03-09-89 Parks Comm Minutes• PARKS/PUBLIC LANDS/ANNE.YATION/BUILDING REGULATION COMMITTEE MEETING
March 9, 1989 4:00 P.M.
Present at the meeting were Councilmen Furlong (Chairman), Atkinson, Nystul; Mayor
Kennedy, Parks Director Baker, Bill Goodman and Jeanne Parson (Flathead Soccer
Ass'n.), David Greer, Mike Fraser, Keith Wilson, and Doug Johns.
FLATHEAD SOCCER ASSOCIATION PROPOSAL
Mike Baker opened the meeting and turned it over to the people from the Flathead
Soccer Ass'n. Jeanne Parson gave a brief background of the soccer association.
She said since 1983 the program had expanded from 300-400 to 900 participants this
year. She said it is run by a board of 12 with 1 director. The problem now is
they don't have any place to play soccer and have to borrow fields and with so
many kids in the program they need a place of their own. Jeanne said they had
talked with Mike to try to come up with a place to play and came up with some
property that is adjacent to the airport off of Airport Road. That would give
them 2 full size fields and 3 smaller size fields. She stated the Association is
willing to pay for the cost of the irrigation equipment, seed and fertilizer and
would continue to help with maintenance and improvements on the fields. They
would like to negotiate a long-term lease for the property. She said it would run
anywhere from $1500-$2500 per field to get them functional.
C. Atkinson asked about the property on Willow Glen Drive that the City owns.
Mike Baker said there would be extensive land development that would have to take
place there before anything could be done.
Baker stated the location of the Airport Road property is unique in that it is
located close enough to town for kids to ride their bikes safely and stay off the
highway and being close to Begg Field the concession stands, restrooms and picnic
sites would be available.
C. Nystul asked what months the soccer teams play. Jeanne said the Spring season
is March to June and the Fall season is August to November. There was a discussion
of the size of fields needed.
C. Nystul asked about the aircraft problem. Baker said they went to the airport
people and checked it out with them, there would be a "buffer zone" between the
property and the airport. Nystul asked about a fence to prevent foot traffic
across the runway, Jeanne said that hadn't been discussed yet.
C. Furlong asked if they had approached FHS about using the football field and
practice field and Jeanne said yes, but they had been turned down.
There was some discussion about using Begg Park outfield, Baker said the problem
there was the sprinkler heads and the possibility of tearing up the turf.
MOTION: C. Atkinson moved that the committee direct Mike Baker and the directors
of the Flathead Soccer Association to present the committee with a plan for the
Begg Park and Airport Road Property for the committee's consideration. C. Nystul
seconded.
• C. Nystul requested the Association submit to the committee a preliminary sketch
showing field layout in relationship to the runway and other facilities.
C. Furlong stated that he was not interested in a long-term lease but is interested
in seeing a soccer field developed. He stated that the secondary Begg Park field
should be a consideration in any agreement.
Jeanne asked what the soccer association's protection would be if they put in
about $10,000 and in 4-5 years that property is put up for sale? C. Furlong said
he believes the spirit of the Council would be to give them every advantage they
could give.
C. Nystul asked if they could get five fields in the flatland at Lawrence Park?
C. Furlong stated that land was in all probability committed to the KGA and
Friends of Lawrence Park. Baker said there would have to be a considerable amount
of topsoil and clay hauled in to make that area acceptable for turf.
Mayor Kennedy said the Council is obligated to look at any proposal that the
association makes.
Bill Goodman asked what was the probability of the City helping with the cost of
developing the fields it they are not going to get a lease? The committee said
they feel this is a worthwhile project but there is a shortage of City funds for
something like this, all they would be able to contribute would be in -kind services.
• Upon a vote the motion passed unanimously.
DONATION PROPOSAL
Baker presented his proposal for donations for improvement for parks projects.
The proposal is to incorporate a slot on the water department billing for a 75S
donation. Baker said it has been used effectively in other small communities,
with as much as 30-40% participation. He said the money would be utilized for
projects with high visibility, the project would be spelled out for each specific
year, such as replacing playground equipment, etc. He said he talked with the
water staff and they said they felt comfortable with it.
