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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-23 PRC Packet CITY HALL: 216 NORTH FOURTH STILLWATER, MINNESOTA 55082 PHONE: 612-439-6121 e 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 411II 2. Agenda: The Stillwater Parks an the City Council MEETING NOTICE STILLWATER PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD ,~~il~(lter -- .:::::::: THE BIRTH ~l P LAC E 0 \~, F MINNESOTA J J e Comprehensive Park Vision Steve Russell, Community Development Director, was present for this discussion. Mr. Cummings introduced Jim Bradshaw and Dr. Brian Willette. Mr. Bradshaw is willing to fund Dr. Willette's work with the city/Park Board to develop a vision plan for parks. Mr. Bradshaw in turn introduced . Dr. Willette, a psychologist, who works both with individuals and organizations in developing "common destinations." Members agreed with the concept and with the concern about possible damage to the park surface. Mr. Polehna, seconded by Mr. McGarry, moved to direct Mr. Thomsen to work with Ms. Kohout and Ms. Rollie to find a suitable place for a rink near the gazebo, contingent on the rink not being located on park grass. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Thomsen expressed his concern about the damage to the grass caused by flooding for a rink. He also noted that, depending on the weather, it might not be possible to flood a rink by Dec. 1. Mr. Thomsen suggested the possibility of bringing in sand to level off the parking area by the gazebo and putting the rink there. Request to use Lowell Park Diane Rollie and Cheryl Kohout were present to request the placement of . an ice skating rink by the gazebo in Lowell Park as a focal point of the city's Victorian Christmas celebration which begins Dec. 1. Mr. Polehna, seconded by Mr. Meister, moved approval of the minutes of Sept. 25, 1995. Mr. Junker called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. AI Liehr Absent: Susan Fitzgerald, planning; Tim Thomsen, Parks Director Others David Junker, chairman Richard Cummings, Judy Gulden, Rob McGarry, John Melville, Ken Meister, Delwin Peterson (8 p.m.) Mike Polehna. Marguerite Rheinberger and Steve Wolff (8 p.m.) Present: PARK AND RECREATION BOARD Oct. 23, 1995 . ... . Regarding fees for the use of Lowell Park, much of the discussion centered on whether to charge different fees for commercial uses. Mr. McGarry said Mr. Wolff made a motion to change the fee structure for non-residents to $25 during the week and $50 on weekends and holidays, with residents charged no fee during the week and $25 on weekends and holidays. Some members felt $50 was too high; a $35 fee for weekends and holidays was agreed upon. Mr. Polehna also recommended charging a deposit fee; Mr. Wolff suggested a $35 deposit fee. There was a discussion as to whether to charge more for reserving the shelters at Pioneer Park; Mr. Wolff moved to set the weekend non-resident fee for Pioneer Park at $75. Ms. Rheinberger seconded the motion for the new fee structure; motion passed 8-1, with Mr. McGarry voting no. Directing that fees collected be credited to the park budget was part of the motion; the new fees are effective Jan. 1, 1996. Pioneer Park update Sue Fitzgerald reported that the first public meeting to receive public input in the development of the comprehensive plan for the park was set . for 7 p.m. Oct. 24. Park fees Current policy is a $25 fee to reserve any of the city's six picnic shelters for non-residents; residents are not charged a fee to reserve shelters during the week. Several members spoke of the need to involve other communities in the process. Mr. Cummings suggested the names of three possible members for the ad hoc committee -- Judy Gulden, Corey Mohan and Sue Fitzgerald. No action was taken. The proposal will be discussed again at the November meeting; a letter of appreciation for their time and appearance at the Park Board meeting will be sent to Mr. Bradshaw and Dr. Willette. . Dr. Willette spoke briefly about developing a uniting vision based on need and values. An overall vision -- a philosophy statement -- comes from the people, and it is important there is broad citizen participation in the process. The first step, he said, would be to appoint an ad hoc committee of two or three key people to work with him. The city's updated Comprehensive Plan will be useful as a foundation upon which to build, he said. Members of the ad hoc committee must be dedicated, have a sense of the treasure of the St. Croix Valley and have a connection with the community. ,.. Mr. Melville, seconded by Mr. Polehna, moved to suspend consideration of the basketball court, pending completion of a plan for the park with input from neighbors, and to carryover $15,000 (Mr. Thomsen's original estimate for the basketball court) to next year's budget should the Park Board decide to proceed with the project in 1996. A discussion ensued as to whether it was preferable to carryover the $15,000, part of the $50,000 capital improvement budget for 1995, or to spend the entire $50,000 this year to purchase playground equipment. The original motion failed. . Mr. Melville suggested setting up a neighborhood committee to decide on preferred uses for the park. Mr. Meister noted the issue might be a moot point since the project probably won't be done until spring. Mr. Cummings noted the City Council was concerned about the high bids . that had been received for the project. He said he would be reluctant to spend a lot of money for the basketball courts given the possibility of a street vacation and land acquisition that might change the potential uses of the park. Mr. Junker said it was the opinion of City Attorney Magnuson that it would be almost impossible to vacate the street, considering it is an active city road; he also noted purchasing the house in question would be costly. Staples Field basketball court The Park Board received a letter from one of the neighboring property owners objecting to having a basketball court there; they favored a hockey rink. Mr. Wolff, seconded by Ms. Rheinberger, moved to set the fee for the use of Lowell Park at $500, with a $250 damage deposit; users are to provide their own dumpsters and satellites, with Mr. Thomsen determining, how many satellites are required. Motion passed unanimously. Fees collected are to be credited to the park budget; the new fee policy is effective Jan. 1, 1996. . fees should be based on potential harm to the park, rather than how much money a group might make. Mr. Polehna said the county has a commercial fee structure. Mr. Polehna expressed his concern about the lack of a clear procedure/policy for park use and fees. Mr. Thomsen said in the future, all requests for use of Lowell Park will come before the Park Board. Members agreed the city should not be paying for or providing satellites for park users. . Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording secretary Mr. Polehna, seconded by Mr. Meister, moved to adjourn the meeting at 10 p.m.; all in favor. Friends of Stillwater Park Ms. Gulden passed out some literature from Minnesota Green. Friends of Parks held two bulb planings in October. Neighbors in the McKusick Road area were meeting Oct. 28 to discuss the McKusick trail and the area across from Gannon's, she said. Ms. Gulden also passed out a draft of the organization's brochure. Mr. Thomsen reported that the new locker rooms at Lily Lake Ice Arena are almost completed. Mr. Polehna and Mr. Cummings reported on the activities relating to the ice area/sports facilities complex. The Mighty Duck grant application has submitted, along with 25 other grant applications. A meeting will be held with all communities in the school district. . Mr. Thomsen reported that he, Mr. Eckles, Mr. Russell and Ms. Fitzgerald had looked at the area in the Wildwood Pines 5th Addition that Mr. Lecuyer proposed dedicating to the city for park 'use. Mr. Thomsen said most of the area is a designated wetland; there is very little usable space for park use, and access is an issue. He said Mr. Lecuyer had asked Park Board members to look at the area before making a decision. It was agreed members would visit the area and discuss the issue further at the November meeting. Old business Ms. Fitzgerald passed out job descriptions to be discussed at the November meeting. . Mr. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Wolff, moved to defer the Staples Field project until next year, to get the neighborhood involved in developing a plan for that park, and to spend the entire $50,000 this year for park equipment purchases. Motion passed unanimously.