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PR 06/04/2007 - 29878CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — JUNE 4, 2007 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the June 4, 2007 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dave Kondrick, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz, Tim Solberg Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Dolores Varichak, Councilmember Ward II Bob Barnette, Councilmember at-Large APPROVAL OF MAY 7, 2007 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Solberg to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2007 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR JUNE 4, 2007 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the agenda for the June 4, 2007 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 is included in the agenda packet. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that the Park Maintenance Report is included in the agenda packet. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Report is included in the agenda packet. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - June 4, 2007 Paqe 2 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Fridley American Legion Baseball Tournament Request Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the American Legion Baseball program to use Commons #1 baseball field for a tournament on June 29 through July 1. The Tournament Director will be Commission member Mike Heintz. Mr. Heintz stated that this is a wood bat American Legion baseball tournament and they will be using several ballfields in the area. He has lined up fields at Fridley High School, Totino Grace High School and Spring Lake Park High School for this event. Mr. Kirk stated that he would recommend approval at the normal rate of $75 rental for the weekend tournament. MOTION by Mr. Solberg, American Legion Baseball June 29 — July 1. seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the request by the Fridley Program to use Commons #1 baseball field for a tournament on UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. OTHER BUSINESS a. Springbrook Nature Center Mr. Barnette stated that he had a couple of questions for the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the Springbrook Nature Center. When the levy supporting Springbrook was approved in 2004 for $275,000, he thought that the public was told that the levy and the Springbrook budget would increase at no more than inflation or cost of living index. After 4 years, the Springbrook Nature Center operating budget for 2008 is projected at over $370,000. This is a lot more than the levy amount including the cost of living increases. How do we explain this increase to the taxpayers? Mr. Kirk stated that the revenue to support the Springbrook Nature Center operating budget comes from two sources. The levy is only part of the revenue and the remainder comes from program fees and charges. The budget for Springbrook Nature Center the first year after the levy was voted in was $310,000 with $275,000 projected to come from the levy and another $60,000 estimated in program revenue. This total not only covered the operating budget, but would also allow us to put aside approximately $25,000 for future improvements at the nature center. The revenues from the levy and the funds generated from the programs have covered the amount needed for the operating budget each year and allowed the fund for future improvements to grow. That fund now has over $50,000 in it after just 3 years. Mr. Barnette stated that he has been following the information on the grant application that the City has submitted to the State of Minnesota for the improvements to the nature center known as the SPRING project. It was still his understanding that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation would have to raise the matching dollars for the State grant. If the State awarded $2.5 million dollars, the Foundation would need to come up with $2.5 million before the State would provide the money. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - June 4, 2007 Paqe 3 Mr. Kondrick stated that this was correct and the Foundation had started making the necessary contacts for this fundraising campaign. They plan to start the actual fundraising when the State announces the awarding of the grant. Mr. Barnette stated that the City Council also had agreed that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation would need to raise additional dollars to cover future maintenance and operating expenditures for this new project. These dollars would need to be placed into an escrow fund with the City before any part of this new project could begin. Mr. Kirk stated that while the City Council had discussed this at one point, he thought they had backed off of the escrow of funds requirement when they heard the business plan for the Springbrook Nature Center project. The business plan showed how a combination of the SNC levy, additional program and rental revenues and contributions from the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation would cover the additional operating and maintenance expenditures at the nature center. Mr. Barnette stated that the issue would need to be clarified at some point. Mr. Barnette stated that he would like to thank the Parks and Recreation Commission for discussing this item with him this evening. He also thanked the Commission members for the good work that they do. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett to adjourn the June 4, 2007 meeting at 7:50 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JUNE 4, 2007 MEETING ADJOURNED.