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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-05-2011 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – July 5, 2011 Minutes Sandie Wood swore in reappointed members Matt Koehn and Charles Evans. The July 5, 2011 City of Lino Lakes Park Board meet ing was called to order at 6:08 p.m. by Acting Chair Bill Kusterman. Roll call was taken; members present were Pat Huelm an, Bill Kusterman, Richard Jensen, Matt Koehn and Charles Evans. Members abse nt were George Lindy and Byron Roland. Also present was Rick DeGardner, Public Services Di rector and Sandie Wood, Public Services Department Office Manager. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 7, 2011: Charles Evans made a motion to approve the February 7, 2011 minutes. Matt Koehn seconded the motion and the minutes were approved a s written. 4. SETTING AGENDA: There were no changes to the agenda. 5. OPEN MIKE: There was no one present for open mike. 6. REQUEST FOR TENNIS WALL AT CLEARWATER CREEK PAR K: Rick discussed the memo that was in the Park Board Members packets. He said earlier this month staff received a request to install an 8 ’x24’ plywood wall for tennis at Clearwater Creek Park. (See packet for Exhibit A) A survey was then sent out to area residents to solicit feedback on this request. (Se e packet for Exhibit B) Responses received were included in the packet. (See packet for Exhibit D) Rick gave the members background on this issue. He said in September 1, 1999 the City obtained 5.5 acres of parkland in the Clearwat er Creek Third Addition for a neighborhood park. In November, 2000 a master plan ning meeting was held to allow area residents an opportunity to provide input on w hat amenities they would like to be considered. A follow-up meeting was held to review and comment on some better defined scaled master plans. The final master plan was subsequently adopted by the City Council in 2001. (See packet for Exhibit C) In 2001, the City applied for and was awarded a $12 5,000 Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Minnesota DNR to develop Clearwater Creek Park. The park was developed during 2002-2003. The park is fully developed per the adopted master plan with the exception of the sand volleyball court. The survey was sent to 320 area residents on June 1 0. Seventy-three surveys were returned with the following results: Yes 42 No 25 Doesn’t matter 6 Park Board Meeting – July 5, 2011 Minutes All comments from returned surveys have been compli ed and were attached. (See packet for Exhibit D) Staff Comments/Analysis: Aesthetics – Typically these types of walls are pla ced along the periphery (or less visible area) of a park so only one side of the wal l is visible to park users. Landscaping is often used to “soften” the view. Placing an 8’ high x 24’ wide tennis wall board adjacent to the ½ basketball court will certainly b ecome a visual focal point to all park users and nearby residents. With the nearest house approximately 200 feet from the proposed tennis wall location, noise may also becom e an issue for adjacent residents. Maintenance – Maintenance would primarily consist o f painting/sealing the plywood every two years. Any issues with vandalism/graffit i would also need to be resolved. Weed whipping around the posts would also be needed during mowing operations. Conflicting Uses – Since basketball players and ten nis wall users may utilize the same paved area (50’x48’) simultaneously, unsafe situati ons will most likely arise. For example, tennis balls might ricochet/bounce in the immediate vicinity where basketball is being played. There is less concern with tennis balls being hit into the open green space possibly disrupting park users. Signage woul d need to be considered to inform park users that multi-use of the paved area isn’t p ermitted. (However this would be impractical to enforce, so are we creating potentia l for conflicts?) In addition, having a solid wall adjacent to the basketball playing area (even though away from the basket) may increase the chance of injury (i.e. colliding w ith the plywood wall). Rick stated that after taking into consideration al l aspects pertaining to this request, it is staff’s recommendation to not install a tennis wall board at Clearwater Creek Park. He went on to say, however, if the Park Board decides to have the tennis wall board installed, park maintenance staff can probably begi n the work mid-July. He said estimated material costs are around $500. After general discussion, Bill Kusterman made a mot ion to follow staff’s recommendation to not build a tennis wall in Clearw ater Creek Park. Motion was seconded by Richard Jensen and passed unanimously. 7. REVIEW RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick reviewed the update included in the member’s p ackets. He talked about t-ball, tennis, basketball camp, Cougar Soccer Camp, soccer fundamentals, the Princess Party and the Puppet Shows. He mentioned that ther e were two shows left, July 6 and July 20. Participants for the Super Hero Boot Camp dressed in their favorite hero attire and it seemed like they all had a blast. He said t hat staff was looking for a way to increase registration for the Super Hero Boot Camp. He told members that upcoming events include the Ne w Family Corn Roast and Community Night to be held on Thursday, July 28, at Sunrise Park. Staff will be doing a review after the event to see if it is something th at we want to do again next summer. Rick said that Tanya has taken over the programming for the Senior Center this year. There have been two programs offered each month and registration for the Park Playground Program has been going well. Four of th e eight sites are full and there are Park Board Meeting – July 5, 2011 Minutes several kids registered for the other sites. Rick said this program will need to be reviewed in the future because of the budget situat ion. 8. REVIEW PARK DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick told members that last year the city was award ed a DNR Community Forest Bonding Grant in the amount of $25,000 to replace A sh Trees with native trees in city parks and on boulevards. He said he would be putting Arena Acres Park on an agenda this fall to discuss the tennis courts because they are in very bad shape. He would like to know what members would like to do with this park. He asked members to look over the Park Update and c ontact him if they had any questions. 8a. Skate Park Vandalism: Rick reviewed the memo that was in the members pack ets. He said the City Hall Skate Park (created in 2001) area continues to experience problems including vandalism to the park building, graffiti on ramps and bituminous , vehicles illegally parked on the grass, damage to trees, and trash tossed on the gro und. He said the most recent incident occurred on June 7 th . The park building sustained damage as a result of the siding getting kicked in several areas. Estimated repairs amount to almost $4,000. On June 22, several lamin ated flyers were posted at the Skate Park. The flyer states, “The City of Lino La kes cannot continue to provide dollars to make repairs for skate park users that are not r espectful of park property. Unless information is provided to the Lino Lakes Police De partment (651 982-2300) on who committed the damage to the park building the Skate Park will be permanently closed on Thursday, June 30.” The Lino Lakes Police Department has not been provi ded any information. Staff is requesting that the Park Board consider permanently closing the Skate Park. Members had questions about the facility. They wan ted to know if Lino Lakes is the only city that has graffiti problems. Rick said no , this is not unusual for this to happen. They wanted to know if the equipment should be sold . Rick said for now, it should be stored and maybe sold in the future. He isn’t sure of the value of the equipment. Bill Kusterman made a motion to accept staff’s reco mmendation to permanently close the Skate Park facility. Richard Jensen seconded t he motion and it passed unanimously. 8b. Birch Park Building Fire: Rick told members that on February 27, 2011 the por table restroom at Birch Park was set on fire. Unfortunately, the fire spread to the Park Building causing significant damage. Approximately $42,000 in damages was incur red to the exterior and interior of the park building as well as a tractor that was bei ng stored inside, and the portable restroom. Park Board Meeting – July 5, 2011 Minutes He said all repairs have been made and the Park Bui lding is being utilized by our summer programs. It is his understanding that the two juveniles were charged and have been convicted of a felony negligent fire. 9. Old Business There was no Old Business to discuss. 10. NEW BUSINESS: There was No New Business. NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: The next Park Board Meeting will be August 1 at 6:3 0p.m. ADJOURN: Charles Evans made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Pat Huelman. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Sandra Wood Public Services Office Manager These minutes were approved at the November 14, 201 1 Park Board Meeting.