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PRM 02/01/2016 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – FEBRUARY 1, 2016 CALL TO ORDER: Vice -Chairperson Ackerman called the February 1, 2016 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Greg Ackerman, Michele Barrett, Dave Kondrick, Shanna Larson Others Present: Jack Kirk, Parks and Recreation Director APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 7, 2015 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Larson to approve the minutes of the December 7, 2015 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 1, 2016 MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Ms. Larson, to approve the agenda for the February 2, 2015 meeting as submitted by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN 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 two months. Toro Corporation donated an ATV Utility vehicle to the Springbrook Nature Center for maintenance and program needs. The vehicle is valued at approximately $24,000. The vehicle was delivered to Springbrook in November. Mr. Kirk further stated that staff has been working with Split Rock Studios on the new exhibits for the Springbrook Nature Center building. Fabrication of the exhibits is now underway and the exhibits should be completed and installed when the building opens in early summer. Mr. Kirk stated that the Fridley Lions Club sponsors a Holiday party for our senior citizens each year and th this year’s party was held on December 8 at the Banquets of Minnesota facility. There were 315 Fridley seniors that attended the event. Mr. Kirk further stated that in 2015, 371 seniors participated in defensive driving classes at the senior center. This compares to 258 participants in 2014. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 1, 2016 Page 2 st Mr. Kirk stated that the Commons Park warming house opened for the season on January 1. Broomball and Boot Hockey leagues began that week and will continue through late February, weather permitting. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that the meeting packet included a report from Operations Manager for Streets and Parks Jeff Jensen about activity of the Park Maintenance division during the past two months. The Parks Division has been working on getting the skating and hockey rinks playable. The workers also were a big help with set up and take down of the very successful Winterfest event. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that a report from Nature Center Director Mike Maher has been included in the agenda packet. The Springbrook Nature Center Foundation received a $25,000 donation toward the SPRING project from Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad. It was presented at the City Council meeting on th January 25. Mr. Kirk further stated that construction of the new nature center building is moving along on schedule. After the footings were poured and the structural walls were erected, the roof trusses were then installed. The roofing company is nearing completion of their work and the next step will be the installation of windows. The building is really starting to take shape at this point. Mr. Kirk stated that staff is busy researching and pricing equipment and furnishings that will be needed for the new building. Some examples are tables, chairs and office furniture. The plan is to get the equipment and furnishings ordered to allow for delivery at the time the building is complete. d. Winterfest rd Mr. Kirk stated that the annual Winterfest event was held on Saturday, January 23 and it was a big success with an estimated 800 to 900 participants. There were some great activities this year, including dog sled rides, hayrides, winter biking, snowshoe obstacle course, dancing, carnival games and more. The Parks and Recreation Department staff worked hard to make this another great community event. He showed the Commission pictures of the Winterfest activities. e. Fridley 49er Days Mr. Kirk stated that for the past years or so, the Fridley 49er Days Community festival has been held on the last full weekend in June. The 49er Days planning committee voted to change that this year and has moved the dates of the festival up. This year’s festival dates will be June 16 through 18. The primary reason for the change was to avoid going on the same weekend as neighboring communities Blaine, Columbia Heights and Brooklyn Park. All of those communities have been having their festivals on the last full weekend in June. 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Tournament Request – Spring Lake Park High School Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Spring Lake Park Softball Program to host a one day softball tournament at Community Park on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Spring Lake Park Softball ran a tournament at the park last year and did a very good job. Staff would recommend approval of this request. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 1, 2016 Page 3 Mr. Kirk stated that fields 5 and 6, the two fields near the railroad tracks, will be unavailable this year due to the Metropolitan Council major sewer project that is underway in this area. Those two fields are being used for equipment and materials needed for this project. It would be important that Spring Lake Park Softball program understands that they are limited to the four main fields at Community Park for this year’s tournament. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick to approve the request by the Spring Lake Park High School Softball to host a softball tournament at Fridley Community Park on May 21, 2016, at the normal facility fee rate. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Tournament Request – Fridley Lions Club Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from the Fridley Lions Club to host a softball thth tournament at Community Park on June 17 – 19. The Lions Club has run tournaments in our community for many years and have always done a great job. Staff would recommend approval of this request. The Lions Club has normally requested the option of making a donation to the Parks and Recreation Department in lieu of the normal rental fee for the fields. The donations have usually been larger than the rental fee and staff would support this option. Once again, the back two fields #5 and #6 would not be available for the tournament this year. MOTION by Ms. Larson, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve the request by the Fridley Lions Club to host a softball tournament at Fridley Community Park on June 17 – 19, 2016, at the normal facility fee rate or working out a donation to the Parks and Recreation Department in lieu of the rental fee. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Request to use Commons Park for City Celebration – Fridley 49er Days Mr. Kirk stated that the City celebration Committee for Fridley 49er Days has requested the use of Commons Park as the main site for the festival this year. The festival used Commons Park for the activities in 2015 and it worked out very well. Staff would be supportive of this request and would work with the 49er Committee on the appropriate layout of the activities. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve the request by the Fridley 49er Days Committee to use Commons Park on June 16– 18, 2016 for the festival activities. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Larson, to adjourn the February 1, 2016 meeting at 7:40 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 1, 2016 MEETING ADJOURNED.