11-10-04 PROTSEGO PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 10, 2004 — 7:00 PM
1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 7:00
p.m.
Roll Call:
Park & Recreation Commission: Chair Pauline Nelson, Jessica
Stockamp, Mark Thorsted, Aaron Stritesky, Kathy Roberts,
Rose Cassady, and Mike Brumm.
Absent: Peter Torresani and Terry Long.
Staff: City Administrator Mike Robertson.
Agenda Approval - Commissioner Stritesky, seconded by
Commissioner Brumm, moved to approve the agenda. Carried 7-
0.
A-p-oroval of October 14, 2004 Minutes - Commissioner Roberts,
seconded by Commissioner Stockamp, moved to approve the
October 14, 2004 minutes as amended. Carried 7-0.
Ball Field Planning - Lincoln Caldon of Rogers Youth
Baseball was present. He indicated that Youth Baseball
currently serves age groups from 6-18 years. They don't do
T -Ball, which they leave to Community Education, but do
everything above that.
Youth Baseball is willing to organize and schedule the
teams, supply the equipment and the bases, and collect the
fees. They would like the City to maintain the fields.
Administrator Robertson stated that the City was planning to
maintain the fields, and would be happy to receive any
suggestions from Youth Baseball about maintenance. The area
is short of ball fields so they are thrilled that Otsego's
four fields are available.
Last year Lincoln said there were four teams of 6-7 year
olds made up of exclusively Otsego residents. He estimated
that this year there would be six teams of 6-7 year olds,
six teams of 8-9 year olds, and two or three teams of older
kids, all just from Otsego. Youth Baseball starts receiving
registrations in March, and will form teams until May.
Commissioners told Lincoln that they had tentatively
reserved the 6:00-7:00 p.m. slot for T -ball and that they
were going to meet with Community Education in December to
finalize details. They said at this point Youth Baseball
could have the remaining times. Lincoln said that should
work ok. He stated that in this area they don't schedule
many games for Friday or Saturday because too many families
leave town. Practices are occasionally held on those days.
Commissioners agreed that since this was the first time
Otsego was setting up these programs they didn't know what
the demand would be. Commissioner also agreed that any
other organizations asking for scheduled time on the fields
for weeknights would have to fit in after T -ball and Youth
Baseball, or they would be directed to weekend times.
Lincoln asked whether lights or a concession stand are
planned for the future. Robertson said they were but he
didn't have any timeline. He said that staff would prepare
some cost estimates for additional work for Prairie Park to
be presented to Council in the spring and that he would add
lights to that.
Meadowlands Bike Trail - Administrator Robertson said that a
suggestion had been made at the Council meeting for a bike
trail part way around Luconic Pond in Meadowlands
Subdivision. Commissioners were in consensus that they did
not like the idea because the path would not connect to
anything. They would prefer that a grade separated bike
path be built along Nashua Avenue and that a bike path be
built north of City Hall so that people would not have to
walk through the parking lot to get to Prairie Park.
Santa Da - Commissioners will met to decorate at 6:00 p.m.
on the night before. They would like to borrow the rope
controls used for voters at the election from the City.
Aaron Stritesky said that he would make risers for the choir
and hopefully a sleigh for Santa.
Construction UiDdate - Administrator Robertson updated the
Commissioners on Lily Pond Park construction.
Other Business - Chair Pauline Nelson said that her four
year term on the Park Commission was up at the end of the
year and she would not seek reappointment. Robertson said
Terry Long's term was up also and he would contact Terry.
Commissioner Brumm asked that the Commissioner look at
adding a splash park and disc golf to future facilities.
Ad�ournment - Commissioner Cassady, seconded by Commissioner
Stockamp, moved to adjourn at 9:15 p.m. Carried 7-0.
I Michael'Robertson, City Administrator