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PRC 2001 01 23CHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 23, 2001 Chairwoman Lash called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Jan Lash, Fred Berg, Mike Howe, Rod Franks, Jim Manders, Jar Karlovich, and David Moes MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director; and Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Approved as presented. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES OF LOCATING A YMCA CENTER IN CHANHASSEN. Hoffman: Thank you Chair Lash, members of the commission. I'll go over briefly the documents that were distributed in this packet. At the request of the commission this was originally scheduled for January 9th. That evening ran late. Tabled it until this evening. Brian Hubbard has responded to the three questions posed to him. What acreage is needed to build a YMCA? His answer or response, most are situated on 8 to 12 acres of land. The second question is the planning and construction time line? And he goes through that and what the total there is about 2 years. Little more than that. Almost 3 years. Then what are the top benefits the YMCA to the local community and then he gives a broader answer. Talking about the uniqueness of the Y. The mission driven organization, community focus, leadership, etc. If you were to ask Kevin McShane the day of the Chamber meeting it was because you can have a piece of ice sheet in it. That's a paying benefit to a YMCA. They have a pool and the other people that chimed in and says yeah, we pay the same kind of taxes as any other town and we want those facilities so that's what we get out of the Chamber meeting. The final item was the map that Kate Aanenson and I put together. Chanhassen, oh probably 5 or 10 years ago was known as a land rich community. It is no longer a land rich community. There are limited sites. These sites are located all on the south side of Highway 5 and basically along the corridor between Audubon Road and Highway 41. And as noted, most of these sites would, or all of them work out, would work out as far as a location. Some of them are already under development pressure. The intersection of 41 and 5, the south and west side is being looked at by Fairview for a medical center. There are other uses being contemplated on other parcels as well so. That's the background information that the commission was presented and that's really all staff has to present to the commission prior to opening it for your discussion. Lash: Okay, thanks Todd. Is there anyone want to throw out some questions first to Todd? Maybe just kind of open this up. I think this... Franks: If there an order in which you want to kind of deal with the general areas of questions like land or facility or where we want to go? Hoffman: Jan can decide that. Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Franks: Jan? Lash: What? Franks: Do we want to break this discussion down? Lash: Any way you want Rod. What works for you? Franks: Well I'm a linear thinker and so. Lash: Okay, go ahead. Franks: Grasping like a discussion maybe of what type of facility would look, or and then more of a discussion of what possible areas would work and then move into a discussion about the type of facility. Lash: Okay. Hoffman: Process. Franks: Process. I'd like to open then with the basic kind of report. If we could entertain a discussion amongst the commission about possible sites for the YMCA. Lash: Do you want to start us off'? I think you have some thoughts. Franks: I do have a couple of thoughts. Are you going to put the map up on the? There's 2 parcels that I was interested in. A couple of parameters that I set when I was looking at these places was to stay as close to downtown or population area so it's integrated into the more downtown area. And then to stay close to the Highway 5 corridor as well so it's accessible to both north Chan and south Chan as well. Deals them equal sense of ownership. Also Highway 5 is a conduit going east and west as well to draw in members of the other communities, Victoria and Eden Prairie. The piece that really struck me first was the kind of triangular shaped piece off`Powers Boulevard to the west of Lake Susan. And Todd as I understand it, that little kind of trapezoid kind of piece right to the south and west of that, is that parkland already? Hoff`man: Yes. Franks: And does that follow that. Hoff`man: Creek. Franks: The creek. And so who currently owns that? Hoff`man: ...the originator of the NordicTrak. Lash: Where are you? I'm lost. Hoff`man: Right there. Howe: That's the railroad tracks just north of it there? Franks: Yeah. 2 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Karlovich: Where is the park land? Hoffman: Park land is right here. Franks: And then it goes across of course Powers into the Lake Susan Park. And what I liked about that was it's on Powers Boulevard, which is a nice, big 4 lane divided and then connected to Lake Susan Park makes it kind of nice. And it's still pretty really convenes to that whole downtown area. How much land is that parcel? Is that a little bit more than 8 or pretty close? Hoff`man: It's larger than 8. I don't have the exact size. It's probably closer to 12. Franks: Now is that, I hate to even ask this question. I could look in the map but is this parcel included in any of that Bluff`Creek area? Or is that tributary into Lake Susan or that creek, is that? Hoff`man: No. Diff`erent watershed. Franks: Different watershed, okay. So we're safe. Hoff`man: ...on this property. Woods as well. The building itself would be somewhat tucked away up on top of the hill, which is, not much people need to see... They're going to know where it's at. Franks: Is it a usable site for that considering the parking and everything that need to occur? Looking at the topography. Hoff`man: Sure. That's why we picked it. Franks: The other one of course is over by that business park. Hoff`man: Which one? Franks: Up on top of. Hoff`man: 5 and 417 Franks: Right by your finger. South of there. Right up on top of the hill there. Isn't that where that oak knoll is? Hoff`man: Yep. Lash: But that's not part ofthe Smith Memorial Parknow? Hoff`man: No, it's an industrial lot that's part of the Arboretum Village. Franks: Right, and so I thought that'd be another nice spot close to 41 and 5, and then right next to Memorial Park too so it'd be a really nice setting. Those are just some of my thoughts about possible sites. I'd like to hear other people's thoughts too. Karlovich: I have a question for Todd. If money wasn't an issue, what do you think would be the best site? Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Hoffman: Different variables. Both of those sites are very nicely situated in natural resource settings which are a benefit to oh, kind of the how you feel once you're there. Out of those two I like the one to the east simply because it's centered a bit more in the area of Chanhassen. And then the sites that are up around. Karlovich: Do they need Highway 5 visibility is kind of? Hoff`man: Yeah. These sites, 1, 2, 3, 4 that would have some Highway 5 visibility. And then these two, the two that are situated around the wetland complex are also a pretty nice size as far as being able to put a YMCA and who knows what's going to be there but you're going to have some outdoor activity where people are going to be able to either look out at large expanses of windows or be outside and look over a natural resource area rather than looking over Highway 5 or the street. So these four sites off'er some of that. These four sites off'er more visibility and also the, presumably more expensive due to the Highway 5 frontage. Karlovich: Do you have any idea like in price per square foot, what the difference is? Do we know? That prime property right on Highway 5, I mean is that like twice as much or do we have any clue? Hoffman: I wouldn't know at this time. I didn't look at that. I didn't make a...point of pricing out property. $2.00 to $4.00 per square foot at least. And a little bit higher than that up on Highway 5. Franks: Do you know what the underlying guiding or zoning is for these properties just off`the end already? Would they need a zoning of institutional? Hoffman: All ofthem