HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch MinutesMinutes
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City of Falcon Heights, Park and Recreation Commission Meeting
March 8, 2004
7:00 PM
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Meeting Chair: Chuck Long
Minutes By: Ann Davy
Present: Denise Deen, Patrick Dolan, Jim Evans, Chuck Long, Bill Maertz, Laura Kuettel, Ann Davy
Meeting called to order 7:01 PM
Approval of January 12 minutes
Introduction of Recreation Coordinator, Ann Davy
Update on Falcon Heights Elementary School playground
Maertz met with the school and parent/teacher association to discuss the addition of $40,000-$50,000 in playground equipment. The City will assist the school with the bidding process.
Looking to receive donations in the form of cash, materials and labor. City will help the school communicate with the Lions Club and approximately ten other groups for donations.
The school will survey the students before the end of the school for their input on the play structure.
Play structure will be handicapped accessible.
Presentation and final recommendation on Curtiss Field improvements
Maertz prepared a Powerpoint presentation highlighting the following: current problems with Curtiss Field, plans for improvements, studies conducted, cost of the plan, funding sources,
and the benefits of the project.
The main problem with Curtiss Field is that the pond floods causing damage to the building, settling of concrete, cancellation of recreation programs, and creates a visual eye sore and
unpleasant smell.
A number of studies have been conducted in order to gain information for the final project plans. A feasibility study was done in May 2002 and concluded that the pond size was too small,
but good draining soil is present underneath the sand and silt sediment. Studies on noise and traffic have also been conducted. The noise study concluded that the wooded area needs
to be 100 feet thick to reduce noise. Removing the large cottonwoods and Siberian elms would result in a perceptual difference, but would not have an impact on noise. The traffic study
concluded that closing Snelling Drive would not have a significant impact on Idaho St. traffic. Currently, under 200 cars drive down Idaho St. per day, but the street is designed for
2000 cars per day.
HR Green Company has produced the final design for the Curtiss Field project. The improvements to be made include the following: closing Snelling Dr. and expanding the pond; planting
trees, shrubs and native plants; building a handicap accessible path; replacing sidewalks and parking lot; installing a gazebo; and installing an ornamental fence around the play area.
Utility work that will be done for the project includes replacing storm sewer pipes leading into the pond, relocating water main and overhead power lines along Snelling, and resurfacing
roads. Excel energy will cover the utility costs for the project.
The total cost of the project was originally estimated to be $200,000. Due to some unexpected improvements needed, such as the resurfacing of the basketball court and an increased amount
of landscaping, the total cost has increased to $369,872. Park improvements account for $113,304 of the total cost, while pond and storm sewer improvements account for the remaining
$256,566.
The funding for the project will come from the following sources: SE corner park dedication ($150,000), MNDot Cooperative Agreement ($54,000), Falcon Heights Water Fund ($202,000).
There is a possibility of using State Aid funding. The approximate cost to the City is $130,000. Long and Dolan mentioned this was a small price to pay for such a large improvement.
Maertz added that the most difficult part of the project has been dealing with MNDot for funding.
The overall benefits of the project include reduced flooding in the park allowing more recreation programs to be held at the site, visual enhancement of the neighborhood, a pedestrian
link to the SE corner development, reduction of cut through traffic from Idaho to Hoyt, and cost savings for the City.
Kuettel and Deen suggested the park, with the addition of the gazebo and landscaping, could be a potential wedding site.
Information on the Curtiss Field improvement has been posted at the park, at City Hall, and on the City website. Over 20 public meetings have been held on the issue.
The motion was passed to unanimously go to the City Council. Possible date to be presented is April 14.
Meeting ended at 8 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Ann Davy. If there are any corrections or additions, please contact Ann Davy by phone at 651-917-1287 or by email at ann.davy@ci.falcon-heights.mn.us.