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PRM 08/03/2015 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – AUGUST 3, 2015 CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairperson Ackerman called the August 3, 2015 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Fridley Municipal Center. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Michele Barrett, Dave Kondrick, Shanna Larson and Greg Ackerman Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation Mike Maher, Director of Springbrook Nature Center Doc Smith, EDS Builders Amanda Arnold, Partners and Sirny Architects APPROVAL OF JUNE 1, 2015 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2015 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR AUGUST 3, 2015 MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Larson, to approve the agenda for the August 3, 2015 meeting. 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 is a summary of the various activities and programs operated by the Parks and Recreation Department during the past couple of months. The Department is very involved in Fridley 49er Days and this year’s celebration was a good one. There was a new venue, with the event being held at Commons Park. It turned out to be a good site and he would support the festival returning again next year to the park. There were some weather issues this year on both Friday and Saturday nights of the festival, but most of the activities were not affected. Mr. Kirk further stated that the summer programs have been going very well, with some good participation numbers in the Summer ROCKS program and the nature camps. Moore Lake beach has been open since mid-June and the regular testing for bacteria levels has yielded low reading levels this year, which is good for the swimming water quality. Mr. Kirk stated that the annual Wet and Wild Water Carnival at Commons Park was held in July and had 250 children that participated. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 3, 2015 Page 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that this report has been submitted by Operations Manager for Streets and Parks Jeff Jensen and it indicates the work of the Park Maintenance division over the past two months. The Parks Maintenance workers have been working on all the athletic fields and getting facilities ready for the many programs. This time of year, there is a lot of use of the parks and the picnic facilities. The parks workers have been doing a nice job keeping up with the heavy demand. Mr. Kondrick asked if we had a lot of vandalism this summer. Mr. Kirk stated that fortunately we have not had many problems this year. Mr. Kirk stated that along with this Park Maintenance report, he wanted to give the Commission members a follow-up on some discussion that had taken place regarding Summit Square Park and a street construction project. He had received some information today from Public Works Director Jim Kosluchar about the project. Mr. Kosluchar has told him that storm water improvements for the area will be moving forward and the project will include an underground chamber exfiltration system at Summit Square Park. Mr. Kirk further stated that the chamber will be installed in the area of the open skating area of the park. The other facilities of the park, including the tennis court, basketball court and playground equipment will not be disturbed by the installation. This project will greatly improve the handling of storm water in this residential area. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Maher stated that the summer camps have experience some nice growth in participation numbers over the past couple of years and this year’s camps are going very well. Mr. Maher further stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation provides some scholarships for children with a financial need, in order for them to attend a summer nature camp. With help from a Minneapolis Foundation grant and support from Jerry and Patricia Harlaub, the Springbrook Foundation has provided $3,500 in summer camp scholarships this year. Ms. Larson asked how many children benefitted from these scholarships. Mr. Maher stated that it was around 20 children. Mr. Maher stated that a huge project for this year is the SPRING project and staff has been very involved in planning and design. The building redesign has been going well and at the same time the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation has continued the fundraising campaign. Mr. Maher further stated that another exciting project for this year is the planned replacement of the 850 foot floating boardwalk system. Bids are to be opened later this week and the plan is for the installation to occur in late summer and early fall. The Parks Capital Improvement Program has $250,000 allocated for the boardwalk replacement project. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 3, 2015 Page 3 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Softball Tournament Request – Spring Lake Park Softball Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received a request from Spring Lake Park Softball to use the Fridley Community Park softball fields for Fall State Tournaments the weekend of September 26 and 27. The girls tournaments would be for the 10 and under, and the 12 and under age groups. Mr. Kirk further stated that this is a late season request for a softball tournament and the football fields will be striped in the outfield areas of the softball fields. There is also the possibility that the Met Council Sewer Project will be underway and it could affect the two back softball fields at the park. If the tournament is approved, staff would need to communicate with Spring Lake Park Softball about these items affecting fields at the park. Mr. Kirk stated that Spring Lake Park Schools is one of four school districts in the City of Fridley and we have worked with them before on tournaments. Staff would recommend approval of the request with the understanding that we need to coordinate scheduling of the softball tournament with the adult football teams that are scheduled to use the park on Sunday afternoon. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Larson, to approve the request by Spring Lake Park Softball to use the Fridley Community Park on September 26 and 27 for State Softball tournaments. