HomeMy WebLinkAboutPK PACKET 10252001MEMORANDUM
er 25, 2001
'ommission Members
artman, Director of Public Works
Commission Meetings
RO The Parks Commission will not be meeting in the months of November and December
2001. The next notice of a meeting will be sent in January 2002.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Thank you.
CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 PARKS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
3 October 10, 2001
4 7:00 p.m.
5 Conference Room
6 I. CALL TO ORDER.
7 Chair Jindra called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone in attendance.
s II. ROLL CALL.
9 Present: Chair Jindra, Vice Chair Doug Koehntop, Commissioners Daniel
10 Ganley, Julie Gebhardt, Colleen Hallada, Jan Jenson, and George
I 1 Wagner.
12 Absent: None.
13 Also Present: Public Works Director Jay Hartman; Representative from Community
14 Services Diane Skrivseth; Representative from Sports Boosters
15 George Zurbey; Representative from the School Board Denise Dunn;
16 Independent Contractor Maurie Anderson; Todd Hubmer from WSB;
17 Auggie Wong from BRW; and Molly Olivier, SEH.
is III. CENTRAL PARK
19 Chair Jindra thanked the Commission for their walk-through prior to this evening's meeting.
20 Chair Jindra indicated a pre -construction meeting was held on September 8, 2001. She stated that a
21 schedule was distributed with an overview of what would take place at Central Park. She added that
22 the schedule has been updated since its original release.
23 Chair Jindra reviewed a few other items on the schedule that had already been completed.
24 Jay Hartman indicated that he hired an outside group to remove the lights from the Central Park area in
25 order to save some money, and indicated it would be done on Monday, October 14, 2001.
26 Chair Jindra indicated that a few issues came up immediately on their walk-through. One of which was
27 loose concrete. Wong indicated that there would be a cost associated with the removal of the debris.
28 George Zurbey clarified that the light removal was a savings that was budgeted at a higher amount, in
29 which case the money would be put back in the budget. The new cost was $1,000 and the budgeted
30 cost was $2,800.
31 Wong indicated that the Commission needed to be open on cost issues and that they will shift at
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October 10, 2001
Page 2
I different points throughout the project.
2 Chair Jindra indicated that Scott Kerzman, Construction Supervisor with Veit Corporation, had some
3 playground equipment for the Commission to look at. She suggested that a sub -committee be formed
a for the playground and the wet -deck area. Hartman indicated that Kerzman was having a difficult time
5 with vendors regarding the wet -deck because the budget was so tight.
6 Wong indicated that the wet -deck was still a new concept for a lot of communities which limits the
7 number of vendors that are coming in with bids. He referred to a diagram that he had of the planned
s wet -deck and said it was very safe and playful in style.
9 Wong indicated that the advent of wet -decks is to eventually eliminate wading pools due to safety
to concerns.
11 Commissioner Gebhardt and Chair Jindra stated that they would form the sub -committee for the
12 playground equipment and the wet -deck.
13 Zurbey asked about lights on the hockey rink that already exist, and asked if it were possible to transfer
14 them to the new hockey rink. Wong asked Hartman to provide him with model numbers so that he
15 could see about the feasibility of using them for the new rink.
16 Molly Olivier distributed a diagram of the park pavilions and restrooms, and the schedule for the
17 project. She indicated that she had put in the worst-case scenario in terms of coordinating the different
18 projects. She reviewed the schedule with the Commission highlighting the potential of having a very we
19 and heavy snow in March, which would have construction first take place in April.
20 Todd Hubmer emphasized that the schedule really depends on the weather. Olivier echoed Hubmer's
21 concern that the Commission be aware that the schedule is very weather -dependent.
22 Olivier indicated that she would like to include one of Wong's schedules within her documents for the
23 benefit of the contractors.
24 Olivier indicate that if they do not get a contractor that was large enough to begin the projects at one
25 time, Silver Point Park could be up and running in time for next fall. Commissioner Gebhardt asked of
26 the likelihood that they could get the projects happening simultaneously. Olivier expressed her hope
27 that they could. She added that she would like to see Central Park get worked on first due to the way
28 that the areas are blocked.
