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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCAgenda_88Sep12September 2, 1988 TO: All members of the Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Linda McLoon, Chair There will be a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on Monday, September 12, 1988 at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall. Please call me at 646-1371 if you are unable to attend. Please call me if there are items that you feel should be on the agenda. The following agenda will be discussed. 1. Fall programs 2. Falcon Heights running race 3. Long range plans 4. Minutes of the August 8 meeting MINUTES PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION August 8 1988 Members Present: Linda McLoon, Kirsten Eckberg, Connie Lasser, Lloyd Jacobson, Pat Bush, Council Liaison, Bob Gehrz, Tom Mountain Meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. 1. Linda indicated that Paul Nelson had moved to Roseville and would no longer be on the Park Commission. Linda asked for volunteers to be secretary. Linda indicated that she would do the minutes temporarily while everyone thought about it. Since we are several members short on the commission, everyone was asked to think about neighbors who might be willing to serve on the Commission. 2. Carol indicated that the City Council approved $10,000 to clear up the liability and safety problems at the parks. The modification of the Big Toy at the Community Park was quoted to be $1,600 with a new slide and $700 without a new slide. It is also possible to add a lower platform and put in a spiral slide for $2,800. Gerry Wallin would like us to ask the manufacturer to pay for the modifications, since it is there equipment that is no longer safe. Since the modification was a relatively small sum, we decided that if they balked at the suggestion, we should go ahead and make the needed alterations. We tabled discussion of the replacement slide. Since we .hope to embark on a long range plan, we all agreed that it would be better to wait until we had all our goals clearly delineated. All the other problems would be corrected. The curbs have been ordered, most of the electrical work has been done, a work order to remove the sidewalk around the warming house in the Community Park has been placed, etc. The city engineer will examine Idaho and Snelling to assess what needs to be done to make the area more safe. 3. A North Star Risk Services representative walked the parks with Carol (They are the City's insurers). He felt the swinging gates and bucking toys were a potential source of liability. He also indicated the need for lots of sand under the climbing toys. More sand has been added. The Commission felt the swinging gates and bucking toys should remain, since they are heavily used. A check list to make sure they are in good condition has been constructed, and these and other aspects of all the Parks will be checked weekly. 4. The fence prongs on the fence at Idaho and Snelling are both a potential source of injury and a deterrent to climbing the fence where the holding pond is located. The consensus was that the City Attorney needs to be consulted to determine the best course of action in this case. 5. The Olympics went okay, but could have been better attended. Carol noted that some events went very well, others were less well attended. The suggestion was made that if the event were held earlier in the season, people wouldn't be as "burnt out" from a long summer of activities. 6. Fall programs: The problem of people having trouble getting from Brimhall and Corpus Christi to Falcon Heights school was once again brought up. It was felt that these students are generally served by programs in their own elementary schools. It was impossible to put off the beginning of the programs in Falcon Heights School, since the children would then be in the school unsupervised for 30 minutes. Some ideas for Fall programs: adult self- defense and golf, a bus tour to the St. Olaf's Christmas concert, a breakfast with Santa r Minutes 3 (since Donaldson's is no more!). Carol indicated that if we think up anything else to just give her a call. 7. The Falcon Heights running race is tentatively set for October. We discussed who we are trying to serve. Carol thought a 2K fun run and a SK race would attract Falcon Heights residents and be most manageable from our standpoint. We need a name! Any ideas? 8. Long range plan: We all agreed a long range plan was critical, especially if we want to tap into grant money that requires the city to come up with 5096 of the costs. Bob indicated that professional help in formulating a long range plan was essential. It needs to be comprehensive, including developing additional facilities and landscaping. Bob said in Laramie they hired a consultant, and were able to develop an excellent plan for their parks. On a smaller scale, we need to do the same. We all agreed we need a Parks and Rec. planner. We will ask around for suggestions of a specialist in Park planning. It was suggested we tap into the University's Park and Rec program to lessen the cost. Our homework: to begin our own assessment of the parks in Falcon Heights.