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PR 09/10/2012 - 31341CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING — SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Solberg called the September 10, 2012 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:05 p. m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Tim Solberg, Greg Ackerman, Mike Heintz and Dave Kondrick Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Margo Prasek, Program Supervisor Layne Otteson, Assistant Public Works Director APPROVAL OF Auqust 6, 2012 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the minutes of the August 6, 2012 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the agenda for the September 10, 2012 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that there is a Program Update included in the Commission meeting packet with information on Department programming over the past month. There is information in the on the summer activities which have ended in the past month. It was a good summer, although staff did deal with some challenges due to the hot weather. Mr. Kirk stated that Margo Prasek from the Recreation staff coordinates a number of special events during the summer and one of those happened this past August. It was the Nickel Jamboree and there were over 250 children enjoying the variety of activities that are part of this event. Mr. Kirk stated that Moore Lake Beach closed for the season in mid August. With the hot weather, there were some days that were crowded at the beach. Mr. Solberg asked if we had any issues with high bacteria counts for the swimming water this year with the hot weather we had. Mr. Kirk stated that the water quality this year was really good. We had very low bacteria counts all the way through the swimming season. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 10, 2012 Paqe 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that a maintenance report is included in the Commission meeting agenda packet. The Park Maintenance staff was busy with mowing the parks, maintaining the athletic fields, and taking care of the park buildings and the landscaping areas. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the nature center had a successful summer day camp season that recently concluded. There were 367 participants in 21 different camps. Mr. Kirk further stated that a gazebo at the nature center was damaged by some vandals two weeks ago. They kicked out some of the side boards and tossed them into the pond. Mr. Kirk stated that the nature center staff will be working with area school districts once again teaching environmental education. All students in the Fridley district grades K-8 and all students at Adams elementary in Anoka Hennepin will be involved. Students in Columbia Heights elementary schools have an opportunity to participate in after school learning. Mr. Kirk also stated that the Metropolitan Council is doing some work on a large sewer line that runs along the western boundary of the nature center. The project will take about two months and will have some minor impact upon the 85t" Avenue biking/ walking trail. d. Pumpkin Night in the Park Mr. Kirk stated that the annual Pumpkin Night in the Park at Springbrook Nature Center is scheduled for Saturday, October 20th. The Pumpkin Night is a fun family event that draws large crowds every year. The goal is to have around 800 lighted pumpkins along the trail this year. Last year's attendance was around 3,500 people. Mr. Kirk further invited the Commission members to attend this very popular community event. e. Altura Park Rain Gardens Mr. Kirk stated that a storm water ponding project for Altura Park was on the Parks and Recreation Commission agenda in February of 2011. There was a storm water problem in the area of Altura Park and it was proposed at that time to create a small ponding area or rain garden to help alleviate the issue. The Parks and Recreation Commission supported the recommendation of our City Engineering staff to move ahead with the project. Mr. Layne Otteson, Assistant Public Works Director for the City, is at tonight's meeting to give an update to the Commission members on this project. Mr. Otteson handed out a drawing of the rain garden planned for Altura Park. The project has been graded, but they need to bring in the top soil, add mulch and put in the plants. Mr. Kondrick asked if there has been input from neighbors on this project. Mr. Otteson stated that two neighbors have been very active in this process. They will actually be supplying the plants for the rain garden. Mr. Solberg asked if the hope was to have a rain garden that required very little on-going maintenance. Mr. Otteson stated that the first two years will require more attention, especially the watering of the young plants. After that time, the garden actually should maintain itself. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 10, 2012 Paqe 3 Mr. Kondrick asked if the plants going into the rain garden are somewhat drought tolerant. Mr. Otteson stated that some of the plants are and others not so much. Mr. Otteson stated that the final work on the rain garden at Altura Park should be completed in the next week or two. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Proposed Community Park Rain Gardens Mr. Otteson stated that the issue we have with Community Park is that the north parking lot is shot and needs to be replaced. It is in this year's Parks CIP to provide for a new parking surface. In order to complete the project, the Rice Creek Watershed District is requiring us to infiltrate water. The pond or ditch adjacent to the north parking lot has been determined to be insufficient to meet the water infiltration requirement. Mr. Otteson stated that the Engineering staff is proposing some rain gardens along the boulevard on the east side of the parking lot to accomplish this water infiltration. The finished look of the rain gardens will be very similar to the existing rain gardens along the entrance road to the Community Park ball fields. The City Park Maintenance staff has done a nice job making these rain gardens look good. Mr. Kondrick asked when the parking lot project is scheduled to start. Mr. Otteson stated that if the Parks and Recreation Commission approve the rain garden plan, he would go back to watershed district for final approval to move ahead. The plan is to have the parking lot project completed this fall. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the Engineering staff recommended rain gardens adjacent to the north parking lot at Community Park. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Proposed Grass Swales at Terrace Park Mr. Otteson stated that the proposed grass swales at Terrace Park are being driven by the requirements of the Rice Creek Watershed District. The District requires us to infiltrate water when we are doing our neighborhood street reconstruction projects that involve utility projects. If we are doing anything more than just pavement work, we are required to comply with the Watershed District requirements. Mr. Otteson stated that the Watershed District has told the City that we should put in some rain gardens on both sides of Terrace Park. We have looked at the possibility of putting in grass swales on the west and east sides of the park. Mr. Heintz asked what the difference was between a rain garden and a grass swale. Mr. Otteson stated that a grass swale was not as deep and is a depression that has grass as the covering. It is unobtrusive in the park and is maintained by mowing the area. When it rains, some of the storm water is diverted into this depression until it can infiltrate into the soil. Mr. Otteson stated that a grass swale will work well on the west side of the park, but because of existing slopes it will not work on the east side. Parks and Recreation Commission Meetinq — September 10, 2012 Paqe 4 Mr. Otteson stated that the cross section of the swale at Terrace Park shows an area approximately fifteen feet wide that gently slopes down about four to six inches and then gently slopes back up. The grass swale will not impact the ball field or open play area of the park. Mr. Otteson said the long gentle slopes allow for the maintenance staff to simply mow the area. Mr. Otteson further stated that if the grass swale becomes unpopular with the neighborhood or park users, we can simply revert it back to its previous condition and tell the watershed district that it didn't work out. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz to support the recommendation of the Assistant Public Works Director to install a grass swale at Terrace Park to accommodate some storm water infiltration. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to adjourn the September 10, 2012 meeting at 8:02 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 MEETING ADJOURNED.