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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 3, 2008 J,-~ c:v.::v \.A..) <. . l~_rLl ~ Lf-\ l-"O~ 0 PARKAND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING -APRIL 3, 2008 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Masloski on April 3, 2008, 8:01 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Dan Masloski, Jeremy Boyer, Ted Butler, Bill Hupp, Jim Lindahl, Peggy Scott (arrived at 8:25 p.m.), and Tony Kowalewski Commissioners Absent: None. Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas 0 RESIDENTS FORUM There were no comments at this time. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Butler, seconded by Hupp, to approve the March 20, 2008 Park Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent vote. (Scott) CONSIDER APPLICATION FOR SCHEDULED USE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES/CHRISTIAN YOUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUES Mr. Haas stated that the group did not provide the required information in regards to the guidelines as part of the application submittal. He recommended tabling the item to the next meeting. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Boyer, to approve the table the application for scheduled use of recreational facilities for the Christian Youth Softball Leagues. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent vote (Scott). 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2008 0 Page 2 CONSIDER 2008 SPRING/SUMMER SOCCER/LACROSSE SCHEDULE, CONTINUED Mr. Haas stated that this item had been tabled from the last meeting. All the associations have submitted the required information in regards to the guideline requirements. Copies of those documents were not included in the packet. Any inquiries concerning those documents can be reviewed at anytime by contacting city staff. Since the last meeting, the Chairman has spoken to a representative of each of the associations with an understanding that a schedule had been agreed upon. One change from the previous schedule was that the High School Boys would not have the Jamborees at Prairie Knoll Park as previously approved. Chair Masloski stated the Commission opposed the use of Prairie Knoll Park, but it has been moved to Sunshine Park. There were not any major conflicts, however because there were not enough fields, the City had to look at the fields and the number of residents participating. The schedule was the best at the present time. City Staff personal are speaking with the school district about the sanctioning of Lacrosse for upcoming year 2009. If sanctioned by the district, the high school lacrosse team level would then be able to use the high school fields in future years, and would alleviate some of the pressure on city fields. The Boy's High School Lacrosse needed to be undone at Sunshine Park. 0 Commissioner Kowalewski inquired if there was one completed field. Dawn Lawrence of Boy's High School Lacrosse requested that the fields not be double lined. Mr. Haas responded that Mark Miller of North Metro Soccer Association indicated he would make every effort to schedule games on the other fields, as he was not in favor of double lined fields either. Chair Masloski stated that Mark Miller ofNMSA had expressed concern that the field at Sunshine Park might not be large enough to meet regulations. Mr. Miller answered that they tried a couple years ago to use the South field was not long enough for the boy's high school team. Chair Masloski noted that is was a U-19 field. Chuck Patton, President of the High School Boy's Lacrosse Team, indicated that they were not able to play at Sunshine Park due to the condition in the south half of Sunshine Park and would prefer to go back and schedule games at Prairie Knoll Park. Commissioner Kowalewski questioned why they could not use those parks. Ms. Lawrence responded they needed access to storage enough for a small table, two chairs and a tote and were told they could not use the football storage facility. Commissioner Kowalewski responded that it was possibly an issue in past years, but now 0 the helmets are kept on racks to reduce the amount of space. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2008 0 Page 3 Mr. Haas stated that they lease the space from the City, and it probably remains a security issue for football. Mr. Patton indicated that officials did not want to work the games because of the double lines. He mentioned that they should have a field to play on. Masloski reviewed that they went to Sunshine Park for the storage as football and soccer were leasing the storage areas at Prairie Knoll Park. He noted that they did not have the field dimensions. Mr. Haas stated that the association would have to measure the field. Mr. Miller mentioned if lacrosse needed over 100 yards, then Sunshine Park was not long enough. Chair Masloski stated that there was a range. Ms. Lawrence indicated that Field 2 and Field 3 were supposed to be the same size. Mr. Haas expressed concern about the position of the ditches near the fields. He also added that lacrosse were going to need lighted fields. Ms. Lawrence noted that she asked for more fields because their numbers had doubled. . She expressed concern that the number of fields had not increased, and now they had to deal with the fields that they did have access to were double lined. Mr. Miller stated that he had to line the fields for a game in the past. He reviewed the other fields they 0 currently use in other cities. Chair Masloski stated that the dates of conflict were May 5, 12, and 19,2008. Mr. Miller stated that of the 1200 participants, 611 were Andover residents. Commissioner Hupp noted that there were 22 fields in Oak Grove and that recreational and competitive soccer needed consideration. They had to work together. Mr. Miller' assured the Commission that he would make an effort to accommodate. Ms. Lawrence mentioned that they were a third into their season, and she had a concern that there might be problems midseason. Chair Masloski reiterated to Mr. Miller to make every effort to accommodate during those three weeks. He inquired if they could use Timber Rivers Park. Mr. Miller answered that they could not use it for games. Commissioner Kowalewski noted there was a collaborative adult program at Oak Grove Middle School. Commissioner Boyer inquired about the number of Andover participants on U-19 fields. Mr. Miller responded that there were 4 co-ed teams. 