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PR 08/06/2007 - 29879CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — AUGUST 6, 2007 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Kondrick called the August 6, 2007 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Dave Kondrick, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz, Marcy Sibell Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation APPROVAL OF JUNE 4, 2007 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the minutes of the June 4, 2007 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR AUGUST 6, 2007 MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to approve the agenda for the August 6, 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 Fridley 49er Days Festival had a new location for this year and it seems to have worked out for most of the activities. The events that our Parks and Recreation Department staff inembers were involved with went very well. Connie Thompson does a very good job running a number of events for the seniors during 49er Days and those were very well attended. She ran several card tournaments, a patio party before the parade and dance on Friday. Mr. Kirk further stated that Mark Daly coordinated the teen dance on Thursday night at Commons Park right after the parade. There was a good turnout for the dance and the teens seemed to be enjoying themselves. Margo Prasek was heavily involved in the Stand For Children Day event, which was held on Saturday. There were many activities for kids and their families. The event took place near the activity building at Commons Park and had just over one hundred participants. The event could easily accommodate more children, so we hope the numbers will increase next year. Mr. Heintz stated that this was the first year of the change in venue, so that could have affected the number of participants at some of the events. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — Auqust 6, 2007 Paqe 2 Mr. Kirk stated the summer programs offered by the Parks and Recreation Department have gone well, although the hot weather has been somewhat of a challenge. The staff has had to take special measures on some days to see that the excessive heat is not a problem for the participants. Mr. Kirk stated that he wanted to call attention the Springbrook Nature Center Gramp Camps where we had 70 participants, both children and grandparents, take part in three separate camps. From all the reports, everyone had a great time learning about nature at these very popular programs. Mr. Kirk reported that the summer ROCKS program has had great attendance this summer. When the program started about six years ago, we were averaging about 25 to 30 participants per week. Most weeks this summer, we were at our maximum of 75 participants. It is a very active program and the participants get to learn some new skills and have a good time doing it. Mr. Kirk stated that the Recreation staff started a new program this summer in cooperation with Anoka County Parks and Wargo Nature Center. It was a weeklong camp for K through 2 grades at Riverfront Park. The program was called the Adventures of Tom and Huck and filled up with 34 participants. One of the parent evaluations stated that the camp was everything a young boy would want in a program. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kondrick stated that he has read the written park maintenance report and it sure looks like Mr. Lindquist and his staff have been very busy the past couple of months. Mr. Kirk stated that the Park Maintenance workers in the City of Fridley do a tremendous job supporting the programs conducted by the Parks and Recreation Department. The facilities are always in good condition and they are very helpful with the various special events that we run. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the City has submitted another application to the State of Minnesota for consideration of a grant during the 2008 legislative session to fund a portion of the SPRING project. The SPRING project has gained a fair amount of support over the past two years and local legislators are very encouraging about the project being included in next year's bonding bill. Mr. Kirk further stated that in order to be considered for funding next year, we needed to submit a new request with the dollars being adjusted for inflation. We are now asking the State for 2.815 million dollars that would need matching funds raised locally. Other than the amount requested of the State being adjusted, the request and the project are the same as the one submitted to the State in June of 2005. We expect that this request will receive serious consideration in the next legislative session. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — Auqust 6, 2007 Paqe 3 d. Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk Mr. Kirk stated that he was contacted in late June by a representative of the Twin Cities Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk about using Commons Park as the campgrounds site for the walkers during the event. The Parks and Recreation Commission members were contacted by phone and were supportive of this activity being held at Commons. The City Council was supportive as well and gave the go ahead to work with the 3-Day Walk representatives in further detail. Mr. Kirk further stated that the planners of this event ultimately decided to use a site in Maplewood for the campsite, so they will not be using Commons Park this year. However, they will be walking through some trails in Fridley and would like to use Riverview Heights Park as a"Pit Stop/ Grab and Go" to help with the walk on Friday, August 24t". They would be bringing in some portable toilets and garbage containers to the site. Walkers would get food or beverages on their way through the park and would possibly stop and rest for a while. This activity would only be for the one day. Mr. Kondrick suggested that the Commission pass a motion supporting the use of Riverview Heights Park on August 24t" for a rest stop as part of the Twin Cities Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the use of Riverview Heights Park as a Pit Stop site for the Breast Cancer Walk on August 24, 2007. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Winter Athletic League Fees Mr. Kirk stated that the Parks and Recreation Department would like to advertise the winter athletic league fees in the Fall Activities Brochure, which will be going out in the next couple of weeks. Staff is proposing a slight increase in fees for the basketball program and the volleyball program. The recommended fees for the broomball and boot hockey would remain the same as last year. We look at what other communities are charging for similar type programs and we try to be competitive with our fees. Mr. Heintz asked if we would lose teams and not fill the leagues if the fees were raised. Mr. Kirk stated that with the small increase being proposed, he did not feel that would be a factor. MOTION by Ms. Sibell, seconded by Mr. Heintz, 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 6, 2007 Paqe 4 4. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Ms. Sibell, to adjourn the August 6, 2007 meeting at 7:55 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE AUGUST 6, 2007 MEETING ADJOURNED.