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11/07/2005 - 00028813CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — NOVEMBER 7, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the November 7, 2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:10p. m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick, Marcy Sibell and Dolores Varichak Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Lindquist, Parks Supervisor APPROVAL OF October 3, 2005 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Ms. Varichak, to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2005 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2005 Mr. Kondrick stated that he has a couple of items that he would like to add to tonight's agenda. One has to do with a proposed telecommunications tower near the Springbrook Nature Center. It would go up near the intersection of 81St Avenue and Main Street. It will be 125 feet tall and will likely be visible from the nature center. This item could be added as item 2c on the agenda. The second item was a brief report on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit feeding of waterfowl. He would like to see that added under staff report item 1 c. MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the amended agenda for the November 7, 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 the Program Update highlights some of the programs and activities that have taken place in the past month. The Pumpkin Night in the Park event at Springbrook Nature Center drew 3200 people on Saturday, October 22"d. That was the largest crowd we have ever attracted to that event. Over 450 people carved pumpkins that were used to decorate the trail area. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 7, 2005 Paqe 2 A Senior Safety Camp was held on September 28t" at the Fridley Community Center. There were 45 participants in this one-day camp that included topics such as home and travel safety, prescriptions and other health topics. The keynote speaker session was on "talking to your doctor". The Halloween Party at the ZONE was on Friday, October 28t" and there were 70 middle school students that participated. The party included dancing, games and a costume contest. The fall after school activities for the elementary students have been going well and the Recreation Division offered several trips for students during the days that school was not in session for the teacher's convention. The Winter Activities Brochure is being mailed out to Fridley residents this week and registration for activities begins November 18. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that the park workers have been very busy in the past month making repairs and cleaning up after the storm. There was a lot of tree damage in the park system and the complete clean up process will last into the winter months. They have also been busy mowing all of the parks and athletic fields, painting the lines on the football and soccer fields, and keeping the park buildings clean. They have now winterized all of the irrigation systems at all the parks, city hall, fire stations, and the water department properties. They also helped with setting up for the Halloween event at Springbrook Nature Center. c. Feeding WaterFowl Mr. Kondrick stated that a motion recently came before the Planning Commission to prohibit the feeding of waterfowl in the community. He stated that he explained to the Planning Commission that the members of the Parks and Recreation have supported this type of action for a number of years. The City pays each year to have the geese removed from Moore Lake Beach and Park in an attempt to have a safe swimming beach and picnic area for our community. We are paying to have the geese taken away and people continue to feed the waterfowl, which encourages geese to stay in the park area. Mr. Kondrick further stated that the droppings from the waterfowl is a big problem in the park, on the beach and around the picnic facilities. The fecal coliform levels in Moore Lake have been very high on several occasions in the recent years, which has led to a closing of the swimming beach until acceptable levels were reached. We are not certain why these bacteria levels have been so high, but it is likely that the waterfowl droppings have contributed to this problem. Mr. Kondrick further stated that people feeding bread to the geese and ducks is not helping the waterfowl, but can actually cause them problems. The waterfowl becomes accustomed to being fed and stay in the area even when the lake freezes over and the temperatures become very cold. When people are no longer there to feed them and their natural food supply is unavailable because of the weather conditions, the bird's health is in jeopardy. The birds are healthier with their own natural diet. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 7, 2005 Paqe 3 Mr. Kondrick further stated that other communities have ordinances that prohibit feeding of ducks and geese. He is in favor of a similar ordinance here in Fridley. He wants the Parks and Recreation Commission members to be aware of this and he wanted to refresh everyone's memory of past Commission members support for this type of ordinance. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Proposed 2006 Meeting Dates Mr. Kirk stated that staff has put together a proposed schedule of Parks and Recreation Commission meetings for 2006. The Commission has indicated that Monday evenings at 7:00 pm is an acceptable day and time for members and this schedule is set up with that in mind. The Commission normally does not meet in July, unless there are some pressing agenda items. The July meeting is listed as (tentative) on the schedule. Chairperson Kondrick has indicated that he will not be able to be at the March meeting and with the Commission still one member short, that meeting is listed as tentative as well. The proposed meeting schedule is as follows: January 9 February 6 March 6 (tentative) April 10 May 1 June 5 July 10 (tentative) August 7 September 11 October 2 November 6 December 4 MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the 2006 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting schedule as proposed by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED b. Tree Replacement in Park System Mr. Kirk stated that the agenda packet for tonight's meeting included some information from Dave Lindquist, Parks Supervisor, about the trees lost in the park system due to the September 21 St storm. There were over 65 trees lost in the neighborhood and community parks, with an additional several hundred trees lost in the Springbrook Nature Center. At the last Commission meeting in October, we talked about the tree damage in the park system and the Commission members suggested getting some community involvement in replanting trees in the parks. The Department's winter brochure has an article that describes the tree damage in the parks and asks for volunteers to be part of a committee helping to coordinate the tree replacement project. The brochure should be mailed out in the next week. Mr. Kirk further stated that State Representative Connie Bernardy sent a letter to the City telling us about a special allotment of funds to help with replacing trees lost in the storm. The funds will be coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Kirk stated that he has contacted Mr. Don Mueller at the DNR to get more information and has asked to be notified when applications for funding are being accepted. Mr. Mueller stated that he will get more information to Mr. Kirk toward the end of November. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — November 7, 2005 Paqe 4 Mr. Kirk stated that he has been told that the DNR grants may be up to $15,000 in value and will require a 50% local match. Mr. Mueller stated that the DNR will be working with the National Weather Service to determine which communities were hit hardest by the storm and therefore should be first in line to receive this funding. Mr. Kirk stated that Fridley was hit hard by the storm and should stand a good chance of getting some dollars for replanting. Mr. Kondrick asked if the DNR representative had given any indication as to when dollars may be available to the communities for replanting of trees. Mr. Kirk responded that he did not get that information, but expects that the money will be available within the next year. Mr. Kirk stated that he would like to see some community involvement in the replanting of trees in the park system and would suggest that an appropriate day for planting next spring would be Arbor Day on April 28, 2006. That is the last Friday in April and might be a good time for us to get residents and community groups out to help with planting trees. Mr. Kondrick suggested that we bring this topic back at our next meeting for discussion. We should have some information from the DNR regarding the funds that may be available to help with a tree replanting program. c. Telecommunications Tower on Main Street Mr. Kondrick stated that the City has been notified that Sprint is interested in putting up a 125 foot tall telecommunications tower just to the south of the Springbrook Nature Center. It is likely that the tower will be visible from a number of locations within the park. City staff has asked for a crane test or a balloon test, so as to determine the visual impact of the tower from within the nature center property. That test will be happening this Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Kondrick stated that his first reaction was that he is not crazy about having a tall tower right next to the nature center. He further stated that we needed to see what the visual impact is going to be. This item will be going to the Planning Commission for approval on November 16t" ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Varichak, seconded by Ms.Sibell, to adjourn the November 7, 2005 meeting at 8:30 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE NOVEMBER 7, 2005 MEETING ADJOURNED.