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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-27-2009 MinutesParks and Recreation and Forestry Commission Meeting Minutes August 27, 2009 1. Call to Order at 6:32 PM Roll Call: Arel, Kroeger, Kunz, Palm, Long, Peterson Staff Present: DeBar 2. Approval of minutes from the July 23, 2009 meeting. Motion to approve minutes by Long, 2nd by Kroeger. Motion Passed 6-0. 3. Public Input - Citizens are encouraged to speak to the Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commissioners on issues of concern. No residents present. 4. Irondale Baseball League: Joel Swanson, and Craig Weinmann from Irondale Baseball League (IBL) Board. Looking for resolution that first priority for reservation for all Mounds View fields be given to IBL rather than Shoreview Area Baseball (SAB). Parents and coaches are becoming increasingly frustrated with having to play on fields outside of community even for “home field” advantage at playoff games. Example given that Shoreview had reserved Greenfield Park, but only had a few players practicing when IBL had to play at Columbia Heights for playoff game. Shoreview has more baseball fields, according to their city website, 17 fields. Shoreview and other neighboring cities give first priority to their in-house teams before opening up to other neighboring leagues. IBL is growing and they are looking at hosting some tournaments. Also considering starting growing to older teams such as Legion and/or VFW Baseball. According to their observations, SAB has reserved Greenfield Park, but has not used it on nights that it has been reserved. Included packet of letters from parents expressing their concerns. No other city has equal rights for other leagues to reserve fields. Looking for first right of field reservation. What is the goal for PRF for city parks and fields? If the goal is for them to be used, and the fields are being reserved, but not being used when they could be used, how can PRF resolve that? (Aukee present) Response from Pat Prindle, MVCC/YMCA via email. MVCC have followed the event scheduling and costs according to the city’s field use requirements. It encourages contact to MVCC if the field will not be needed by either organization in order to be used by the other league. According to IBL this has not seemed to happen. SAB has paid for everything they reserved whether it has used it or not. In the past MVCC has offered Greenfield for two nights per week, leaving it open for SAB the other two nights of the week. IBL is able to reserve beginning in January, but only two nights per week. SAB is able to then reserve the other two nights March 1st. IBL needs more days per week. IBL willing to move a practice if SAB needs for rescheduled game. Grades 8/9: Use Greenfield or Edgewood MS. 7th: Use Silverview if possible. 3/ 4 Plays at Hillview and Groveland because can’t in at Lambert as it is used by SAB. Have had to use City Hall t-ball field. IBL expects to have three teams next year and would be able to use Greenfield 4 nights per week for a game. Next year could use Greenfield 4-nights per week, Silverview both fields 4-nights per week for grades 5-7. Have used Hillview, City Hall, Silverview and Groveland for grades 3-4. Need to find out projected field usage of IBL for games and practices; reciprocity of area cities with regard to field reservations. Need to clarify Class I as of Jan. 1, with Class II as of March 1. Why can’t IBL reserve as much as they want on any field as Class I? Why is SAB getting fields if IBL can use them? How can MVCC manage scheduled non-use of fields to free up for other leagues? Encourage IBL and SAB to sit down and discuss field use and non-use. Commission will review letters presented. Explore area communities about field reciprocity with Fridley, New Brighton, Shoreview, and Columbia Heights. Need to consider field use of other sports such as soccer, softball, football. Direct Staff to get field use policies in writing from those cities mentioned. 5. YMCA Update: Kirk Ericson: Did not run adult softball this fall due to lack of teams. Talking with Arden Hills to coordinate efforts next year. Fall soccer numbers are up Planned School release day field trips: Grand Rios, Science Museum, Rock Climbing/Canoeing Floor Hockey leagues being set up NBA fit challenge during Fall Family Fun Day-Oct 10 25 youth participated in Safety Camp 5K Fun Run had 150 participants. 