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04/04/2005 - 00028763CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — APRIL 4, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the April 4, 2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present: Dave Kondrick Edward McDonald Marcy Sibell Dolores Varichak Jack Kirk, Director of Recreation & Natural Resources Malcolm Mitchell, Springbrook Nature Center Foundation APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 7, 2005 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2005 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR APRIL 4, 2005 Mr. Kirk asked if he could add three items to this evening's agenda. The first item is a request by Cummins Power Generation Company for use of the Community Park ballfields for a one day softball tournament in August. The second item is to address the proposed name change for the department. The third item would be under old business and is consideration of a resolution supporting the Springbrook Nature Center project that was discussed at the February meeting. At last month's meeting, Senator Chaudary suggested a resolution of support for the Springbrook project to accompany the supporting material for the Gateway Project being part of the state bonding for 2006. Mr. Kondrick stated that the tournament request would be under New Business item number 2e. The Department name change item would be New Business item 2f. The Springbrook resolution would be under Unfinished Business item 3a. MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve the agenda for the April 4, 2005 meeting as presented by staff and with the additions suggested by Mr. Kirk. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 2 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that this Program Update was a report of the activities of the Recreation and Natural Resource Department in the past two months. The Fridley Senior Program held the annual Mardi Gras Casino Party on February 8t" with over 100 seniors participating. Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Dave Kondrick was one of the guest dealers at the blackjack table. Mr. Kondrick stated that he really enjoyed the day and that the seniors appeared to have a great time at this event. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Volunteer Recognition event was held on Saturday, February 19t" with 95 people in attendance. This is an annual event to thank the many volunteers who put in so many hours to assist with the programs at the nature center. Mr. Kirk further stated that there are other events and activities listed in the program update that was included in the agenda packet. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that Dave Lindquist, Parks Supervisor is unable to be at the meeting, but has provided a report of the park maintenance activities for February and March. Park Maintenance workers have been taking care of a variety of tasks during the past two months. They have been getting the winter equipment cleaned up and put away, and preparing the summer equipment for the upcoming work. The workers have been very busy lately as they prepare the athletic fields for the heavy scheduling of the spring and summer sports programs. c. Commission Member Reappointment — Dolores Varichak Mr. Kirk stated that the City Council has reappointed Dolores Varichak to a new three-year term on the Parks and Recreation Commission. Staff and the Commission members congratulated Ms. Varichak on her reappointment. d. Columbia Arena Update Mr. Kirk stated that he has included an article on Columbia Arena that appeared recently in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. There are some very expensive capital improvements facing Columbia Arena and the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission does not have the money to do the needed work. They have met with the local user groups, including the Tri-City Hockey Association, to discuss the issues and possible closing of the ice arena. The Sports Commission is willing to make the necessary repairs if they can realize the needed revenue from the users or the local community area. As an alternative, the Sports Commission would consider closing Columbia, selling the property and using the proceeds to build two new ice rinks at the Super Rink in Blaine. If that were to happen, all of the local users would be able to get ice time at the new rinks. Mr. Kirk stated that he thought it was important that the Parks and Recreation Commission members are aware of the ice arena status. There will be more information available in the future and he will keep the Commission members informed. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 3 e. Council Commission Survey Mr. Kirk stated that the City Manager's Office has sent out the Council-Commission surveys for 2005. If Commission members have not completed and returned their surveys yet, he asked them to do so as soon as possible. The results of the survey provide the City with valuable input on projects and issues facing our community. Mr. Kirk further stated that it is very helpful to see how the Parks and Recreation Commission members feel about the various city issues and the specific questions related to our parks and recreation system. Mr. Kondrick stated that the City Council really regards highly the opinions of the Parks and Recreation Commission members on these important issues. They value our input and if you haven't completed the survey, please do so as soon as possible. 