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121101 PK MIN CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD PARK COMMISSION MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2001 7:30 P.M. OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WORK SESSION MINUTES 1. CONVENE PARK COMMISSION MEETING Chair Arnst called the meeting to order at 8:44 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Chair Arnst; Commissioners Puzak, Meyer, Callies, Bix, Young, and Dallman; City Council Liaison Garfunkel; City Administrator Dawson; Finance Director Burton; and City Engineer Brown B. Review Agenda Per City Engineer Brown’s request, Item #5 was removed from the agenda and postponed until January, and Item #7B, a discussion regarding Eddy Station vandalism, was added. Puzak moved, Callies seconded, approving the agenda as amended. Motion passed 7/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Park Commission Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2001 Dallman moved, Puzak seconded, approving the Minutes of November 13, 2001 as submitted. Motion passed 7/0. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were none. 4. REPORTS A. Report on City Council Meetings of November 26, 2001 and December 10, 2001 Council Liaison Garfunkel reported on the November 26, 2001 City Council meeting. At the meeting, he stated that there was a presentation by Mark Themig; staff was directed to prepare a feasibility report for the Lake Linden Drive trail request; Council happily accepted a conservation easement from Dan Riesen; they approved the funding for the police station; and finally, the Glen Road/Amlee Road drainage was discussed. Brown expanded on the Glen/Amlee Roads drainage issue. He indicated that the ongoing studies have presented several options, all of which however, are in direct conflict with the Gideon Glen project. The Council did not approve the studies but asked they be taken back to the drawing board to include the goals of the Gideon Glen project. Brown maintained that there will be no easy solutions, but they will continue to endeavor. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2001 Page 2 of 4 Administrator Dawson reported that City Council approved the supervision of the rink attendants agreement last night during the December 10, 2001 City Council meeting. He added that Cub Foods came in for a pre- application discussion, which is expected to be returned in January; Tom Skramstad was reappointed as the City’s liaison to the LMCD; budgets were approved; and the City will be at the Watershed District regarding the Gideon Glen project on Thursday, December 13, in order to be a part of their capital budget. Finally, Dawson reported that the Community Visioning process is moving forward, and invited the Commission to attend a Community Vision Forum on February 21, 2002, at the South Shore Center. He added that a voluntary survey will be posted on the community’s website to share comments as well. Brown clarified that the Cub Foods proposal that is coming back in January is for the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the rezoning of the property. This is not to say that the entire site plan is up for approval at this point, it is to say whether or not the Planning Commission and City Council are willing to recommend and approve the Comprehensive plan amendment only. Depending on what happens then, Cub Foods will have to follow the same process as it did before. B. Report on Land Conservation Environment Committee Callies reported that the LCEC has not met for two months and there is nothing to report. She also asked if she could remove herself from the Committee, since they don’t meet often and her husband is a committee member. She did add that it might not be necessary to have a liaison present at all their meetings and she could, at times, merely present her husbands’ notes. She also volunteered to write occasional articles for the newsletter. Chair Arnst said they would discuss a liaison alternative in January. C. Report on Park Foundation Meeting of November 15, 2001 Dallman reported that the Foundation has met and they’ve sold a few more bricks from the newsletter advertisement. They plan to meet again later this month. 5. MASTER PLAN REVIEW A. Status of Report on Traffic/Parking Study for Freeman Park Removed from the Agenda. 6. REVIEW STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON SPORTS ORGANIZATION USER FEE INCREASE Chair Arnst reported that staff is recommending that the Park Commission increase the user fee from $5. to $10. per person, per sport, per season. She asked for the boards’ thoughts on the request. Burton added that the rationale was the City of Shakopee memo indicating that their similar services warrant a greater fee and the fact that the Park Fund is operating at a deficit. Puzak stated that, while the request is not unreasonable, it is necessary due to the fact that the Commission has not done its part to raise funds through its concessions at Eddy Station and the Park Foundation has failed to meet its financial commitments to the City. While he was uncomfortable with the bar being raised, he felt he could support it. Chair Arnst agreed with Puzak, citing that an alternative solution is necessary. The concessions, once again, is budgeted to achieve $3,000 next year and Chair Arnst hoped that they will do their best to find a PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2001 Page 3 of 4 concessionaire for 2002. She indicated that while she was not enthusiastic about a 100% increase in the fee, she would support the increase this year but not again next year, especially, if the increase is due to the Park Foundation missing the mark on their commitment once again. Young asked what sort of return the City was seeing on the vending machines. It was noted that the machines have generated roughly $300 per statement. Bix stated that from her observations there are viable concessionaires out there among the sports organizations. For instance, the girls softball and soccer groups led her to believe that there might be interest to do some sort of shared concessions operation. Bix voiced her concern that it’s in bad faith to raise the user fee by doubling it the second year. Puzak brought up the idea of splitting the difference in the increase by charging $7.50 rather than $10. Dawson stated that due to levy limits the City Council asked if the Park Commission would be willing to bump up the user fee to $10 with the intent that they restore balance to the park improvement plan and regain the outlay from Eddy Station. Burton noted the reality that if the Park Department is going to move ahead, the Park Foundation will need to meet its 10-year $10,000 annual commitment, or once again, increases in the user fees may be requested down the road. Callies questioned whether we could justify the need to boost the user fee via advertising. By noting in the newsletter and paper that the user fees will run $7.50 if someone or organization steps forward to run the concessions, or $10 if there is no support. She felt communicating that we have to raise fees due to these shortfalls may justify it to the public. Young stated that he is in support of the $10 user fee and felt they started to cautiously at $5 last year. Meyer wondered if the end users are even aware that the user fee exists. She was unclear if organizations lump it into their fees or supply registrants with a breakdown. Puzak stated that many organizations break it out due to tax requirements. Meyer asked if it were easier in the long run to bill per team versus per player. Brown indicated that staff cannot spend the enormous amount of time working on the rosters next year as they did in 2001. Dallman felt he could support the $10 user fee if he had some sort of guarantee that it stay the same for two years. Callies moved, Young seconded, to authorize a $10 user fee per person, per sport, per season. Motion passed 6/1, with Bix dissenting. Burton noted that the billing would occur based on the rosters of last year. The assumption will be based on past data, with the ability to make adjustments where necessary. PARK COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2001 Page 4 of 4 7. APPOINT PARK LIAISON FOR JANUARY CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS Meyer will serve as liaison to the City Council on January 14 and 28, 2002. 7B. Eddy Station Vandalism Brown reported that just the night before, many things were burnt, busted, carved upon, plus, a fire was started in a garbage can under the canopy. With the Commission’s support, Brown plans to pursue the installation of video surveillance equipment, cameras, or whatever it takes to catch the vandals. The incidents of vandalism always occur roughly at the same time and the City has an idea of who is to blame, however, evidence is necessary to catch the guilty parties. Chair Arnst reiterated the Commissions support. Support she believed they had given to Brown several months ago to pursue whatever measures staff deems necessary. 8. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 9. ADJOURNMENT Bix moved, Meyer seconded, adjourning the Regular Park Commission Meeting of December 11, 2001 at 9:35 P.M. Motion passed 7/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Kristi B. Anderson RECORDING SECRETARY