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01/19/1978 - Advisory Parks & Recreation CommissionIV. PARK COMMITTEE AGENDA BACKGROUND INFORMATION, JANUARY 19, 1978 A. Council Meetings - Tom Hedges will introduce two new members of the Park Committee, Jean Loken and Mike Thomas. Norm Hagen and Roger Martin were also reappointed to the Committee. B. Consultants - No appearances are scheduled. C. Park Department- A report from Dorothy Peterson on our current recreation programs is enclosed for your review. A brochure of our current offerings is also enclosed. The Park Construction bids and specifications have been rewritten to provide for unit pricing with quantity esti- mates provided for grading rather than a lump sum figure, and bids will be taken February 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the City Hall. We are hopeful that this change and the timing will result in acceptable bids so that construction can begin in early spring. T he Park Maintenance is the most difficult task undertaken by the Park Department. The results are also one of the most visible services the City provides. A heavy investment of capital funds, maintenance funds and man hours are made each year preparing for the skating season. Unpredictable weather conditions often cause last minutes setbacks in ice preparations. Friday afternoon snowstorms cause problems 4 i 1 m weekend skating unless crews are called out on overtime (See enclosed memo to the City Administrator). Other cities expect to work more than 40 hours per week during the skating season in order to provide the maximum number of good skating hours. Burnsville works a 6 day week at this tiem. Overtime for such a schedule has never been actually authorized, however, there are overtime funds in the budget which could cover the cost. Overtime for six to to eight six - day weeks would cost between $2,250 and $3,000. Before overtime is authorized, however, every effort to obtain maximum efficiency must be made by the crew. Direction from the Park Committee as to their thoughts on this matter would be helpful in programming for next year's budget. D. Special Meetings - The Dakota County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Dakota County Trail Plan on Wednesday, February 8, 1978 at 8:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the Dakota County Government Cetner. Interested members of the Park Committee, particularly those on the Trail Sub- committee, are encouraged to attend. Agenda Information Memo January 18, 1978 Page Two E. The Minnesota Recreation and Park Association has written its members asking for Park Committee and Council passage of a resolution opposing limiting all Community Development Block grants to projects that principally benefit low and moderate income persons (see enclosures). The Park Committee may wish to pass this resolution and recommend its passage to the City Council. A letter from Mr. Henning regarding problems with the informal road from the Timberline pumphouse has been received (See enclosed). Various alternatives have been discussed with the Public Works Director and it is felt that a solution can be worked out so that the road will be closed to through traffic after the Park Construction is completed. The bac k lot line of the pumphouse could be fenced with chain link fencing and a lockable gate installed at the roadway which would permit park and public works vehicles access to maintain the park and the water line to the tower.. Installation of a security light at the rear of the property has also been proposed. The Eagan Public Works Committee has requested Park Committee input regarding this matter. An appreciation letter has been received from Gar Miller, CAA Soccer Director,for services provided by the Park Depart- ment. A copy is enclosed. V. Development Proposals - See enclosed letter from Mr. Parranto. Additional information regarding Delaware Estates will be available at the meeting on Thursday. Eagan Wood - John Klein will present information on a new development south of the DeBoer property in Section 15. The proposal is for rezoning 80 acres with 40 acres single family, and 40 acres multiple. Only the 40 acre single family portion would be platted at this time. Because of the heavy woods and the topography of the area, Barb Schmidt, Dale Runkle and John Voss recommend that cash rather than land be required from this development. Park Committee members are referred to the Section S1 udy done by Dale Runkle in regard to possible park needs in this neighborhood. An additional location has also been added. VI. The Park Committee may wish to suggest a target date for completion of the Park Dedication Policy currently under staff review. To: Park Committee From: Dorothy Peterson, Recreation Programmer Re: Report on winter program offerings January 18, 1978 Skating Rinks: We are satisfied with the work of the warming house attendants on the whole. Of course, some are more industrious than others and we are regular- ly reminding the less energetic what is expected of them. Non specific criticisms of their work are heard from time to time, however the boys are supervised at least 3 times a week to curb problems we see that exist. Weather has been generally good for skating to date. The volume of usage is highest at the Rahn Building, lowest at Pilot Knob School. We have been able to meet the needs for practice ice time of all various area hockey associations. Numerous requests for broomball games have also been accepted. Cross Country Skiing: Both classes offered are in session with 9 individuals in the 10AM class, 7 in the afternoon session. The instructor is experienced as a skier and as a teacher of cross country skills. She is well satisfied with the trails at Patrick Eagan and the challenge they present to the people taking the classes. Service to Skiers: This offering is a dismal failure. The first trip had to be cancelled and from the lack of calls inquiring about the February and March trips I anti- cipate that they too will be cancelled. We have been asked why the service wasn't offered on a week -end. Afton Alps will not offer a group rate for skiing and rental on the week- end - -pro- viding a bus on a Saturday would not be of the value we envisioned the en- tire package to be. CPR Training: Eleven people