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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 15, 2009 0 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JANUARY 15,2009 MINUTES The Regular Bi-MontWy Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Butler on January 15,2009, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown BoulevardNW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Ted Butler, Tony Kowalewski, Vice Chair Jim Lindahl, Mark Lindell, Mark Miskowiec, and Shan Ramnath. Commissioners Absent: Bill Hupp. Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas. Parks Maintenance Supervisor, Kevin Starr SWEARING IN OF OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE NEW PARK COMMISSIONERS 0 The new Park Commissioners were sworn in by Chair Butler. RESIDENT FORUM There were no comments at this time. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Kowalewski, to close the resident forum. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Hupp) vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no changes. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Kowalewski, to approve the December 18, 2008 Park Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 3-ayes, O-nays, 3-present (Lindell, Miskowiec, Ramnath), I-absent (Hupp) vote. CONSIDER 2009 TOURNAMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SOFTBALL/BASEBALL Mr. Haas explained this item is in regard to considering the attached softballlbaseball tournament applicant forms for the upcoming 2009 softball/baseball season as requested by the Andover Athletic Association and the Andover Baseball Association. 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 15, 2009 Page 2 0 Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Lindell, to approve the tournament application fOlms from the Andover Baseball Association and the Andover Athletic Association. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Hupp) vote. CONSIDER 2009 TOURNAMENT APPLICATIONS FOR SOCCER/LACROSSE Mr. Haas stated this item is in regard to the status of soccer/lacrosse tournament application forms for the upcoming 2009 soccer/lacrosse season. Mr. Haas stated he has not received any applications to date from these associations. CONSIDER CHANGES/GUIDELINES FOR FIELD USAGE BY YOUTH TASK FORCE, CONT. Mr. Haas stated this item was tabled from last meeting of December 18,2008 to allow city staff to contact the groups and associations and invite them to this meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the Guidelines for Field Usage by Youth AtWetic Associations in regards to a damage deposit fee for cleanup of park after use by the associations. Mr. Kevin Starr, Park Maintenance Supervisor, stated the problems they have had with the fields is mostly litter. He thought ifthe associations could clean up the fields after 0 use it would be helpful. He also noted there was fence damage due to the "pepper drill". Commissioner Kowalewski asked if there has been any issue with the Andover Station North. Mr. Starr stated there is some damaged fences with the "pepper drills" there so they had to replace some of the fences. Commissioner Lindell asked to have the "pepper drill" explained. Mr. Starr explained what is involved in a "pepper drill". Commissioner Lindell stated they couldn't just replace a backstop; the entire fencing for that section needs to be replaced. Mr. Steve Gompertz, 15098 Yellow Pine Street, stated he know the new president of the Andover Athletic Association (AAA). He stated they were against any more fees of this sort because they have tried to create a very good partnership with the City and help out by dragging the fields, lining them and they do try to communicate with the coaches and players on keeping the fields clean. He stated one of their concerns is how would they identify where the damage or trash came from. Prom his perspective they are doing what they need to do make sure the fields are cleaned up and followed up. They do not know what happens when they leave the field and how they are going to tie it to a particular organization and why then they would tax all of them. His other concern is that he is not clear on what is the acceptable level of cleanliness for the fields. Mr. Starr asked if the lights could be turned off on the fields as soon as possible because 0 that will help the costs out a lot. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 15, 2009 0 Page 3 Mr. Steve Windsperger, former director of girls and boys and co-ed softball for AAA, 14645 Argon Street, Ramsey, stated they met with the Park and Recreation Commission in the spring 2008 and discussed things that needed to be addressed. They had their coaches meeting early in the spring and went over all issues with them. When practices started from the end of April to August, they were shutting off the lights on the fields if they were not being used. They were also working with the concession staffto get lights shut off too. He stated during tournaments they were continually cleaning up the fields and bleachers and paying kids to collect garbage also. He stated as they were there later they were instructing the coaches and kids to clean out the dug outs and throw things away. There is a lot of interaction with the coaches during the season to make sure the fields stayed clean. He noted pets are still and issue and he has stopped some of the "pepper drills" so he did not think the softball association was doing them anymore. Mr. Mike Keeney, Andover Baseball Association Facilities Director, 1493 1551h Lane NW, Andover, stated they as a Board encourage their coaches not to do the "pepper drill". He stated one of the things he has noticed on Andover Station North is during tournaments at Pov's they have many ofthe teams come to the fields to practice and do "pepper drills" on the fences. He stated that is doing a lot more damage than the baseball "pepper drills" are doing. He stated they are working with their coaches not