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04/07/2003 - 00028646CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — APRIL 7, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the April 7, 2003 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:06 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 FEBRUARY 3, 2003 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2003 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR APRIL 7, 2003 MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. Young, to approve the agenda for the April 7, 2003 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 Program Update was a report of the activities sponsored by the Recreation and Natural Resource Department in the past month. Activities during the past month included the start of summer ROCKS registration, Adult softball registration, winter school break activities, and Valentines Day specials. We also conducted a number of our on- going programs like the environmental education curriculum with the schools, the ZONE and RAP after-school activities and the senior trips. The annual Senior Mardi Gras was a big success again this year with over 125 seniors attending. It is a really fun event for the seniors as they get the opportunity to participate in Blackjack, Craps, Horseracing, Roulette, and other games with play money. Fridley area businesses and the Fridley Senior Management Board donate the door prizes for the event. Mr. Kirk also stated that the Recreation Department recently received a$1,000 donation from the Spring Lake Park Youth Hockey Program. It will be used to support special events for children. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 7, 2003 Paqe 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that Park Maintenance workers have been taking care of a variety of tasks during the months of February and March. In addition to ice rink maintenance through the middle of February, the workers have been getting the spring/summer equipment ready, pruning trees, getting some spring clean up work in the parks completed and plowing snow as needed. The next step for the maintenance workers is to get the spring athletic fields ready for use. Mr. Lindquist further stated that the park system has experienced some vandalism recently at the Commons Park and Flanery Park activity buildings. Someone has spray painted words and symbols on the block exteriors of each of these buildings. c. Council / Commission Surveys and Meeting with City Council Mr. Kirk stated that the City Council would like to meet with the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to the May 5th Commission meeting to discuss the results of the recent City Council — Commission surveys. There were a number of questions on the survey that dealt with the parks and recreation services in our city and this will be an opportunity to discuss those issues with the Council. The agenda for the meeting will likely include five questions that deal with the following: Cross Country Skiing at Springbrook Nature Center; West Moore Lake Sand Dunes Parks; Elder Ready Community; Fee Waiver/Fee Adjustment Program; and Overall Priorities for Parks Capital Improvements. The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. and a light supper will be served. Any business items for the Parks and Recreation Commission will be handled immediately after the meeting with the Council. d. Commission Member Reappointments Mr. Kirk stated that the City Council has reappointed Dave Kondrick and Marcy Sibell to new three-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mr. Kondrick is starting his 25tn year and Ms. Sibell her 9t" year as members of this Commission. Staff and the Commission members congratulated Mr. Kondrick and Ms. Sibell on their reappointments. e. Moore Lake Beach — Lifeguards Mr. Kirk stated that the City will not be hiring lifeguards at Moore Lake Beach this summer. With the expected reduction in Local Government Aid to cities from the State of Minnesota, a number of expenditures for programs and services will need to be looked at. The beach will be open for the normal season of approximately June 15t" to August 15t", with open hours of 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week during this period. The City will have a building attendant on site to open the restrooms and help keep the facility clean during open hours. The City plans to have signs located at the beach notifying the public that lifeguards are not on duty and swimmers enter the water at their own risk. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 7, 2003 Paqe 3 f. Recreation and Natural Resource Department Budget Status Mr. Kirk stated that staff is working on the 2004 budget for the Recreation and Natural Resource Department. With the proposed cuts in Local Government Aid, the budget process for next year is consisting of making a number of significant cuts. It appears that the City will need to absorb a loss of over $700,000 in LGA for this year and nearly $1.7 million for 2004. This represents 13% of the City's general fund budget for next year. Mr. Kirk further stated that as the budget planning process proceeded, the City would be prioritizing services based on community need and demand for those services. It is likely that the level of certain services will be reduced and some activities and/ or services eliminated altogether. Mr. Kirk stated that he will keep the Commission members informed on future developments with the budget as it pertains to the parks and recreation services. g. Paul Lawrence Retirement Lunch Mr. Kirk stated that Paul Lawrence, Superintendent of Public Works, is retiring and the City will recognize Paul at a retirement lunch on Friday, May 2nd. The Parks and Recreation Commission members are invited to attend and those interested should call Bob Nordahl to RSVP. