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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 4.9.07Minutes ______________________________ City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting April 9, 2007 6:30PM _____________________________ Meeting Chair: Gene Ozasky Minutes By: Lisa Abernathy Present: Eric Maronde, Pam Harris, Annie Green, Tim Pittman, Paula Mielke, Paul Faust, and Pam Harris. Absent: Meeting called to order 6:30 PM Approval of minutes March 12, 2007 Meeting. Motion made by Maronde and seconded by Green Staff Report Recreation Update- Abernathy reported that the University of Minnesota has extended our lease on Community Park for another 15 years. It will be made up of 15 one year leases in the case that they decide to take the park back. Tae Kwon Do lessons will begin the spring session mid April. The Red Cross held a Babysitters Training class at City Hall. The class was full with 12 participants. Mielke’s son Luke attended the class and came home with a lot of helpful information. Another Yoga session has started and has 8 participants. This will be the last session prior to summer; we hope to continue it again in the fall. The golf programs have had a good turn out. All Youth Spring Kick off lessons have filled and some sections of the adult lessons will go and some are in need of more participants. Abernathy also reported that a woman by the name of Kathryn Morrison, the Director of Marketing from Rosepointe Senior Apartments had contacted her regarding providing some sponsorship to help with for any of our programs or events. Abernathy asked the Commission to keep this in mind with any new programs or things they might be a good resource for. Abernathy will be seeking more information from Kathryn on possibilities in the future. Abernathy also reported back to the Commission on the background of not allowing dogs in the parks. After talking to City Administrator Justin Miller, Abernathy was informed that the Park Commission in the past has researched the issue but based on the extra time Public Works would have to dedicate to picking up the parks and the concern for park users safety, they did not bring the issue to the Council for action. Harris then asked for Abernathy to research and see what other cities allow dogs in the park and what problems or concerns have come about in other cities. Front Yard Space at City Hall Abernathy reported that City Administrator Justin Miller is asking the Park Commission for ideas on ways we can incorporate the front yard of City Hall into something that the general public can utilize or enjoy more so than what is there now. The City Hall parking lot will be going under reconstruction in 2008 so that might be the time to change or improve what is currently there. Ozasky recommended some type of band shell for outdoor concerts or a nicer picnic area. Mielke recommended a peace garden and then asked what was the purpose or reason for what is there now. Meilke then asked that this be added to next months agenda in hopes of generating more ideas. Pittman reminded the Commission that Public Works is currently in need of more storage space for outdoor equipment and to keep that in mind. Pittman then updated the Commission on a recent event that took place at Community Park resulting in the tear up of a large amount of grass on the parks grounds. After a week of steady rain some unknown kids started a small fire under some pine trees located north of the pond area of the park. The Falcon Heights Fire Department responded however became stuck in the soft grass and had to be towed out. The tow truck then became stuck and caused more damage to the grass. Pittman also stated that in the attempt of retrieving the trucks out there was some damage done to a patch of asphalt leading into the park. Pittman has a large roller lined up to get the grass back down once the ground hardens some more. And will be working with the fire department on getting the asphalt fixed. Comprehensive Plan work After some discussion on how the Commission should present the chapters that were assigned and everyone participate in the editing of it, the Commission realized that Goals and Objectives may be the key to kicking everything off. Without goals and objectives the Commission might not head in the direction it is hoping for. Therefore Ozasky asked that Commission members think about goals or a mission statement that will be the center of everything we are writing in the new plan. Ozasky reported he has already begun working on goals as they were part of the chapter that was assigned and will pass those along to Abernathy to pass along to the rest of the Commission. Members should read over this and bring their own thoughts on goals that may be included in the plan. Mielke also mentioned a few other items that would be important to include, they are: participation levels of programs, recreation programs currently doing, park usage- what are they being used for, the Adopt a Park program and the Friends of the Park Fund. Maronde then questioned certain park standards included in the old plan and questioned where they came from and if they were something we wanted to include again. Abernathy said she would look into it and also questioned the Commission if that type of information would be pertinent to what our overall goal was or that this may be something that we omit from the new plan if it isn’t information we need. New Business Abernathy reported that residents Mitch Rothman and Rice Davis, who have adopted Curtiss Field will be doing a clean up the last weekend of April. Rothman has asked that we attempt doing a clean up day event next year in hopes that other residents get out to beautify the parks. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Mielke and seconded Faust. Minutes respectfully submitted by Lisa Abernathy. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact Lisa Abernathy by phone at 651-792-7616 or by email at lisa.abernathy@falconheights.org.