Loading...
PRC 2006 01 23 CHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 24, 2006 Chairman Stolar called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.. MEMBERS PRESENT: Glenn Stolar, Paula Atkins, Ann Murphy, Steve Scharfenberg and Jack Spizale. Tom Kelly arrived late to the meeting. MEMBERS ABSENT: Kevin Dillon STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director; Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent; Nate Rosa, Recreation Supervisor; and Dale Gregory, Park Superintendent PUBLIC PRESENT: David Dines, Minnetonka Lacrosse 4238 Heathcote Road, Wayzata Todd Neils, Chanhassen Little League 990 Saddlebrook Curve Tom Nygaard, CC United Soccer Club 1071 Wildwood Way, Chaska Tim Litfin 5621 Co. Rd. 101, Minnetonka APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Scharfenberg moved, Murphy seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ruegemer: Thanks Chair Stolar, members of the commission. Good evening. I just wanted to th introduce Nate Rosa. He’s our new Recreation Supervisor. Nate started January 4. He’s been here I think 3 weeks now. Busy working on February Festival. Getting ready for that and looking ahead to spring with some programs and that sort of thing so Nate was the successful candidate out of 59 candidates so we went through a couple interviews with Nate. A graduate from Mankato State and has worked with the City of Moorhead, the City of St. Louis Park, the Mankato YMCA and recently the Carver-Scott Educational Coop in Chaska so beyond that Nate would like to say anything, we certainly welcome him and will be enjoying his work in our office. Stolar: Welcome Nate. Rosa: Well first off I’d like to thank the City of Chanhassen for giving me the opportunity to grow along my career in the recreation field. One thing too I’m very impressed already is the longevity of every current employee here in the city. So I mean I look forward to being with you guys for quite a while. Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Stolar: Thank you very much. And would you like to make your first public announcement here about Feb Fest or shall we? Rosa: I would love to make my presentation. Stolar: Then we’ll talk more in detail later but if you want to just announce it. Rosa: This will be one of many shameless plugs that I do during my tenure here. February th Festival is going to be Saturday, February 4 on Lake Ann. The schedule of events, the whole event will start at noon and with that we’ll have concessions, our bonfire, our s’mores cookout, our sliding hills, our open skating and our medallion hunt will also be going on which the clues are going to start coming out next week also. And then we’ll have our…on the ice and then, the actual fishing contest will go from 1:00 until 3:00 and with that altogether we have over $6,500 in door prizes and fish prizes. Stolar: Thank you. I’m sure we’ll hear more about it during the reports later. Rosa: Oh I’m sorry. Stolar: No, that’s okay. I wanted to make sure in public announcements to talk about it. And what else do we have coming up before our meeting. Any other major events? Ruegemer: The Daddy Daughter Date Night is coming up and Sweethearts Dance is also coming up. Todd was doing that one. Nate’s going to Elmo on Ice, or Groucho. Who is it on Ice? Rosa: Supergirls on Ice. Ruegemer: Supergirls. Stolar: You were close. Ruegemer: One of the Sesame Street so Nate’s going to be. Stolar: Any kids going? Rosa: We have 8 kids, 4 kids and 4 adults going but what we did is we had to postpone it. Not postpone it. We just did a will call. We had low numbers on there but instead of canceling it we offered them the option of taking a will call so they’re going to drive down there themselves. Ruegemer: Daddy Daughter Date Night right now is currently full on Friday night and we’re at about roughly 30 for Thursday night for numbers and that’s Nate’s busy talking to the caterer and getting all of that information kind of lined up for that as well. Stolar: Great. Any other public announcements? 2 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Hoffman: We’d like to announce that the City was honored today at the Chanhassen Chamber of Commerce luncheon as Business of the Year. So there was 5 I believe nominees for Business of the Year. Mayor Furlong accepted that award on behalf of the City and the elected appointed officials and staff and parks and recreation plays a significant part in that award. It was mentioned first hand on a number of occasions throughout the presentations so I’m sure you’ll see more about it in the paper this coming week but that was a nice honor the City received today at noon. Stolar: Anything else? Alright, commission members anything else? Okay. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Scharfenberg moved, Atkins seconded to approve the verbatim and summary minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated December 20, 2005 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. Stolar: Actually it’s not in these minutes. I’d like to thank Jack and his wife Eileen for hosting us at our holiday party. Christmas party. Appreciate it. It was very nice. Spizale: You’re welcome. Stolar: Should we give Tom a little more time or should we, what do you guys think? Wait until Tom gets here for the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson decision? Okay. INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT – 2006 BALLFIELD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Hoffman: Thank you Chair Stolar, members of the commission. As a part of the development of the 2006 CIP we included $60,000 in one line item for ballfield improvements. We also have an additional $25,000 at Bandimere Park for athletic field netting and so you combine those two and you’re at $85,000 in ballfield related improvements for the 2006 season. This started as a part of a conversation that you had last year. Different athletic associations specifically Todd Neils who is here this evening and presented to the commission on a couple of occasions and I think, did we count 42 ballfields the other day when we were discussing this? Soccer and baseball. 42 fields. Our fields are very well known as being in good condition for public facilities but there’s always room for improvement, especially as it relates to safety needs at our athletic field complexes. So in response to those desires this money has been recommended by the commission, approved by the City Council as a part of your 2006 CIP and now the best way to do a quality project is to hear from those who actually utilize those facilities and take some input about their ideas and then make some recommendations back to the City Council so that’s our intent this evening. We have some people here representing different athletic associations and sports if you’d like to take the chance to hear their input. Stolar: And for clarification we are talking, it’s not just ballfields. It’s athletic fields because there might be other uses outside of ballfields. 