Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-17 - Parks and Trails MinutesCorcoran Parks and Trails Commission Tuesday, May 17, 2011 7:00 PM Present: Trish Krueger, Tom Anderson, Kevin Dale (7:12), Chad Robran (7:15), Student Lindsay Jacobs, Rachael Tessmer, Val Nybo, Student Michelle Hansmann, Student Charles Jacobs (8:45) Absent: Robert Vassallo Others: Council member Rich Asleson, City Administrator Dan Donahue, Cpl John Hamilton, Corcoran PD 1. Convene. Chair Krueger called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM in the Corcoran Community Center 2. Approvals: a. Agenda. i. Add 4a Ryan/Street Proposal Update ii. Add 4b Tree Give a Way Update iii. Add 5b. Discussion of Resignation of Kevin Dale as President of Athletic Association iv. Add 5c. Public Works Facility Discussion v. Add 5d. Discuss Interest in Snowmobile Trail Grant vi. Add 5e. Idea for Student Project for 2012 vii. Add 7a. Discussion of Open House for Memorial Garden viii. Motion: Nybo / Tessmer to approve agenda as amended. All voted Aye (4:0). b. Minutes of 04.26.11 Commission Meeting: i. Motion: Anderson/Nybo to approve minutes as presented. All voted aye (4:0). 3. Open Forum. None 4. Old/Unfinished Business a. Ryan/Street Proposal on Property Turn back Proposal. Donahue updated the Commission on activities. The city engineer is pursuing the wetland requirements so he can advise the city on any obligations that the city might be taking on by accepting the property. Donahue said he would keep the Commission advised. i. Donahue asked the Commission to allow him to update them on two other property issues. Both involve the Commissions recommendation to the council on parcels that the County was making available for public use. Parks & Trails Minutes 05.17.2011 1. The parcel on Co. Rd. 10 & Co. Rd. 19, which the council requested in Resolution 2011 -011 that Hennepin County approve the deed transfer to the city, may have been improperly made available to the city. The county advises that this parcel will probably not be available at all. They are still investigating and will advise the city. 2. The parcel at 9824 Creek View Circle was made available to the city and the city approved Resolution 2011 -012 asking for the deed transfer. The county advises that the City Council amend its resolution to include the specific public purpose as detailed in SS 282.01 and send them $250 (this is a new fee) for the deed transfer. b. Tree Give A Way Program. Anderson updated the Commission on this year's program. He said the trees came in early and had to be given out before the normal giveaway date at the City Clean up. All were taken. He did receive one rather harsh complaint from a resident chiding him for operating a flawed program. Commissioners thank him for the work he did under difficult and unforeseen conditions. 5. New Business a. Cpl John Hamilton, Corcoran Police Department Discussed the park activities from the public safety perspective. He said that in the previous year or since the PD came to the last P & T Commission meeting, there have been very few if any issues, events, problems: 1. No calls received about alcohol related problems. However, it is noted that the adult ball leagues that use the Rockford School property field are probably consuming beer products which are in violation of the Rockford School policies. There is a sign as to this policy posted near the ball field entrance. Additional signs to be posted will be requested (by the Corcoran PW Superintendent) of the Rockford School District. 2. Other types of park related issues were discussed. Hamilton noted that: a. Vandalism was very rare and no call received b. Teams are doing a good job of policing themselves and the grounds after events c. No disorderly conduct by anybody was noted d. No parking complaints were received or found e. No trail related complaints were noted ii. The commission discussed the alcohol policies of the Civic Center. The current policy requires that if the lessee of the Civic Center is to serve alcoholic beverages of any type, a police officer must be in attendance. 2 Parks & Trails Minutes 05.17.2011 There were no events during the past year were this was done. The Commissioners discussed the overall alcohol policy for the Civic Center of which the major points being that a lessee must: 1. Have an officer present 2. Hire a licensed caterer who must furnish a bartender to serve any alcoholic beverages 3. Provide the city with a copy of Dram Shop insurance and general liability insurance obtained by the lessee iii. Commissioners discussed the policy and Donahue explained the request the city recently received to moderate the policy to allow the lessee to serve beer and wine without the requirement of a licensed caterer and without the need for a bartender. Donahue explained the recommendations from the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust. At a minimum, the League recommends that cities: 1. Require the Dram Shop and Liability Insurance to hold the cities harmless 2. Do not allow barrels or kegs of beer or wine but only allow bottles or cans of the beverages 3. No alcoholic beverages are to be sold to attendees iv. Donahue presented background information that had been relayed to him on the origins of the current alcohol policy that were developed when the City Hall /Civic Center complex was built in 1995. At that time, the city council adopted the current policy because they did not want the Civic Center to be a venue for large gathering (i.e. weddings and other similar celebrations) where alcohol would be a centerpiece of the gathering. The