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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-07-02 Park Board MinutesRIVERSIDE PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES July 2, 2007 6:00 p.m. The Riverside Park Board held their regularly scheduled meeting at the City Hall in Riverside, Missouri, on Monday, July 2, 2007. Those in attendance were: Julie Rule, Cathy Mousel, Lori Rardeen, Alderman Mike Fuller, Brent Miles, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Mayor Kathy Rose, Jeff Rupp, Director of Public Works, and Sarah Thompson, Administrative Clerk. Not in attendance were: Jerry Hackenberg, Ron Carlson, and Sara Thatcher and Jim Frakes. Julie Rule opened the meeting with a recap of what took place at last month's meeting. The Park_ Board went over the cost estimates for their high priority issues that they were asking the Board of Aldermen to adopt for this fiscal year. Brent Miles, Director of Planning and Economic Development informed the Board that the Board of Aldermen approved their request for projects totaling $196,000 plus what has been budgeted for the Line Creek Trail. This was just under budget and the Board of Alderman allotted an additional $35,000 to add some sort of water feature for small children at the pool. A representative from Water's Edge will be at next month's meeting to speak to the Board about its options. Mayor Rose commented that the Board of Aldermen would like to see some sort of water feature, like a big mushroom that uses the same water filtration system as the pool. Miles replied that the filtration is the problem because of the way the pool was constructed it makes it very difficult to make changes and upgrades. It will be very difficult to add something for the amount that was budgeted, but hopes to have more information from Water's Edge at the next meeting. Alderman Fuller asked if Water's Edge already had a map of the piping and filtration for the pool. Miles replied that they do from the Community Center Study. Next, Rule explained that at the last meeting the Board debated between spending part of their budget on the design for the Jumping Branch / Gatewoods Trail Connection and installing lights for the baseball field at E.H. Young Park. The Board was not certain of the $75,000 estimate and requested that staff gather more information on the possibility of installing lights at the baseball field. Miles explained that the City has spoken to three different lighting firms and consensus was that MUSCO Lighting is the best and their vendor in this area is Capital Electric. Jeff Rupp, Director of Public Works explained MUSCO's estimate that was for six poles instead of the standard eight was for $124,000. He then explained that some additional work would have to be done to the electrical units in that area in order to run the lighting. That was estimated at $65,000. Kansas City Power and Light would also have to add equipment and put in new transformers which are an estimated cost of $10,000, bringing the total cost for installing lighting on the baseball field to $199,000. MUSCO Lighting also informed the City that there is a possibility that their could be an additional cost for geo technical surveying to be done for the placement of the lighting poles Page 1 because of the sandy soil conditions at E.H. Young Park. This could be an additional hidden co:;t of $5,000. Alderman Fuller asked what could be done to help preserve this lighting when the river floods. Miles said that is something the City was exploring with Capital Electric. They said that it maybe possible to make the panels breakaway, but this would be an additional cost. Rule asked if it would be possible to move the light if a sports complex is constructed in Riverside. Miles replied that it maybe possible to move the light poles, but the transformers and other electrical up grades that will have to be made to accommodate the lighting would have to remain. Rule commented that their maybe grants available for this project and it could be put on the backburner. Alderman Fuller asked what the maintenance and cost to the City would be for the baseball field lights. Rupp replied that the estimate includes a control link maintenance package that is good for 25 yf;ars that would include such things as chancing light bulbs, controlling when the lights come on and off, etc. Rule asked if there was a simpler option that would be less expensive, such as not having the maintenance package and having the City be in control of turning on and off the lights. Miles replied that he as requested an estimate that does not include the maintenance package but has received no response. Rule commented that this lighting system sounds similar to the one that Platte County just took over. Miles commented that he thought the maintenance package would save the City time and money in the long run, but was still interested in finding out the cost without the maintenance package. Rule commented that a sports complex is at least five years down the road and realizes that the lights would really increase the time teams can use the field, but still isn't sure if this is the best idea. She asked if it would be possible to get more information on the cost of the geo technical survey and the possibility of break away electrical panels for flooding reasons. Rupp commented that he can get those estimates, but a lot of the price will remain undetermined until the project is actually drawn up and bid. Mousel commented that she would rather see the money be put toward land for a sports complex.. Miles said that with a complex this same amount of money could be spent to light several fields because they would be is such a close proximity and some of the transformers could be used to serve more than one field. Alderman Fuller asked if the City had any land in mind for a sports complex. Page 2 Miles replied that there is some land that is protected by the levee that will be presented to the Board of Aldermen in the CIP Presentation on July 3, 2007. Rule commented that the baseball field lighting project seems like a lot of money to spend on a project that may be moved in a few years. She said she would be more comfortable if the staff could get more information and have Board member Jim Frakes present before a decision