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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2, 1999 (j () o o o CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.w. . ANDOVER. MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 K AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - SEPTEMBER 2,1999 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Dave Blackstad on September 2,1999,7:35 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Tom Anderson, Dave Blackstad, AI Grabowski, Valerie Holthus and Jeff Kieffer (arrived at 8:15 p.m.) Dave O'Toole, and Jim Lindahl Park Coordinator, Todd Haas Public Works Supervisor, Kevin Starr Commissioners absent: Also present: RESIDENTS FORUM None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 19, 1999 Motion by Holthus, seconded by Blackstad, to approve the Minutes as written. Motion carried on 2 -ayes, 0 - nays, 3 - absent (Kieffer, Lindahl, and O'Toole), and 2 -present (Anderson and Grabowski) vote. PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE Kttvin Star, Public Works Supervisor, updated the Commission on the following public works projects: . Turf care is taking up the biggest part of their time. The have mowed the Main Complex every four to five days all summer. If the lawns aren't mowed that frequently, they end up needing to sweep the lawns. The outside parks have been covered every seven to eight days. The trails have been on the same schedule as the outside parks. He noted that there are some horse problems on the trails. . Three spiral slides have been repaired. The last aluminum slide has been installed at Langseth Park. We have a few spring rides and six swingsets to install this fall. . We have done some landscaping and rebuilt the shelter area in the back park. There is still much to do in this area. . They have started the main entry at Sunshine Park. . The shelter at Sunshine Park will be located on the east side of the Park. f) 0 Regular Andover Park ~:a Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - September 2. 1999 Page 2 , ) . The heating and cooling will be fixed and fine-tuned at Sunshine Park building during the off season. The building needs quite a bit of work already. He questioned the idea of installing a window unit in the kitchen area. Commissioner Grabowski suggested having Mr. Haas check with the Health Department in regard to the placement of an air conditioning unit in the kitchen. . The hope to get the signs made and installed for Sunshine and Lions parks before winter. . The lights have been repaired at Northwoods tennis courts. . They finished Creekridge seeding and dirt work. . The paver project has been finished at the Public Works building. . There is a lot of fencing on City Hall ball fields in bad shape. He questioned if any fencing under six feet high should be removed. The Commissioner agreed with the fencing being at least six feet high. . Strootman ballfield should be rebuilt and turned. . The ten Main Complex infields have been dragged three to four times a week all summer. The outside fields have been done about every 14 days. The would like to add more soft touch bases in more fields and drag outside fields more often next season. . They are willing to assist with the construction of the AAA storage building. :J Commissioner Grabowski questioned if a utility company removes or destroys trees or shrubs on City property they should be required to replace them. Mr. Haas explained that all City Staff have the opportunity to make comments regarding projects and in the project Commissioner Grabowski was referring to, no Staff comments were given in regard to replacement of trees and shrubs. Commissioner Grabowski stated that it should automatically be a requirement as part of the specs. The Staff is representing the City and they should ask for replacement and restoration of trees and shrubs in the future. Commissioner Holthus questioned if the stipulation can be automatically included with every contract. Mr. Haas stated yes that they can be more assertive with preserving trees. Chairperson Blackstad stated that tree restoration and land restoration should be a standard part of the bid. Commissioner Grabowski stated that Staff should have to sign-off if tree restorations isn't necessary. . ) '- / Jeff Kieffer arrived at 8:15 p.m. Regular Andover Park ~n~ Recreation Commission Meeting (J Minutes - September 2, 1999 Page 3 ,) Mr. Haas stated that tree restoration will be included on all future projects. DISCUSS ORDINANCE NO. 229, SECTION 2K (PETS IN PARKS), CONTINUED Mr. Haas stated that at the August 19, 1999 Park and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission reviewed an amendment to Ordinance No. 229, Section 2 (K) relating to domestic animals in parks. Staff revised the ordinance based on input from the Commission to allow domestic animals only on designated paved trails within Sunshine Park and City Hall Park Complex #1. Signage will have to be installed adjacent to the trails which prohibit domestic animals. Commissioner Grabowski stated that the center trail of Sunshine Park should not be open for pets because it will just cause more problems. Mr. Starr suggested requiring all pet owners to carry appropriate items to clean-up after their dogs if they walk their pets through a City park. Mr. Haas recommended including wording that would allow pets on the trail on Crosstown since it is on the exterior edge of Sunshine Park. / " ,..) Chairperson Blackstad stated that the ordinance should read "All domestic animals must be leashed or under control." The next sentence should be removed. He also suggested including wording requiring pet owners to carry their own clean-up equipment. Mr. Haas suggested including the wording that is in Blaine's ordinance in regard to waste pick- up. Consensus was reached by the Commission to remove the sentence "Pets are on or adjacent to athletic fields must be leashed.", and the wording "or under control" in the previous sentence. Commissioner Grabowski suggested and consensus was reached to amend the wording to read "Horses shall not be allowed in any park area." UPDATE OF 1999 SPRING/SUMMER SOCCER SCHEDULE, CONTINUED Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to continue discussing the 1999 Spring/Summer Soccer Schedule. :_J Chairperson Blackstad stated that after reviewing the schedule he noticed that several of the fields they use for practices are main use