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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 18, 1995 o o o ""r~~"'-;,, ., \,jJl '- ~ f . - , . CITY of ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (612) 755-5100 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION - MAY 18, 1995 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chairperson Tom Anderson on May 18, 1995, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Dave Erickson, Al Grabowski, Jim Lindahl, Jeff Kieffer, Dave O'Toole Roger Paulson Public Works Superintendent, Frank Stone Park Coordinator, Todd Haas Others Commissioners absent: Also present: APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 20, 1995: Correct as written. May 4, 1995: Correct as written. o MOTION by Lindahl, Seconded by Kieffer, to approve the Minutes from April 20 as written. Motion carried on a 5-Yes, 1-present (Erickson), 1-Absent (paulson) vote. MOTION May 4. Absent by Kieffer, Seconded by Grabowski, to approve the Motion carried on a 4-Yes, 2-Present (Erickson, (paulson) vote. Minutes from Lindahl), 1- QUARTERLY REPORT - FINANCE DIRECTOR City Finance Director Jean Nichols noted the Park Dedication fees received as of December 31, 1994, and as of March 31, 1995. During the discussion with Ms. Nichols on the financial status of the Park Board budget and Park Dedication Fund, the Commission asked that both the income and expenses be provided in the future. If possible, it would also be helpful to know the outstanding bills. Ms. Nichols stated she would provide a regular financial statement on a monthly basis. She would also provide those financial statements for the first quarter of 1995 for the next meeting. ARC RECOMMENDATIONS/MUNICIPAL PARK PARKING LOTS o Mr. Haas asked if the Commission is interested in blacktopping the road from the Recycling Building to the park area plus the parking lots by the park and the tennis courts. He felt it is in the City's best interest to get this done as a part of the utilities contract. He did not think the parking lots on the east side of the property should be blacktopped until it is known what will happen with the proposed new City Hall. It will be up to the Andover Review Committee to determine u (j Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Minutes - May 18, 1995 ~) Page 2 (ARC REcommendations/Municipal Park parking Lots, Continued) whether concrete curb and gutter should be installed. Commissioner Lindahl thought curb and gutter would be needed in the parking lots, but not on the road itself because of the existing ditches. The Commission was interested in blacktopping the road and parking lots; however, they wanted to know the costs first. The concern was using park dedication funds for blacktop, as the first priority should be for parks. There is also a lot of expense with the Field of Dreams site, plus funds will be used to pay for the lighting of the ball fields at City Hall and the installation of the irrigation system at the Field of Dreams. Commissioner O'Toole felt that any blacktopping of existing park parking lots should be done through the budgeting process as capital improvement. One of the biggest complaints he heard about the recent bond referendum was that too much money was being allocated to blacktop parking lots. He also felt that many people were confusing the park bond referendum with a new City Hall. Commissioner Kieffer suggested not all of the road be taken out of park dedication, since Public Works also uses that road. Mr. Stone explained they paid for over half of the road up to the Recycling Building. Public Works won't be using the road beyond that any more, as they will be using the west side of their building. (J Mr. Haas agreed to provide the cost for blacktopping the road and parking lots on the western side of the City Hall Complex #1 site for the next meeting. He will also look at whether any Tax Increment Financing funds can be used. (Commissioner Lindahl left the meeting at this time; 7:55 p.m.) CITY HALL PARK COMPLEX #2/IRRIGATION/IP93-7 Mr. Haas reviewed the bids for the irrigation of City Hall Park Complex #2. The base bid includes irrigation for the ball fields with the necessary controls and appurtenances. Alternate A is to irrigate the exterior area. Alternate B, the installation of a vacuum breaker in place of the specified backflow preventer for the irrigation system, will be deducted by a change order after a thorough evaluation is made. Mr. Stone explained another large mower is being purchased to mow the parks. They will have one person mowing City parks full time all summer. The Commission felt it is necessary to irrigate the exterior areas because of the foot traffic along the paths. (J MOTION by O'Toole, Seconded by Erickson, to recommend to the City Council the low bid of Mickman Brothers Nurseries for the base bid of $74,875 and Alternate A at $51,435. Motion carried on a 5-Yes, 2-Absent (Lindahl, Paulson) vote. The Commission asked that installation begin as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of