ITEM: 5 MINUTES - Jim Kappelhoff
Title
APPROVAL OF JULY 24, 2012 PARK BOARD MINUTES
Background
UNAPPROVED
CITY OF BLAINE
PARK ADVISORY BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
7:00 p.m.
The Blaine Park Advisory Board met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, July 24, 2012.
1. Chair Walthour called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Vice-Chair Bird, Commissioners Das, Langenfeld, Markle and Knapp.
Members Absent: Chair Walthour, Commissioner Leathers.
Staff Present: Jim Kappelhoff, Park and Recreation Director.
3. Approval of Minutes: May 22, 2012
Motion by Commissioner Markle to approve the minutes of May 22, 2012 as amended. Motion seconded by Commissioner Knapp. Motion approved unanimously.
4. Open Forum for Citizen Input
None.
5. New Business
5.1 RECOMMENDATION FOR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT LEGACY CREEK PARK
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff presented a background and summary of the recommendation of new playground equipment at Legacy Creek Park.
Providing new playground equipment at Legacy Creek Park is proposed in the
2012 Capital Improvement Program for Parks. Staff exercised the purchasing
practice of U.S. Communities Government Alliance and chose the playground
equipment line manufactured by GameTime and supplied by Minnesota/ Wisconsin Playground. The budgeted amount for this playground
equipment is not to exceed $60,000 and includes equipment, installation and
associated costs.
Residents living near the park were invited to a neighborhood meeting on June,
28, 2012 to provide input and choices for playground equipment that would fit
the needs of the park. Color combinations were also included. Participants were
guided to make selections of equipment that are appropriate for children age's 2 -
5 and 5 - 12 year olds. The choices were then reviewed by staff and
Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground to ensure the most popular items could be
offered within the budgeted amount. This included a multi-level play structure
and small play structures. A playground site plan was then designed with the equipment selections and is provided in the attachment.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff reviewed a playground outlay by PowerPoint. He commented that 17 residents and children attended the neighborhood meeting. He commented that most items chosen by residents are on this plan.
Motion by Commissioner Knapp to recommend to the City Council to accept the new playground equipment plan for Legacy Creek Park proposed by Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground at a cost not to exceed $60,000. Motion seconded by Commissioner Markle.
Motion approved unanimously.
5.2 UPDATES ON PARK PROJECTS
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff presented a background and summary of updates on Park Projects.
Legacy Creek Park
We have not yet received the record drawings from the developer. However, at
the request of staff, SRF did complete a certified land survey of the Legacy Creek
Park parcel and bids for the construction should go out at the end of July. The
playground equipment has been chosen and will be ordered after approval of the
purchase from City Council on August 2. Completion of the park has been
delayed from August to late September.
Vice-Chair Bird asked about access to the park once construction has been completed.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that there will be a temporary trail to allow access. He commented that from the west access is available through Savannah Grove Park.
Vice-Chair Bird asked if there is concern about access for emergency vehicles.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that the trail will be 8-feet wide, which is the emergency vehicle standard width.
Commissioner Markle asked if there will be a way to discourage other vehicles from driving into the park.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff stated that there will be signs to enforce the city ordinance.
Commissioner Markle asked whether the street parking will have curbing while the construction is going on.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff stated that the curbing will be completed on completion of the road. He continued with a presentation on Lexington Athletic Complex.
Lexington Athletic Complex
The City of Blaine has closed on the purchase of the 40-acre parcel located east
of Lexington Avenue and toured by the Park Board last month. We have sent out
RFP's to four consulting firms for professional services on developing the
athletic complex. The current project schedule is outlined below.
-Submit Consultant RFP to City of Blaine
August 28, 2012
-City Council approve contract w/Consultant
.Sept. 20, 2012
- Deliver preliminary construction plans to the City
January 15, 2013
- Final project deliverables to the City
March 1, 2013
- Bids out to contractors
March 21, 2013
- Receive bids from contractors
April 15, 2013
- Construction begins
May 1, 2013
- Complex playable
2014
Aquatore Park Field #1 Relocation
With the curling rink is in full construction where Aquatore Park Field #1 was
located at Fogerty Arena, the City is now on track in constructing a replacement ball field. Soil borings were conducted and showed undesirable soils (peat) at 8'-12' prevalent in the proposed outfield area of the ball field footprint. The proposed infield area showed less to no peat. It is felt by the soil boring contractor that by placing 2' of clean sand fill on top of the field site and allowing it to settle over the winter it should be ready for grading in the spring. Also, it is recommended that the field be flipped to have home plate face northwest for better soils under the infield. Original site map attached. Bids for construction will be sent out next month with clear-cutting, grubbing and importing clean fill should begin this fall. The goal is to have the field playable late summer of 2013. Soil boring locations attached.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that SRF Consultants has confidence that flipping the field around is a workable solution.