would accommodate a Y. Frank: All of them would accommodate? Hoff`man: That's why they were selected. That's why I included Kate in that process. Manders: My opinion is that that first site that Rod mentioned was my top vote getter for location and tying in with the current park structure and you know visibility to downtown. Lash: That was my thought too. That was my first choice. Accessibility. We've got a trail system there on Powers. I think it'd be a nice setting too with the woods. It would give it a nice feel or essence. Moes: Well speaking for northeast Chanhassen, it would certainly be in a prime location as far as access is concemed versus getting too much farther down the Highway 5 corridor. This is a, they're looking at the available lots, the closest ones to northeast Chanhassen. I know there is strong interest in a YMCA up in that area. People that I've talked to. Lash: I guess I went more with accessibility when I did my choices and because of that I wasn't really even thinking price and I wasn't thinking vista so I was looking the ones more along Highway 5, with the one closest to Lake Ann as my second choice but given from Todd's input about the wetlands and the ones down, is that Galpin? No, Audubon? Hoffman: Audubon. 4 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: Audubon. You know those would have some pluses too. I just think they'd be more difficult to get to then the one on Powers. Hoffman: Well and you always have views of Lake Susan. Franks: Right, from up on top of the hill. Howe: And you're near fields too. I mean ball fields, soccer fields, archery. All that stuff`is there with that one. Hoff`man: Yeah, I think this exercise is more about just showing that there are possible sites and less about which site at this time. Lash: So what would be our options as far as trying to somehow acquire a piece? Hoff`man: Again I think that's discussion is probably premature of where we're at with this process. Lash: But if we want to go forward. I mean if we want to go forward, but in the end I want to spend weeks and weeks talking about doing this only to find out that there's no possible funding source. To try to get property. Howe: Well there's not until we raise money, right? Isn't that one of the catches? There had to be fund raising. Wasn't that what we talked about? We have to have an organized effort. Lash: We would? Howe: Well not we but the Y. Lash: Yeah but they want us to pony up the property so. Franks: That's what they would like. Lash: Well yeah. Hoffman: I would not know what the mechanisms for the joint powers would be. Again that's all negotiable as Brian has always stated. If the commission would like to make a recommendation to the City Council and investigate this, I think what needs to be kept in mind is the timing. The City Council is very interested in a community survey and they're not going to do anything until that community survey is completed and so if you're interested in pursuing this, I would recommend that you talk about some, sort out some of the issues. Send a recommendation up to the City Council to include the YMCA in their community survey. I believe they've got a timeline set for the first quarter or first half of 2001 to get that done. I don't think this freshman council is going to move forward on pursuing acquisition ofa Y site without some feedback from the community. Berg: I think that would only help us. Lash: Yeah, and that would be a perfect opportunity for us. Berg: Great opportunity. Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: So good timing. Franks: Well and good to know that if it's not something that the community is really interested in that we waste a lot of time on it. Howe: Right, that's also true. Berg: But you know they will be. That's the beauty of it. They will be really in favor of it. Karlovich: Well I think the question would have to be worded to make sure that they understand that a Y can offer. All the different facilities that would be there possibly. Franks: What types of facilities would, I mean as a commission who's represented kind of the interest of people as far as recreation and parks, what kinds of facilities would we be interested in? Berg: Pool. I think we start with a pool Howe: Water park. Pool/water park. Lash: Fitness. Franks: Indoor? Indoor water park? Karlovich: Well the one that I have in mind is just the Lifetime in Plymouth that has, I don't think it has an indoor water park but. Franks: It does. It has the indoor zero entry pool with a water slide. And then some other. Lash: It had a lap pool because that didn't... Franks: Yeah, that was separate. And then it had a dive pool. That was separate. In their aquatic center I think there were 3 separate pools. Karlovich: And then there were ice sheets next to it, weren't there? Franks: Two ice sheets. Lash: And then there was outdoor aquatics. Franks: And then there was an outdoor pool and water park as well. Zero entry pool. Berg: The ice might be something that this district would be interested in looking at with us too. Franks: And what was nice, what I liked about that Lifetime Fitness in Plymouth is, it overlooks that whole wetland area and so when you're out there in that outdoor pool, I mean you have this really nice view all around. Lash: How about a pool? Would the district be interested in a pool? They don't have a pool at the high school. 6 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Berg: They don't generally have them at high schools. There's not going to be one at the 9th grade building either. I don't know that they would like, I can't speak for them but I don't know that they would be. I think they're. Lash: You think the middle school is adequate? Berg: I think the middle school is adequate for what they need now. Pools generally are like that. Manders: Is it so important that we discuss necessarily the amenities of this in terms of what should be on that survey? But to consider how much people are willing towards this such as X number of dollars per $100,000 of property taxes or something like that? Karlovich: My question was just kind of the worry about, would you like to have a YMCA in the city and then have not a real good response because people really didn't understand. Franks: What it would be. Karlovich: What it would be so that was kind of the fear I had with just a survey question. Manders: Yeah I agree. Lash: And possible amenities would include. Could include and we could maybe list, check ones that they'd be the most interested in or prioritize or something. Berg: I think we can scale down the size a little bit because I don't think we need a lot of meeting rooms. The new library's going to take care of that. So that would help in terms of keeping the square footage down a little bit. Because I know they provide a lot of those things too, which we might not need. Hoffman: IfRon were here he would say performing arts. Franks: Well that's a very nice theater that the Chaska Community Center has. Very nice. Berg: Very small. Lash: Well that's certainly something that could go on the list you know. And if there appears to be, if it's one of the, you know I don't know how many numbers down we want to go to find out top priorities for people. I suppose people who have done surveys would know better. I'd say 5. Then you take. Manders: We've done surveys in the past. Has there been anything in terms of a community center type question on past surveys? Hoffman: The last survey had that question on it. Manders: Do you recall what was involved? Was it a single question, yes or no or did it expand on? Hoffman: I'll run upstairs and grab it. Lash: You know the other thing, information that I suppose could be provided is, would you be interested in a Y? This would be the kind of amenities that could be included and you know would you yourself be interested in being a member knowing that, what are the dues? $45.00 or something a month. Yes or no? 7 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 I mean some people might be interested in having a Y there just to be able to go occasionally and swim or just sign up for swim lessons but would have no interest whatsoever being a member. And that'd be helpful for us to know. Probably for the Y to know also. And also would