HomeMy WebLinkAbout06122007
City of Hastings
Parks & Recreation
Department
920 W lOth St.
Hastings, MN 55033
Ph: (651)480-6175
Fax: (651)437-5396
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Aquatic Center
90 I Maple St.
Hastings, MN 55033
Ph: (651) 480-2392
Fax: (651)437-5396
Civic Arena
! '"'1,801 Redwing Blvd.
. astings, MN 55033
Ph: (651) 480-6195
Fax: (651)437-4940
o
Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Agenda
Parks & Recreation Department
Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 6:00 PM
1) Call to Order:
2) Roll Call:
3) Approval of Minutes from May 2007:
4) Setting Agenda:
5) Open Mike:
Topics of Discussion:
6) Departmental Updates
7) TRAC Bus Tour
8) New Business
9) Old Business
- HEP Letter
10) Next meeting: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - CITY HALL
- Joint Meeting with Parks & Recreation
Committee of Council
- Proposed Presentation by Brauer & Associates
11) Adjourn:
All times are approximate
6:00 PM
6:05 PM
6: 10 PM
6:15 PM
6:20 PM
6:25 PM
6:30 PM
7 :30 PM
7:35 PM
NRRC/NRRC agenda for June 2007.doc
City of Hastings
Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes
May 8, 2007 - 6:00 pm
)
1) Roll Call at 6 pm: Commissioners Miller, Nelson, Popp, Rohloff, Schommer, Vandehoef, and Vaughan, Parks
and Recreation Director Bernstein, Superintendent Smith
2) Approved April meeting minutes. Motion by Rohloff. Seconded by Popp. Passed unanimously.
3) Setting Agenda: Director Bernstein added "YMCA Request to Waive Park Fee" under New Business. He also
added "Tobacco-Free Parks", "Lake Isabel", and "Eagle Bluff Park Discussion" under Old Business.
MOTION: Commissioner Rohloff motioned to approve the revised agenda. Seconded by Popp. Passed
unanimously.
4) Departmental updates were passed out to the commissioners. Adult Summer Softball has begun and has about
the same number of teams as last year. Superintendent Smith mentioned that the shade canopies at the Aquatic
Center have been installed. This will provide shade and additional deck space by the concession stand and will
also provide shade at each of the lifeguard stations. Commissioner Vaughan asked if the softball umpires are
city employees. The city contracts the umpires through the Hastings Umpire Association.
)
5) Electronic Message Board: Director Bernstein informed the NRRC that there is a proposal to replace the current
school district manual message board with an electronic version. The new sign would replace the current sign at
Todd Field, and would have the same V-shape. In discussions with the School District, one side would be run
independently by the city and one side would be run independently by the school district. If there is an
important message to be posted, either side can make a request to the other party to post it on both sides of the
sign. The sign can be updated via computer or by a phone call if necessary. Each side will hold up to 150
messages. The cost of the sign, including installation, is around $35,000. The city owns the land the sign sits on.
Commissioner Vaughan expressed concern that there are guidelines developed so that only community-related
messages are posted. Director Bernstein replied that criteria would be built in if this proposal moves forward.
The School District would like to install this sign in 2007. They would pay the entire amount up front, and then
the city would repay half of the cost in 2008 out of the administrative budget.
MOTION: Commissioner Rohloff motioned to bring forward a recommendation to City Council to move
forward with the plans for the electronic message board and to develop message guidelines. Seconded by
Vandehoef. Passed unanimously.
6) Trail Maintenance: There is $35,000 in the 2007 budget for trail maintenance. The total work that the Parks and
Recreation Department was hoping to get done this year would cost about $14,000 extra. So, staff will work to
prioritize the work that will be done and cut extras that can wait until next year.
7) Park Dedication Use: Director Bernstein has canceled the proposed meeting with the Parks and Recreation
Committee of Council on May 2151 to discuss park dedication funds. He will be rescheduling it for another time,
and will advise the NRRC when this occurs.