3 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Hoffman: Correct. Stolar: Alright. So why don’t we open it up then for public comment. Would you like to, are you here for the ballfield issue? David Dines: Yes, I’m David Dines. Stolar: Would you mind stepping up here. Introduce yourself and your address. And your association. David Dines: Thank you. Okay, I’m David Dines. I’m with Minnetonka Youth Lacrosse. We have been beneficiaries of using Instant Web in years past. I’m relatively new to the organization but I’m here representing the organization tonight. I would tell you that we’ve been very pleased with Instant Web. I’m here to say that we have no safety recommendations other than I’m here to introduce myself. It is our goal to get closer to you and to build a relationship with you because youth lacrosse is growing leaps and bounds and quite honestly we’re going to need and ask for more field space so it’s just a way for us to introduce ourselves but I have no, no needs from a safety aspect. So I’ll stop there. Thank you. Stolar: Thank you. If you don’t mind waiting a second. Are there any questions from the commission? Great, thank you very much. David Dines: Okay, thank you. Stolar: Appreciate you stopping by. Todd, you want to go next? Todd Neils: My name is Todd Neils from Chanhassen Little League. I was recently elected President in October, taking the place of Jack Jensen who served for 16 years. As you know we’ve spoken on several occasions over the past year about the need for additional ball park space, whether it be lighted fields at the Lake Ann complex, or a more well rounded experience for the youth that are playing baseball in the community. There are I think some safety issues that need to be addressed, at least from a ballpark standpoint. A baseball park standpoint. I don’t know if you want me to go into detail about those right now or if you want to wait until a later time. Stolar: Now’s fantastic. Todd Neils: We have made the recommendation, or at least the request in the past that Lake Ann Park and Bandimere Park be outfitted with dugouts. We have changed our stance to the extent that there are some additional needs for those parks, specifically the extension of the fences along any of the ballparks at Lake Ann, specifically Lake Ann 1 and 2. Lake Ann 3 and 6 are completely surrounded by fencing at this point. Additionally we feel that there should be some type of topping. I know that down in Chaska they have a yellow plastic topping to the fields so if any children do stick their hands over, they don’t get caught on the fencing itself. 4 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Scharfenberg: Just to clarify Todd what you’re talking about is on the outfield fence, some sort of protective covering over the, what would be the home run fence, just to designate or more of a protective device. Todd Neils: I think that all fencing should be capped in some manner because whether it’s a foul ball next to the dugout or down the either base line, there’s till the opportunity for a child to reach over in some manner and cut themselves on the fencing. Additionally there is a cracked base, specifically home plate at Lake Ann 2 that I know about. I’m not quite sure necessarily what would be under the, what would be under the responsibility of the City to fix some of these items versus what this additional windfall shall we say of money is going to be used for. Beyond that, we have made a request for additional storage space. I know that some of the storage space that has been used in the past, specifically the metal containers had, could have easily fallen and almost did on someone’s head where we stored our equipment for umpires. So there was an umpire that almost got bonked in the noggin when he went in to get his umpire equipment. So some additional storage with possibly, you know whether it be a storage shed that is split up into sections would be very helpful. Additionally if there is extra money involved after all that is said and done, there are numerous things that we would like to see the Park and Rec Commission, as well as the City take on to improve the experience of our ball players. Again from a safety standpoint, foul balls are always a danger and whether we add dugouts for safety reasons or for aesthetic reasons, or for a well rounded experience, it’s irrelevant. I think dugouts are necessary, particularly during the hot days of summer when some screening of some type over the top of the dugouts is necessary. Because the kids, particularly the catchers are wearing catchers masks during the game and get quite warm and need some place to kind of cool down. Stolar: Anything else? Todd Neils: I can go on forever. Stolar: Those are your top? Todd Neils: I think those are the top concerns at this point because I think when we originally started having our conversations, there was an interest as I said to add lighting and dugouts. Once the safety concerns are taken care of, and again if there is extra dollars to be spent, if there’s any way we can add those dugouts as requested, that would be fantastic. Stolar: Great. Any questions for Todd? Kelly: When you say extend the fences, I mean could you elaborate on that a little more? I mean are these fields are what fully enclosed right now and instead of making them 300 on the lines you want to make them 330 down the lines? Is that? Todd Neils: No, no, no. What I mean is on, if you walk Lake Ann 1 or Lake Ann 2, currently there is fencing only to the extent that it goes past, I think 1 or 10 feet past the dugout. We have quite a few parents that sit along either side line, along the fencing there in the foul territory watching games. When there are over throws or again fouls, but over throws specifically, there’s always that danger that a parent who may be conversing with another parent is in danger of 5 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 getting hit. I don’t know necessarily that you need to extend the fencing all the way down the line to the outfield, but at the very least it should be extended another 20 to 40 feet to ensure those parents are not being in danger in any way. Additionally we use some of that area for warm up pitching and so again our children that are warming up for their next pitching, or pitching performance and therefore there’s that possibility that they may be hit by a ball as well. Stolar: Any other questions? Spizale: I’ve got one. What does a dugout cost to put in? Does anybody have a figure on that? Todd Neils: I don’t necessarily have the figures. I would suggest however that if in fact your, the cheapest alternative, and we’ve seen these in Hopkins and I believe they also have them in the Chaska district, they have an enclosed fence dugout with a fence top and then they have some sort of wind screen that covers the dugout, which I think would provide both ample protection from foul balls as well as the opportunity to keep the kids cool during the hot summer. Hoffman: And those are probably a couple thousand dollars on each side versus you could spend up to $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 on a dugout if you made it out of masonry and roof tops and stuff too. Todd Neils: I know that one of the requests that has come from members of our league is the inaccessibility of some of the fields and some sort of path, particularly for disabled in wheelchairs or with walkers would be greatly appreciated so that they have the ability to get to the fields and watch their grandchildren or children play sports. Atkins: Has anyone, have any of your players been injured going over the fence or jumping for balls? Todd Neils: Not yet. Not that I know of. I wasn’t alerted of anything last year as the Vice President. I sure would not ever want to see it happen because I know those things can be sharp, you know. But I’d like to see something to ensure that it never does happen. Atkins: The storage equipment that you have, was that provided by the City initially? Todd Neils: The storage facility? Atkins: For your equipment. Whatever you’re storing your umpire’s equipment in. Todd Neils: The umpire’s equipment is supplied by the league itself. The storage facility I think, if I’m not mistaken was supplied by the City. Ruegemer: The storage boxes at Lake Ann were actually made by Ziegler back in the early 90’s, by the ex-President of the CAA, Jeff Bros. And those were. Atkins: Donated? 6 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Ruegemer: Made by Ziegler and donated to the City for the fields so those go back quite a few years. 