they think it would be in their best interest as a citizen for it to be a joint effort between the city and the Y. Knowing that there could be some advantages to being a resident. Franks: I think if we had, I like that if there's some way that the council and us as well could get a sense that the citizens would really like the city to partnership with a group like the YMCA, that would really go a long way in creating a working relationship. Because then they'd feel like they really have some mandate to really move forward in that direction. Howe: One of the differences in a Y and a Lifetime is some of the programs that come out ofa Y. I don't know how, it's going to be hard to survey I think. Maybe we need to just gauge if there's interest before you go into, what would you really what your Y to have and do you realize that there's programs here like daycare and classes and swim lessons and a lot of things that in a survey I think you're going to maybe lose people if you, and I think they're very important questions but I think it's important including in the whole mix. That Y's can do more than just a Lifetime, okay. And that's what he's alluding to here, Brian. But I think that's important to get that message out too. Karlovich: I think the input that I get from at least my neighbors, is that they're either driving to Northwest on 62 or they're going down to the Chaska Community Center and anything, whether it was Lifetime or the Y or anything, would just be a breath of fresh air for them to have something in our community. Berg: The one thing that's going to have to be discussed is what we do with the Rec Center. Well maybe we can again, work out a deal somewhere with something. Someone or something. Some organization. Franks: Because the possibility exists that we run that business right out of town basically by opening up a big facility like that. Jerry, what's your... Ruegemer: I mean that certainly is a possibility. I'm not sure that...as meeting rooms and that sort of thing but you know our bread and butter is fitness out there. Where we make a majority of the revenue. And the gym of course but we don't really make money on the gym but it's certainly a community asset. And I mean I think that thought was always there in case something should happen, you know the school district would certainly be interested in talking. Franks: You don't think they could use the space? Ruegemer: Oh I'm sure they can use the space. Franks: I'm being funny. Karlovich: I thought that one dance studio wanted more room too. Franks: Well the dance department or the dance program, they want like a lot more room. Yeah. Ruegemer: But I mean that certainly is a possibility. I mean that certainly has to be discussed. You know we could be cutting our own throats certainly but. 8 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Berg: I think that'd be one of the things the council's going to come back with right away. What about the Rec Center? Franks: Well the other thing though is we operate that at a loss every year. Lash: I can't imagine it'd be difficult to rent out the space, and at the very least to, I don't know who but daycare facility. You know maybe the school. Does Bluff`Creek, your kids don't go there? Do they have school age child care program there? Before and after? Howe; I don't know. Franks: My guess is the school district would snap that building up. Howe: I would think they're desperate for space in those grades, that they'd be interested. Karlovich: It seems as a commission it seems like we should look at the big picture and I think that space there would get used up pretty quickly and we should look at what's best for the community as a whole, not bypass this opportunity. Lash: I don't think anybody was suggesting that. I just think we need to cover the bases because we need to pre-plan for that question because that question is going to come. So we just need to deal and prepare for it. Do you have any thoughts Todd? Hoff`man: The recreation center? Lash: Yes. Franks: Our concem is that, you know if we go forward and push for another fitness center to come into town at that kind of scale, that we push the recreation center right out of business. Hoff`man: Out of business, what does that mean? Franks: Well since most of the revenue from the recreation center comes from the fitness operations. And people will look at how they can spend their dollar and get, I'm assuming from a YMCA would, at least what I envision would staff; or have equipment, much bigger equipment area and more fitness availability and that kind of thing. That people would go spend their money than spending it at the rec center. Hoff`man: There's always been that discussion. The recreation center operations may change. They may evolve into something else. They may lease the building back to the school district. You sell the building back to the school district. Really the recreation center is a meeting room center and an extra gym and a couple of small rooms. So we take the 35 pieces of equipment out of the fitness room and close it down and make it dance or aerobics or tum it into a dance studio. Many things could happen there. The one thing, when you think about the building itself, we also need to remember we have a 20 acre park on that site. And so if we walk away from the building you're still left with a 20 acre park that I don't think the school district is going to want to take over. With the warming house and a double set of hockey boards and those type of things. That's not to say we can operate that independently. You do that here up at Chan Elementary so. I think all questions that need to be answered and thought about, to be a responsible proposal. Once you say, tell the community you're going to build a YMCA, you're also going to have to tell them, because they're all going to be thinking, well what are you going to do with the Rec Center so it's going to have to be discussed and thought up. The question in, 52 golf course. These stand for 9 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 strongly support, somewhat support and then you go into the opposed column. So we get the full blown recreation center. That's 55. And so you have 51 on the side of the strongly or somewhat support. 42 on the other side. Lash: For ice, that's way over 50%. 75%. Berg: When was this done? Hoffman: This was '97. January of '97. Franks: What are the numbers down at the? Hoffman: These numbers are support on this side and oppose here and then this is don't know or don't care. Franks: But it looks like, so it's 29 and 27 support the construction of a full service community center? Hoffman: Oh you're right. We're down there further. Franks: Yeah, so it's higher than 56. Lash: That's what I was looking at for the ice. That's what I thought was the ice. Karlovich: Now you say the middle one doesn't support it? I just remember back to surveys and statistics and the central tendency of people to pick in the middle. Berg: It seems to me, remembering again from statistics when we did the referendum, that that negative is pretty high. Those are the ones who are definitely going to vote, I want to say that we were looking for a 2/3 support before we went to the referendum. Was that right? Hoffman: I recall it was 2/3 but throughout the entire, this is the executive summary. It states that Mr. Morrish did not recommend as you recall, that we move forward with the referendum because of the negative tax.., and the task force and commission I recall struggled with that and they eventually moved forward. These numbers were more favorable than the remainder of the, as I recall. Some of these numbers...were a bit more favorable. The community center's the highest one here, is it not? Moes: Yes. Berg: Yeah, just to play devil's advocate. The larger number on the disagree still bothers me though because those at 56% is all for it until they figure out they have to pay for it. The no's are not going to be no's no matter what it is. Lash: The flip side of that is, this is a community center versus a YMCA so it wouldn't be all community funded. So this is a little different scenario to the taxpayer. Berg: Right. Absolutely...offEr more than a community center in terms of programming. Franks: Without having to