help with distributing
information to residents, organizing locates,
Roger Mack, Street and Park Superintendent, informed the commissioners
that a grant for trees in both Ellison and Bridge Park had been applied for.
The DNR Forester for the Monticello area had met with city staff and
assisted with the completion of the grant.
B.
Prairie West Park - The Commissioners discussed that the mowing of the
park area was still not completely defined. Earl Smith and Jeff O'Neill
scheduled an on site meeting November 10th at 4:30 p.m to clarify the
boundaries.
15. Adjourn
ROBBIE SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING SECONDED
BY EARL SMITH. Motion passe unanimously.
WOJndo, K11U~
Wanda Kraemer
Development Services Technician
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