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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 04-27 PRC Minutes PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes April 27, 2009 APPROVED Members Present: Maureen Bartz,Jason Eisold,Mike Elia.son,Sandy Knight Members Absent: Kevin Strayton Staff Present: Dan Schultz,Director of Paxks and Recreation and Sonja Honl,Recording Secretary Student Volunteer: Stephen Sawyer Others Present: 1. CALL TO ORDER: Eliason called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 23, 2009 MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Knight to approve the minutes of the March 23,2009 meeting. SECOND by Bartz. Ayes: 3 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 4. AUDIENCE INPUT: None. 5. DISCUSSION (Response to Audience Input): None. Schultz introduced the Park&Recreation Coxnxnission's new student volunteer,Stephen Sawyer. Stephen is a freshman at Rosemount High School. Eisold arrived. 6. OLD BUSINESS: a. ChaPlleS Pa�k Te17111S COUPtS—A draft joint use and operating agreement,a draft easement,and a draft land exchange agreement have been completed and are included in this meeting's packet. Mike Haden,RAAA In House Tennis co-coach,Lynnette Haden,parent of two boys in the traveling tennis program,and Jeanne Ewen,RHS boys tennis coach all addressed the Commission regarding the need for additional courts in Rosemount and the benefits of additional courts. Brad Olson,homeowner, 3175—145�h St. W. and Tom Steinle, homeowner,3195—145� St.W.were in attendance to address this issue. Mr. Olson explained that his backyard is adjacent to the e�sting tennis courts,and he finds lots of tennis balls in his garden,and he had to get rid of his dog because kids kept coming into his backyard to retrieve their tennis balls. He would be in favor of some type of fencing that would keep the tennis balls out of his yard. Mr. Steinle stated that he would like to keep Charlies Park the way it is,as a park where neighborhood kids can play football and soccer. He also mentioned that he calls the City every year regarding the grass along the east side that is scalped bp the City mowers. He suggested that four tennis courts could be installed where the Rosemount Middle School ice rink is currendy located. There is also existing lighting,so the courts could be used at night. He provided an aerial photo of this site with the tennis courts drawn over the area where the rink is located. He also suggested the ball field north of Lighthouse Church as a possible location for tennis courts. Mr. Steinle said that boys and girls tennis participation is decreasing. Schultz expla.ined that the City and ISD 196 will have to finalize the agreements and then this item will come back to the Commission before being sent to the City Council for final approval. He was not looking for a motion at tonight's meeting,but was gathering input from the public and then asking the Commission if they wished to move forward. Schultz clarified that the City does not own any of the land at Charlie's Park. It is not a City park,but an extension of the Middle School and Elementary School that the City maintains and shares use of. The Commission understood the concerns of the - 1 - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes April 27, 2009 residents. They thought that additional fencing could help with the issue of tennis balls landing in the adjacent yards and gardens. It was mentioned that the area east of the Middle School where the ice rink is located is used by the schools for soccer and football in addition to its use as a rink in the winter. Schultz also mentioned that he would discuss the mowing issues at Charlies Park with the Public Works staff and see what can be done. Motion by Knight to recommend that the City continue to move forward with the Charlies Park Tennis Court project. Second by Bartz. There was some discussion about putting the courts in the area near the Middle School and how they might fit there. Knight mentioned that the rink and fields are used for school activities during and after school. Schultz explained that the reason we are looking at the Charlies Park location is because ISD 196 asked the City about building courts there. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. b. Brockway Park Improvements —Bids for site improvements were opened on April 15 and the results are included in the executive summary. The low bid of$135,761.95 was received from Peterson Companies. The original estimate for the project was $204,000. Staff will make a recommendation that the City Council approve this bid at their April 5 meeting. We anticipate that construction will be completed by late summer. Eliason asked if anything had been earmarked for the funds that remain due to the bid being lower than the original estimate. Per Schultz,we will wait until the project is nearly complete before looking at other uses for these funds. We just need to ma.ke sure there are fiands available for any adjustments/change orders that may result from unforeseen issues. Schultz recommended that we go with the traditional playground equipment and hold off on the non- traditional system that has not yet been time tested. A neighborhood meeting will be scheduled to gather input from the Harmonp residents and also to see if any of them are interested in helping with the installation. Bartz asked if additional playground equipment could be purchased with the money that will be saved if volunteers install the equipment. Schultz will check on this. Schultz anticipated that the RFP will be sent out in early June. Eisold and Bartz offered to help with the playground equipment review process. We will also be sending out RFP's for a 32'x 20' sun shelter. Schultz has spoken to DCTC masonry staff,and they would be interested in having their students add decorative stone to the shelter posts. Schultz informed the Commission that the Rosemount Lions Club has donated$12,000 to be used toward building this sun shelter,and the City has also submitted a grant application to the American Derxnatology Association for$8,000 that would be used for the shelter. Motion by Bartz to recommend that staff move forward with the proposed RFP's for the playground and sun shelter projects for Brockway Park. Second by Eliason. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. Schultz provided information on alternative playground surfacing. Wood mulch was the most cost effective material by far. The alternarive rubber materials ranged from approximately$52,600 (+$12,000 for base) to $72,000. 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. OUtd00� ICe a11d Wal'mltlg hOUSes—Schultz reviewed a chart of the locations and amenities for existing rinks. We are reviewing participation figures from last season and will be looking into possibly changing the operations and locations. We have received some complaints that neighborhood xesidents aren't able to use the ice because of RAHA use. Schultz will bring back more on this in a couple of months. -2 - PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes April 27, 2009 b. D'IPeCt01''S Rep01't-The park improvement fund balance as of March 30,2009 was $1,727,178.12. No parks dedication,grants or donations were received in March. Interest was $574.95. There were expenditures of$4,270.43 for potholing at Brockway Park and preparation of bid/construction documents. Summer Parks and Recreation Brochure—The summer brochure has been mailed to Rosemount residents and we have been busy with xegistrations. Former St. Joseph'S and SChOoI FBCIIIty—The City Council recendy discussed what improvements would be needed in order to make the church accessible so that the City can move forward with making it available for use by interested groups. Improvements will be focused on the church at this time. T'hey axe holding off on improvements to the school. Schultz will bring back more information on this in May. Su11 ShelteP at BIOOmfleld PaPk—A sun shelter was originally included in the plans for Bloomfield Park,but the City Council requested that we not move forward with building it as they were concerned it would not get enough use. Bloomfield Park is a busy park in an active neighborhood. The park is also used by athletic groups such as RA.AA and RAHA,and the Parks and Recreation Department uses it for summer recreation programming. Schultz felt that this park does warrant a sun shelter,and that in the next month or two the Commission should discuss further the top priorities for park projects. It was mentioned that the swings at Erickson Park are in not in very good shape. Schultz wil.l ask the Public Works staff to check on this. There was discussion on how future parks will be funded once the parks dedication fund is depleted and that we would need to look into other possible funding options. Schultz mentioned that the City Council wants to look into a detailed study of the use/needs for an athletic facility in Rosemount. They want to look at things such as the number of RAAA members who actually live in other cities. The next Commission meeting will be on the Mondap,Map 18 due to the fact that the regularly scheduled meering date is Memorial Day. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Bartz to adjourn the meeting. SECOND by Knight. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Respectfullp submitted by Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary - 3 -