8) Youth First: City Council approved the plan for the City to assume the operations of Youth First. This program
will be under the direction of the Parks & Recreation Director, Barry Bernstein. The current Youth First
Coordinator, Ann Grotjohn, will possibly be housed out of the Parks & Recreation Office. Commissioner Miller
asked about the funding of Youth First. Director Bernstein explained that Youth First has enough money left to
pay the coordinator's salary for the next one to two years. After that, staff will have to re-evaluate the situation.
Youth First will fall under the Parks & Recreation budget. Youth First is a national movement. Most chapters
have disappeared due to lack of funding. Hastings Youth First started eleven years ago and is one of the few
chapters that remain.
o
9)
Upcoming Meetings: Director Bernstein suggested that for the June NRRC meeting, the commissioners take a
bus tour of all the city parks in preparation for the budget meeting with the Parks & Recreation Committee of
Council in July. The NRRC requested that staff advise the most important places to tour, based on upcoming
budget recommendations and park improvements.
10) New Business
')
11)
12)
YMCA Request to Waive Park Fee: The YMCA requested to rent Roadside Park for an event they're
having, but they would like to have the park rental fee of $26.63 waived. Director Bernstein asked the
NRRC who we should charge to reserve parks and who should have the fee waived? Commissioner
Schommer felt that fees should never be waived, as they are very reasonable and go to pay for the cost of
electricity and staff time to prepare the facility. Commissioner Vaughan and the rest of the commissioners
agreed that this is an issue that needs further discussion to come up with guidelines. The NRRC agreed to
waive the fee for the YMCA this time, but to discuss the issue further at an upcoming meeting.
Old Business
Hastings Area Swim Team 2007: Director Bernstein informed the NRRC that a compromise has been
worked out with HAST and that HAST seems pleased with the concessions that were made.
Tobacco-Free Parks: The Tobacco-Free Parks Policy was approved by City Council on 5/7/07 with a vote
of 5-1. Director Bernstein mentioned that the appropriate signage will be going up soon.
Lake Isabel: City Council approved the financing ofthe entire Lake Isabel project for this year. With the
money the city had already set aside for this project, the $10,000 that the East Hastings Improvement
Association has gathered, and the DNR grant, the additional funds needed amount to about $115,000.
City Council decided that 50% of this money would come from Ward 1 park dedication, with the
remaining 50% split between Wards 2,3, and 4. Director Bernstein anticipates a start date of July 9th and
a completion time of September-October of this year.
Eagle Bluff Park Discussion: A couple of the neighbors in the Eagle Bluffs area inquired as to the status
of the Y2 basketball court that they had requested. Director Bernstein thought that we had been waiting to
hear from the neighborhood as to the direction they wanted to go in terms of park improvements.
Commissioner Schommer recalled that at the neighborhood meeting at the park, the neighbors directly on
each side ofthe park were very opposed to a basketball court going in. If it did go in the park, they
wanted some sort of natural barrier on each side of the park to prevent basketballs from rolling into their
yards. Some of the commissioners thought that the neighborhood had been leaning towards a simple
picnic shelter the last time this issue was discussed. Commissioner Vaughan said that this neighborhood
should go through the formal request process that the NRRC has developed. Staff will send the
neighborhood association the appropriate forms.
Parkkeeper I Position - The Parks & Recreation Department received approximately 70 applications for
the Parkkeeper I position. This is the position that will be split between Parks Maintenance and the Civic
Arena. Staff interviewed 10 of the applicants this week and will be making a decision shortly.
TRAC Bus Tour: The NRRC took a TRAC bus tour of Lake Isabel, Lions Park, and the Hastings Family
Aquatic Center.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12th, 2007.
Adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: Kristin Behrens
o
City of Hastings
Parks & Recreation
Department
920 W 10th St.
Hastings, MN 55033
Ph: (651) 480-6175
Fax: (651)437-5396
www.cLhastings.mn.us
Aquatic Center
901 Maple St.
Hastings,MN 55033
Ph: (651) 480-2392
FaX: (651)437.:5396
Civic Arena
2801 Redwing Blvd.
"fMN 55033
Ph.: . . 80..6195
Fax::..((i51)437-4940
MEMO
Date: 6/8/07
To:
NRRC Commission Members
From:
Barry Bernstein, Parks and Recreation Director
Subject:
June Meeting
Backf!round Information:
As I mentioned in our last meeting, we are scheduled to take a brief tour of
some parks that are highlighted below. This tour is in preparation for the
budget discussions to be held during our scheduled July meeting.
