Loading...
PR 05/04/2009 - 29897CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — MAY 4, 2009 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Sibell called the May 4, 2009 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Marcy Sibell, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz, Dave Kondrick and Tim Solberg Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Lindquist, Parks Supervisor APPROVAL OF APRIL 6, 2009 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2009 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR MAY 4, 2009 MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the agenda for the May 4, 2009 meeting. 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 for the month was included in the agenda packet for the Commissioner's information. There were a couple of items that he wanted to call special attention to. First was the Spring Fling at the Springbrook Nature Center. There were 2,419 people in attendance this year, the largest turnout ever. It was a very nice event that the staff and volunteers at Springbrook planned and carried out. Mr. Kirk further stated that the tax assistance at the Senior Center was a very successful program once again this year. This free service is provided by volunteers trained by AARP. They go through an extensive training just after the first of the year and then start provide the tax service at the end of January through the tax filing date of April 15t". The tax service is available at the Senior Center on Wednesdays from 9am to noon and 1 p to 4pm. That is on a first come, first served basis. Appointments for this service were available on Tuesday evenings at the Springbrook Nature Center. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - Mav 4, 2009 Paqe 2 Mr. Kirk stated that the Spring athletic programs are off and running. He wanted to say what a good job Dave Lindquist and his workers have done getting the fields ready right away this spring. Mr. Kondrick asked if Connie Thompson was tracking the number of seniors participating in her programs and if those numbers were increasing. Mr. Kirk stated that participation numbers are kept and that is something he can report back to the Commission on. Mr. Kondrick stated that he would like to know if the senior programs are going up. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that the Park Maintenance Division has been busy this past month cleaning up the turf in the parks. They have also done some repairs on playground equipment in the parks. The softball, baseball and soccer fields have been painted and prepared for league play. The irrigation systems have now been turned on and the perennial flower beds have been cleaned up. Mr. Lindquist further stated that the tennis courts have been cleaned and the court lights turned on for the season. They have also made some repairs to the boardwalk at Springbrook Nature Center, set out the trash receptacles in the parks and made some plumbing repairs at the Moore Lake Beach house. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that construction continues on the 85t" Avenue trail along Springbrook Nature Center's northern boundary. The bridges are really taking shape and the grading for the trail is now complete. The trail should be finished sometime in mid summer. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation recently received a $20,000 grant from the McKnight Foundation to be used for architectural services for the SPRING project. The City will be preparing a Request for Proposal for the architectural services which will create several phases for the SPRING project with cost estimates for each phase. The Foundation will then use the information to raise funds for the project. Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation held their annual fundraiser auction last Saturday at the North Air Center. There were over 110 people in attendance. Commission member Dave Kondrick did a great job as an emcee for this event. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Softball Tournament Request — Fridley Wrestling Boosters Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley Wrestling Boosters to use the Fridley Community Park for a wood bat softball tournament during 49er Days on June 26 through 28. Only four of the six fields will be available due to the field drainage improvement construction. Staff would recommend approval of this request and would suggest a rental fee of $600 for the weekend. This would be less than the normal rental fee of $1000 for a non- profit local organization, but is being recommended because all fields are not available. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - Mav 4, 2009 Paqe 3 Mr. Heintz asked how much of the $1000 fee is for the City park employees who work at the tournament. Mr. Kirk stated the amount depended on whether a full-time or part-time employee worked at the tournament. We generally have seasonal employees assigned for these weekend events, so total would run around $300. Mr. Heintz asked if the $600 was enough to charge for rental of the fields when the maintenance worker cost $300. Mr. Kirk stated that his recommendation for $600 was based on the fact that without the two full size fields that are under construction, the opportunity for the group to raise revenue at this fundraiser is greatly decreased. When all fields are back in service, he would recommend the fee be back at $1000. Mr. Solberg suggested that maybe we should split the difference and charge $750 for this year. Mr.Heintz stated that he was okay with the staff recommended amount. This is a new tournament this year and they are trying to raise funds, without all of the six fields being available. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the softball tournament request by the Fridley Wrestling Boosters for use of Fridley Community Park on June 26 -28, 2009 at the staff recommended facility fee of $600 for the weekend. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED b. Proposed WaterFowl Feeding Ordinance Mr. Kirk stated that this proposed ordinance has actually been discussed for several years now by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The City Manager included a question in last year's Council-Commission survey related to the problem of feeding waterfowl at our parks. Those responding to the survey were very much in favor of the City enacting an ordinance that would prohibit feeding of ducks and geese. All 26 of the various Commission members responded yes to the ordinance question, as did four of the five City Council members. Mr. Kirk further stated that the large populations of geese and ducks that are present in our parks create a health problem around our picnic facilities, our swimming beach, our playgrounds and our athletic fields. The water quality at Moore Lake Beach has been a problem during past swimming seasons with a high e-coli bacteria count. Mr. Kirk stated that he is recommending that the City move forward with a change to Chapter 101 of the Fridley City Code related to Animal Control. The recommendation is to include language that would prohibit the feeding of waterfowl on public or private property within the City. He has consulted with Captain Bob Rewitzer of the Fridley Police Department and they have come up with some proposed language for an ordinance change to address this issue. Mr. Heintz asked what the City would do for signage to notify the public of this ordinance. Mr. Kirk stated they would likely have signs that would read something to the effect of "Do not feed waterfowl — as per City Ordinance #101.02.03". The signs would make it easier for our Police Department to help with enforcement. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - Mav 4, 2009 Paqe 4 Mr. Kirk stated that Commission member Solberg asked him how aggressive the police would be in enforcing an ordinance of this type and how much would a ticket cost someone. Mr. Kirk further stated that as far as enforcement, he would not expect many or even any citations with this ordinance. He believes that the Police would likely warn people and issue a ticket only if there was a repeat offense. While the cost for a citation could be up to $1000, it is likely that a judge would fine someone in the $50 to $100 range. Mr. Kirk stated that the proposed change would include a definition of Waterfowl in the definitions section of the chapter. That wording would be as follows: WaterFowl Includes those species of birds commonly known as geese, ducks, gulls and swans and any other waterFowl falling under the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Kirk further stated that the additional proposed changes to the City Code would be under Section 101.02.3 and would read as follows: Prohibition of WaterFowl Feedinq A. It shall be unlawful to provide food (including food by-products, garbage or animal food) to waterFowl on private or public property in the City of Fridley. This shall include placing food or allowing food to be placed on the ground, shoreline, waterbody, or any structure, unless such items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents waterFowl from feeding on them. B. This prohibition shall not apply to veterinarians, city animal control officers or county, state or federal game officials who in the course of their duties have waterFowl in custody or under their management. C. This prohibition shall not apply to persons authorized by the City of Fridley to implement the Canada Goose management program and any future waterFowl management programs approved by the city council. D. This prohibition shall not apply to any food placed upon the property for purposes of trapping or otherwise taking waterFowl, where such trapping or taking is pursuant to a permit issued under section 101.02.2 MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Solberg, to approve the staff recommended change to the Animal Control ordinance that would prohibit the feeding of waterfowl. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED 3. OTHER BUSINESS a. Commission Members' Milestones Mr. Kirk stated that he wanted to inform the Parks and Recreation Commission of two significant service milestones that were reached by their fellow Commission members at the last meeting. Dave Kondrick has now served on the Parks and Recreation Commission for thirty years and Tim Solberg has served for twenty years. Fifty years of Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq - Mav 4, 2009 Paqe 5 service between them to the Parks and Recreation Commission and their community is extraordinary and he wanted to congratulate them and thank them for their dedication. The other Commission members thanked them for their service as well. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Solberg, seconded by Mr. Heintz to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MAY 4, 2009 MEETING ADJOURNED.