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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 20, 2000 o o o o o CITY of ANDOVER PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JULY 20, 2000 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Jim Lindahl on July 20, 2000, 7:37 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Paul Anderson, Tom Anderson, Al Grabowski, Valerie Holthus, Jeff Kieffer, Jim Lindahl, and Dave O'Toole Also present: Park Coordinator, Todd Haas RESIDENTS FORUM There was none. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Tom Anderson, seconded by Kieffer, to approve the July 6, 2000 regular Park Commission meeting minutes as written. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, 0 - nays, 0 - absent, and 0 - present vote. APPROVE TOURNAMENT APPLICATION/ANDOVER BASEBALL ASSOCIATION Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to review and approve the tournament application form as requested by the Andover Baseball Association. The tournament is scheduled for August 11-13, 2000. The Andover Athletic Association has scheduled the use of the fields on August 12th, Fields 5-8., Staff recommended that ABA & . AAA get together and work out a schedule. It was recommended that the Commission approve the application subject to ABA & AAA working out a schedule and if no schedule can be worked out AAA still has control of Fields 5-8 on August 12th. Item was tabled until the August 3, 200 Park and Recreation Commission meeting. APPROVE APPLICATION FOR FIELD USE/ANOKA COUNTY/SUNSHINE PARK This item was removed from the agenda. ,. ) ~ ) ! ) '. u u Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2000 Page 2 DISCUSS NEW GRANT PROGRAM - SOCCER Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the grant program that is available to school districts, cities and counties through the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. Commissioner Grabowski suggested using the funds to construct soccer fields at the new high school and then have the school district construct softball fields. Commissioner O'Toole stated that the funds could be used to begin a soccer complex at Prairie Knoll. Commissioner Grabowski questioned what it would cost to put lights at one of the soccer fields at City Hall and to help increase usage. Mr. Haas replied approximately $25,000. Commissioner Holthus inquired if they could use the funds for the Hawkridge Park. Commissioner Grabowski replied that the grant has to be used for something that would provide additional usage. Mr. Haas stated that there may be a possibility for new soccer fields at the new Andover Elementary school. He also noted that there is a need for additional soccer goals. Commissioner Lindahl replied that the grant should go for something that would benefit field usage and does not think additional goals would do that. Commissioner Paul Anderson stated that lighting one of the soccer fields would be a very good option for the fall league. Consensus of the Commission. was to direct staff to inform the soccer associations of the following suggestions; 1) soccer fields at the new elementary school, 2) lights at a soccer field #1 at City Hall Park Complex #1, 3) additional soccer goals @ various sites throughout the city, 4) irrigating the soccer field @ Hidden Creek North Park, and then bring back their input at the next Park and Recreation Commission meeting. Commissioner Grabowski requested that staff include a cost estimate with each of the potential projects. / '\ " j C) eJ r\ '---.) o Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2000 Page 3 UPDATE OF ANOKA COUNTY LIBRARY TRAIL/OO-17 Mr. Haas stated that there is nothing new to report at this point. This will be updated at the next meeting as to what is going on with Anoka and costs associated with the proposed construction from Bunker Lake Boulevard NW south to 141 st A venue NW on the east side of 7ili A venue. DISCUSS ROLLERBLADING/SKATEBOARDING IN SUNSHINE PARK Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss rollerblading/skateboarding at Sunshine Park and damage that has been done to benches, etc. at the park. He noted that Ordinance 229, which regulates conduct in parks, etc. does not prohibit rollerbladers and skateboarders from using the park, but the ordinance does specify under Section 2J that it is unlawful to mark, deface, disfigure, injure, etc. Consensus of the Commission was to include wording in the ordinance that would prohibit rollerblading/skateboarding within a certain distance of the Sunshine Concession building. Chairperson Lindahl suggested giving the kids an area to skateboard and rollerblade. Commissioner Grabowski replied that they are planning to do so at the WDE site. Chairperson Lindahl replied that that does not eliminate the problem at Sunshine Park. He stated that the City spends a lot of money on damages to the park and could instead construct a small facility that may prevent some of that damage. Commissioner Kieffer requested that staff research what other cities are doing. Motion by Kieffer, seconded by Tom Anderson, to revise Ordinance 229 to include the following