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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 1, 2007 ~'l.JU::-.b O-<L> C I T Y o F UJ1.L~ 3-15-07 NDOVE 0 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER. MINNESOTA 55304. (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923. WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING -FEBRUARY 1,2007 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Masloski on February 1, 2007, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Dan Masloski, Wendy Albee, Jeremy Boyer, Ted Butler, Jim Lindahl, Peggy Scott, and Tony Kowalewski Commissioners Absent: None. Also Present: Parks Coordinator, Todd Haas C RESIDENTS FORUM There were no comments at this time. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Page 2, fifth paragraph: "Mr. Haas answered that he would contact Andover Football Association concerning the status and make and effort to reimburse football for the City's share of the cost of the scoreboards." Motion by Kowalewski, seconded by Albee, to approve the January 18, 2007 Park Commission minutes as corrected. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, O-nays, O-absent vote. CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION FOR 2007 ANOKA AQUATIC CENTER As in the past, the City of Anoka has recently approached the City of Andover staff in regards to making a $4,000 contribution to the Anoka Aquatics Center, which would allow Andover residents to receive a discount to use the facility. Commissioner Albee inquired if the contribution would be necessary with Bunker Beach in such close proximity to Andover residents. Chair Masloski added that the Andover YMCA was also available to residents. The Anoka Aquatics Center was utilized in the 0 past, but attendance has since dropped off with the other options available in Andover. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting 0 Minutes - February 1, 2007 Page 2 Commissioner Lindahl inquired about the cost of swimming lessons at the YMCA. Commissioner Albee answered it was $60.00 for 7 lessons if not a member. Commissioner Boyer questioned if the Anoka Aquatic Center offered lessons. Commissioner Lindahl responded that it was a savings of $11.00/family. Commissioner Albee stated that Anoka-Hennipen School District Community Education also offered swimming lessons. Commissioner Lindahl added that lessons were only offered at Roosevelt Middle School in Blaine. He inquired about the numbers at the YMCA. Commissioner Albee indicated there was heavy use. Commissioner Kowalewski inquired if there was priority for members. Commissioner Albee answered it was on a first come, first serve basis. Commissioner Butler indicated membership for the YMCA was $98.00/month. Chair Masloski stated that there were several other options available to residents, in addition to Swim America on Highway 65. He believed the numbers did not show 0 enough use to warrant the expenditure. Commissioner Butler inquired if it was an issue of funding or other options available to meet the need. Motion by Boyer, seconded by Scott, to recommend cancellation of the contribution to the Anoka Aquatic Center. Motion carried on a 7 -ayes, O-nays, O-absent vote. Mr. Haas stated he would forward the decision to Council. DISCUSS ANDOVER STATION NORTH BALL FIELD FACILITY/STATUS OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Mr. Haas stated that he was attempting to contact the League of Minnesota Cities concerning the proposed location of the playground equipment and other necessary requirements in a written statement. Commissioner Lindahl noted that between the fields was usually important for warm-up practice and it would be congested. Mr. Haas also indicated that there is a concern with drainage, in addition to a lot of activity with foul balls. He stated they were looking into netting. 0 Commissioner Butler suggested another location could be in proximity to the parking lot, possibly with fencing around it. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 1,2007 0 Page 3 Mr. Haas indicated he would inquire concerning the recommendation. Chair Masloski added that both locations had issues with balls. Commissioner Albee suggested a smaller park might be possible. Chair Masloski responded he was in favor of a smaller tot lot, but mentioned another possibility could be next to the building. He requested that the representative comment on the playground between the fields. Mr. Haas stated he would ask Public Works to be involved in the process. Motion by Kowalewski, seconded by Butler, to table this item to the next meeting. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, O-nays, O-absent vote. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed outstanding items. CHAIR'S REPORT 0 Commissioner Kowalewski expressed concern at Prairie Knoll Park with the storage cabinet with various chemicals that had been left in the bathroom. It was left unlocked. Mr. Haas would check into with Public Works Parks Department. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Scott, seconded by Lindahl, to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:18 p.m. Motion carried on a 7 -ayes, O-nays, O-absent vote. The Special Work Session of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Masloski on February 1,2007, at 7:19 p.m. DISCUSS PARK IMPROVEMENTSIPARK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN/06-46D Strootman Park Mr. Haas stated that the regrading of the site by Pubic Works would begin sometime in March. Commissioner Boyer inquired if baseball could use the park while the grading was taking place. Mr. Haas response was no as the entire field will be relocated and the existing fence will be removed and new fencing would be installed. With the three new ball fields 0 available at the new baseball facility at Andover Station North, this should help baseball with their needs for the upcoming season. Staff would like to have the parking lots paved, but concrete curb and gutter were probably not necessary. