HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-08-17 - Parks and Trails MinutesCorcoran Parks and Trails Commission
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Meeting Minutes
Commissioners Present: Trish Krueger, Robert Vassallo, Chad Robran, Kevin Dale, Val
Nybo, Joan Parks, Rachel Tessmer, Tom Anderson, Tom Cossette, Student
Commissioner Lindsay Jacobs, Public Works Director Pat Meister. Charles Jacobs
was also in attendance as a substitute for Student Commissioner Michelle
Hansmann.
Absent: Alt. Commissioner Joe Mailhot, Alt. Commissioner Glen Monzo, Student
Commissioner Michelle Hansmann, City Administrator Dan Donahue, no Liaison
from City Council present.
Prior to starting the meeting the commission toured the newly finished Memorial Garden.
1. Chair Krueger called the meeting to order at 7:25 pm in the Corcoran Civic Center.
Pledge of Allegiance recited.
2. Approval of:
a. Agenda- Agenda amended to move item 6a. Discussion with Public Works
Superintendent Pat Meister to 5a. and to add a new item 6a. Fee schedule
for Ball Field Rental.
Motion: by Robran, Second by Dale to accept agenda as amended.
Voting Aye: All present (Motion carried 8:0)
Minutes of 7 -20 -10 were reviewed. The following changes were suggested:
1. Item 2b- motion should show that Robran was seconder.
2. Item 5a- misspelling of Parks and Trails (instead of Parks and
Trains)
3. Item 8a- Correct dates for Corcoran Daze should be August 20,21
Motion: by Robran, Second by Dale to approves draft minutes of July 20,
2010 as amended. Voting Aye: All present (Motion carried 8:0)
3. Open Forum -Rich Asleason, candidate for Corcoran City Council introduced himself
to the Commission and the Commission members introduced themselves to him.
4. Presentations -None
5. Old / Unfinished Business:
a. Discussion with PW Superintendent Pat Meister. Several topics were
discussed:
1. Ball Field Lighting: Lights are left on a lot. A timer could be
installed, but then there would be the possibility that the lights would
go out in the middle of a softball game. New teams in the Men's
softball league may be the source of the problem. Possible
solutions include the addition of better signage and increased
communication with the softball league reminding them of their
responsibility to turn off the lights.
2. Signage at City Park: New signs or refurbishing of existing signs
needed for both entrances. Signs providing directions to fields 1
and 2. Id of fields — should be held on agenda for further
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consideration, Hockey Rink signage. Would it be possible to create
a park map with directions to each location? A Committee of
Robran, Dale, Pat Meister and possibly John Hamilton was
established to continue this discussion.
3. General Park Maintenance: In response to questions regarding the
actual cost of Parks maintenance. Park maintenance costs are
being separated out in the budget with the goal of providing more
separation of city maintenance costs and park maintenance costs.
Currently there are daily and weekly park inspections. Park is
mowed weekly, taking 3 -8 hour days. OSHA safety rules require
that city employees not work alone in the park.
4. County Road 19 Trail: Three Rivers Parks will not maintain trail in
the winter. Will Corcoran ever take on winter maintenance? Loretto
is currently performing winter maintenance.
5. Soccer Fields: Soccer fields will require end of season maintenance
to prepare for baseball next spring.
6. Memorial Garden: Current PW staffing does not have hours or
expertise to do actual maintenance of flower beds.
7. Well at Picnic Grounds: Providing clean water at the picnic grounds
has been a continuing problem. An additional water well could be
added. A committee of Dale, Robran and Meister was created to
investigate and report back to the Commission with options and
costs.
Review of Bonostroo's updates to 2030 Comp Plan on parks. The
Commission reviewed the revised maps and tables of 2030 Park Facility
Needs, 2020 -2030 Park Facility + Land Costs, 2030 Trail Facility + Land
Costs and Grand Total Park + Trail Facility Costs through 2030. The
response to the updated maps was positive: they reflect the changes
requested at the last meeting. The reaction to the Needs and Costs tables
was also generally positive. There were two issues raised: The 2030 Park
Facility + Land Costs for Community Parks lists 25 acres required and land
cost of $25,000 /Acre so the Land Cost should be $625,000 not $2,500,000.
This change should be reflected in the rest of the table and in the Grand Total
table. There was also a spirited discussion regarding the use of $25,000 per
acre as the land cost. Consensus was not reached as to what the value
should be but Commission members did agree that the method outlined in
the tables was good and that when accurate land values were supplied the
calculations would reflect actual costs.
MOTION made by Cossette, seconded by Anderson and passed
unanimously to accept the corrections as presented with corrections as
noted.
c. Review of Alcohol usage ordnances. The Commission discussed the
advantages and disadvantages of allowing liquor usage in the City Park:
1. Should alcohol be allowed only by special permit?
2. What is the Rockford School districts position and flexibility
regarding alcohol use on their property?
1 Should the ball fields and the picnic area have the same rules?
4. Is it realistic /advisable to limit beer to 3.2?
5. Cleanup is an issue. Are there others?
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The discussion will continue. Robran volunteered to check with the
School District to get their input on the matter.
6. New Business
a. Fee Schedule for Ball Field Use
7. Sub - Committee and Miscellaneous Reports
a. City Council Liaison. No report.
b. Athletic Association -the season has finished.
c. Memorial Park Subcommittee. Memorial Brick samples and forms will be
available at Country Daze. Cost is $50. ($23 goes to Corcoran).
There are several options for benches available. It would be possible
to different style benches in the Memorial Garden since there is the
garden, gazebo and adjacent trails as possible bench locations.
8. Other Business. None
9. Announcements. None
10. Adjourn. Motion: by Dale, Second by Cossette to adjourn. Voting Aye: All
present. (Motion carried 8:0). Adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Minutes taken by Commissioner Tom Anderson
Daniel Donahue, City Administrator
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