registered for the session at Pilot Knob School; the class was well received. To date the February 7 class at Northview is full; a second session for Feb. 21 has been added and calls are being received. Out of this has come a request for the 8 hour CPR class. We are in the process of evaluating timing, location, cost and publicity should we offer this service. Open Volleyball: Women: A time change has been necessary because of a CAA basketball team requesting use of the gymnasium. We had to do some public relations work as the women were more unbending in their acceptance of this than we antici- pated! Currently there are 26 women registered. Couples: Fifteen couples are playing regularly. We have extended the use of the gymnasium for them through the month of March. We are presently considering reoffering the Saturday morning recreation at Pilot Knob School when the skating season ends, prior to spring outdoor weather. The teen center will be reopened after skating season. The impact of the Disco must be evaluated in terms of impact on the service we are attempting to provide to area teenagers. MEMO TO: City Administrator Tom Hedges FROM: Park Director Barb Schmidt RE: Opening of Ice Rinks DATE: December 27, 1977 The Park Department has received a number of complaints regarding the skating rinks not being open on Christmas Day and the Monday holiday immediately following Christmas. It has been frequently mentioned that all other communities were open at this time. The Park Department determined on Friday afternoon that the rinks were not in adequate condition to be opened. Dirt was still showing in many areas due to the recent thaw. It has been our position that we have a liability problem if the rinks are open when some areas are not covered with ice. A check of other communities in the area shows that they, in fact, did open before we did even though in some cases they still had dirt showing. The rinks could have been made operational if crews had been ordered to work overtime on Saturday, Christmas Eve Day. Additional holiday over- time would also have been required on Monday. The cost for 4 crew mem- bers for 8 hour days would have equaled approximately $375.00 for Satur- day and $475.00 for Monday for a total of $850.00. I would like some direction as to whether the City feels this overtime is justifiable in order to have the rinks open when parents and children have the holiday time available to use them. Hockey coaches are also quite anxious to use this vacation time. I feel we should do everything possible to be ready to open for the entire Christmas vacation, however, I hesitate to authorize this over- time without some backing. Christmas Day will be on Monday next year so we may find ourselves in a somewhat similar situation. I would appreciate some direction in this matter while the complaints are still well in mind and while the weather problems we encountered this year, which are not unique, are still remembered. �ah h Co, er- t. BOARD OF President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Past President Athletic Section Commissions Section Park Section Recreation Section Student Section Therapeutic Section Member at Large Member Al Large Executive Director COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON rds ne Hegel Board of Publications John Christian Conference Marcia Pease Legislative Benjamin Withhart Membership Margie Walz Minority Relations Frank White Public Relations Ronald Schwartz DIRECTORS Marty Jessen Robert Wicklund Charles Corlett Richard Jacobson John Brenna Robert Kojetin Alden Smith Eric Blank Robert Lambert Fay Jonas Lillian Hipp Terri St. Sauver Kathleen Wilson Richard J. Jorgensen Scholarships Kathryn Sitter Regional Council Representatives John Brenna Robert Wicklund 4 4564196 694 Ifto 496 mrpn January 9, 1978 MRPA Municipal Member: As you may know H.U.D. is in the process of changing the federal regulations as applied to the Community Development Block Grants. Our concern centers around that portion of the proposed regulations that aZZ Community Development Block Grants must be for projects that principally benefit low and moderate income persons. This means that communities without pockets of blight will no longer have community development funds available for capital development projects including park and recreation facilities. Capital developments for Zow and moderate income persons are important, such a provision should be given special emphasis in Community Development Block Grants. However, our concern is that the regulations should not be so restrictive that only neighborhoods with a majority of Zow and moderate income persons be the recipients of Community Development Funds. Local units of government have the best ability to determine local needs whether these needs be for housing, parks or other. Our hope is that your Park Commission and Council can support thie position by passing a resolution and sending it along with a cover letter to: BFW/mls Ms. Patricia Harris Secretary of the Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev. 451 Seventh Street ,S. W. Washington, DC 20410 Sincerely, If; 5.4 S- -( Benjamin F. Withhart C scv� Legislative Chairperson 415 BLAKE ROAD NORTH • SUITE 6 • HOPKINS. MN 55343.612/933 -3573 1 !Ct/j cc2 MINNESOTA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION INC. Affiliations with: NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION: LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES: UPPER MIDWEST HOSPITAL CONFERENCE; AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION • • Mrs Barb Schmidt Director Eagan Parks 3501 Coachman Road Eagan Mn 55122. Dear Barb: 12 -29 -77 This old year must not end without me thanking you and your staff for your cooperation and services performed for the CAA Soccer proaraT this fall. From procuring and scheduling fields to preparing and maintaining the grounds, you provided first class service in an atmosphere of cheerful cooperation. It has been fun working with you. Next year Ron Laumer will be Director of Boys Soccer for the fall program. CAA has officially decided to not sponsor a summer soccer prograr in 127 Good luck to you - -- 4-H Club. you will still hear from me and the Valley vi Sincerely Sours, Gar Miller CAA Director Boys Soccer 1977 4190 Diamond Drive Eagan Mn 55122