Proposed Park Tour (no particular order)
Sunny Acers Park
Lake Rebecca/Hastings River Flats
Vet's Athletic Complex
Civic Arena?
Pleasant Park
· If there are any other locations you wish to visit, please feel free to let
me know. I attempted to pick locations that you may not have visited
previously.
Julv NRRC/Park and Recreation Committee of Council Joint Meetinf!
For our July meeting, I am proposing to have our Comprehensive Park Planner
attend to give an overview of what we have accomplished so far regarding our
park/trails and open space plan. This will take about 30-40 minutes andwe
will follow this discussion up with a brief discussion regarding thc '08 budget.
This meeting will be held at City Hall.
In addition, you will find a booklet in this information that is titled the NRRC
Handbook. It was suggested to me that since we have so many new members,
we should develop a handbook of information that the NRRC could utilize to
further your knowledge of expectations, operations, role of the NRRC and
conduct at meetings. I hope you will find this handbook a benefit to you! If
you believe any information is missing, please do not hesitate to contact my
office and we will make the necessary adjustments.
Thank you!
REF: June meeting 2007
-)
o
III
L..
ro
QJ
>-
'<t
>-
L..
QJ
>
QJ
III
L..
QJ
.....
:J
0-
f E
0
u
..... :t:
.l9
< III
::<.' QJ
u
ro
........ 0.
~
~
Ii'" X
I
~ a a
a a
X a a
~ ~
U') l/')
v "
. <
ii'
.~ a a a a a
a a a a a
X a a a a a
~ ~ ~ l/') ~ ~
ex> a 0'\ l/')
\D en N I'- N
.";i
J a a a
a a a
X a a a
N~ ~ ~
00 a
(Y') M V
li'r,'
IIIIII,!""
a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a a a a a a
a a a a a
X l/') l/') l/') ~ ~ ~ l/') ~ ~ a
" ~ N .-l a l/') ~ a l/') ~
l/') M V .-l " .-l .-l \0
,-,
III
.:.t.
L..
ro
.... c.. Q)
C cCS u
G.I ro ~ 3:
I.~ Q)
L.. C 0 3:
ro ~ (f) a.
3: ~ 3: 3: L.. 0 (I)
::::s 4-1 Q) .r: Q) a:: ....
laH c:: ~ ..... u .... 0 :!:: 0 3: c
Q) 0 c !E c a. a. .r: G.I ro
(f) QJ 3: 0 Q) Ul
E 0 G.I 4-1 E Q)
E .r: .r: ::E Q) L..
~ E ~ 3: L.. <( c::
Q) Cl 0- 4-1 :!:: u :!:: ~ G.I ::J ro
u c:: Ul D. 3: 3: 4-1 0. L.. U >
(I) :J L.. ::J c:: Q) :!:: ,~ ...J
.! ro C" u:: .- L.. Q) ::J 3: ::J 0 c::
Ci ::J w -~ ~ ~ ~ ~ E ~ L.. I.. L.. Cl
I"g '0 U U U 0 Q) ~ ro Ul c::
Q) "E .r: IE u D. ::J .c
oc Q) 4-1 ILl ::J ::J ::J Q) a:: ::E .~ L.. E u.. L.. '0
.r: ro ::J L.. L.. L.. U Q) ro ro E
::::s L.. u U ~ ....... ~ ~ ~ ro c:: .r: ~ .... ..... Q) ~ t9 a. E
(/) Q) (f) :!: (I) ::J Ci .c L.. Q) c:: III 0 '0 U ~
4-1 ~ '0 G.I ~ Q) 0 Q) ~ ro ::J > ~ 0 Q) L..
