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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 05-18 PRC Minutes PARKS � RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2009 APPROVED Members Present: Mauxeen Bartz,Mike Elia.son, Sandy Knight,Kevin Strayton Members Absent: Jason Eisold Staff Present: Dan Schultz,Director of Parks and Recreation and Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary Student Volunteer: Stephen SawyeY Others Present: Rob Gensch,xesident, 4292—144`�' St. W.,Rosemount,MN 1. CALL TO ORDER: Elia.son called the meeting to ordex at 7:03 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. 3. APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 27, 2009 MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Bartz to approve the minutes of the Apri127,2009 meeting. SECOND by Knight. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. 4. AUDIENCE INPUT: Rob Gensch addressed the Commission. He was looking for help fxom them in oxder for his son to be allowed to try out for Legion baseball in Rosemount. Gensch explained that Rosemount Legion baseball will not allow his son to try out for the team, even though they do not have a fu11 roster of players. He felt that his son (who is a senior this year and has been a startex on the Eastview baseball team)was being discriminated against because he attends Eastview High School,not Rosemount High School. Gensch stated that he had checked the City website and found a City code of ethics,and he quoted section 1-7-6, Item B. regarding public officials and equal treatment of all citizens. Gensch also sta.ted that he had called Mayor Droste eaxlieY in the day. The MayoY was going to have the City AdministratoY call Gensch,but if he didn't receive a call,the Mayor dixected him to attend the Commission meeting. 5. DISCUSSION (Response to Audience Input): Schultz told Gensch that he would call the City's attorney and check on the city code interpxetation and its rela.tion to this issue. Schultz explained that Legion baseball does not use any City fields,but uses district fields, and Gensch may want to discuss this matter further with the school district. 6. OLD BUSINESS: a. Charlies Park Tennis Courts—This is an update fxom last month. 'The draft joint use and operating agreement, a draft easement,and a draft land exchange agreement wexe fonvarded to the district and they came back with just a couple of comments. T'he comments were regaxding liability, and the use of courts. Schultz explained that the City attorney will be handling the liability issue. As fax as court use, the tennis coaches had added a number of days when they would have priority use. This significandy limited the time left fox use by the Parks &Recreation Department and the public. Schultz spoke with Jeff Solomon, DirectoY of Finance and Facilities for the school district, and recommended that the time be split as follows: The district would have priority use Monday—Friday from 7:00 a.m.—5:30 p.m. from the third week in August through the first week in June. This would include the tennis season and would allow them use until school is out. We would have prioxity the rest of the time. The district could still request additional dates of use at other times. Per Schultz,everything should be finalized in the next couple of weeks and should move forward for approval. Staff will keep the Comm.ission updated on the pxogress of the project. - 1 - PARKS 8� RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Minutes May 18, 2009 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Reuse of the Former St. Joseph's Campus — Staff recently had a lengrhy discussion with the Ciry Council regarding the St.Joseph's Church campus and its reuse once the school is vacated in July and the City takes it over. Identifying potential usex groups was discussed, as well as the capital costs for improvements,and operating costs. The Council dixected staff to send a mailing to potential user gxoups to gauge their interest in using the chuxch building. In May,a letter was sent to appro�cimately 40 groups including schools, churches, and art groups, asking them to xeturn a letter of intent to us if they would be interested in using the space. The City Council has set aside$200,000 and identified an additional $300,000 for minimal impxovements to bring the space up to ADA standaYds. These improvements do not include things such as insta.11ing aix conditioning or updating lighting. The Commission felt it was important to find out user interest,and how much any group(s)would actually use the building,before investing any money in the church. T'hey e�ressed concern about spending so much money on a building that would not be used. Schultz indicated that the Council had a similar discussion and asked staff to conta.ct groups about using the space. It was also mentioned that the Rosemount Community Centex has a vaxiety of rooms availa,ble that axe already ADA accessible and air conditioned. Per Schultz, this is an update only, and more information will be brought back in the futuxe. b. Capital Improvement Budget-Schultz reviewed a chart of the 10 year CIP budget and explained that it is used as a place holder for various future projects. It also reflects the timeline for items included in the Paxks Master Plan. Schultz reviewed the pxojects included on the chart. The UMORE Ball Paxk was one of the major expenditure items. There was discussion about getting a pla.n that would include the minimum facilities needed to make it useable. Schultz will bring back estimates on this. Another future project was the addition of tennis courts at Erickson PaYk. The Commission stated as they have at past meetings that they do not want to lose green space at Erickson Park and they are not in favor of spending$500,000 to build courts at Erickson PaYk. It was suggested that couxts could possibly be added at Bloomfield Park instead. The Commission understood the need for additional courts,but asked if they could be phased in ovex rime. They xequested that"Erickson Paxk"be removed fxom the description fox this item and xepla.ced with"to be determined". TheYe was also discussion about the City building courts for the school district's use, and that the district could build extra courts if they need them. There was discussion regaxding the number of Rosemount vs. non-Rosemount participants in the youth athletic associations that utilize fields in Rosemount,and how to work out a more equitable sharing of fields with surrounding communities. Per Schultz, the City Council has requested a deta.iled study of our athletic facilities be conducted and that one area to be reviewed is Rosemount vs. non-Rosemount participant data. T'he report is expected to be completed by October. c. Director's Report-The paxk improvement fund balance as of Apri130, 2009 was $1,794,621.94. No parks dedication was xeceived. Grants in the amount of$63,000 were xeceived in April. Interest was $10,828.27. E�cpenditures wexe $2,384.45 for plans and specs for Bxockway Park. Parks, T�a113 a11d Ope11 Sp1Ce Plall —The plan will be going to the Ciry Council foY xeview. Once they approved it, the plan will be forwarded to the Met Council fox their s�month review. Staff is also working on a detailed trail/sidewalk map and will bring back the improvements scheduled for 2009 to next month's meeting. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Bartz to adjourn the meeting. SECOND by Strayton. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary -2 -