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08/01/2005 - 00028787CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — AUGUST 1, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the August 1, 2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick, Tim Solberg, Dolores Varichak Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Lindquist, Park Maintenance Supervisor APPROVAL OF JUNE 27, 2005 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2005 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR AUGUST 1, 2005 Mr. Kirk asked if he could add an agenda item for tonight's meeting. He has received a request from Fridley Covenant Church to use Sylvan Hills Park for a Sunday church service in September. Mr. Kondrick stated that the request by Fridley Covenant Church will be item 2b under New Business. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Varichak, to approve the agenda for the August 1, 2005 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 it has been a pretty good summer with all of the programs, but there have certainly been some challenges presented by the extremely hot weather. The summer staff has done a very good job. Mr. Kirk stated that a written program update was enclosed with the agenda packet and reports on a number of programs that have taken place during the past couple of months. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — Auqust 1, 2005 Paqe 2 Mr. Kirk stated that Moore Lake beach opened for swimming a little later that usual this year due to a high bacteria count in the water right before the scheduled opening. There have been several other beaches in the metro area that have closed for a period of time this summer due to high bacteria. Mr. Kirk further stated that we are conducting water tests throughout the summer to monitor the water quality. The latest test results on the lake water at Moore Lake were very good. The scheduled closing date for the swimming season at Moore Lake is August 14t" Mr. Kirk further stated that the second session of many summer programs is now underway and we will be registering participants for fall programs later this month. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that the Park Maintenance workers have been busy mowing the parks at least once per week and regularly cleaning the heavily used park buildings at Commons, Community and Moore Lake parks. The Madsen Park tennis and basketball courts were removed and completely rebuilt. The color coating surface should be put on later in August. Mr. Lindquist further stated that they have also made several repairs to the irrigation systems at many of the parks. They have completed a landscaping renovation at Briardale Park, removed the old basketball court and moved the play equipment at Oak Hill Park, and removed the old tennis court at Springbrook Park. Mr. Lindquist further stated that he has provided a complete written report of park maintenance activities for the agenda packet. Mr. Solberg asked if the major project of raising the level of the ballfields at Community Park was going to start yet this summer. Mr. Lindquist stated that due to some unforeseen circumstances, the project will not begin this year. It is expected that the first field reconstruction will take place next summer. c. Springbrook Nature Center SPRING Project Mr. Kondrick stated that he has been part of a committee that has meeting regularly this summer to organize the renovation project for the nature center in an attempt to gain funding from the Minnesota State Legislature in the State Bonding Bill in 2006. The committee is made up of himself (representing the Parks and Recreation Commission), two members of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation (Donna Bahls and Malcolm Mitchell), Siah St. Clair and Jack Kirk. It has been an interesting process and the committee is looking very closely at the building and park renovation plans. There is a deadline of September 30t" for a more detailed grant application being submitted to the State. Mr. Kondrick further stated that the final application requires more information on what you are going to do with the project and how much everything will cost. At the same time, the City is going to want to know if there is a decent financial plan for this project. If we are creating a larger facility, what are the new costs going to be to operate this facility and where will the revenue come from to cover those new costs. The City is not in a position to take on more costs, so a plan is needed to show how the additional operating costs are going to be paid for. The financial information and revised plans for the building and entrance area is what the committee has been working on. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — Auqust 1, 2005 Paqe 3 Mr. Kondrick further stated that all plans for the park will be going through the Parks and Recreation Commission. This is a City park and all additions or changes need to be supported and approved by the City, starting with the Parks and Recreation Commission and finally approved by the City Council. Mr. Kirk stated that having a committee with representation from the Commission, the Foundation and staff working together has been a good route to take. He further stated that a more complete report on the status of this project will be given to the Parks and Recreation Commission at the September 12, 2005 meeting. d. Jay Park Rain Garden Mr. Kirk stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission had a special meeting on June 27t" to hear about a proposal to construct a rain garden in part of Jay Park. There were three Commission members present at the meeting to discuss this concept with the City of Fridley Public Works Director Jon Haukaas. The rain garden would be constructed to meet some of the storm water infiltration needs associated with a street reconstruction project in the Jay Park neighborhood. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Commission members expressed concern about taking away park land from a very small neighborhood park. A good portion of the only open play area in the park would be used for the rain garden. After much discussion, the Parks and Recreation Commission passed a motion that said they could not support taking away open green space in the park to create a rain garden. This item did go to the City Council for action on July 11. The City Council felt that the neighborhood was supportive of this project and voted to move ahead and create the rain garden in part of Jay Park. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Winter Athletic League Fees Mr. Kirk stated that staff is recommending increases for the winter athletic league fees as outlined in the memo from Mark Daly, Program Supervisor. Increased officiating and building supervision costs require us to raise the fees to make sure these costs are covered. The Men's Basketball league fees would go from $430 to $470. The Co-Rec Broomball would go from $220 to $240. The Boot Hockey league would go from $240 to $265. The Co-Rec Volleyball league would go from $95 to $100. Mr. Kondrick asked if our fees were competitive or similar to surrounding communities for the athletic leagues. Mr. Kirk stated yes the fees were similar, in fact, the City of Fridley co-sponsors several of the athletic leagues with the City of Blaine, so the fees are exactly the same. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Varichak to approve the winter athletic league fees as proposed by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — Auqust 1, 2005 Paqe 4 b. Request by Fridley Covenant Church to use Sylvan Hills Park for a Church Service Mr. Kirk stated that staff has received a request from Fridley Covenant Church to use the Sylvan Hills Park for a Sunday church service on September 11, 2005. Mr. Kirk further stated that staff would recommend approval of this request with the understanding the church does not have exclusive use of the park. They can have a service; however, there may be a softball game going on at the same time or children may be playing on the play equipment. Other park users may not necessarily be quiet during their service and they need to understand that. If the church is okay with that and can use the park with that understanding, then staff sees no problem with granting their request. Mr. Kirk stated that the church would need to provide for any restroom facilities that would be needed and it would be expected that they would clean up completely after the service. They expressed an interest in putting up a tent for the service and he would require that they meet with Mr. Lindquist to determine the best location for the tent. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Mr. Solberg to approve the request by Fridley Covenant Church to use Sylvan Hills Park for a church service on Sunday, September 11, 2005 subject to stipulations outlined by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Varichak, to adjourn the August 1, 2005 meeting at 8:19 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE AUGUST 1, 2005 MEETING ADJOURNED.