Agenda Packets - 1998/04/06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No. to A Staff Report No. Meeting Date: April 3, 1998 I/ Type of Business: WIC WK Work Session;PH:Public Hearing; CA:Consent Agenda;CB:Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members From: Mary Saarion, Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry Item Title/Subject: Authorization to purchase additional netting for Greenfield Baseball Field for purpose of protecting property and persons from foul balls. Date of Report: March 31, 1998 The Parks and Recreation Commissioners have reviewed and discussed options for protecting property and persons in the area of Greenfield Park during baseball games. The problem is that foul balls are hit on a regular basis up and over the backstop with baseballs landing in the parking lot, tot lot and bleachers or onto the walking path. The City has received numerous complaints of foul balls damaging cars, landing near park users, and flying into the back yards of nearby properties. The options for reducing baseball foul balls is to eliminate baseball games at Greenfield Park or provide additional netting to keep the balls from leaving the field area. Staff has obtained price estimates on 0 additional netting to span over the homeplate area, catching foul balls that are hit straight up. The net will in turn discontinue any homeplate foul ball plays. However, the Parks and Recreation Commissioners believe that there is a higher priority to provide for increased safety. The cost estimates for purchasing netting to span the area between two existing poles, across the homeplate area is approximately$2,000 for cost of netting, cable and hooks. Parks staff would need to install the netting with cable and hooks with the use of an lift. Staff has contacted the baseball users of Greenfield Park baseball field (Irondale Baseball League and Babe Ruth Baseball League) to request assistance in funding this field improvement. Neither league was interested in participating since they indicated that they do not have funding available for this expense. Board Directors indicated that they felt it was the responsibility of the City to provide a safe environment for the baseball facility. Parks and Recreation Commissioners were disappointed with this reply from the user leagues. The City has forwarded damage claims to the City's insurance trust. The result has been that the City has not been deemed liable, rather that the individual batter is liable. However it is quite clear that youth batters will most likely never be identified. Staff has pursued information from other cities regarding damage waivers by user leagues or damage deposits. However, no cities were found to have incorporated this in their facility user permits. Commissioners realize that while the individual batter is actually liable for damages or injuries, it is just as likely that the City will be perceived as responsible for damages or injuries. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission and staff, to request authorization from the City Council to use Park Improvement Funds to purchase additional netting 0 to be installed at Greenfield Baseball Field to span over the area of homeplate, at a cost not to exceed $2,000.