Park
Board Minutes
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007
KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER,
111 S. GEYER ROAD, ROOM 202
7:05 P.M.
In
attendance: Gerry Biedenstein, Rich Etzkorn, Bob Sears, Boyd
Wietecter, Linda Fenton,
Jerry
Grunzinger, Nick Ohlman, (arrived at 7:40 p.m), Murray Pounds,
Curt Carron
Excused:
Betsy Wendell, Katie Burckhalter
I.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bill
Ruppert, 1328 Forest Ave
Discussed
the America In Bloom program. Bill passed around the book that
has been published describing the effort that went into the
program. The book sells for $60.00 a copy. $21.00 of this
amount is tax deductible. Bill thanked the Parks Department and
the Park Board for their role in the American In Bloom program.
He also gave a special thanks to Murray Pounds, Curt Carron and
Jerry Grunzinger for their participation in the presentation to
the competition’s judges.
1I. APPROVAL OF
NOVEMBER 19, 2007 BOARD MINUTES
A motion
made by Rich Etzkorn to approve the November 19, 2007 minutes,
seconded by Boyd Wietecter. All approved. Motion passed.
III.
OLD BUSINESS
A SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
1.
Implementation Committee
Murray said
he should have some feedback on the development of the Gaylord
Foundation project plans early in January. They are behind in
construction drawings. Murray said he should have some plans to
review by Wednesday, December 19. Discussion was held on Phase 3
and the Lions Shelter. The Lions Shelter will have a new style
roof and the restrooms will be taken out of the Lions Shelter
which will make the shelter larger. The new restroom facilities
will be similar to the new restrooms by the Scout Shelter.
The
Municipal Park Grant Commission of St. Louis County has awarded
a grant of $295,275 to the Kirkwood Parks and Recreation
Department for the development of Monfort Park. The grant will
cover two thirds of the estimated construction costs for the
park, located on Greenbriar Lane. Murray said he is in the
process of getting all the information together and will be
getting a bid package ready by the end of the month and
hopefully getting an approved bid in February 2008. This all
goes along with the Park’s Master Plan.
Murray
showed slides of the path around the amphitheater, the new wall
and signage.
2.
Trail Committee
Discussion
was held on Holmes Ave. and some of the proposed improvements.
Discussed Grants Trail in the Kirkwood’s Business District,
Argonne Ave., Farmers Market.
3.
Partnership Committee
A copy of
the Robinson School PTO proposal and request for assistance in
upgrading the Robinson School playground is included in the
packet as a later agenda item that will require the boards’
review of the proposal for discussion and possible action.
4. Dog
Park
The City
Council voted 4-3 against dedicating two acres of water plant
property on Marshall Road for the proposed Dog Park. Gerry
Biedenstein said there are no other plans as of now for a dog
park.
B.
KIRKWOOD ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION FIELD PROPOSAL
Discussion
on the Kirkwood Athletic Association field proposal was held.
Murray had a prepared layout attempting to depict the impact of
a 285” radius field on the area around the field of the proposed
expansion. Murray said it was difficult to locate exactly where
the proposed connecting path for the prairie/wetland area was,
but thought it would be in the vicinity of the edge of the
radius. Murray included a page from the prairie/wetlands
concept plan for further reference.
A motion
was made by Bob Sears to untable the KAA Field Proposal that was
tabled at the November 19th Park Board meeting.
Linda seconded the motion. All approved. Motion passed.
Motion made
by Bob Sears to vote on the Kirkwood Athletic Association Field
Proposal. Linda Fenton seconded the motion.
Roll call
as follows:
Gerry
Biedenstein-nay
Bob Sears – nay
Rich Etzkorn-nay
Boyd Wietecter-nay
Linda Fenton-nay
Jerry Grunzinger-nay
Park Board
members voted 6-0 against the KAA field expansion proposal.
Motion did
not pass
C.
EMMENEGGER PARK BOUNDARY ISSUES
A letter
was included in the Park Board packet from the owners of the
property immediately to the north of Emmenegger, Jim and Deb
Matush, outlining their concerns about Park users approaching
and encroaching on their property. They could not make it to
this month’s Park Board meeting but plan on attending January’s
Park Board meeting.
Curt said
the mowing for this area is on a 10 day cycle. Murray said he
would do some deed restriction research on this property.
IV. NEW
BUSINESS
A.
APPROVAL OF BIDDING SERVICES FOR MONFORT PARK
Jerry
Grunzinger made a motion that an addition to the contract of
Planning Design Services be added to cover bidding services for
the Monfort Park bidding process at a cost of $3500.00 and the
money budgeted from reserves to account 201-5101-452.75-09 Boyd
Wietecter seconded. All approved.
