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Home My WebLink AboutFebruary 17, 1981 " o 0 ~ 01 ANDOVER o PARK COMMISSION ~!EETING - FEBRUARY 17, 1981 MINUTES The Regularly Scheduled Meeting of the Park Commission was called to order by Chairman LeFebvre at 7:40 p.m., Thursday, February 19, 1981, at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Blvd. N.W. Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: tfund, Nichols and Rogers Longbella PARK DEDICATION FEES Wes Mand read the memo dated February 17th from the City Clerk regarding park dedication fees earning interest at 5.5% and asked that copies be made for the rest of the Commission. He felt the $100,000 minimum for a certificate was discriminatory. Glen Rogers stated he thought Coon Rapids bought 6 month treasury notes. He will check on this, adding that Coon Rapids keeps very little in their checking account. Payroll checks are issued on a Thursday but the employees are unable to cash them until Friday in order to give enough time to transfer the funds from savings into checking. The Commission was advised the same holds true with Andover, ie., transfers from savings into checking when the need arises. With almost $47,000 in fees and approximately $20,000 scheduled to come in, the Commission felt they could safely tie up $30,000 for six months. Glen Rogers suggested separate notes or certificates in $10,000 or $15,000 increments with staggered maturity dates. Wes Mand stated a short time ago Twin City Federal was offering $10,000 certificates at 12% interest. Certificates in $100.00 amounts can be purchased, but they do not mature for 2 1/2 years. He doubted, if a small business man or a private party walked into a bank with $10,000, that the bank would refuse the money if this person wanted more than 5.5% interest. Holding a municipality to 5.5% just didn't make sense. If, for some reason, a certificate had to be cashed in early, he thought the penalty would be less than having the money sit in a 5.5% account. MOTION by Mand, seconded by Rogers, to request the City Clerk research the possibility of buying U.S. Treasury Notes in $10,000 or $15,000 increments totalling $30,000 with staggered maturity dates. Motion carried unanimously. Discussion: A question arose as to where these notes are purchased since Andover transacts their business with only one bank. Glen Rogers advised they actually come from the Federal Reserve Bank but can be obtained through any bank. Also, he felt the Council should receive a copy of this memo advising them of the low interest rate being received. Wes Mand agreed stating, if a higher interest rate could be obtained, it would also benefit the other funds, although he didn't know if the money in these funds could be tied up for any length of time. MOTION by Rogers, seconded by Mand, that copies of the memo written to Wes Mand regarding the interest rate be given to the City Council with the recommendation that the feasibility of a higher than 5.5% interest rate be researched. Motion carried unanimously. SIX YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM Chairman LeFebvre asked for direction from Wes Mand as he had never been involved in a capital improvement program. Wes stated the Council is looking for which parks could be developed and what could be done with them - then set up a priority schedule designation which ones to start C=;h. There was also some talk about a bond issue. Glen Rogers commented that due to limitations, a park bond issue would not be feasible in the near future. He added he had never heard of a six year plan, just five year plans. Wes Mand Page #2'- Minutes February 17, 1981 () () thought the Commission would end up depending on park dedication fees and whatever the Council sees fit to provide. ~~~~irman LeFebvre was then furnished a copy of the original five year capital improvement program regarding parks. The equipment portion will have to be changed due to purchases made after the plan was adopted. At the present time Public Works is requesting a front end loader. Glen Rogers suggested purchasing a wing and a dozer blade at the same time. Wes Mand thought, with Chairman LeFebvre agreeing, that some of the park dedication fees should be spent to buy a piece of land in the Kadlec, WObegon, White Oaks area. Glen Rogers felt the Commission should offer to buy Aztec Park from Lary Carlson. Chairman LeFebvre then mentioned the Commission should forget improving Hawk Ridge this year as there is a problem obtaining volunteer help. The backstop in Pine Hills is not finished. Larry Bross had the same problem in that his volunteers disappeared - he ended up hiring two people to install all but the hood extension. Returning to the subject of acquisition and development, Steve Nichols felt certain areas should be completely developed instead of jumping around. Chairman LeFebvre agreed. Wes Mand stated if and when Cedar Crest 4th is developed, parkland could be obtained south of Aztec Park. It might be possible to use the $5800.00 obtained on Oakwood Estates plus cash in lieu of land on the 50 acres Mr. Carlson purchased and then negotiate with him to buy Aztec. In the discussion that followed, No.1 priority would be the boat landing. Pine Hills should be finished. The Public Works Director will be asked to get estimates on the dirt work left to be done in this park. Wes Mand thought Mr. Magnuson would seed it. Chairman LeFebvre stated more research had to be done before a six year plan could be developed. Glen Rogers suggested leveling and seeding Northglen park since most of the money received in park dedication fees came from the shopping center. MOTION by LeFebvre, seconded by Nichols, to continue the subject of the 6 year capital improvement program until further research is done. Motion carried unanimOUSly. Discussion: Mentioned was Chapman's Park had not been considered. Glen Rogers fel~ since this area has some equipment, it should wait until the Woodland Terrace plat comes through. Chairman LeFebvre stated a park tour should be scheduled as soon as the new members are appointed. Sharon Anderson has missed three regularly scheduled meeting so there are now two vacancies. The secretary advised a large ad will appear in the Shopper three times in order to obtain applicants. Wes Mand said, in looking over the list of parks, 1/4 of them can be cross off for development as they are "nature areas". Emphasis should be placed on areas with high density housing. Further discussion involved additional improvements at City Hall. The area between the buildings is currently being leveled. Public Works personnel suggested seeding the area for soccer because people are now playing football on the grass in front of City Hall. Chairman LeFebvre stated the north/south length wasn't long enough. Glen Rogers strongly objected to fields between the building due to the road hazard. Questioned was if City Hall should be a park site due to future expansion. Glen Rogers doubted if there would be any expansion explaining .~the beginning it was planned that eventually the fire department would move out to other \v6ations - then public works would have the entire use of the building. Moving Sharp's garage to City Hall to use as a warming house was then mentioned. Wes felt any warming house at this site should be concrete with a metal door. The garage, if obtained, should stay at the boat Page #3 - Minutes February 17, 1981 (j ( '\ I.J landing site, He also estimated the park's share of a front end loader to be about $25,000, r""?luding interest, or $5,000 a year on a 5 year bond. \. / -' Steve Nichols stated the lights on the skating rink in Northwoods should be turned off since the ice is gone. MINUTE AFFROV AL Glen Rogers asked that Minutes be approved on a regular basis. He then questioned the wording in the January 8, 1981 Minutes under Oakwood Estates....10% of the market value as determined by tax assessment records. Ordinance lOA was checked _ the wording is correct. MOTION by Nichols, seconded by Mand, to approve the January 8, 1981 Minutes as written. Motion carried unanimously. Wes Mand stated the February 5, 1981 Minutes, page #2, under Crooked Lake Boat Landing, should be corrected to read oaks, not pines, cannot be relocated. MOTION by LeFebvre, seconded by Rogers, to approve the February 5, 1981 Minutes as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. MOTION by Rogers, seconded by Nichols, to adjourn. Meeting adjourned 9:30 p.m. Wes Mand subsequently turned over the front door key to Chairman LeFebvre. Respectfully submitted: Rae Ellen Bakke Secretary . " \. )