losing some of the grass and sod that is already in place. Mr. Haas stated he would attempt to have it placed on the May 30, 1995, Special City Council agenda. \. ) ~ ) r ) '- - u () Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission Minutes - May 18, 1995 Page 3 BUILDING FOR ANDOVER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Mr. Stone explained the electrical panel for the lights over the ball fields is in a small corner of the building used by the Andover Athletic Association. It is the City's responsibility to know who has keys and to issue them. He would like the panel area to be blocked off and the alarm moved from the back door to the inside door. The City will pay to relock the two doors. The City needs to control the keys, and he asked that the Park Board give him that control. In discussing the matter, it was suggested that the electrical panel area be blocked off with only the one outside exit and no access to the rest of the building. A second access could be placed on the side wall so the main building would have two accesses if that is necessary for fire safety. The City would control who has the keys to the electrical panel area. Mr. Stone explained they will also need to construct a fence around the electrical boxes in the back for safety purposes. Several Commissioners thought the boxes were going to be placed in the woods. Mr. Haas stated Staff worked with Anoka Electrical as to where the electrical boxes would be placed. It was decided the boxes would be put side by side with a fence around them. The Commission generally felt the expense of blocking off the electrical panel within the building should be borne by the City, as the AAA has donated a lot of money and time to the City in the past. They suggested Mr. Stone work out the details with the Athletic Association and the F ire Marshal as to whether a back door is needed to the building. Commissioner O'Toole thought there may be some blocks remaining from the concession building at the Field of Dreams site that could be used in this building. Mr. Stone agreed to bring this item back to the Commission on June 1, 1995. Commissioner O'Toole stated he has been approached by a qualified police officer, Torn Sharon who is currently a member of the Coon Rapids Police Reserve, to volunteer to take care of the lights this summer. He would be responsible to put the lights on and off. The Commission wondered if he would be able to be a presence at the fields in uniform and what level of responsibility he could assume in a crisis situation. They generally felt it would be a good idea to accept the offer and asked Staff to contact him to do so and to check on the limits of his responsibility. SHADOWBROOK Commissioner 0' Toole suggested that with the failure of the bond referendum, the Commission reconsider accepting the park land and work out a different arrangement so the park would be completed before it is accepted. Possibly the developer would be willing to get the ball fields leveled in lieu of a cash dedication. This would be a large Regular Andover Park and Recreation Commission u C) I' -\ , \...../ Minutes - May 18, 1995 Page 4 (Shadowbrook, Continued) park, and he feared it will not be developed because of lack of funds. He feared the cash received will be used for other items like blacktopping parking lots instead of building parks. Mr. Haas stated Staff has recommended that be done as part of the City contract. The developer would grade and include the quantities for the bike trail, then charge it back to the park. Discussion speculated that with the development of Shadowbook being done in phases, the easterly park will probably be done last. It was generally agreed that the cash received in lieu of land needs to be earmarked for specific park improvements. A budget for the use of the park dedication funds should be determined. Commissioner O'Toole also understood that in other cities, an additional fee is charged each builder at the time a building permit is pulled for parks. He wondered if that additional fee could be charged in Andover as well. Mr. Haas stated he would check into it. PARK BOND REFERENDUM ( ) -~ The Commission wondered if the park bond referendum could be run again in the next general election. Mr. Haas stated that can be doner and possibly the Commission may want to consider it again for the Fall, 1996, election. There was some speculation as to why the referendum failed. Mr. Haas stated he was approached by a senior in high school to do a senior project, and surveying the residents as to why they voted against the bond referendum may be a good project. The Commission agreed. The Commission agreed to meet with the residents at Woodland Meadows park at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 1, 1995, as the residents are asking for some development in that park. MOTION by O'Toole, Seconded by Kieffer, to adjourn. Motion carried on a 5-Yes, 2-Absent (Lindahl, Paulson) vote. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. ReS~~J- . ~lla A. Peach (~ Recording Secretary