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01/06/1997 - 00007862CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING - JANUARY 6, 1997 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the January 6, 1997 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Members Absent Others Present Dave Kondrick Marcy Sibell Sue Price Dick Young Tim Solberg 7ack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Paul Lawrence, Public Works Superintendent APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 2, 1996 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES. MOTION by Mr.Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the minutes of the December 2, 1996 meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR JANUARY 6, 1997 MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the agenda as written. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk called the commission members' attention to two items involving the senior citizens. First, was the wreath sales fundraising project just completed prior to the holiday season. The seniors generated appro�mately $3,000 from this effort. With the Community Park Concession, Bob's Produce Concession, and the wreath sales combined, it turned out to be a good year for their fundraising. The seniors should be able to put their money to good use with some furnishing for the new Community Education Center facilities. The second item was the Lions Club sponsored Holiday Dinner for the senior citizens. There were 475 seniors served at the Kelly Inn on Tuesday, December 10, 1996. The Lions pay for the meals and entertainment, and also help serve the guests. The Lions have been a good supporter of the Senior Citizens Program and the Recreation and Natural Resource Department program again this year. In Parks & Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 6, 1997 Pa�e 2 addition to the Senior Holiday Dinner, the Lions supported the Senior Transportation program, donated money and installed the new sand volleyball courts, and sponsored the annual Family Turkey Shoot. Mr. Kirk further stated that we are fortunate to have a generous organization like the Lions in our community. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lawrence stated that staff has been busy with snow removal and ice rink maintenance. Unusual weather has made things difficult, but they are continuing to work hard to support the skating program. Mr. Lawrence further stated that the ice was in good condition until this past weekend. The rain and slush ruined the good ice conditions, however, with a break in the weather the goal is to have the rinks back in good shape by the end of the week. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. 1997 Softball League Fees Mr. Kirk stated that staff has included a memo in the commission packet with the recommended fees for the 1997 softball leagues. The recommended fees are a$10 increase from 1996 to reflect a slight increase in umpire wages. Our fees are very competitive with the surrounding communities on a per game bases for the adult softball program. Mr. Kirk stated that he recommends a$20 increase in the Fall Softball fees as part of this proposal. Mr. Solberg asked why the Women's League for a 14 game season is less cost than the Men's League ($325 vs. $350). Mr. Kirk stated he would provide a breakdown on the cost of these two leagues at the ne�t meeting. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Young to approve the adult softball league fees as recommended by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Park Service Area Study Mr. Kondrick stated he would like the commission to continue discussion from the last meeting on the Park Service Area Project. The commission should start reviewing each of the park service areas and recommend an action plan for maintaining or improving service to each park area. Mr. Kirk stated he would like to address the first ten park service areas tonight and get commission input for the action plan. Each area has been evaluated for the amount of park land available and distance from the park land for the residents being served. This analysis was based upon the standards for the Park Service Project established by the Parks & Recreation Commission at the November, 1996 meeting. Mr. Kirk wanted to remind the commission that the action plan can be modified or added to at any time in the future for each area, so this initial look at the park areas is not the final opportunity to provide input. Parks & Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 6, 1997 Pa�e 3 The Commission Action Plan for the park service areas should include the following recommendations: 1. Sprin�brook Apartments Area a. Continue to provide access to the Springbrook Nature Center property from the Springbrook Apartments property. b. Promote development of the bikeway/walkway system along 85t'` Avenue to link this area with the entrance to Springbrook Nature Center and to link a bikeway with the University Avenue corridor route. c. Consider future funding of play equipment structures in the area based upon demographics in the park service area study. d. Promote a bikeway/walkway system link with the Springbrook Nature Center entrance and the Regional Trail system that travels along East River Road and the Mississippi River. 2. Glencoe & Sprin�brook Parks Area a. Encourage development and upkeep of the bikeway/walkway linkage to Riverview Heights Park and the entire East River Road bikeway/walkway regional system. b. Determine the need for basketball courts at both locations since the parks at in such close pro�mity. [If a court is removed at Springbrook Park, look at a picnic shelter and picnic tables to be installed.] c. Overlay the asphalt basketball court at Glencoe and install new basketball hoops, poles, and color- coat the surface. d. Install benches near the basketball court area at Glencoe. e. Provide landscaping at Glencoe park with trees as a buffer to adjacent properties. f. Possibly include the Glencoe/Springbrook park service area with the Riverview Heights and Craig Park service areas as an entire park district when planning future facilities. 3. Ruth Circle Park Area a. Install new playground equipment in 1998 as identified in the 5 Year Capital Improvement Program. b. Put the tennis court facility on a regular upgrade and maintenance schedule. c. Consider replacing the park shelter building with a new facility to be scheduled in the 5 Year Capital Improvement Program. d. Remove and replace the landscape planting by the park sign. e. Consider improving the infield of the softball field by installing an ag-lime surface. 4. Crai� & Riverview Hei�hts Parks a. Complete the walking trail on the south end of Riverview Heights Park in 1997. b. Install a canoe launch in Riverview Heights with easy access to the parking area in 1997. c. Remove the old Findell House/park building at Riverview Heights, due to continued vandalism at the site, and replace with an open-air picnic shelter. d. Put the court areas at Craig Park on a regular upgrade and replacement schedule in the Capital Improvement Plan. e. Install new playground equipment at Craig Park in 1999 as per the Parks Capital Improvement Program. f. Improve the drainage and upgrade the softball area infield to provide for a more usable facility g. Redo the fence around the e�sting tennis court, and provide new posts and mesh fabric. Parks & Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 6, 1997 Pa�e 4 h. Consider combining the park service area with the Glencoe/Springbrook park service area as a combined park service district. 5. Madsen Park a. Plan for a permanent warming house/park shelter building to be scheduled in the 5 Year Parks Capital Improvement Program. b. Install new playground equipment and ADA surfacing in 1999 as per the Capital Improvement Program. c. Place the court areas on a regular upgrade and maintenance schedule. d. Consider combining the Madsen Park area with Woodcrest Elementary as a park service district. 6. Woodcrest Elementarv a. Place the court areas on a regular upgrade and maintenance schedule. b. Cooperative with the School District on maintaining the play equipment for neighborhood use. c. Promote use of the school playground area by the neighborhood as a neighborhood park. d. Upgrade the outdoor play area with cooperation from school personnel. A suggestion would be to remove the asphalt track border on the eastern edge of the play area. Also, consider upgrading the softball field area at the school. 7. Central Trailer Park Area a. Include this area with the Flanery Park service area. b. Promote the Central Avenue bikeway/walkway system to link this area with the regional trails and other city and county facilities. 8. Flanerv Park a. Install new park playground equipment in the year 2000 according to the Parks Capital Improvement-Program. b. Place the court areas on a regular upgrade and maintenance schedule. c. Upgrade both softball infields with additional ag-lime. d. Replace the fence fabric on the north softball field backstop. 9. Norton Avenue Area a. Include this area in the Flanery and/or Rice Creek Townhouse park service areas. b. Promote the Central Avenue bikeway system to link this area with regional trails and other city and county facilities. 10. Lo�an Park a. Place the court areas on a regular upgrade and maintenance schedule. b. Add ag-lime to the softball field infield. c. Consider removing vines from the north end of the tennis courts. Mr. Kondrick asked the commission members to review the ne�t ten park service areas for discussion at the February commission meeting. Parks & Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 6, 1997 Pa�e 5 MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JAN UARY 6, 1996 MEETING ADJOURNED.