15-16 years. Atkins: I was just wondering if the City is required to provide storage for something like that. Hoffman: We provide storage at the fields. When we remodeled City Center Park, we put storage boxes at those fields. Todd Neils: I think we’d like to see something, if possible, a little larger in scale because our intent is to have trucking equipment and umpire gear and possibly temporary mounds that the Little League will use on the fields. Provided they will take them out to the field at night and then return them to the storage shed after they’re done using them. Atkins: From my experience it appears that maybe the only fields that aren’t accessible to handicap would be 3 and 6, the ones down on the end because the path extends to the top of the hill all the way down. Todd Neils: I agree with that. I think one of the concerns of the difficulties is, as you walk the tree line along the path between I think it’s 1 and 6 at this point, it does go up a grade and so it is difficult to get down that grade if you want to get low enough to see the field because the overhang of the trees may shade that. Atkins: The trees are getting bushy. Todd Neils: A little bit. Stolar: Any other questions? Todd Neils: Thank you. Stolar: Thank you Todd. Appreciate it. Tom Nygaard: Hi I’m Tom Nygaard. I’m the President of the CC United Soccer Club, which is the Chan-Chaska Soccer Club that serves the Carver County community here and just briefly talking with Todd when I came in, I guess we’re all on the same page of these, there’s some discussions at least regarding some of the expenditures, but tonight I just bring forward one about the Bandimere Park, the complex. I have to tell you guys, you haven’t heard, when we have visiting teams come in from the other metropolitan areas from outstate, that Bandimere complex by far is probably the premiere soccer site. A 3 field site grant you but premiere as far as quality and upkeep, the size. Constantly get compliments. Everyone wants to play at Bandimere so thank you. We appreciate it and it’s been a pleasure working with Jerry I think probably 8 years. I’ve been with the club for about 12 years and just, it’s a great facility. In conjunction with that though, the only thing that was ever missing was some type of barrier, netting, fencing on the fields behind the goals to prevent the balls to go into the woods on one side and the pond on the other. And that would be the only reason we’re really here tonight is looking for a field improvement is to do something in that regard. Our proposal we, if it’s 7 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 cyclone fencing. If it’s a temporary netting that has strings that you pull up. I guess we’re here to say we’re willing to work with you to find a solution that works not only for the soccer fields but also I know there’s residents around the park that are going to have concerns about seeing the fence up all the time. But we want to work with you and find a solution to that one detriment because I think we’re still looking for 6 kids from last year that went to… I’m kidding but we do lose a few soccer balls and we do have the balls go in the ponds and if anything more, it’s not so much safety as it is inconvenience but I guess there is a walking path and shots can be taken and shots are taken into the parking lot, and we’d love to teach our kids to put the ball on frame but that’s not going to happen so. So we’re here tonight to help solicit ideas, funds and see if we can’t find a working solution for Bandimere in regards to some type of protective or barriers for the soccer balls behind the nets. And in conjunction with that we’ve always been trying to be the club that has, that gives back to people that work with us well and if it’s labor that you need, we’re willing to invest labor. We have a lot of talented people within the club that would be willing to help with the labor to help save costs. In other notes, I mean we have 490 competitive players. About 53% are from the Chanhassen residents or boundaries. That’s up 60 players from last year. Our rec program will probably near 2,000 this year so we’ll be about a 2,600, I’m sorry, 2,500 play organization by next year easily so we want to continue working with you and finding ways and parks and solutions to continue helping our program grow. And before I forget, do you take care of the rec program for soccer in the fall then for, is that? Because what we’d like to do is offer the services of a Director of Coaching because we do that. We don’t have a rec program in the fall, so he’s looking to help communities like Chanhassen, Chaska, Carver, Victoria. If they have a rec program going, he’s there to assist you in any way he can so that’s also an extended offer to the City of Chanhassen. Stolar: Okay, thank you. Tom Nygaard: And that’s all I have. Any questions? Kelly: I guess the netting or the fencing you’re looking at, are you looking at, would it be preferred that to be on the field side of the path or on the opposite side of the path? Tom Nygaard: If it’s on the field side of the path, it’s probably best it be a little bit higher initially because once the shot goes by the goal and gets down to the path, your projectory is lower so it’s not such a concern. It could be a lower fence. The problem is that you still have people walking dogs, bicycling and that. We’re willing to talk about it. I mean we’re not ruling anything out. We want to provide the safety. We haven’t had any incidents but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be an air shot that takes someone down one of these days but if it is on the field side of the walk, it might have to be a little bit higher just to keep the shots, the higher shots and stopping them initially. Kelly: Okay, thanks. Tom Nygaard: Alright, thank you. Appreciate it. Stolar: Actually David I have a question for you. Where do you currently play in the city for lacrosse? 8 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 David Dines: Where do we, we practice at Instant Web. Behind that, Friday and Saturday of last year for Chanhassen. And we practice at other fields in the Minnetonka area. Hoffman: Most commissioners aren’t aware, Instant Web is a temporary field situation that the City is just, we have a long term relationship. That field’s been available for 8 to 10 years now I bet. Yeah. But it’s not owned by the City. The property is not owned by the City. We did do some grading and field improvements there, but the field will not be there forever. It will be a building some day most likely. Stolar: Okay. Good to know. And then Todd, do you want to talk a little bit about the process that we’re going to follow on these improvement suggestions. Kelly: I had a quick question. Was there something in our CIP that, for Bandimere improvement that talked about fencing along the, okay. Hoffman: Bandimere Park athletic field netting, $25,000 for this year and that’s in addition to the $60,000. Kelly: Right, okay. So it’s possible that we wouldn’t even need to tap into the $60,000 to satisfy that concern. Probable actually. Okay. Just some more about that netting. I know last, a couple of years ago they had the orange netting that went, I want to say was it the north side of the fields. Is it, do something a little different this time than the orange netting? Because I do live around there so I know how well that stood out at the time. So okay. I just wanted to address it because I thought there was something in our budget that kind of addressed the Bandimere fields. Hoffman: Yep. There’s some challenging grade out there as well. On the south side of the field, if you take the netting away from the back of the net, you drop down the hill real dramatically as well so you’re going to lose that advantage, the height because you’ll have to regain it in the height of the fence so there’s some challenges out there, but we can find a solution. Stolar: So after we get this input, the process will be. Hoffman: Process will be your thoughts from the commissioners and then staff would make a recommendation at a future meeting for the commission to consider and then to make a recommendation to the City Council. Stolar: And specifically to the offer that was on the table, and I believe your organization has talked to us many times before also. That as we go forward we would ask for their participation as we start finalizing some of the information, actual designs and implementations of what we chose to fund, as well as we would welcome any assistance in implementing. Hoffman: As staff moves forward with developing each of these projects we would work with those different representatives and talk about where appropriate, where they could participate in assisting the site. 9 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Stolar: And I appreciate the offers that everyone has put forth because Todd, you wanted to. Todd Neils: Todd