fields and think they should use some of the outer fields for practice. He did not see the need for any more fields and suggested that if they are not going to utilize all of the fields then maybe some of them should be removed. Commissioner Grabowski stated that he did not feel all the fields are being utilized. Regular Andover Park ~~ Recreation Commission Meeting 0 Minutes - September 2, 1999 Page 4 ') " _/ Chairperson B1ackstad stated that the outlying fields should be used for practice and the premier fields for games when the season starts. DISCUSS ORDINANCE 10, SECTION 9.07/PARK DEDICATION Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss Ordinance 10, Section 9.07 (Park Dedication) to determine if a recommendation is to be made to the City Council to change the current fees that were adopted last spring by the City Council. Chairperson B1ackstad stated that in reviewing other cities' fees, there are a few that have very high park dedication fees and they don't have any problems with new development. Commissioner Grabowski stated that Andover ranges from $100-$500 lower in comparison to many of the other cities. Chairperson Blackstad stated that more studying needs to be done now until the end of the year to see if the 10 percent fee or a flat rate is more economical. /-- "l '-_/ Commissioner Grabowski stated that the per unit basis is more economical because they should be charging based on the amount of impact the development will have on the City. Chairperson Blackstad stated that the City Council needs to increase the park dedication to $1,500 as previously requested. Commissioner Grabowski questioned if the Commissioner felt that any development would not have occurred if the fee was raised to $1,500. The response was no. Mr. Haas stated that he will research more information from the other cities and find out if they are proposing any increases for next year. UPDATE OF TRAILS EXTENSIONS/CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD & BUNKER LAKE BOULEVARD Mr. Haas updated the Park and Recreation of the trail extension from Crosstown Boulevard Northwest between Andover Boulevard Northwest and Sunshine Park and also for Bunker Lake Boulevard Northwest between Crosstown Boulevard Northwest and Thrush Street Northwest. ,- '\ \.j Crosstown Boulevard Northwest Trail Extension - Mr. Haas met with Jim Martinson and his wife who live at 14905 Crosstown Boulevard Northwest. The Martinsons have no interest in having the trail in front of their home. They have suggested the appropriate signage to encourage the trail users to use 14Sth Avenue Northwest to Sunshine Park and then use the new trails that were recently constructed in the park. Bunker Lake Boulevard Northwest - Staffwill be recommending that City Council construct the trail as part of the Bunker Lake Boulevard / ' ) Regular Andover Park ~nJ Recreation Commission Meeting (, Minutes - September 2, 1999 Page 5 " / Northwest project between Crosstown Boulevard Northwest and Thrush Street Northwest as per recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission. DISCUSS SECURITY FOR CITY PARKS Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss security coverage for Sunshine Park and City Hall Park Complex # 1. Chairperson Blackstad stated that security is something that needs to be done and go to the City Council so it is included in the budget. He suggested the idea of the hiring college student and have them work from 5:00 p.m.-lO:30 p.m. to do certain spot checks around the City. Commissioner Grabowski stated that he felt the most realistic approach would be hiring Anoka County Parks Department for security. The fee for the security could be dispersed per child and only raise a fee by three or four dollars a child. If they have a tournament, the Association would have to hire the security charging around $100 dollars a weekend. Chairperson Blackstad stated that they will find a funding source, if needed. He stated that they could charge a team fee to cover the cost. '_I Commissioner Grabowski suggested splitting the cost between the soccer, softball, and baseball associations. APPROVE 1999 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Mr. Haas explained that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to approve the application for scheduled use of recreational facilities for fall football. They are requesting the use of the Andover's Lions Park. Motion by Grabowski, seconded by Anderson, to approve the application for scheduled use of recreational facilities for fall football. Motion carried on 5 - ayes, 0 - nays, 2- absent (Lindahl and O'Toole), and 0 - present vote. Chairperson Blackstad questioned how to handle football practice on fields that has already been reserved by the soccer association. Mr. Haas stated that he did not know how to solve the problem. Chairperson Blackstad stated that if it were neighborhood kids getting together to play football he wouldn't have the concern, but there have been situations of organized football teams using already reserved fields or softball fields for practice. ./ Commissioner Kieffer suggested contacting the Football Association director in regard to the problem. Regular Andover Park ~:~ Recreation Commission Meeting ( .) Minutes - September 2, 1999 Page 6 Mr. Haas stated that he will contact the Director. APPROVE REVISED 1999 FALL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Mr. Haas stated that the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to approve the revised 1999 Softball Schedule as presented. Motion by Kieffer, seconded by Anderson, to approve the revised 1999 Softball Schedule as presented. Motion carried on 4 - ayes, 0 - nays, 2 - absent (Lindahl and O'Toole), and 1 - present (Grabowski) vote. REVIEW ISSUES LIST Mr. Haas reviewed the items on the issues list. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Commissioner Grabowski stated that after the Fire Department tournament seven of the windows at Sunshine Park were left open. .~ _ ____I Mr. Haas noted that the problem has already been addressed. Commissioner Grabowski suggested changing the form to state that the tournament director or a designated person will be present during the tournament so the City would know who to contact if needed. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Anderson, seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nanci Libor, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. _.J