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Parks Commission Meeting Minutes February 14, 2000 Page 7 1 Commission to discuss ways to create skateboarding areas, especially in light of the fact that 2 some of the City's skateboarding community had previously approached the Commission 3 requesting assistance in obtaining skateboarding areas. One suggestion, she stated, would be to 4 utilize the hockey rink in Central Park for skateboarding. 5 Koehntop asked about the potential for installation of ramps for the skateboarders. Jindra stated 6 that it was her understanding that the kids simply wanted a flat spot, and that they could bring 7 their own ramps if desired. 8 Thuesen cautioned the Commission on the potential for liability. Wagner offered that the City is 9 responsible for all use of the City's parks. 10 Hartman mentioned that if a permanent rink was constructed, that the inside of the rink could be 11 blacktopped and would be an ideal skateboarding area. 12 In regard to liability, Jindra mentioned that many cities' parks install a sign with a disclaimer. 13 Jensen suggested that the Commission look at the Shoreview Community Center. He stated that 14 there is an area next to the Community Center that provides an excellent area for skateboarding. 15 He offered to research the issue about the cost of such an area, the company that did the installa- tion, and how the area works in general. He will return to the Commission with the results of his 17 research. 18 The Commission discussed various options for moving the wading pool and the construction of a 19 skateboarding area. Jindra mentioned that the Parks Commission wished to provide as much as 20 possible for the community; however, both cost and space continued to be issues. 21 Thuesen offered that the Commission might be eligible for various types of funding. For 22 example, one funding mechanism would be to ask the voters for a referendum, and another 23 would be a newer type of financing available to cities called tax abatement (which is similar to 24 tax increment financing (TIF)). Thuesen stated that these were not the only options, but could 25 provide some initial alternatives. 26 Zurbey reminded the Commission that Mr. Severson had mentioned potential financing for 27 soccer fields in his presentation. 28 Regarding the potential for obtaining new parks space, different sites were mentioned by the 29 Commission, but the discussion turned to Apache Plaza. Thuesen offered a background of the 30 potential purchase of Apache Plaza by Scott Tankenoff of Hillcrest Development. Koehntop in - 31 quired if the City Council could be pursued regarding open space connected with the Apache 32 Plaza purchase. _33 Thuesen cautioned the Commission to ensure that the property is purchased before approaching 34 the City Council with a formal request. At that time, the Commission could have a