Neils again. I’d like to mirror what Tom suggested. I’ve been given the go ahead by our board that if there is anything necessary in terms of labor that needs to be done, we’re more than willing to throw people at it. Whether it’s pounding nails, I’ll put my tool belt on all weekend on a Saturday if I need to. I missed a couple points earlier and if you don’t mind I’d like to hit them really quick. The sole baseball mound at Lake Ann 2 is made out of, I’m not quite sure but I can tell you that it is so hard that it gets, it’s very slippery for the kids. And so that may be necessary to be chopped down and redone. Additionally, some type of re-grade for 3 and 6. Well all the fields at Lake Ann because with all the rain we had last year, we had swim meets rather than baseball games, and whether they are, whether they are re-graded from the mound out, or whatever the city thinks is necessary. Some better drainage really is necessary at those fields. There are minor things that we can always get by, new spikes for base pads and mounds. I know that from a softball standpoint, as the softballers use Lake Ann 1, they’ve got 2 spikes set up for pitching. They bring temporary, the temporary pitching rubber… (There was a tape change at this point in the discussion.) Kelly: Is there a need for part of that money to go to installing those scoreboards or are you taking care of all that? Todd Neils: Absolutely not. We purchased the scoreboards out of the budget of the Chanhassen Little League. The scoreboards when they came were not quite what we expected. Two of them were damaged. And only one was in working condition. I think last year, I think it was May you approved the donation of scoreboards, and it was going to go to City Council. Because we received the scoreboards in such poor condition we felt we weren’t going to pursue it at that time, so we’re looking for other alternatives for scoreboards. When we do receive them or find that alternative, we definitely will be either coming back to you, if that’s necessary, or approaching the City Council. I’m not quite sure what the path will be at that point, or the necessary path. I suspect I’ll talk to Todd about that in the future. To offer our assistance in any way to have those, to install those scoreboards. Kelly: Thanks. Stolar: Thanks. Any comments from commissioners? We’ll start with Steve. Any questions, comments for staff. Thoughts. Scharfenberg: Well part of what I think what we talked about in 2005 with the CIP and that with that $60,000 was primarily for lighting. If I remember right. Wasn’t that right? Hoffman: We pushed lighting out, athletic field lighting, 4 fields, $300,000 to 2008. Scharfenberg: Oh okay. Stolar: This was for ballfield improvements. 10 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Scharfenberg: Alright. I think the necessary thing is to kind of prioritize some of the things that we want done and you know say here’s priority 1, 2, 3 and 4 and say, can we get those done within the amount of money that we have. That’s I think what we need to do. Stolar: And that’s something you would suggest the commission does tonight? Or at a later meeting have this list kind of put together for us? Scharfenberg: Yeah. Stolar: Okay. Paula. Atkins: The CAA would have to do that. Prioritize? Present us. I mean you listed 4 or 5 things that you thought were most important but I don’t know if you listed them in order exactly. Stolar: Or I guess one of the questions I have for the commission is, if we ask, if you could submit that to Todd and then maybe at the next meeting we have your prioritized list based on some input priorities also. Would that work for you all? Because that’d be easiest I think for us is that if you can just mail your list with your priorities, and feel free to copy commissioners. I don’t mind you sending it to us, but look to Todd and Jerry to take the different priorities, plus things that maybe Dale or you guys have seen also, you know you didn’t get a chance to give the input. That’s where you would give the input of things you’ve seen also. Hoffman: Mr. Neils referred to it. Some of these items are not CIP items. They’re maintenance items so we’ll differentiate between the two at our future recommendation. Stolar: That’d be great because yeah, there might be a set of these that you say, look at. We’ll deal with some of these in a different fashion this year. Here are the ones that belong in the CIP. Great, thanks. Kelly: Actually I have a question about the lacrosse. I just want to make sure that a well maintained soccer field is good enough for lacrosse. There’s no additional needs that you need on a lacrosse field other than just. David Dines: As long as it’s 60 yards by 110 yards. Once in a while we need…we just need more of them, that’s all. Kelly: Yeah, the only thing I would request of the netting that we do around Bandimere is to make sure it’s sufficient to stop lacrosse balls as well because those things, they go a lot faster and they’re a lot easier to lose than soccer balls. And they hurt a lot more when they hit somebody. I’ve been there so. Murphy: I have to go along with the idea of having the CAA prioritize the needs that we have because we heard a lot of them tonight so if you can have those prioritized. 11 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Stolar: And just for the record, since no one said on record, Chaska, Chan-Chaska Soccer Club put their priorities on the handout that they gave us. As far as which field you feel should have first, the netting so thank you. Spizale: No additional comments. Stolar: Okay, great. Anything that you guys would like to add? Ruegemer: No. Just it’s exciting time for staff too to go through this process with the associations and for some much needed improvements so just for the record too, District 112 baseball did send an e-mail to me today expressing regrets that they couldn’t be here tonight but they fully would like to be involved in the process and look forward to that. Stolar: Great. So should we target our February meeting? Is that sufficient time for you guys? That’d be great. And then you know as always, we welcome comments and participation and again appreciate your offers to be here, to help us as we do this process and also appreciate you being here tonight. Thank you. To facilitate for our guests here, why don’t we move to the lifeguard contract. RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING APPROVAL OF 2006 LAKE ANN LIFEGUARD CONTRACT. Ruegemer: Thank you Chair Stolar. The City does review the annual contract at Lake Ann every year about this time if possible. The City of Chanhassen has had a long standing relationship with Minnetonka Community Education and Services and that relationship dates back to the 1970’s. It started as a handshake between, it was Jim Jones I believe and Don Ashworth was back in the day so. They’ve had a presence at Lake Ann for a long time and the City values that relationship. 