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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNRRC Minutes 02-2006 City of Hastings Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes February 14, 2006 6:00 pm 1)Roll Call at 6 pm: Commissioners Christenson, Brown, Rohloff, Schommer, Vaughan and Vandehoef, Parks and Recreation Director Bernstein and Superintendent Smith. Absent: Commissioner Popp 2)Approved January meeting minutes. Motion by Brown. Seconded by Schommer. Passed unanimously. 3)Director Bernstein handed out departmental updates to the NRRC members for their review. He mentioned that the Hastings Hockey Boosters have requested ice hours at the arena during the summer – from June to September. Staff has concluded that we would need a guaranteed 23 rental hours each week just to pay the bills. Director Bernstein proposed a compromise to have the arena open for the Boosters in August and September. Commissioner Vaughan voiced concern over the structural issues (rust) that can occur with high heat/humidity in the summer. Superintendent Smith informed the NRRC that the warm temperatures so far this winter have made it difficult to keep the ice rinks open. This past week we saw colder temps and the Parks & Recreation Staff was able to flood the rinks at Pioneer and Wallin. Staff is also focusing on repairs and maintenance before the busy spring/summer season begins and has attended some various training. 4)Greten Park Update: Director Bernstein met with the Park & Recreation Committee of Council and expressed the NRRC’s recommendation to give this project a lower status on our list of priorities. The Park & Recreation Committee of Council requested that Director Bernstein bring this issue before City Council and request $16,000 to cover the additional playground equipment. The funds will most likely come out of park dedication fees. Commissioner Brown wondered about the demographics of the neighborhood. Are just a few residents pushing this project? Another concern is that some other projects that have been approved for this year would get cancelled because of this project. Director Bernstein reassured the NRRC that no projects will be affected, as far as he is aware. Commissioner Christenson stated that park dedication fees must be used to increase the parks due to an increase in residents. It cannot be used for maintenance. Concern was expressed that in the future, where will the money come from for maintenance? Director Bernstein mentioned that he had informed the Park & Recreation Committee of Council that if this request is approved, it could cause a chain reaction in other parts of the community. The NRRC would like it on record that they are concerned about the decision of the Park & Recreation Committee of Council in this matter due to the fact that it breaks from the long-term park plan that was established and that priorities should be set based on resident needs, not resident wants. 5)Veterans’ Roadside Signs: Director Bernstein started out by stating that he is meeting with Tom Schmitz of the Veteran’s Group on Wednesday and will have new details at that time. The American Legion and the VFW did not like the idea of pavers in Levee Park, due to the fact that they provide the bricks for the fee-based memorial wall that already exists within the park. Commissioner Schommer wondered whether having the memorial wall and the pavers wouldn’t attract more people to the park and therefore bring more honor to the fallen veterans. Director Bernstein said that the issue is that people may not pay to have a name on the memorial wall if the City is providing it for free nearby. Other possibilities that were raised included doing something out at Veteran’s Park or the Soldiers & Sailors Cemetery. Roadside Park was also mentioned, but the names are already on the memorial that is currently in the park. 6)Hockey Boosters Dry Land Practice Area: Director Bernstein informed the NRRC that the Hockey Boosters have approached the city about turning the upstairs mezzanine in the east rink of the arena into a dry land practice area. It would consist of plywood and sheetrock walls and a synthetic ice rink. The Boosters will build the rink and buy all the equipment necessary. Director Bernstein thinks we should have an agreement with them similar to the one we have with the Hastings Hawks. He also has a list of questions for the Boosters before we can move forward. Superintendent Smith mentioned that one concern is that the storage area for the artificial turf is located behind the structure. The Arena Mgr feels that the turf rolls will still be able to be moved in that area without hindrance. Commissioner Schommer wondered if there would be ventilation issues. The area will have an open ceiling, so ventilation won’t be a problem, but it will be warm in there during the summer. The estimated cost of this project is between $10,000- $12,000. Commissioner Vaughan wondered how they would get in the building (they won’t be allowed in unless staff is present during regular hours) and also mentioned that there will be a lot of noise for anything located underneath the area. The NRRC requested to be kept informed of any progress. 7)Year-End Report: A copy of the 2005 Annual Report for the Parks & Recreation Department was included in the materials for each commissioner. Director Bernstein mentioned that this report was created to give the City Administration some solid information and key resources regarding the department. It is difficult to quantify what the Parks & Recreation Department does for the community, and this report was an attempt to reflect that information to the City Administration. 8)New Business -Director Bernstein is looking at department software for use in scheduling, reservations, field use, online registrations, etc. The software will be web-based to keep the costs down. -A trail grant application is currently being worked on by Director Bernstein for a trail that would run from Millard north through Vet’s Park to Vermillion Falls Park. Estimated cost for the project is $160,000-$200,000. An outdoor recreation grant application for improvements to the Vet’s Park soccer fields is also in process. Already submitted to the DNR are grant applications for fishing piers at Lake Isabel and Mississippi River Flats. -Superintendent Smith would like to have a report by the WHEP team presented to the NRRC at the next meeting. It was brought up that this might be a good time to invite Cable TV in to record our meeting. 13) Old Business - Barr Engineering presented us with a 2-part proposal regarding Lake Isabel. The first part is for a lake diagnostic study and the second part presents actual costs to upgrade the access. - The pool business plan is coming to a conclusion and Director Bernstein hopes to have it completed by late February – early March. th - The last skate park meeting was not very well attended. The next meeting will be on Feb. 16 to discuss plans for the 2006 season. Director Bernstein recently had a discussion with the YMCA and the possibility exists of relocating the Skate Park there. The general feeling of the Skate Park Task Force is that the skate park needs to be located by at least one other amenity to attract people. st - The next Levee Park Redevelopment meeting will be Feb. 21 at 6 pm at City Hall. - The Softball League registration packets have been sent out. Commissioner Schommer wondered if the concession area would be used for these games. Director Bernstein will not be staffing the concession stands, but would like to see vending machines in these areas instead. - Commissioner Vaughan wondered who owns the land by the Vermillion River on Cty Rd 46. He expressed his concern about the need for a trail in that area, as the current situation is dangerous. - Commissioner Christenson asked about the status of the Mississippi River Dockage project. Director Bernstein, along with Dave Osberg and the City consultant, had a meeting with the Corps of Engineers and came away with the feeling that they are not in support of this project. The US Coast Guard had sent a letter stating that this dock would be a severe safety issue, and the Corps of Engineers stated that based on that letter, they would not approve the project. - Commissioner Brown mentioned a possibility to put a floating boom at the old fueling dock station for use as a fishing pier. MOTION to Adjourn. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2006. Adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Kristin Behrens