C. Atkinson asked if the donation would be tax exempt? C. Nystul said it is a
charitable contribution.
C. Atkinson asked about the expense, Baker said there would be a set-up charge in
notifying the ratepayers.
MOTION: C. Atkinson moved the committee direct Mike to develop a program for
committe approval and/or presentation to the Council. C. Nystul seconded.
The committee suggested a letter be sent out with the water bills to get community
reaction to this proposal. C. Atkinson suggested a survey be, done prior to the
donation being put on the water bill.
The motion was voted upon and passed unanimously.
TENNIS PROGRAM
Baker stated he is working
tennis program for the summer
the USTA. He said basically
skating lessons.
LAWRENCE PARK GRANT
No update
with the Flathead Tennis Association to develop a
He said they were looking at getting a grant from
for this first year it would be run like the ice
ICE SKATING UPDATE
Baker said the ice rink was open for 66 days, which accounted for 12,793 visitor
use hours between 1:00 and 8:00 P.M., which was approximately 70-80% of the use.
The financial report will be presented at the next meeting.
LOGO CONTEST
Baker said 1st Federal Savings will be sponsoring the contest. He said they will
give out prize money of about $400-$500. He will be getting back with them this
week. This will be done through the schools.
C. Furlong requested Mike prepare a publicity release for the media with the same
material he had submitted to the committee, particularly the ice skating visitor
use.
HERITAGE PLACE
Mike Fraser presented.an update on the progress satisfying the conditions of the
• preliminary plat approval. He said they had submitted a packet of information to
FRDO which contains all the agreements, etc. and which addresses all of the
conditions except one in the resolution that was passed. He stated we should have
signed originals by Noon on Monday.
Fraser went through the conditions listed on the resolution. He stated the
Utility Extension Agreement had been signed and a cashier's check in the amount of
$28,650 attached to that as a guarantee that the sewer line will be installed. He
went on to discuss the rest of the conditions and what had been done to comply
with them.
Regarding Item #7 he stated the City Attorney has prepared the road agreement
containing the provisions of Item #7 and along with that Developers Diversified
has executed an easement for a 60' wide road connecting Heritage Way to Windward
Way which will then become an attachment to the agreement and will be held by the
City Attorney.
Fraser stated prior to Monday night the committee needs to review a letter from
David Greer stating the conditions have been met and then at the meeting Monday
night recommend to the Council foi approving the final plat. Greer said they
would not write a letter until they get concurrence from the staff and a letter
from the Kalispell Fire Dept. approving the site plan.
C. Furlong said he understood there was a 30-day period between a preliminary plat
and final plat approval. Greer stated that the Subdivision Regulations point out
that an application has a review period of 20 days and must be submitted to the
• Council 10 days prior to the Council meeting. He said there is no 30-day requirement.
C. Atkinson asked if it was legal for FRDO to waive the 20-day review period and
the City to waive the 10-day option. Greer said yes.
C. Nystul asked if there was any action required of the committee this evening.
Fraser said there is no action to take because there was no recommendation from
FRDO yet. He asked if the committee could get together sometime Friday and look
over the site plan. There was a discussion of the site plan and the final plat.
Doug Johns stated the Agreement and Easement had been faxed to Developers Diversified
attorneys yesterday for approval and signatures.
C. Furlong asked Greer if the Council agreed to a final plat Monday night, and we
have all the agreements in place, are they enforceable down the road? Greer said
once the site plan is approved nothing else is to be enforced. He said once the
preliminary plat is approved by resolution, the conditions cannot be changed.
After further discussion, a tentative committee meeting was scheduled for 4:00
P.M. Monday, March 13th to approve FRDO's letter of recommendation.
David Greer requested a meeting be scheduled for Thursday, March 16 regarding the
Extension of Services Plan.
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 P.M.
Shirley Hughes, Recording Secretary
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