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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 17, 2011C I T Y O F a ND OVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Regular Park & Recreation Commission Meeting February 17, 2011 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident Forum 3. Approval of Minutes (1/20/11) 4. Update from North Metro Soccer Association 5. Update of 2011 Park CIP and Future Playground Equipment Replacement Status 6. Update of Skate Park/08 -08, Cont. 7. Discuss Events in City Parks, Cont. 8. Update of Maintenance /Inventory of Trees in Parks System 9. Outstanding Items 10. 11. Chair's Report 12. Adjournment Eft] 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. , ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 - (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 - WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US PARKANO RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — FEBR UA R Y 17, 2011 MINUTES The Regular Bi- Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Butler on February 17, 2011, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Ted Butler, Tony Kowalewski, Vice Chair Jim Lindahl, Andrew Melberg, Mark Miskowiec, and Shaun Van Vark. Commissioners Absent: Shan Ramnath Also Present: Assistant Public Works Director, Todd Haas Others 10 RESIDENT FORUM There were no comments at this time. Motion by Miskowiec, seconded by Lindahl, to close the resident forum. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent vote ( Ramnath). APPROVAL OFMINUTES There were no changes. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Melberg, to approve the January 20, 2011 Park Commission minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent vote ( Ramnath). APPROVAL OFAGENDA Motion by Miskowiec, seconded by Melberg, to add as Item 4A Consider Request to include Grow Oak View Park in Management Plan for Martin's Meadows. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent vote ( Ramnath). H Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes —February 17, 2011 Page 2 © UPDATE FROM NORTH METRO SOCCER ASSOCL4TION Ms. Barb Anderson, President of North Metro Soccer Association, will be at the meeting to give an update on association and things that may be going on and also answer any questions the Park Commission may have about the program and upcoming season. Ms. Anderson provided the Mission Statement for the North Metro Soccer Association. She thanked the City for staff's support throughout the year for the soccer program. She provided participant numbers for the various Cities they serve. Andover has the largest number of participants. She thanked Mark Miller of North Metro for his help with developing the Hawk Ridge Park fields. Chair Butler thanked the Soccer Association for working so well with the City and the LaCrosse organization. Commissioner Lindahl asked if there has been an increase in the younger ages. Ms. Anderson stated they have had increases in both the younger ages and also in the older age groups (13 -18 year olds). Commissioner Lindahl asked where the fields are located that are used and Ms. Anderson stated Andover, Ham Lake and Oak Grove, mainly Andover fields. Mr. Scott Skrypek gave a report on the fields used. Commissioner Kowalewski commended North Metro Soccer Association for building the program as they have. Ms. Anderson stated they currently have a Director of Coaching and a Player Development Director who are both volunteers. CONSIDER REQUEST TO INCL UDE GROW OAK VIEW PARK IN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR MARTIN'S MEADOWS Mr. Haas reviewed the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to consider a request from the Open Space Commission to include Grow Oak View Park in the management plan for Martin's Meadows. A copy of the request was provided for Commission review. Grow Oak View Park is located in the northwest part of the city east of Roanoke Street NW (CSAH 7) on Navajo Street NW just south of 173` Avenue NW. The park was donated as part of the platting of Grow Oak View back in 1977, the park is undeveloped with some steeper slopes, wetlands and wooded areas. The park as dedicated is really more of a natural area that abuts up to the Rum River. The park per the park comprehensive plan is not anticipated to have any future facilities. Mr. Haas requested the Park & Recreation Commission consider accepting the idea to include Grow Oak View Park in the management plan for Martin's Meadows as requested by the Open Space Commission. Chair Butler stated Grow Oak View Park fits in well with what the Open Space Commission is doing. Commissioner Lindahl stated it would be good to work together to address the park. Commissioner Miskowiec asked what this would include and Mr. Haas responded it will add trails to allow access. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — February 17, 2011 Page 3 u Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Kowalewski, to include Grow Oak View Park in the management plan for Martin's Meadows as requested by the Open Space Commission. UPDATE OF 2011 PARK CIP AND FUTURE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT STATUS Chair Butler reviewed he attended a recent City Council Workshop Meeting where the 2011 Park CIP and future playground equipment replacement status was discussed. A draft of the City Council Workshop Meeting minutes of January 25, 2011 was provided. Staff provided the current approved CIP for parks that have been proposed for replacement for 2011 -2015. As per the CIP, Nordeen's and Timber Trails Park are scheduled for replacement in 2011. The approved budget for playground equipment replacement is $45,000. Mr. Haas suggested the Park Commission may want to discuss this further at a future Commission Meeting Workshop in March 2011. The Council requested the Commission develop a philosophy on what should go into rural vs. higher density parks and survey the residents to see what they would like to have in the parks. Commissioner Miskowiec asked if it would be a survey of all residents city -wide or © limited. Chair Butler stated the plan would be to survey residents close to the parks being discussed. Commissioner Miskowiec suggested a city -wide survey be done regarding all parks within the City. Mr. Haas stated there was a city wide survey done a few years ago. Chair Butler suggested a workshop session be scheduled and Mr. Haas research when the last survey was actually done. Mr. Haas suggested an online survey may be a good choice. Mr. Haas suggested a neighborhood meeting be held when talking about a specific park. Commissioner Van Vark stated an important part of a survey would be what resident's would like to see now and also 5 years from now. Commissioner Lindahl suggested the schools be contacted for demographic information. Chair Butler suggested the workshop session be held after the first March Commission Meeting. Mr. Haas stated the comprehensive plan will include parks and work will begin shortly with an estimated completion date by the end of March. Commissioner Kowalewski asked if there is a list available of vandalism occurring in parks. H Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes —February 17, 2011 Page 4 © UPDATE OF SKATE PARK/08 -08, CONTT, Mr. Haas provided an update to the Skate Park Improvements. This item was tabled from the last meeting regarding the appointment to serve on the Skate Park Task Force. As mentioned at the last meeting, since Commissioner Hupp did not reapply to serve another term on the Commission, the Commission should consider appointing a Commissioner to serve on the Skate Park Task Force with Commissioner Kowalewski. Commissioner Van Vark has expressed interest in serving on the Task Force. Mr. Haas reviewed some of the items the Task Force will address are: Re- evaluate the skate park rules. Meet with the youth to look at various ways of raising funds for additional equipment. Look at the possibility of having skate board competitions. Update the Park Commission regarding the status of the skate park construction activities and assembly of the equipment. Mr. Haas noted the installation of equipment will not happen until about a week after the concrete slab has been constructed. The Park and Recreation Commission are requested to appoint a Commissioner on the Task Force and determine the type of activities that should be considered. 1 0 Commissioner Melberg asked why this was tabled at the last meeting. Chair Butler stated the question was whether the Task Force was needed. Now that there are specific issues to address he recommends the Task Force go on through year end and Commissioner Van Vark be appointed. Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Kowalewski, to keep the Task Force in place until end of 2011 and to appoint Commissioner Van Vark to the Skate Park Task Force. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent vote ( Ramnath). DISCUSS EVENTS IN CITY PARKS, CONT. Mr. Haas reviewed this item was discussed at the Park Commission Workshop Meeting of January 20, 2011. Based on the discussion, the following Commissioners appear to have committed into checking into the following events or activities: Commissioner Van Vark — Skate park contest during the Andover Fun Fest. Commissioner Kowalewski — Work with the local Boy Scout groups to build bird houses /boxes. Commissioners Melberg and Ramnath — Check into geocaching in some of the city parks. H Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — February 17, 2011 Page 5 © Commissioner Lindahl — Would check into idea of having organized bike ride on trails through the parks. Commissioner Van Vark suggested a skateboard camp be offered such as a one -day camp. Chair Butler asked who the sponsoring organization would be and Commissioner Van Vark suggested the YMCA or the Community Center. The other activity he suggested is the summer series which includes 15 events across the Twin Cities. This year's sponsor is the MN State Fair where the overall championship would be held. He stated Third Lair saw the plans for Andover's skate park and thought it would be a good spot for one of the summer series events. The cost for that would be $500 with a $10 