general policy was that the principal focus of the Civic Center was to be a place for the residents to gather for "community" events such as presentations, neighborhood meetings, training, etc. v. Donahue recommended that if the Commission wanted to recommend to the City Council changes to the existing policy that the city require the above recommendations from the League; and also require the retention of the requirement for a police officer to be hired by the lessee. vi. The Commissioners discussed that fairness of the existing policy and concluded that the policy should stay in place except the requirement for a caterer and bartender if just beer and wine was to be served to attendees. vii. Motion by Robran/Dale to recommend the amendment to the existing Alcohol Policy by amending #1 of the policy to only require a licensed vendor if alcoholic beverages stronger than beer or wine were to be served. All voted aye (6:0) b. Athletic Association. President of the Association Kevin Dale told the Commission that he had announced to his board that he was stepping down as 3 Parks & Trails Minutes 05.17.2011 president effective the end of the ball season later this summer. He said he would remain on the Board but not as their president. Commissioners discussed the looming issues that might be before the city regarding recreation activities and youth sports. Concern was expressed about the: 1. Ability of the city to coordinate in the future with the many different sports directors. Without a strong president, the association would become a collection of sports each with their own directors and each dealing with the city for space 2. City must become more actively involved in guiding the future of team sports and the use of city facilities 3. Use of the city and Rockford School fields is bulging. Conflicts in scheduling and overuse are occurring and will only get worse ii. Commissioners agreed to continue this discussion at the next meeting iii. Motion: Robran/Dale requested that Donahue send out a letter inviting all of the Athletic Association sports directors to come to the October P & T Commission meeting to discuss way to go forward in the future to better coordinate their activities with the city. All voted aye (6:0) Dale indicated that he would draft a sample letter and give to Donahue Public Works Facility. Commissioners expressed interest in being updated on the progress of the facility search and would like to have input to the council on possible sites before approval d. Snowmobile Trail Grant. Student Commissioner Charles Jacobs had previously shown interest in possibly going after a grant to investigate the feasibility of establishing a snowmobile trail along the Northern Natural Gas pipeline. Since he was not present at the time of this discussion, the Commission asked that this be put on the next agenda. Student Project Idea. Student Commissioner said that her idea is to explore the possibility of laying down a concrete base foundation at the city's ice rink. The concrete would allow for the year around use of the ice rink for summer roller bladers. The city's park and road infrastructure does not readily allow for roller bladeing. She believes it will be greatly used. She also expressed interest in making available more snacks and drinks for park users. She will explore this idea further and talk to the City of Hanover which recently put in a concrete base at this ice rink. This will be put on the next agenda. 6. Committee Reports a. City Council Liaison. Council member Cossette could not attend. Council member Asleson presented and update on: the Public Works Facility search, the sewer and water project. He updated the Commission on the major activities of the City Council which were: Parks & Trails Minutes 05.17.2011 The Public Works Facility development. He discussed the current feasibility study on the city owned property immediately south of city hall; and the two additional proposals (property west of the city park along Co. Rd. 50 and the property west of Cain road and south of Co. Rd. 30). ii. Sewer and Water project. He talked about activities to date and the beginning discussion by the council at their meeting on April 28, 2011 iii. 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the efforts to finalize the editing of the document that was accepted by the Met Council at the end of 2009. The council was finishing their review and the document would be soon assembled for the council's final approval in the near future. b. Park Dedication Fund Report. Commission acknowledged receipt of report — no action taken. 7. Other Business a. Memorial Garden Open House. Student Michelle Hansmann expressed interest in having an Open House for the Memorial Park. This was discussed and the conclusion was that the Open House held on October of 2010 was sufficient and that another such event was not needed. b. Consultant Sherri Buss requested feedback on recent email. She had included points of understanding on her work product to date and was asking the Commission to comment if there was any misunderstanding on her part. Any comments by the commissioners were to be directed to Donahue and he would forward on to Ms. Buss. Announcements. The three student Commissioners reminded the Commissioners that all would be off to college in the fall and would be retiring in August. The Chair asked that the usual notices be placed to seek new students Commissioners. 9. Adjourn. Motion by Robran /Anderson to adjourn. All voted aye (6:0) at 9:07 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Daniel J. Donahue City Administrator Approved 6/28/2011 5