HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRCMin_99Aug9• Falcon Heights Park and Recreation Commission Minutes
August 9, 1999
The Falcon Heights Parks and Recreation Commission met on August 9,
1999 at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall. Members present: Donna Daykin, Jim
Eckberg, Peter Lindstrom, Lois Millett, Greg Schaefer; Staff Carol Kriegler,
and City Council liaison Laura Kuettel. Members absent: none.
Guests: Christina and Sven Sjostedt.
It was moved and seconded that the minutes of the June meeting be
approved as written.
The first item of business was consideration of the issue of whether or
not to allow pets in the city's parks. Falcon Heights residents Christina
and Sven Sjostedt appeared before the Commission to request that pets
on a leash be allowed in Falcon Heights' parks. They would like to be
able to walk their pets in a park atmosphere. Sven and Christina are very
offended by the numerous signs at Community Park stating that pets are
not allowed in the park. Carol Kriegler responded that the additional
signs were put up in 1995 because the existing brown signs were not
effective at deterring pet owners from bringing their pets to the parks.
• The additional white signs have been effective at getting the message to
park users that pets are not allowed. The signs also create an
atmosphere of community policing of the ordinance because they raise
awareness of the restriction. Laura Kuettel pointed out that multiple
signs are needed at Community Park because of the multiple entrances
to the park. The concerns expressed by the 1995 Commission regarding
pets in the park were mostly due to irresponsible pet owners not
cleaning up after their pets and the intimidation and danger posed by
unsupervised pets in the park. When the Commission discussed this
issue last month, they felt that these concerns were still valid. It was
suggested that residents could be surveyed to determine if people would
like pets allowed in the parks. Sven and Christina said that they do not
want to informally survey residents they encounter in the park because
the results would be biased by their choice of who they talk to. Laura
offered to place a survey in the next city newsletter to survey residents
about the issue.
The next item of business was an update on the status of plans for
management of the city's prairie areas. Applied Technology did not
follow through on their bid to manage the prairie areas. Paul Jackson of
Native Landscapes, who used to work for Prairie Restorations, has looked
at the city's prairie areas and will probably be hired to manage the
• prairies. The price for Native Landscape's services will be competitive
with Applied Technology's bid.
The final item of business was an update on the city's 50th birthday
events. The ice cream social was very well attended, in spite of the heat.
The next scheduled event is a street dance to be held in Ciatti's parking
lot on Sunday, September 12 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. A tour of the city
will be held on Saturday, October 9. Sites on the tour will include the
State Fair Historical Museum, the Fire Station, the University Grove
neighborhood, and Gibbs Farm.
Laura Kuettel brought up a concern about wasps at the Community Park
building and the possibility of the location of a hive near the building.
Carol responded that city Brews will check the building and bushes for
hives.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:1 5 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna M. Daykin
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