entry fee per participant. Third Lair also has a demo team and they would be willing to do a few demos. Commissioner Van Vark suggested the demo be first, the summer series second followed by the camp. Commissioner Van Vark stated he would be the focal point for organizing this. Councilmember Melberg suggested area businesses may help sponsor. Chair Butler showed his support for all three events. Commissioner Van Vark spoke with the Fun Fest organizers and they said it would not affect them. Mr. Haas suggested he and Commissioner Van Vark meet with the City Administrator to discuss. Commissioner Kowalewski reported he has given this some thought and he would teach © the scout leaders to make the bluebird boxes who would in turn teach the scouts. A link could be added to the City website. He would obtain a list of the scout leaders from the elementary school. Commissioner Kowalewski will write a letter to Menards asking for donations of supplies. There is approximately 8 weeks before the bluebirds return. Commissioner Melberg did some internet research and found there are 9000 geocache sites in Minnesota and there are sites in Andover. He had a suggestion of making a sort of scavenger hunt with clues in the Andover capsules. The cost would be minimal. The 66 locations could be listed on the Andover website. Commissioner Lindahl stated he has not had an opportunity to research the organization of a bike ride on trails. Chair Butler and Commissioner Miskowiec offered their assistance on any of these projects. UPDATE OF MAINTENANCEIINVENTORY OF TREES IN PARKS SYSTEM Mr. Haas reviewed this items is an update of maintenance and status of inventory of trees in the City's Park System. Trees may need periodic maintenance to ensure long -term health and proper growing habits. This will also lead to safer trees, which are less prone to failing (branches breaking or trees falling). Various insect and disease problems © continue to threaten our park trees. The most notable pest is the Emerald Ash Borer Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes —February 17, 2011 Page 6 © (EAB). This will greatly impact our parks. Staff is doing an inventory of our parks and is keeping a log of maintenance being performed and anticipating the effects of EAB. Staff is currently going thru the City parks and performing pruning and removals of trees that need attention. Deadwood is being removed from select trees to create safer parks and improve the aesthetics. Many young trees are also being pruned. One form of this is called "training pruning" which helps dictate the growth habit. This is being done for the reasons already mentioned above. Ash trees are being inventoried to determine the effect EAB will have on our parks. EAB is a devastating, invasive killer of ash trees. It was first found in the U.S. back in 2002, where it was found near Detroit, Michigan. Since then, it has spread to several other states and Canadian provinces and has killed millions of trees. It was first found in Minnesota (St. Paul) in 2009, and was found in Minneapolis in 2010. It now threatens to spread to the suburbs and greater Minnesota. EAB will impact Andover, as ash has been heavily planted. Periodic, cyclical maintenance to our park trees will save money over the long run. Trees will live longer and need less long -term maintenance if they are properly maintained. EAB will eventually kill out ash trees. These trees will need to be removed and many parks will benefit from being re- planted with a variety of other native tee species. Chair Butler suggested trees be planted in the parks for Arbor Day. Volunteers should call Kameron Kytonen if they are interested in helping plant trees. Commissioner Lindahl stated the Anoka County Conservation District has an annual tree sale. Information will also be included in the newsletter. Commissioner Kowalewski asked if there is any treatment for EAB. Mr. Haas did not know and suggested Kameron Kytonen be contacted. Commissioner Miskowiec asked how many trees are actually needed per park. The report states "needs trees" and he questioned how many were needed. Commissioner Lindahl asked if the City had a spade and Mr. Haas stated it is borrowed from the County but is difficult to get as it is used frequently. OUTSTANDING ITEMS Mr. Haas reviewed the outstanding items providing updates on On -Going Projects, On- Hold Projects, Task Force Updates and Other Items of Interest. Commissioner Lindahl asked about the cell phone towers. He stated he read an article stating new towers will not be built as they can be put on street light poles. H Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes — February 17, 2011 Page 7 ® CHAIR'S REPORT Commissioner Kowalewski congratulated the Andover Alpine Ski Team and Nordic Ski Team on their competition today. Chair Butler stated Hockey Day Minnesota was a good event. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Lindahl, seconded by Miskowiec, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Motion carried on a 6 -ayes, 0 -nays, 1- absent vote (Ramnath). Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.