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01/08/2001 - 00008448CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — JANUARY 8, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the January 8, 2001 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick Marcy Sibell Tim Solberg Dick Young 7ack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Paul Lawrence, Public Works Superintendent APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 4, 2000 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the minutes of the December 4, 2000 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR JANUARY 8, 2001 MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the agenda for the January 8, 2001 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the New Years Eve Celebration at Springbrook Nature Center on December 31gt drew over 100 people for an evening of crafts, treats, hikes and a bonfire. Other program highlights since the last Commission meeting were the start of the winter skating season, the broomball league, the boot hockey league, the winter nature camps, the youth center holiday party, and the senior program holiday activities. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lawrence stated that park maintenance activities have centered on maintaining the ice at the 20 ice skating facilities. He said that although the weather conditions were less than ideal for making ice, the skating locations were open earlier than in past years and ready for the school holiday vacation break. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 8, 2001 Pa�e 2 Mr. Lawrence further stated that the Park Maintenance Division has already started to line up the summer help. It has become increasingly difficult to recruit young people to work in the parks and they are trying to get an earlier start this year. They are contacting past years employees to encourage them to return to work this year. Mr. Lawrence also said that the parks division wants to have more opportunity to help with the maintenance at Springbrook Nature Center. There are repairs and projects that the Park Maintenance workers could help with at that park. He and Dave Lindquist would be meeting soon with 7ack and Siah to discuss ways that the Park Maintenance crew can be of assistance. c. City Council / Commission Survey Mr. Kirk stated that the City Manager's office would be sending out a survey to the Parks and Recreation Commission members sometime in February. This opinion survey is used to gain input on issues that are affecting the City. There are a number of questions in the survey that deal with the park system and the recreation/naturalist programs. Mr. Kirk told the commission members that their assistance with completion of the survey was greatly appreciated. d. St. Paul Regional Water Services Property Mr. Kirk stated that he had recently received a call from Ms. Barb Woolsey, Manager of the St. Paul Regional Water Services regarding their property at 76t'` and Alden Way in Fridley. She had been contacted by a Fridley resident and asked if the property could be used as a park by the neighborhood. The St. Paul Water Services does not want to increase their care and maintenance responsibilities at the site and have to deny such a request at this time. They are concerned that additional use of the property will lead to additional expenditures for them. She is aware that the Fridley Parks and Recreation Commission discussed this property at the November meeting and decided not to pursue City of Fridley use of the property in our park system. e. Interpretive Specialist @ Springbrook Nature Center Mr. Kirk stated that there were 48 applicants for the Interpretive Specialist position at Springbrook Nature Center. Seven candidates were interviewed on Thursday, December 28t'`. Mr. Kirk stated that there were very good applicants for this opening. Mr. Kirk further stated that staff has recommended that Tara Rogness be appointed to the position. Tara has most recently worked as a Naturalist at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield. She is expected to start her work with the City on January 16th 2. NEW BUSINESS a. 2001 Softball League Fees Mr. Kirk presented a staff recommended fee schedule for year 2001 adult softball leagues. The fees have been increased some for this year to reflect increase costs in the umpiring and scorekeeping. The City of Fridley offers a good quality softball program and the facilities are among the best in the north metro area. Mr. Kirk stated that a detailed explanation of the fees was submitted to the commission members along with the memo on the recommended leagues and fees. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 8, 2001 Pa�e 3 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Young to approve the year 2001 softball league fees as recommended by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Softball Tournament Request — Fridley Lions Club Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley Lions Club to host a State Softball Tournament at Community Park on August 17 — 19, 2001. The Lions Club does an excellent job with these tournaments and staff would recommend approval of the application. The Lions Club also makes a donation of some type to the City of Fridley park system in lieu of the facility fees. MOTION by Mr. Young seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the request by the Fridley Lions Club to hold a tournament at Community Park on August 17 — 19,2001. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Softball Tournament Request — Fridley Wrestling Boosters Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley Wrestling Boosters to host an invitational softball tournament during 49er Days on June 15 — 17, 2001. This organization has run a tournament successfully for several years now and staff would recommend approval. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the request by the Fridley Wrestling Boosters to hold a tournament at Community Park on June 15 — 17, 2001. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. d. Soccer Tournament Request — Fridley / Heights Soccer Club Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley / Heights Soccer Club to host an invitational soccer tournament at Commons and Locke Parks on July 13 — 15, 2001. This organization has also had several years now of running a successful tournament and staff would recommend approval of this request with the same fee structure as last year. The fees would include $60 for each e�sting soccer field used, $200 for each new field requiring lining, $50 for the use of the Commons Park shelter, payment for an additional garbage dumpster (approx. $175), and payment for any additional portable restrooms that are needed. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the request by the Fridley / Heights Soccer Club to hold a soccer tournament at Commons and Locke Parks on July 13 — 15, 2001. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Januarv 8, 2001 Pa�e 4 e. Baseball Tournament Request — FYSA Little League Baseball Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the FYSA Little League Baseball to host an invitational baseball tournament at the Little League fields on June 1— 3, 2001. This would be the second year of such a tournament and staff would recommend approval of this request with the same fee structure as last year. The fees would include $60 for each field used, payment for an additional garbage dumpster (estimated at $175), and payment for additional portable restrooms. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the request by the FYSA Little League Baseball to hold a baseball tournament at the Little League fields on June 1— 3, 2001. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Sibell to adjourn the January 8, 2001 meeting at 7:35 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JAN UARY 8, 2001 MEETING ADJOURNED.