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - FebruQlY 1, 2007 0 Page 4 Chair Masloski suggested the use of millings, because it could mend itself, and decrease the amount of dust. Mr. Haas noted there were street reconstruction contracts in the summer so he would inquire about the possibility. There was a recommendation for a canoe landing and a trail in the upper part. Chair Masloski questioned if there had been any vandalism in the park. Mr. Haas answered that there was vandalism of the picnic table in the past down by the river but since then has been removed. Chair Masloski inquired about security lights. Mr. Haas responded there would be one by the river parking lot and one for the existing equipment. Commissioner Kowalewski inquired if the bases were anchored down. Chair Masloski answered that it was held down with pegs, and they were kept in a storage box. He asked if there were storage boxes in all the parks. Commissioner Lindahl indicated there is a bin at Shadowbrook East Park, and probably at all the fields at Sunshine Park. 0 Mr. Haas stated that the overall comprehensive plan included a larger athletic facility, but at present, the City did not own the land to constructed one. Chair Masloski mentioned there was none at this point identified in the rural reserve area. Mr. Haas answered that the Commission could consider recommending a larger facility in the rural reserve area There was also the suggestion of an underpass under Crosstown Boulevard and considering a larger athletic facility west of Public Works facility near the intersection of Nightingale Street and Crosstown Boulevard. Chair Masloski requested to table Park #22 at City Hall until the rural reserve issue was resolved. He encouraged the Commission to try to envision what they would want at that location. Sunshine Park Mr. Haas indicated staffwould like to see a shelter and storage area for the soccer fields. They also recommended playground equipment for the 5-12 year olds and horseshoe pit. Commissioner Butler inquired if there was room for another field. Mr. Haas responded there was no more room for another field. Commissioner Kowalewski questioned if tree removal would be necessary. Mr. Haas answered it would be necessary to remove some trees. 0 Commissioner Lindahl mentioned that lighting was needed. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 1, 2007 0 Page 5 Chair Masloski suggested scoreboards and moving skate park to the west end of the park north of the existing west parking lot. Mr. Haas inquired about the amount the Commission wanted to set aside for the skate park. Commissioner Boyer questioned the amount of work necessary for the road. Chair Masloski mentioned that the neighbors should be contacted about the skate park. Mr. Haas responded the pavement would cost $35,000 to 40,000.00 to install. Chair Masloski recommended the amount be $75,000.00 for the skate park and scoreboards are to be included for the ball field and soccer fields. Mr. Haas noted that scoreboards would be installed for all the fields, and scoreboards for the soccer fields would accommodated both soccer and footbalL River Trails Park Mr. Haas stated that the park was mostly on a floodplain and wetlands. Staffwas interested in a canoe access at some point in the future. Chair Masloski asked for clarification if there would be access from off of Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Haas indicated no. 0 Commissioner Lindahl suggested wood duck houses. Mr. Haas recommended $500.00 for wood duck houses. Prairie Knoll Park Mr. Haas noted that staff requested lighting and signage, in addition to paving the small and large parking lots. Commissioner Lindahl inquired if the parking lots would be curb and gutter. Mr. Haas responded it would include curb and gutter because it was a regional park. Commissioner Kowalewski questioned if there were gas lines under the east field. Commissioner Lindahl answered it headed to the northwest. Mr. Haas added that there was also a second line that exists going towards to the southwest as well. Chair Masloski requested that the sliding hill be reconfigured because there were a lot of people sliding. Mr. Haas responded that it had been reconfigured several times already. Chair Masloski stated it was not large enough for a towrope. Mr. Haas stated the existing 0 sliding hill was patterned after the one in the City of Coon Rapids. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 1, 2007 0 Page 6 Chair Masloski noted half of it was fenced off so that people did not go into the existing wetland on the north side of the hill. Commissioner Lindahl requested screening or netting on the north end of the east soccer/football field to prevent the balls from going into the existing wetland. Commissioner Kowalewski stated he would check into the status to see if that is necessary. Chair Masloski inquired if the goal post setup was functional. . Meadowood North Park Mr. Haas stated staff recommendations included a security light and new playground equipment. Chair Masloski suggested a volleyball court remain. Mr. Haas responded that the current court does not get much use. Chair Masloski suggested a half basketball court be built in place of the volleyball court. 0 Round Lake Boat Landing Mr. Haas stated that the lake is generally 3-4 feet deep with a couple areas near the center of the lake that are deeper. Public Works would like to see the service road paved. Chair Masloski noted that millings could be used for that purpose. He also recommended installing a fishing pier for $25,000.00. Commissioner Lindahl suggested it be called a viewing pier, because he had seen bald eagles pluck off mud ducks there. Mr. Haas indicated that the lake water was generally clear, due to a small watershed that runs off the lake. Commissioner Kowalewski requested signage for no diving. Oak Bluff Park Mr. Haas reviewed recommendations from the staff. He noted there was City water available. It had always been a soccer field. Commissioner Scott indicated she believed the parking lot was adequate. Chair Masloski recommended the use of millings for the parking lot. 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting 0 Minutes - February 1, 2007 Page 7 Meadowood South Park Mr. Haas stated the park was very narrow, but it was designated parkland. No improvements were recommended to the park. Pleasant Oaks Park Mr. Haas reviewed the staff recommendations. Currently the soccer associations use it for practices with the younger aged players. Staff requested that in the future that basketball and volleyball courts be installed and that the soccer field would be eliminated as the site is not really conducive for soccer practice or games. Mr. Haas noted that the conceptual plan for Hawk Ridge Park has not completed as of yet. He has not heard from the Park Commission whether the park remains as soccer facility and convert the soccer fields into an outdoor hockey at the park. But if it is determined to remain as a soccer facility, the soccer fields should be irrigated. Commissioner Butler requested the amount for a hockey rink. Chair Masloski indicated 0 it would be helpful to track attendance. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Albee, seconded by Lindahl, to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Motion carried on a 7-ayes, O-nays, O-absent vote. Respectfully Submitted, Brigette Blesi, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 0