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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-02-23 PRC Packet '"" ..> . . . , r illwater "~ - ~ -- -~ THE BIRTHPLACE OF MINNESOTA J STILLWATER PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING NOTICE FEBRUARY 23. 1998 The Stillwater Parks and Recreation Board will meet Monday, February 23,1998 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers Conference Room, 216 North 4th Street, Stillwater. AGENDA: 1. Approval of January 26, 1998 minutes. 2. Larry Westerburg - tree programs. 3. Update on skateboarding and on-line skating facilities. 4. Report from Parks Director. 5. New Business. 6. Old Business. Adjournment. CITY HALL: 216 NORTH FOURTH STillWATER, MINNESOTA 55082 PHONE: 612-439-6121 '. . . . Park and Recreation Board Jan. 26, 1998 Present: David Junker, chairperson Linda Amrein, Nancy Brown, Rich Cummings, Dawn Flinn, Al Liehr, Rob McGarry, Leah Peterson, Mike Polehna and Steve Wolff Others: Nile Kriesel, city coordinator; Tim Thomsen, parks director; Bill Soukup Mr. Junker called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Dawn Flinn was welcomed as a new board member. Approval of minutes: Minutes of the Dec. 15, 1997, meeting were approved as presented. In-line hockey Bill Soukup presented his ideas for providing a paved surfaced for in-line hockey and skateboarding at Northland Park. Northland Park has available parking and is used for other activities, making it conducive for a variety of sports. Liability to the city, supervision and alternative sites (including possible skateboarding at the Teen Center and a paved surface at the Sports Complex) were discussed. Estimated cost to pave Northland is $16,000, plus $3,000 for fencing. Mr. Soukup is willing to initiate fund-raisers for the project. The city budget includes $8,000 for a skateboard surface. Mr. Wolff, seconded by Mr. Liehr, moved to use the $8,000 budgeted for skateboarding for paving an area at Northland Park for in-line hockey and skateboarding if a privately funded skateboarding surface is constructed at the Teen Center. Motion passed. Mr. Soukup will proceed with fund-raising and will continue to work with Mr. Thomsen on the project. Sports Complex update . Construction: Mr. Polehna reported that the Sports Commission is being re-established to direct fund-raising for additional items and amenities. He discussed an oversight in the bidding and construction process - the lack of footings and utility lines for future additions along the south side of the ice arena. Money spent to correct the problem now will save money in the future, he said. Mr. Wolff, seconded by Mr. Liehr, moved to recommend that footings and utility lines be installed on the south side of the ice arena for future additions. Motion passed. Mr. Polehna reported that construction is about one month ahead of schedule. MnDOT will establish a Park-and-Ride lot at the complex. Mr. Kriesel reported that the bidding process was beginning for a Zamboni. Purchase of an electric- versus gas-powered machine was discussed. . . . . Oak Park Heights concerns: Mr. Kriesel discussed concerns expressed by the city of Oak Park Heights regarding gender issues and open public skating at the Sports Complex. Oak Park Heights has contributed $50,000 for the Sports Complex and intends to send the remainder of its pledge over a 10-year period, if Oak Park Heights is included in the decision-making process. Mr. Wolff, seconded by Ms. PetersoIl, moved that the Park and Recreation Board send a letter to the Oak Park Heights City Council acknowledging its concerns about the Sports Complex. Motion passed. Mr. Kriesel will write the letter and bring a draft to the February meeting of the Park and Rec Board. . Management: Mr. Kriesel presented a request for proposals for private management services for the Sports Complex. There was a discussion of the pros and cons of private management versus city management. Mr. Junker, seconded by Mr. Wolff, moved to recommend that the city of Stillwater seek the services of a private firm to manage the Sports Complex and Lily Lake Arena. Passed, with one nay vote. A committee from the Park and Recreation Board will be designated at the February meeting to help screen applications, with a Board recommendation anticipated by mid-April. Aiple property. levee proiect updates Mr. Kriesel reported that the City Council is allowing Aiple to continue to use the south area of the property for barge building until Dec. 31,1998. The northern portion of the property