worry about running it in the red year after year. Berg: Yeah. 10 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Hoffman: The City Manager is currently interviewing Bill Morris who did this survey and some other firms to get an idea of what a community survey is going to involve in the city so these numbers will get freshened up. Berg: So at this point do you want us to recommend that we have an item on the survey regarding the, asking the community's interest on. Hoffman: How would you express your interest in a YMCA project to council and recommend that they include that as questions regarding that in the survey. Lash: Okay. Does anybody have any additional thoughts that you want to add? Howe: Can we have some input on those questions? We need to have that I think. Lash: Well as an example in this particular one, and I guess I'd be confused why someone would separate indoor swimming pool from a community center. I mean wouldn't that be a given that they'd be together? Or even the ice. Berg: It might be like a Richfield pool... Lash: I think we'd be crazy to invest in an indoor pool without anything else. Berg: That doesn't say indoor. Oh, it does say indoor. Maybe they were just looking for a cheap. Lash: Besides if you go the whole...the whole thing. Have a pool. Have programming and have all the stuff listed there as one and not have them separated out. Hoffman: I can only anticipate that that survey was forwarded. They're going to be looking back to each individual question to look at their questions. There will be law enforcement questions on there. There will be street questions. There will be planning questions. Lash: so this would come back to us before? Hoffman: I would think so. I don't know for sure. Berg: Well I would move that we first recommend, first let the City Council or tell the City Council that we are interested in pursuing looking at a YMCA in the city of Chanhassen. And secondly that we have questions on the community survey that is going out conceming, testing community interest on said YMCA. Lash: Okay, is there a second? Was that a motion? Berg: Yes. Howe: I'd second that. Berg moved, Howe seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends to the City Council that the Park and Recreation Commission is interested in pursuing locating a YMCA in the 11 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 City of Chanhassen and asks that questions be placed on the upcoming community survey to test the community's interest in a YMCA. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously. 2001 LAKE ANN BEACH LIFEGUARD CONTRACT. Ruegemer: Thank you Chair Lash, members of the commission. On an annual basis we do review the summer contract for the Lake Ann beach provided by the Minnetonka Community Education Services. It's that time of year again. Before you tonight is the, kind of updated contract with the updated percentages and totals in that included for your approval tonight. As you can see, the contract does include the total expenses of the program, and that includes benefits, the supervisors, expenses, those sort of things. Postage, printing, cellular phones, pagers, uniforms, all that is included in the contract itself. The City's 2001 total expenses is the same percentage as last year, 29.53%. That's basically in the, based upon that percentage the total lifeguard bill for 2001 would be $22,791.63. Basically if the contract is approved with that total, this total would be divided into three different payments, and those are three equal payments of $7597.21. Basically Minnetonka Community Education Services sends an invoice for that amount or whatever the pre-determined payment would be assessed, invoice that and versus one lump sum we'd just pay that in three separate invoices. Lash: Anyone have questions or comments for Jerry on this? Manders: I have a question. This $22,000 number on the front, how does that jive with the second page from the back where it says lifeguard, $62,000? Under exhibitor. Ruegemer: What Minnetonka does with the, in Exhibit A, that's the expense of the whole program. And it basically breaks out our percentage that, of the $77,000 on the bottom, 29% of that should equal the $22,761. Manders: Okay. Ruegemer: Jim, did you see the other percentages for the other Exhibit B? Manders: Yeah. Lash: So if you total those all together it totals the $77,000. You okay Jim? Manders: Yep. Lash: Okay. Any other questions? Moes: Just curiosity, what was our dollar amount for 2000? Realizing the percentage was the same, do you know off the top Jerry? Ruegemer: It went up approximately $900 to $1,000 this year. Moes: Okay. Still sounds pretty reasonable then. Ruegemer: I was trying to go through my brain last year what it was and I think the difference was about $300 per payment. $300 or $400 so it's approximately $1,000. In that ballpark. Lash: I think given the 2000 beach season, we would be wise to keep our lifeguard services intact. 12 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Moes: Money well spent. Lash: Yes. Any other comments? Okay, is there a motion to approve this or recommend it? Anyone? Franks: I move that the Park and Recreation Commission approve the agreement for summer lifeguard services at the Lake Ann beach for 2001 as provided by the contract with Minnetonka Community Education and Services in the dollar amount of $22,791.63. Lash: Is there a second? Moes: Second. Franks moved, Moes seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends to approve the Agreement for Summer Lifeguard Services at Lake Ann Beach for 2001 as provided by the Minnetonka Community Education and Services, in the amount of $22,791.63. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously. RECREATION PROGRAMS: 2001 FEBRUARY FESTIVAL. Lash: Under recreation programs, reports and the first one is Corey's Feb Fest update. Anyone needing any more information or anybody wanting to comment on it? Ruegemer: Yeah I was just going to go through it. I was just going to kind of go through the report and see if anybody had any questions. Just a general overview. Coming up again on the 3rd everybody has pamphlets for that. Corey wanted me to ask, I know some of you are committed for the volunteering that day. I think l need to talk to Jim or Rod. See ifyou guys would like to participate somehow that day. Any volunteer opportunity. We can talk after the meeting if you'd like and we could get you in. Franks: Hey, I've been there every year. Ruegemer: And then Fred, Corey wanted me to let you know that he'll be in contact with you about the emceeing. Berg: Okay. Franks: So the radio station? Ruegemer: They changed formats. Franks: Oh yeah that's right. Ruegemer: And sort of kind of go our own way... So Corey's been busy working on that. The contests will be similar as last year. Ticket sales are certainly going on right now with the bulk of the ticket sales going on the ice that day. Probably 60-70% of the tickets are sold on the ice that day so last year sold approximately about 1,200 tickets. So we want to beat that this year so. Lash: So if you had your druthers, does it make life easier if you sell them ahead of time or doesn't it really matter? 13 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Ruegemer: It would make us breathe a little easier. It's not such a crap shoot but we certainly understand that. I mean it's been pretty consistent in the last 3-4 years since we moved to Lake Ann. That we're up around that 900 to 1,100 range. 