Parks Commission Minutes 10-28-2004
Park Commission Minutes ... 10/28/04
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MINUTES
PARKS COMMISSION
October 28, 2004
West Prairie Room
"To enhance community pride through developing and
maintaining city parks with a high standard of quality."
Members Present:
Rick Traver, Ben Hitter, Fran Fair, Nancy McCaffrey
Members Absent:
Commission Chair, Larry Nolan; Council Liaison, Robbie Smith
StafT Present:
Adam Hawkinson, Park Superintendent; John Simola, Public
Works Director
I. Call to Order.
Vice Chair Rick Traver called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum present.
2. Approve minutes of September 23, 2004 ree:ular Parks Commission meetine:.
FRAN FAIR MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 28,2004
REGULAR MEETING WITH A TYPING CORRECTION ON PAGE 3, #5 "OUTLOT A".
NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED TI IE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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Consideration of addine: items to the 3e:enda.
Adam I Iawkinson added to the agenda discussion of replacing the swing set at Ellison Park. John
Simola requested ifthe order of the agenda items could be changed so the Cemetery Long Term
Goals & Priorities and rencing for Tower Park/Cemetery could be addressed flrst.
4. Citizens comments and rCQuests.
.10 Ilavel, Chair the former Cemetery Committee was present to speak in support of Agenda Item
#7, Cemetery Long Term Goals & Priorities.
5.
Cemetery Lone: Tcrm Goals & Priorities.
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John Simola reviewed the plans to rebuild the street fronting Riverside Cemetery in 2005, which
will provide an opportunity to save money on needed repairs and updates to the cemetery as
documented three years ago by a designated committee. Some of the recommended improvements
included replacing the fence, plantings/hedges, upgrading the roads and the entrance to the
cemetery. There are no funds to cover improvement costs at this time and City employees have not
been charging their time to cemetery work. Adam Hawkinson stated that there is approximately
$2,000 a year of city workers' time that is spent on cemetery projects. It is suggested that the City
Council make this a priority in the next budget session. It was also noted that the cemetery is
getting filled and additional land will be needed.
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Park Commission Minutes - 10/28/04
Funding is an issue since Riverside Cemetcry. It is not includcd as a line itcm in the Parks budget
and the perpetual care funds do not cover expenses. It was suggested that improvements be
prioritized and that low cost improvements could be made in 2005 by reallocating $10,000 of a
designated project within budgeted Parks funds. Hedges will be started along the mobile park and
east border, the roads can be paved and a new fence and entrance monument installed in 2005.
It was suggested that other cities be contacted to understand how they deal with similar issues.
Adam Hawkinson will investigate how much time/salaries are actually spent at Riverside. Tasks
perf<xmcd by staff at the cemetery include mowing and rebuilding monuments. John Simola and
Adam Hawkinson will work to accomplish prioritized items.
Citizen .10 Havel, chairperson of the cemetery committee, acknowledged the frustration and
disappointment that the volunteer committee membcrs felt after three years of inaction. Rick
Traver, also a committee member, assured her that the issues have been discussed by the Parks
Commission but that there were no funds available to act on the recommendations. After further
discussion, it was thought that John Simola and .10 Havel would work together to lobby council
members next August and September to put cemetery funding into the City budget. Ideas to obtain
additional funds include contacting churches for assistance about acquiring additional land, as well
as inform the public of the need through the City newsletter and mailing letters to families
members who have loved ones buried at Riverside Cemetery.
6.
Fenein2: for Tower Park/Cemetery
Adam Ilawkinson brought a white vinyl fence sample along with three estimates of $26/ft,
installed, (American Fence), $25/ft, installed, from Authority fence, and $31/ft, not installed
(Jaroth Pence). John Simola and Adam Hawkinson will visit other fencing projects and obtain
other color samples. It is estimated that it would cost $26,000 to fence the front side of Riverside
Cemetery.
Parks Commission recommendations are to install a split rail fence only where necessary in Tower
Park (estimate of $2,0(0) and reallocate $10,000 of Tower Park funds for the fence and gates at
Riverside Cemetery, and a remaining $8,000 to pave cemetery roads. John Simola will bring these
estimates and recommendations to the City Council.
It is the consensus of the Parks Commission that a line item be developed in the budget fe)f
Cemetery Improvement Funds and that with the filling of cemetery space, it becomes a priority of
the city to cxplore raising publ ic funds for additional land the maintenance of cemeteries.
7. Tree Ordinance
Proposed changes to the tree ordinance were reviewed. John Simola reported that the Council
made it very clear that there will be no oak tree program. Adam Hawkinson will re-write the last
paragraph of Section H to reflect capping the municipal share of disease tree removal cost to a
maximum of $400 and bring changes to John Simola, the Parks Commission and then to the City
Council.
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Park Conltnission Minutes 10/28/04
8. Tree Phmtin!! Event
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Subcommittee members Fran Fair, Rick Traver and Adam Hawkinson met to develop a
preliminary plan. Tasks were listed, 400 trees will be ordered (365 trees cost $12,000). There is
$1,500 donated by the t'lmner MCP group reserved for a celebration. Once 365 tree sites are fl)lmd,
letters will be sent to homeowners asking to them to participate and care for the trees. Susie
Wojchouski said the Chamber of Commerce will help get volunteers from business organization,
Boy Scouts, Lions and other service organizations. Leaders will be picked from these groups to get
the trees to each site, put in at the correct depth and followed by a water truck. This should be a
Saturday event, rain or shine with tagging done on Friday and planting on Saturday. A good
variety of medium size trees have been chosen.
FRAN FAIR MOVED TO ACCEPT THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF 'fREES AS DESCRIBED
BY PARKS SUPERINTENDENT. BEN IIITTER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Ellison Park Swin!! Set
Adam Hawkinson reported that the swing set nearest the gazebo is not in compliance with ADA
regulations and is no longer safe. He would like to replace it at a cost of $990 and relocate the new
swing set near the larger play area, noting that it will not interfere with Riverfest activities.
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BEN HITTER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THE ADA
NON-COMPLIANT SWING SET AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW SWING SET AT THE
LOCATION NEAR THE PLAY AREA. FRAN FAIR SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOLJSL Y.
10.
Chane:e in Parks Commission Meet Dates
Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the next Park Commission meetings will be
November 18 and December 16.
Update:
Public Works Director, John Simola reported that the Monticello "Welcome" sign will soon be
placed at the northwest quadrant of Highway 25 and School Boulevard. The location for the sign
on the east side of town has not been determined but one possible site would be along the north
side ofI-94 near the Sunset Ponds development and across the freeway from the City's dredging
project.
11. Adjourn
FRAN FAIR MOVED TO AJOURN. NANCY MCCAFFREY SECONDED TilE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
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