Commissioner Markle asked if the existing storm sewer on the south side of Field 1 needs to be rebuilt. He asked if there is a history of flooding in this area.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff confirmed that there is no history of flooding.
Commissioner Markle asked if the area will be leveled or if it will contain a ditch.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that it will be about the same height as Field 2. He commented that the area will be leveled for Field 1 and there will not be a ditch.
Vice-Chair Bird asked if Fogerty Arena will be contributing to the cost of moving the field.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that they are working with the Fogerty Arena Board currently to arrange for compensation. He explained that the arrangement may allow for payment over a considerable amount of time.
Informational only.
5.3 LITTLE BIT PARK FEATURE
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff reviewed the history of Little Bit Park as this months feature. He reviewed that this is the 38th park presentation. He noted that the park was acquired with park dedication fees from the Laddie Lakes second addition development. He commented that Laddie Lake is far to the south in Blaine. He added that it is among the smaller and older parks in the city. He reviewed that in 1956, 0.7 acres was donated for park land. He commented that it is the third smallest park, which is thought to be the reason for the name Little Bit Park. Records were not shown of early development of the park. The first amenities were a slide, merry-go-round, three animal swings, a tot swing, two benches, and a picnic table. In 1990 park neighbors petitioned for a skating rink but the park size was determined to be too small. He noted that in 1995 neighbors brought another petition to request a baseball field in the park. He added that there was some opposition to this idea as cars and houses were already being hit by baseballs. He stated that the Park Board decided against the addition of a baseball field in this small park. He noted that instead an option was made available to add a small basketball court. He stated that also in 1995, the City Council approved a 40x60 court for basketball to be constructed for $5,000. He explained that a new playground was added in 1998, which remains in use today. He showed a PowerPoint presentation of the park. He commented that neighbors are happy with the park, there have been no complaints and there has been no vandalism. He commented that neighbors help by taking good care of the park.
Vice-Chair Bird asked if there was tree damage where trees were lost or were new trees planted.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that the trees were small in the pictures but are now fully grown.
5.4 OTHER
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that they have not met since the Blaine Blazin' 4th Festival. He explained that the Festival was very successful with good bands, great weather, and softball tournament. He reviewed that there were two ball fields in use due to construction at Aquatore Park. He added that over 10,000 people attended. He commented that there were bands, which had access to an awning for rain shelter. The bands were a popular feature. There were over 40 crafters were at the park. He noted that the parade went well. He stated that the entire event went smoothly. He added that next year the Festival Committee is considering bringing in larger headliner bands.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that at Family Fun Night over 650 parents and kids attended. There were large inflatables and food vendors. He reported that the event was free. He explained that another vendor came in to build bird houses with the kids. He commented that there was face painting available and emergency vehicles were on display.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that Happy Acres Park hockey rink number two will be paved as was done with Happy Acres Park rink number one last year. He described the process for filling it in with millings and then paving it over. He commented that this is a public works project. He noted that this will be done in the next three weeks. He added that the ice is smoother and it freezes better and quicker on a paved rink.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff stated that there is a change from Districts to Wards on the Park Board, City Council and all other Commissions. He commented that this change results in three Park Board Commissioners in one ward, which are Commissions Markle, Knapp and Bird. He stated that another Commissioner is needed in Ward two where there is only one commissioner. He stated that Commissioner Knapp joined the Board four months ago to fill in which is much appreciated. He noted that this will be Commissioner Knapp's last meeting as on August 14 the Wards change at the time of the primary election.
Commissioner Knapp stated that he was happy to fill in over this time and enjoyed his time on the Board. He wished the Board well in the future.
Vice-Chair Bird complimented Commissioner Knapp for taking time to serve again and suggested that he may be contacted in the future for his expertise resulting in 20 years of knowledge of the Park Board.
Commissioner Knapp asked staff about Cloverleaf Park and the softball field. He commented that water is ponding in the home plate area. He noted that a rough ditch was created to relieve this, however, the infield soil is washing out and needs to be addressed in a more permanent way. He suggested building up the home plate area to prevent water from ponding there.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff stated that this will need to be addressed and he offered to contact park maintenance.
Vice-Chair Bird commented that a resident asked him a question about whether increased parking will be created around the Baseball Complex. He added that there are a number of parking lots around the area and he asked if there are other lots available for park users.
Park and Recreation Director Kappelhoff commented that this can be looked at. He added that when there is a tournament the spaces in the park are quickly filled. He noted that they can look at adding more parking but it will be minimal. He commented that across Oak Park Boulevard at Northwood Park is a small parking area. There could be consideration given to enlarging this parking lot.
6. Old Business
None.
7. Adjournment
Commissioner Knapp motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Langenfeld seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.
Chair Walthour adjourned the meeting at 7:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Bostrom
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
Recommendation
By motion, approve the July 24, 2012 Park Board Minutes.