HomeMy WebLinkAboutPK PACKET 09092002Parks Commission Minutes
Connie Kroeplin
CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
PARKS COMMISSION AGENDA
September 9, 2002
6:30PM
The Parks Commission meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at Central Park. Our goal
is to tour the park and building site. (Please be prompt.)
I. CALL TO ORDER.
II. ROLL CALL.
III. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 12, 2002 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES.
IV. AUG1E WONG (BRW) AND BRAD FORBROOK (SEH) WILL BE
PRESENT FOR UPDATE ON PROJECTS.
V. REPORTS:
A. Community Services
B. School Board
C. Sports Boosters
VI. OTHER BUSINESS.
VII. ADJOURNMENT.
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Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 1 1,e-
CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
August 12, 2002
7:00 p.m.
Conference Room
CALL TO ORDER.
Chair Jindra called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. and welcomed everyone in attendance.
ROLL CALL.
Present: Chair Jindra, Vice Chair Doug Koehntop, Commissioners Daniel
Ganley, Colleen Hallada, Dan Ganley, and Jan Jenson.
Absent: Commissioners Julie Gebhardt, and George Wagner.
Also Present: Public Works Director Jay Hartman; Mayor Randy Hodson;
Representative from Sports Boosters George Zurbey;
Representative from Community Services Diane Skrivseth;
Representative from the School Board Denise Dunn; Independent
Contractor Maury Anderson; Augie Wong, URS.
III. APPROVAL OF JUNE 10, 2002 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES.
Denise Dunn made the following corrections to the minutes:
Page 2, Line 18: "football field" to be changed to "baseball field."
Page 2, Line 29: " football field" to be changed to "baseball field."
Motion by Commissioner Jan Jenson, second by Vice Chair Koehntop, to approve the June 10,
2002 Parks Commission Meeting Minutes, as amended above.
Motion carried unanimously.
IV. AUGIE WONG/URS WILL BE PRESENT TO DISCUSS THE PAVILLION AND PARK
IMPROVEMENTS.
Wong indicated that the project was about 60% complete at this point.
Wong stated that seeding would start in the next two to three weeks.
Commissioner Jenson asked where they are from a cost perspective. Wong indicated that they
have spent approximately $800,000 to date.
Commissioner Ganley asked about the irrigation on the project. Wong stated that it is mostly
Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 2
1 done, and that markings remain. He indicated that they were testing the irrigation on the practice
2 field.
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4 Hartman stated that he spoke to Thompson Homes who has been struggling with the groundwork
5 due to the rain and the inability for the land to dry -out. He indicated that once they get above
6 ground, which will be soon, they will really move quickly.
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8 Zurbey indicated that he was concerned about the drainage in Central Park, as he sees a lot of
9 puddles after it rains, and asked if the final grading has been done. Wong indicated that Veit
10 Construction has been on-site to insure proper drainage. He added that it should be the final
11 grade now, and, if there is water, then it will be fixed.
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13 Zurbey referred to the grading that was done last fall. He stated that he called Bob Kost
14 regarding the hill that was supposed to be eliminated outside the center fence of the practice
15 soccer field, as well as be included in the original contour plan for the park. He stated that the
16 removal of the hill has cost them an additional $15,000.
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18 Wong and the Commission reviewed the issue, looking up previous estimates. Hartman reviewed
19 the costs associated with the soccer field for the Commission which included upgrading the
20 quality of field, and expanding to the 195 -foot width dimension.
LG The Commission concluded that the improvements to the field were substantially less expensive
23 than the original estimate and that they were happy with the field, therefore laying the issue to
24 rest.
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26 V. REPORTS.
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28 A. Community Services.
29 Diane Skrivseth had nothing new to report.
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31 B. School Board.
32 Denise Dunn had nothing new to report. She stated that she was very happy to see Troy
33 Urdahl in St. Anthony, and echoed the feelings of the Commission that a lot of his efforts
34 and suggestions for the baseball field were just too late.
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36 C. Sports Boosters.
37 Chair Jindra asked George Zurbey to go back to the Sports Boosters and relay all that the
38 Parks Commission has tried to do for the athletic fields. Zurbey indicated that he felt that
39 the Sports Boosters were aware of the efforts made by the Parks Commission on behalf of
40 the athletic fields.
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47 VI. OTHER BUSINESS.
Dan Maxwell, 3504 Skycroft, was present to talk about Maplewood Extension. He indicated that
44 he had been before the Parks Commission several months ago and that a lot of what was
Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 3
1 discussed at that time had been resolved. However, he stated that the 40 -year old fence has not
2 been taken care of and that it is an eye soar.
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4 He stated that he was present to find out how to get the fence replaced. Wong stated that they are
5 in the design process for the area, and that the fence is not part of the planning.
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7 It was believed that the school district owns the fence.
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9 Maxwell stated that the length of the fence is 200 feet. Wong clarified that they were asking for
10 either a replacement, or a decorative addition to the fence to provide the improvement.
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12 Chair Jindra clarified that they were referring to the side -yard only.
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14 Hartman indicated that he would double check that the fence was owned by the school district.
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16 Sports Booster representative George Zurbey asked Wong to re -visit what the original plan was
17 for the Maplewood Extension.
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19 Chair Jindra requested that the residents for whom this fence is an issue pull together any
20 suggestions, or ideas for the fence and present them to the Parks Commission as soon as possible.
4L Commissioner Jenson asked if there had to be a fence there at all. Wong stated that it was
23 preferable because of the high traffic in the area.
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25 Chair Jindra asked Wong for his opinion on the fence replacement. Hartman stated that they
26 could do an easy "quick fix" to the fence with poles and a plastic coating fabric.