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Officers Mr. Kondrick stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission elects a Chairperson and Vice- Chairperson at the April meeting each year. The Chairperson presides over all Commission meetings and serves on the City's Planning Commission. The Vice-Chairperson serves as Chairperson when the Chairperson is absent. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to elect Dave Kondrick as Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to elect Dick Young as Vice-Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Softball Tournament Request — Fridley Fast Pitch Mr. Kirk stated that they have received a request from the local girl's fastpitch softball league to run a state qualifier tournament at the Fridley Community Park on July 4— 6 this summer. The City would need to provide maintenance support for the tournament with a part-time employee being assigned to cover the weekend. Rental fees cover the costs of the employee. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 7, 2003 Paqe 4 Mr. Kirk further stated that staff recommends approval of the tournament request with all of the standard fees applied to this rental. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the Softball tournament request by the Fridley Fastpitch organization for use of Fridley Community Park on July 4— 6, 2003. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Parks 5— Year Capital Improvement Program Mr. Kirk stated that the meeting agenda packet included a new staff—recommended 5—Year Parks Capital Improvement program. The changes reflect the budget concerns over the loss of LGA to cities in Minnesota. In an attempt to help cover the expected losses of aid, the 2003 and 2004 CIP projects are being put on hold. Mr. Kirk further stated that the expenditures being recommended for years 2005 to 2008 have been rearranged and adjusted to stay in line with expected revenues for each of those years. A significant amount of the Parks CIP is geared toward resurfacing and/or replacing of the tennis and basketball court surfaces. Many of the courts are in poor condition and need replacing or constant repair to maintain a good, playable surface. Mr. Kondrick asked what the City is doing to explain the budget situation and shortfalls to the public. How do we get the word out that the City cannot meet its goals for the Parks and Recreation system due to the budget constraints? Mr. Kirk stated that there has been some information in the City newsletter and there will be additional information in the upcoming Recreation activities brochure. We have stated in the brochure that the City is taking steps to reduce spending in 2003 and beyond. We further stated that the City would not be resurfacing courts or making additional capital improvements for the next two years. We stated that the City will continue to offer most of our quality programs and provide recreation facilities for residents to enjoy. Mr. Kirk stated that projects in the new staff recommended plan are as follows: 2004 No projects 2005 Court Resurfacing and overlays; Carpet replacement at Springbrook; and repairs to the Community Park building roof and restrooms 2006 The south parking lot replacement at Commons Park; an outdoor basketball court area at the Community Center; court surfacing and overlays; and some park furnishing replacements 2007 Innsbruck trail upgrades; portable bleachers; hockey rink replacement at Commons Park; park furnishing replacements; and court surfacing and overlays. 2008 Commons Park warming house replacement; and court surfacing and overlays Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 7, 2003 Paqe 5 MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Solberg to regretfully approve the new 5— Year Parks Capital Improvement Program as recommended by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. d. Fall Athletic League Fees Mr. Kirk stated that staff is recommending the following fees for the fall athletic program: 1. Fall Softball ................................................. $315 2. Fall Softball (Co-Rec) ................................... $340 3. 4-Person Footbal I ........................................... $55 4. 4-Person Football (officiated Lg) .................. $160 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the fall athletic program fees as recommended by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED e. Showmobile Rental Request — City of Spring Lake Park Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the City of Spring Lake Park to rent the showmobile on Sunday, June 8, 2003. The rental of the showmobile has already been committed to the Mound Fire Department on this weekend, but they are done with the unit by the time Spring Lake Park would like to use it. It is scheduled to be picked up in Mound at 9:00 a.m. on June 8t" and could deliver it to Spring Lake Park for their use. Staff would recommend approval of this request. Mr. Kondrick asked if the City of Spring Lake Park would be paying the standard rental fees for the showmobile. Mr. Kirk stated that yes they would pay the rental. MOTION by Mr. Young, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the Showmobile rental to the City of Spring Lake Park for an event on Sunday, June 8, 2003. 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 April 7, 2003 meeting at 9:01 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE APRIL 7, 2003 MEETING ADJOURNED.