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06/03/2002 - 00024912CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — JUNE 3, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the June 3, 2002 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick, Marcy Sibell, Tim Solberg, Dick Young Jack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Dave Lindquist, Park Maintenance Supervisor APPROVAL OF APRIL 8, 2002 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Solberg to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2002 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR June 3, 2002 MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the agenda for the June 3, 2002 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk called attention to the written program update in the Commission member's packets that contained brief write-ups on some of the activity during the past month including: the renting of the garden plots, the Senior Dances, the Senior Volunteer Recognition, the Senior Golf League, Bird Banding, Summer Staffing, and the Earth Savers Club. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that during the month of May they mowed all the park areas weekly, cleaned buildings, picked up trash, prepared ball fields, swept courts and trails, remodeled the Little League concession building and replaced fencing on some of the ball field areas. Mr. Lindquist further stated that they have hired a new full-time parks maintenance worker who will begin work on June 10t". He has some very good experience and should be a nice addition to our work force. There were over 300 applicants for the position. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - June 3, 2002 Paqe 2 c. Fridley `49er Days Mr. Kirk provided a schedule of the upcoming `49er Days' events and invited the Commission members to participate in the many activities that week. d. Springbrook Donation from Micro Control Co. Mr. Kirk stated that the Nature Center Foundation was given a check for $5000 from Micro Control Company to be used for equipment needed at the Nature Center. This same company gave the Nature Center a$10,000 donation for equipment last year. e. Council / Commission Survey Results and Meeting with the City Council Mr. Kirk stated that he has provided the Commission members with a copy of the results of the Council / Commission survey for 2002. The City Council met with two of the Parks and Recreation Commission members on May 6t" to discuss several of the issues facing the park and recreation system. Mr. Kondrick and Mr. Young represented the Commission in this discussion with the Council. Mr. Young stated that he thought the meeting went very well and was an opportunity for the City Council to hear the opinions of the Commission on these issues. He stated that there was a very good exchange of ideas with the Council. Mr. Kondrick agrees that the meeting with the City Council was a very good one. He felt that the council listened to the concerns and opinions of the Parks and Recreation Commission. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Springbrook Nature Center Foundation Request For Support Of Gateway Entrance Project Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation has presented plans for improvements at the Nature Center and is asking the City of Fridley to support this project. The Foundation would like the City to approve the concept of the Gateway Entrance Project plan and secondly, permit the Foundation to proceed with the detailed planning and commencement of fundraising for Vision Package #1. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Commission has been given a five-point process that outlines how the Foundation would like to work with the City of Fridley on this Springbrook Gateway Project. The points of this process are as follows: A. The Springbrook Nature Center Foundation will provide the leadership required to move each project element to completion. B. Working with the City, the Foundation will provide the capital expenses necessary to accomplish each element. No aspect of any element would be initiated unless the capital funds have been secured Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — June 3, 2002 Paqe 3 C. The Foundation will have a business plan that will reconcile and meet any increased operating costs that are a result of elements in this project. This business plan will be submitted to City Council / staff for approval before work on any element of the project is initiated. D. The Foundation will satisfy requirements made by the City Council regarding future depreciation expenses prior to initiating construction of project elements. E. The Foundation will prepare a phased Development Plan detailing sources of revenue by category in a time frame appropriate to the phased implementation of project elements. Mr. Kondrick stated that the Foundation has met with the City Council, as well as the Parks and Recreation Commission to explain the plans for this project. The Foundation is very confident that this is a good plan and they are confident in securing the needed funding. Mr. Kondrick stated that he thought the City Council would endorse the project if it is phased and the SNC Foundation will raise all of the funding necessary. He further stated that when we look at the Parks Capital Improvement program and the needs throughout our park system, it is clear that we don't have the dollars available to fund a project of this magnitude. The Springbrook Nature Center Foundation seems very dedicated to this project and very earnest in their desire to make this successful. Ms. Sibell asked what the total cost would be for the first phase of the project. Mr. Kirk stated that the estimated cost for Vision Package #1 was $800,000 to $900,000 including the architectural fees. Mr. Solberg asked if it was the understanding of the Commission that the Foundation would have all the dollars in hand for each phase of the project before starting the actual work. Mr. Kondrick stated that this was his understanding. He further stated that he didn't believe that phase 1 would have a big effect on the City's operating costs at Springbrook. There may be some minor costs associated with it, but nothing too significant. Mr. Solberg stated that he would like it clarified that the Foundation would do all of the fundraising for this entire project and provide any additional operating costs associated with the project that is over and above what the City currently funds at Springbrook Nature Center. Mr. Kondrick stated yes, that was what the Foundation planned to do. Mr. Solberg asked who would have ownership of the facilities that were being added to the site? Mr. Kirk stated that this is a City of Fridley park and the City would own all of the facilities. Ms. Sibell asked what would happen if the Foundation starts raising money and only raises half of the dollars needed for the first phase? Is there an expectation that the City will cover the remaining dollars? Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — June 3, 2002 Paqe 4 Mr. Young stated that each phase of the project has several components and in most cases, these components could be done independently. If only a portion of the fundraising goal was realized, then only a portion of the project would be completed. These individual components would still be an improvement at Springbrook, even if the entire project could not be completed. Ms. Sibell stated that she would like to see a review process with regard to the promotional materials and presentations that will be made to potential contributors. She would like to make sure that the City is okay with what is being promoted for this project. Mr. Young stated that he would like to see the Foundation be allowed to proceed with the fundraising for phase 1 of the Gateway Entrance Project. He further stated that he has a problem with some elements of the future plans for the building at this point, but the components in phase 1 would be very good for Springbrook. Mr. Kondrick stated that he agreed with Mr. Young and would like to see the Foundation be allowed to move forward with fundraising for phase 1. We can show the Foundation that we are interested in the project and backing them in their fundraising effort. We do not need to say that we support all 4 phases at this point, but we do support phase 1. Ms. Sibell asked what would happen to this project if for some reason the Foundation were to have a drastic change in current membership or charter mission. Mr. Kondrick stated that the City would have the money in escrow before any part of the project is started. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to support the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation's Gateway Entrance Project with the following recommendations: • The Parks and Recreation Commission endorses the idea of improvements being made to the Springbrook Nature Center. • The Commission is supporting Vision Package #1 of the Gateway Plan as outlined and presented at the April 8, 2002 Commission Meeting. • This support for the project is offered with the understanding that the project will be done without City dollars for capital expenditures or additional operating/maintenance costs. • The Commission requests that the City review and approve presentation and promotional materials for the phased improvements at Springbrook Nature Center. • The Commission recommends that the City of Fridley give approval for the fundraising to commence for Vision Package #1. • The Commission recommends that at the completion of fundraising for phase 1, a detailed presentation of the plan for phase 2 be presented to the City before any fundraising for that phase commences. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — June 3, 2002 Paqe 5 ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to adjourn the June 3, 2002 meeting at 8:50 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JUNE 3, 2002 MEETING ADJOURNED.