U L.. ~ c: .... '0 3:
G.I ~ ~ Q) ~ Q) Q) Q) I- ~ oc 0 ~ Q)
a..; c:: ro oc 0 e 0 (f) c::
u U 4-1 .r: .r: 3: 4-1 I - (f) N
lE E 'u ...... ro .c :. s ~ S .c u 0 3: 'u cf 3: 3: 3: ~ 3: Q)
Vl Q) L.. a Q) ro L.. oq: ~ Q)
0 G.I ro Q) :i:J Q) n:I Q) Q) Q) Q)
0 ro 0 L.. I I I ex> L.. L.. X i= L..
U LL c.. U > V .-l V t9 U') U ~ N ::> z u. z z z w Z u..
- c
c CU
(1)_
Eo.
t::-
CU c
Q.(1)
(1) E
C (1)
c >
o e
+:iQ.
m E
a..
0-
(1)j9
~.c..
" CU
cO
CU a..
In CU
~ (1)
a.. >
8!.1()
l-
LL.
~
C
)
.... c
c ca
(1)_
En.
~....
n:s c
0. CD
CD E
C (I)
c ~
o ...
;:;0.
) ca E
~-
u-
CDS
Q::'Q.
"C n:s
cO
ca ...
tn ca
JlI:: CD
...>
~Ir)
o
0 0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0 0 .
~ o~ L/') ~ r::
0 \O~ 0 ,0
LO L/') L/') .i:;
~ - '--
'I;
0 0 0 0 0 0 ,r::
0 0 0 0 ...
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ....
0 ~ ~ 0 0 L/') 0 u
0 0 0 ~ ~ CIJ
LO LO LO LO \O~ 0
.-l .-l " LO V LO \i::
e - ~
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .2
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 L..
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ~
~ L/')
~ ~ ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ ~ ~
M 0 LO L/') ~ LO 0
V LO V " " \0 LO " .-l
.-l
L..
~ I- ~
0 0 0 0 0 0 '#.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ,."
~ 0 LO ~ 0 ~ ~ ..n
LO ~ 0 ~ 0 0'1
V L/') \0 L/') N .-l .-l N CIJ
N en
~ - -
e
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 u
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ,r::
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ...
~ 0 L/') ~ 0
~ o~ 0 ~ ~ ~ 0 :!:!
L/') LO LO ~ ~ 0 ~
.-l L/') L/') M V 00 \0 LO 0 00
M LO :::s
0
.t:: - ~
en
OJ !
0'1 4J ~
'0 .9 ,e
'C g
ro co Vl 4J 4J .i:;
4J C C ~
U L. 32 c OJ OJ Vl 4J
U Vl OJ OJ 4J C
OJ L. .:.t. OJ > L. E E
L. ro E E c OJ
.0 OJ X '0 ~ Vl ....
OJ OJ ro OJ ro E 0- OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ E en
L. 0- U u E
cr: OJ C I'Q. L. 4J ro Vl > ro ro 4J OJ 8
OJ 0 L. L. Vl 0'1 ro '0 E 0 10. a I_~ OJ u
OJ c a: OJ 4.,. E L. a. 15 > ro
.:.t. u . :g OJ ~ Vl <( ro OJ OJ Vl 0
0 OJ 0 OJ Vl Q
ro a: I u > U OJ U OJ OJ 0- '0 E cr: 0:: '0 15- ..
...J 0 OJ C 4J <( OJ !
~ Ul cr: I 0 C C U ~ U ..... L. L. C 4J E 0::
