Parks Commission Minutes 04-15-1999
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - PARKS COMMISSION
Thursday, April 15, 1999 - 4:30 p.m.
Members: Larry Nolan, Earl Smith, Fran Fair, Rick Traver
Staff Present: Gregg Engle, Jeff O'Neill, Wanda Kraemer
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Larry Nolan.
2. Consideration of approving the minutes for the meeting on Februarv 18, 1999.- io
The minutes were not available at this meeting.
Consideration of approving the minutes for the meeting on March 18, 1999. - wk.
Fran Fair made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 18,1999 meeting. Seconded by
Rick Traver. Motion carried.
3. Add items.
Discussion on an update to the City's pathway and trail maps.
4.
Thank you to Jennifer Fearing.
Chairman Nolan presented a certificate to Jennifer Fearing for her service on the Parks
Commission.
5. Discussion on Soccer Fields on 7th Street.
The Parks Commissioner had discussed recommending placement of soccer fields on 7th Street
at the March meeting and had requested this item not be added to the City Council agenda
until after the April parks meeting. The reason for the delay was to continue the discussion
on the funds allocated for the NSP City Fields. After the budget was reviewed it was agreed
that the amount in the budget for the City Fields could be used for the baseball/softball field
improvements. Soccer was a separate item in the budget. If the City Council agreed to reserve
this area for future soccer fields the Parks Commission would budget for field development in
2000. This project would be phased in over the next few years with the hope ofreceiving
funds from soccer grants.
A motion was made by Earl Smith and seconded by Rick Traver to request the City Council to
dedicate the land on West 7th Street for the development of soccer fields and a parking lot.
Seconded by Rick Traver. Motion passed unanimously.
6.
Discussion on budget items for 1999.
A. Bridge Park
It was agreed that Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, could do some minor
improvements to Bridge Park even though there is a subcommittee meeting on a long
range plan for this area. The Commissioners decided this because Bridge Park is an
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Park Commission Minutes - 4/15/99
entrance to the City and is in immediate need of attention. 'fhe improvements were as
follows:
1. Remove the boulders around the parking lot
2. Add posts and painted chains connecting the posts
3. Research the cost of adding a small playground in the fall
4. Screen the dumpsters from view
5. Use more decorative garbage containers
7.
Discussion on pedestrian underpass on County Road 75.
Jeff O'Neill, Deputy City Administrator, reportcd on the CASH 75 project. He explained the
scope of the project and inquired if the Commissioncrs had any comments on the project.
After a lengthy discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY FRAN FAIR TO RECOMMEND
TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT A PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS BE INCLUDED IN THE
CASH 75 PROJECT DUE TO THE INCREASING TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA, SAFETY
FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SAFETY AT HOSPITAL CROSSING,
LINKING THE MAJOR P A THW A Y SYSTEM TOGETHER, AND LINKING THE
P AT1IW A Y SYSTEM TO TIlE RIVER. SECONDED BY RICK TRAVER. Motion passed
unanimously.
8.
Discussion on maintenance items.
Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, listed the projects for spring. Mr. Engle was very
conccrncd about the vandalism in the parks. He brought pictures of the restrooms at the 4th
Street Park showing that there had been fire damage and vandalism. Mr. Engle would contact
the sheriffs department and request extra hours of patrol in the 4th Street Park and Bridge Park
areas. He reported that about 12 ofthe picnic tables had been placed in the parks and things
were in full gear for Spring.
9.
Updates:
A. Parks Commission Vacancy
Wanda Kraemer, Administrative Assistant, reported that there have not been any
applications submitted for the Parks Commission position at this time. The deadline is
not until Friday, April 19, 1999 and if there is sti II no interest at that time the ad will
be run again.
B.
Project "Take Pride"
Wanda Kraemer, Administrative Assistant, reported there had been a good response
for the 1999 City Enhancement Projects. Many organizations had already signed up to
help with the litter clean-up including all of the schools and ads were being placed in
the newspaper to request volunteers for Saturday. The City Parks Department would
be conducting tree workshops and distributing the trees on Saturday. The MCP Office
will be used as the main headquarters on Saturday morning.
