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Home My WebLink AboutNRRCMinutes-20080408 City of Hastings Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes Parks & Recreation Conference Room April 8, 2008 - 6:00 pm 1) Roll Call at 6 pm: Conunissioners Miller, Nelson, Rohloff, Schommer, and Vaughan, Parks and Recreation Director Bernstein, Superintendent Smith. Absent: Commissioners Smith and Vandehoef 2) 3) Approved March meeting minutes. Motion. by RoWoff. Seconded by Vaughan. Passed unanimously. Setting Agenda: Add Hub's Landing, Dog Waste, and Dakota. Electric Substation under New Business. Add Mississippi Boat Dock under Old Business. Motion to approve revised agenda by Schommer. Seconded by Nelson. Passed unanimously. . 4) Department updates will be emailed to NRRC. Bernstein mentioned that we have lots of new things offered this year in terms of recreation. The arena floor project is well underway. Ann Grotjohn from Youth First will be at the Hastings YMCA Healthy Kids Fair to represent the department. Staff is working to get recycling containers and a good collection routine added to Vets and our picnic shelters this year. The commissioners were given copies of new department brochures & flyers. Bernstein also mentioned that three ribbon cutting ceremonies will take place this summer for the new Public boat dock, the new Mississippi overlook, and the Lake Isabel Improvements. 5) Mississippi Boat dock - The dock arrived this week and Portable Barge will have it installed by Thursday. One / float was not shipped and the dock is currently a little tilted. However, this will be fixed shortly. A rules sign will be installed at the dock. There is no fishi~g or swimming, among other things. There will be protective pilings installed in case there is a runaway barge. h1 the past years, we haven't seen a barge hit this particular area, but the area will have some protection just in case. 6) .Skateboard Park - Bernstein received a letter from the YMCA asking Hastings to consider donating the skateboard equipment to the St. Croix Valley YMCA in Hudson. Miller asked if we are sure that we won't be using it ourselves yet. Nelson asked how much the original equipment cost and also if the equipment is deteriorating at all. Bernstein replied that the equipment cost about $40,000-$50,000 and that it .is being stored currently with no real harm being done to it. Bernstein also added that this equipment was offered to be placed tile Hastings YMCA, but tllat tIle YMCA felt there wasn't really a good location for it there. Staff is still looking into ideas from the Skate Park Committee tha.t weren't explored for pla.cing the park. in Ha~ting~ somewhere. Vaughan feels that since the equipment was purchased by C:ity of Hastings residents, we should at least try to sell the equipment if it is going to leave Hastings. A lot of taxpayer money was spent. Schommer agreed, stating that although he understands why the YMCA would ask, he feels the equipment should stay in Hastings or else be sold to recoup some of the money. Miller agreed that if the location was closer and Hastings .. residents c"ould use the equipment, that would be different. Schommer also said that we.would welcome the YMCA's partnership to resurrect the skate park in Hastings ifpossible. Nelson asked how long the equipment has been stored? Bernstein replied that it has been less than two years. The equipment is stored in an open air enclosure and is exposed to the elements, but it was designed to withstand the elements and is in good shape. MOTION - Vaughan motioned to reject the request from the YMCA at this time. Seconded by Schommer. Passed unanimously. 7) WHEP Presentation by Joe Beattie, Phil Vieth, and Brian Huberty. The Wetland Health Evaluation Project originated in Dakota County and is also in Hennepin County, with quite a few cities involved. )V etlands are compared with other areas and the health of each is evaluated. The City of Hastings Coordinator is currently Kevin Smith. Our team leader is Joe Beattie. There is citizen involvement with residents of Hastings area being involved with data collection and education. The NRRC is the arm of the government that allows WHEP to operate and get funding. Miller wondered if these presentations are done in the schools. Some of Beattie's students actually participate in the program and do it during the school year. Vaughan asked if the public is ever invited to watch. The pu~lic is always welcome - WHEP had a booth at the Hastings READS Environmental Fair in February to educate the public. Smith mentioned that people often stop and ask what the team is doing while they are working. Vaughan cormnented that if developments could incorporate natural landscaping around ponds, it would help keep the ponds healthier. Smith mentioned that the City has changed what is specified in terms of which wetland plants should be planted around the wetland ponds. There is more that could be done too. Vaughan mentioned that it would be a good idea to use the data that WHEP is collecting to educate the public. This would validate the volunteer's time as well. Maybe something could be done at association me~tings, for example. Rivertown Days would be a great opportunity to educate people. Possibly a press release could be issued in conjunction with Rivertown Days stating that WHEP will have people by Lake Rebecca explaining the program, demonstrating, etc. Bernstein stated that the Parks & Recreation Department will have a b09th at Rivertown Days this year. WHEP could join us if they would like. Also, WHEP'will be doing a macro invertebrate study in June - maybe the NRRC could be invited to join the data collection? Thank you to WHEP for the presentation! The NRRC feels that they need to encourage this program to continue. 8) Dog Waste - Bernstein received an email from a resident who frequently uses our city trails. She is very concerned about the dog waste that is being left on the trails and collects over the winter. The resident offered some suggestions as to the solution. Bernstein mentioned that the budget would be affected by any new waste disposal stations. The dog waste bag stations on the Mississippi River trail cost about $179 each. They were originally donated l]y GIrl Scout Troop #366. Miller commented that the state of Florida has great signage about cleaning up after pets for the health of kids and the community. He feels people need to see signage on this issue, although we need to be careful to be balanced in our use of signs. Bernstein agreed that some additional signage is appropriate. The City ordinance states that you must pick up and remove your pet waste. By adding disposal containers, are we defeating the city ordinance? Vaughan mentioned that his family just cleaned up Wallin Park and said that it was gross. He feels that more is necessary than just putting up a sign to educate people. We need to get people more emotionally involved. Bernstein has sent out letters in the past to neighborhoods experiencing large amounts of dog waste in parks and trails. The letters seemed to have' improved the situation. The problem is that along trails, there isn't really a neighborhood to target. Schommer stated that enforcement of the ordinance needs to take place. It is difficult to catch people in the act though. He doesn't believe that there is a perfect solution for this problem. Bernstein mentioned that the pet waste stations will at least be helping people who have forgotten to bring a bag. We will add a reminder to our next version of the trail map and Bernstein also reminds people when he is on cable or radio. The NRRC recommended for staff to look at additional signage regarding pet waste and also consider an educational campaign as well. It was also reco1l11J:lended that perhaps the concerned resident could write a letter to the editor of the Star Gazette. 9) Hub's Landing - Bernstein informed the NRRC that Hub's Landtng would like to, dredge the old wing dam portion of the river and expand. There is a 38 page environmental impact report and Kristin can email t.o anyone who would like to read it.. The MN DNR, Army Cotps of Engineers, and possibly the Coast Guard could \Je ' . ,11w.dIes for Hub's. KeVlll Sllutlll11el1tiol1ed tl~at staff 11as discussed ll11pact of llew bridge 011 tlus proj ect 'as welL. 10) Dakota Electric Substation - Bernstein passed out maps/plans to the NRRC as informationaL This is a third, substation that will eventually be within the city limits. The NRRC wondered about the timing of this station? It is in the proposal stage, but we are not sure of exact timing. It is actually located in Nininger township. The City's 2020 plan reaches to Jacob Ave. plus a small parcel in or:der to have both sides of road paved. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at City Hall. Adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Minutes submitted by: KristIn Behrens