1,200 range so. Franks: Can I just make a suggestion about sign-up, and I don't know if this would work or not but I know the years that I've signed people up when it's cold, the pens don't work so I don't know if using pencil would work or some kind of a writing implement that is temperature sensitive. Ruegemer: Even with the felt tip pens? They don't work? Moes: Well after a while no one puts the cap back on because they're filling out and running. Franks: I don't know what the deal with that and then they could use pencils to fill out the forms. It gets so cold that the pens quit working. Last year they worked fine. It was warm. Lash: It was warm, yeah. But if, this is just an idea and it may be it would screw everything up but if it makes life easier to have people pre-register, maybe you want to sell the pre-register tickets for less than on the ice. Hoffman: We used to do that. It didn't make a difference. Lash: No? Okay. It didn't matter? Hoffman: 2 bucks doesn't matter to anybody. Ruegemer: People want that flexibility to see what the day is going to be like. Berg: Do you know if you changed the prize board so that... Ruegemer: I was going to bring up, if you had any suggestions. I know we had talked about it a little bit before, but refresh me. Lash: Well remember we were doing the every 30 second thing and we almost lost our minds so. Ruegemer: Well that changed. Lash: Last year it went better and I think we did, and what did we do? We wrote them and then we had a runner or took the numbers up and posted them and then the emcee was announcing which helped. But one of the things that makes it tough is if they come up to us and say, you know I won. I won. You know just give us their number and we've got 500 numbers written down. ~h It can take forever so I think the 4 of July seems like it's easier because of the timing and they can look at the prize board and say I won. My name was read at 7:05 and it's easier for us to find it than when we all we have is their number. Karlovich: That's what I'm signed up for, isn't it? And I saw Cheetos or hot chocolate or something. Lash: No, we really can't... Ruegemer: Would it be helpful to put numbers on the boxes? Going across somehow and say I won prize number 10. It's a gift certificate to Houlihan's. Would that help? 14 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: If it matches the thing that. Ruegemer: Is pulled. Lash: Right. So if it's done consistently so that we can just look at our record and see yeah, this number matches here. Berg: It would also be easier if we could combine the prizes and not have them every 30 seconds. Lash: Well we didn't do that last year. No, I think we backed off`and did it. Ruegemer: I think we just drew a bunch at a time and then every. Lash: 5 minutes or whatever. I think we drew 10 every 5 minutes or. Berg: If they had some easy way to look at the board and could come up to us and say I have prize number 8. Ruegemer: Well we can certainly correspond what it says on the board onto an 8 V2 x 11 sheet of paper as far as number sequences, we can do that. You want to try that? Lash: Yes. And then I think last year too we did, didn't we combine and we didn't have as many little prizes? Or we talked about that at one time. Berg: I think we talked about that for this time. Lash: For this time? Okay. You know we had a lot of little grab bags when they opened it up and then there's, as Fred said there's a sinker and a bobber or something. It doesn't seem like it's hardly worth coming over to the table. So don't know what you have. Ruegemer: It's worth at least $5.00. Your entry fee. Lash: It is? Okay. Berg: Because we have a lot of, oh! Lash: Not impressed. Anything else on that? I thought the new, I read about the medallion hunt. I think that sounds fun. Ruegemer: They're having a nice prize for that. Lash: Yeah, it's like $700 or something. That kind of gets community involved even if they're not real hot on the fishing contest thing so I think that's cool. Ruegemer: There are other ways to get involved so. That's our goal is to become the St. Paul Winter Camival. Lash: Well we're getting there. Berg: Yeah, it's a good goal. 15 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: Anyone else? Okay. Well tell Corey good job. Good luck. We'll be there. 2001 4TM OF JULY CELEBRATION. Ruegemer: Corey just wanted to let you know, kind of what's been going on up to this point with the 4th of July. The dates of the events that are going to be coming up this year in 2000. As you know Casablanca already is booked for this year. We did that back in August I think of last year. And Corey's going to get through Feb Fest here first before he really starts hitting it but he's kind of getting things together already for concession vendors and talking to people. Talking to concession people already as far as getting maybe a couple more vendors down here to kind of create a festive atmosphere. Berg: Are we selling Dippin Dots? Lash: I was going to say I have two words for Corey. Ruegemer: Dippen Dots? Lash: Dippen Dots. Oh how about no camival. Karlovich: It was at the Excelsior Arts Fair. Lash: I know. See, and they were out at Carver County Fair. You know they make it to some of these places so. Berg: And no rowdy camies. Franks: I agree. No rowdy camies but a wonderfully clean and fun camival ride atmosphere. Family amusement area would be wonderful. Berg: And every worker has to have 5 fingers on each hand. Lash: Didn't we also talk about last year, I'm having a flashback of sort of child center, adult center format where if we were going to, we needed a spread out. It seems to me like we needed more space and we talked about maybe more of the kids stuff up here and we also talked about potentially having baseball bats again. We thought that might be worth giving around again. It was very popular back when, didn't the Rotary used to do it? Hoff`man: Yes. Lash: I think it was very popular. People liked that a lot. Yeah, I did. And St. Hubert's might want to put it on. It's a huge fund raiser. They make a ton of money, so. Ruegemer: Corey also is working on the fireworks also and that so. We'll probably bring that in February. The contract for that so. Lash: Yeah, and we definitely talked about we need more food vendors. We talked about a different way of grouping who was cooking the burgers and stuff`last year, was that the Boy Scouts? Hoff`man: Boy Scouts. 16 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: You know it's confusing when they're set up on one side of the tent and other food vendors are somewhere else because you don't really notice and then the beer set-up was way... Ruegemer: I'll shed a little light on that. We'd been encouraging the Boy Scouts to kind of do their own thing for as long as they've been doing it but they don't want to spend money on a tent or a trailer whatever and basically they take the free tent space for that just in case of rain or power and that sort of thing so we'll certainly try to have conversation with them to try to get them out. Lash: Well even if they were on the opposite, the side of the tent where the food vendors are. That'd be more visible I think. Ruegemer: Well we'll take that into consideration. With the trade fair going on before hand and everybody getting set up, it's hard to coordinate all those efforts but we'll take a look at it. Lash: Yeah that's true. Berg: If the beer could even just be back a ways. Ruegemer: Away from the tent? Berg: Away from the tent. The lines made it impossible to walk on that side. Lash: And that's because they were just serving, they didn't have an efficient set-up but we talked about maybe they need to have a square set up with people working the middle and then people could come up on all four sides of the workers instead of just one side because that just created such grouping and long lines. And people hate to wait. Franks: Two beer trucks. Hoffman: More beer faster is all I can hear. Franks: Everybody told me. I say that funny but I did get comments. It was so hard to get a pitcher of beer. Lash: And probably more of those little pitchers available too. Franks: I think they've leamed. They'll be ready. Lash: And a lot of that's weather contingent too but this band is a huge drawing card for you know boozers so. Actually we went and saw them just last month, the end of last month in Chaska. They were playing at the Chaska Ballroom and it was fun but it was a neighborhood group that went and several people said you know, it's just not the same as the street dance. They just didn't have nearly as much fun so, I thought that was sort of sad but cool at the same time. Franks: The parade, this will be the first year now that the city will be. Ruegemer: No. To my knowledge what they're still going to be doing is, we put the full amount, well there's money in the budget but they're still going to kind of go on their own and do their fund raising. 