Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 17, 2000 o o o o o CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (612) 755-5100 AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - FEBRUARY 17,2000 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Jim Lindahl on February 17,2000, 7:33 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Paul Anderson, Tom Anderson (arrived at 8:00 p.m.), Al Grabowski, Valerie Holthus, Jeff Kieffer (arrived at 7:45p.m.), Jim Lindahl, and Dave O'Toole Park Coordinator, Todd Haas Also present: RESIDENTS FORUM Dave Blackstad. 14349 Vintage Avenue. Andover, stated that baseball is in the middle of registration and has been unable to use any rink or gym time for tryouts. He requested use ofthe fields at Sunshine Park and City Hall on either April 8th or the 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Motion by O'Toole, seconded by Holthus, to approve use ofthe fields at Sunshine Park and City Hall on either April 8th or April 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the Andover Baseball . Association. Motion carried on a 5 - ayes, 0 - nays, 2- absent (Tom Anderson and Kieffer), and 0- present vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Item was tabled. APPROVE PLAYGROUND EQUlPMENT/TERRACE PARK Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the issue of Terrace Park and the CDBG funds that will not be available for the equipment. He explained that Heidi Cedarstrand from Anoka County, who is responsible for CDBG funding contacted Staffregarding the use and restrictions of the grant that is available. Because none ofthe area meets the low to moderate income per household, the City will not be able to use the CDBG funding for purchasing playground equipment. Chairperson Lindahl questioned ifit is mandatory that the Terrace park equipment be replaced. Mr. Haas replied no. o o o I () Regular Andover Park ';m-) Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 17, 2000 Page 2 Chairperson Lindahl inquired if there had been any complaints from the residents regarding the equipment. Mr. Haas replied no. Consensus of the Park Commission was that they did not want to use Park Dedication funds to replace the Terrace Park equipment. 1999-2000 HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY PROJECTS Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the use of 1999-2000 funds that are available for park handicapped accessibility projects for funds that are to be spent by June 30, 2000. The previous projects that were discussed at the January 20th Park and Recreation Commission meeting for consideration were as follows: . New bituminous trail from existing trail near the Sunshine Park parking lot to the new shelter. . Timber Rivers Park. Currently there is an existing class 5 trail that was installed as part of the development of the park. Public Works would prefer that this be blacktopped due to maintenance and also this would provide better accessibility for around the park. Other projects that have been considered by Staff that the Commission may want to consider are: . Use the CDBG funds to construct a trail from the proposed Sunshine Park west parking lot to the two small t-ball fields near the south end of the park. Commissioner Grabowski questioned how much funding is available. Mr. Haas replied about $27,000. Chairperson Lindahl inquired if Staff had any cost estimates for the three projects. Mr. Haas replied no. Commissioner Grabowski stated that he did not see the need for blacktopping the trail at Timbers Rivers Park. Consensus of the Commission was to not use CDBG funds for blacktopping the trail at Timbers Rivers Park. Commissioner Grabowski stated that he would like Staff to research other accessibility issues. (J o ~J o 0 Regular Andover Park ana Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 17, 2000 Page 3 Commissioner O'Toole inquired ifthere were any parks where they could install rubber mats allowing wheelchairs access to the equipment in one of the Regional Parks possibly Hidden Creek North. Commissioner Lindahl stated that all signage is suppose to meet ADA standards and suggested adding Braille to the signs. Mr. Haas replied that he will discuss the possibility of using Braille on park signs with Public Works, but noted most signs are not adjacent to the trails. Chairperson Lindahl suggested using some of the CDBG funds to pave the handicap parking area at Hidden Creek North. Jeff Kieffer arrived at 7:45 p.m. Chairperson Lindahl requested that Staff look for a more suitable use for the CDBG funds instead of blacktopping at Timber Rivers Park and put together costs of the projects. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CONCESSION CONTRACT Mr. Dickinson stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to recommend to the City Council approval of the Concession Agreement with C & H Enterprises. The agreement has been reviewed by Mr. Coons at C & H and has indicated approval. Some of the most notable revisions made in comparison to past contracts area as follows: 1. A three year contract rather than a one year contract. 2. The rental payment is structured as a fixed rate, and not a percentage of sales. 3. Included is a guarantee ofa minimum of five weekend tournaments annually. 4. Inclusion of a late payment fee for rental payments. 