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PR 02/02/2009 - 29894CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — FEBRUARY 2, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sibell called the February 2, 2009 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Marcy Sibell, Dave Kondrick, Michele Barrett Others Present: 7ack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 1, 2008 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2008 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 2, 2009 MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the agenda for the February 2, 2009 meeting as submitted by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the Program Update includes information on programs and activities during the past two months. He wanted to call attention to the Chores and More Program that provides services for senior citizens in our community. The program completed 8,137 hours of service for 521 clients during 2008. This is a very valuable program for our seniors and it had a very successful year. The numbers represented a sizable increase over the 2007 service levels, with an 18% increase in hours and a 17% increase in the number of clients. Terri Brooke does an outstanding job with this program. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Update also reports on some of the programs at Springbrook Nature Center and the elementary school after-school programs. Also, the winter adult athletic programs have been going well. The weather has actually worked out this year for the outdoor activities. Mr. Kirk stated that the Department held its annual Winterfest this past Saturday and it was very successful. They estimated the attendance at 500 people and the weather was actually very warm for the end of 7anuary. There were many outdoor activities at Commons Park for the participants including dog sled rides, hay rides, ice skating, a medallion hunt, sledding and a bonfire. There were also indoor activities at the Fridley Community Center including carnival games, art projects, BINGO, a kids dance, food, cake walk and face painting. There were many families in attendance. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Februarv 2, 2009 Pa�e 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that Mr. Lindquist was unable to make the meeting this evening, but there is a maintenance report in the agenda packet. You can see in the report that they spend much of their time taking care of the skating rinks in the community. The rinks opened fairly early this year on December l lt'` and we have noticed that the rinks have been getting a lot more use than in recent years. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation representatives met with the Fridley City Council on Monday, January 26t'` to discuss moving forward with the SPRING project in a phased approach. The Council appeared to be supportive of this type of approach. The Foundation wants to raise some money now to move ahead with some more detailed architectural work. Mr. Kirk stated that a contract has been approved by the City Council to begin construction on the g5t'` Avenue trail project. The low bid on the project was around $800,000, which was about $200,000 less than the estimates. The work on the trail project is expected to begin in February and be completed by some time in July. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Summer Program Format and Fees Mr. Kirk stated that he has a recommendation from the Recreation staff for the summer program format and fees. He would like to highlight the changes from last year for each of the program areas. For the Pre-school playgrounds, the format would remain the same with the registration fee being increased $5 for each age group. For the Elementary Playgrounds at Hayes and Briardale, the recommended fee increase would be $5. We are going to attempt to coordinate a playground option at Stevenson Elementary with the school district summer school program. We are waiting on the school district for final details of their summer school plans. The increase in cost for that 5 week program is recommended to be $10. The ROCKS program would go back to nine weeks, instead of eight weeks like last year and the recommended fee increase would be $5 per week The Chill program is for middle school age youth and we would once again have two four week sessions. The fee increase per session would be $8. Mr. Kondrick stated that those are very modest fee increases suggested by staff. He would support the recommendation. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the staff recommended summer program format and fees for 2009. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Showmobile Rental Request — Mound Fire Department Mr. Kirk stated that the City Mound Fire Department has requested use of the Showmobile for a community event on 7une 7t'`. They have rented the Showmobile for several years and all has gone well. Staff would recommend approval of this rental request at the normal rental rates. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the showmobile rental request from the Mound Fire Department for use on June 7, 2009 with regular rental rates to apply. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Februarv 2, 2009 Pa�e 3 c. Showmobile Rental Requests — City of Vadnais Heights Mr. Kirk stated that the City of Vadnais Heights has submitted two rental requests for use of our Showmobile. They are looking at an event on June l lt'` and a second event on two days in August, the 15t'` and 16t'`. They have also rented in the past and it has worked out well. Staff would recommend approval at the normal rental rates. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the showmobile rental request from the City of Vadnais Heights for use on June 7, 2009 and also on August 15 and 16, 2009 with regular rental rates to apply. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett to adjourn the February 2, 2009 meeting at 7:38 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 2, 2009 MEETING ADJOURNED.