17 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Then if there are shortfalls, then the city will cover the shortfalls and therefore it won't be the full $8,000 that they were looking for. Franks: Okay. Lash: Anything else? Moes: I was just trying to think when we did the discussion right after the 4th of July last year. Was there discussion on, I mean we used the City Center area for like one day and we were going to try and expand that and utilize it for the second day as well just so that, I mean we expend a lot of energy putting up the tents and getting everything ready for kind of, really an evening crowd starting on the 3rd in essence but to try and utilize that time and effort for activities on the 4th as well. Lash: We did talk about that and a lot of people after the parade started asking, well what's going on over there because they see the tents and they have an expectation that something else is going on. Moes: Right. Lash: I know at one time I suggested trying to, and it kind of pooh poohed but moving the trade fair thing to that day and having it, but you guys said that you really thought that the Chamber wants to keep it the night of the street dance but even if we had a Taste of Chanhassen or could we try an art thing or I don't Berg: How about Bingo that day? Lash: I think people like to drink and play Bingo... Berg: How about go along with a Taste of Chanhassen? Lash: Yeah, could do that. Moes: I suppose you could push the parade back til 11:00. Lasts til noon and they'll all feel comfortable because it's aftemoon. Hoffman: The whole issue of having anything on the 4th that involves bringing in a whole lot of businesses or volunteers, it's a national holiday. Lash: Oh. The other thing it competes then with what we're trying to do at Lake Ann Park too which is, that's another thing. Moes: I wasn't sure if there was, I was trying to go back, if there were activities at Lake Ann Park that could be expanded or brought back up here and I just, I'm just kind of recalling our follow-up conversation after last year to see if there was a way to use the space because it is all set up. I can't think of anything offhand that it could be used for but I thought I'd at least throw it out. Hoffman: A 2 day camival, I think that was brought up. Franks: You know then you could give food vendors the whole 2 day deal. I'm sure that'd be more attractive to them as well. 18 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Hoffman: We thought about using the tent but it was difficult. Ruegemer: Yeah for all the reasons and then for staff`wise too as far as if we're all busy doing something at Lake Ann and I'm doing the parade and Corey's at Lake Ann and Todd's at Lake Ann. You know not that it can't be done but coordination certainly is an issue. Lash: Then it's just another whole day of events to try and plan and coordinate too so it's like double. Moes: Oh I understand. It's been you know, it's been brought up. There are a lot of activities, if we can spread them out but right, the coordination or thinking up new events I think would certainly be very difficult to do because there are plenty already going on. It doesn't matter that something was growing so big that you might want to move it. Lash: You know we've never had an art thing. Arts and crafts. I don't know how you'd even begin to do something like that. Hoff`man: It takes a real initiative and you start and you move on. These art fairs across the state are huge but they are 20 years old. There's a real tradition to them. And I also think if we're serious about that, we need to watch and see what happens with the library and the town square and what kind of a feel we're going to have down there and where's the event going to be in the future. Because I certainly think there's, we made a big investment in setting up those, all of those physical needs that are out there and if you can continue to use them the next day and... Lash: Well you guys can definitely kick around ideas too. You know maybe somebody's going to have a brainstorm that we haven't thought of. Berg: I see some of the things they do in Eden Prairie and they have an awful lot of outdoor festivals in Eden Prairie with Scooner Days and all those other things. Maybe we can get some ideas from them. Franks: They have camival rides at Scooner Days don't they? Lash: No. Berg: I don't believe they do, no. Hoff`man: I just talked with...staff`members over in Eden Prairie and they're taking a look at all of their festivals and they may in fact be dropping some or changing some because of the changing nature of the community. So these festivals are 15 and 20 years old and they're not, they don't have the appeal or the same feel as they had 10-15 years ago so, things are changing. Lash: Okay, anything else for festivals and celebrations? Okay. ADMINISTRATIVE: 2001 MEETING CALENDAR AND 2001 REPORT SCHEDULE. Lash: We've got our meeting calendar. Anybody see any obvious conflicts? With holidays or anything. I don't see anything. Fred, you're going to be happy to hear this. I will not be here on the 27th. I have parent teacher conferences. Berg: February? 19 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: Yep. Howe: Nor will I. Berg: Oh boy. Lash: We get nervous now. Hoffman: Down to 5. Lash: If anybody else is planning on missing, we'll be getting, running pretty short so. Anybody see anything else? Howe: Todd, the CAA as we know it is now they've changed that? I didn't hear about...baseball association. Hoffman: Well just the, yeah the baseball part of it has changed. Berg: He sort of violated the rules and jumped way ahead. Howe: Oh I'm sorry. I thought administration. I'm sorry. Lash: Do we need to vote on that calendar? HolTman: No. I also have a second calendar which is the 2001 schedule for Park and Recreation Commission attendance at City Council meetings and on the back it has all of your terms, voice mail, faxes, e-mails. Lash: Thanks to you Norma for calling me today because our e-mail's been down for 2 weeks so I wouldn't have known. Karlovich: With regards to the scheduling. At least 3 volunteers on the 2nd and 4th Mondays I'm in Mahtomedi acting as their city attorney so I can't make it to these so if anyone's interested in March 12th, June 25th or September 24th. Lash: Well I can switch with you in June. That won't be a problem. And we don't have to attend, is that correct? Unless there's a park issue. Hoffman: Correct. You'll be mailed if it's there. Lash: So why don't, I'll trade with you Jay. Karlovich: Well I can't really trade. I mean every. HolTman: These are always 2nd and 4th. Lash: Oh, oh, oh, okay. Franks: Todd can you if something comes up. 20 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: Just call one of us. Hoff`man: Okay, I'll just note those and if we've got a hot item that night I'll call the commissioners. Manders: As usual I mean you guys contact us if we need to be here. Otherwise it's a not. Hoff`man: Yep. We've added it on there an agenda and park commission items will be delivered to you a week prior to your assigned dates if they're on the agenda. It's just automatic. Lash: Okay, and then our next item is to move to go have quarterly reports from our managers and superintendents and whatever all the titles are so, does anybody have questions or comments on that? Sounds like a good idea. Any committee reports? Michael? Howe: Well Rod and I attended the first meeting in 2001 of the Dave Huff`man Race Committee. Just want you to know. It's September 15th. We're moving ahead. Lash: Okay, anybody else who's on a committee? We don't have very many committees going these days. And our memorial committee is pretty much defunct now because that's pretty much just going, right? Hoff`man: Yes. Lash: Okay. Commission member presentations? Anybody have anything for that? Berg: Well Michael and I attended the City Council meeting last night and addressed the round house issue. I was speaking for myself. I felt pretty good when we were done. I had a sense that they wanted to, there wasn't an awful lot of sentiment to keep it when we started. If you couldn't sort of guess from the tone of the e-mail, you probably heard me screaming. Lash: Now you're going to have to back up. What e-mail? I don't get e-mails so... Howe: I've got a copy of it. Berg: Michael's got a copy of it. So we went up there and what they're