Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes 11-29-2018PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES I NOV 29, 2018
MINUTES
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 29, 2018 - 9:15 A.M.
"To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining City parks with a high standard of quality. "
Members Present: Lynn Anderson, Anna Bohanon, Bill Fair, Julie Jelen,
Nancy McCaffrey, Brian Stoll
Members Absent: Jack Gregor, Karen Vetsch
Staff Present: Sara Cahill, Beth Green, Matt Leonard, Ann Mosack, Tom Pawelk,
Angela Schumann, Sue Seeger
1. Call to Order.
Brian Stoll called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. and declared a quorum.
2. Approve Minutes of Regular Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting from
September 29, 2018.
NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 PARKS
& RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES. MOTION SECONDED BY
JULIE JELEN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda.
a. Health Equity Discussion.
b. Splash Pad Update.
c. Bertram Athletic Park update.
4. Citizens requests and comments.
Lynn Anderson said that she had a request to move away from porta pots and install
permanent restrooms in city parks. Tom Pawelk said that it is too costly to put permanent
restrooms in all of the parks. The portable toilets have been a good option and have
eliminated much of the public urination problem. Sue Seeger noted that with the increased
use at MontiView Park it would be good to keep a portable toilet there year-round.
5. Motion to approve columbarium granite colors. Representative from Eickhof
will explain granite color options.
A representative from Eickhof reviewed the granite color options for the new columbarium
to be placed at Riverside Cemetery. Tom Pawelk showed a map of the cemetery and
indicated the planned location of the columbarium will be at the main entrance "Y" where
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PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES I NOV 29, 2018
the existing flag pole is located. Discussed color options and blending into the natural
surroundings with a mahogany polish or the option of standing out more with a black
polish. The group voted on options and chose the mahogany polish with a sanded
mahogany band.
LYNN ANFDERSON MOVED TO SELECT THE MAHOGANY POLISHED STONE
FOR THE COLUMBARIUM WITH A SANDED MAHOGANY BAND. MOTION
SECONDED BY ANNA BOHANON. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
6. Consideration to review for recommendation park dedication requirements
for Featherstone 4tn Addition.
Angela Schumann discussed Featherstone and explained that it's a single-family
development on the south side of Monticello. The developer is proposing a 4th addition to
include another 24 homes. The city requires a park dedication with the commensurate need
at 11%, and Monticello holds very strictly to the state statute for that. Staff is
recommending 3.45 acres for the park dedication in this case. Tom Pawelk said that he
would like to put it in native grasses in that area.
NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE PARK LAND
DEDICATION OF 3.45 ACRES (OUTLOT B) FOR FEATHERSTONE 4TH, WITH
THE ABILITY FOR THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT TO NEGOTIATE TERMS ON
NATIVE PLANTINGS. MOTION SECONDED BY JULIE JELEN. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
7. Creative Arts Consultant update (Sue Seeger).
Sue Seeger provided the creative arts update. She said a small celebration is being planned
at West Bridge Park on Saturday, December 1St. The Monticello Lions will be lighting the
large evergreen tree during the event. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a bonfire,
cocoa, and treats. Seeger said that this event is being highlighted on the Unsilent Night
website. Unsilent night is a 4 -part instrumental harmonious piece of music with four
different tracks meant to be played simultaneously on smart phones as participants walk
throughout a designated route. The route will be through the park and across to East Bridge
Park, up the hill to River Street and concluding back down at West Bridge Park. After the
"walk" there will be caroling around the campfire and the local newspaper is printing off
lyrics to Christmas carols to be distributed at the event. Participants can go online to
unsilentni2ht.com to get instructions on downloading the music to be played during the
walk. The Lions are helping to spread the word about the event, and the Chamber is posting
the event on their website.
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PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES I NOV 29, 2018
Seeger said that since working in this position she has noted problems that she is trying to
address as she's coming up with projects for the community arts program, including:
• The people of Monticello feel disconnected from their downtown, and in many cases
their neighbors.
• The downtown looks empty and run down.
• A lot of $ is about to be spent on redevelopment. People who feel disconnected from
this project/the downtown are likely to be more critical of our efforts, and less likely to
look for ways to participate and contribute.
• Businesses that are already downtown would benefit from a populated downtown.
• A lively looking, populated downtown will attract more development than an empty
"blank" one.
Seeger further discussed projects that she is planning for 2019 and included a flow chart of
putting together a specific "home" project. The complete project list and flow chart is
attached as part of the minutes.
Finally, the EDA has authorized Fred's Auto Site to be used as the home for MontiArts,
and there will be a workshop with council to discuss the remodeling needs for the building
to make this happen. The cost is roughly $12,000 with some work to be completed in-house
with Parks staff, or $18,000 if it is all contracted out. It will go to the City Council for a
vote on December 10tn
8. MCC updates.
Ann Mosack provided a brief update on the MCC building, noting that the air conditioning
unit will be replaced in early 2019. The membership rates will increase by 5% in 2019,
with the exception of the corporate membership. The MCC will start a lease for the cardio
equipment in order to save money on costly equipment repairs and maintenance. This is a
four-year lease which includes maintenance of the equipment and new replacement
equipment yearly. Mosack also noted the MCC is up $80,000 in revenue from last year.
a. Prairie Center Lower Level Floor Remodel: Sara Cahill explained that there is a space
across from FiberNet, just under 1200 sq. ft., which has been used for Friendship Island
programming for the past two summers. Within that space there are seven different
rooms and this layout has posed as a challenge, especially during larger group activities.
The remodel proposal is to demo the walls and create one large space and to replace
the carpet with vinyl. The in-house remodel cost is estimated at $10,000. The projection
is that the MCC could create additional revenue with renting the space out and it will
also help with Friendship Island programming, which profited $20,000 last summer.
LYNN ANDERSON MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE PRAIRIE CENTER LOWER
LEVEL FLOOR REMODEL PROPOSAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
APPROVAL. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 5-0.
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PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES I NOV 29, 2018
9. Discussion of added items.
a. Health Equity Discussion: Anna Bohanon proposed having a public health director
attend a future meeting to discuss health equity and how to serve everyone in the
community. The consensus is to have Bohanon do a presentation at a future
meeting.
b. Splash Pad Update: Matt Leonard talked about the council workshop on this item.
The total cost for the project ended up being $860,000 with all amenities, with the
lowest cost at $460,000, excluding some of the improvements. The council
reviewed options to keep the splash pad project moving forward; but ultimately
voted not to move forward with the project at this time due to other more pertinent
projects, and budget constraints.
Bill Fair said that the Lions will be approaching the city about incremental
improvements at the park to eventually lead to building the splash pad sometime in
the future.
Bertram Athletic Park: The Bertram project has been authorized to go out for bids.
Bids will be requested in January. The bids should be authorized by the end of
February with construction to begin in April if everything moves accordingly.
10. Next regular meeting scheduled for January 24, 2019.
The next regular Parks Commission Meeting is scheduled for January 24, 2019, at
9:15 a.m. in the Public Works Conference Room.
14. Adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
RECORDED BY: o`�eth C�qYy-en
DATE APPROVED: 01-24-19
ATTEST:
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