HomeMy WebLinkAboutPark Board Minutes 09.04.2008MINUTES
CITY OF LAUREL
PARK BOARD
SEPTEMBER 4, 2008
5:30 P.M.
Members Present:
Staff Present:
Chairwoman Kate Hart
Kirk Linse
Public Works Director, Kurt Markegard
Norm Stamper
Mazk Mace
Arny Pollock (5:45 PM)
Public Comments three-minute limit
Cituens may address the committee regarding item of city business NOT on the agenda. The duration
for an individual speaking under Public Comments is limited to three minutes. While all comments
are welcome, the committee will not take action on any item which does not appear on the agenda.
Public Citizens present: None
Chairwoman Kate Hart called the meeting to order at 5:31 PM. The July 10, 2008 minutes were
approved as written. Motion made by Mazk Mace and seconded by Norm Stamper.
Kate Hart advised the board that the 2009 Preliminary Budget did show a line item in the Parks Fund
far the Riverside Park Master Plan. The board was delighted to see this appropriated far this next year
as the board is interested in a matching grant or a grant to make this master plan a reality as well as all
the City of Laurel pazks are. The Riverside Park is in the final stages of a land survey, which will
show the total area of the park and its legal boundazies. This legal document is known as a "meets and
bounds" which does not seem to exist in the Yellowstone County Recorder's Office in Billings. The
Chairwoman advised the board of Mr. Dan McGee of McGee Land Surveyors Co. who has agreed to
conduct the survey for $5,000.00
Hopefully, the survey will be done while the water table is low this fall. Kate brought up the lease
agreements and that Sam Painter, City Attorney, has brought forwazd a boilerplate lease form to show
what the groups using the city's facilities will have to enter into with the City of Laurel. The addition
of individual amenities within each group will address these items individually, and will tailor each
lease from one group to the next, in conducting each club's business. Kirk Linse asked if he could
have an advanced copy of the lease in electronic form or however it is stored to preview the contents
to see if it is similar to the one he brought forward as a member of the Little League to help begin the
dialogue back last spring. Kirk is concerned with how it will affect the groups he is affiliated with.
Kate asked Kurt how he envisioned this lease would follow through to completion from this point.
Kurt stated that he and Mr. Sheridan would be looking at all leases with the prospective group and go
over the leases with whoever will be in charge of the details for that club, including the parties wha
would sign and be responsible as the groups change hands and members retire or leave the group.
Kurt feels once the agreement is filled out and signed, city staffwill present it to the Park Board with
a recommendation to the city council to recommend either passage or return to the group for
additional or further considerations which the council wishes to insert. (Such items of mention would
be maintenance cleanup. The issue ofsub-leasing and renting of the facilities to second and third
party groups, and for what activity they intend to host, with insurance coverage, and its use as strong
considerations.)
A discussion ensued regarding grants and the possibility that Mr. Easton could contact the person in
charge of the new River Pazk in Big Timber, MT which has started a new park plan along the river
rumored to be a project worth nearly $2 million. The board hopes to get more information at this
moment. There was a discussion regazding a grant which may be available to small cities that maybe
looking to build pazks near the river or sources of water that may involve a "WERTA" grant.
Kurt was asked to give an update on the installation of the toy that the Lions Club was installing at the
South Pond. Kurt said that the "Big Toy" is installed and the swings are constructed. The grounds
around the play azea needed to be defined with plastic pinned down curbing to keep the ground cover
within the area. This material will most likely be small pea-gravel. The members of the Lions Club
who donated their services to build and install the toy spent some long hot hours in July and August
working on this site. Some council members did help at times. With the annual 4~' of July and the
Centennial Celebration in full swing, it was hard to find help at times. The Park Board appreciates the
effort by all who participated to make this park a better place in Laurel. The addition of the toy will
help the kids enjoy the pazk without the danger of the water which will attract fishermen and water
enthusiasts, and provide a safe pastime for smaller kids also. The Lions Club has expressed interest in
helping with the next big toy installation that is slated for Nutting Pazk later this fall and next spring.
Fencing will be required in Nutting as to protect small children from the Nutting Drain Ditch and the
passibility of an errant baseball during the baseball and softball seasons on the Nutting fields.
Amy Pollock had to leave at 6:14 PM.
Kurt Markegazd mentioned that he hoped that the Park Board would use the master plan concept to
address the main lazge ticket items in all the parks in Laurel. Some parks and the "big" item were:
Murray Pazk - Has an "open slate" for improvements
Kiwanis Park -Underground sprinklers, lighting
Thomson Park -Spray park near the pool area
All parks need replacement trees soon.
With no further items to discuss, Chairwoman Hart adjourned the meeting at G:46 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
u
Mazk Mace