5. Extending the cancellation clause to 60 days from 30 days. Chairperson Lindahl inquired as to what the fixed rental rate was projected from. Mr. Dickinson explained that the rate was determined from sales over the last several years. Commissioner O'Toole stated that the rate should be higher this year than it was last year instead of lower because business will continue to increase over the next three years. Commissioner Grabowski noted that C & H Enterprises is committing to add more facilities to the site and is needing to reinvest. Mr. Dickinson recommended a lower rate for the first year of the contract since he is committing to providing more services to the park. CJ o (J () 0 Regular Andover Park ana Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 17, 2000 Page 4 Commissioner O'Toole stated that the additional facilities will also generate more income for him. Commissioner Holthus inquired as to what type of additional equipment he is planning on adding. Mr. Dickinson replied that he was not sure, but possibly a grill. Commissioner Paul Anderson inquired as to what the revenue for the City was last year. Mr. Dickinson replied $4,200 with some carry over from the previous year. Commissioner Kieffer stated that they should not have less revenue this year than they did last year. Commissioner Grabowski replied that C & H Enterprises does not have to invest into anything further if the City increases his rent. Chairperson Lindahl inquired if the City has the opportunity to review the year end sales. Mr. Dickinson replied that the reports that have been submitted in the past from C & H Enterprises were very sketchy and that is the reason Staff wanted to go with a flat rate. Commissioner Lindahl questioned how the City would justify increasing the rental rate substantially in 2002 ifhe is making a significant more amount of money. Mr. Dickinson explained that there is nothing in the contract that locks the City into any rate. Chairperson Lindahl stated that it is in the interest of the Park to have a good facility and he does not see a problem with the proposed contract. Commissioner O'Toole stated that with the additional equipment being added to the site by C & H Enterprises the electricity costs will go up for the City and yet the revenue will be going down $1,000 from last year. Commissioner Grabowski inquired if anywhere in the contract it addresses the issue of cleaning the facilities after a tournament. Mr. Dickinson replied no, only the concession area. Commissioner Grabowski suggested questioning C & H Enterprises ifhe would be willing to clean the facilities after a tournament. Tom Anderson arrived at 8:00 p.m. ~' u C) Regular Andover Park Q Recreation Commission Meeting 0 Minutes - February 17, 2000 Page 5 Commissioner Holthus suggested starting the rental rate at $4,200 and then use the same yearly increases as proposed in the contract. Consensus of the Park Commission was to propose a rental rate of $4,000 for the year 2000 with a $250 increases for the next two years. Commissioner O'Toole suggested starting the rental rate at $3,800 ifhe would be willing to clean the area after a tournament. UPDATE ON SUNSHINE PARK MAINTENANCE Mr. Dickinson stated that the Park and Recreation Commission requested Staff research maintenance service at Sunshine Park, primarily during tournament activities. Currently Public Works has a contractor hired that is to clean the facilities each morning if a tournament is underway. If additional cleaning is requested of Public Works, funding would need to be provided from some other source to pay for the service (this is not included in the 2000 Public Works or Parks Budgets). The Park and Recreation Commission needs to consider how this service could be funded or should consider placing the responsibility of cleaning the facilities on the sponsors ofthe weekend tournaments. Commissioner Grabowski explained that currently a cleaning service is under contract to clean Sunshine Park on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. He explained that there is no need to clean on Monday's unless there is a tournament and if a tournament is scheduled they clean the site on Saturday morning prior to the start of the tournament, but not on Sundays when the cleaning is mostly needed. In his opinion, the City is not getting their moneys worth with the contractor and suggested a cleaning schedule of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and if there was a weekend tournament then require that they clean on Sunday also. Commissioner O'Toole inquired as to the cost for hiring the contractor. Mr. Dickinson replied that he would need to research the information. Consensus of the Commission was to direct Staff to research the possibility of changing the maintenance schedule at Sunshine Park to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Commissioner Grabowski stated that the additional fee to clean the site over a tournament fee could be added to the tournament fee. REVIEW ISSUES LIST ,;. ') Mr. Haas reviewed the items on the issues list. \.._- Regular Andover Park 0 Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 17, 2000 Page 6 () ~ ;' \ '--.' Commissioner Grabowski requested that a letter be sent out to all the Athletic Associations stating that they must be present at the March 16th Park Commission meeting to discuss security at the parks. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Commissioner Grabowski stated that a comment was made by the Mayor that the School District has been made a promise that they could use the area where the proposed southwest parking lot at Sunshine Park is for twelve tennis courts. He stated that in his opinion the additional parking lot is needed. Commissioner O'Toole stated that the Park Commission needs to keep up on what is being offered to the School District, but thinks it would be a benefit to have a relationship with the school. Commissioner Grabowski inquired as to why the Parks Department did not make the decision to remove the swing set at Crooked Lake prior to the reconstruction of Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Haas stated that it is his understanding that some discussion did take place regarding the swing set between Public Works Supervisor Kevin Starr and Civil Engineer I Dave Berkowitz \. ) and suggested discussing the issue further with Mr. Starr and adding the item to the issues list. ADJOURNMENT Motion by O'Toole, seconded by Anderson, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nanci Libor, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. C)