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09/11/2006 - 00028864CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING —SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the September 11, 2006 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:05 p. m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick, Mike Heintz, Tim Solberg Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Peter Borman, President of Fridley `49er Days APPROVAL OF AUGUST 7, 2006 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Heintz seconded by Mr. Solberg, to approve the minutes of the August 7, 2006 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the agenda for the September 11, 2006 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 summer activities have come to an end and we have started many of the fall programs. The summer programs went well and had good participation. Mr. Kirk also stated that a program update was included in the agenda packet for the information of the Commission members. The Update identifies some of the activities completed since the last Commission meeting. Mr. Kirk stated that some of the activities over the past month included the Nickel Jamboree at Commons Park, the Senior Golf League, Springbrook day nature camps, school groups at Springbrook Nature Center, the ROCKS, Summer Playgrounds and the Chill programs, and the August Recreation Club for kids. Moore Lake Beach closed for the season in mid-August. The Fridley Lions Club hosted a Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Men's Class D Regional softball tournament at Fridley Community Park on August 4-6. Thirty-six teams competed in the tournament and the top eight teams advanced to the state tournament. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 11, 2006 Paqe 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that Mr. Lindquist, Parks Supervisor, is not able to be at the meeting this evening, but has provided a written report of park maintenance activity during the past month. In addition to keeping busy mowing all of the park areas, the maintenance workers have been busy preparing softball and soccer fields for games, restoring turf around some of the tennis court projects, preparing the football fields for the fall season and working on the softball field renovations at Community Park fields 5 and 6. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Fridley `49er Days Request to Use Commons Park Mr. Kirk stated that Fridley `49er Days celebration is looking for a new home, since the Columbia Arena location would not be available after this year. Fridley 49er Days Committee members have looked at a number of possible locations in the community and believe that the centrally located Commons Park — Fridley Community Center area would be best suited to accommodate the various events. Pete Borman, President of Fridley `49er Days, has contacted the Fridley School District to explore the possibility of having the carnival and some related events at the Fridley Community Center site. The Committee would like to have some of the other events such as the street dance and food festival across the street at Commons Park. Mr. Borman is at tonight's meeting and would like to discuss the possibility of using the park with the Commission members. Mr. Borman stated that he has made a proposal to the Fridley School Board to hold the carnival at the Community Center. The carnival would actually be in the parking lot and grass area just to the east and south of the FCC. He would also like to see more use of the Community Center itself for some 49er Days activities. The FCC was used for the craft show this past year, but he would like to see more activities in the future. Mr. Borman further stated that 49er Days would be interested in using a part of the south parking lot at Commons Park and the immediate open/grassy area adjacent to the lot. A fence would be put up and this would be the area used for the showmobile and the street dances. The food vendors would be inside the fenced-in area, as well as the beer garden. They would possibly use the area inside the fence of softball field #2. He would like to see the Police versus Fire Department softball game come back as a 49er Days activity. They would like to see some new activities added to the 49er Days activities such as a Twins baseball clinic. He would like to see a youth baseball tournament during that time period. Mr. Heintz stated that he runs a wood bat American Legion baseball tournament each summer. He has teams from Alexandria, Rochester and even Wisconsin communities that participate. He would not want it to conflict with the Minnesota High School state baseball tournament, but it is possible he could have this tournament during 49er Days. Mr. Borman thought that was a great idea. Mr. Borman further stated that the idea was to have the showmobile and the street dance in the parking lot, maybe facing the showmobile to the north so as to direct the music away from neighboring homes. Mr. Kondrick asked if the parking lot could be enlarged to accommodate some of the dancing and other activities. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 11, 2006 Paqe 3 Mr. Kirk stated that the parking lot is scheduled for some work this year. He would look at what could be done along those lines. Mr. Solberg stated that there are no residential properties along 61St from the High School parking lot to the Commons Park — Community Center intersection at 7t" Street. Would it be possible to shut the street off altogether? Mr. Borman stated that the Committee had talked about that, but that (61 St) is a main east — west thoroughfare and would be needed for emergency vehicle travel. It could be possible to temporarily shut the road during the evening activity on Thursday through Saturday. The road would be closed to traffic with barricades, but emergency vehicles could get through if needed. Mr. Kirk stated that another item that would need to be addressed is the selling of beer. The City would have to change the Park ordinances to allow for beer sales at Commons Park. They used to allow beer sales at Commons when that was the main softball tournament venue. When Community Park was built, the ordinance was changed to allow sales at Community Park for tournaments. The ordinance could once again be changed to allow Commons Park for the city festival. Mr. Kondrick stated that he did not feel that would be a problem. People understand that times have changed and certain locations are not available. Mr. Kondrick further stated that we should start looking at this ordinance now, so we are ready for next 49er Days. Mr. Kondrick asked what action 49er Days would like to see the Commission take at this time. Mr. Kirk stated that at this point the Commission could approve in concept the idea of having certain 49er Days activities at Commons Park in June of 2007. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Solberg that the Parks and Recreation Commission supports the concept of the 49er Days Committee using Commons Park for activities in 2007. Mr. Heintz suggested that staff start work on proposing a new ordinance that would allow beer sales at Commons Park during the 49er Days festival. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Mr. Kondrick thanked Mr. Borman for attending the meeting and for all his good work leading the Fridley 49er Days Committee. b. MN Kite Society Request to Use Commons Park for Event on October 15 Mr. Kirk stated that he has received a request from the Minnesota Kite Society to use Commons Park on Sunday, October 15 for a kite flying event. They have used Commons Park for the past five years and there have been no problems. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 11, 2006 Paqe 4 Mr. Kirk further stated that last year, staff recommended that the Kite Society rent the picnic pavilion at Commons to serve as the event headquarters. They did so, but did not think it worked out very well. They really didn't feel that they used it. They are really just interested in reserving field #3 at Commons. Mr. Kirk stated that they will be conducting a similar event this year and his proposal is that we reserve the Commons #3 field for the event at a cost of $10 per hour. This would amount to $50 for the event. They do not sell concessions at this event, but will sell kites to individuals wishing to participate that do not have a kite with them. Mr. Kirk stated that he asked Mr. Klages of the Minnesota Kite Society if they sold these kites to make some money and he was told that they do try to make some profit on the sales. Since they are selling kites and making some money at the event, he did not feel charging a rental fee of $50 was out of line. They would also be required to submit a$100 clean-up deposit before the event. Mr. Kirk stated that the kite flying event is very colorful and is a good recreational activity at Commons Park. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the request of the Minnesota Kite Society to hold an event at Commons Park on October 15t", going along with the recommendations of staff on the $10 per hour field rental and the $100 clean-up deposit. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Heintz to adjourn the September 11, 2006 meeting at 7:55 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 MEETING ADJOURNED.