is made either way. Alderman Fuller asked staff to try and get a break out of the maintenance costs. He commented that it may seem expensive, but it would take a lot of the worry away from City staff. Rule asked if the City looked for vacant land to purchase. Miles explained that the City looks at land to redevelop. It is very difficult to purchase land without a vision for it. The one thing the City does try and do is incorporate parks and trails into any land it gets. Rule asked about how much land is set aside in the Master Plan for a sports complex in Riverside. Miles replied that the City has between 40 and 60 acres in the Horizons Development near the interchange. This will be an ideal site because the land is so flat and with this area so close to the levee there is very little the Corps of Engineers will allow to be built. This would be a great match. The Board agreed to wait for staff to gather more information and will make a decision at next month's meeting. Next, Rupp handed out an up date of the projects Public Works has completed on the Park Boar3's high priority list. The items included: 1. Basketball goal at Homestead Park has been cleaned. 2. Monkey bars at Homestead Park have been repaired. 3. Rocking Horse at Renner Brenner Park has been repaired. 4. Rocking Horse at E.H. Young Park has been repaired. 5. Graffiti at Renner Brenner Park has been cleaned. 6. Cable at Homestead Park has been repaired. 7. Picnic tables at E.H. Young Park have been cleaned. 8. Fence at E.H. Young Park has been replaced and is awaiting paint. 9. E.H. Young Park playground has been mulched 10. Renner Brenner Park playground has been mulched. 11. Homestead Park has had mulch started, but the City ran out of mulch. It will be comple~:ed as soon as the mulch comes in. 12. Pipe and water hydrant at Homestead Park have been removed. Next, Miles went over the projects the Board of Aldermen approved for the parks. The first project was the Line Creek Trail Connector. Right now the City is working on a plan to work out some issues the railroad has with the trail connector. They do not want to have people near the tracks and they feel pedestrians would have a negative impact on the bridge and if anything were to go wrong the City would be liable for the bridge. There will be a new bridge going over the tracks and connecting to Argosy. This could be the easiest route to take for building a pedestrian cross over the tracks, but the actual bridge construction is several years down the road. Rule asked if there were any other hang-ups on the trail. Page 3 Miles replied that the City has to get through the railroad before it can submit the final plans to the Levee District. Next, Miles addressed the benches that have been budgeted for Renner Brenner Park. He explained that at the next meeting he will have some pictures and options for the Board to consider. Rule commented that at the last meeting the Board discussed two theories for the parks. One w~is to take what was done at E.H. Young Park and transition it into the other parks so that the City has one common theme for all the parks. The other theory was to have each park have its own individual theme. Miles commented that all the parks have such a different feel. For example, Renner Brenner ha:c a very historic feel. Rule commented that she thought the City should create a common theme throughout all the parks. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same benches, just some element that is the same in all the parks. Miles replied that the Park Board needs to decide whether they want all the parks connected or for each of them to have their own distinct image. Whatever the Board decides City staff will bring some suggestions to the next meeting. Mayor Rose commented that every park is so different from the lighting to the trash receptacles that it would be difficult to have one common theme for all the parks. Miles commented that the benches at E.H. Young Park were very expensive and they City is not sure that the same benches can be found. Mousel asked if it would be cost effective for the City to have one common theme. Miles replied that he would look into the options and have some examples for the next meeting. Next, Miles gave an update on the Jumping Branch Trail Connector. The plan is to start on the design in the fall. The Board of Aldermen approved $110,000 for the design cost this year. Right now the City is having trouble with a property owner not in favor of the crossing. Ten feet of the owner's property is all that is in question. The City has even informed the property owner of the: new bill that does not hold property owners liable for anything that occurs on a trail that goes across their property. Rule commented that she will check with the County and see if they have any suggestions for dealing with this sort of thing. She asked if the City was still going to proceed with the design. Miles replied that the City really needs to get right of access from the property owner to survey the area. If the City can not gain access, the City will hold off on the design of the trail connector. Next, Rupp updated the Board on the progress of rebuilding the restrooms at E.H. Young Park. The City has appointed WSKF Architects to work on the project. A majority of the restroom was damaged. The City has been waiting to hear back from the insurance company to access the damages. If the building is more than 50% damaged then it has to be rebuilt to new flood elevations Page 4 that that would make it very difficult to keep the restroom in a reasonable location for citizens to use. The damages assessed on the building came back as only 48% damaged so it does not have to be rebuilt to new standards. As far as insurance money to help cover the cost of repairs, the insurance adjuster determined that the roof frame was not damaged, so instead of the City gettin around $100,000 from the insurance company to help cover repair costs, it will only be receiving; around $65,000. WSKF Architects will be at the Board of Aldermen meeting on July 17, 2007 to give their initial assessment and discuss flood proofing options such as raising the electrical above flood level and having breakaway panels. The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:13 p.m. ~~~ ~~~5~~`~ie- ~~~ Page 5