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PRM 06/03/2013 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – JUNE 3, 2013 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Solberg called the June 3, 2013 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Tim Solberg, Greg Ackerman, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz, Dave Kondrick Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation APPROVAL OF MAY 6, 2013 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman to approve the minutes of the May 6, 2013 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR JUNE 3, 2013 Mr. Kirk requested to add an item under New Business. He would like the Commission to consider a resolution recognizing the 40 years of service to the City by Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist, who will be retiring at the end of June. The Commission members agreed to add this item. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the amended agenda for the June 3, 2013 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 the Program Update has many programs and activities listed that took place in the past month. He wanted to call the attention of the Commission members to the ENCORE event that happened last month at the new Landmark of Fridley senior housing facility. It was a cheese tasting event with a cheese buyer from Whole foods providing the samples and sharing her knowledge. Landmark provided the beverages and there were just about 40 participants that enjoyed the evening. ENCORE is a relatively new program geared to the pre-retiree or recently retired individuals in the community. Most of the participants are in the 50 to 70 age range. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - June 3, 2013 Page 2 Mr. Kondrick stated that he was at the event and Connie Thompson does a great job with the program she runs. He had a great time at the cheese tasting event. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that the Park Maintenance Report is included in the agenda packet. The Park Maintenance staff is really several weeks behind on their spring work because of the persistent inclement weather. They are working very hard to get caught up. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the new Nature Center Director Mike Maher started with the City on May st 1. Former Director Siah St. Clair has spent some time with Mike sharing information on history of the center, operations, procedures and other important nature center information. Mr. Kirk stated that the Tree Trust organization planted 30 spruce trees on the new berm th along 85 Avenue. The berm is part of phase 1 of the SPRING project. Mr. Kirk further stated that the SPRING project did not get funded as part of a bonding bill in the Minnesota Legislature this year, so we will back at it in 2014. d. Fridley 49er Days Mr. Kirk stated that a schedule of activities for the 2013 Fridley 49er Days has been included in the agenda packet. Most of the activities this year will be taking place on the Medtronic campus along Highway 65 and Old Central Avenue. He invited the Commission members to participate in the many 49er Days activities. e. Fridley Lions Club Donation Mr. Kirk stated that the Fridley Lions Club has donated $3,623 to the City for safety improvements at the Fridley Community Center gym. The gym has 12 large wooden support columns that are close to the gym playing court area. The funding provided by the Lions Club allowed us to purchase protective padding for these columns. The padding is a nice safety improvement and looks good in the gym. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Lions Club will be hosting two softball tournaments this year and the donation for the gymnasium padding is to be in lieu of paying a rental fee for the tournaments. The Fridley Lions Club continues to be a great community partner supporting Parks and Recreation in our community. f. Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist - Retirement Mr. Kirk stated that Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist will be retiring at the end of this month after 40 years of service to the City of Fridley. He has done a great job with our park system and has been a big help in making our programs successful. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - June 3, 2013 Page 3 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Softball Tournament Request – Fridley Lions Club Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley Lions Club to run a State softball tournament at Fridley Community Park on August 16 – 18 this year. The tournament would be a Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Men Class E event. Mr. Kirk stated that he would recommend approval of this tournament request. The Fridley Lions Club always does a very good job running the softball tournaments. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the request by the Fridley Lions Club to use Fridley Community Park for a softball tournament on August 16 – 18. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Request to Use Archery Range at Locke Park by Girl Scout Day Camp Program Mr. Kirk stated that this is a new request coming in to the Parks and Recreation Department. At Locke Park, just to the east of the full size soccer field, the City has a small archery range. There are four targets at the range. A local Girl Scout organization will be renting Locke Park facilities from Anoka County to hold a summer day camp the week of June 17 – 21. They would like to include a unit on archery and use the City’s archery range. Mr. Kirk further stated that this group normally has the summer camp at Lockeslea Girl Scout Camp on East River Road, but due to some construction in the area they are unable to use that facility this summer. They have about 100 campers expected for the week and 25 – 30 adults. They have two Girl Scout Council certified archery range trainers that will oversee the archery program. They also tell us that they will be using genesis and recurve bows which will limit the distance the arrows can fly. Mr. Kondrick asked how the archery range was set up and what happens to arrows that overshoot the targets. What safeguards do we have to prevent arrows from causing harm? Mr. Kirk stated that a large berm has been built behind the targets. It is estimated at about 25 feet high. There is a significant wooded area immediately behind the berm. The limited power bows they are using should not be a problem. Mr. Ackerman stated that the Girl Scout program has controls in place to make it a safe activity. They will have two certified archery instructors conducting the activity. They have a range at Camp Lockeslea, so they have experience with this type of activity. Mr. Kirk stated he is okay with the girl scouts using the archery range for their camp. He would like a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission on whether or not they should be charged anything for reserving the range exclusively for their use. Should this group contribute something that could be used toward the on-going costs associated with the archery range? Mr. Kirk stated that the range has the hay bale type backing for the targets, but does not provide the paper bullseye targets for the archers. Users of the range provide their own paper targets. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - June 3, 2013 Page 4 Mr. Heintz asked if Anoka County was charging the Girl Scout organization for using the other facilities at Locke Park. Mr. Kirk stated that it was his understanding that the Girl Scouts were renting the facilities from the County, so yes they are paying a fee to the County. Mr. Heintz suggested that we charge a reasonable fee for using the archery facility for the week, perhaps $100 for the week. With 100 campers expected, it would amount to $1 per camper. Mr. Kirk stated that it seemed like a reasonable amount and still the City could tell other users that the Girl Scout organization is paying a fee to have use of the facility for the archery program. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the request by the Girl Scouts to use the Locke Park archery range for a program during the week of June 17 -21 with a user fee of $100 for the week to reserve the facility. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Resolution Recognizing the Retirement of Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist Mr. Kirk stated that Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar called him this morning asking if this item could be added to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda for this evening. Mr. Kosluchar drafted the resolution that is being handed out to the Commission members at this time. The resolution recognizes the retirement of Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist and commends him for his service to the City. Mr. Kondrick stated that the resolution is great and the City is going to miss Dave. He has done a good job overseeing the maintenance in our park system. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the resolution recognizing the retirement of Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist and his good work with the City of Fridley Parks. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett to adjourn the June 3, 2013 meeting at 8:05 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE JUNE 3, 2013 MEETING ADJOURNED.