HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/18/1992 , • � �
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
February 18, 1992
Minutes of the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee held February
18, 1992 at the Apple Valley Community Center.
PRESENT: Chairperson Greg Kopischke; Committee Members Connie Scheid,
Tina Rankin, Charlie Maus; Parks and Recreation Director Randy
Johnson; Rosemount Area Athletic Association Representative Steve
Reischauer.
ABSENT: David Gross, John DiRico and Russ DeFauw.
Item #1. - Chairman Kopischke called the meeting to order at 7:37 pm.
Item #2. - Approval of the Agenda.
Steve Reischauer asked to have an item added to the agenda for discussion
of the golf course fee structures.
MOTION: by John DiRico, seconded by Connie Scheid to approve the agenda
with the requested addition listed as Item #6.B.
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
Item #3. - Approval of the January 1992 Minutes.
MOTION: by Connie Scheid, seconded by Tina Rankin to accept the January
1992 minutes as presented.
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
Item #4.A. - 1992 Park Development Plan Update.
The last time this report was done was in 1989. On the 5-year
Comprehensive Plan comparisons are made as to what has been done and what
is recommended to be done.
Additional items that should be added to the report are: Summerfield Park
- play equipment and pathway.
In the neighborhood of $60,000 from the Park Dedication Fund has been spent
1
, � �
since 1989 in supplying the parks with new equipment and amenities. In
addition to that, there have been some special projects approved for
approximately another $60,000. Overall about a quarter of a million
dollars have been spent for the park system since 1989.
MOTION: by Greg Kopischke, seconded by Charlie Maus to adopt the
updated listing as an amendment to the Parks and Recreation
Development Plan.
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
Item #4.B. - Outdoor Recreation Grant/LAWCON Funding.
After review and approval by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee of
the Outdoor Recreation Grant Petition and Land and Water Conservation Fund
Petition, Randy Johnson will send them to the Minnesota State office.
Charlie Maus thought it would be appropriate for V.A.A. (Valley Athletic
Association) and R.A.A.A. (Rosemount Area Athletic Association) to add
their names to the petition also.
MOTION: by Tina Rankin, seconded by Greg Kopischke to endorse these
petitions and recommend that Randy Johnson forward them to the
State office.
Petition #1 - Resolution #1992-01 urges the expansion of the Federal
land and water conservation fund program.
Petition #2 - Resolution #1992-02 urges the State of Minnesota to
expand the funding for the State outdoor recreation grant program.
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
(Committee members and Steve Reischauer signed the petitions at
the end of the meeting. )
Item #4.C. - Proposed Park Dedication Fund Expenditures for Spring/Summer 1992.
Randy Johnson prepared a list of recommended expenditures and asked for the
Committee's recommendations/ideas for other pro�ects not listed. He
recommends getting started on the listed items now and then re-evaluating
them later in the year. The message from City Hall is "don't spend it all
if you don't have to."
The park trees will be approximately $25 each for 11/4" to 11/2" bare root
trees. Dakota County's Sentence to Service Program participants will be
planting them throughout the park system.
The swing sets are for completion of projects that were started last year
at Newell and Faith parks.
The items for seed/sod at $6,500 does not cover play damage to the fields.
The General Fund has approximately $3,000 for wear and tear repair for
field damage.
2
. � •
Mr. Johnson recommended getting into a regular program to do so many yards
of overlay each year. Playground equipment should be on a 15 year
replacement cycle. Some of Apple Valley's playground equipment is already
in their 16th to 20th year. Safety is a priority when it gets old.
The wood playground equipment is proving not to last very long. It's
getting expensive to send crews to sand, stain and maintain the equipment.
1992 should be better than 1991 for capital improvement expenditures for
parks and recreation vehicle replacement.
MOTION: by Greg Kopischke, seconded by Tina Rankin to recommend City
Council approval of the proposed 1992 Park Dedication Fund
expenditures for $83,500.
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
Item #S.A. - Old Business.
Randy Johnson gave an "executive sutnmary" of the results from the "User Fee
Charged Local Youth Athletic Associations" survey dated February 3, 1992.
It shows that no twa agencies handle the issue the same. 7 out of the 12
surveyed agencies charge user fees to local youth athletic associations for
invitational tournaments or weekend use of athletic fields. 4 do not and 2
did not answer the question.
A memo from Randy Quale dated February 12, 1992 shows the estimated amount
of revenue ($1,785) that could be generated by charging local youth
athletic associations a $15 fee per team for using Apple Valley's athletic
fields for their invitational athletic tournaments. That would mean
approximately $1.00 per child. This would give some control over the labor
and will slow down the requests for numerous fields for youth tournaments.
