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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 10PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 MAINTENANCE CENTER ....................................................... ~.!.~,,0....,,P..'.,,,,m.,.,; ......................................................... . . , Call to Order Approval of Meeting Minutes a. June 11, 2001 Minutes Staff Reports a. Ryan Park Field Change b. Trails Update c. Lighting Project- Sandpoint Beach d. Summer Program Review/Fall Program Update e. Fishing Pier/Boat Trailer Parking Update g. 4. Old Business 5 New Business , . Future Meeting Dates - October 8, 2001 Adjournment 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EHPLOYER CITY OF PRIOR LAKE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FOR JUNE 11, 2001 Ron Ceminsky called the Parks Advisory Committee meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, June 11, 2001. Members present were Ron Ceminsky, Thea Fluhrer, Pat Heaney, Tom Schutz and Chad Storley. Cathy Smith was absent. Also in attendance were Parks Supervisor Al Friedges and Assistant City Manager Susan Walsh. October 9, 2000 Meeting Minutes: Members agreed that by attaching a copy of Pat Heaney's letter dated November 13, 2000, this would clarify and correct the draft of the October 11, 2000 minutes. MOTION BY SCHUTZ, SECONDED BY STORLEY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2000 WITH THE CORRECTIONS ADDED TO THE MINUTES BY ATTACHED ADDENDUM DATED NOVEMBER 13, 2000. Motion carried unanimously. Walsh was instructed to send a signed copy of these minutes to committee members when the next agenda is mailed. April 9, 2001 Meeting Minutes: MOTION BY SCHUTZ, SECONDED BY STORLEY TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 9, 2001. Motion carried unanimously. Band Shelter Update: Friedges advised this project will be completed within the next two weeks. Since the storage shed is tied into the sound wall, footings are required and the shed will be larger. Electrical will be installed tomorrow, and the sound wall will go up the next week. Members agreed that a permanent plaque should be installed in appreciation of the Lion's who have donated $20,000 to date of their $30,000 commitment. Playground Equipment Update: Friedges informed the members that the City Council approved the purchase of playground equipment for Glynwater Park, Island View Park, Wilds Park and Thomas Ryan Memorial Park. Four bids were received, but only two met the legal requirements. The contract award went to MinnesotaANisconsin Playground for a total of $94,880 ($23,720 per site). Members of the committee agreed with Friedges' positive comments about this vendor and their equipment. Installation of playground equipment approved last year was recently completed. Trails and Basketball Courts Update: The City Council also awarded a contract to Valley Paving for the following: park trails at Fish Point, Glenwater and Deerfield and basketball courts at Deerfield and Knob Hill. Valley Paving's bid came in at $78,397.50/ Dance Studio/Summer Programs Update: This year's dance studio programs ended with the recitals held on June 2® and 3rd. Three of the four shows were sold out. The recitals were at New Prague High School. Summer programs have started and are going well. Lakefront Park Grand Opening: Walsh informed the committee about the activities scheduled for the July 11, 2001 grand opening event. She asked for help from the committee members who were available to attend. Committee members provided some good suggestions and felt there would be a good turnout by residents. Thomas Ryan Memorial Park Update: The Township Board approved the City's annexation of the park, and the City Council will consider approval at the June 18 Council meeting. Installation of utilities and construction of the concession stand should take place this fall. The park will be open Spring 2002. Kop Farm Update: Al Fridges and the Building Official recently inspected the Kop home. It was agreed that it is difficult to plan for this site until the farm is "officially" turned over to the city. Old Business- Skate Park: The committee requested an update. Staff advised the Council discussed this at their CIP workshop and directed the Skate Park be included in the 2003 CIP budget. ,~usar~ Walsh'7 Assistant ~ity Manager PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES OCTOBER 9, 2000 The Parks Advisory Committee meeting was called to order by Ron Ceminsky at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, October 9, 2000. Members present were Ron Ceminsky, Thea Fluhrer, Pat Heaney, Kathy Smith, Tom Schutz and Chad Storley. Sandi Fleck was absent. Also in attendance were Public Works Director Bud Osmundson, Assistant City Manager Susan Walsh, Parks Supervisor Al Friedges, and Recreation Supervisor Chris Esser. Mayor Mader and Councilmembers Gundlach, Ericson, Petersen and Zieska were present. September 11, 2000 Park Advisory Committee Meet Minutes: MOTION BY STORLEY, SECOND BY SMITH TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 11,2000 MEETING MINUTES. Motion carried unanimously. Joint Meeting with City Council Assistant City Manager Walsh informed the members that a joint meeting with the City Council is scheduled for December 4, 2000. This will be held prior to the regular City Council meeting. Mayor Mader addressed the Park Advisory Committee members at this time. He pointed out that the members of the Parks Advisory Committee were appointed to support the City Council and were not appointed to work as a political action committee