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28 Hartman suggested that they look at laying sod in the area because it takes quicker than seeding
29 does.
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31 Hartman continued that putting something elaborate in requires maintenance, and that it would
32 not be his, nor the Public Works Department's, responsibility to maintain. Therefore, he
33 questioned if it would be maintained at A.
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35 Chair Jindra stated that they would table the issue at this time, but within a month's time, they
36 should have time to visit the area and provide the residents with some information on the issue.
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38 Dave Halstensgard, President of the Sports Boosters, Troy Urdahl, and Cindy Weber, President
39 of the Dugout Club, were all present to discuss a couple of issues regarding the varsity baseball
40 field. Halstensgard stated that the Sports Boosters were really excited about the park
41 improvements.
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k_ Halstensgard added that they were present to make a few suggestions that would benefit the
44 baseball portion of the project. He stated that now that the field is laid out, there exists the
Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 4
possibility to deepen centerfield by 20 feet, to 380-385 feet, adding that it would really be a nice
compliment to the ball -field.
4 Wong indicated that it was too late at this point to deepen the wall at centerfield.
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6 Urdahl added that any additional length to the field would be a tremendous benefit, and stated
7 that the room to do so is there.
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9 Jindra indicated that they contacted her to meet out at the ballpark and see if there was the
10 possibility to do anything with dugouts.
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12 Urdahl indicated that he contacted LaMere Concrete& Masonry, Inc. regarding dugouts for the
13 St. Anthony Varsity Field: total per dugout $17,203.00, 18 feet deep, and 42 feet wide. Urdahl
14 indicated that he felt that the estimate was quite high, and that the job could be done for around
15 $10,000 per dugout. He stated that they wanted enough room to comfortably fit 18 players in the
16 dugout, and that the plans reflect a storage area to be attached to the dugout.
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18 Wong stated that footings would be required for the dugouts. He added that the 20 -foot concrete
19 slabs for the benches was part of the existing plan.
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Wong suggested that they could remove the concrete and the player's bench from the plan, and
22 add the dugouts at a later date.
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24 Zurbey clarified that Urdahl was present not to ask for funding, but to ask for the opportunity to
25 raise the money and build the dugouts. Urdahl clarified that was true.
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27 Wong stated that they could install the player's bench directly into the ground, no concrete. It
28 was pointed out that the player's feet would dig out room for their feet and cause puddles to form
29 where their feet are after it rains.
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31 The Commission asked Wong to obtain a figure from Veit Construction to do the dugouts.
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33 Chair Jindra asked if there existed any true possibility that they could raise the money. Urdahl
34 felt that the possibility existed.
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36 Wong suggested that Urdahl get a list together for him to take to Veit Construction in the next
37 couple of days.
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39 Chair Jindra indicated that it may very well be too late to make this happen, but that the Parks
40 Commission will do their part and look into the option.
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I Urdahl indicated that they only have water going to one of the dugouts. Wong stated that he
. _ spoke to someone about installing a drinking fountain with a jug filler attached to it. Urdahl felt
44 that was not sufficient, and that water was necessary at both dugouts.
Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 5
2 Chair Jindra asked if it was possible to get water into both dugouts. Wong indicated it was
3 expensive and complicated, and, therefore, unlikely.
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5 Halstensgard stated that he thought it was very sad that a ball -field that was supposed to be state -
6 of -the -art would not be such without the requested amenities.
8 Anderson reiterated that it was simply too late for them to be showing up at these meetings and
9 making such requests. He added that there simply is not enough room in the park to do all of the
10 things that the Commission would like to do.
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12 Anderson stated that he thought that the dugouts were a good idea, but added that soil borings
13 would be necessary.
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15 Urdahl asked about a gate in centerfield, left and right field. Vice Chair Doug Koehntop
16 indicated that a path would develop where the gate opening would be. Urdahl responded that he
17 would lock the gate, if a path began to develop in the grass.
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19 Chair Jindra interjected and stated that they have really tried to include the numerous requests
20 that they have received on this project, and that funds have been a huge obstacle for them.
22 Halstensgard reiterated that the reason they were there now is due to the fact that Urdahl is a
23 coach, teacher, and resident of the City of St. Anthony and has his heart in the matter.
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25 The Commission vented some of the many issues that they could not afford to address in the park
26 project.
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28 Wong stated that he needed a decision on the concrete this evening. It was decided it could be
29 incorporated into the dugouts at a later date, so they decided to leave them in the plan.
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31 Motion by Vice Chair Koehntop, second by Commissioner Jenson, to leave the plans as they are
32 regarding the concrete slabs.
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34 Motion carried unanimously.
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36 Koehntop reviewed his extensive fact and solution sheet as to why the skateboard park noise
37 abatement is critical with the Commission.
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39 Koehntop indicated he is not against the park at all, but has tried to adapt to the noise that it
40 creates near his home and has failed. He indicated that he felt that the Commission should go
41 ahead and try what was proposed by Wm. H. O. Kroll & Associates for $450.00.
Koehntop added that another alternative was to move the park between the tennis courts and
44 nearby wall and free up a lot and a half.
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Parks Commission Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2002
Page 6
Motion by Jenson, second by Koehntop, to invest $450.00 to follow through on the proposal by
Wm. H. Kroll & Associates, Inc.
Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Vice Chair Koehntop, second by Commissioner Jenson, to look into the feasibility of
moving the existing skate park.
Motion carried unanimously.
VII. ADJOURNMENT.
Motion by Vice Chair Koehntop, second by Commissioner Jenson, to adjourn the meeting at
9:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Courtney Seesz
Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Motion carried unanimously.