'0 U Vl
I I a: OJ ro <( ::J 0- C ro 0 0 ::J ro ~
L. L. 0 Vl -e 0'1 OJ E c I U U 0 0 0 OJ ..... L.
OJ OJ 4J 4J C i;:: OJ ~ 0 0 u U. L. 0 Vl :r: 0
:!: :!: Vl OJ ::J I 1.9 4J U ro .0 Vl ~ OJ 0 ro 0
.:.t. > 0 '0 C C Vl .:.t. OJ u::
OJ OJ U U ro c ::J C ~ L. L. '0 .0 lQ .:.t. Vl .:.t. .:.t. L. CIJ
~ .c .c ro I ::J ((l 0 CT ro ~ 0 I- ::J .2'l '0 OJ r:: c OJ c c c <( L. en
Vl Ul co .!Q co :p w :::E t9 OJ U Ul <( cr: ~ 5- ~ ~ ~ ~ OJ
a.; Vl ..c - e ~
~ 4J C ro L. I 0'1 OJ OJ .0
.:.t. .:.t. 3: ..c 3: 4J 0'1 .:.t. OJ '0 .:.t. 4J E 4J 4J 4J .0 .!
L. L. C ::J 'C L. ro E c > L. ro .:.t. oq: Vl Vl Vl Vl .0
ro ro OJ 0'1 OJ OJ 0 ro L. 'C ro ro L. ro ro 0 ro ro ro 0 ::J Q.
0- 0- Z ::J I- Z >- L. 0- I- w :::E co 0- 0- , I- ...J W U w w W ...J cr:
.....
l-
LL
~
C
)
)
I
o
TO: HASTINGS MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLANNING
COMMISSION, CITY ENGINEER, CITY FORESTER, AND NRRC
HASTINGS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTORS (REP)
RE: STREET RECONSTRUCTION
FROM:
Spring 2007 has arrived and the street construction season here. REP submits a request
that all possible measures be taken to preserve existing boulevard trees in the
construction areas. Mature trees are an asset to our natural environment and our
community and cannot simply be replaced. Even though new trees are planted, many
years will pass before they reach the size of the existing trees. During those many years
we will suffer the loss of the trees' benefits.
MATURE, HEALTHY TREES' VITAL ROLES:
1.
ESTABLISH & PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER (Note:
much of the construction will be taking place in the designated
Conservation District.) ..
ADD TO PROPERTY VALUE (Studies show that each large tree adds
1 % to property value)
SAVE ENERGY COSTS (Both heating and air conditioning)
PROVIDE ECONOMIC SAVINGS (Natural pollution filtration of air,
water, noise).
ARE A VITAL PART OF ECOSYSTEMS & WILDLIFE SURVIVAL
OFFER BEAUTY & TRANQUILITY
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A specific example of tree destruction during the 2006 street reconstruction was the
damage done on West Third Street. Boulevard trees which were deemed unlikely to
survive were cut before the project began, some fell over during the project due to lack of
care, and many more. suffered trunk and root damage to the point that the City Forester
believes some will not survive.
To date, the City does not have a tree ordinance per se, but it does have guidelines that
are included in a business contract. Nonetheless, it appears that in the case of last year's
Third Street reconstruction tree damages, no penalty was imposed on the company for not
adhering to City guidelines.
HEP requests that renewed efforts be made to enforce City tree guidelines, to protect all
trees during all phases of construction, and that the City Forester have specific authority
and the time to be on site during work affecting trees.
-J.u4;f~
-- Tecla Karf)en
REP President
/
/
MEMO
To:
From:
Date:
Re:
Barry Bernstein
Tom Montgomery
June 11, 2007
Riverfront Trail Street Light Replacements
)
Xcel Energy will no longer maintain lights on the Mississippi Riverfront Tmil,
the Vermillion River Trail at the gorge crossing or H wy 61 underpass, and the Lions Park
Tmil. A number of street lights on these trail systems are either missing or not
functioning. In addition to replacing and repairing the street lights, we need to install
new feedpoints and meters, and ground all the existing lights.
The Public Works' 2007 budget includes $50,000 for street light replacements on
the City's trail system. We have prioritized replacing the Vermillion River Gorge
crossing lights and the lights on the Mississippi Riverfront Trail behind Hudson
Manufacturing. Our goal with the new lights is to make them as vandal proof as possible.
I am proposing to replace the eight Vermillion River Gorge crossing lights with
fixtures mounted on wooden poles, similar to those used at the LeDuc parking lot, but
with a cage protecting the globe and the fixture mounted 12 to 15 feet high. Unlike the
current a.luminum or fiberglass poles, the wood poles should prove more vandal proof, as
would a higher mounting of the fixture along with a cage protecting the globe.
