03-13-02 PROTSEGO PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 13, 2002 - 7:00 PM
1. Chair Mike Day will call meeting to order.
Mike Day called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call:
Park & Recreation Commission: Mike Day, Tom Baillargeon,
Tom Constant, Pauline Nelson, Jim Gaikowski, and Terry Long.
Absent: Jessica Stockamp.
Councilmembers: CM Suzanne Ackerman & CM Jerry Struthers.
Staff: City Administrator Mike Robertson.
Approval of Minutes - Administrator Robertson said that he
had not received any minutes from the February meeting.
Commissioner Day said he would go over his notes to create
minutes.
Future Park Plans - CM Struthers noted the recent Council
discussion on Park Design. There was discussion on the
number of small parks and the future need for a large park
on the west side of the city.
Parrish Avenue Floodplain Area - Administrator Robertson
updated Commissioners on Council's pursuit of a federal
grant to purchase floodplain properties on Parish Avenue and
their desire to see the area turned into a park. While
commissioners thought this was a good idea, they felt that
the area was too small for ball fields, too close to Otsego
County Park to duplicate those services, and too cut off
from the river by the levy wall to be a river access park.
The consensus was that its best function was as open space
with little or no park equipment located within.
Other Business - Recreation - Commissioner Day asked if the
City could use some of the $22,000 formerly spent on the
Joint Powers Recreation Commission to hire someone part-time
to organize and run T -ball, softball, soccer, and hockey in
Otsego. Commissioner Baillargeon, seconded by Commissioner
Nelson, moved to recommend that the City Council hire a
part-time recreation coordinator to organize and run
recreation programs within Otsego. Carried 6-0.
Snowmobile Trails - Commissioner Constant stated that he had
ridden a snowmobile along the entire east side of Odean
Avenue and that it could be done if the rider was going 10-
15 miles per hour.
City Update - CM Struthers updated Commissioners on Council
actions. Administrator Robertson updated them on proposed
developments.
Adjournment - Commissioner Baillargeon, seconded by
Commissioner Nelson, moved to adjourn at 8:22 p.m. Carried
6-0.
Michael Robertson, City Administrator