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HomeMy Public PortalAbout10.21.2009 Park Commission MinutesMedina Park Commission Meeting Minutes October 21, 2009 Medina City Hall Page 1 of 3 The Park Commission of Medina, Minnesota met in regular session on October 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Park Commission Chair Ann Thies presided. 1) Call to Order Commissioners present: Ann Thies, Ben Benson, Madeleine Linck, Chris Hilberg, Paul Jaeb, Janet White, and Bill Waytas Commissioners absent: None Also present: Linda Lane and Steve Scherer 2) Additions to the Agenda: Council update added by Thies, since there were some Park members there that had been to the Council meeting and donation recognition for Field House added by Benson. Moved by Linck and seconded by Hilberg. Motion passed unanimously. 3) Approval of the Minutes September 16, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Jaeb and seconded by Hilberg to approve the minutes, with no corrections. Motion passed unanimously. 4) Public Comments (on items not on the agenda): None. 5) City Council Update: Council member Smith was not present to update the Park Commission; however, Jaeb, Linck, and Thies were at the Council meeting and gave the following update: • Dave Thill, Hennepin County Environmental Services, was at the Council meeting to discuss the Tomann property. (Will give specifics later in the meeting.) • Betsy Wieland, University of Minnesota Extension Service was present at the meeting to discuss a services agreement for her to create a work plan for manure and pasture management. • Uptown Hamel Monument Sign — slides were shown of what it will look like — Uptown Hamel portion of the sign will be back -lit, rather than the whole sign. • Park Master Plan — approved but discussion concerning the excessive amount of trees and shrubs around building and the feeling that there didn't need to be as much vegetation along west side — thought there should be more open space rather than closed in too much. Received a $2,000 donation for trees for the new Park Master Plan. Scherer mentioned he was looking at buying some of the trees for around the building with that money and plant yet this fall. 6) Review Updated Uniform Park Sign Quotes Thies mentioned she had gone out and taken pictures of the Vacker signs, which were located at two different parks in Columbia Heights. She said that she liked the look of the signs. Jodi Gallup's email of recent quotes and pictures was then reviewed and briefly discussed. Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes October 21, 2009 Medina City Hall Page 2 of 3 The Commission decided to first rule out the sign materials they knew they were not interested in. They felt the aluminum was too business -like and not a good fit for the parks; and the stucco, because of its rough texture may not be able to be cleaned and maintained as easily, as well as being a lot higher cost. The Park Commission after narrowing the field down to Central States Dibond or the Vacker Routed Plastic, discussed their thoughts on each, comparing prices as well as quality and style. The consensus was to move forward with the Vacker Routed Plastic, but not the v-groove, since seven of the signs would be double -sided. Scherer mentioned that Lane had been trying all day to get a hold of Vacker to have a few follow-up questions answered. He said they wanted to ask if there was a warranty on the material, especially since he had some concern about possible warping in the hot sun. He went on to say that he also was going to find out how easy it would be to maintain, especially possible graffiti, and if the materials were recycled or could be recycled. There was discussion from the Park Commission concerning life expectancy, if they had a recycled material that looked like wood for the posts, since they really liked the looks of the sample sign picture with the wood -looking posts. There was also discussion concerning the logo and the process they would be using to get that onto the sign and if there would be fading over time. They asked Scherer to find out when he talks with the company if they would be willing to have a sample done up with the logo or if they could supply a sample that had a similar process used. The Park Commission directed Scherer to contact Vacker, and if he is satisfied with the answers he gets to his questions, see if they will be willing to provide a larger sample that would show the routed letters, as well as the logo placement to bring to the next Park Commission meeting and then possibly have a representative at the following Council meeting to present the signs. A motion was made by Benson and seconded by Jaeb to have Scherer move forward unless there is a problem with the issues he will be asking Vacker and ask them if they would be willing to bring a larger sample of the routed lettering and the logo back to the next Park Commission meeting on November 18, as well as send a representative to the December 1st Council meeting for final approval. Motion passed unanimously. 7) Staff Report a) Baker Park Horse Trailer Parking Lot: Thies spoke concerning her correspondence with Sarah Wyatt, Three Rivers Park District Representative for the City of Medina, and the possible problems with the turn around being too tight as shown. The turn- around won't happen until spring, due to the many issues still to work through. Thies asked if the Park Commission had an opinion on whether they felt the turn -around as presented would work. The Commission felt that Thies was the most knowledgeable on the subject. Thies will get back to Wyatt for proof that a 45 degree radius would work in this area and if the material they are intending to put in the center would be able to be driven over. The consensus was that if it is not going to be usable, they should not bother with it. Medina Park Commission Meeting Minutes October 21, 2009 Medina City Hall Page 3 of 3 b) Hamel Legion Park Master Plan: The City Council approved the Hamel Legion Park Master Plan with no additional changes. c) Tomann Parcel & Hidden Lake: Scherer mentioned the aerial photograph of the Tomann parcel that was handed out at the beginning of the meeting and explained his thoughts concerning the piece they are looking at. He and Thill walked the site and talked about just doing simple mowing for trails. The City is looking to acquire the piece with aspen forest and also the drainage ditch. Linck asked if they had been approached previously and if it has no value to the other property they may consider selling. The owner has requested to see what kind of plan there would be for a park and trails. It was also mentioned that the Minnesota Land Trust monitors the property to make sure the current owner is using it according to the conservation easement. The City does not want to purchase until there is a management plan and Thill will try to accomplish that by the end of the year. People in the area seem to be on board. Tomann would be willing to do the maintenance, but would like to pick the name. Names suggested were Tomann Preserve or Tomann Nature Area. Scherer said the first step will be to thin out the box elders and buckthorn and give it a better slope. Thies thought the service road lends itself to erosion and would like to see that as a potential change. Steve said they did talk about other possibilities for the service road, since one is needed for maintenance to continue. d) Willow Drive Trail Request: Thies said she was glad to see from the letter that was received, that Orono was willing to work with the City to move the trail forward, and thought it should be started as soon as possible. Scherer will speak with Orono Assistant City Administrator, Gaffron, and see what part they are willing to play in the project. The Park Commission thanked White for handling the correspondence with Orono. e) General Items: None f) Recognition for Field House Donations: Benson mentioned that he had received a letter from the Lions asking the Park Commission if they would handle recognition for the Field House donations that were collected from 2003-2007. A plaque was discussed, and whose responsibility it would be to pay for and follow through on the recognition. Scherer will bring up to staff and ask how they feel it should be handled. 8) Adjourn A motion was made by White, seconded by Hilberg and passed unanimously, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Minutes prepared by Linda Lane.