Parks Commission Minutes 11-21-1997
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, November 21, 1997 . 4:30 p.m.
Members: Chairman Larry Nolan, Fran Fair, Earl Smith, Robbie Smith, Rick Traver
Staff: Jeff O'Neill, Roger Mack, Steve Grittman, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call meeting to order.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Nolan.
2. Add items to the agenda.
A. Lions Park
B. Bridge Park
3. Consideration of approving the minutes for the special meeting
October 30, 1997.
The minutes we not available will be included in the December agenda packets.
Congratulating Robbie Smith on the new little seedling.
The commission members congratulated Robbie Smith on his new arrival.
5. Discussion on comprehensive park plan. - Steve Grittman
Steve Grittman and Dan Sjordal, City Planners, distributed a schedule for the
comprehensive park plan, based on one meeting per month, with the public hearing
and adoption April 16, 1998. He explained that if the Parks Commission desired an
earlier completion time there would need to be special meetings added.
Next Grittman reported the policy plan is the first and most critical part of the park
and trail planning process. In order to develop a plan for the City, the policy plan is
a strategic management tool which reflects the community's general beliefs toward
recreation facilities and services and provides detailed guidance on park/trail
development and standards. He asked for clarification on the following list of
questions:
A.
What is your perception of the types of park activities or opportunities that
are lacking within the City, or is the current system generally satisfactory in
providing the need of the public?
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Answer:
Parks Commission Minutes - 11/21/97
Lacking are: playground equipment, enough ball fields in the
future, hockey rinks, a place for rollerblading and skateboarding.
B. The park inventory suggest that Monticello is currently made up of several
small sized community and neighborhood parks that are dispersed
throughout the City. Should the City continue with this approach, or should
efforts be made to establish larger parks that provide greater levels of service
in regard to recreational opportunities?
Answer:
The Commissioners agreed there should be neighborhood parks
with tot lots, basketball hoops, picnic area but there should be a
larger regional parks established that have everything in one
place.
C. Park dedication is currently used to develop parks that are related to new
residential growth in the City. There have been funding concerns in regard to
both new parks and the maintenance of existing one. If park dedication fees
are inadequate should they be raised and/or should additional funding be
sought for parks from the City's general fund?
Answer:
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The Commissioners discussed adding a park fee to industrial
and commercial permits (similar to residential), charging for
reserving shelters and parks, collecting fees in leu ofland where
a park is not needed, a park referendum, and separating park
fees to a separate fund.
D. The City currently holds the River Days celebration in Ellison Park. There
has been discussion regarding the need for more acreage for the City
celebration. It is doubtful that additional land can be added to the park or
that a new park can be developed along the Mississippi River. Should the
City: Continue River Days at Ellison Park, Move the celebration to a larger
park away from the river, integrate River Days into the downtown
area/Bridge Parks.
Answer:
E.
The Commissioners discussed moving Riverfest to Bridge Park
and closing off a portion ofW. River Street for the celebration.
This would allow the celebration to be by the river yet move the
traffic out of the residential area and into downtown.
The City's current proposed trail plan is generally comprehensive throughout
the City. Are there areas that should be connected that are of concern? How
should crossings along Broadway and State Highway 25 (to the southwest
portion of the City) be achieved?
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Parks Commission Minutes - 11/21/97
Answer:
The Commissioners discussed the following areas as crossing
concerns: crossing Hwy 25 at the bridge over the Mississippi and
along 25, County Road 75 by Prairie Road, and Washington by
the High School.
The following were a few possible solutions mentioned: a
pathway that went from East to West Bridge Park under the
Mississippi Bridge, a pedestrian overpass on Hwy 25 (by 1st
National Bank), a tunnel under County Road 75 by Prairie Road,
signal lights by Washington. The State Hwy 25 and County
Road 75 are heavily used for traffic to cross the river so there
will always be difficulty in these area for pedestrians until safer
crossings can be constructed.
6. Report from sub-committee regarding spring tree planting:.
Roger Mack, Streets and Parks Superintendent, reported that the sub-committee
had met and ordered 880 trees to be planted in the boulevards in the spring. The
next step will be discussed at the December meeting.
7.
Discussion on the December meetini schedule.
The Commission decided that to keep the comprehensive plan on schedule the
regular meeting in December meeting should be conducted.
8.
Updates:
City Council meeting/parks maintenance position - Roger Mack, Street and Park
Superintendent reported the Council had approved a parks maintenance position.
This person's primary responsibility will be skating rinks, trials, and park
maintenance issues.
