Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-22-13PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION April 22, 2013 Regular Meeting Members Present: Maureen Bartz, JoAnne Cope, Jason Eisold, Mike Eliason, Barb Farrell Members Absent: None Staff Present: Dan Schultz, Director of Parks and Recreation and Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary Student Volunteers: CeCe -Amari Gaines Others Present: None 1. CALL TO ORDER: Eliason called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Schultz had some updates he will add as the meeting goes forward. 3. APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 2, 2013 MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Cope to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2013 meeting. SECOND by Farrell. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 4. AUDIENCE INPUT: None 5. DISCUSSION (Response to Audience Input): None Per Schultz's request, discussion jumped ahead to item 7.a. 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Prestwick Park - The City is preparing to start the street improvements in the Prestwick Development. As part of this project, we would like to include the Prestwick Park parking lot, trails, and basketball courts as bid alternates. We have done this in the past in other developments and are able to save money by adding these items at the same time as the street improvements. Money for these items will come from the parks improvement fund. Schultz advised the Commission that the current parks improvement fund balance is $503,115.87, which will be reduced to $342,115.87 after additional expenditures of $46,000 for UMore ball fields, and the $115,000 for the Prestwick Park parking lot, trails and basketball court. He also mentioned that Flint Hills Resources would like to pay for the asphalt for the parking lot at the athletic complex site. Schultz is currently in discussions with their staff regarding this donation, which would save us some money on the project. Schultz also informed the Commission that he has spoken to a representative from a new company coming to Rosemount who would like to provide the grading, etc. at the athletic complex, which will result in a savings of close to $500,000. MOTION by Bartz to recommend that the City include the parking lot, trails and basketball court as bid alternates to the public improvement project for Prestwick Place Seventh Addition. SECOND by Farrell. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Motion passed. b. Selecting a Chair and Vice Chair - On an annual basis we select a chair and vice chair for the Commission. The current chair is Mike Eliason and the current vice chair is Jason Eisold. MOTION by Cope to nominate the current chair and vice chair to continue in their roles. SECOND by Bartz. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Motion passed. c. Director's Report - The Parks Improvement Fund Balance as of March 31, 2013 was $503,115.87. Dedication fees of $3,400 were received. No grants were received. There was interest of $12.55. There were no donations. Expenditures were $5,709 for UMore ball fields and the Flint Hills athletic complex. Adopt A Park — Letters were recently sent to the current adopt a park groups thanking them for their help and giving them information regarding this year's program. At this time, Schwarz Pond Park and Connemara Park are available for adoption. -1- PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION April 22, 2013 Regular Meeting Tree Removal — The Public Works Department has been selectively removing ash trees from Rosemount Parks in anticipation of the arrival of the emerald ash borer. About 60 trees have been removed so far. A grant received from the Minnesota DNR will be used to purchase other varieties of trees that will be planted in place of the ash trees as soon as weather permits. Health & Fitness Fair — Parks and Recreation staff participated in a health and fitness fair that took place at Red Pine Elementary School on Saturday, April 13. Senior Housing Partnership — Stonebridge is the new partner for the senior housing project. They are already working on the project and hope to have something started by this fall. The Commission asked that there be no exceptions for parks dedication for this project. Fields - Fields at Rosemount parks are very wet and are currently closed due to the continuing snow and rain. We hope to open them next week, if weather allows. Playground Equipment at Jaycee Park —The Public Works Department will be replacing the playground equipment at Jaycee Park this fall. The Parks and Recreation Department will work them. We will have a neighborhood meeting in May or June to gather input, then put together an RFP and select the new equipment. There is $75,000 in the budget for this project. May Commission Meeting - The next regularly scheduled meeting date is May 27, which is Memorial Day. Schultz asked the Commission if they could meet on Wednesday, May 29 instead. He will contact the Commissioners to confirm that date once everyone has checked their schedules. PCA Groundwater Well — The Pollution Control Agency (PCA) recently contacted City staff regarding installing a groundwater testing well at Winds Park. Schultz explained that they would need a property access agreement with the City for this well. The proposed location for the well should not cause any issues at the park. Eliason asked that we include in the agreement that they are responsible for capping the well when it is no longer needed. 6. OLD BUSINESS: a. Parks and Recreation Commission Goals / 2014 Budget Timeline - Schultz reviewed a list of Parks and Recreation Commission Goals and the 2014 budget timeline and asked the Commission for items they would consider a priority. The Commission asked that development of the Flint Hills Donated Property (athletic complex) be accelerated. The Commission asked that the following items be added to the list: artificial turf, trees strategically planted so they provide shade and serve as natural sun shelters, covered dugouts and batting cages, a covered playground at Erickson Park (make sure it's close enough to the fields for easy access but also safe — like it where it is now), restoration of Carroll's Woods (buckthorn removal), a meandering river -type water feature like Burnsville's, and benches along trails /sidewalks. They suggested that possibly the aquatic center listed under Special Interest Facilities could be included as an indoor amenity with the YMCA project. They asked that the following items be removed: parking lot at Erickson Park (completed), tennis court complex (in progress), dry land training facility (this type of facility is no longer being used much and isn't needed), and outdoor exercise equipment (City Council item - may be able to incorporate this into the new senior center project.) Cope asked that in the future the project costs be included. Schultz will bring this item back to a future meeting to prioritize the items. 8. ADJOURNMENT - MOTION by Eisold to adjourn the meeting. SECOND by Bartz. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary -2-