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PRM 02/04/2013 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – FEBRUARY 4, 2013 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Solberg called the February 4, 2013 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Tim Solberg, Greg Ackerman, Michele Barrett, Dave Kondrick Others Present: Jack Kirk, Parks and Recreation Director APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 3, 2012 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman to approve the minutes of the December 3, 2012 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR FEBRUARY 4, 2013 MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the agenda for the February 4, 2013 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 includes information on programs and activities during the past month. He wanted to call attention to the ENCORE program that Connie Thompson started in the recent past. It is geared for the 50 to 70 age group. The program, two weeks ago, featured Peter Vedonka, a man who escaped communist Czechoslovakia with his young family in the early 1980’s. It was a very good program and Connie is going to invite Mr. Vedonka back to speak at the next Veteran’s Day program. The next ENCORE program is this week on Thursday, with the group participating in the Fridley Community Theater’s special dinner theater performance of Steel Magnolias. Mr. Kirk further stated that the enrollment for the adult fitness program called ZUMBA continues to increase. There are 65 people enrolled in this high energy exercise class at the Fridley Community Center. ZUMBA is a blend of Latin and international music that utilizes dance steps and music to create a total body workout. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 4, 2013 Page 2 b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that the meeting packet included a report from Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist about activity of the Park Maintenance division during the past month. They have spent a lot of time working on the skating rinks and Dave said that he believes the rinks are getting a fair amount of use this year. thth The skating season normally comes to a close around the 15 to 17 of February each year, due to the growing intensity of the sun. Mr. Kirk stated that Mr. Lindquist informed him today that Gary Volk will be retiring at the end of March. Gary has been with the city Park Maintenance division for over 35 years. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that a bill has been introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives by State Representative Connie Bernardy to provide funding for the SPRING project in the amount of $5 million. The total cost of the SPRING project is expected to be $6.9 million, with the balance of the funds being raised privately by the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation. State Senator Barb Goodwin has introduced a bill in the Minnesota Senate with the same language as the House bill. Mr. Kirk stated that Mayor Lund, Springbrook Foundation Chair Malcolm Mitchell and Siah St. Clair have been meeting with Representatives and Senators during the past couple of weeks to provide information on the SPRING project. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Fridley Lions donated another $20,000 to support the SPRING project. This brings the Lions Club three year total donations to $60,000. The Lions have been a big community supporter of the Springbrook Nature Center and the Parks and Recreation programs. Mr. Kondrick stated that that this is a lot of money from this local organization and is a huge contribution to this project at the Springbrook Nature Center. The Parks and Recreation Commission thanks the Lions for their ongoing support. d. WinterFest th Mr. Kirk stated that the annual WinterFest was held on January 26 at Commons Park and the Fridley Community Center. We had approximately 500 people participate this, which was down a little from our record attendance in 2012. The event is geared for families and there were horse drawn hayrides, dog sled rides, skating, a medallion hunt, carnival games and a kid’s dance with a DJ. The Fridley Lions Club and the Fridley American Legion gave us some nice donations to help us pay for the activities offered at this special event. We received lots of very positive comments from the many Fridley families who attended this event. e. Siah St. Clair Retirement Mr. Kirk stated that Siah St. Clair has indicated that he will be retiring from his position as Director of the Springbrook Nature Center at the end of April. He has been with the City of Fridley for 35 years and has done outstanding work. Mr. Kirk further stated that the position opening has been advertised with a deadline for applications on February 22. With interviews to follow in late February and early March, we hope to have a new Director hired and brought on board in early to mid-April. This would allow the new person some time to work together with Siah. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 4, 2013 Page 3 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Softball Tournament Request – Fridley High School Mr. Kirk stated that Fridley High School has requested the use of the Fridley Community Park fields for a girls high school softball tournament on Saturday, May 4, 2013. This would be a one day tournament and the normal facility fee is $500. They have been doing this tournament for several years and staff would recommend approval of this request. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the Fridley High School Tournament Request to use the Community Park fields on May 4, 2013 for a high school girls softball tournament. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Softball Tournament Request – Fridley Lions Club Mr. Kirk stated that the Fridley Lions Club has requested use of the Fridley Community Park fields for a softball tournament during the Fridley 49er Days celebration. The Lions Club has a long history of running tournaments in our community and always do a great job. Staff would recommend approval of this request. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Lions Club often makes a donation to the City of Fridley in lieu of paying the weekend facility fee rate for a non-profit Fridley organization. If acceptable to the Commission, he would work with the Lions Club on a possible donation for this year instead of the facility fee. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Kondrick to approve the Fridley Lions Tournament Request to use the Community Park fields on June 28, 29 and 30, with a possible donation to the City in lieu of the normal facility fee charge. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. Youth Baseball Tournament Requests – Fridley Baseball Association Mr. Kirk stated that the next requests are for three baseball tournaments to be run by the Fridley Baseball Association. They would like to use the Little League fields 1, 2, 3 and 4 for a Majors 12 U House tournament on June 1 and 2. They would like to use the Little League Fields 1, 2, 3, and 4 for a Minors 10 U tournament on June 8 and 9. Finally, they would like to use the Little League Fields 1, 2, 3, 4, Commons 2 and 3 for a 10 U Rec State Championships on August 2, 3 and 4. Mr. Kirk stated that the normal facility fee is $75 per field for the weekend tournament. Any additional costs incurred by the City for the tournament such as for dumpsters or additional portable toilets would be charged back to the youth baseball association. Staff would recommend approval of these requests. MOTION by Mr. Ackerman, seconded by Mr. Kondrick, to approve the three youth baseball tournament requests by the Fridley Baseball Association use of: (1)the Little League Fields 1-4 on June 1 and 2 (2)the Little League Fields 1-4 on June 8 and 9 (3)the Little League Fields 1-4 and Commons fields 2 and 3 on August 2, 3 and 4. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – February 4, 2013 Page 4 d. Showmobile Rental Request – City of Spring Lake Park Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received an application for the showmobile rental from the City of Spring Lake Park for June 9, 2013. Spring Lake Park has rented the Showmobile for many years and we have never had any problems. Staff would recommend approval of this request. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the showmobile rental agreement with the City of Spring Lake Park for July 9, 2013. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. e. Showmobile Rental Request – City of Little Canada Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received an application for a Showmobile rental from the City of Little Canada for August 2 -4, 2013. They are a new applicant for renting our showmobile and have requested the same weekend as the City of St. Anthony, who has been renting the Showmobile every year. Mr. Kirk stated that we do not have a policy that reserves the Showmobile for past renters, nor do we have a policy that provides for first come, first serve on reserving the Showmobile. Mr. Kondrick stated that he believes that we should take care of our past customers first. The City of St. Anthony has rented us for many years and he feels we should honor their request. He would tell the City of Little Canada that we would be happy to look at renting to them on another weekend. The other Commission members agreed with Mr. Kondrick. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to deny the showmobile rental application by the City of Little Canada for August 2-4, 2013 due to a rental to a previous customer in the City of St. Anthony. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. f. Showmobile Rental Request – City of St. Anthony Mr. Kirk stated that the City has received an application for the showmobile rental from the City of St. Anthony for August 3, 2013. St. Anthony has rented the Showmobile for many years and we have never had any problems. Staff would recommend approval of this request. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the showmobile rental agreement with the City of St. Anthony for August 3, 2013. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to adjourn the February 4, 2013 meeting at 8:07 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOLBERG DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE FEBRUARY 4, 2013 MEETING ADJOURNED.