Bridgeview Plat - Wanda Kraemer, DST, reported the Bridgeview Plat meeting was
well attended by county, township, city, DNR, developers, and interested land
owners to discuss preservation of a 50 acre parcel on the Sherburn side of the
Mississippi. It is not know at this time what the next step will be however Becker
township has expressed an interest in working on preserving a portion of the
development for a natural park area.
Community Center/National Guard Training Center - Wanda Kraemer, DST, gave
a brief update that the task force would be meeting on November 25 with the
architect to review the schedule. There will be a tour on Friday, December 5 for the
task force to observe the quality, design, and talk to community center directors at a
variety of centers.
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Parks Commission Minutes ~ 11/21/97
9.
Added items.
A. Lion's Park - Mike Lundquist, Lion's Club representative, was in attendance
to confirm the Lions dedication to "adopt" the Klein Farms park area by a
commitment of manpower hours for maintenance and construction projects
and possibly financial assistance.
Dan Sjordal, City Planner, commented that he had reviewed the plan and the
trails were designed according to the contour of the land and location of
parking lot and park amenities.
After a short discussion, EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE
CONCEPT PLAN PRESENTED BY THE LIONS, SECONDED BY FRAN
FAIR, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LIONS ARE GOING TO
CONTRIBUTE MANPOWER HOURS TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE PARK. Motion passed unanimously
B.
Bridge Park - The Commissioners discussed revisiting the concept plan that
was designed for Bridge Park before the July storm. The commission
expressed dissatisfaction with the original plan and decided to meet at a
separate meeting on this issue. Earl Smith, Fran Fair, and Roger Mack
volunteered to work on the project and to contact MCP, Monticello
Community Partners, for added input.
10. Adjourn
A MOTION WAS MADE BY ROBBIE SMITH, SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER, TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING. Motion passed unanimously.
WCvruk K~
Wanda Kraeme;
Development Services Technician
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These are minutes from the sub-committee meeting for
East/West Bridge Park.
River Parks Improvement Meeting
December 4, 1997 4:00- 6:15
Fran Fair's House
Present: Fran Fair, Earl Smith (Parks Commission), Roger Mack (Streets and Parks, City of
Nlonticello) and Pam Campbell (Design Committee chair, MCP)
Irrigation Systems in all three River Parks
Install an irrigation system in East Bridge, West Bridge, and Ellison Parks. Roger will contact
John Simola to determine where to tap into a water source. It would be logical to connect to the
main water lines near the hydrants.
Discussion followed whether to contract the job to an appropriate company or have the City
do the work. Roger will get quotes from P&H, Toro etc. for both approaches.
West Bridge Park
Remove block building, possibly even this winter season if the blizzards are fewer than last
year. Roger will check the council minutes to find if an ok is needed to proceed.
Remove parking lot from south east corner. People may park on Walnut Street, on River
Street, and in the parking lot across River Street.
Take out existing playground equipment including spring toys and swing set. Plan new
playground space where parking lot was. The new equipment will be ADA accessible and probably
surrounded by a concrete sidewalk.
• Have the playground structures chosen in 1997 re-quoted, add a swing set to the bid.
Plan a means to raise the surface inside the gazebo for entertainment purposes. The platform
maybe permanent or removable. The intent is to create a better visual line for the audience during
city gatherings similar to Take a Break.
Investigate terracing the hill along Hwy 25. The area needs to be made accessible for
maintenance. Roger will consider whether the city workers should do it or have it contracted out.
Modify the interior of the warnring house to facilitate food serving from the structure. Roger
will design and build comer units that can be installed for serving use during the summer gatherings
such as Walk and Roll and Take a Break. These units can be removed and the benches replaced for
winter warming house use.
Ellison Park
Needs the playground structure upgraded.
East Bridge Park
Install two picnic tables on the upper end of the Park near the parking lot.
Define a north entrance to Monticello
As discussed in the Revitalization Plan, the entrances to the city should be defined. The north
entrance, where Hwy 25 travels between East and West Bridge park, is an obvious place to use
remaining bridge railings and possibly street lights to define this entry. The Design Committee will
include this in the 1998 work plan.
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1999 Considerations
Design a sloping path through East Bridge park along the River Street side to allow
pedestrians and bicyclists to use the pathway under the bridge and avoid crossing Hwy 25. A
retaining wall would be necessary along the path. The space between the retaining wall and River
Street could be used for flower planting competitions. (The competition has been suggested to City
staff.) To be determined is whether the path would be blacktop or crushed limestone. Blacktop
would not wash out as limestone might, but may encourage excessive speed by wheeled users. This
project may need an engineer to design a proper slope.
Explore the possibility of encouraging flower bed competitions in East Bridge Park along
River Street. A group from Buffalo has contacted city staff looking for space.
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