to do those drills along with the litter pick up. 0 Mr. Pat Wilson, AAA Softball Director for girls, 991 140lh Lane, Andover, stated he has never seen the "pepper drill" being done in softball so he thought their biggest issue was litter. He stated he will be intensely involved in that this year and each game will be assigned with the person responsible for cleanup of both sides. Chair Butler stated one thing that comes to mind is staff is working under a tight budget and cleaning up takes away from what could be done to maintain and improve the parks in more important ways. He wondered if on the flip side of it he looked at this as how much of it is simply a cost of doing business as a City and operating a park system that there is going to be some of this stuff, especially when you cannot necessarily directly assign blame to one group or the other when you have the general public using the fields as well. He also wondered if there were other cities that have set up damage deposits for when associations use fields. Mr. Haas stated each city is different, some cities have a fee to cover the maintenance costs which helps pay for some of their part time summer help and right now they do not have that luxury because the City does not charge the associations to use the facilities. They are hoping the associations will step up and take pride and ownership and try to help out staff as much as they can because they are trying to do more with less. Commissioner LindaW did not think any ofthe associations were up for putting up money. 0 Chair Butler wondered if the associations could get together with park staff to set up some type of schedule for clean up by the associations. Commissioner Lindahl agreed Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 15, 2009 0 Page 4 and thought ifthere was an incident the park staff could email the association with the incident for future improvement. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Lindell, to not implement the damage escrow for this season but take the actions discussed and implement them as another honor system. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, 1 absent (Hupp) vote. Commissioner Lindahl stated the one thing the high school does with the athletics as far as football and other groups is the coaches gets all the families in there and has a meeting to run through what needs to be done before leaving a field. Mr. Kelly Gothier stated they have huge tournaments and they have coaches come up and tell them how nice Sunshine Park facility is. He stated they are thankful for Mr. Starr and the Public Works Maintenance staff for keeping the facility as nice as it is. UPDATE IN REGARDS TO SCOREBOARDS@EVELAND FIELDS/ANDOVER HIGH SCHOOL, CONTINUED Mr. Haas updated the Commission on the scoreboards for the south field at Eveland Fields west of Andover High School. CONSIDER REQUEST FOR FUNDINGIKELSEY ROUND LAKE PARK 0 ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION/05-46 Mr. Haas stated in 2005, the City of Andover received a grant in the amount of$50,000 from the Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological Services to improve the ecological, social and aesthetic value of parts of Kelsey Round Lake Park. The City was also awarded $9,964 through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) to further aid in these efforts. This was to be accomplished by restoring native prairie plants in the open area and removing buckthorn and introducing native trees in the woodland areas. Chair Butler asked the timing sensitivity was on this. Ifthey hold off in 2009, do they lose ground on the restoration work that has been done or do they keep what they have and move forward from there. Mr. Haas stated his impression was it could be held off until 2010 without any problems, as there could potentially be funds available to this sort of thing from the constitutional amendment that was recently approved last November of 2008. Commissioner Kowalewski thought if the prairie plantings have been started they may want to continue working on it to get it going because it does take time. Mr. Haas noted it has been three years since the plantings were started. Commissioner Lindahl stated from his knowledge of this, he did not think a year was 0 going to be a huge thing. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - January 15, 2009 0 Page 5 Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Miskowiec, to hold off at this point and do not allocate $5,000 for ongoing IPM work for the 2009 growing season to aid in the development of the prairie grasslands. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Hupp) vote. ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT 4TH QUARTERLY REPORT The Commission was updated on the 4th Quarter Sheriffs Department Report. PARK DEDICATION IMPROVEMENT FUND 4TH QUARTER/FINANCE DEPARTMENT The Commission was updated on the 4th Quarter Improvement Fund from the Finance Department. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed outstanding items. CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Kowalewski stated winter sports are going on. The Andover wrestling C team took second place last weekend. Commissioner Lindell introduced himself to the public. Commissioner Lindahl indicated he did not have anything to report. Commissioner Miskowiec introduced himselfto the public. Commissioner Ramnath introduced himselfto the public. Chair Butler welcomed the new Commissioners. He stated he served on the Community Education Advisory Council for Anoka Hennepin Schools and an event they had last weekend at Coon Rapids Middle School was Community Wellness Day. They had several hundred people come out for this event and will probably become an annual event for them. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Miskowiec, seconded by Lindahl, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Hupp) vote. Respectfully Submitted, 0 Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.