or to undermine the City Council or staff. He went on to state that the role of the appointed members is to work with the Council, support Council decisions whether they agree or disagree and to represent the facts accurately. Mayor Mader referred to letters and faxes that contained incorrect information that dance classes would be cancelled, that the Mayor had voted for a 50% salary increase for himself and that the Mayor fired the Parks and Recreation Director. He also voice objection that members of the Parks Advisory Committee were circulating a petition to overturn decisions made by the City Manager during Lakefront Days. The Mayor stated that it is unacceptable for a member of this committee to come to the City Council meeting and be disruptive, and is in violation of the bylaws, respectful behavior and rules of decorum by slamming doors and pounding on the podium. The Mayor requested that the members of the Parks AdVisory Committee decide whether they wish to be a member of the PAC or a member of the political action committee. Discussion ensued between the Council and the Parks Advisory Committee with regard to past conversations that had taken place with each other. Members of the Parks Advisory Committee noted their hard work and dedication to the City park system. The Mayor requested that the PAC members discuss these issues and advise the City Council at the December 4, 2000 joint meeting of the actions they intended to take to correct the situation. With the exception of Councilmember Ericson, the members of the City Council left the meeting. Playground Equipment Bids Councilmember Ericson stated that this matter was deferred from the October 2nd Council meeting to the October 16, 2000 meeting so Council would have time to review the proposals received from the four venders on the playground equipment. Members of the PAC felt the criteria used for selecting the two recommended vendors were appropriate. There was a consensus of the members that if the Council agrees to go with the lowest bidder that the matter should be referred back to the PAC prior to City Council approval. Councilmember Ericson left the meeting at this time. Park Fee Study Assistant City Manager Walsh advised that the City Council awarded the contract to complete the park fee study to Ingraham & Associates in the amount of $14,305. This study is being conducted since the City's park dedication fees have not been adjusted from the $13,000 per acre for many years while land sales are going for $30,000-$50,000 per acre. Thomas Ryan Memorial Park Concession Stand Parks Supervisor Friedges updated the members on the bid opening for the restroom/concession building. Bids were received in the major categories (earthwork, concrete, carpentry, electrical, painting) but not for some of the smaller categories. Friedges is currently seeking quotes for the smaller categories. It was noted that the original estimate of $145,000 is quite lower than what the total costs will most likely turn out to be. The architect claimed he had estimated $225,000, and Friedges informed the members that it could be built for approximately $176,000 if the City was the general contractor. Public Works Director Osmundson advised that he is working with the Metropolitan Council to receive approval to extend sewer to serve the new facility. Fall Program Review Recreation Supervisor Chris Esser reviewed the recreation programs for the fall and winter. The dance programs are going very well and enrollment is at 399 which is up from 351 students last year. Old Business Osmundson informed the members that a yield sign will be installed on Ponds Parkway where it intersects with Toronto. Staff is checking into having a stop sign placed °n Busse Boulevard. Thea Fluhrer requested that staff look into having a "no in-line skating or no skate boarding" sign placed at the library. New Business - None The next meeting will be on Monday, November 13, 2000, at 6:30 p.m. Members requested that the meeting be held at the library if a room is available. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. S'u~a~Wa~ ~A~sistant City Manager After being on the Parks Advisory Committee for over 12 years, and never having to question the minutes from our meetings, I now feel that it is important to set the record straight from my perspective from the meeting of October 9th, 2000. First of all, as a point of clarification, were the comments presented by Mr. Mader his words or the notes that he was reading from the city manager, Mr Boyles? Mr. Mader stated that they were the notes of the city manager and yet he seemed to be referring to his own private recollections, i think it is an important distinction to clear up because there were some serious misinterpretations and inaccurate allegations made by the mayor that need to be addressed before these notes can be approved by the PAC for public record. Secondly, Mr. Mader refers to letters and faxes that contain incorrect information and implies, that these correspondences were coming from the PAC is again a broad sweeping .generalization that is inaccurate and/or misleading. And finally, the discussions with the mayor always have the tone and agenda of accusatory statements to create an atmosphere of one-upsmanship. We are dedicated public servants that are giving our time and energy to the betterment of the people of Prior Lake. We are expressing our viewpoints to create a healthy discus'sion of issues and give our ideas a thorough examination in the light of public scrutiny. Anything less would shortchange the citizens of Prior Lake. Patrick Heaney