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Parks Commission Minutes 12-14-2000 . . . MIN UTES REGULAR MI~ETING - PARKS COMMISSION Thursday, Decemher 14, 2000 - 4:30 p.m. Members present: Fran fair, Nancy McCaffrey, Larry Nolan and Earl Srnith. Members absent: Rick Traver and Council Liaison: Roger Carlson. Staff: Gregg Engle 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum present. 2. Annroval of the minutes ofthe re!!ular meetin!! on Novemher 16.2000. Minutes were not available. This item was deferred until such time as minutes would be available. 3. Consideration of adding items to the a2enda. Larry Nolan asked f()r an update on the status of the pedestrian bridge for County Road 18. There was no additional information on the pedestrian bridge project. Earl Smith stated that he had received several comments/cOlnplaints ahout the parking lot at the sliding hill at River Mill. The residents don't feel the parking lot enhances the park. 4. Citizens Requests. None. 5. Review Finalized Budget. 'The hudgct inJ()l'mation relating to the parks which was approved by the City Council on December 1] tll was reviewed by the Park COlnmission. 'rile itcrns in the capital outlay fund were reviewed and discussed. Park Superintendent Gregg Engle noted that much of the equipment on the list such as the tiller. aerator and seeder would be used for getting parks ready for seeding and for maintenance of the ballfields. The bleachers for the Freeway Fields/4th Street parks would be three tiered bleachers and are easily moved. The Park Commission then discussed the various irnprovements proposed for the parks. Ciregg Engle noted that because of the topography of the area ahout the only things that could he done at the Parkside Park would he installation of picnic tahles and gri lis. The Park Department is also proposing to add some additional pieces of playground equiprnent at the Mcadow Oaks Park. Park COlnmission Minutes - 12/14/00 . It was noted that there are funds set aside for soccer field improvements which will be used for thc fields at the new high sehool. Earl Smith statcd that he believed the property by 7tll Strcet which is availahle should be pursued as a site for additional soccer fields. It was asked that this item be placed on the next Parks Commission agenda. Other park improvcments include replacing thc sand around thc playground structures with fiber turf and providing a play structure for the West Bridge Park. Crregg Englc will have concept plan and cost estimates for the Park Commission after the first of the year. It was noted that the $47,000 budget f()r the Bridge Park Improvement is the second year of a five year plan for improvements to the park. The Park Commission noted that the IIans Hagen concept plan whieh was presentcd to the Park Commission at a previous meeting could impact Bridge Park because of its close proximity. However, since it is just a concept plan and may not materialize, the Park Commission felt it would be best to proceed with the plans fiJr improvements to the West Bridge Park. Crregg Engle also discussed the plans for an irrigation system fiJr the East Bridge Park and will be working with contractors to come up with a design and costs. Gregg Engle. Nancy McCaffrey and Fran Fair will meet in January (tentatively January WI') to discuss the plantings fi.x the East Bridge Park. . The Parks Commission discussed the funds set aside for improvements to Pioneer Parle Gregg Engle is working with the Lions Club as far as a design J()I" the shelter. There may also be changes rcq uired to the parking area. It was noted that the $25,000 budgeted f(x the Ri ver Mill Park was f()r the parking lot. [':arl Smith commented about the condition of the Parwest Park. I Ie suggested that the Park Commission members view the site and then they could discuss possibilities flJr improving the park aesthetically. One option mentioned was to remove the ag lime fields and nJaybe move the play structures to a lnore central location. The Park Commission asked that the Parwest Park be covered as a future agenda item. Cin:gg Engle explained the ert(nts used to control the geese problem at Ellison Park. It was suggested that leaving uncut a two 11Jot strip fron1 the river up the bank would act as a deterrent to the geese coming up the bank. The Park Commission felt that the practices that the Park Departmcnt used this past year, which included a fence and spraying. seemed to work well and should be continued. Gregg [':ngle staled that they experienced considerable vandalisn1 to the I'cnce and that was why he was looking at other ideas. [al'l Smith cOlnmented about the vandalislll in the parks and in particular the vandalism to the trees at the Cardinal Hills Park. 1 Ie was concerned that there seelned to be no concerted effort to control this activity. The Park Commission fclt it was their responsibility to go on record stating their concern about the vandalism in the parks. . EARl. SMITH MOVED TO I IA VI.:: THE ISSUE OF VANDALISM 0[" THE CARDINAl. I IlI.I.S PARK PLACED ON THE POLICE COMMISSION ACiENDA SO THAT rill,: / . . . Park Comlnission Minutes - 12/14/00 P()L1CI': COMMISSION CAN ADDRESS THIS WITI I TI IE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN PROSECUTION FOR SlJCf-1 ACTIVITIES. FRAN FAIR SI.:CONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRII.:D lJNANIMOUSL Y. The Park Commission discussed the Mini Community Tree Planting. Gregg Engle will be meeting with John Simola, the Public Works Director. during the first part of the year to work on this. The planting is usually done in April or May. The Comlnission discussed wherc the trees would be planted. Some areas that were discussed were Cardinal Hills and the area of Marvin Elwood Drive. It was determined that Rick Traver and Fran Fair will work with Gregg Engle on the tree planting day. 6. Prioritize Caritallmprovement Proiects. Gregg Engle indicated that this did not have to be done at this time but coulcl be included on the agenda I<Jr January or February. Earl Smith suggested that the Park Commission discuss the Th Street land l()f use as soccer fields with the Council Liaison to the Park C0I1llnission. 7. Goals for 2001. Uregg Engle submitted sheets for the Park Commission members to list goals they woulcllike to see accomplished t(Jr 2001. The Park Commission will bring this back at the next meeting f()r a discussion ofthc goals noted. 8. Park Maintenance Items. Gregg Engle rcported on the snow removal from the rinks and flooding of the rinks and noted which parks had skating rinks and when they are open. The Park Commission complimented the Park Department on the removal of snow from the pathways. Cin:gg Engle reported that he will be meeting with the DNR about cleaning up of some of the area along the rivcr bank. Fran Fair asked if there was any plans for clean up of the islands on the rivcr. Cregg Lnglc reported that he had attended a meeting dealing with grant programs and he has several applications fi.)r grants that the City is eligible Cor. There is $5,000,000 in grant monies available. Nancy McCaffrey and Ureg Engle will \vork on submitting of the applications. Ciregg Engle noted that the skating rink in the Cardinalllills area was being used extensively and suggested that a skating rink be considered I()r Pioneer Parle He had a sketch of the area <md point out possible locations for a rink. The Park Commission discussed Pioneer Park noting it \vill he a major park !()r the city. Earl Smith expressed his opinion that even though the Lions Club is making plans for the shelter at Pioneer Parle the ultimate authority over what ') ,) . . . Park Commission Minutes - 1211 4/00 takes place at the park is the City. CJregg Engle indicated that he will he meeting with the I ,ions and will be getting additional information on the proposed shelter which he will be presenting to the Park Commission. 10. Adjourn NANCY MCCAFfREY MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 5:50 P.M. FRAN FAIR SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. o~ _.~'A..,.('>5~:~-Y....Q..5>-_. Recording Secretary ~ 4