going to do before they're, and fill in, before they were willing to look seriously at spending $125,000 to renovate, they want to test the waters again in terms of the community. They want to do another survey and get some feedback from them. Which seemed last night to be a pretty good compromise based on where it might be going. It looked like it might be going at the start. Howe: So it was 4 to nothing they tabled it. Togetsomemoreofthatmoreinputandiftheycouldjust refurbish the outside and leave the inside and if the lead paint was indeed a serious environmental hazard and that had to be looked into so. Hoffman: They tabled it but only with one directive. They tabled it with the thought that they may go out to the community in the future but all they asked for was a cost of not completing the entire project but just doing the outside. Berg: For cosmetic appearances. Hoff`man: So they want to know that number first before they would go out and introduce the project to the neighborhood again. So we're working on that number. I don't support it. It's either in my opinion all or 21 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 nothing, but we'll get that number to the City Council at their next meeting and then they'll have additional direction for stafl~ Karlovich: What is our expenditure down to then if no trail, no round house? I mean what are we even doing in 20017 Hoffman: The playground out at Stone Creek Park and some other minor items. There's not a lot left. Lash: I was reading the e-mail so I wasn't able to multi-task. What did you say happened last night? Berg: They directed Todd to find out how much it would cost to work on the exterior. To refurbish the exterior and not do anything to the inside. Lash: So what would be the point of that? Berg: They wouldn't be spending as much money. Lash: But it also would be. Berg: They weren't interested in hearing any discussion about whether that was a good thing or bad thing last night. They were, I had a sense they were, they wanted to discuss whether or not we should even continue the discussion or just raze it tomorrow. That's being a bit overly dramatic. Lash: Okay, so what happened? They tabled it? Berg: They tabled it with the direction to Todd to come up with a cost for what it would be to just refurbish the outside. But they also talked unofficially about redoing the survey of the neighbors to see if they wanted to spend that kind of money to do, as one person said, just do the round house. Franks: You mean are you suggesting that they had an idea like, if there was $125,000 to spend, would that area prefer to spend it on refurbishing the round house or would they prefer to spend it on like a hockey rink? Berg: Hockey rink, yes. Yes, that's exactly what. Franks: Is that kind of. Berg: That's exactly the sense that I got. Hoffman: Mayor Jansen heard from neighbors while campaigning in that area that they wanted the park to be finished. They wanted the other components of the park to be finished, not necessarily the round house. But it is ugly but we want more playground equipment. We want our hockey rink. Lash: I thought there was kind of actually a push against the hockey out there because we ended up putting that pretty low on the priority list because it seemed, as I recall, the neighbors weren't especially supportive of hockey. Hoffman: Yeah, I presented the neighborhood, findings of the neighborhood meeting to the council last night. Number one was the playground. Number two was refurbishment of the round house. 22 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Franks: So they were presented with that information? Hoffman: Yes. Franks: Okay. Lash: But they still want to survey the neighborhood? Hoffman: Well due to the cost, the escalating cost of the round house. The commission did mail a letter to the neighborhood, I think it was last July stating that the costs had escalated up to the $80,000 mark but the neighborhood at large is not aware that it is now at $120,000 price tag. Council believes they may feel differently. Lash: Well do we want to schedule a meeting and invite the neighbors in? Hoffman: Council may do that in the future. They haven't chosen to give that directive just yet. Karlovich: How long will the process take of doing another survey? Hoffman: Oh it'd just be a neighborhood meeting I think. Franks: So the council would direct us as a commission to hold a neighborhood meeting. Is that what you're saying? Hoffman: Correct. And they may or may not do that. Councilmember Peterson brought up that it should be stated in this new letter that you either come in and talk about your desire to keep the round house or it's going to be tom down. That's what the letter said last July and we had very little response at that meeting when you upped the budget to $80,000 to determine to do that so, but we can try that again. Lash: So did anyone last night address the question that the city manager had regarding this project? Hoffman: Yes. Lash: Okay. And did the City Council seem to understand that, you know, the logic behind or the emotion behind some of those reasons? Berg: The council was really split. You had one council person who seemed to be very much in favor of the recommendation, and would have gone along with the idea. Another council member who doesn't want to spend the money to have it done. And then you have two in the middle who are willing to look at this. Hoffman: The council as a whole, that council, the new council as a whole just has not been involved in the project, the 4 year history so they just want to take some additional time to make sure that they're. Berg: And Michael did a really nice job of pointing out that we're not a willy nilly group that goes out just frivolously spending money and I was struck not only with how well you did with that but how the city I think and the council doesn't know that because they don't know us at all. Half of them have never seen us in operation. So I walked out of there feeling that this is an okay compromise because again they, we have to build up their trust with these people too. 23 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Lash: So they're just basically trying to take some time then? Berg: Yeah it would be wrong to imply that I think it would be that there was some of sinister move here to delay things before we tear it down. I didn't get that sense at all. It seemed to be a very open, give and take. Howe: And they really wanted our opinions. I mean they debated this an hour and a half and they really, I mean a couple of the council members were very, you know we need to hear from Fred and Mike and gee good points Fred and Mike and I didn't really know that about this and, I was, they seemed open to listening to our views. Lash: Okay, so they want to get input from the neighborhood and then what? Hoff`man: No they don't. At this time they want to know what it would cost just to maintain the exterior of the building. Berg: It seems that the next step might be to get input from the neighborhood if, depending on what these numbers say. Lash: Well I don't have a problem I guess with getting more information but if in the end the building isn't functional for anything, then it's been patched back together so it's not an eye sore, I don't know that that's really serving the whole purpose of what we had in mind. If in the end we're still going to have to pay the rent to have a warming house out there, but the round house looks nice on the outside, that doesn't seem like it's functional. Berg: Depends on what the numbers are. Howe: I think one of their problems was, for, and I can't say I disagree with them. I think we're looking at more of, as Fred would say an advocate and this is historical and it's a beautiful building. It could be but I got the sense from a lot of the members that alright, you want to spend $125,000. You've got 20 into it now. This is going to be a warming house for 2 months in the winter and what are you going to do with it in the summer and I think there's uses for it in the summer but I don't think we can say for sure that oh yeah we'll have Bingo in there every Friday night. We don't know enough and I think they thought gee, for that limited use of what this may be, it's a lot of money. They kept going back to that. Lash: And what do we pay for warming house rental? For a trailer. Hoffman: About $2,000 a year. Berg: So it'd be 50 years before we'd have it paid ofl~ Hoffman: They went through all the numbers. Karlovich: Did the point get across though as to how much we normally budget for total programs in a year and where we are right now. It just seems like we're not really doing anything in 2001. We put a lot of things off`to future years. We try to stay around a quarter of a million dollars and now we've had like our two biggest projects in 2001 have kind of gone out the window, or at least are put ofl~ I guess. 