2005 we did go through the process of having two different entities bid for those services at Lake Ann. Minnetonka Community Education Services and also Minnesota Safety Services. A new company that was formed by former employee of Minnetonka. Went through that process last year. After much debate from the commission and City Council, ultimately City Council did approve the contract for Minnetonka Community Education and Services in 2005. Staff had a good working relationship with…Sarah Best, representing Minnetonka Community Education Services last year. Everything seemed to go just fine with the swimming lessons and also the day to day operations of the beach contract. Staff asked Minnetonka Community to submit a contract for the 2006 beach season, as they did and that’s attached for the commission’s viewing tonight. The contract amount came in at $25,900, which is less than the 2005 contract in the amount of $1,655. Tim has looked at, Sarah and Tim with Minnetonka have looked at the contract and kind of fine tuned it a little bit and are going to be looking at things a little bit more efficiently this year. Doing some functions of the contract and that was kind of the reasoning for the reduced price for this year. Same, it’s essentially the same contract as the 2005 contract. That does include lifeguards 7 days a week, thth from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lake Ann, from June 10 until August 20, 2006. It is staff’s recommendation that the Park and Rec Commission recommend that the City Council approve the contract for Minnetonka Community Education and Services in the amount of $25,900 to provide lifeguard services at Lake Ann beach for the 2006 season. This amount has been 12 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 budgeted in the Lake Ann Park operations budget again for 2006. That’s my recommendation and the contract attached. Mr. Tim Litfin is also here from Minnetonka Community Education Services tonight if the commission would have any questions for Tim. Stolar: Tim, did you want to make a statement? Tim Litfin: Thank you. Good evening and thank you for having me here tonight. My name’s Tim Litfin. I’m the Community Education Director at Minnetonka and I’d like to first of all begin by saying thank you for 2005. You put your trust and faith in Minnetonka Community Education and we, I believe we delivered well. We trained, equipped and outfitted our staff to provide for the City of Chanhassen on excellent service and I believe we did not only represent ourselves and community education well, but ultimately you as the City of Chanhassen. And we were proud to do that and we very much look forward to doing that again this year at 2006. The bid is a little less than last year as Jerry mentioned. And that just goes to show that we’ve fine tuned things. I’ve been on the job there for Community Ed Director now 16 months so we’ve fine tuned a few things in our operations and some costs were shifted where they perhaps should more likely be and not in the beach contract, and that is why it is reflected that way, and it will in no way reflect less services. In fact last year we provided more services than what we said we th would. We over staffed on certain days, specifically on hot days and on July 4 we were there with extra staff and we met the need at the beach for the lifeguard. As well as for the lessons. We provided 104 people with lessons last year, 90 of which were city of Chanhassen residents. So that’s about 87% of the beach lessons were given to city of Chanhassen residents. We were also there for other services as well. Any time Jerry would have a need, we would try to help out and I look forward to doing that again this year, 2006. Stolar: Okay. Any questions for Tim? Spizale: I don’t have any questions. It seems great the price is lowered. That’s all I got. Stolar: Ann, anything? Murphy: No. Kelly: I’ve just got a question for Jerry, but not for Tim. Atkins: Nothing. Scharfenberg: No. Stolar: Okay Tim, if you want to sit down. One may come up as we’re in discussion but thank you. Tim Litfin: Sure. Thanks for having me here tonight. Appreciate it. Stolar: Tom, you have a question for Jerry. 13 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Kelly: I’m just curious, did you solicit Minnesota Safety Services for a bid as well? Ruegemer: I did not this year. Kelly: Okay. Can I ask, all I remember, I remember about the meeting last year was that, I think we were impressed with both companies. I believe our concern with Minnesota Safety Services was they were a brand new company and just didn’t know if they would stand the test of time. And I’m just curious why you didn’t go back to them for, just to get a competitive bid. I understand this one’s you know a 5% lower but just to get a second bid. Ruegemer: I think really the main reason was really value of relationships. This is really, we have a lot of relationships with the School District of Chaska. Looking at the Minnetonka School District, we certainly value their expertise and that sort of thing from that. And it really is our only connection or one of our limited connections to the Minnetonka School District. Knowing that and with the history and our good relationship of them, that’s the reason why just sought out one bid this year with Minnetonka. Kelly: Alright. Stolar: Other questions? Paula? No? Okay. Do we have a motion on the table to approve staff’s recommendation? Kelly: I move to approve staff’s recommendation. Atkins: Second. Stolar: Moved and seconded. Kelly moved, Atkins seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends that the City Council approve the contract for Minnetonka Community Education and Services in the amount of $25,900 to provide lifeguard services at Lake Ann beach for the 2006 season. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. Stolar: And Tim, thank you. Looking forward to working with you again. Tim Litfin: We do as well. IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY SIGNAGE – POWER HILL PARK SLIDING HILL. Hoffman: Chair Stolar, members of the commission. Item number 5 has to deal with Power Hill sledding hill, and implementation of safety signs or safety related signage. I’ll have to imagine if you stepped out on Power Hill tonight it would be just about a single sheet of ice. Slipper with moisture and probably quite dangerous if you approached the sledding activities in an unsafe manner. This signage is an attempt to help educate the public. I think we, the City has to do due diligence when people go to a public facility, if there is not signage there, they have some sort of an expectation that this is a public facility operated by Park and Recreation Department and that 14 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 if there are hazardous situations associated with particular activities, that we should warn them. Power Hill is a popular destination. For those of you who have been there, you know it’s 300 feet long. 50 feet down the hill. Stand at the top, you can’t see the bottom. It’s a fairly exciting sliding hill. On nice weekends cars pack that parking lot up there. We’ve actually, if you’ve seen it, it’s a parking lot in the summer and then cordoned off into a basketball court in the winter. The area comes out and we have the basketball court as parking as well and so we try to accommodate as much parking as we can in actually a fairly small neighborhood park area at that location. You can see 50 to 100 sledders up there. There’s been some recent publicity, you saw a young girl seriously injured here in a sledding accident and then that was up there on Sunday, th January 9 and witnessed a variety of injuries just in about an hour that I was sliding so it was, those two things together prompted me to investigate the risks associated with sledding. If you ever want to scare yourselves, and you probably…all you’ve got to do is do a search on the internet about anything at risk and you can certainly find many reasons to be afraid of a particular activity or not. And just the first search and found dozens of documents, most incidents were attributed to collisions with fixed objections, collisions with people. Ice conditions were talked about a lot increased the risk associated with sledding. Poorly maintaining or broken equipment. And sledding head first or backward position and so in an effort to educate the public I’ve proposed some wording and certainly an open to changing this wording as the commission would see fit. But it would say Power Hill Sledding Hill and this would be a sign or two posted at the top of the hill. Sledding is a hazardous activity and presents substantial risk. Sled only during daylight hours. Park hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and we do see people out there in the evening but again you can’t see who’s at the bottom of the hill, so you’re liable to increase your risks substantially. At the top of the hill along the outside edge of the sledding area. Some people just out of common courtesy but without some sort of sign there to suggest this, many people don’t, and I’m not saying that all people will but at least it will be recommended. Building ramps and jumps is prohibited, and again we see built many times. We actually have our maintenance department recognize the risk associated with those as well so as they have time they go out there