Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFeburary 15, 1996 o o ~ .3IIQjqID o CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION - FEBRUARY 15, 1996 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Jim Lindahl on February 15, 1996, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Also present: Tom Anderson, Dave Erickson, Dave O'Toole, Al Grabowski, Jeff Kieffer, Roger Paulson Park Coordinator, Todd Haas City Administrator, Richard Fursman Others APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 1, 1996, Regular Meeting: Checks", change Page 3, paragraph on "Background "home" to "him". MOTION by Anderson, Seconded by Erickson, to approve the Minutes as corrected. Motion carried on a 4-Yes, 3-Absent (Grabowski, Kieffer, . Paulson) vote. o PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR DISCUSSION, CONTINUED Mr. Fursman explained that after meeting with representatives of the Anoka Hennepin School District #11, he is recommending the discussion of a Park and Recreation Director be put on hold for the remainder of 1996. He {earned that their administrative infrastructure seems capable of handling a gradual expansion of park and recreation activities in Andover, noting the recommendation of assigned duties to the various City personnel and the school district which was presented in the Commission's agenda material. He would like to develop better communications with the school district. At the time he initiated the discussions for a Park and Recreation Director, he was not aware of how much of the organizational structure the school district already had in place. Mr. Fursman stated the school district has said they would be willing to help with field coordination if that is something the City wants them to do. () Chairperson Lindahl stated much of that is handled by the associations themselves, but he agreed it is time to recognize the capabilities of the school district and to utilize them even further if possible. Mr. Fursman continued that the school district is not capable of helping with maintenance or maintenance scheduling. Maintenance is something the City will have to look at because of the large increase in sod added this past year. A consideration may be to contract the mowing of some of the outlying parks and have Staff maintain the closer parks and the City Hall park complexes. Contracting the mowing of some parks should not affect the amount of summer help hired for park maintenance. / \ " ) 'i \ / ~ ) ~ :_) , ) Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 15, 1996 Page 2 (Park and Recreation Director, Continued) The Commission agreed with the recommendation to table any further discussion of a Park and Recreation Director and to increase communication with the school district in anticipation of the expanding park and recreation activities in Andover. It was suggested this item be evaluated again next winter. Nancy Knop, Community School Coordinator at Andover School, Mary Judd, Coordinator at Crooked Lake School, and Julie Johnson, Assistant Coordinator at Andover School, addressed the Commission. Ms. Knop reviewed the 1995 report on Community School activities, noted some of the changes and explained the drop in some of the enrollment due to the transition of the programs in the schools. Ms. Judd explained what activities and programs are offered through the Community School program and the use of the facilities by the various other groups and organizations. She also reported on the 1995 Summer Program which served over 2,400 students. Ms. Johnson outlined her duties and responsibilities as the volunteer coordinator in charge of recruiting volunteers and as the part-time Community Education assistant. Ms. Knop also stated they are still working to determine how they will fill positions for the two new schools. The plan calls for a full-time coordinator at the new middle school and to increase hours at the Andover school. The budget for the expanded program is still being determined. Last week she met with all of the athletic associations on the use of the facilities to start a dialogue to understand each other's needs. They no longer have bus service available for the summer programs due to the cost. The middle schools still provide buses for after-school activities, however. Ms. Judd stated she does work with several day-care facilities during the summer in coordinating schedules so they do not have to make so many trips, but the day-care facilities provide their own transportation. They have also worked with the Anoka County Traveler to provide transportation for special needs students. Ms. Knop explained when scheduling the use of the facilities, the priority is to serve the children that is age appropriate for that school, then the community school activities, athletic associations and other organizations and the rentals last. Commissioner O'Toole asked if the fee for adult education classes typically goes to pay the instructors. Ms. Knop stated in some cases the instructors are under contract, but they try to put them on the payroll for insurance purposes. Fees never go directly to the instructor. They are used to pay the instructor and the costs incurred for administering the program. Commissioner O'Toole asked if there will be a community-wide track program now that there will be a track at the Oak View Middle School. Ms. Knop did not know, but other middle schools do offer track in the spring as part of their programs. Ms. Johnson noted that with the schools and new City Hall park complexes all in one vicinity, adding a new City Hall and possibly a community center to tie everything together would make this a nice area for community events. Ms. Knop expressed appreciation for the funding from the City to operate the community education program. , " ) '-) Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 15, 1996 Page 3 , J CITY HALL PARK COMPLEX #2, USE OF BUILDING Chairperson Lindahl noted the report from Mr. Haas and stated it sounds more beneficial to hire someone as an employee to Staff the concession building during the summer. Mr. Haas explained the individual would work Monday through Thursday from the beginning of the season to the end of July, including weekend tournaments, and would receive an hourly wage with no benefits. He has learned that the cost of insurance makes it almost impossible for someone to contract the position. Any profits from the sale of concessions would come back to the Park Board General Fund budget. This could be done on a trial basis for this year and reviewed again in the fall. The Commission agreed with the recommendation. A suggestion was that two or three individuals may need to be hired to trade off or for both to work when necessary. They discussed the possibility of allowing athletic associations to volunteer with concessions for a portion of the profits. At this time it was felt that if some organization made a request to volunteer in concessions, the Commission would consider it; but it would not be mandatory for organizations to participate. The Commission asked Mr. Haas to draft a job description for their consideration. The general consensus of the Commission was to recommend hiring an individual on an hourly basis for the concessions building . I with the option of volunteers working during tournaments. REVIEW OF TOURNAMENT APPLICATIONS Chairperson Lindahl noted no applications were received from individuals interested in applying for use of the fields for tournaments. He did feel that the field conditions should be evaluated this spring before authorizing any tournaments. He was concerned with the overuse of the fields the first year. The Commission agreed. REVIEW 1996 CAPITAL BUDGET Commissioner O'Toole expressed appreciation for the HRA funds approved by the Council last week for Park Handicap Accessibility projects. Mr. Haas noted the list of suggestions of park projects for 1996 from Kevin Starr, Parks Supervisor. Bleachers and concrete pads for underneath them and soccer goals for the new park complex should be priority items and will use all of the funds available from the Capital Improvements budget. Park Dedication funds are still available, plus some park dedication fees should be received in 1996 from new plats, though some of that is earmarked for irrigation, fencing, and the building at the City Hall Park Complex #2. , / Commissioner Anderson noted there is a tremendous interest by residents in a trails system. Mr. Haas thought the Council will be considering a five-year capital improvement program for the TIF area, which could include the trails and possibly ball field lights for the next complex. , \. J , \ U Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - February 15, 1996 Page 4 \ / (Review 1996 Capital Budget, Continued) The Commission wondered why the City Council did not install sidewalks in the Crooked Lake Boulevard reconstruction project when it is in tho City's Comprehensive Plan, it is a public safety issue, and the Park Board and the Planning Commission have been developing policies so sidewalks will be constructed along main roads. MOTION by Erickson, Seconded by Anderson, to recommend to the Council that we adopt Mr. Haas' proposal (bleachers, concrete pads and soccer goals for the Field of Dreams from the 1996 Capital Budget funds). Motion carried on a 4-Yes (Lindahl, Anderson, Erickson, O'Toole), 3- Absent (Grabowski, Kieffer, Paulson) vote. CHAIR'S REPORT Mr. Haas reported the issue of another bond referendum will be on the March 21, 1996, agenda. MOTION by Anderson, Seconded by O'Toole, to adjourn. Motion carried on a 4-Yes, 3-Absent (Grabowski, Kieffer, Paulson) vote. ,~ The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. '\ , J