REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 5, 2013
MIDLAND CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
1) Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chairperson Frank Altimore
2)
Roll Call:
a. MEMBERS PRESENT: Altimore, Bovid, Carlson, Carney, Kelley, Metevia, Rankin, Rice, Steidemann
b. MEMBERS ABSENT: None
c. OTHERS PRESENT:
3)
Minutes of December 4, 2012: Steidemann
motioned, Metevia seconded to receive minutes of the meeting of December 4,
2012. Motion passed 9-0.
4)
Call to Audience:
None
5)
Grant for removal of invasive species at Barstow
Woods: Murphy reported that the
City’s Parks Department received a grant in December from the Barstow Family
Foundation in the amount of $16,880 to remove invasive species from the
understory at Barstow Woods, place additional park benches along the walking
paths throughout the park, and reinstate the tree identification tagging
program from years past. Invasive exotic
species, including glossy buckthorn and autumn olive, are non-native shrubs
that outcompete native plant species and can result in a habitat where only one
plant species dominates. The grant funds
will allow the City to use forestry mowing and selective herbicide treatments
to combat these invasive plants. Staff
is working on interpretive signage to place in the park that will inform park
visitors of the project as removal of these invading plants will greatly open
up the understory areas. Carney motioned
to recommend to City Council to accept this generous grant and allow staff to
move forward with this project. Carlson
seconded the motion. Motion passed 9-0.
6)
Grant to replace a pavilion in Emerson Park: Murphy shared information on a grant received
by the City’s Parks Department in December from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow
Foundation in the amount of $45,000 to replace pavilion D located in Emerson
Park. The pavilion was removed in
November due to structural concerns related to rotting main support beams. The proposed time frame for the project is to
construct the new pavilion in late spring to have the pavilion available for
use this season. Due to unpredictable
flooding that occurs in Emerson Park that could potentially interfere with the
timing for construction of the pavilion, Murphy reported that reservations for
pavilion D are not being accepted at this time.
Residents interested in using the new pavilion are being placed on a
waiting list and staff is recommending they reserve an alternate pavilion as a
backup plan. Once Murphy is comfortable
with a completion date, staff will then call residents on the waiting list to
offer them the opportunity to make a reservation.
With the Parks Commission not holding a meeting in January, Murphy shared the news of the grant with the commissioners via email communication, and took the grant directly to City Council for acceptance in order to keep the project moving along. Council accepted this generous grant at their January 7 meeting and authorized staff to move forward with the project.
7)
Currie Stadium structural evaluation: Murphy
reported that staff had concerns with the condition of the concrete that makes
up the main structure of Currie Stadium.
$20,000 was budgeted in the current fiscal year to evaluate the
structure and start repair work as needed.
MacMillan and Associates was hired to do a structural analysis of the
stadium. The overall findings revealed
the overall structure to be in fair to poor condition. The deterioration of the concrete is
repairable and the overall integrity of the structure was not found to be
significantly impaired. The immediate
concern is with spalled concrete debris falling on occupants below the
structure. The recommendations for
repair work are estimated at $180,000.
Murphy will request $200,000 in the FY2013/14 Parks budget to make the
recommended repairs. The timeframe for
the project will depend on the availability of the funds.
8)
Project Reports:
a.
Neighborhood park playground bids: Murphy shared that bids are ready to be sent
out for the twelve neighborhood parks that will receive updated play equipment
under the grant provided to the City by the Dorothy L. Ludington Children’s
Fund held at the Midland Area Community Foundation.
9)
Old Business: Murphy reported that City Council
adopted the recommended changes to the general recreation fee ordinance at
their January 21 meeting. All the fee changes will take effect immediately with
the exception of the cross country ski rental and the pavilion rental fees,
which we will wait to increase until the start of next season.
Altimore reminded the Commission that there is no meeting scheduled in April due to Midland Public School’s spring break.
10) New
Business: None
11) Adjourn: Motioned by Metevia, seconded by Steidemann to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed 9 – 0. Meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Murphy
Director of Public Services