will be available for city use by July 1, 1998. Mr. Russell, community development director, is working on plans and will be seeking proposals. Stage 2 of the levee project, from the gazebo to Mulberry Point, will begin in the summer of 1998. Some cottonwood trees will have to be removed. Parks Director update Mr. Thomsen reported on recent changes at Ramsey Grove Park and the Lily Lake area. New business Mr. Polehna proved a handout on the Youth Initiative Bill to be considered by the 1998 Minnesota Legislature. If passed, the bill might be a source of funding for the city's youth recreational opportunities. Old business . Memorial pavers Ms. Brown explained more details about a memorial paver project which can be a source of continuing fund-raising. Mr. Liehr, seconded by Mr. Polehna, moved to proceed with the concept of memorial pavers. Motion passed. Mr. Kriesel will direct city staff to work with Ms. Brown on initiating such a program. . . . Tree City USA Ms. Peterson distributed handouts regarding the designation of Stillwater as a Tree City USA. Pros and cons were discussed. It was agreed to invite a forestry expert to a Park and Recreation Board meeting to better understand the benefits of such a designation. Mr. Kriesel, Mr. Junker and Ms. Peterson will collaborate on this. Meeting was adjourned at 9:09 p.m. Submitted by, Linda Amrein Acting recording secretary . . , ....--.... .- .. . SKATEPARK PROPOSAL Graffiti Teen Center will provide a limited use skate area beginning this spring and continuing throughout the summer and early fall months. This is with the condition that no damage or vandalism occurs at GW Olsen Construction, UFE, or Graffiti during the times of operation. 2. The outdoor rink area at the new Sport's complex (or Community Center, what- ever it's being called) be converted to a skate area during the non-winter months. 1. 2.1 Graffiti will work directly with the Commission in charge in setting up this skatepark(if our assistance is needed): a. Planning b. Marketing c. Create a skatepark task force d. Staffing e. Obtaining ramps/equipment, etc. f. Other 3. Financing for the Park would be minimal and admissions should/could cover the additional expense. 4. The skatepark area would be considered part of the Sport's complex package thus satisfying a tremendous need in this community. 5. Once the skatepark is created at the Sport's complex, Graffiti will continue to operate it's skate area during it's times of operation. . . <I> . 1. 2. 3. 4. . 5. . MEMORANDUM February 19, 1998 TO: Park Board FROM: Tim Thomsen Parks Director SUBJECT: Park Update Due to the unusual weather all skating rinks are shut down. If the warm weather continues we will be able to start our 1998 construction project by the end of March or early April. The projects to be completed this year are: Complete the basketball courts at Staples and Ramsey Parks. Install a new playground at Northland Park and replace seven (7) of the ten (10) horseshoe pits. Install a new playground at Pioneer Park and also install better lighting for the park. We will be using the old Lowell Park Levee lights for this project. Install a new picnic shelter at the mini park down between the Lowell Inn and the senior citizens high rise apartments on North 2nd Street. This park is used a lot by the senior citizens. Install the walking path and boardwalk at Lily Lake. This path will connect the beach picnic area to the fishing pier area so the people that use it won't have to walk on the road into the beach area. 6. Replace the privacy fence at the park building 7. We will be doing park improvements to Meadowlark Park. Sue Fitzgerald and I will be holding some public meetings with the neighbors in the area to get some input as to what they would like to have in the park and what would be used the most. We will keep the Board up-to-date on this project. On Wednesday, February 18th, Nile and I met with Tom Schwietz and Jeff Olson to discuss possibilities on where to have a skateboard and inline skating park. The areas that were addressed were: 1. The Graffiti Teen Center and part of the D.F.E. Parking Lot. 2. The south end ofthe Lily Lake parking lot 3. The old athletic field 4. Part ofthe Junior High parking lot 5. The Northland Park hockey rink 6. New Sports Complex area It sounded to me that the quickest place to have this facility so that the kids are not on the streets and sidewalks would be at the Teen Center. I am keeping in touch with Bill Sookup on this project so we can have inline skating at the same area.