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Home My WebLink About04-22-2010 Agenda and Packet PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION 6:30 P.M. | APRIL 22, 2010 | MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL MEETING AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL: Kunz, Palm, Kroeger, Arel, Long, Aukee, Peterson | Staff: Dazenski, DeBar 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 25, 2010 Meeting Minutes 5. PUBLIC INPUT Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full name and address. Please limit your comments to three minutes. 6. YMCA UPDATE A. Program Updates B. 2010 Music-in-the-Park Update 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Discuss City Forester Position B. Discuss Lambert Park Building Replacement/Other Park Amenities C. Review Financial Reports (PDF, BBC) 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Commission Members B. Reports of City Staff 1. Project Updates/Maintenance Activities 10. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Commission Meeting: May 27, 2010 1. Parks Tour (Greenfield, Hillview, Lambert) – meet at Hillview P. at 5:30; meeting at 7:00 2. Review/Update Park Improvement Program (PIP) - May 2010 3. Review Layout of Ball Field Improvements at Greenfield Park – May 2010 4. Discuss On-Street Parking Options Adjacent to Park Lands – May/June 2010 5. Review City Budgets - June 2010 6. 11. ADJOURNMENT PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSION 6:30 P.M. | MARCH 25, 2010 | MOUNDS VIEW CITY HALL MEETING MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER at 6:33 PM 2. ROLL CALL: Kunz, Palm, Kroeger, Arel, Aukee, | Staff: Dazenski, DeBar, Prindle 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion to approve by Palm, 2nd by Kroeger. Motion Passed 5-0 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. February 25, 2010 Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes by Aukee, 2nd by Kroeger. Motion Passed 5-0. 5. PUBLIC INPUT Citizens may speak to issues not on tonight’s agenda. Before speaking, please give your full name and address. Please limit your comments to three minutes. No residents present 6. YMCA UPDATE: Prindle A. Program Updates: Spring Fling April 17th 12:30-2:00 PM at a cost of $5 per family. Adult Workout classes going well. Boot camp numbers are up. Tennis lessons to start April 24th on Saturday mornings through July starting at 8:00 am at Groveland Park. Summer Park Program registrations looking good. Summer T-ball, softball, and soccer registrations still open. Ice rink costs were a bit less than last year. B. 2010 Music-in-the-Park Update: Riverside Swing Band July 15th. Still waiting on confirmation for June and August. Prindle to work with VanAlstine on video opportunities. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Discuss Greenfield Park Baseball Field Memorial Improvements: Mrs. Kate Wisser, presented information of her late husband and her wishes about donating funds to improve Greenfield Baseball Field. Has requested that the ballfield be named in honor of her husband. Concerns about space for dugouts and type of dugouts. Need to address issue of “citizen” in Memorial in City Park Policy. The Park, Recreation and Forestry Commission recognize that a memorial donation by Kate Wisser for improvements at Greenfield Park is entirely within the spirit of the Memorial in City Park Policy. We further endorse naming the ballfield in honor of Mark Wisser and feel this is a project worth pursuing. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Review New Mounds View Code of Conduct and Statement of Values Policies B. Discuss Unauthorized Use of Soccer Fields by Adult Groups: The field is only slotted for use by high school and younger. DeBar to discuss enforcement with MVPD to patrol the fields and shut down any adult games that are unauthorized. Recommend to provide signage stating “Team use by permit only.” Renting to outside organizations based on C. Discuss Agenda for Parks Tour (May 2010): Hillview, Greenfield and Lambert: May 27th 5:30 meet at Hillview Park. Start meeting at 7:00. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Commission Members: Kroeger met with Spring Lake Park regarding Lions Lakeside Park. Getting new security cameras installed at park shelter. Various maintenance items. It was asserted that any financial contribution expected from the City of Mounds View needed to be proposed ahead of time, not just “billed” with the expectation that the City will pay for it. B. Reports of City Staff 1. Project Updates/Maintenance Activities 2. City Forestry Update: The City of New Brighton will not be hiring a City Forester. The forestry responsibilities are beyond the training and staff time of city staff. Can we look into sharing with other neighboring cities for a City Forester? What does a private consultant cost for as needed basis? Can we work with the U of M Extension office? Could we use non-profit organizations such as Tree Trust for assistance? 3. BBC Contribution Update: $6,000 for ice rink improvements at Hillview Park, $2892 for trailway amenities, benches, and park sign landscaping. Palm will get a Thank You card and leave at Public Works desk for Commissioners to sign. 4. Town Hall Meeting Monday March 29th at 6:00 at City Hall. Arel contacted recipient who will be in attendance. 10. REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS / OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Commission Meeting: April 22, 2010 1. Discuss Lambert Park Building Replacement/Other Park Amenities – April 2010 2. Review Financial Reports (PDF, BBC) - April 2010 3. Review City Budgets - April 2010 4. Parks Tour – May 2010 5. Review/Update Park Improvement Program (PIP) - June 2010 6. Discuss On-Street Parking Options Adjacent to Park Lands – May/June 2010 11. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn at 8:56 PM by Kunz, 2nd by Palm. Motion Passed 5-0 1/2 M E M O R A N D U M TO: PARKS AND RECREATION AND FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS FROM: NICK DEBAR | PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DATE: APRIL 22, 2010 RE: DISCUSS CITY FORESTER POSITION Background: In 1981, the cities of New Brighton and Mounds View entered into a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) to cost-share the City Forester position (an employee of New Brighton since the late 1970’s). At that time, Dulch Elm Disease was fast becoming an epidemic to the many mature elms in the region. At first, the position was assigned at a 40% cost split allowing the Forester to dedicate an average of two days a week toward Mounds View urban forest needs. This cost-share amount was tweaked in the mid-1990’s to 30%, or 1-1/2 days on average a week for Mounds View. This cost- share split remained until the Forester’s retirement last year. Mr. Rick Wriskey has been the only City Forester known to Mounds View for 28 years until his retirement on September 30, 2009. The two cities both expressed interest in continuing the JPA and rehiring of the vacated position. The Mounds View City Council was interested in returning to a 35% cost split with a potential up to 40%. New Brighton advertised the position and interviewed candidates from January through March of 2010. However, the rehiring of the position (as existed) was not approved based upon uncertainty with financial commitments toward the position beyond 2010. In lieu of rehiring the City Forester position, New Brighton is opting to pursue the hiring of a Forestry Intern. This position will be a temporary, non-benefit position geared toward a current college student majoring in forestry or a related field. This intern position will be largely focused on preparing for the Emerald Ash Borer and will be performing work for New Brighton only, whereby officially ending the JPA between the two cities. Discussion: Mounds View’ urban forest what it is today due in large to the efforts of the City Forester. Much like management of public works infrastructure, the urban forest also needs regular maintenance, repair, and replacement. Proper forest management has many positive effects including increasing property values, aesthetics, reducing energy costs, attracting wildlife, reducing stormwater runoff, and providing an overall high quality of life. The City Forester was responsible of management of trees on public property, including 43+ miles of roadway right-of-way, 125+ acres of park land, and 5+ acres of building grounds. Specific tasks included: • Tree trimming, planting, and landscaping; • Inspection/detection and removal of hazardous trees; • Administer and implement Dutch Elm and Oak Wilt Disease control per City ordinance. Includes coordination and oversight of removals on public and private properties; • Monitor and oversight of invasive/exotic plants and species (buckthorn, loosestrife, etc.); • Plan, bid, and administer contracts with independent contractors; • Review plans and provide recommendations for trees in street project areas; • Administer and manage of City’s forestry program (budgets, grants, articles, and meetings, etc.); • Respond to calls, inspections, and information requests; and • Plan and perform storm clean-up and recovery management. Now, much like the unavoidable threat that Dutch Elm Disease was nearly thirty years ago, Mounds View is again facing an imminent battle with the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The first known outbreak in the Twin Cities was discovered only 10 miles away in the St. Paul neighborhood of St. Anthony Park (near Hwy. 280/Como Avenue). Many cities have already begun to implement an ITEM NO. 7A 2/2 EAB management plan and are planning to spend millions in the upcoming years to deal with this inevitable scenario. Currently, Mounds View does not have a plan to confront EAB. It typically takes approximately 3 years for an Ash to display symptoms of EAB infection and it can spread very quickly. Attached is an EAB Q&A document. Public Works is looking for recommendations from Commissioners as to the best long-term approach to the City Forester position. It is expected that more effort will be required of this position due to the EAB, maturing trees, and newly constructed landscaping along County Road 10 and other areas. In the interim, Mr. Wriskey has indicated his willingness to assist Mounds View. His involvement would be limited to an average of 8 hours per week and could extend the next several years. Attachments: • EAB Q&A