Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 03-18 PRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 18, 1980 CITY HALL r CAI;I, TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Park and Recreation Commission met-in regular session and was called to order by Commissioner Kiefer at 7:47 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners Kiefer, Albright, Sorenson and Bradford. Also present were Councilmember Tony Kuefler, Park and Recreation Director Gene Hagel and Administrative Assistant Tom Bublitz. Commissioner Kiefer noted that Chairman Johnson and Commissioner Streitz would not be in attendance at this evening's meeting and were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 1-15-80, 2-19-80 There was a motion by Commissioner Sorenson and seconded by Commissioner Albright to approve the minutes of the January 15, 1980 Park and Recreation Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. There was a motion by Commissioner Bradford and seconded by Commissioner Sorenson to approve the minutes of the February 19, 1980 Park and Recreation Commission meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. STATUS REPORT ON BOND ISSUE Commissioner Kiefer informed Commission members that the next meeting of the Citizens Committee for the park bond would meet March 19, 1980 and that the Committee is inviting Commission members to attend the meeting. She explained that at the February-25, 1980 City Council meeting the Committee presented the development plan to the City Council for approval whereupon the City Council gave its approval to the development plan. Commissioner Kiefer explained that at the March 10, 1980 City Council meeting a public hearing was held on the park bond issue. She explained that the major concerns of persons who spoke at the hearing involved maintenance of the parks, the likelihood of grants for park development, Central Park, a timetable for park improvement construction and the outlook for the bond market. She added that the public forum on the park bond issue was generally positive and that the City Council directed the City staff to draft the required resolutions for the bond issue. She added that the Citizens Committee did an excellent job of preparing the question and answer sheet for the park bond issue. Commissioner Kiefer suggested that the Commissioners could hold public meetings on the bond issue in their respective park service areas, with staff members and Citizens Committee members in attendance. She explained that the meetings would be planned for mid April and would involve one or two meetings per Commission member. She added that the meeting dates will be published in the paper and that flyers would be distributed through the schools. Councilmember Kuefler suggested that the Citizens Committee members conduct the meetings since it is their role to promote the bond issue. He noted that their presence at the meetings would lend a definite credibility to the dis- cussion of the park bond issue. 3-18-80 -1- The Park and Recreation Director stated that he had received a request from the Chamber of Commerce to attend their April 17 meeting and that he would like to have a Citizens Committee member,and Park Commissioner attend the meeting with him. He also noted that the League of Women Voters was planning a tour of the parks on Saturday, April 26, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and that he would like to invite a Commission member to go along on the tour. He explained that the League is requesting information on the park bond issue prior to April 26th so that they can take formal action on it. Commissioner Kiefer noted that she would be available for both the Chamber meeting and the League of Women Voters tour. DISCUSSION ITEM; PARK MAINTENANCE Commissioner Kiefer introduced the next item on the agenda which was a dis- cussion of park maintenance practices and procedures. The Park and Receation Director referred Commission members to the four items mailed in their packets including the Maintenance Manual, Park Maintenance Practices and Procedures, Seasonal Park Maintenance Check List, and Building and Area Check List. He explained that these documents were guidelines for park maintenance and that the City staff is open to input from the Commission on the practices and procedures outlined in the documents. Commissioner Kiefer inquired how the Maintenance Check List and Standards could be implemented by men working in the field. The Park and Recreation Director, explained that=the procedures outlined would require that two employees would work on park buildings and inspections at all times. He explained that, currently, workers are able to inspect parks on a twice per week basis. In addition to the two employees inspecting buildings and parks, he noted that the park foreman would also be inspecting parks in the course of his normal activities. Commissioner Albright inquired as to what number of employees are now assigned to park maintenance. The Park and Recreation Director explained that eight employees plus one foreman are assigned to the parks and that an additional eight temporary workers are added during the summer season. He noted further that in the spring there are between five and seven employees mowing grass - in the parks, two working on shelters, equipment and inspections, one working on the athletic fields, and one employee working on tree inspections. In the summer season he explained, there are seven employees mowing, two working on shelters and equipment, one on softball and baseball diamonds, two on painting, one on tree inspection, one on watering trees, one on major repairs, and three on the Central Park trail. The Park and Recreation Director stated that in 1979, street department employees contributed 8,880 hours to working in the parks and that park employees contributed 3,335 hours