0 Commissioner Boyer asked if they were from allover. Chair Masloski asked for clarification that it was other associations playing their association. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2008 Page 4 0 Mr. Miller answered that it was between associations, and added that they were in need oflate nighttime slots. Commissioner Lindahl inquired about the field conditions other than irrigation and lighting. Mr. Miller answered that they were working with Public Works Parks Department toward collaborative efforts. Chair Masloski questioned the extent that Lacrosse would use Timber Rivers Park. Ms Lawrence responded that there were 51 players with practices. Chair Masloski asked them to rotate back and forth to ease wear and tear on the fields. Mr. Haas mentioned to Ms. Lawrence that there was a chance they could go to the South field, because the City needed to rest the fields. Ms. Lawrence noted that they used a field in Ham Lake. Chair Masloski stated the fields never received a rest, because there weren't enough fields. He believed the Commission needed to realign the parks because Soccer and Lacrosse were expanding. 0 Commissioner Hupp stated that one group was 100% Andover residents with no other options in other cities. He believed there needed to be a more cooperative attitude. He also noted that if people networked they might obtain a good price on irrigation. Mr. Haas requested that people stay off the fields at the present time until they are dry. He also requested that the associations work with the coaches to clean up the fields following their activities. Mr. Miller indicated he needed to know the availability of fields prior to Sunday night, because it was very difficult to reschedule. Mr. Haas stated that Lacrosse needed to measure the fields to see if they would work. Commissioner Butler expressed concern that it must be contingent on field size. Mr. Masloski complimented the association representatives on their professionalism in working out the fields. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Boyer, to approve the 2008 Spring/Summer Soccer/Lacrosse schedule with the amendment of Prairie Knoll to Sunshine. Motion denied on a 3-ayes (Lindahl, Boyer, Masloski), 4-nays (Butler, Hupp, Kowalewski, Scott), O-absent vote. 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2008 Page 5 0 Motion by Butler, seconded by Kowalewski, to approve the 2008 Spring/Summer Soccer/Lacrosse schedule with the amendment of Prairie Knoll to Sunshine contingent on appropriate field size. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, I-nays tIl~pl>l, O-absent vote. UPDATE OF SKATE PARK/08-08/COMMISSIONERS HUPP AND KOWALEWSKI Commissioner Kowalewski stated he spoke with Mary Jo Johnson and they decided that there would be a meeting at the Andover McDonald's this Sunday night, April 6th at 7 p.m. to work at the Skate Park Plan. Commissioner Hupp noted that they had the meeting with the City Council and received acknowledgement to support SpohnRanch for $166,000 skate park. And there also was a good response from some residents that had an interest in the park. They are still need of funding, but were told to move ahead with the project to see if funding can be made available from the private sector. They would consider naming the skate park for those businesses that would donate a large sum of funds. Commissioner Kowalewski suggested going to larger businesses and approach them with grant requests. Commissioner Butler noted that the YMCA partnered with the City for a fee-based park. Commissioner Hupp added that even though we do not envision a fee-based park, it was 0 a valid point. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed outstanding items. CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Hupp recommended to Lacrosse to work together with the soccer association. Mr. Haas indicated a meeting is scheduled with North Metro soccer Association for the next regular meeting in 2 weeks at 7:30 p.m. Commissioner Boyer requested a listing of the dimensions of the soccer fields. Mr. Haas answered that Hawk Ridge Park had one large field but could be split up into smaller sized fields as determined by the soccer association. Commissioner Lindahl stated that he spoke with a few individuals that were at Fox Meadows Park playing Frisbee golf. At the time he was there, there were about 15 individuals playing. He inquired with the individuals about how it was going. He noted that they needed to police themselves. It was well used, and he would hate to see it go away. He believed the concern was language. For stray frisbees, he suggested netting with fly posts as an inexpensive way to solve the problem. Mr. Haas stated that staff was 0 working to redesign the course so that it will not be a problem anymore. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - April 3, 2008 Page 6 0 Commissioner Lindahl stated that it was not known until it is played. He admitted that for a non-conventional sport, it was receiving high use. Commissioner Kowalewski inquired if there was information on mowing, fertilizing and other maintenance on the fields in light of the economy. Mr. Haas indicated he would obtain that information for the next meeting. Commissioner Scott hoped there would not be bitterness between the associations, and admitted it was a difficult situation to have a field deficit. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Hupp, seconded by Boyer, to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 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 0