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PR 01/09/2012 - 31323CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — JANUARY 9, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Solberg called the January 9, 2012 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Tim Solberg, Dave Kondrick, Mike Heintz Others Present: 7ack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 7, 2012 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2012 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR JANUARY 9, 2012 MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the agenda for the January 9, 2012 meeting as submitted by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the Program Update for this meeting includes information for the past two months, since the Commission did not meet in December. The mild winter weather has caused a number of adjustments to the program schedule in December and 7anuary. The skating rinks have not opened due to the unseasonably warm weather, so the start of the broomball and boot hockey leagues has been postponed. There is some colder weather forecasted toward the end of the week, so it is possible the leagues can get started in the ne�t week or so. Mr. Kirk stated that the senior center had a couple of nice holiday events again this year. The Lions Club sponsors a holiday luncheon and we had over 320 seniors participate. There were also over 100 seniors that participated in the Holiday Lights Tour. Fridley Bus Company sponsors this event and busses take the seniors through the area to look at residential holiday lights displays. A party for the seniors follows the tour. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated Mr. Lindquist is unable to make the meeting this evening; however, there is a written report of the park maintenance activities this winter. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 9, 2012 Pa�e 2 c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that a number of naturalists from the National Association of Interpretation Conference in St. Paul participated in a field study visit to Springbrook Nature Center in November. There were interpretive naturalists from around the world that were part of this group that came to Springbrook to find out about how our nature center operates and the programs that are offered. Mr. Kirk further stated that the second page of the Springbrook Nature Center report includes some year end numbers related to programs and participation at the nature center for 2011. There were more programs (762), more participants (24,231) and more program revenue ($102,228) in 2011 than in any other year. There were also 1,151 volunteers that provided over 16,000 hours of volunteer service this past year at the nature center. Mr. Kirk stated that a regional representative for Kalwall was at the nature center building recently to examine the condition of the Kalwall roof in the interpretive building's exhibit room. He told staff that the roof is significantly deteriorated and needs replacing within the ne�t two years. He told staff that the roof is still safe at this time, but may not be in another two years. It will likely cost between $55,000 and $60,000 to replace the roof. d. Winter Festival Mr. Kirk stated that the annual WinterFest event will be held on Saturday, January 28t'` at Commons Park and the Fridley Community Center from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. There will be hay rides, ice games, dog sled rides, a medallion hunt and many indoor activities to entertain the entire family. The Commission members and their families are invited to attend. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Summer Program Format and Fees 2012 Mr. Kirk stated that he has the staff recommended summer program format and fees for consideration by the Commission. The recommendation is that we keep most everything the same for 2012 in an attempt to increase the participation numbers. The costs related to these programs should remain the same as well for the coming year. Mr. Kirk stated that the Preschool Playground program would remain the same with two, four week, sessions being offered. The program would run three mornings per week for each of the four weeks, with the cost for the 3-4 year olds at $38 per session and the cost for the 4-5 year olds at $52 per session. Mr. Kirk stated that the Elementary Playgrounds program for grade K to 4 students would also remain the same as last year. The program would run four afternoons per week and there would be two, four week, sessions. The program would operate at two locations, Hayes Elementary School and Briardale Park Cost of the program would be $60 per person per session, with a maximum of $120 per family per session. Mr. Kirk stated that the Summer ROCKS program being recommended would have a couple of minor changes from last year. It would run for ten consecutive weeks, rather than a nine week program with a week break in the middle. Also, with the Fourth of July falling on a Wednesday this year, we would like to offer a daily registration option for that one week in July. The Summer ROCKS is a five days per week program with a cost of $125 per week The recommended daily costs for the July 4t'` week would be one day at $35, 2 days at $60, 3 days at $80 and all four days at $100. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 9, 2012 Pa�e 3 Mr. Kirk stated that the Chill ZONE program for grades 4— 7 is an afternoon program on four days each week There would be two five week sessions with the cost at $75 per session. There is also a daily admission fee of $5 per day. Mr. Solberg asked if the fees for these programs covered the costs of operation. Mr. Kirk stated that the ROCKS program fees cover the costs; the other playground programs only cover a portion of the costs. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the staff recommended format and fees for the 2012 summer program. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Softball Tournament Requests — Fridley High School Mr. Kirk stated that the Recreation office has received a request from Fridley High School to use the Fridley Community Park softball fields for a high school girl's softball invitational tournament on Saturday, May St'`. The High School has used the park the past several years for a similar type of tournament and everything has gone well. The normal facility fee for a non-profit group for a one day tournament is $500. Staffwould recommend approval of this request. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the softball tournament request by Fridley High School for a tournament at Community Park on May St'` with the one day fee of $500. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Softball Tournament Requests — Fridley Lions Club Mr. Kirk stated that the Recreation office has received a request from the Fridley Lions Club to hold the 7ohn Gargaro softball tournament at Fridley Community Park during 49er Days on 7une 22 — 24. The tournament would likely use all six fields with games being planned for a Men's division, a Co-Rec division and the popular Community division. The Community division is made up of teams from local clubs or organizations. Mr. Kirk stated that the Lions Club has been very good to work with over the years on softball tournaments or projects involving our park system. They are a very community minded organization and a great group of people. There have been no problems with the Lions Club running softball tournaments in the past and staff would recommend approval of these requests. The facility fee for a weekend tournament for a non-profit group is $1,000, but the Lions Club may be interested in making a donation to the park and recreation system in lieu of the facility fee as they have done in past years. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the softball tournament request by the Fridley Lions Club for use of Community Park for a tournament on June 22 — 24, 2012 at the normal facility fee or a donation in lieu of the fee. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetin� - Januarv 9, 2012 Pa�e 4 d. Anoka County Trail Underpass Restoration at Site of BN Train Derailment Mr. Kirk stated that the Anoka County Parks has forwarded information related to the restoration of the underpass and Regional trail in the area damaged by the Burlington Northern train derailment last summer. They have informed us that the work will likely commence sometime in April or May of this year. They would be interested in hearing if the Parks and Recreation Commission have any comments related to the planned restoration and improvements at the site. Mr. Kirk stated that he and Mr. Lindquist had reviewed the plans and thought the restoration should bring the trail system back to its previous condition. One concern is that the plans show a gravel entrance pad in the area of the City's Locke Lake Park and staff would like more clarification on what is planned there. There has not been a gravel area before and we would not want one in our park adjacent to the trail. The gravel could create a hazard for bikers and pedestrians using the trail. Staff would like the park area returned the same condition it was before. Mr. Kirk stated that a bench was removed from Locke Lake Park when the railroad needed to get some equipment into the area of the derailment for clean up. That bench was not re-installed before winter, so that still needs to be done. We expect that the bench will get put in this spring. Mr. Kondrick asked if there was any way that we could get a couple of benches installed in the park as part of the restoration project. He thought a couple of benches along the trail in that area would be nice. Mr. Kirk stated that he could pass that information along to the County as part of the comments. e. New Bicycle Rack Pads Mr. Heintz stated that he asked for this item to be placed on the agenda because he does not like where the bicycle rack pads have been installed at Commons Park. He thinks they are in the worst possible place that they could be and may even block the sidewalks when people use them. The racks should have been placed closer to the building or adjacent to the parking lot. Mr. Kondrick stated he agreed that they should have been placed differently. Mr. Kirk stated that staff will look at the placement of the bike pads and see what can be done to deal with the concern. He will get back to the Commission on this. 4. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz to adjourn the January 9, 2012 meeting at 7:47 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JAN UARY 9, 2012 MEETING ADJOURNED.