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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 19, 2009 0 5'\NDbVE~ PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - MARCH 19,2009 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Butler on March 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Bill Hupp, Tony Kowalewski, Vice Chair Jim Lindahl, Mark Miskowiec, and Shan Rarnnath. Commissioners Absent: Mark Lindell Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas. 0 RESIDENT FORUM There were no comments at this time. Motion by Hupp, seconded by Miskowiec, to close the resident forum. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no changes. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Hupp, to approve the February 19,2009 Park Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, O-present, 1- absent (Lindell) vote. CONSIDER 2009 SPRING/SUMMER SOFTBALL/BASEBALL SCHEDULE Mr. Haas explained this item is in regard to considering approval ofthe 2009 spring/summer softbalUbaseball schedule. Motion by Kowalewski, seconded by Lindahl, to approve the 2009 softballlbaseball schedule. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-March 19,2009 0 Page 2 CONSIDER 2009 SPRING/SUMMER SOCCER/LACROSSE SCHEDULE Mr. Haas explained this item is in regard to considering approval of the 2009 spring/summer soccer/lacrosse schedule. Motion by Hupp, seconded by Ramnath, to approve the 2009 soccer/lacrosse schedule as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. CONSIDER REQUEST FOR SUPPORT OF NEW LEGISLATION/CITY OF HAM LAKE Mr. Haas explained the Chairperson ofthe City of Ham Lake Park and Recreation Commission has requested to be on the agenda to talk to the Andover Park Commissioners about new legislation that they would like to be considered at the State Capital. Mr. Mel Aanerud, Chair ofthe Ham Lake Park Commission explained the reason why they were asking for Andover to support the request for new legislation. He explained how the new legislation would work. Commissioner Hupp wondered how this would be assessed and who would it be assessed 0 to. Mr. Aanerud stated however they would do it, if the City had a plan, they could assess the entire city or just the area that would benefit from this. The legislation has enough options in it to do many things. Chair Butler noted the City is not planning on assessing anyone; they are just looking at the proposed legislation that would allow cities to use this additional tool to finance parks. This is something the City could do in the future if the legislation would pass but that would be up to the City Council if they would like to use legislation. Commissioner Hupp asked at what level of government would this be assessed at and where does the authority lie. Mr. Aanerud stated this is a local option and the cities can decide if they want to do it by ordinance or by a vote of the people. Commissioner Hupp asked if this could be implemented at a County level where they could assess the city. Mr. Aanerud stated that could happen. Chair Butler stated the County can make improvements now and raise the property taxes to pay for that. This is just another tool that is not currently available as of yet for counties and cities to help pay for park improvements. He thought this could be a site specific plan if they wanted it to be. Mr. Aanerud agreed. Commissioner Lindahl thought they could run into some adversary because ofthe 3/8 tax bill that has already going for this which is not site specific. He stated people could be in 0 opposition ofthis. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 19, 2009 0 Page 3 The Commission discussed some of the parks that this proposed legislation could be used for. Commissioner Hupp wondered ifthey could postpone acting on this to get more information because he would like a more informed view. Commissioner Miskowiec stated he would like to get more information also because he did not know if this would hamper them on any spending. Mr. Aanerud stated the assessment does not eliminate any other method that they would have for funding. The Commission continued to discuss reasons why the item should be tabled. Commissioner Lindahl thought this was a good concept and his concern is they already have the 3/8 amendment out there that does address parks, trails and recreation for them that people voted in and people will be leery if they put this before them and this is more local control. He did not think they will see anything from the State because the 3/8 amendment is directly controlled by the legislature. He would like to see how that plays out before he would endorse something like this. Motion by Hupp, seconded by Miskowiec, to table this item for further research. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, I-nays (Butler), I-absent (Lindell) vote. 0 REVIEW DRAFT FEASIBILITY REPORT/09-14/IRRIGATION OF PARKS Mr. Haas explained the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to review the draft cost estimate for the parks chosen by the Commission to be potentially irrigated, Project 09-14. Mr. Haas reviewed the information with the Commission. Commissioner Hupp stated under "Annual Expenditures of Water" there are a few parks listed and he wondered if they were connected with water on those parks. Mr. Haas stated that these parks were not connected to city but the option is there to consider that but there would be a cost to purchase City water. Commissioner Hupp asked if the amounts were what they would save if they used a well at those sites. Mr. Haas stated they have to remember that private wells such as these will not last forever so there would be fewer wells in the future to rebuild if city water was used. Mr. Haas noted on the operation and maintenance expenses he needed to double check to see if they were supposed to include the costs under the City portion. 0 Chair Butler asked if they could visit the parks in the next couple of months and then have a worksession where they could hammer out how they want to prioritize these and Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes-March 19,2009 0 Page 4 send the recommendation to the Council because of the new Commissioners. Mr. Hass stated they could. Commissioner Kowalewski wondered how long it would take to recoup the costs on some ofthese parks. Commissioner Miskowiec asked if there was list of the parks that were cUlTently ilTigated because he thought there might be higher priority parks out there other than the ones on the list and the money might be better spent there such as Hawkridge Park. Mr. Haas stated that is not included as one of the six parks because the Park Commission has chosen it for potential redevelopment over the next few years. