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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-04-18 PACKET 04.A.iii.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Consider accepting and placing on file the minutes of the April 9, 2012 Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission meeting. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Accept and place on file the minutes of the April 9, 2012 Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission meeting. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources April Minutes C: \Documents and Settings \nbelscamper \Local Settings \Temporary Internet Files \Content.Outlook \OFUXMGAF \Council Action Form April Minutes.doc City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting April 9, 2012 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting was held on April 9, 2012. Ca���ti7iT:7�7�7 Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Paul Poncin, Bill Schumal, Ron Kath, Doug Butler, Members Absent: Cristina Marcino, Mark Nelson, Keith Kleinsasser Others Present: Myron Bailey, Mayor Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Jen Peterson, Councilmember Dave Thiede, Councilmember Derrick Lehrke, Councilmember Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director Molly Pietruszewski, Recreation Coordinator Mark Schneider, Recreation Assistant Les Burshten, Public Works Director Jennifer Levitt, City Engineer John Burbank, Senior Planner Parks and Recreation Referendum Workshop Councilmember Lehrke departed the meeting. Dockter reviewed the four projects the City Council has directed staff and community groups to consider for discussion for a fall 2012 referendum. Those projects reviewed were: 1. Outdoor Aquatics Facility /Park 2. Hamlet Park Expansion /Renovation 3. Thompson Grove Building Reuse /Indoor Play Center 4. Land Acquisition and Park Development. Dockter reviewed the minutes from the meeting between the Parks Commissioners, Community Center Task Force Members and the Thompson Grove Community Building Design Team. Dockter stated that a good discussion was had with the group and the action recommended by the group to the City Council was as follows: 1. The Hamlet Park Project, Indoor Play Center and Future Land Acquisition projects should be considered as high priority and the group would support this level of referendum. 2. The Outdoor Aquatic Center Project should be considered a low priority. Considering the financial and market impacts, it seems like it can and probably should wait. Continual City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 1 1 P a g e analysis of the project should be done as items like the LA Fitness, Community Center and Splash Pad projects develop. City Council and Park Commission used the information presented to discuss potential ballot questioning and format as well as the merits of the actionable items presented in the staff report. There was discussion as to if and how the questions on the ballot might be presented. Debate ranged from how many questions should be placed (one question for each project or one question for multiple projects) to assuring all sides understand all the implications of the ballot questioning particularly if any of the projects are passed. It was discussed this process would be reviewed in detail with both groups prior to any questions being formulated to assure clarity. The City Council and Commissioners thoroughly discussed the merits of the actionable items presented by staff. Those actionable items were: 1. Feasibility Study for Hamlet Park Project - $10,000 2. Community Survey Regarding Referendum Questions /Projects- $12,000 3. Design and Project Cost Refinement of Pool Building - $3,500 Discussion occurred regarding the costs and what the city would be receiving for those expenses. Staff stated the feasibility study would likely need to be done with or without the referendum to complete a project of that size so it would not be a "wasted" effort. The group debated the validity of the survey process, how it could be done differently to save costs and also what the impacts of the survey might be. It was suggested that gauging the community's interest in any of these projects is important before the city invests any further resources (money, staff and volunteer time, etc.) into any of the projects. Lastly, Councilman Thiede asked that the design work for the pool building redesign include a cost estimate and small design for a vanilla shell with the indoor /outdoor play components built as a connected component to the existing building allowing for multi -use of the facility. The consensus of the group was to move forward with the three actionable items but would like staff to focus on reducing those costs if practical. However, it is important that the City Council and Parks Commission get sufficient information from these processes in order to make sound decisions moving forward. All actionable items should be brought to the City Council for final approval before proceeding. I. Approval of Agenda Approved II. Approval of Minutes Approved Ill. Open Forum None IV. Presentations None City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 2 1 P a 9 e V. Action Items A. Safe Routes to School Burbank presented information on a grant the city is working on for the Safe Routes to School Program. He stated that the city has applied a couple times as a community with no positive results. it was found that it's important to have educational, engineering and other community partners to be successful in receiving these federal grant dollars. The city is now working with the school, public safety, Washington County Public Works, planning, engineering, residents, teachers and more to get grant money for a mapping /planning /engineering study relative to a future grant application in 2013. Burbank stated it has been an encouraging process working with so many other community oriented groups looking to improve our non- motorized vehicle access routes. A motion by Kath to support the submission of a grant application for the Safe Routes to School program was seconded by Nollan and carried unanimously. B. Mississippi River Access Burbank presented information in regards to the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove. Burbank discussed the geography surrounding the area including, zoning, current ownership, land use organizations and more. John also highlighted potential future public river access opportunities. The presentation was informational only. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Schumal, seconded by Kath, motion carried at 7:44pm. City of Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Commission 3 1 P a 9 e