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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-28-14PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION April 28, 2014 Regular Meeting DRAFT Members Present: Maureen Bartz, Jason Eisold, Mike Eliason, Barb Farrell, Lincoln Tilson Members Absent: Jason Eisold Staff Present: Dan Schultz, Director of Parks and Recreation and Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary Student Volunteers: None Others Present: Rosemount Veterans Memorial Walk Representatives: Sue Nivala, Dan McMenomy and Neil Brodeen 1. CALL TO ORDER: Ehason called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Honl administered the oath of office to Lincoln Tilson, new Parks and Recreation Commission member. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None 3. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 24, 2014 MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Farrell to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2014 meeting. SECOND by Bartz. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 4. AUDIENCE INPUT: None 5. DISCUSSION (Response to Audience Input): None 6. OLD BUSINESS: a. Rosemount Veterans Memorial Walk — The three representatives from the group introduced themselves. McMenomy addressed the Commission and provided information on the group's newest concept for the memorial which includes reflection areas with statues (called "stations") along the path. Neil brought a replica of a statue for the Commission to look at. The group wants to make 15 of these statue replicas and sell them for $2500-$5000 each as a way to raise funds for the project. McMenomy provided Schultz with a handout with additional details. Farrell asked if a woman could be represented in the statue, too. The group is corresponding with the Koch organization regarding a large donation. Each station will cost approximately $350,000, and the cost of the entire project will be approximately $3,000,000. When the project is complete, the City will take over maintenance. Questions that were asked included whether the current veterans monument would have to be moved (Per Schultz, there hasn't been serious discussion about this yet but we can definitely consider moving it.), if the stations would be lit to prevent vandalism which is a concern (Per Schultz, we could look into some type of sustainable lighting.), what is the expected completion date (Per McMenomy, 10 years or so for the entire project - their main goal right now is to work on landscaping this summer and beginning work on the Liberty station), what about irrigation and could they use perennials that don't require a lot of water (Per Schultz, the Public Works Department staff may be able to water plants — maybe they could consider using perennials that coordinate with those at the splash pad), does the group have concerns about the project's cost and what happens if they don't have enough funds to complete the project (Per McMenomy, they are hoping to get 90% of the funds from public/corporate donations, specifically Flint Hills Resources/Koch Refinery). When installation is complete, the City will take over the maintenance. b. Naming of City Parks — Several ball fields and parks will need to be named in the near future. They are: the fields at the Flint Hills and the UMore sites, and the parks to be built in the Prestwick and Bella Vista developments. Schultz was bringing the naming of the Flint Hills and UMore ball fields back to the Commission at the request of the City Council. The Council had asked that the Commission consider names other than Akron Fields (for the UMore ball fields) and Flint Hills Athletic Complex. Schultz provided a list of additional names for these two - 1 - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION April 28, 2014 Regular Meeting sites. The Commission discussed the names on the list and also names they had talked about previously and still thought their original names were good options, such as O'Leary, Doc Holiday or Holiday, and Kay Heim. "Park" or "Fields" could be used with any of these choices and a plaque could be installed to explain the name if one of these was chosen. It was also suggested that we consider having a contest to name the parks. Information could be put on the City's website and the newspaper could do an article promoting it. The Commission liked the idea that for future parks we consider using names of people from the community instead of street names. The Commission suggested naming the park in the Prestwick Development after the street it is on. Schultz will bring a list of names of streets in this development to the next Commission meeting. The Commission thought the park in the Bella Vista Development Horseshoe Lake Park after the lake near the park. c. Bella Vista Development — Public Park Planning — The City has acquired 63 acres of land by working with Dakota County and we'll be receiving $500,000 of parks dedication funds. Schultz reviewed two concept plans for the park and some park amenities and features that could be included. Per Schultz, they are scheduled to build the park in approximately 3 years. MOTION by Farrell to move forward with Concept A. SECOND by Bartz. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Director's Report - The Parks Improvement Fund Balance as of March 31, 2014 was $389,619.97. No dedication fees were received. There was no interest. There were no donations. There were expenditures of $13,960.86 for the Erickson Park Tennis Courts, and property taxes for the Prestwick Development and the Bella Vista Development. Parks and Recreation Department Activities — The summer Parks and Recreation brochures have been mailed to Rosemount residents and several programs have already filled. The Arbor Day tree give away will take place this weekend. The Spring Egg Hunt held last week was a success. It was delayed a week, due to bad weather on the originally scheduled date. One Book/One Rosemount — We received a donation to be used for activities that will take place in October as part of this program. Splash Pad — The splash pad should open in mid to late June. Flint Hills Fields - The fields are coming along great. Tennis Courts — Bartz asked about the status of grants for the tennis courts at Erickson Park. Per Schultz, we expect to receive $30,000 - $40,000 in grants for this project. 8. ADJOURNMENT - MOTION by Bartz to adjourn the meeting. SECOND by Tilson. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sonja Honl, Parks and Recreation Secretary -2-