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. Ms. Sibell stated that she feels Mr. Kondrick has led this Commission down the right path and his leadership has made the Commission strong and healthy. She would like to see Mr. Kondrick continue as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission. MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. McDonald, 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. Mr. Kondrick stated that he would like to see Mr. Solberg continue in the role of Vice-Chairman of the Commission. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Varichak, to elect Tim Solberg as Vice- Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Parks 5-Year Capital Improvement Program Mr. Kondrick stated that the Parks 5-Year Capital Improvement Program is a very important topic for this Commission to discuss and forward a recommendation on. We need to take a good look at the needs of our park system and balance our recommended improvements within the monies that are available. We have limited money available, but we want to keep things operating and make our park facilities as nice as we possibly can. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 4 Mr. Kirk stated that he has presented the Commission members with the staff-recommended 5-Year Parks Capital Improvement plan (CIP). The Parks CIP has been on hold the past couple of years due to the budget situation and the reduction in Local Government Aid from the State of Minnesota. There is some money in the 2005 budget for several park projects this year and the five-year plan will address projects and work from 2006 through 2010. Mr. Kirk stated that he would like to go over the items for each year in the plan and also cover projects listed in the "other" category, but not scheduled for a specific year. The Parks and Recreation Commission can make changes, additions or subtractions to the plan that the Commission would like to recommend to the City Council for approval. Mr. Kirk stated that projects in the staff recommended plan are as follows: �►�iI�Z� 2007 ��: �►�iI��7 • Tennis/ Basketball Court Surfacing • Park Furnishings — Replacements • Commons south Parking lot replace. • Fencing replacements • Locke Park Picnic shelter (partial cost) • Community Park ballfields (phase two) • Tennis/ Basketball Court Surfacing • Commons Park Hockey Rink replace • Park Furnishings — Replacements • Innsbruck Trail Upgrades • Parking Lot Expansion at FCC • Community Park Ballfields (phase 3) • Community Park Scoreboard replace • Farr Lake Trail • Park Furnishings — Replacements • Commons Park Sand VB Courts • Tennis/ Basketball Court Surfacing • Moore Lake Picnic Shelter replace. • Park Furnishings • FCC Carpet / Flooring replace. • Portable Bleachers • Tennis/ Basketball Court Surfacing $51, 000 3, 000 68, 000 15, 000 10, 000 75, 000 $222, 000 $56, 000 15, 000 6, 000 27, 000 30, 000 75, 000 $209, 000 $30, 000 50, 000 3, 000 20, 000 29, 000 $132,000 $35, 000 3, 000 20, 000 30, 000 30, 000 $118, 000 Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 5 2010 • Commons Pk Warming House replace $120,000 • Park Furnishings 3,000 • Tennis/ Basketball Court Surfacing 30,000 $153, 000 Mr. Kirk further stated that the projects listed in the other years category includes the following: • Fridley Community Center Gym $2,500,000 • Dredging Farr Lake 180,000 • Citizens Memorial Area 40,000 • Dredging Ponds at Innsbruck Park 250,000 • In-Line Skating Facility 55,000 • Moore Lake Property Acquisitions 727,000 • Creek View Park Picnic Shelter 25,000 • Skateboard Park 75,000 • Madsen Park Picnic Shelter 30,000 • Replace Old Picnic Shelters 90,000 • Sand Dunes Boardwalk and Fence 50,000 • SNC Trail Bridge Replacements 30,000 $4, 052, 000 Mr. Kondrick stated that although we have reduced the number of tennis and basketball courts throughout the city, the plan still calls for significant dollars to be spent on court resurfacing. We have to keep our eyes open to the use and needs for the court surfaces. We may need to think about further reductions in the future and eliminate more courts from our park system. Mr. Kondrick stated that he would like the Commission to consider switching the Picnic Shelter replacement at Moore Lake (scheduled in 2009) with the Farr Lake Trail Upgrade (scheduled for 2008). It just seems that we get so much use of the Moore Lake Picnic areas that our dollars spent will touch a lot more people. The Farr Lake project is estimated at $50,000 and the replacement picnic shelter at $35,000, so we are not talking a big difference by switching the projects. Mr. McDonald stated that he is by Moore Lake Park quite often and would agree that the park gets a lot of use. He would favor making that change as well. Mr. Kondrick stated that Moore Lake Park is a very visible part of our park system because so many people use the facilities there and many people travel by the park on Highway 65 and Central Avenue. He believes we should make an effort to keep this visible park looking good, to represent our park system in a positive light. Mr. Kondrick stated that the Sand Dunes trail and fence replacement is listed in the other projects at an estimated cost of $50,000. He asked if the City has been getting requests to replace the trail system in that park. He stated that he had not had any calls about this park in the last couple of years. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 6 Mr. Kirk responded that he had not had any calls about a trail at this park for some time now. Mr. Kondrick stated that he wanted to make an observation about the overall Parks 5-year plan. The CIP funds balance going in to 2005 is approximately $1.94 million and the balance at the end of 2010 is about $1.87 million. Assuming that all of the projects listed in the plan get completed as planned, the balance in the parks fund will be almost the same after the five year period. He further stated that we are projecting carefully, we are spending carefully and we are acting responsibly with this plan. Ms. Sibell stated that she feels this is a conservative budget given the many projects and needs of the park system. She would like to see the projects listed in this proposed CIP get completed within the suggested time frame. Mr. Kondrick stated that it is possible that the City Council could change the recommended plan, but this Commission should put forward a plan that we think is right, what is best for the citizens of Fridley and for our park system. He further stated that other than the one change he suggested, he supports the plan submitted by the staff. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald to approve the staff recommended Parks 5-year Capital Improvement Program with a switch of the Farr Lake Trail project moving from 2008 to 2009 and the Moore Lake Picnic Shelter Replacement moving from 2009 to 2008. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Madsen Park Reservation Request — Grace Evangelical Free Church Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from Grace Evangelical Free Church to reserve the use of Madsen Park for two events this summer. The first event will be on Saturday June 4t" and will be a kick-off event for their vacation bible school. It will involve events for children from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second event will be on Father's Day June 19t". They would like to set up a tent and hold a church service in the park. This event would run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. They have said that both events will be open to the public. They would like to have use of the park at no cost, but would pay for additional costs such as rental of a portable toilet unit. Mr. Kirk further stated that Grace Evangelical Church has had similar events at Madsen Park in the past. They were called the "Party in the Park" and the neighborhood around the park was invited to the event. Those events were well run and we did not have any problems with the activities. Mr. Kirk further stated that it would be his recommendation that the Madsen Park reservation requests be approved with the understanding that Grace Evangelical Free Church does not have exclusive use of the entire park area and all the park facilities. Other park users are welcome to use the park and should be allowed to do so. Grace Evangelical Church would be expected to pay for any additional costs incurred with these events, including portable toilet costs and garbage dumpsters if needed. They have asked to put up a large tent for the Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 7 Father's day event, so it will be required that they meet with Dave Lindquist prior to set up and determine the exact location. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald to approve the requests of Grace Evangelical Free Church to use Madsen Park for events on June 4 and June 19, 2005. The requests are approved subject to the conditions outlined by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. d. Fall Athletic Fees Mr. Kirk stated that staff is recommending the approval of athletic fees for the fall 2005 adult sports. The fees are established at a level that covers all of our costs to operate the various activities. The Womens and Co-Rec volleyball are new leagues for this year that will be run in conjunction with the City of Spring Lake Park. The recommended fees are as follows: • 4-Person Football $55 • 3 on 3 Basketball $60 • Womens Volleyball $250 • Co-Rec Volleyball $250 MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Ms. Varichak to approve the staff recommended fall athletic fees. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. e. Softball Tournament Request — Cummins Power Generation Mr. Kirk stated that Cummins Power Generation has requested the use of Fridley Community Park for a one-day softball tournament in August. They would like to use the facility on August 13 or 20t". It would be the staff recommendation to approve this request with all appropriate fees being charged for this use. The dates requested are available for use, but Mr. Kirk's only concern is the possibility of work being done on the ballfields at Community Park in conjunction with the street reconstruction project. The work on the ballfields at Community Park would be to improve the drainage problems. If that was the case, we would not have 6 ballfields available for their use. One possibility would be to approve the tournament and provide two fields at Commons Park for their use if all six fields were not available at Community Park. Mr. Kondrick stated that as long as they were aware of this possibility and were acceptable with the alternate arrangement, he would be in favor of approval. Mr. Kirk stated that staff would let them know the possibility of some fields not being available during their tournament request time. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. McDonald, to approve the softball tournament request by Cummins Power Generation for use of Community Park for one day in August Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 8 (either the 13t" or 20t") at the regular tournament rate of $700 per day. This approval is with the understanding that work may be underway at Community Park which will make up to two of the fields unusable. The City would provide alternate fields for this tournament at Commons Park. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. f. Department Name Change Mr. Kirk stated that he has recommended a change in the name of his department and one of the divisions within the department. The official department name right now is Department of Recreation and Natural Resources. The Department has two divisions, the Recreation Division and the Naturalist Division. Mr. Kirk stated that he is recommending the Department name become "Department of Parks and Recreation" and the Naturalist Division become "Springbrook Nature Center Division". Mr. Kirk stated that he had talked with all Commission members in January about the proposed name changes and all members were supportive at that time. If the Parks and Recreation Commission members are supportive of this change, it would be helpful to have a motion to that effect in the official minutes. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to support the name change of the Department to "Parks and Recreation" and the Naturalist Division name change to "Springbrook Nature Center Division". UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Resolution Supporting the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Project Mr. Kondrick stated that at the February Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, the Commission passed a motion in support of State Senator Satveer Chaudary moving forward with a proposal to have funding for the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Entrance Project included in the 2006 State of Minnesota Bonding Bill. Staff was to draft a resolution of support for the Gateway Project that the Commission could consider at this meeting. The resolution could then be sent to Senator Chaudary to be included as supporting documentation in the proposal packet for the bonding bill. Senator Chaudary thought that a resolution of support by the Parks and Recreation Commission would be helpful with this effort. Mr. Kirk stated that he has a draft resolution at tonight's meeting in support of the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Entrance project. The proposed resolution reads as follows: RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO SPRINGBROOK NATURE CENTER AND THE GATEWAY PROJECT Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — April 4, 2005 Paqe 9 WHEREAS, the Springbrook Nature Center is a 127 acre City of Fridley park that provides year round opportunities to experience and learn about nature; and WHEREAS, the Springbrook Nature Center is an environmental education center that serves school groups, community organizations and families; and WHEREAS, the Springbrook Nature Center serves Fridley residents with enjoyable and educational programs, hands-on exhibits and nature center facilities; and WHEREAS, the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Project includes facility improvements that will provide spaces for education, health and wellness, community gatherings, celebrations, and business retreats; and WHEREAS, the Gateway Project has been developed with the input of citizen groups, environmentalists, city officials and architects to preserve the Springbrook experience for future generations; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Fridley supports the improvements included in the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Project and recognize the positive impact this project will have upon the citizens of this community. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FRIDLEY THIS FOURTH DAY OF APRIL, 2005. Mr. Kirk stated that the Commission could change any wording on this proposed resolution or make any additions that seem appropriate. Ms. Varichak stated that she thought the resolution looked good and she would go with it as written by staff. Mr. Kondrick stated that the resolution as written is accurate and reflects the feelings of the Parks and Recreation Commission toward the Gateway project. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Ms. Sibell to approve the resolution drafted by staff in support of the Springbrook Nature Center Gateway Project. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Ms. Varichak to adjourn the April 4, 2005 meeting at 9:08 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE APRIL 4, 2005 MEETING ADJOURNED.