and take those out because they do get fairly large and this is how the young girl was making, going over one of these jumps. And then ice conditions increase the risk associated with sledding. Our recommendation is that the park commission approve this proposed Power Hill Sledding Hill signage. Make any changes and the direct staff to order and post appropriate signs at the park. You all probably have some experience with this so comments as you see appropriate. Stolar: Any questions? Scharfenberg: Well I was just thinking as you were reading that Todd that, would we want to add something about in case of emergency call 911. Something that to effect. Just because some people may, you know, may not know what to do. Or do we want to say anything, I’m thinking in terms of like a beach you know, no attendant on duty. You know do you do this at your own risk to some extent. Hoffman: Yeah that’s a good one, and that was, if sledding, the Mayor actually read this today just as we were sitting down and that was one of his recommendations as well. Make the people know that they’re sledding at their own risk. 15 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Scharfenberg: Yeah. And my only other thing was, I know you had mentioned, is it Curry Hills Farms that has sledding there. Would we want to post something there also? Hoffman: We have a variety of locations. Nothing to the extreme nature of Power Hill. Roughly the second steepest one is right here at Pond Park. Kerber Pond Park. Curry Farms. They slide at Lake Ann. They slide and so I’m recommending at this point we sign only this location and see if we should move into the other locations as well. There’s a lot of informal, there’s a new one down on 101 by the, just where they put the new pond and the creek. They put the big bank there so there’s a new sliding hill there. It’s actually not on public property but it’s being used very heavily as well. Stolar: Paula? Atkins: These are guidelines I presume. You’re not going to try and enforce our stop people from sledding at night. Hoffman: Just an educational sign. Atkins: Because I know a few kids who do that at night so. But prohibited, that’s a strong word so that means if they do that, somebody can stop and tell them take that jump down or don’t build that jump or we’re going to dismantle that jump, right? Hoffman: Correct. And these jumps represent hazards to kids that are just not expecting, like this young girl that got herself into trouble by going over one of those jumps. Atkins: That’s all for me. Stolar: I’m fine. I assume that someone from legal will look at the wording and all that also. Hoffman: City attorney’s reviewed it. He’s comfortable with it. Stolar: He’s comfortable with it? Hoffman: Yeah. If I make modifications, we’ll submit it to them again. Stolar: Okay. Yeah I just, I’m fine with the sledding is a hazardous activity and presents substantial risk. Just seems rather strong. Hoffman: It wasn’t, it’s no…the signage that I reviewed. There were many of them mentioned that severe injury. Stolar: I was thinking sledding can be a hazardous activity and presents substantial risk. Because if we’re done correctly by following these guidelines, it may not be. So I’m just trying to sugar coat it a little bit. 16 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Hoffman: All the doctors quoted said, how can it not be dangerous when you’re letting your kids go down on an icy hill at 30 miles an hour without a helmet. It’s dangerous. So the doctors were all pretty convinced that it was a hazardous activity. Stolar: Was this injury, did that, that didn’t occur here? Hoffman: It was. Scharfenberg: Are you talking about the one, the high school? Hoffman: Yeah. Scharfenberg: That was north… Murphy: I don’t know if you’ve been to Power Hill, I don’t think the language is strong enough. Stolar: I’m not big on, just a suggestion. You choose. I’m fine with what you have. Murphy: The only thing I would say is that return to top of hill along edges. If that could be like maybe moved up because what happens is people don’t go to the edges so people are coming down as they’re walking up. I’m just amazed that somebody hasn’t gotten seriously hurt, because you have little kids walking straight up the middle of the hill and people just coming right down. Hoffman: So just move it farther up the list? Murphy: I would say, yeah. That’s the big problem with Power Hill is people don’t go the edges to go back up the hill. Stolar: I guess we need a motion then on this. Do we have a motion to approve the recommendation? Murphy: Motion to approve the recommendation. Scharfenberg: Second. Murphy moved, Scharfenberg seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends approval of the proposed Power Hill Sledding Hill signage and direct staff to order and post an appropriate number of the signs at the park. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. Stolar: We have to jump back to number 1. Chair, Vice Chair. APPOINTMENT OF 2006 CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON. Stolar: Nominations. Anyone interested? Or nominating. 17 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Spizale: I nominate Glenn because I think he did a great job this year. You got it down. Stolar: Thank you. Well what I told Todd was, if someone wishes to be Chair, I don’t mind at all sharing it. Relinquishing it. Whatever you call it, but it is fun. So if someone wants it, please don’t hesitate, but if no one wants it, I absolutely would enjoy continuing but I do want to share the opportunity so anyone interested? No? Steve? Okay, should we elect Kevin while he’s gone? Hoffman: Wouldn’t he be surprised. Stolar: No one else? Alright. Do we want to take a vote or not? Okay. Okay, what about vice chair. Hoffman: Vote on the package. Spizale: I nominate Ann. You’d enjoy that. Kelly: Who’s up? Does anyone expire this year? Their term expire this year? Hoffman: Ann expires and Kevin Dillon. And they have to re-apply if they choose to re-apply. Stolar: Are you going to re-apply? Murphy: I don’t know the answer to that right now. I haven’t made up my mind. Therefore I don’t think I should be in the running for Vice Chair. Spizale: How about Steve? Stolar: You’ve been sitting on the end for a number of years. Spizale: I nominate Steve then. Stolar: Tom, you interested in having a little contest? Alright. Shall we approve the nominations I guess. Well you actually have to. Kelly: I move to approve Glenn Stolar as Chairman and Steve as Vice Chairman. Atkins: I second that. Kelly moved, Atkins seconded to appoint Glenn Stolar as Chairman and Steve Scharfenberg as Vice Chairman for 2006. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. RECREATION PROGRAMS: 2006 FEBRUARY FESTIVAL. Stolar: Nate, welcome. You can, since Tom wasn’t here you can talk about Feb Fest again. 18 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Rosa: Alright. Well thank you Chair Stolar and commissioners. Sorry for going on before a little bit there earlier but we’re back on track now. With the Feb Fest coming up on January, or th I’m sorry, February 4, 2006, it’s going to be a similar set up to last year. Information brochures have been sent out as you read here. Past anglers have received that in the mail. Throughout the community we have put out registration forms such as this that they can apply to or they can purchase tickets at various businesses throughout the area too, or at City Hall and the Rec Center. Again we have over $6,500 I prizes donated from throughout the city and those are outlined, companies within the area, which has been very great. We actually were at one point decided do we turn them away but we said, no. We’re going to take them, but again they showed a tremendous showing in giving us prizes for that. Also with that, the event again is going to start at noon and that’s going to include the sliding, the concessions, the bonfire, the s’mores, the open skating, medallion hunt again with clues are going to be starting to hand out next week from Friends of the Library. And then bingo. And then the actual fishing contest will be from 1:00 to 3:00, as it was last year. Tickets