HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 10-25-07Parks and Recreation and Forestry Commission Meeting Minutes
October 25, 2007
1. Call to Order at 6:33 PM. Roll Call: Kunz, Kroeger, Arel, Long, Peterson, Palm, Aukee
Staff Present: Lee, Weldon, Szurek
2. Approval of minutes from the September 27, 2007 meeting. Motion to approve by Kroeger, 2nd by Peterson. Motion Passed 6-0.
3. Public Input - Citizens are encouraged to speak to the Park and Recreation and Forestry Commissioners on issues of concern. Tom Kosel 8120 Jackson Drive. Concerned with wildlife
impact at Oakwood Disc golf course. Suggests improving existing trailway through the park.
4. YMCA Update: Weldon
Fall Family Fun Day: about 90 children attended. Lots of building rentals at Random and Hillview, especially Random. Fall soccer is done with 14 teams. Lots of MVCC facility rentals.
5. Parks Promotional Video – Vanessa Van Alstine, the City’s cable coordinator, was present to discuss and finalize the plans for the Parks Promotional Video. We will video tape most
parks this fall, with Hillview and Lambert this winter. We will tape City Hall, Random, Groveland, and Arden this Saturday. MVCC 6:00 before our next meeting. Arel and Long will contact
Ms. Van Alstine to arrange taping of Lions Park and Greenfield Park.
6. Unfinished Business:
Disc Golf Course – Mike Snelson from Fairway Flyerz has redesigned the course layout / plan to address the issues raised at the September 27th Neighborhood Meeting for the Disc Golf
Course. Mike Snelson has developed two new course designs for consideration by the Commission. The first is a 12-hole design. The second is a 15-hole design, which is created by simply
adding three additional holes to the 12 hole course design. Mr. Snelson presented these new designs.
Discussion included revitalizing Oakwood to deter vandalism, provide recreational opportunities for at-risk youth, cost, tree removal. Any tree removal should be replaced or transplanted
to locations that would seek to reduce neighborhood impact.
The City has received general comments regarding proposed culvert crossings associated with the disc golf course. Based on these comments, Staff will also be exploring the feasibility
of utilizing small foot bridges at the creek crossings.
Direct staff to prepare a rough estimate for cost of foot bridges; and a bottom line cost estimate for the three options of 9-, 12-, and 15-hole course for November meeting.
Encourage Commissioners to walk the trail between Greenfield and Oakwood Parks before November meeting.
Direct Staff to contact Rick Wriskey for a quantitative tree impact based on what he walked with the original holes to give an estimate of tree removal or impact.
Developing a Volunteer Coach of the Year award and naming it after Patrick “Homer” Holmes – (Tabled from September 27th meeting) The YMCA was to check on other Coach of the Year Awards
and criteria. Staff has submitted criteria for Mounds View Citizen of the year. The Commission made a motion to direct staff to assemble a plaque recognizing Patrick Holmes and his
dedication to the Mounds View community by coaching youth through our Park and Recreation/ YMCA programs. Staff would like the Commission to review and discuss the wording on the plaque
and to determine when it
should be presented. Staff is looking for direction as to when it should be presented: either as soon as it is available, or at the next Town Hall meeting along with other Citizen awards
- scheduled for April 2008.
Selection Criteria:
Sportsmanship: Demonstrates exemplary sportsmanship both on and off the field
Leadership: Leads his or her team by showing leadership and attempting to instill leadership skills in the players
Attitude: Happily expends a significant amount of time and energy to the betterment of the sport
Encouragement: Consistently encourages participation by all and encourages others to do their best.
Unselfishness: Does not expect anything in return for his or her actions; i.e. financial compensation, fame, or political notoriety.
This award would be open to all coaches involved with coaching Mounds View youth. The final recommendation would come through the Commission and forwarded for approval by the City Council.
The application will be finalized at the November meeting including deadlines for applications.