LeDucMANsIONP ARKING loT lIGHTING
o
I am also proposing to use the wood pole fixtures on
the Mississippi Riverfront Trail behind Hudson
Manufacturing. The wooden poles would be screened for the
most part by the existing trees on the south side of the trail.
We also looked at using the existing blue street lights on the
Lock and Dam Road just north of 2nd Street, but are concerned
that excessive shaking of these poles could damage or break
the fixtures.
RIvERFRONT TRAIL BEHIND HUDSON MANUFACTURING
EXISTING BWE LOCK
AND DAM ROAD
STREET LIGHTS
For the east end of this section of trail by the Hudson Manufacturing loading dock
and the Hwy 61 bridge, I am recommending installing directional flood lights on the Hwy
61 bridge pier, and on a nesting pole located near the top of the riprapped river bank. The
directional floods would be out of reach of vandals and would keep poles from being
knocked down by Hudson Manufacturing delivery trucks or other vehicles accessing the
open area by the bridge.
o
Our long range plan is to
keep the existing post top lights in
Lions Park and along the riverfront
trail from Jaycee Park to the Lock
and Dam as they have not been
aggressively vandalized over the
past few years. We will request
funds to replace the Levee Park
riverfront trail lights in our 2008
budget request. Our initial thoughts
are to replace the post top lights
with a sturdy aluminum light. fixture
that mimics the Downtown area
acorn globe street lights witb.f1uted
columns. These are expi::llsive
lights, at about $3,000 per fIxture if
installed by City forces. We wOllld
propose spacing them out at 200 ft.
intervals, or about twice as :far Iilpart
as the original lighting 011 the Levee
Park trail.
Ip~OPOSED ALUMINUM ACORN GLOBE ~~' I
".- -'-'-'.' '," ...
f5XtS~ POST Top LIGHTS
o
tl Xcel Energy'.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
February 24, 2006
I
825 Rice Street
st. Paul, MN 55117
City of Hastings
Attention: Barry Bernstein
920 W. 10111 Street
Hasting, MN 55033
Dear Mr. Barry Bernstein:
I am writing in response to your request for written confirmation of Xcel Energy's decision to not replace
or maintain the leased/group 5 streeUights along the City of Hastings trail system.
Xcel Energy's decision to not replace the 12 streetlight poles that are currenUy down due to vandalism is
based on historical streetlight data collected from 1996 to 2005. The data shows that vandals damaged
96 streetlights in the Lions Park, Riverwalk, and Vermillion Falls trail systems during this time.
Also, Xcel Energy representatives Colette Jurek and John Olson discussed the repeated incidents of
vandalism with Police Chief McMenomy and Parks and Recreation Director Marty McNamara during the
timeframe 1999 - 2001. During a June 2002 city council meeting, council members passed a resolution
accepting financial responsibility for damaged poles from that date forward due to the repeated acts of / '
vandalism along the city's trail system. )
Effective 4/30106, Xcel Energy will no longer maintain the streetlights located along the trail system in
the following areas:
~ Mississippi River Trail- Lock and Dam Road to 1st Street and Tyler
)> Vermillion Falls/Old Mill Trail- 21st Street to 18111 Street
~ Lions Park Trail- State Street to Pleasant Avenue
)> Vermillion Street Underpass - West of Hwy 61 to Vermillion Falls
Effective 5/1/06, tOe City of Hastings win own the streetlights along the trail system and. will be required
to meter and maintain them.Xcel Energy will provide the City of Hastings a list of all affected lights in
these areas.
XcelEnergy iswiUingtowoltwith the City of Hastings on obtaining the neces$ary informatiQnfor
replacing the poles am;lfixtl,l(es. Xcel Energy is committed to providing the City of Hastings with
exceptional customer service and we regret the inconvenience this decision Illay cause.
further questions,. please feel free to contact rne at651-229-2400.
.. laging Jr.
cel .. nergy Business Support Analyst
o