HomeMy Public PortalAbout02.20.2013 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2013
Medina City Hall
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.