Nick Ohlman
– abstention (came in after the motion was made)
B
ROBINSON SCHOOL PLAYGROUND PROPOSAL
A copy of
the proposal prepared by representatives of the Robinson School
PTO was included in the packet. The request from the Robinson
PTO is for $25,000-$30,000 to aid in the upgrade and
improvements of the Robinson School Playground. Murray said
from a historical perspective, the Park Board has previously
contributed money towards development of various facilities at
Westchester ($20,000 in 2000) and Tillman Schools ($15,000 in
1994). Linda Fenton said children do play all the time at this
playground. Jerry Grunzinger said it is heavily used.
Murray said
any liability would be with the school district. Murray had
talked to John Hessel about any liability we might have if the
Park Board contributed money towards the playground.
There were
some questions about certified inspections, playground hours,
public limitations and restrictions. Murray said it would be a
good idea to look at the agreements for Westchester and
Tillman. Jerry Grunzinger said he would like to know the
inspection cycle and program. He would like to review the ASTM
standards and CPSC guidelines for playground safety and make
sure the Robinson School inspectors had NPSI/CPSI certification.
Susan Masi,
and Carola Gloyd of the Robinson School PTO answered questions
and discussed the playground and how the plans for Phase II are
ADA compliant. Their committee has been working with Terri
Johnson, ADA Inclusion Coordinator for the for the Parks and
Recreation Department. Terri has reviewed Robinson’s playground
plans and stated that Phase II of their playground has both
“great play value” and is ADA accessible.
Bob Sears
is going to write a preliminary draft for the Robinson School
PTO Playground Proposal. Murray and Bob will work on the
details of the draft.
C.
APPROPRIATION TO PARK MATERIALS ACCOUNT
A motion
was made by Rich Etzkorn to appropriate an additional $2000.00
from reserves to account 201-5101-452.61-15 to finish out the
year and raise the budget for the donation revenue from its
current level of $3,500.00 to $30,0000.00 in account
201-0000-365-20-00. Nick Ohlman seconded the motion. All
approved. Motion passed.
D.
MAINTENANCE UPDATE
The
Maintenance Report for December 2007 was handed out to Park
Board members in attendance.
Curt added
that on December 14 due to the snowfall the Parks Department
used 24 tons of salt at a cost of $920.00 which is split with
the recreation department. The Parks Department had 54 hours of
overtime.
The
demolition of 571 Monroe-The point count amount of the drywall
at 571 Monroe indicated abatement would not be necessary on
the house. The contract with Southern Ditching should come in
minus the abatement charges.
V.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Murray
Pounds reported the Chautauqua event will be held in Kirkwood
Parks June 5 through June 8, 2008 and some of the entertainment
will be historical representations of Thomas Edison, Walt
Disney, and Martha Mitchell. He met with the chairperson of the
event, Jane Evans and discussed the department’s involvement in
the event. They will not be using the tents this year and the
budget for park services should be $750-$1000.00 for the event.
Murray
reported he had some concerns about donations for the 4th
of July celebration.
Murray said
the summer brochure for the Parks & Recreation will go to the
printer this week
and should
be mailed sometime in January 2008 to all the residents of
Kirkwood..
The fee
increases for the Parks and Recreation have been prepared and
presented to the City Council.
The Parks
Department is working on the development of the City’s
Stormwater II Manual. Murray said the Parks Department portion
should be completed by the 31st of this month.
Murray
showed slides of a Butterfly Chair the Walker family said they
would like to give to the Parks Department. Murray said the
chair would look good at Walker Park and we might put a plaque
on it. The chair is very unique and Murray said he believes it
would really look good at the park.
Murray
reported he will be on vacation for the next two weeks.
VI.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS REAL ESTATE
Bob Sears
made the motion to closed session at 8:30 p.m., seconded by Rich
Etzkorn.
Roll call
as follows:
Gerry
Biedenstein – yea
Bob Sears-yea
Rich Etzkorn-yea
Linda Fenton – yea
Boyd Wietecter – yea
Nick Ohlman-yea
Jerry Grunzinger-yea
Motion
passed 7-0
Rich
Etzkorn made the motion to return to an open meeting, seconded
by Nick Ohlman at 8:50 p.m.
Roll call
as follows:
Gerry
Biedenstein – yea
Bob Sears-yea
Rich Etzkorn-yea
Linda Fenton – yea
Boyd Wietecter – yea
Nick Ohlman-yea
Jerry Grunzinger-yea
Motion
passed 7-0
The closed
session adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
VII
ADJOURNMENT
Rich
Etzkorn made the motion to adjourn at 9:00p.m., seconded by Nick
Ohlman.
All
approved. Motion passed.
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