Steve Reischauer stated that the A.A.0 is sponsoring a tournament July 17,
18 and 19 for 16 year olds. They are paying a $35 per day charge for the
use of Eagan's fields at Goat Hill and Rahn parks.
Mr. Reischauer has suggested to the travelling athletic teams that they pay
some unspecified dollar amount for the use of Eastview fields to get the
idea of a user fee started. He feels the user fee is staring them in the
face.
Connie Scheid feels that it's not $5.00 per child, but just $1.00. It's
not knocking them over the head for that amount.
Greg Kopischke feels this will not deter the people who want a tournament,
but will deter the frivolous. It's the thing that is happening all over
the country.
Tom Goodwin wants a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Committee so he can take the idea to the City Council for a policy
decision.
Tina Rankin will be out of town for the March Committee meeting, but voiced
her approval of the implementation of a user fee for youth athletic
3
� � � �
tournaments. She feels is seems appropriate.
Charlie Maus will also be out of town for the March meeting. He doesn't
like the trend, but he sees the reality and the need. He questioned
whether the trend be $2.00 now and $5.00 later? Mr. Johnson does not
believe that will be the case.
In some ways Charlie Maus is for the implementation of the user fee and in
some ways he is against it. The baseball program has several tournaments
and this may be a deterrent. However, he does not want to see some
children forced out because of a user fee charge. Therefore, Mr. Maus
gives his "qualified" support of a user fee charge.
Randy Johnson suggested passing the user fee now, with the idea of not
looking at it as a money making venture. He doesn't see this as something
the Advisory Committee and staff will look at again for years to come.
City Council could look at the $35.00 per team fee idea as too high a fee.
Note though that the $35.00 will not cover the entire cost of a tournament.
Charlie Maus believes the point is the precedent this may set.
Mr. Johnson said this may bring in up to an extra $3,000 in revenue for the
Parks and Recreation Department.
Mr. Kopischke stated that no one wants to institute a user fee, but he sees
the inevitability of it. He would like to find a happy medium.
Connie Scheid stated that a preface to it would be that the Committee and
staff are not looking at this as a money raiser fee each year; don't raise
it year after year.
This item will be discussed again at the March Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee meeting. Prior to that, Steve Reischauer will attend an
R.A.A.A. board meeting to discuss the same item.
Item #6.A. - Swnmer Seasonal Jobs.
Randy Johnson stated that the City of Apple Valley will be hiring about 100
seasonal employees this year. He expects 75 to 80 people from previous
years to return also. He noted the variation in interview proeess for the
1992 job fair from previous years in that applications will be accepted at
City Hall, reviewed by staff and then perspective interviewees will be
invited to interview on March 13th or 14th.
Item #6.B. - Golf Course Fee Structure.
Steve Reischauer stated that Tom Neumann of the R.A.A.A. has been in
contact with Valleywood Golf Course Manager Rick Dodge regarding a shotgun
tournament they wish to host at Valleywood to say "thank you" to the
R.A.A.A. volunteers. The tournament has been held at Valleywood the last
two years. Prizes have all been donated and the $30.00 per person charge
goes to pay green fees, supply brats and beer for the participants.
4
� �
Randy Johnson reviewed some of the changes that will occur this year:
1.) City Council has indicated the golf course must increase the
profit; therefore, golf outing fees have gone up, Three groups
received an exception to that fee increase; the High School
Booster Club, the Chamber of Gommerce and R.A.A.A.
Valleywood will stand in the mid-section of the top 20 rated
courses as far as fee scale.
2. ) Al1 shotgun starts will be held to the 8:OOam time. Later
starts mean a delay in the regular rounds of play on the course
which could translate into a $2,500 loss in revenue.
Tournaments have hidden costs and don't bring in as much
revenue as regular play.
3. ) Beer will not be allowed on the golf course. It may be
purchased and consumed at the clubhouse. This change was
recommended by the risk management representative for the City.
Steve Reischauer will contact Randy Johnson at a later date to
discuss the possibility of a change in their Monday morning start for
the shotgun tournament. Mr. Johnson also mentioned that another
alternative would be to schedule regular tee times rather than the
shotgun start. This could mean a two hour difference in the first
group to finish vs the last group to finish. Mr. Reischauer agreed
to further discussion about these issues with Mr. Johnson at a later
date.
Item #7. - Adjourn.
The next meeting of this Committee will be scheduled for March 17, 1992.
There being no further business on the agenda, the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee meeting was adjourned.
MOTION: by Charlie Maus, seconded by Tina Rankin to adjourn the meeting
at 8:28pm
VOTE: Yes - 4, No - 0
5