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HomeMy Public PortalAbout02.20.2013 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013 Medina City Hall Page 1 of 5 The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on February 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Paul Jaeb presided. 1) Call to Order Commissioners Present: Paul Jaeb, Ellis Olkon, Dino DesLauriers, Madeleine Linck, Ann Thies, Janet White, and Steve Lee Commissioners Absent: None Also Present: Assistant to City Administrator Jodi Gallup, Public Works Director Steve Scherer and City Council Member Melissa Martinson 2) Additions to the Agenda: Schedule the NEMO training after the trail plan review. A motion was made by Thies and seconded by Lee to add the scheduling of the NEMO training to the agenda after the trail plan review. Motion passed unanimously. 3) Approval of Minutes: • January 16, 2013 — Change Medina Road to Hamel Road in third paragraph on the third page. A motion was made by Lee and seconded by Linck to approve the minutes as amended from January 16, 2013. Motion passed unanimously. 4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None. 5) City Council Update Council member Martinson updated the Park Commission on recent City Council actions. 6) Tamarack Ridge Preliminary Plat — Park Dedication Discussion Gallup reported that at the February 19, 2013 City Council meeting, the City Council passed a resolution denying the preliminary plat for the subdivision proposed to be called "Tamarack Ridge" on the property located north and west of Deerhill Road. Since the preliminary plat has been denied, the Park Commission will not need to discuss park dedication at this meeting. If a new application is submitted in the future, the Park Commission will review park dedication at that time. 7) Hamel Legion Park — Ball Field Improvements Jaeb introduced the subject stating that the city has applied for grant funding from the Hennepin Youth Sports Grant program for ball field lights in Hamel Legion Park and has been denied three years in a row. A few of the Hamel Athletic Club (HAC) board Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013 Medina City Ha11 Page 2 of 5 members are present at the meeting to request using their previously committed $50,000 that was supposed to be for ball field lights to be used on other field improvements since there is not enough funding for the ball field lights. Gallup reported that the City did receive a $25,000 grant from the Twins Community Fund in 2010 for ball field lights, but since the City never received the grant from the Hennepin Youth Sports Grant the project has not been complete. Gallup talked to a representative with the Twins Community Fund and was told we could redefine our grant application to do other field improvements projects such as the items that HAC is requesting so we do not have to return the $25,000. Eddie Leuthner, President of HAC, addressed the Commission stating that the majority of HAC's participants are ages ten and under so putting lights up with the limited funds available is not a huge priority at this time since the young kids would not play past 9:00 p.m. Leuthner described the improvements HAC would like to spend the funds on, which are listed below: 1. Electronic scoreboards for the lighted field (approved by Council last year) and Field three ($14,200). 2. Bright yellow fence toppers on all fields ($3,300). 3. Polyester windscreens on lighted Little League Field, Hawks Field, and Field 3 (11,000). 4. Chain link fence around already approved batting cages behind lighted field ($22,000). 5. Dugout Covers on all fields, which was also previously approved, but HAC still needs to get quotes on cost. Kevin Macintosh, HAC board member, stated that he felt installing lights on the fields in the future would still benefit the program, but the cost was too much for HAC to light just one field. He stated another long term goal of HAC is to bring the fences in at the north quad fields to make them regulation little league fields, which would also allow for the parking lot to expand. Jaeb stated that the window to install lights at the fields was closing rapidly as homes are being built around the park. It was noted that the City Council also felt strongly that if lights do not go in now, it might not be possible to get it approved when the development is fully built out and there are a number of residents that oppose the installation of lights. Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013 Medina City Ha11 Page 3of5 Leuthner explained that it is important that these projects get approved and done this spring because parents want to see improvements being made with the money HAC has raised. He noted that HAC's program has grown drastically in the last few years because of the desire of parents to keep weekends open for their families. HAC's program operates mainly Monday through Thursday evenings with occasional Friday and Sunday night practices. The Park Commission discussed with HAC each improvement in more detail. 1. Electronic scoreboards for the lighted field and Field three — HAC explained the scoreboards would be operated by wireless remote. It was confirmed that there would be no audio. Discussion took place on the location of each scoreboard and if a maintenance contract would be needed. 