7. New Business:
Woodcrest Park - Staff has received a request from citizens to take action to establish the park as it was originally conveyed to the neighborhood then the wetland were created - “with
open waters to attract wildlife”. A request has been made to muck out the wetlands to make them deeper and less conducive to cattail growth. It was also requested that the trees that
boarder the wetland be thinned up to allow for better viewing of the park.
As directed, staff looked into cleaning up the underbrush / trees at the wetland border. The DNR and Rice Creek Watershed District were contacted. The Commissions were encouraged to
walk the park to better understand the issues.
Staff is looking for direction as to whether selected tree removal is desired by the Commission. If so, staff is also looking for direction as to what public notification or input is
desired. As a minimum, Staff would recommend that properties within a set distance of the park be notified of the overall tree removal plan and its purpose.
Mr. Rich Sonterre, 5060 Read Oak Dr., a resident near the park, gave brief history of the park as he had worked to develop the park in the late 1990s. It had open water and attracted
wildlife. Cattails and perimeter trees have become invasive. Neighbors have concern about safety of the playground when hidden behind the trees and overgrown vegetation. The County
Road H trail way resulted in removal of part of the gravel path around the pond, as well as the Woodcrest Park sign.
Direct Staff to discuss with Rick Wriskey how best to remove trees around the two ponds closest to Woodcrest Drive. Look into the cost of drudging the ponds and bring back to the Commission
when available.
Comprehensive Plan Update - Review Parks and Recreation component (chapter 5). The City is in the process of updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan. A portion of this plan involves items
related to parks and park facilities. Staff is looking for comments and suggestions for updating / revising these elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Discussion included Goal 6.
Policy a: What are the metropolitan standards? Planning Commission will clarify.
Policy d: Parks and open space shall be developed and improved to take advantage of natural features.
Policy m: Remove
Policy k: Rename Park Facilities Replacement Plan to comprehensive park improvement plan
Policy r: Remove
8. Commissioner/Staff Reports:
Oakwood Playground Equipment Replacement Project Update – The equipment has been delivered. The drainage system and concrete border apron has been installed. The equipment at Oakwood
has been tentatively scheduled to be installed in late early November.
Hillview Playground Equipment Replacement Project Update – The equipment has been installed.
Policy/program for memorials within City Parks. The Commission has developed a written program establishing criteria and process for residents wishing to commemorate a memorial for
former residents. The criteria for this program will be presented to the work session of the City Council on November 5, 2007.
Lakeside Lions Park – A meeting date of Tuesday October 30, 2007 has been set to discuss Lakeside Lions Park items. Commissioner Kroeger is the City’s representative for this park. Confirmation
should be made that Commissioner Kroeger can attend this meeting.
Park Sign Replacement Program Update – The Commission selected the style and colors for the park sign on August 23, 2007. Four signs have been ordered. These are for: Silver View, Random,
Hillview, and Groveland parks.
Bethlehem Baptist Church Donation Review Committee – Steve Dazenski has a call in to the church to establish a donation review process. Commissioner Palm and Kroeger along with Parks
Supervisor Dazenski have been selected to serve on this committee by participating in future meetings.
A letter thanking them for the most recent donations will need to be re-signed by Parks and Recreation Commissioners (needed to change the date on the letter and get all Commissioners
to sign).
Pathway around Silver View Pond – Address possible bicycle / pedestrian conflicts. As directed, City Staff will trim the vegetation to increase sight distances. Some minimal clearing
has been completed. However, most of the clearing will occur latter this year (early winter).
Any Other Reports?
Put a disc golf tournament during the Festival in the Park and perhaps put in a training clinic session
ALRC biking committee—Darren Peterson will be a representative for that committee
Contractors are working on addressing the ponding issue of the new County Road 10 trail way, near Long Lake Road.
9. Request for future agenda items/other business
Possible Items for November 15th Agenda:
MEET AT MVCC AT 6:00 PM for Park Promotion Video with meeting to follow
10. Motion by Long, 2nd by Aukee to adjourn at 8:52 PM. Motion Passed 7-0