wording "No skateboarding/rollerblading is permitted within 300 feet of the Sunshine Park concession stand, and a certain radius of the shelter". Motion carried on a 7- ayes, 0 - nays, 0 - absent, and 0 - present vote. DISCUSS DAMAGE DEPOSIT/SUNSHINE PARK SHELTER Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to consider eliminating the $100 damage deposit required to reserve the gazebo at Sunshine Park. One resident was distraught with the idea of requiring the damage deposit when others may simply use it on a first come basis. As the situation stands right now, there is no way of identifying who might be responsible for damage to the facility short of doing a complete inspection immediately before and immediately after a reserved event. Damage may occur at the facility at any time without witnesses or City knowledge that is unrelated to individuals who had the gazebo reserved. Doing the necessary inspections of the area and the subsequent taking of funds would o () Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2000 , -, Page 4 '-- -- / ultimately run more than $100. An approach that may be more palatable to the residents is a simple statement indicating they are responsible for any damage to the property while it is in their care. Having the gazebo open to the public at all times makes the damage deposit a moot point. Motion by O'Toole, seconded by Holthus, to repeal the damage deposit for the Sunshine Park shelter and direct staff to make sure the CSO receive a schedule of who is using the shelter and make an effort to check the site in the four hour reserved period. Motion carried on a 7 -ayes, 0 - nays, 0 - absent, and 0 - present vote. Mr. Haas noted that the schedule is faxed over to the CSO. UPDATE OF JUVENILE THEFT (-) \.~ Mr. Haas stated that this is an update regarding juvenile theft. Staff had a discussion with the City Attorney and he explained that the City Attorney does not prosecute juvenile theft and that all juvenile theft is done through Anoka County Attorney's Office. In most cases, from what the City Attomey hears, the judges' hand out community service time. If the Commission has additional questions, they were directed to contact the Anoka County Attorney's Office that deals with juvenile theft. Commissioner Grabowski requested that the item be added to the issues list. Chairperson Lindahl suggested that staff contact the adjoining cities to get a consensus from them to request that the City be paid restitution for damage over $100.00 and then forward a complaint letter to the County Attorney's office. REVIEW OF PLANS & SPECS/OO-28/MISC PARK HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to review the plans and specs for Misc. Park Handicapped Accessibility Trail Improvements, Project 00-28. Staff has sent out the plans to obtain quotes for the rubber surface. Quotes are due for the rubber surface on July 26ili. REVIEW ISSUES LIST Mr. Haas reviewed the items on the issues list. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT () Commissioner Grabowski discussed the problems that occurring between the City and the High School regarding the construction of ball fields. - , \ .- "- . , . / -, \. ,.J ,', Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - July 20, 2000 Page 5 . j Chairperson Lindahl requested that staff inform the City Council that the Park Commission would like to be informed on any issues relating to the High School that impacts parks. Mr. Haas reviewed letters received from the DNR regarding grant applications. Chairperson Lindahl stated that he was unaware that they had applied for a grant to construct an underpass for the elementary school. Mr. Haas replied that staff was directed to do so by City Council. Commissioner O'Toole stated that he does not see the Commission approving the construction of the underpass unless there is another funding source. Mr. Haas replied that the City Council has the authority to use the trail funds, but will fmd out the proposed funding sources and add the item to the next Park Commission agenda. "- , J Commissioner Paul Anderson stated that he is on the telecommunications ordinance committee and they plan to have a draft ordinance by August 8th. He explained that there is wording that states that towers can be placed in parks that are aesthetically pleasing, and questioned what the Park Commission would defme as aesthetically pleasing. Commissioner Holthus stated that she does not see placing towers in parks where there are no other poles, but the City does have a couple of parks that have high wires and feels that it would be appropriate to have them in the same area. Consensus of the Commission was that the towers would be appropriate in a parking lot, but not located in the middles of a wooded area. Commissioner Tom Anderson stated that he received some complaints by the Church organization that plays softball on Sundays at City Hall that the garbage's are being left overflowing. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Anderson, seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ":) Nanci Libor, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.