Parks Commission Minutes 11-17-1993MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PARKS COMMISSION
Wednesday, November 17, 1893.4:30 p.m.
Members Present: Dick Frie, Roger Carlson, Druce Thielen, Larry Nolan
Members Absent: Fran Fair
Staff Present: Jeff O'Neill, Roger Mack
2. Consideration of adontine agenda.
After discussion, a motion was made by Larry Nolan and seconded by Roger Carlson
to adopt the agenda as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. _
3. Consideration of aunroval of minutes of the meetine held October 20, 1993.
After discussion, a motion was made by Roger Carlson and seconded by Larry Nolan
to approve the minutes of the meeting held October 20, 1993, as submitted. Motion
carried unanimously.
4. Review nr000sal to inteerate the NSP mithwav into the city pathwav system.
Assistant Administrator O'Neill informed the Parks Commission that he had been
contacted by officials from NSP regarding the potential of including the NSP pathway
in the city-wide system. O'Neill noted that the pathway on the NSP property extends
approximately from the NSP softball fields along the railroad tracks and under
County Road 75 to a point approximately 1/2 mile west of County Road 75. The NSP
pathway provides an excellent bypass for bikers and walkers wishing to avoid using
the County Road 75 bridge. The pathway serves as a recreational facility as it passes
through a natural setting. It also meets all city requirements with regard to pathway
width and construction. r,
O'Neill noted that the pathway was not included in the original plan because it is on
private property; and as such, it was not expected that this pathway could be
incorporated into our overall city pathway plan. According to some at NSP, public
use of the path does not appear to be a significant concern for NSP, and officials have
gone so far as to request that the City consider including the pathway in our overall
plan. Including the pathway in the city system simply means that city pathway map
information provided to the public and perhaps signage of the system would include
the presence of the NSP pathway. Incorporating the pathway into the city system
does not mean that the City is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the system
and that it is still essentially a private pathway that NSP is allowing the public to
use.
After discussion, it was the consensus of the Parks Commission to formally request
thst the NSP pathway be allowed to be included i,i the city pathway system for
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Parks Commission Minutes - 11/17/93
purposes of identifying the path to the public in informational material and identified
through the use of pathway signage.
5. Review nlnns for Bridee Park Brand ouenine scheduled for week of December 27.
December
7-
Decemher 31. 1993.
Assistant A'. ainiatrator O'Neilli.. �r,r�ii ti,o Pam kb Conunissiun Lhat the City will be
providing free tickets to anyone wishing to use the Heartland Express to get to West
Bridge Park during Christmas vacation. Free rides will be given from Monday,
December 27, through Friday, December 31.
The Parks Commission also discussed the plans for the Bridge Park grand opening,
which the Parks Commission scheduled for Sunday, December 19, at 3 p.m. The
agenda for the grand opening would include a short ceremony at 3 p.m. The open
house would occur generally from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with refreshments provided
consisting of cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee. It was also suggested that the City ask
the high school choral group to provide entertainment at the open house. Dick Frie
indicated that he would contact choral group director, Dave Kantok. Roger Carlson
noted that he would contact an individual that could possibly provide horse-drawn
carriage rides during the open house.
6. Status report - Dathwav Droiect.
C O'Neill reported that when the grant was awarded, he requested information from
the project supervisor at the state level on the process of obtaining reimbursement for
engineering expenses. The project official verified that the grant funds can be used to
reimhiirse the City fnr all engineering expenses. Unfortunately, he failed to indicate
that reimbursement of engineering costs can only occur after specific approval is
provided by the state and federal agencies monitoring the project. Therefore, all of
the City engineering expenses to date will need to be paid out-of-pocket by the City.
O'Neill noted that fortunately, the City has obtained more revenue than expected for
state aid projects and that the unexpected engineering expenses can be paid by using
the slate aid funds. In addition, it is not expected that the project will be as costly as
originally anticipated from a construction standpoint. According to the City
Engineer, the out-of-pocket expense to the general fund will not exceed the originally -
anticipated number of $95,000.
Dick Frie requested that City staff provide him with ongoing information on the
status of the pathway project and to update him on what's happening on an ongoing
basis.
7. There being no further discussion, a motion was made by Roger Carlson and seconded
by Bruce Thielen to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
�)—kt_u
- Jof ill, Assistant Administ.ratnr
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