again are $5.00. All the contest rules have been mailed out. We’ll have numerous contest rules there of the day. In relation to the ice, we did measure it on Friday. We’re at 12 inches closer to shore and about 7 to 8 inches a little farther out so we’re good on ice right now. We do ask that it be noted to everyone that no vehicles will be driven out onto the ice, just for safety precautions on that. And at this time I would like to solicit the commission to help volunteer at such event. I have this lovely form here that anyone can feel free to sign up on there. Stolar: Do you want to pass that around? Do we have an emcee this year? Rosa: We do have an emcee. Fred Berg has agreed to do it again. Stolar: Two years ago I had to do it by default. Hoffman: And you did a great job. Stolar: Thank you. Ruegemer: Fred’s looking forward to it. Stolar: Yeah, he’s good. It was fun. Great. Any questions for Nate? Spizale: Are tickets being sold on the ice too? Rosa: Tickets will be sold at the day of the event, correct. Spizale: That’s the only question I’ve got. Atkins: So is the ice strong enough to hold like the figure skating section like we’ve had in the past? Hoffman: Yep. 19 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Rosa: Right now it is. We do have some 40 degree weather coming up this week so we’re crossing our fingers that the weather man is incorrect like he was last time, which was nice for us so. But with this cold snap that we have over the weekend, we probably built up 1 or 2 more inches on top of the 12 and 7 that we had measured on Friday, and we’ve been there on a consistent basis once a week so. Kelly: What’s the threshold, I’m sorry. In terms of safety. I mean is it 2, 3, 4? I guess what level would you call off the ice fishing contest? Hoffman: Well, we’re not going to lose any more ice and so, as long as we don’t get a 12 inch snowfall on top of that, that would be the problem. And you know if you put 12 inches of wet snow pack on top of that 7 inches of ice, you’re going to have more weight there then you would ever imagine having with 1,000 people on the ice. And so that’s the limiting factor. If we get a big snowstorm, it pushes the ice down. All the slush and water comes up. Then we would have a, mainly just a real wet situation. The ice should be safe for the contest no matter what. It just depends on how wet it gets with the additional weight of snow on top. Atkins: I seem to remember it being very wet, maybe on Lake Susan like 6 inches of water. Ruegemer: Lake Ann last year was. Stolar: We had that big puddle right there by the Lion’s food sale. Hoffman: And in the past it has been slushy out there. Stolar: Any other questions? Thanks. TH RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE 2006 4 OF JULY CELEBRATION BAND CONTRACT. Ruegemer: Thanks Chair Stolar. The City of Chanhassen again was very pleased with the performance last year of CBO. They really do pack and retain our…they’re high energy and we think that we would be remiss on not recommending them again here for next year. It is staff’s recommendation that the Park and Rec Commission recommend approval to the City Council for the contract for CBO in the amount of $4,500. The performance will take place on Monday, rd July 3, 2006 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at City Center Park. The cost for the entertainment has been included in the 1600 recreation program budget of the 2006 budget. And that is $400 lower than last year as well. Hoffman: That’s why I came to this meeting. Spizale: Boy everybody’s coming in lower. Ruegemer: The right person just has to do the talking. I can’t take all the credit. Stolar: Any questions? 20 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Spizale: I think they’re fantastic band but every year I’m always suspicious of this Hoffman Talent. Other than that. Stolar: Have we done any research into that? Scharfenberg: Jerry, could you check that out? Ruegemer: Yes, it’s Todd’s vacation fund. Hoffman: I sign a waiver every year. No conflict. Stolar: Do we have a motion to approve? Scharfenberg: Move to approve staff’s recommendation for, to accept the contract with CBO for th the 4 of July. Kelly: Second. Scharfenberg moved, Kelly seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommend that the City Council approve the contract for CBO in the amount of $4,500. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0. Hoffman: If the band really was a dog, Jack then you’d have an argument there. SELF-SUPPORTING PROGRAMS: 3-ON-3 ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE. th Ruegemer: We did start Monday, January 9. We have 14 teams this year in that league. Are you playing this year? Kelly: I’m not playing this year, no. No, I’m not playing. It got to be a little too much there. By at least 10 years I think. Ruegemer: So we did split it into an 8 team division and a 14 team division out there. Had some feedback from people enjoyed kind of how I placed the teams this year so it kind of, based on kind of talent level and that sort of thing so I think people are having a good time. And we’ll th play til the 20 of February and we’ll have a post season tournament after that. So it’s pretty much in cruise control right now for that league. It’s a 3 on 3 league. You’ve got format, no officials. Everybody calls their own fouls. It really, it’s a good competitive league but people have fun with it too so. We really don’t have any problems with it, knock on wood. If I could do 5 on 5, people just never had fun so. It’s been a good revenue source for us as well. Stolar: Great. Any questions? Okay. ADMINISTRATIVE PACKET: 21 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Kelly: I just wanted to know if the commission wants to talk a little bit about what they’ve been seeing at the ice rinks. Stolar: We can do that. Kelly: With the exception of my, it must have been an aberration when I saw 14 people at, I counted twice. Besides that, I think personally because I’ve actually gone two times since and I’ve been somewhat disappointed in the numbers and actually kind of surprised given how many residents were here this fall to see just you know 1, 2, 3 skaters there so I mean I’ve gone two times since and I think I’ve seen at most 3 people at one rink and just a bunch of goose eggs at the others so I don’t know what all the other commissioners. I’ve actually walked on the ice and tried to look at you know the ice itself to see if there’s any skate marks out there, and it’s pretty smooth. I don’t what other commissioners have been thinking as they’ve been doing their kind of inspections. Stolar: I think it’s very difficult to tell. When I went the first time, Chanhassen Hills Park I could see there was skating there and even saw a puck out there that someone had left, so I know it was used. And Rice Marsh Lake was just covered with skate marks. Just absolutely covered, but then we got the warm weather around Christmas and I think the second day I went, I think what was the first day I went was the Friday and then Saturday, they were just, I mean they were wet. There was water on them, so it was quite a change. But in fact I talked to some people at Rice Marsh Lake and, although it says Thursday 10:00 a.m. that they weren’t on there, that Thursday night before Christmas, they had a party out there, so that’s why it was all tracked. A bunch of people had gone out there, so it’s probably an occasional draw is what I’m suspecting but not necessarily a constant use like some of the other, the city rinks are. I don’t know what others have seen. th Atkins: I sent my results in for Monday the 16. Jerry, did you not get them in time? Ruegemer: …before we went to print part of that possibly. But we can fill those numbers involved. Hoffman: Remember what they were Paula? th Atkins: Zero, zero, zero. And I went and checked them on site on the 30 too but I didn’t realize they were closed. That was when we got the snow, but I still went. Stolar: And Dale what have you seen, and what has your crew seen? Gregory: It’s really varying. Some days we’ll see skating on it and that and some days, there’s absolutely nothing and that. We’ve