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Hupp, to table this item to get more information. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. CONSIDER APPLICATION FOR SCHEDULED USE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES/MINNESOTA THUNDER Mr. Haas explained this item is in regard to considering a request by the Minnesota Thunder to hold a soccer camp at Sunshine Park. 0 Chair Butler wondered if there were any issues with this group last year. Mr. Haas noted the only problem they had was the payment and this year he indicated to the applicant that they will not accept an application without a check. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Hupp, to approve the application for scheduled use of recreational facilities as requested by the Minnesota Thunder. Motion carried on a 6- ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. UPDATE OF THE CITY HALL CAMPUS OUTDOOR HOCKEY RINKS, PROJECT 09-16 Mr. Haas explained this item is an update in regards to the new City Hall Campus Outdoor Hockey Rinks that will be located just to the west of the water treatment plant on the north side of the Crosstown Boulevard NW. Mr. Haas reviewed the information with the Commission. Commissioner Miskowiec asked ifthere will be screening done to protect the privacy of the adjacent homeowner. Mr. Haas stated they have talked to the property owner and there is a tree line there and the City is going to do whatever they can do to protect them. They have actually staked the property and know where the tree line will be. They will try to transplant as many trees as possible to the east side of the home for additional 0 buffer. They did also explain to the homeowner that it will be noisy and there will probably be some lighting issues and the property owner has asked the City to do what they can do to minimize that amount of light that would shine in that direction. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 19, 2009 0 Page 5 Commissioner Miskowiec asked if the rink will only be for the Andover Huskies or will there also be open skate. Mr. Haas stated the whole idea is to take the hockey rink from Hawkridge and bring it down to this site to save on time and money. They have explained to the association that they will still make sure that the public will have time to use the facility. Commissioner Hupp asked if they were planning on putting anything in the building. Mr. Haas explained what the building would be used for. Commissioner Hupp asked ifthe building would be installed in conjunction with the rinks going up. Mr. Haas stated he could not answer that. Mr. Tony Howard, 2119 156th Lane, stated they are currently looking at constructing an all masonry building and they are looking for donations. The whole thought process is to get indoor boards outside with a large warming house. He stated there will be open ice hours and scheduled with the current ice director. Commissioner Lindahl asked what is the percent of increase the hockey association has seen with youth hockey. Mr. Howard stated it was ten percent per year. They are close to 475 kids now. 0 Commissioner Kowalewski asked if there was going to be a concern with pucks flying over the boards and hitting kids while free skating. Mr. Haas explained they will have fencing at both ends of the rink. Commissioner Miskowiec stated the expected life span of this park is going to be between ten and fifteen years but they want to construct a permanent structure. He wondered how that would work. Mr. Haas stated there is no commitment to make this as a permanent site. The City could redevelop the site in ten to fifteen years but it could stay longer. Commissioner Miskowiec asked what will happen to the building in ten to fifteen years if they decide to redevelop the site. Mr. Howard stated the thought process is to make it a permanent structure because they would need to rent two temporary structures in order to fit more than one team in there and they also want to use the building for a possible zamboni to clean the ice. Commissioner Hupp stated he liked the idea ofthis plan and similar to the rink in Blaine. Commissioner Lindahl asked what the source of funding was for this as far as lighting. Mr. Howard stated they have not figured this out yet. 0 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - March 19, 2009 0 Page 6 UPDATE OF SKATE PARK/08-08/COMMISSIONERS HUPP & KOWALEWSKI Commissioner Hupp stated the skate park is on hold at this time because the funds are tight but the letters are ready to be sent out. He stated Commissioner Kowalewski has been working with Shaun Van Vark on developing a solicitation plan. The funds are not out there right now to substantiate what little they have and will be a couple of years before the project can be completed. Commissioner Kowalewski stated he talked to Mr. Haas and Mr. VanVark concerning this matter and Mr. Van Vark has approached some of the businesses in the City and they felt with the economy the way it is now, it is hard for these businesses to donate. Chairperson Butler suggested they have a worksession in the future where they can talk about the irrigation on this at the same time and they can strategize their plan once they start getting some funding in again. UPDATE OF HAWKRIDGE PARK Hr. Haas updated the Commission on Hawkridge Park. REVIEW OUTSTANDING ITEMS 0 Mr. Haas reviewed outstanding items with the Commission. CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Kowalewski thanked the Andover Husky basketball team coach for a great season. Commissioner Butler stated at the Community Center this weekend, March 21,2009 they are hosting the North Suburban Home Improvement Show from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the field house. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Hupp, seconded by Lindahl, to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, O-nays, I-absent (Lindell) vote. Respectfully Submitted, Susan Osbeck, Recording Secretary 0 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.