Minutes - Council - 06/28/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council that approximately 55 percent of the children participating in the Anoka Soccer Association are from the City of Ramsey. The Association had asked for the striping to be done at Rivers Bend Park. The City did not get it done, so RYAA had to do it. She stated that RYAA is paying for the striping and also paid for the players benches last year. RYAA is spending a lot of time and money for the youth in Ramsey. ff RYAA ceases to exist, she inquired ff the City would be interested in coordinating these sports activities. She stated she works for the City of Minneapolis and that'Minneapolis took this same stand and said "let the youth find their own activities". She stated that the City of Minneapolis is really in a "mess" now and they have again decided to put money back into their youth activities. She asked if Council could actually justify only spending between eight and nine percent of the total budget on parks and inquired if maybe it shouldn't be increased to 11 or 12 percent. Ms. Swanson felt there had to be a better way to open up communication between the City of Ramsey and the RYAA. She felt that Council probably didn't want RYAA back every two to three years asking for the same things nor do they want a lawsuit because someone got hurt on an unsafe playing field. She suggested looking at the neighborhood park issue and the dollars used to maintain those parks. She commented that the City of Blaine is attempting to go away from developing neighborhood parks and to concentrate on the larger ones for sports. She added that she appreciates Council listening to her concems and expressed hope that a right decision would be made. Reed Droegemueller stated he has been Vice President of RYAA for a year and has also been associated with the Baseball Association. He stated that it's obvious, when he travels around to other city's parks, that Ramsey's parks are "not up to snuff". He suggested re- adopting the City's budget and allocating more money to parks. The backstops need to be upgraded and the fences along the benches should be extended from four feet high to eight feet high. There are lights on two fields in Central Park; he would like to see lights on all the fields which would increase the field usage. He stated he would also like to see money allocated to have the fields dragged daily. The children are at risk of injury playing on rough fields. He suggested that the outfields are in fairly good shape; however, once in awhile there is a hole made from the irrigation System. If the fields are dragged and mowed weekly, the holes would be alleviated in a more timely fashion. Mr. Droegemueller felt that Mr. Boos, Ramsey's Parks/Utilities Supervisor, is doing a good job with the crew he has; however, he felt that Mr. Boos should have two more full-time parks people as he currently doesn't have the "bodies" to get the job done. He stated that maintenance is important and Mr. Boos and the RYAA would appreciate the extra help. He stated that other cities have parks much better maintained and Ramsey shouldn't have to take a "back seat" to these cities. We need money to bring Central Park up to par with the other cities. Mr. Droegemueller suggested that rather than looking at developing more neighborhood parks, the City should put the effort and money into the parks we have now to provide a safer place for our children to play. He asked that Council please help with this issue as they have the power to adjust the budget. Mr. Baack stated that RYAA is very concerned about the consistent deterioration and the condition.of the fields in general. There are a lot of weeds, holes in the fields, and fence mending to be done and they only get done if them are complaints. If there were enough people in the parks department, these things could be checked on on a continuous basis. He reiterated that RYAA had paid $500 for grass, which is dead now, and also spent a lot of money on players benches. He questioned if RYAA should be spending money on these things or if it should be up to the City to budget for it. He added that RYAA purchased new bases for $2,000 and he wondered who's responsibility the bases were. He again stated that the children's safety must come first. Mr. Baack commented that there is no grass, only weeds and sand burrs, on the playing fields at Ramsey Elementary School. He stated he understands that the maintenance of those fields are also the City's responsibility. He added that the fields are too close which is a safety hazard. The only City Council/June 28, 1994 Page 6 of 10