kind of got it marked down on the schedule, but I agree with you. It seems like you might have a group on some evening and that and then you might not see anybody for 2-3 days on a rink. Stolar: That’s what it’s seeming to be. 22 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 Gregory: It’s been a bad year with the cold and everything else and it’s been tough to do it this year. Hoffman: The main rinks have been seeing pretty good, it looks like they’re being used. Stolar: I’ve noticed when I come home, I can pass, you see the parking lot and there’s quite a few and I’m assuming they’re using the rinks and not the playground or things like that, but you can hear…so it seems like the main rinks are getting good use. Hoffman: Jerry can comment on it more. He’s got the statistics from the rink attendants. Rosa: I’d like it to be noted that I did receive a phone call from one of our residents about Chanhassen Hills. She’s very impressed with it that there is a rink out there and she’s used it numerous times herself. So probably when no one’s out there looking but I did receive a phone call about that. Stolar: Oh good. That’s good. Thanks Nate. Appreciate that. Scharfenberg: You do have to turn that light on at Chanhassen Hills rink to use it? Hoffman: No. It comes on. Scharfenberg: Oh, it comes on automatically? Okay. Stolar: Well it is interesting, if you look here that there, each of them have had a time where there’s been use, so that’s you know, it’s not unused. But we’ll have to make some better judgments at the end of the year. Alright, any other comments on that? nd Murphy: I had my numbers from the 22. It was 3 for Chanhassen Hills and then 0, I didn’t see anybody at the other two. Hoffman: Did you talk with any of the neighbors during your visits? Nobody around? Stolar: I talked with them after, some of the people I know who live there. I talked with them afterwards and they had mentioned about that, you know they get groups together and go there occasionally. Scharfenberg: I was waiting for some mom to make a phone call that there was a peeping Tom in the neighborhood or something like that so. Hoffman: No calls. Stolar: You do get some stares though when you park over by that Pheasant Hills Park. They aren’t used to people parking right there on the street. Okay, thanks. 23 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 COMMISSION MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS. Stolar: Just real quick updates, the Surface Water Management Task Force. We’re going to be wrapping that up on the February meeting. It’s been an interesting time. You know Todd mentioned about the fields at Lake Ann, but again I think I mentioned to this group, we had two 100 year rain events this year, so yes. We’re going to have flooding on fields. It just happens to happen that way, but the interesting thing I think that this group might be interested in is the, as part of this process we’re prioritizing water bodies and saying you know, you can have different level of improvement plans and developments attention to these different bodies, and again this is all proposed because the City Council would have to agree to it, plus you have 4, 3 watershed districts and a county and I think one other agency all have to review this from what we recommend, and then it goes to the City Council so there’s quite a few different ones. We’ll th review our final draft on the 15 of February, but Seminary Fen and, what’s the name of the creek? Assumption Creek, are all going to be labeled as pristine water bodies. Meaning the strictest code should be involved in any development around there, which is really nice to separate those out. And then it actually after that we had a little bit of debate because it was focused more on what bodies need improvement, water bodies need improvement and that’s Riley Creek, because of the flow I think was one of those issues, and Lotus Lake because with these 100 year flood events it brought the, to light some erosion issues and things along those lines. But overall the quality of the water of the recreational lakes were pretty good. It was actually very good so that, you know in classifying them to manage these, let’s keep the quality that we can. So I thought that was a pretty good approach that Lori and Don put together. With the consultants that we used. Hoffman: A variety of staff members are currently reading the draft document. Proof reading the document for content so. Stolar: Are you one of those? Hoffman: (Yes). Stolar: Any thoughts or updates? Hoffman: Briefed it all today and just haven’t gotten down to the details so I really didn’t… Stolar: And did they give you the wetland one also, which was a little, there’s a separate initiative regarding wetlands that feeds in and we tried to coordinate the two, but they are two different initiatives between the surface water and the wetland. But I thought Lori did a great job and the consultants in bringing that together. Hoffman: It’s a great map too. Stolar: Oh yeah the map. I should bring one of those in. Because they’re showing the different water bodies and they had 8 or 9 different maps. Also showing how we were doing road improvement projects and how we can try and use those activities to put in better surface water 24 Park and Rec Commission – January 24, 2006 management approaches and practices so. Any questions on that? Great. Do I have a motion for adjournment? Ruegemer: Before we do that Chair Stolar. Larry is here. I think he’d like to make a couple comments on the, regarding the youth association. Stolar: Oh yeah, I’m sorry. Larry Doran: My name’s Larry Doran. I live in Chaska. The last 4 years I was President of Lacrosse Association, not past President and prior to that field coordinator with both the soccer clubs. One, I’d like to thank Todd and Jerry for the 10 or so years I’ve been involved with them. They’ve done a great job. Chan really does have from a community point of view, the nicest facilities for bringing groups in from other areas. Maple Grove, Plymouth and that, they’re all envious of the soccer facilities and now it’s being used for lacrosse off and on. So I salute you guys and your park and rec group, they do a great job. Guys and ladies that are maintaining the stuff. Got the letter from Jerry and Todd. I appreciate that. Todd, that was nice adding my name…Mr. Doran letter, that was a nice touch. I appreciate that. That goes a long way. Lacrosse is a growing sport in the area. Now the girls has gone varsity at the high school level. Boys is still being club. There’s roughly 63 boys now, so it’s a growth of almost double of last year. Last year was 40 boys. Now it’s 63. The biggest thing they need really is space and the nets. I know the city has done the last couple years made some nets and put some out and that’s really the biggest thing. The youth level is just getting developed so you’re going to start seeing leagues or request for fields for leagues in the next few years. I know right now we’re using Carver and a little bit in Chaska but the club was set up similar to the soccer club in which it mirrors District 112 instead of being in these little pockets. It creates one club versus several clubs all vying for the same spot. So I think in response to the letter with the monies that have become available, if you can look for some nets for the lacrosse program. I would also, I believe Tom Nygaard mentioned about netting behind the nets at Bandimere’s probably 1 and 2. Having been involved in that, I think that’s a good use of the money. Keeping balls from rolling down the hill over into the retention pond so I think if you can prioritize the money that way, that would work out real well so. I thank you for your time and I thank you for the support of the youth programs in the area. It really is a great facility you guys run here with the different parks so thank you. Stolar: Thanks Larry. Do you have any questions for Larry? Thank you. Anything else from commission members? Motion for adjournment? Scharfenberg moved, Murphy seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned. Submitted by Todd Hoffman Park and Rec Director Prepared by Nann Opheim 25