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PRM 03/05/2012 CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – MARCH 5, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairperson Sibell called the March 5, 2012 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Marcy Sibell, Michele Barrett, Mike Heintz Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 6, 2012 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve the minutes of the February 6, 2012 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR MARCH 6, 2012 MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the agenda for the March 6, 2012 meeting as submitted by staff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Update Mr. Kirk stated that the Program Update includes a report of activities and events in the past month. He wanted to call special attention to a couple of programs. Margo Prasek organized a Red Cross Babysitter’s Training program for youth ages 11 to 14. There were 14 participants that passed the course and are receiving Red Cross certification cards. Mr. Kirk further stated that there were several Valentines Day related special events. There was a Valentines Day party at each of the Fridley Elementary Schools with 168 students participating at Stevenson and 61 students at Hayes Elementary. The ZONE Valentines Day party had an attendance of 172 Middle School students. The Springbrook Nature Center Polliwog Valentines program had a total of 28 participants. Mr. Kirk stated that the Senior Center had another very successful Mardi Gras event on February 21 with over 150 seniors attending. He wanted to thank Commission members Mike Heintz and Dave Kondrick for volunteering to help at the event. The Senior Advisory Board donated $600 worth of prizes. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – March 5, 2012 Page 2 Mr. Kirk further stated that the senior tax assistance program is in full swing for the year and the AARP tax advisors really provide a nice service to many seniors in our community, helping them complete their tax returns. Mr. Kirk stated that he also wanted the Commission members to know that staff is working on an upgrade to the on-line registration system, which will include many new features and make it easier for people to register for programs. It should be completely up and running in about another month. Mr. Kirk also wanted the Commission member to know that the Fridley 49er Days activities will be moving from Commons Park to the Moon Plaza Shopping Center this year. The 49er Days Committee really felt that being right on University Avenue will provide much needed visibility for the events. b. Park Maintenance Report Mr. Kirk stated that Mr. Lindquist was not in the office last week and there is not a park maintenance report tonight. There will be a report for February and March at the next meeting. c. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center staff is working on a new bird migration exhibit for the nature center’s exhibit room. Funding for this exhibit was received from the Xcel Foundation in 2011. The exhibit should be ready by early summer. Mr. Kirk further stated that the Springbrook Nature Center held its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Saturday, February 11. Staff really does a nice job recognizing the many people who give of their time to make the Springbrook activities and events such a success. There were 106 people that attended the recognition event. In 2011, there 1,151 volunteers that worked 16,500 hours. Mr. Kirk stated that the Springbrook Nature Center Foundation held its first fundraising breakfast at the th nature center on February 15 with 30 people in attendance. Nearly $4,000 was donated or pledged toward the SPRING project. d. Council-Commission Survey Mr. Kirk stated that the annual Council-Commission Survey will be coming out soon and he would appreciate the Parks and Recreation Commission members taking time to complete this survey. The information gained is very valuable information for the City to move forward in planning projects and direction. Mr. Kirk stated that there will likely be four questions from the Parks and Recreation area in this year’s survey. One question will deal with the loss of the Senior Worker that has provided twenty hours per week of office coverage for us at the Senior Office. A second question will deal with security cameras in the parks. A third question will deal with options for replacing or repairing the long floating boardwalk at Springbrook Nature Center, and the fourth question will be about replacing the nature center exhibit room translucent roof. Mr. Kirk stated that the City Council would like to meet with the Parks and Recreation Commission in May to discuss the survey results. e.Springbrook SPREE Event Mr. Kirk stated that the annual Springbrook Nature Center Foundation SPREE fundraiser is set for th Saturday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Murzyn Hall in Columbia Heights. This is always a very nice event and raises money to support the nature center programs and facilities. The Commission members are invited to attend. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – March 5, 2012 Page 3 2. NEW BUSINESS a. Showmobile Rental Request – City of St. Anthony Mr. Kirk stated that the City received a request from the City of St. Anthony to rent the Showmobile for an event on August 4, 2012. We have rented to them several times in the past and there haven’t been any problems. Staff would recommend approval of this rental request at the normal rental rates plus transportation costs. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to approve the Showmobile rental request by the City of St. Anthony for August 4, 2012 at the normal rental rates plus transportation costs. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Softball Tournament Request – Fridley Covenant Church Mr. Kirk stated that Fridley Covenant Church would like to use the Fridley Community Park softball fields on Saturday, July 21, 2012 for a one day softball tournament event. They had a tournament like this last year and it went well. Staff would recommend approval of this request at the regular one day facility fee rate. MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the request by Fridley Covenant Church for use of the Community Park on July 21, 2012 at the regular facility fee rate. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. c. May Commission Meeting Date Change Mr. Kirk stated that the City Council would like to meet with the Parks and Recreation Commission on st Monday, May 21 starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending about 7:15 p.m. Instead of having a regular th Commission meeting on Monday, May 7 and then having this second meeting on May 21, the Commission could combine both meetings on the same evening if so desired. The regular Commission business meeting could immediately follow the discussion with the City Council about the survey on May st 21. MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Heintz, to change the regular Parks and Recreation Commission meeting date from May 7, 2012 to May 21, 2012. The regular meeting will immediately follow the 6:00 p.m. meeting with the City Council to discuss the Council-Commission survey results. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 4. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Mr. Heintz, seconded by Ms. Barrett to adjourn the March 5, 2012 meeting at 7:52 p.m. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON SIBELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MARCH 5, 2012 MEETING ADJOURNED.