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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 5, 1995 o o o _ < " " ' L ~ "' "'" , , " ' , . . " (~, ~ " ~>"" ' CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.w, . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 . (612) 755-5100 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION - JANUARY 5, 1995 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Tom Anderson on January 5, 1995, 7:33 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Dave Erickson, Al Grabowski, Jeff Kieffer, Dave O'Toole Jim Lindahl, Roger Paulson Assistant City Engineer, Todd Haas Andover Athletic Association President, Mark Dagen Commissioners absent: Also present: APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 15, 1994: Correct as written. MOTION by Kieffer, Seconded by Grabowski, to approve the Minutes as written for December 15. Motion carried on as-Yes, 2-Absent (Lindahl, Paulson) vote. o BASEBALL/SOFTBALL/SOCCER USER FEE DISCUSSION, CONTINUED Mr. Haas explained he and the City Engineer looked at various options for user fees to use the softball, baseball and soccer fields in the City. Option 1 is similar to what is being used by the City of Coon Rapids and charges per team per season, though the proposed fees are somewhat higher. Coon Rapids does not charge anything for the use of the fields by youth leagues. Option 2 is based on an hourly rate and would generate considerably more fees. The intent had been to recoup some of the costs for lighting, sprinkling and maintenance of the fields. Commissioner Grabowski noted in the other cities where the youth groups are charged a fee, there is a Park and Recreation Coordinator who does all of the scheduling, etc.; and the fees subsidize some of the wages of that employee. o Mr. Dagen was concerned with the $75 flat fee per team, which means an additional $3 to $5 per child to use the fields. As a taxpayer in the City, he felt he is already paying for the parks and that his children should have the right to use the fields at any time. As president of the Athletic Association, he has no problem with a users fee, but $75 is quite high. There is also the problem of those in softball who use the fields for one hour a night versus those in baseball who use the fields for two or more hours a night, yet the fee is the same. He didn't feel the softball program should help subsidize the baseball program. He agreed the adult league teams, most of which are not from Andover, should be charged a fee, which should be higher than for the youth leagues. u u Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 5, 1995 Page 2 :,-) (Baseball/Softball/Soeder use Fee Discussion, Continued) C) Commissioner O'Toole stated in wrestling with the issue, he is opposed to charging a fee for youth leagues. If any of the youth associations wish to help pay for the costs of the lighting, etc., the City will accept their donations. But the associations have volunteered a lot of time and money to maintain fields, buy bases, lay sod, etc.; and they have a good working relationship with the City. He didn't want to be charging either youth teams or resident versus non-resident fees for the use of the fields. There are very few things for the youth to do; and anything the City can do to keep them busy is helpful. The City provides skating rinks and warming house attendants at no charge. There is no charge to use the tennis courts, which are also lighted. Would the City then charge the schools to use the City's facilities for the summer, which could mean they would turn around and charge the associations to use the gyms for basketball? He is in favor of charging a fee for adult use of the fields, but not for youth teams. The fields belong to the kids. Mr. Haas stated the Public Works Superintendent used about $30,000 from the Snow and Ice budget last summer to take care of the parks. The Commission noted that much of that budget was for overtime during tournaments. Commissioner O'Toole stated if there is not enough in the budget, then leave the lights off for a period of time, or encourage the organizations to contribute to the cost of lighting the fields. He would also like to look at whether Staff time could be rescheduled so overtime would not need to be paid for tournaments. Commissioner Grabowski stated in meeting with organizers of youth leagues in other cities, he receives many compliments on how well maintained Andover's fields are. He also felt there is no reason why the associations can't pay part of the wages of Staff on duty during the weekend tournaments. He suggested the associations meet with Mr. Stone to work something out on setting a fee to cover a portion of Staff's time on weekend tournaments. After discussing the issue further, it was generally agreed that there would be no fee for Youth Rec Play. Mr. Haas stated it would be left in the application and state "0" for the amount. Rather than delineating fields as with or without lights, Commissioner Kieffer suggested "City Complex Fields" be designated, since many will be irrigated as well. MOTION by O'Toole, Seconded by Kieffer, to recommend that we go along with the $75 per team per season for adults, all of Option 1 including private use; and not charge the youth at this time but encourage donations of the athletic associations to help pick up the light bill for the next year since it wasn't budgeted for. Motion carried on a 5- Yes, 2-Absent (Lindahl, Paulson) vote. ~) ISTEA DISCUSSION Mr. Haas explained the ISTEA funding available for pedestrian and bicycle paths. The City Engineer, Mr. Erickson, has done some ISTEA () (J Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 5, 1995 , ") Page 3 , (Baseball/Softball/Soeder use Fee Discussion, Continued) funding with Fridley and thought it may be worth considering. The funding applies only to construction costs on an 80-20 basis. All other costs, that is to make application and to have plans and specifications drawn, would be borne by the City. If the Commission is interested, Staff would submit the application to see if the City would be approved for funding. Staff receives the most calls for a trail from Bunker prairie Park, which is a regional park, north to Coon Creek, then west along the creek to Crosstown Boulevard. Commissioner O'Toole reported he called last summer, but no funding was available. Typically it costs $50,000 per mile to construct a bike path. He noted with the proposed trail interconnecting to a major system, four or five communities would then be connected to the trail system. The Commission strongly supported the construction of that trail system and recommended the Staff submit the application for the funding. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT , " \ ) Mr. Haas reported the Council approved the reappointment of Commissioners Anderson, Kieffer, and Grabowski and reappointed Commissioner Anderson as chair for 1995. Commissioner Lindahl will serve as Acting Chair. Mr. Haas also hoped to have something on the costs of a potential bond for the next meeting. The fencing around the fields at Complex #2 has been installed, and Mr. Erickson has begun work on the plans for sprinkling those fields. MOTION by O'Toole, Seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn. Motion carried on a 5-Yes, 2-Absent (Lindahl, Paulson) vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~~~~ Recording Secretary , .'