24 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Hoffman: It was not brought up. I don't know that that would have any value. The council wasn't going to approve projects or change their minds simply because we're not doing the projects that were budgeted. They want to make sure that they feel comfortable with them. Lash: It's money well spent, yeah. You know one of the points that, and you guys maybe raised this. I'm sure Michael did eloquently last night but I look at Roundhouse Park as not just a typical neighborhood park because they are so isolated from town. That this is the only thing that those people out there have and we worked hard to try and finally get something out there so if we end up getting something that's a little bit special, you know that doesn't. Hoffman: We talked that way. Lash: And I'm as cheap as the next. Hoffman: Commissioner. Lash: Yeah, council member can be so, but I have a bigger heart for that particular park. Okay. Okay, well you'll keep us updated on that, right? And if you need more. I'm sorry, I'm not getting e-mails. I easily could have come last night so. Franks: Todd, just as I remember correctly, on our 5 year CIP, there's nothing else scheduled for that park. Hoffman: Correct. Howe: That was brought up last night too. Hoffman: Due to the upfront investment that you made, it's time to give the park a breather and move on to other things in the community. Lash: Okay. Well thanks for going last night you guys. Anything else under commission member presentation? Anyone? Now Mike, under the Administrative Packet. Was there something that caught your eye? Howe: Sorry I rushed that. Todd explain to me this new, this CAA baseball. It's going to be combined with Carver, Chaska and Chanhassen now so a bigger league I would say. Hoffman: Fairly. After Frank passed away there's been a lot of juggling of, and fallout really of where these things, who's going to pick them up. Who's going to organize them and some folks that were involved with the baseball association or the baseball program said we're not quite happy with how this is going so they met with the leadership of the CAA and they said, here's what we'd like to do and they all agreed to combine. Howe: Thanks. Lash: Anybody else? Anybody have anything else in this whole thing? Who's Robert Peterson? Hoffman: Yep, Bob Peterson. Bob Peterson was the Project Manager for both City Center and Bandimere Park. Franks: Where is Safari Island? 25 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Hoffman: West of Waconia and north of Highway 5 at the new middle school. It's a new middle school and community center tied into one. Franks: So that was a city/school district collaborative effort. Lash: That will be kind of neat to follow and just kind of see what kind of a go they make of it. Hoffman: They're starting from scratch. Lash: Yeah. Will we be privy to that kind of... Hoffman: Oh sure. Chris...the new Parks Director is formerly from Eagan. We get together and chat and she started from ground zero. Franks: Do you have any idea offhand how much the city has invested into that project? Hoffman: No, I don't. It's in the 4 to 8 million range. I'm not sure what exactly it is. Lash: How did they get the money to do that? Hoffman: I don't know. Berg: Do you think that'd be a good field trip sometime? Hoffman: Oh sure. Yeah, once they're up and running. Ruegemer: Just to give the commission an update. I did run into Pam Mueller with the INT water ski show down at the Boat Show last weekend and they would like to do it again but there will be more of a formal presentation coming on the February commission agenda. It sounded like they wanted to do the first weekend in June. It did work out better for everybody. Lash: How'd it go last year? Ruegemer: You know what? Really good. Lash: Good. Ruegemer: We didn't hear really anything from the residents on the lake so just to give you guys a heads up if you want to do any homework prior, I'm going to bring it in February. Hoffman: The lake aerator went in today for Lake Susan. Oxygen is going down. It still is a safe level but it may dip below that. It's the first time in 3 years the aeration has gone in. Lash: Here's, you want these tonight and then are you going to reschedule that? Hoffman: Yes, we'll reschedule for February. Lash: Anyone else have anything? 26 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 Howe: Well Todd, one thing. Can you get us some time in front of the City Council just to tell them about the Dave Huff`man Race again? Hoff`man: Sure. What month? Howe: I don't care. Just to tell them we're going to do it. Just a formality thing. We did the same thing last year. Hoff`man: It's really busy in February. Howe: March is fine. Berg: Why don't you schedule it for March 12th and then that will take care of one of Jay's meetings. Howe: I'm still coming down from last night. Hoff`man: Good idea. I believe also the council is scheduling a work session with all commissions on March 5th. So if you can check your calendar, I believe that's... Manders: I was just going to ask a quick question if there was any feedback on the Villager article on the Fox property? Hoff`man: No. Franks: That was a well done article. Really well written. Lash: Thanks Melissa. Hoff`man: I called Eric. Instead of calling Melissa directly I called Eric. I thought she did a really nice job. We met there for a couple hours on the site. Took a long tour through the property. The background information that she came up with was more than anyone here at City Hall has known about the property with phone calls to the different people so. Lash: Okay, anything else? Karlovich: I guess I have one last thing. I got a couple of telephone calls from Sue McAllister and I suggested that she contact you Todd to talk about any future preservation of her property and the proximity to Bluff Creek and I don't know if she called you or not. Hoff`man: She stopped by today. Karlovich: Okay. Hoff`man: What I got out of the conversation is that Sue's in her mid 50's. She's looking to try to make something out of this property and this petting farm is going to take some pretty big capital to get that going. If in this future, this property could be in the hands of the City, would there be an interest in providing a down payment to allow her to invest in her petting farm. Maintain that for 10 or 15 years and then after that time period the City would take ownership of the property for something like a living history farms. I don't know who's been at the Brooklyn Park, what's it called?...and I stated that that kind of an arrangement I would think would be the only kind that the City would be interested in. We would not 27 Park and Rec Commission Meeting January 23,2001 want to run a petting farm and so she would need to run that idea past the commission so. And obviously in that kind of arrangement, for appointed or elected officials to go along with that, to tell the citizens that we're going to pay for property that we're going to gain access to in 15 years is almost a life estate type of arrangement. It has to come at a reduced price and so, she gets the benefit of an upfront payment and being able to utilize the land but then we get a reduced price in the future so, it's something that she may be presenting to the commission in the future. Lash: Thanks Jay. Anything else? Hearing nothing else, is there a motion to adjoum? Howe moved, Moes seconded to adjourn the Park and Recreation Commission meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously. Submitted by Todd Hoffman Park and Rec Director Prepared by Nann Opheim 28