2. Bright yellow fence toppers on all fields — Leuthner explained that all ball fields have these fence toppers and the board would like to add them for the aesthetic ball field look. Scherer noted that fields use these toppers as a safety measure, but it is not a safety issue at the Hamel fields because the fences were built eight feet high so the old fence toppers were not needed. DesLauriers stated that he was on the HAC board when the old fence toppers were removed because they were an eye sore. Andy Schmidt, HAC board member, stated that parents think they look good. White stated that Hamel Legion Park is used all year round and people in the park enjoy the vistas in the winter, which yellow fence toppers would be an eye sore for these people. There was a general consensus that the Park Commission would be in favor of these fence toppers only seasonally, but they would need to be removed and reinstalled each season by HAC. 3. Polyester windscreens on lighted little league field, Hawks field, and Field 3 — HAC would like to purchase royal blue polyester windscreens with the HAC logo on them. The windscreens would be put up seasonally. It was noted that the wind screens will have to be attached to the fence in a way that a strong gust of wind does not pull the fence down, which has been known to happen at other fields. 4. Chain link fence around batting cages behind lighted field — There was no objections to the chain link fence for the batting cage since this project was previously approved by the Park Commission in the spring of 2012. 5. Dugout Covers on all fields — HAC explained that the previous quote that was received was to improve the fencing around the dugout covers so canvasses could be hung over the dugouts to protect kids from getting hit by a ball. HAC would like to seek additional design options that would not involve canvass covers. A final design will be brought back to the next meeting for further discussion. Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013 Medina City Ha11 Page 4 of 5 Direction was given to HAC to further discuss with their board the idea of seasonal fence toppers, a maintenance contract on the scoreboards and a new design for the dugout covers. These items will be brought back to the March 20th Park Commission for consideration. 8) Trail Plan Review Thies stated that she had met three times with the other Trail Subcommittee members Linck and Lee to review the existing 2009 trail plan and recommend changes. She noted a number of trails had been complete since the adoption of the 2009 plan. The updated draft trail plan text and map were presented to the Park Commission for review. Lee noted that the Trail Subcommittee felt that leaving a high amount of trails in the plan was prudent because at this time the city does not know which land owners will develop and where opportunities will arise. City Planner Finke was not present at the meeting, but had indicated on the map which trails he would like the full Park Commission to discuss. It was determined to remove the Shawnee Woods trail. Remove the trail along Brockton since it is being proposed on the east side of the road, which is in Plymouth. Change the Medina Road trail from Hunter to Brockton to existing. Remove the Medina Morningside west trail. Keep the trail that runs from Arrowhead east to Medina Lake Preserve as a high priority trail. Remove the proposed trail along Hamel in Uptown Hamel since it is an existing sidewalk. Keep the trail along Hamel Road that runs adjacent to Baker Park since some of the trails shown on the map within Baker Park no longer exist. Direction was given for the Trail Subcommittee to meet with City Planner Finke to discuss the remaining trails. Chris Wetzell and Mike Wolfe, residents who live along the proposed Navajo Trail, were present at the meeting to discuss this trail. They questioned why this trail was considered a high priority and why the trail runs through their backyards instead of along the road, especially with the low population. Thies noted that cross country trails are a high priority of hers to keep people off the streets. She also noted this trail is listed as a high priority because the city already holds a Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes February 20, 2013 Medina City Ha11 Page 5of5 trail easement along the vacated Navajo Road. The trail will eventually make a connection to future planned trails. Wolfe noted that he does not mind the trail as it exists today. Only a few people regularly walk it. He stated that if it became an official paved or gravel trail and hundreds of people began to use it, it would become an issue. Lee understood Wolfe and Wetzell's concerns regarding the trail stating that they would be okay with the trail as long as it remained a turf trail. 9) NEMO Training/Meeting A motion was made by Thies, seconded by DesLauriers to schedule a concurrent meeting with the City Council and Planning Commission on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hamel Community Building for a NEMO training. Motion passed unanimously. 10) Staff Report a. DNR Grant Opportunities: Gallup reported that the DNR has various grant opportunities that come up throughout the year. One grant opportunity that the city could possibly benefit from is the DNR's outdoor recreation grant program, which covers fishing piers and other small park amenities. More information about this grant will become available in the summer of 2013 with a fall deadline date. Jaeb requested this be a reoccurring agenda item so we do not lose sight of future opportunities. b. General Items: No updates were provided. 11) Adjourn A motion was made by Olkon, seconded by Lee and passed unanimously, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.