to working on City streets. He also explained that on the average there are }between two and three men absent per day due to illness and vacation. Councilmember Kuefler inquired what the average number of sick days are per year for park maintenance workers. The Park and Recreation Director explained that in 1979 therewere 513 hours of sick leave used by eight employees assigned to the parks. Commissioner Kiefer inquired who is doing the inspection of the maintenance work performed in City parks. The Park and Recreation Director explained that inspection work is primarily done by the park foreman and also by himself. , Commissioner Kiefer posed the question of whether the current crews supply adequate manpower for park maintenance. The Park and Recreation Director replied that he believed the manpower was adequate to maintain the level of maintenance currently set by the City. Commissioner Kiefer questioned that, if the level'of maintenance is maintained, why are there complaints about the park maintenance. The Park and Recreation Director replied that some of the complaints are a result of a lack of development in the parks rather than a.. 3-18-80 -2- M maintenance problem. Commissioner Kiefer cited examples of complaints about park maintenance including problems with glass and mudholes under playground apparatus.- Commissioner Albright noted that some of the complaints she has received involved trees not being watered and playground equipment missing. The Park and Recreation Director explained that currently the Central Park project and the Trailway project are requiring that a considerable amount of man-hours be taken away from maintenance to work on these capital projects and when these projects are completed the maintenance staff will be able to return to their normal maintenance duties. Commissioner Kiefer inquired what the maintenance crews guidelines were for maintenance or when the items in the park have to be repaired. The Park and Recreation Director explained that it is a judgment of the maintenance crew as to what needs to be repaired. He explained that a thorough inspection of park equipment is conducted twice a year in the spring and in the fall. Commissioner Albright inquired if the City equipment is placed on a depreciation schedule. The Park and Recreation Director explained that this is done with the City's rolling stock but that it is difficult to measure with playground apparatus. Commissioner Albright questioned whether the City has a replacement inventory of playground apparatus. The Park and Recreation Director replied that the City does not have an inventory since many of the items are relatively expensive to replace. Commissioner Kiefer questioned what the advantages and disadvantages would be of contract mowing versus the City crews mowing. The Park and Recreation Director explained that the City staff is examining this option to determine whether it would be cheaper to. contract for park mowing. In summary of the maintenance discussion, Commissioner Kiefer noted that the timing schedule and level of maintenance appeared to be the primary concerns. The Park and Recrea- tion Director stated that he believes the City is now getting the most it can for the dollars spent on park maintenance. He explained that increasing the level of maintenance also increases the cost and noted that eliminating the crews from the capital projects will help to improve park maintenance. He added that the improvements proposed for City parks, including the asphalt parking lots, will improve the appearance of the parks. Commissioner Sorenson inquired whether the persons proposed to inspect the parks will also do the repair work and noted that he sees a conflict where an individual may be inspecting his own work. The Park and Recreation Director explained that the foreman would be inspecting the maintenance work. Commissioner Sorenson stated that he would advocate an individual who is performing inspection work be. limited to the inspections and not combine repair with his job. Commissioner Albright expressed a doubt as to whether two persons could adequately inspect all the City parks. .-Councilmember Kuefler stated that in any discussion of park maintenance he believed the level of maintenance has to be established first. He explained that he believes the Commission should require a definition of park maintenance activities and the frequency with.which they must be performed. In explanation of the term maintenance activities Councilmember Kuefler stated that an example would be defining what it means to have an adequately maintained park shelter building. He stated that he believes the Park and Recreation Commission and the citizens must determine the level of maintenance they would like to see in the parks rather than the City staff. He added that the Park and Recreation Commission should request the staff to prepare a schedule for maintenance based on specific activities needed to maintain a level of maintenance set and defined by citizens. Commissioner Kiefer noted that it appears that there is a general consensus among Commission members that the maintenance schedule needs work and that the 3-18-80 -3- Commission would deal with this problem at the next meeting. Councilmember Kuefler proposed a format for determining the effectiveness of park maintenance which included a description of the maintenance activity, the frequency with which it must be performed and an explanation of what the maintenance activity consists of. He noted that this would give citizens a way of measuring the effectiveness of maintenance. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner:Albright and seconded by Commissioner Sorenson to adjourn the Park and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion passed unani- mously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Chairman • • 3-18-80 -4-