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PR 02/01/2010 - 29904CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — FEBRUARY 1, 2010 CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairperson Solberg called the February 1, 2010 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present Others Present Tim Solberg, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz, Dave Kondrick 7ack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Lindquist, Parks Supervisor APPROVAL OF JANUARY 4, 2010 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2010 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2010 MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the agenda for the February 1, 2010 meeting as submitted by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG 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 month. He stated that it is not on the written update that was in the meeting packet, but the Parks and Recreation Department held its annual Winterfest event on Saturday. It was a very successful event and the estimated attendance was an all-time high of 650 people. The weather was really very good. Although the temperature only reached a high of about 15 degrees, the sun was out and there was very little wind. People stayed outside to enjoy the sledding, skating, hayrides and search for the hidden medallion. Mr. Kirk further stated that the indoor activities were held in the Fridley Community Center and included activities such as a kid's dance, carnival games and BINGO. The Fridley 49er Days Committee had a spaghetti dinner as well. Mr. Heintz stated that when he drove by Commons and the Community Center on Saturday, the parking lots were full and people were parking all the way down on 7t'` Street. He thought it was a very good turnout. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Februarv 1, 2010 Pa�e 2 Mr. Kirk further stated that this is the eleventh year that we have been providing the Winterfest event. We want to have an activity that is attractive to families with young children and one that does not involve a lot of cost for the participants. With the sponsorships, we have been able to offer almost all of the activities at no cost. These types of family oriented, low-cost events are probably even more important in these difficult economic times. There were two sponsors for this year's event, the Fridley Lions Club who contributed $1,100 and the Fridley American Legion who contributed $200. Mr. Kirk also stated that the Senior Program was recognized by CVS Pharmacy and the National Council on Aging for a program called the Brown Bag Medication Series. It is a program designed to teach the seniors about prescription drugs. The Fridley Senior Program will receive a$1,500 award and a free registration to the National Conference in Chicago, where the award will be presented. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Lindquist stated that during the month of January the Park Maintenance staff were busy taking care of the hockey and skating rinks with shoveling, sweeping and flooding. They also have been involved with the snow plowing after snow events. In the most recent week, they have been trying to restore the ice rinks by removing the rough ice conditions that were caused by the freezing rain of a week ago. They have the rinks in good condition once again. This past week they also helped prepare facilities for the Winterfest activities. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that a Committee made up of staff, Dave Kondrick representing the Parks and Recreation Commission, members of the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation, and Mayor Scott Lund has been meeting with Hoisington Koegler architect firm on plans for the SPRING project. The goal is to get the design plans updated, the project put into manageable phases, current cost estimates and shovel ready plans for the first phase. The meetings have been going very well. Mr. Kirk further stated that Mayor Lund, Malcolm Mitchell and Siah St. Clair testified to the Finance Committees of the State Legislature on January 22"d in support of the bonding bills regarding the SPRING project. Also involved in the presentation was Representative Lane and Senator Chaudhary. The Legislature is looking at passing a bonding bill very early in the legislative session. We have been told that the House is looking at supporting the SPRING project in the amount of $2 million. The Senate is supportive, but they have not indicated a dollar amount as of yet. It sounds like the Legislature is looking at a bonding bill in the neighborhood of $1 billion and the Governor is looking for a bill in the $700 million range. It will be interesting to see how the Springbrook project fares in this session. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Softball Tournament Request — Fridley High School Mr. Kirk stated that the Recreation office has a received a request from Fridley High School Activities Director Dan Roff to use the Community Park ball fields for a girls high school softball tournament on May 8t'`. This would be a fundraiser event for the High School sports. Mr. Kirk stated that staff would recommend approval of this request at the going non-profit one day rental fee, which includes the services of one park maintenance worker for the day. Mr. Solberg asked if this would conflict with other scheduled uses of the Community Park. Mr. Kirk stated that no other tournaments are scheduled for this date and this would not conflict with our Fridley Recreation softball league schedules. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Februarv 1, 2010 Pa�e 3 Mr. Solberg asked if all of the fields at Community Park will be ready for use this year. Mr. Kirk stated that the final two fields being renovated looked really good last fall and we are expecting all the fields to be ready this spring. Mr. Lindquist stated that he is concerned about the tournament being held so early in the spring and the possibility that the field conditions may not be very good at that time of year. It could cause some damage to the fields. Mr. Heintz stated that he would like to see this approved with the condition that Dave Lindquist gives his approval prior to the tournament that the fields are in good enough condition to host the event. He could evaluate the fields the week before the tournament and make a determination. Mr. Lindquist stated that it may be difficult to do when you set up a tournament and make all of the necessary arrangements. Mr. Kirk stated that it is written in our tournament application that the City may not allow the fields to be used when weather conditions could cause damage to the fields. This application is signed by the tournament director when submitting for approval, so it should be understood that there is always the possibility that field conditions could affect the use of the park. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the softball tournament request by Fridley High School to use the Community Park fields on May 8, 2010. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Council — Commission Survey Mr. Kirk stated that City staff will be working on putting together the questions for the Council — Commission survey in the ne�t couple of weeks and he wanted the Commission members to know that this would be sent out in March. He also asked if the Commission members had any ideas for questions that they would like to see included in the survey. Mr. Heintz stated that maybe the survey could include a question on the possibility of selling some of the properties along Moore Lake that are north of Moore Lake Beach and Park The City has some lots that have been purchased and how do people feel about selling them. Mr. Heintz stated that he would also like to see more room on the survey for comments. Mr. Kirk stated that in most years, the survey has included a question which asked the Commission and Council to prioritize the future Parks Capital Improvement projects. He would expect that there will be a question like that included this year. Mr. Solberg asked if the survey could be sent out on the computer — an on-line version. Mr. Kirk stated that there may be some concerns about the anonymity of the answers. The Commission members indicated that they were supportive of an on-line survey. Ms. Barrett stated that there are several on-line organizations or web sites that you can do the surveys through. They may be able to compile the results as well. Mr. Kirk stated that the Commission members should look for the survey to be sent out in mid-March and he would appreciate their assistance in getting them completed. The target date for returning them to the City offices will likely be the end of March. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� — Februarv 1, 2010 Pa�e 4 c. Commission Meeting Schedule Proposed May Meeting Date Change Mr. Kirk stated that the City Manager would like the City Council to meet with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss the results of the Council — Commission survey. He is suggesting that the meeting take place on Monday, May 10 starting at 6:00 p.m. The meeting would need to be concluded by 7:30, as the City Council has a meeting that night. Mr. Kirk further stated that he would like the Commission to consider whether they would want to change their May Commission meeting from May 3 to May 10. They could have the Commission meeting immediately following the session with the City Council to discuss the survey. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to change the scheduled May Parks and Recreation Commission meeting from May 3rd to May lOt'`. The meeting will be held immediately following the special meeting between the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss the survey results. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz to adjourn the February 1, 2010 meeting at 7:55 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 1, 2010 MEETING ADJOURNED.