29 Chair Jindra asked about Silver Point Park being worked on during the summer months when baseball
30 would be played. Hubmer indicated that there was access behind the backstops. Olivier indicated it
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October 10, 2001
Page 3
I could be written in the documents that they keep access to the baseball park clear.
2 Chair Jindra asked Olivier if she thought the schedule was realistic. Olivier indicated she was, if the
3 weather holds.
a Chair Jindra asked if anyone had any questions regarding Central Park.
5 Diane Skrivseth asked if she could tell community services that they could go ahead and schedule
6 games for next summer. It was determined that the park would not be ready.
7 Olivier indicated that she would like to schedule a meeting at some time to go through all of the specific:
s for Central Park from hardware on fixtures to fireplaces.
9 IV. SILVER POINT PARK
10 Chair Jindra indicated that they would be regrading the skating rink area this fall.
> > Hubmer reviewed Silver Point Park. He indicated that the main problem was with the hockey rink. He
12 indicated that they are proposing to put in a retaining wall on one end and extend the drain tile from the
13 south -side of the park.
to Hubmer added that they would mound the baseball diamonds, and that drainage swells would be
15 placed behind benches to bring the water to the outside of the park. He stated that everything was for
16 the purpose of keeping the area dry.
v Hubmer indicated that there would be a trade-off with the new design; the rink will not dry -out as
18 quickly as it does now.
19 Zurbey asked about the budget for the project. Hubmer indicated it was being funded by the DNR
20 Fund.
21 Commissioner Ganley stated that his children's friends say that it smells badly over there from the
22 standing water. Hubmer said that should be alleviated by the project.
23 Zurbey asked how deep the standing water would be. Hubmer indicated that it would be no more than
24 one foot.
25 Commissioner Ganley asked about the drain tile. Hubmer indicated that it would be just below the
26 surface.
27 Chair Jindra asked if they were solving one problem and creating another. Hubmer indicated that he
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October 10, 2001
Page 4
I thought that the field would be usable.
2 Commissioner Gebhardt asked when the construction would begin. Hubmer stated that construction
3 could begin as early as next week.
4 Hubmer suggested that, if the rink got seeded this year, they should not put ice over it because it would
5 kill the seed. Hartman stated that the problem has to be corrected at some point because the water has
6 been an issue for too long.
7 Skrivseth asked about free skating in Central Park. Hartman indicated that the only time for free
s skating would be on the weekends, when it is difficult to get an attendant.
9 Chair Jindra suggested that the Commission decide if there would not be skating at either Central Park
10 or Silver Point Park this winter.
I I Chair Jindra stated that it was suggested that the fields in Central Park have drain tile. She indicated
12 that it had been removed from the initial plans because of expense.
13 Commissioner Jensen asked about the plans for the field. Wong stated that they were originally
14 discussing drain tile for the fields, but the slope was high. Wong demonstrated where the drainage
15 would go. He indicated that the question is how the water will drain when the slope is only one
16 percent.
17 Anderson indicated that the current field is pretty close to flat.
18 Zurbey indicated that he received some information regarding Sports Boosters funding drain tile. He
19 spoke with someone about using fields for St. Anthony athletics, and the conversation led to the
20 discussion of the fields in the City of St. Anthony. The gentleman with whom he spoke was a civil
21 engineer and indicated that the slope on the field was insignificant at one percent, and that drain tiles
22 were necessary.
23 Hubmer indicated that he worked with the gentleman on other projects, and that they are different than
24 the field that they are concerned about.
25 Jensen stated that Wong indicated that he did not know if a contractor could make the field better than
26 one percent.
27 Hubmer suggested that they only put drain tile underneath the trail, if that is something that they want to
28 consider.
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October 10, 2001
Page 5
1 Chair Jindra asked what Hubmer recommended. Hubmer recommended a one and a half percent
2 slope without drain tile.
3 Commissioner Wagner clarified that drain tiles were not a part of the specifics right now.
4 Jensen stated he thought that they should stick with the design the way that it is today.
5 Hubmer indicated that they could install drain tile in the trails and, if eventually necessary, they could be
6 installed in the fields with reasonable ease.
7 Wong indicated that they would need at least 1500 feet of drain tile for the entire trail, which would
s cost about $60,000.
