HomeMy Public PortalAbout05.21.2014 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2014
Medina City Hall
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The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on May 21, 2014 at 5:30
p.m. at Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Ann Thies presided.
1) Call to Order
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Also Present:
Ann Thies, Ellis Olkon, Dino DesLauriers, Lori Meehan
and Steve Lee
Madeleine Linck and Nate Pearson
City Council member Melissa Martinson, City Council
member Jeff Pederson, City Administrator Scott Johnson,
Public Works Director Steve Scherer and Assistant to City
Administrator Jodi Gallup
2) Additions to the Agenda: Playground Subcommittee Report after Item No. 3
3) Proposed T-ball Fields at Hamel Legion Park
Thies stated that at the April 29th meeting the Park Commission heard the Hamel
Athletic Club's request to build four small t-ball fields in the grass at Hamel Legion
Park.. The Park Commission had requested a map of the area to show exactly where the
t-ball fields would be placed on the field, which was distributed at the meeting.
Thies noted that staff had also requested additional information, which they had not
received yet.
Gallup clarified the minutes from the last meeting, because it was said that these fields
would only be used two days a week for two months of the year. It should have said the
fields would be used four days a week for two months a year. Two days a week for t-ball
and two days a week for coach pitch.
Thies also noted that it was too wet right now to do this project and the baseball season
had already started. She felt that if the Park Commission was going to approve this
project, it would be best to wait until after the baseball season to begin the work.
There was a general consensus to review this request at a later date.
4) Playground Subcommittee Report
DesLauriers stated that the playground subcommittee (DesLauriers, Pearson, Gallup and
Scherer) had received four proposals for play structures at the Park at Fields of Medina.
They selected the top two vendors (Landscape Structures and Game Time) to come in
for interviews.
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May 21, 2014
Medina City Hall
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Prior to the interviews, DesLauriers, Gallup and Scherer visited five playgrounds in
Plymouth and Medina to compare the quality differences between Landscape Structures
and Game Time. The Landscape Structures equipment was noticeably in better shape
and built with better materials.
Martinson, Pearson, Gallup and Scherer conducted the interviews of the two companies
and unanimously recommended going with Landscape Structures.
Martinson noted that Landscape Structures is also a local company located in Delano,
Minnesota.
Gallup pointed out a few of the new design features to this play structure and
highlighted Landscape Structures' new line of equipment called NetPlex.
DesLauriers stated that the City had budgeted $200,000 of Park Dedication funds and
was also receiving $150,000 from Mattamy Homes for the playground equipment. The
total budget for this new park is $350,000. He noted that we would be roughly spending:
• $140,000 on the play equipment, rubber mats, and flooring
• $50,000 on the shelter
• $100,000 on the sport court (tennis and basketball)
The remaining money would be spent on site prep work and concrete work.
A motion was made by Meehan, seconded by DesLauriers to recommend the Landscape
Structures playground equipment proposal to the City Council. Motion passed
unanimously.
The Park Commission authorized the Playground subcommittee to work with staff to
finalize the shelter proposal and bring it to the City Council for approval.
5) Annual Tour of Parks
The Park Commission toured or drove past the following parks and made these
observations:
Maple Park
• Get rid of dead trees
• Grass the infield in, but leave the backstop up for informal baseball games.
• Soccer nets could be added to grassy area
• A future pavilion could be added at bottom of hill overlooking the wetland.
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May 21, 2014
Medina City Hall
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Walnut Park
• Mainly used in the winter time as a skating rink
• Too wet to use in the summer
• Tried putting gravel down in the past, but it remained too wet
Lakeshore Park
• Combine all the signage and put one sign to the right of the gate
• Discussed erosion control issues
• Clean up the shoreline and create a better access to the dock
• Add picnic area and horseshoes on the north side of the gate
• Add more play equipment for older kids
• Replace picnic tables
Tomann Preserve
• Discussed obtaining an easement or purchasing a section of the adjacent property
to access the trail that loops around the back side of the property.
Possible Future Dog Park Location: Hwy 55 & Tamarack Drive
• Looked at site and noted access issues with railroad crossing
The Park at Fields of Medina
• Looked at site and noted large mound of dirt that still needed to be moved
Medina Lake Preserve
• Walked the trail, which did not have much wood chips left
• Discussed possibly mowing the trail in the future
• Benches need to be stained
• Check on grant for buckthorn and mustard removal
• Fix the entrance sign that says no motor vehicles
• Fix the cracks and hole in the bridge
Possible Future Trail: Along Arrowhead Drive
• Drove along Arrowhead Drive where we have a future trail planned on the trail
map
Possible Future Dog Park Location: Stormwater Ponds Site
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May 21, 2014
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• Drove past the Metropolitan Council's stormwater ponds site that might be
decommissioned one day and could become a future dog park if the ponds were
filled in.
Future Trail: Along Hamel Road from Pinto Drive to Rainwater Nature Area
• Drove along Hamel Road from Pinto Drive to Rainwater Nature Area, where we
have a trail planned. The Hamel Road/Tower Drive project is scheduled to be
complete in 2015.
Hunter Lions Park
• There are a few cracks in the tennis court since it was resurfaced two years ago
• The playground area needs more wood chips
• Mats should be installed under the slides, similar to what we will be doing at the
Park at Fields of Medina
• Something needs to be done with the volleyball area
• It was hard to find the bridge to the nature area because the woods are so over
grown
• Add picnic tables to the CIP
• Stripe the parking lot
• Fi11 in around storm water cover
6) Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jodi Gallup.