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b.2015 – ’16 Adult Winter Athletic League Fees . Mr. Kirk stated that each season, the staff brings recommended athletic league fees to the Parks and Recreation Commission for approval. At tonight’s meeting, we have the staff recommended fees for the winter adult athletic leagues. Some fees have not been increase for a few years. We try to keep the fees competitive with what other communities charge for similar league programs. The fees will cover all of our direct costs associated with these athletic leagues, such as equipment, supplies, officials, league awards and site supervisors. Mr. Kirk further stated that the recommended fees in the memo from Mr. McCoy shows a recommended fee increase for the basketball and volleyball leagues. The fees for the broomball and boot hockey leagues would remain the same as last year. The staff recommended fees for the 2015 – 2016 winter adult athletic fees are as follows: Wednesday Mens D Basketball ........... $515 Thursday Fun Basketball ..................... $515 Co-Rec Volleyball ................................ $165 Co-Rec Broomball ............................... $265 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 3, 2015 Page 4 Mens Broomball…………………………$265 Boot Hockey ........................................ $305 MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Ms. Larson, to approve the staff recommended 2015-2016 Adult Winter Athletic League Fees. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c.Springbrook Nature Center Building Re-Design . Mr. Kirk stated that this past May, bids were received on the remodel and expansion of the Springbrook Nature Center interpretive building. The bids came in well over the budget available for this project, so they were rejected and work got underway on making adjustments to the design of the facility. Department staff has been working with the architects, our construction manager, and our local Springbrook Project Committee to find ways to lower the costs on the building. Mr. Kirk further stated that he felt good about the re-design process and believes that the City will have a very nice facility to provide nature center activities and events. This re-design has trimmed approximately 1,500 square feet off the building that was bid out in May. Mr. Kirk stated that one of the key architects on the project was at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting this evening to explain the changes made to the facility in an attempt to bring in back into budget. He introduced Amanda Arnold of Partners and Sirny Architects. Ms. Arnold stated that a significant change since the original design was the removal of the two classroom spaces on the west end of the building. The gathering space or multi-purpose room was actually made a little larger and can now be divided into four smaller rooms or classrooms. Ms. Arnold pointed out on the plan that there will now be three operable partitions to create the separate learning areas. The previous design allowed for the gathering space to be divided into three classrooms. Ms. Arnold further stated that some changes were also made to the large vestibule area and the exhibit/entrance area near the reception desk. The main center corridor of the exhibit area was reduced from sixteen feet wide to twelve feet wide. The vestibule area was made smaller, as was the exhibit area. Most of the other areas have really remained unchanged since the original design. Ms. Arnold stated that the architects have been in contact with and worked together with Split Rock Studios, the company that is doing the design work on the exhibits. The coordination should result in a very nice nature center/learning facility. Mr. Ackerman stated that looking at the re-design does not feel like we are really losing that much space. He liked the re-design and feels this nature center building will be a great facility. Mr. Kondrick asked how many people could be accommodated in the gathering or multi- purpose room for an event. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 3, 2015 Page 5 Mr. Smith stated that the area should seat 210 to 240 people depending on the size and style of tables that would be used. Mr. Kirk stated that they really wanted to keep the multi-purpose room at a size that could accommodate at least 200 people. Mr. Ackerman stated that we heard after the bidding in May that the contractors were very busy at that time and either put in high bids or didn’t take the time to bid on the Springbrook project. Do we have confidence that we will get better bids this time around? Mr. Smith stated that he is getting calls from contractors already. They are telling him that they are looking for work for the fall. We do want to make sure that we are out of the ground before winter time with the construction. Mr. Ackerman asked if the delay was beneficial to our programming. In other words, did not being under construction during the busy summer programming time prove to be a positive? Mr. Maher stated that all of our summer camps have gone really well. The camps are the single biggest program revenue producer during the course of the year, so having them go well is very important. Mr. Ackerman stated he really likes the design and all the features to this project. This project is very impressive and is going to be really nice when completed. Mr. Kirk stated that he wanted to let the Commission know that he has received a resolution of support on the redesigned building from the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation Board of Directors. The resolution read as follows: “Based on the revised schematic design for the construction of the new and remodeled interpretive center at Springbrook Nature Center as presented to the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation Board on July 13, 2015, the Foundation Board recommends to the Fridley City Council approval of the Interpretive Center construction Project and that they authorize the seeking of construction bids for the Project.” Mr. Kirk stated that while the Fridley City Council is the final authority on proceeding with the project, he believes that it is important to the City Council to know that the Parks and Recreation Commission has reviewed the information and has a recommendation to forward to them. Mr. Ackerman stated that he is very pleased that Commission members Dave Kondrick and Mike Heintz have been able to be part of the local Springbrook Project Committee. They have kept the rest of the Commission up to date on the project and the revisions. He thanked them for their help with this project. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve and support the re- design of the Springbrook Nature Center Interpretive Building as presented at the Commission meeting this evening. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 3, 2015 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT 4. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to adjourn the August 3, 2015 meeting at 8:18 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON ACKERMAN DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE AUGUST 3, 2015 MEETING ADJOURNED.