9 Hubmer stated that the Commission could determine a price that they were willing to spend on the drain
10 tile for the trail, then see what a contractor comes up with for a bid.
1 t Zurbey asked who would be at fault if the field were soggy after rain. Anderson indicated that
12 extremely heavy rains are going to produce soggy fields. He added that if an inspector gets the base
13 graded properly, they unlikely would have a problem.
14 Chair Jindra re -asked who was responsible for soggy fields after $2,300,000 was spent on the project.
15 She received the same answer that did not determine blame, but, instead, importance that the inspector
16 does his job well.
17 Anderson indicated that a one and a half percent grade should be sufficient.
18 Jenson indicated that the suggestion from the contractor to add drain tile was a way to up -sell them
19 unnecessarily.
20 Commissioner Gebhardt stated that she felt that they have gone to the City Council too many times
21 asking for money, and that they should not go back when the project is finished and ask for money for
22 drain tile. She added that they either needed to determine that the drain tile was necessary now, and
23 come up with the money, or have the confidence that the grading will be done properly. .
24 Hartman indicated that they could not go back to the City Council for more money.
25 Chair Jindra asked Commissioner Gebhardt if she thought that they needed to find a way to pay for the
26 drain tile now. Commissioner Gebhardt indicated she was concerned about the issue arising and that
27 they needed to get it right the first time.
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October 10, 2001
Page 6
1 Anderson stated his opinion was that the drain tile was not necessary. He added that it would not hurt
2 to get an estimate on drain tile, but indicated that, as they get further along on the project, other things
3 will come up and that they should not spend that money on drain tile at this time.
a The Commission decided that it was unnecessary to have drain tile.
5 Motion by Vice Chair Koehntop, second by Commissioner Wagner, to keep drain tile excluded from
6 the plans for Silver Point Park.
7 Motion carried unanimously.
a V. IRRIGATION ON THE FOOTBALL AND SOCCER FIELDS
9 Wong reviewed the new,irrigation for the football and soccer fields on the diagram.
10 Chair Jindra asked if there would be regrading on any of the fields. Wong indicated there would be.
I 1 Chair Jindra stated that the new football coach was shocked that the field was going to be improved
12 and unusable until the summer of 2003. She asked about a field for the football team to practice on
13 since their other one was taken away. It was determined that they decide that later on.
to Zurbey indicated he was told that the seed would need to be done in August in order to achieve the
15 best results.
16 Chair Jindra asked why the restrooms were closed during the soccer games on the weekend. Hartman
17 indicated that the coaches have keys to the restrooms, and that it was their responsibility to lock and
18 unlock the restrooms.
19 V. REPORTS.
20 A. Community Services.
21 Diane Skrivseth stated that the ECFE (Early Childhood and Family Education) Council had met
22 and indicated that in the original landscaping plans for the building had large trees to provide
23 shade near the swings and the other recreational area. They wanted to know where those
24 plans have gone.
25 Hartman indicated that they could get them a couple of trees. Skrivseth asked whom she
26 should refer the head of the ECFE Council to speak to. Hartman indicated that they needed to
27 go and measure the area to determine what would work in the space.
28 Skrivseth stated that Community Services has received several complaints, especially from
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October 10, 2001
Page 7
I seniors, about the lack of parking in the upper parking lot. Hartman indicated that there was
2 plenty of parking on the upper level.
3 B. School Board.
4 Denise Dunn invited everyone to attend the Candidates Forum where the four candidates for
5 the City Council and the four candidates for the school board would be present. The event will
6 be held at City Hall on October 14, 2001 at 6:30 p.m.
7 C. Sports Boosters.
8 George Zurbey indicated that he was concern with the over -usage of the fields in relation to the
9 lighting. He suggested that they add a few lights for football.
to He indicated that charitable gambling has gone down significantly, and that the Stonehouse
1 t could be shut down at any time. He added that, if that happens, fees could increase for
12 athletics.
13 VI. OTHER BUSINESS.
14 None.
15
16 VII. ADJOURNMENT.
17 Motion by Commissioner Ganley, second by Commissioner Hallada, to adjourn the meeting at 8:48
18 p.m.
19
20 Respectfully submitted,
21 Courtney Seesz
22 Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Motion carried unanimously.