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Parks Commission Minutes 12-01-2016PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I DEC 1, 2016 MINUTES PARKS COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY DECEMBER 1, 2016 - 9:15 A.M. "To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining City parks with a high standard of quality. " Members Present: Larry Nolan, Nancy McCaffrey, Brian Stoll Members Absent: Jack Gregor, Tim Stalpes, Brian Stumpf Staff Present: Tom Pawelk, Beth Green 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and declared a quorum present. 2. Approve Minutes of Regular Parks Commission Meeting September 22, 2016. BRIAN STOLL MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 REGULAR PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. A. Montiview Mountain Bike Layout. BRIAN STOLL MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDED ITEM. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 4. Citizens requests and comments. Tom Pawelk said he received a request from a resident in the Groveland neighborhood who wants to see a skating rink in their neighborhood. Pawelk said a few years ago, there was a rink in that neighborhood but it didn't go over well. He contacted the resident and informed her that the City Council's decision is to have people attend the current rinks at West Bridge or 4th Street Parks. While Groveland is a busy park, there is nothing set up there to flood and hold water, unless something is done on the holding pond. With the extended hours at both West Bridge and 4th Street, Pawelk said he would like try this season and see how it goes without adding additional rinks. The consensus of the Parks Commission is to continue with the skating rinks as is this year. Page 1 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I DEC 1, 2016 Nancy McCaffrey said she stopped at dog park to check on the mud hole at the end of the hill towards the marsh and while there a resident approached her and thanked the City for the park. The resident said she has met a lot of people and made new friends at the dog park; she lives in the area and uses it often. The resident said she has met people from other areas including Wayzata and all over and the feedback is that they love Monticello's dog park. 5. Review and discussion of Shade Tree Disease Policv. Tom Pawelk reviewed the Shade Tree Disease Policy with the Commission and explained that staff completes Dutch Elm Disease inspections each year of the entire town, marking the diseased trees, then notifying the residents with a letter of an "order to remove" the diseased trees. Residents are given 20 days to respond back that they understand and will remove the tree or contract with the City for removal. When contracting with the City for removal, the resident is then reimbursed half the cost of the tree removal up to $225 per tree. Pawelk explained that this portion of the policy has become too cumbersome and time consuming having the City act as the middle man, meet with the contractor to remove the trees and follow up. It is suggested that that portion of the policy be removed, and that the letter be re -worded to require the residents to contract for their own tree removal and to notify the City of such removal with no reimbursement from the City. Furthermore, the City currently has a policy which allows for the reimbursement of replacement trees at half the cost of the tree (up to $30). For ease of accounting and less confusion, it is suggested to change the reimbursement up to $50/per property per year for replacement of diseased trees. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO MODIFY THE SHADE TREE ORDINANCE TO ELIMINATE THE SECTION ADVISING RESIDENTS TO CONTRACT WITH THE CITY TO RECEIVE A CREDIT OF HALF THE COST OF REMOVAL UP TO $225/TREE. AND, FURTHERMORE, TO INCLUDE A REIMBURSEMENT OF UP TO $50/PROPERTY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DISEASED TREES REMOVED PER YEAR. MOTION SECONDED BY BRIAN STOLL. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 6. Review and discussion of vathwav and sidewalk future and existing connection map. Tom Pawelk reviewed the map indicating pathways and sidewalks showing existing and future connection points. Parks Commission will have an opportunity to prioritize the future connection areas and try to fill in areas where there are gaps. Pawelk said the goal is to get to the point where the City Council will adopt and put a system in place for making the improvements. The commission is asked to take the time to review the map and bring back their ideas to the meeting in January. Page 2 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I DEC 1, 2016 7. Discussion of implementing Facilitv Use Request for park reservations. Tom Pawelk informed the commission that staff met to discuss the future use of ballfields with associations and the school district. It was determined that it would be helpful to implement a Facility Use Request for all associations and the school district to fill out each year to request their needs for field use. Staff will create and implement the form beginning in 2017. This will aid in the scheduling of field use for the season and allow for time to fit in rain out make-up dates, and other late field requests. With the Bertram Chain of Lakes and the school district construction there will be increased use in the 2017 season. 8. Discussion and motion to approve park rental fee schedule for 2017. Tom Pawelk reviewed the fee schedule changes for 2017 with the Commission, noting that rental rates will increase at the cemetery, and they are eliminating altered/unaltered rates for the dog license and will just charge one flat rate. There will be no change to the park reservation fee from 2016. BRIAN STOLL MOVED TO APPROVE THE UPDATED FEE SCHEDULE WITH THE CHANGES AS NOTED. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 9. Motion to approve the reappointment of commissioners Tim Stalpes and Jack Gregor to serve another three-vear term on the Parks Commission. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO REAPPOINT COMMISSIONERS STALPES AND GREGOR TO SERVE ANOTHER THREE-YEAR TERM ON THE PARKS COMMISSION. MOTION SECONDED BY BRIAN STOLL. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 10. Motion to appoint a representative from the Parks Commission to serve on the Bertram Chain of Lakes Advisory Council (1-vear term). NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPOINT LARRY NOLAN TO SERVE AS THE PARKS COMMISSION LIAISON TO THE BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES ADVISORY COUNCIL. MOTION SECONDED BY BRIAN STOLL. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 3-0. 11. General Park Updates: A. Ellison Park Shelter: below ground work is complete for the new pavilion. The remaining work will be finished up in the spring with the goal to have the shelter open by Riverfest. Due to their large donation, the Monticello Lion's will be given naming rights to the shelter. Pawelk also noted that the Ellison family has expressed interest in giving a donation to Ellison Park. Page 3 of 4 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I DEC 1, 2016 B. MCC Maintenance: Staff is trying to help out and get the facility up to par with getting things cleaned up (behind the scenes stuff). Pawelk said that there is talented park staff to help out at the MCC rather than a contractor being called in so the city will be able to save money. C. Park Maintenance: Special Projects Coordinator Wipper is building the Bertram sign for the athletic park. Staff is also taking care of plumbing issues at 4t' Street Park, and busy turning over equipment from summer to winter. The fishing pier is being removed from Front Street and staff will soon start tree trimming and hazardous tree removals, pathway maintenance, etc. D. Skate Guard Positions: Pawelk said that he has two skate guards thus far and is struggling to get help so he asked the commission to pass the word on to anyone 16 or older. 13. Discussion of added items: A. Montiview Mountain Bike Layout: Pawelk said he walked for about three hours with the DirtWirx crew to lay out the entire trail system. The trail building will begin next year with the initial knocking down brush starting in the winter. Everything will be pulled by the roots so there won't be any roots in the trail. No large tress will be taken down but rather the focus will be to create the trail under the canopy of the large trees. 14. Next regular meeting scheduled for January 26, 2017. The next regular Parks Commission Meeting is scheduled for January 26, 2017, at 9:15 a.m. in the Public Works Conference Room. 15. Motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m. RECORDED BY: DATE APPROVED: ATTEST: teeth 30reen 01/26/17 Page 4 of 4