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c.
Walk & Roll
Wanda Kraemer, Administrative Assistant, reported that everything was on schedule
for Walk & Roll, Saturday, May 22, 1999. Kraemcr inquircd if the Commissioners
wanted the free throw basketball contest at their site again this year. It was decided to
keep this the same as the previous year.
D.
Community Center
Wanda Kraemer Administrative Assistant, reported that the next step in the
community center process will be to hire a director. The applications will close on
April 23, 1999 and the committee would like to have a recommendation on the May
10, 1999 City Council agenda.
E.
Field Coordination - Gregg Engle, Park Superintendent, reported that he has been
working with the School District on scheduling and maintaining the school and
community fields.
10.
Added itcms.
Jeff O'Neill, Deputy City Administrator, discussed whether or not it would make sense to
modify the current trail and pathway plan to meet the emerging needs for separation of
pedestrian and vehicle traffic. He also discussed memlS to finance the projects. The areas of
trail that would need to be extendcd in the ncar future would be: Fallon Avenue south of
School Boulevard, along County Road 18, and the Mississippi River walk connection.
The Commissioners discussed that Fallon Ave south of School Boulevard is proposed
from its current location at School Boulevard to the entrance ofthe Klein Farms 5th
Development (Leerssen property). Extension of a pathway along the east side of the
road will provide residents in the area with a safe route to the pathway system at
School Boulevard. The Commissioners recommended development of an off-road
pathway along Fallon Avenue.
Ncxt the County Road 18 project was reviewed. Mr. O'Neill reported that the current
plans for the project do not include construction of the pathway; however, they do
include grading necessary to install thc pathway at somc point in the future. The
original plan for pathways extending to the southeast portions of the community did
not include a pathway along County Road 18 due to the fact that the road was
relatively narrow with poor sight lines and hills. The Commissioners discussed with
the volume and speed of the traffic in this area a pathway will be necessary.
The third area of the discussion involved a portion of the pathway that has been
discussed since the original plan was developed. This would be the Mississippi River
Walk connection which would provide residents the opportunity of completing the
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Park Commission Minutes - 4/15/99
pathway from the Mississippi Drive area through the wastewater treatment plant
property to the hospital campus. There is a small section of this property owned by
John Bondhus and he has indicatcd that at this time he is not interested in providing
the City with a pathway easement. As an alternative to connect through the Bondhus
property, John Simola and Gregg Engle have been working on a plan to extend the
pathway from Mississippi Drive through the wastewater treatment plant along the
river, the path would run along CSAH 75 all of the way to Washington Street. This
will allow a direct connection of pedestrians on the east side of town to the central
portion of the community. It is also proposed that the plan also show this bypass of
the Bondhus property. In summary, the proposed amendment to the plan provides a
temporary bypass of the Bondhus property until such time that the pathway can be
developed through the Bondhus site, the alternative route through the hospital district
could be pointed to as the method for getting people on thc north side of CSAH 75
from the old part of town to points east.
Mr. O'Neill added the funding for the current pathway system has been from ISTEA
Grant program, developers, and City contributions. There will be instanccs however
where it will be very difficult to assess adjoining property owners for pathways that
nced to be extended into future development areas. Mr. O'Neill suggested the Parks
Commission consider recommending a pathway funding program which would be
used to collcct funds from new devclopment for extension of pathways to growing
arcas. Essentially, the funding mechanism calls for establishing an average cost per lot
for extension of pathways to a developing area. Development of this fund will allow
the City to pool resources from the development area and avoid the problems
associated with assessing only the adjoining property owners for the project costs.
The amount of $200 per lot was suggested. The Commissioners agreed that staff
should take this to the City Council and request a study be completed to determine the
proper amount for the pathway dedication fee and to develop policies for
implementation of the fee program.
11.
Adiourn
A motion was made by Earl Smith to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Rick Traver. Motion
passed unanimously.
W~r~
Wanda Kraemer
Administrative Assistmlt
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