Parks Commission Minutes 12-18-1997
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING. PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, December 18, 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 meetin2' to order.
Meeting was called to order by Chairman Nolan.
2. Consideration of approving the minutes for the special meeting on
October 30, 1997 and the re~ar meeting on November 21,1997.
There was a correction on Item #12 that the warming house window would be
installed on 12-29-97 and was not already completed.
EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE
SPECIAL MEETING OF OCTOBER 30, 1997, SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mter changing the wording for the answer on Item 5B, ROBBIE SMITH MADE A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ON
NOVEMBER 21, 1997. SECONDED BY EARL SMITH. Motion passed
unanimously.
3.
Add itemR to the a2'enda.
A. Pathway bids for next segment.
B. Discuss fees for rental of park shelter
C. Discuss adopt-a-park policies
4. Discussion on East/West Brid~e Park Design
A. Sub-committee report
Fran Fair summarized the minutes from the subcommittee that met to
discuss the River Park Improvements. The main emphasis are as follows:
1.
Irrigation systems in West Bridge, East Bridge, and Ellison Parks
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Park Commission Minutes - 12/18/97
need to be installed. Roger Mack will get quotes.
2. Highway 25 between East and West Bridge Park, terrace hill
along Highway 25 so areas is accessibility for maintenance.
3. West Bridge Park: remove block building, remove parking lot, replace
playground equipment with ADA accessible equipment and a sidewalk
up to the playground, raise the surface inside the gazebo for
entertainment purposes, modify the warming house to facilitate food
serving from the structure. Roger will design the modifiction and
public works crew will build.
4. East Bridge Park: install two picnic tables on the upper end of the
park next to the parking lot.
5. Ellison Park: upgrade the playground equipment with ADA accessible
equipment.
6.
A North Entrance as discussed in the Revitalization Plan, where
Hwy. 25 travels between East and West Bridge Park, will also be
discussed in 1998.
EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PLAN PRESENTED BY
THE RIVER PARKS IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, SECONDED BY FRAN
FAIR. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Information on possible riverfront prQject
Jeff O'Neill, Assistant Administrator, reported to the Commission that he
invited Brad Johnson, developer working with HRA, to attend the park's
meeting so Johnson could give an update on projects being considered in the
Bridge Park area.
Brad Johnson reviewed options for the park area, discussed possible
commercial use in this area, and changing the park to be more lateral with
walkways along the river.
The Commission discussed if a park could be used for commercial uses.
O'N eill would research if Bridge Park had ever been dedicated as a park and
the procedure for changing the area from park land.
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5.
Discussion on comprehensive park plan
Dan SjordaW, City Planner, NAC, reviewed the first chapter of the comprehensive
park plan with the Commission. The Commission went through the draft page by
page and gave suggestions, additions, and corrections to the text. Sjordahl
explained this would be a working process where each meeting a section would be
reviewed and changes made. He encouraged the Commissioners to call him or Steve
Grittman with comments at anytime.
6. Discussion on the blvd. tree plantin~ prQject
Wanda Kraemer, Development Services Technician, reported that the boulevard
tree planting project is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 1998. As soon
as the date and times are confirmed letters will be mailed to organizations and
business for volunteers. The Chamber, MCP, and the City have been working
together on this project.
7. Discussion on National GW'Jrcl/C;ommunity center
A.
Tour - Robbie Smith reported on the tour the National Guard/Community
Center task force took. Smith reported that the task force thought the tour
was worthwhile becuase many valuable items were noted on the tour that
would be considered in the design and operations reports to the City Council.
B. User Group Meetings - Wanda Kraemer, DST, reported on the user group
meetings that were being during December. Many meetings were being
conducted to assure everybody's views were being represented and to
determine space and design needs.
8. Discussion parks commission vacancy.
Larry Nolan, chairman, requested Wanda Kraemer call him when the number of
applications for the parks commission vacancy were known. If there were only a few
applicants interviews would be included with the general meeting or else Nolan
would call a special meeting.
9. Added items
A. Larry Nolan requested the bids for the segments of pathway in the 1998
budget be requested as soon as possible so the project is not delayed.
B.
Earl Smith requested the park shelter fees be reviewed. A subcommittee of
Earl Smith, Fran Fair, Roger Mack and Wanda Kraemer was formed.
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Park Commission Minutes - 12/18/97
Kraemer would call other cities and have price information available for the
subcommittee meeting.
C. Wanda Kraemer, DST, requested a policy for benches along the pathway be
written. Kraemer explained requests to place benches along the pathway
have been made. Kraemer had some concern over the quality and appearance
of the benches being requested. This item was added to the subcommittee
meeting that would be reviewing park fees. Roger Mack would bring
examples of benches that could be ordered.
D. The commission discussed the adopt-a-park policy. It was decided to also
review this on a subcommittee level.
Chairman Nolan, on behalf of the Parks Commission, thanked Robbie Smith for his work
with the Parks Commission and congratulatwished him luck in his new venture on the
Planning Commission.
9.
Adjourn
EARL SMITH MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING SECONDED BY
ROBBIE SMITH.
w ~ (,1I,1)e4ft'A.-
Wanda Kraemer
Development Services Technician
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