Loading...
PR 02/26/1968� n ^ MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING, FEBRUARY 26. 1968 `5� Meeting was called to order by Chairman Hughes at 8:20 P.M. ROLL CALL 0 MEMBERS PRESENT: Hughes, Cochran, Fitzpatrick, Larson (arrived at 10:00) MEMBERS ABSENT: Dunphy OTHERS PRESENT: Paul Brown, Director - Parks and Recreation Harvey Peterson, Anoka County Commissioner MINUTES, JANUARY 22, 1968 MOTION by Fitzpatrick, seconded by Cochran, that the Minutes of January 22, 1968, be accepted as mailed. The Motion Carried. LETTERS Letter from Suburban Recreation Association - Subject: Allotment of $700.00 to be used by Department for co-sponsorship of puppetry and arts and crafts classes. MOTION by Fitzpatrick, seconded by Cochran, that letter be accepted. The Motion Carried. Letter from Mr. Jack Dunphy - Subject: Establishment of an over-all pedestrian trail system throughout the Fridley Park System and the City. MOTION by Fitzpatrick, seconded by Cochran, that letter be received and filed. The Mation Carried. Letter from National Recreation and Park Association - Subject: NRPA accident insurance coverage for 1968 No action taken. TAX DELINQUENT PROPERTIES The list of tax delinquent properties received from the County was discussed by the Commission. It was decided that the following properties be tagged for possible purchase by the Parks Department in the future: Hamilton's Addition to Mechanicsville Hyde Park Rice Creek Plaza South Addition Spring Lake Park Lakeside Hillcrest Addition Edgewater Gardens Addition REPORT FROM HARVEY PETERSON,_ COUNTY CONIMISSIONER Block Block Outlot Block Block Block Block 14, 7, #1 2, 1, 2, 3, Lots 8,9,10 Lots 16,17 Lots 3,20 Lots 17,18 Lots 11,12,13 Lots 1,2,3,10,11 Mr. Harvey Peterson, Anoka County Commissioner, assured the Commission that the tax delinquent properties that they requested be set aside would be tagged for their possible purchase. He also informed the Commission that the new golf course being built by Coon Rapids is located on County-owned property and is therefore, open to membership by anyone in the County wishing to join and not only residents of Coon Rapids. Mr. Peterson discussed the possibility of the County and the City joining in a mutual effort in developinu a marina on Chases Island, or other projects. fie also requested that factual informa- tion be sent to the Anoka County Park Department. ,_ . . i.)' �: PARKS AND RECREATION CONIlNISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 26, 1968 PAGE 2 PLAN FOR 1969 The Commission reviewed and discussed the Plan for 1969 as presented to them by the Director. They requested that two additions be made. Member Fitzpatrick � requested that lights be installed at Summit Square Park and suggested that at least one light be installed on the north parcel of the park by this summer. It was also requested that a hockey rink be added to Madsen Park next winter. The Commission agreed that these two requests should be added to the Plan. MOTION by Cochran, seconded by Fitzpatrick, that the Plan for 1969 be accepted and approved as amended. The Motion Carried. CONSULTANT'S VISIT The Commission agreed that it would be advantageous to have Mr. Braddock look over the Park Bond Program once again concerning costs. The Director was asked to contact Mr. Braddock and request a special meeting with him for approximately the 18th of March. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 P.M. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, March 25, 1968, at 7:30 P.M. A special meeting with the City Council was tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 25th at 7:00 P.M. � ^ Respectfully submitted, ���` �, �� � � ��� Mary Lof� Erickson, Secretary - Parks and Recreation Commission ^ MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION CONIl�IISSION, FEBRUARY 26 MEMBERS PRESENT: Hughes, Cochran, Fitzpatrick MEMBERS ABSENT: Dunphy, Larson ^ OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor Kirkham, Councilmen Samuelson, Sheridan, Liebl, Harris; Homer Ankrum, City Manager; Shirley Behrens, Fridley Record; Harvey Peterson, County Commissioner; Paul Brown, Director of Parks and Recreation � ^ DISCUSSION -0F PARK IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL An outline was presented to the Council by Chairman Hughes concerning the pre- � �� 1968��� sent need for new parks within the City. The following priority list was presented: 1. Improvement of existing parks and the acquisition and improvement of new park lands for immediate use by residents., 2. Acquisition of new park.lands for neigh- borhood parks with development at a later date., 3. for city-wide use with development at a later date. Acquisition of new park lands With the present budget, land cannot be acquired and developed at a fast enough rate to fulfill the needs of the City's population. The existing parks are designed mainly for youngsters, whereas there is just as great of a demand for adult recreational areas. Councilman Harris asked if federal assistance has been applied for. According to Chairman Hughes, federal aid could not be obtained soon �nough if the bond issue is to go to the people in the next election. Councilman Harris suggested that possi- bly the program should be expanded to include more land which could be covered by federal assistance. Paul Brown, Director of Parks and Recreation, stated that the department has received a list of all tax delinquent properties from the County and at the regular meeting of the Commission following this meeting, the properties that the Commission wishes to tag for possible future use will be discussed. Councilman Samuelson stated that he felt this program was very necessary and was completely in favor of it. Councilman Harris said that this program would ful- fill 85% of the present needs in the City and that for a program of this magnitude a bond issue should be placed before the people. Councilman Sheridan felt that this program was a necessity and should go to the citizens for funds. According to Harvey Peterson, County Commissioner, the County isn't planning any parks in Fridley in the near future. He urged that the tax forfeit properties be considered now so they can be removed from the roles. He also said that the � ^ MINU'FES OF SPECIAL MEETING, FEBRUARY 26, 1968 PAGE 2 `�' County ma� be i.nterested in helping the City of Fridley in developing a marina on Chases Island. Councilman Harris asked Mr. Peterson about receiving assistance for Spring Lake Beach. He said that if this area was declared a public beach, the City would receive $1,500.00 from the County. Councilman Liebl asked if all three priorities are covered in the original amount of $1.3 million, and also stated that a program of this sort could not possi- bly be done by money from the Council. Chairman Hughes answered that the proposed program would cover the present needs of the people living in Fridley now, and that if the population continues to rise as rapidly in the future years as it has in the past few years, more land would be needed then. He stated that the park budget has always been about two years behind the rising growth of Fridley's population. Councilman Liebl asked if the Commission will present speeific areas to the public. Chairman Hughes answered that it is the Commission's wish to be as specific as possible. � Mayor Kirkham concluded that the Commission and the Council seem to be in total agreement as to the needs of Fridley and also agree that this program should be put before the people in the form of a bond issue. It was discussed as to when would be the best time to present this to the citi- zens. Councilman Liebl suggested that it be made an item in the primary elections next fall in order to get the majority of the citizens voting on it. Mayor Kirkham thought that it would be wiser to call a special election for the purpose of having only the really interested citizens voting for or against this program. It was agreed that the Council should revue the costs, decide about any changes that should be made, and also discuss the timing for the election. The Commission agreed to consider applying for state and federal aid, and also publicity for the program. A tentative special meeting was scheduled for Monday, March 25th at 7:00 unless.the Council decides on an earlier date in which case they will notify the ^ Commission. Respectfully submitted, , /� � ' `_ _GV �� ��,� <�-�C� I�ar �Erickson _ y , Secretary Parks and Recreation Commission