6. Unfinished Business: a. Music-in-the-Park: There is some funding from BBC ($2000). We need to develop a plan for how to move forward. Need to determine who controls this fund. Kirk Ericson will forward information as he had experience with summer concerts in St. Cloud where they had different levels of sponsorship. What role does PRF play in this? What role should MVCC/YMCA play into this? Pat Prindle said he is willing to have YMCA/MVCC coordinate it, but they cannot solicit sponsors. Could approach MV Lions Club, and other organizations and businesses. Show area businesses what they can get for their donation (advertising/ tables). Can we pass the hat at the next concert to get donations? Should we request that a committee be developed by City Council? Discuss with City Council at our annual meeting in September. b. Ball field improvements. Fencing for Groveland, Silverview, Hillview and City Hall softball field bids should be in. Estimates were about $20,500. Staff has sent this information to contractors for bids. Two have responded. Once a third bid is received, the bid will be recommended for approval by City Council to move forward with this fall. According to PIP, money was suggested for Hillview and Groveland field and turf rehabilitation, and only for Groveland fencing in 2009. Can reallocate funds now toward this fencing project. We need to be careful to stick to our Park Improvement Plan for improvements, unless safety/emergency arises. Motion by Kroeger, 2nd by Aukee, to direct Staff to move forward with recommendation to City Council for fencing project at Groveland, Silverview, Hillview and City Hall softball field. Motion Passed 7-0. Continue to explore options for soft toss fencing at Groveland and Hillview using used fencing and Eagle Scouts. Can also put at Greenfield, Silverview and City Hall if materials allow. *Lambert Park: Add overhang to backstop. Add 8-foot fencing to the bench fencing on third base line toward backstop. Add 8-foot swing gate to bench fencing at first base line. Chain it to existing 6-foot fence for summer season, then swing it open and chain to backstop in winter for rink flooding. COST ESTIMATE: $6500 Consider park layout issues with future building replacement. Should we consider moving the field more to the east? Aukee will work with staff to draft some options to bring back to next meeting. *City Hall t-ball field fencing needs 6-foot fencing around benches. Berms? Cost would be $1200-1400. Revisit with Lambert Park at a later date. c. Donation from BBC. Launch of Teen Center at MVCC run by YMCA staff: $6100 MVCC exercise equipment for seniors: $1750 Music-in-the-Park for 2010: $2000 Silverview Park Lighting: $2064 Silverview Pond aerator: $600 Irondale HS Music Dept. toward grand piano: $1287 Additional recommendation that the second half donation of the 2009 TIF Note Gift be placed in the EDA fund to be used for activities that continue to support the economic climate of the city of Mounds View. Palm will prepare a thank you note to be placed at Public Works desk for Commissioners to sign. DeBar will ensure BBC receives it. d. Parking Lot Lights at Silverview Park. BBC donation has been received for this installation. Motion by Kunz, 2nd by Peterson to move forward with the installation. Motion Passed 7-0. e. Annual Meeting with City Council on September 8 at 7:00 PM. Items to discuss: What we’ve done this past year: Music-in-the-Park Upcoming ideas: Ballfield improvements/fencing, Lambert Building, Silverview lighting, Eagle Scout Recognition Hillview Parking—one handicapped space with access vs. two. 7. New Business: a. Irondale Baseball League as previously discussed. 8. Commissioner/Staff Reports: Irondale Marching Band at State Fair Saturday, August 29. Concert at IHS on Sept. 1. Lighting at Random Park—is it sufficient? Irondale Youth Hockey 5K Knights run Saturday, Sept. 26th. Beginning at Mermaid at 8:00. Through Silverview Park. IYHAleague.org for more info. Staff is busy with chalking soccer and ball fields. Festival in the Park was a success! Cty. Rd. 10 trail segments 1-5 will begin construction next week. Cty. Rd. H to Red Oak Drive. To be completed by Nov.8th. Rick Wriskey, City Forester, is retiring as of Sept. 30th. City of New Brighton is assessing whether or not they will replace that position. Our Joint-Power-Agreement with them for this position will remain on hold until that decision is made. 9. Request for future agenda items/other business Possible Items for the September 24th Agenda. Annual Meeting with City Forester, Rick Wriskey: Aukee will get a card for Commission to sign. Random Park Lighting 10. Motion to adjourn at 9:05 PM by Long, 2nd by Kunz. Motion Passed 7-0.