PRM 10/01/2012
CITY OF FRIDLEY
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – OCTOBER 1, 2012
CALL TO ORDER:
Acting Chairperson Kondrick called the October 1, 2012 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to
order at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Greg Ackerman, Michele Barrett, Dave Kondrick
Others Present: Jack Kirk, Director of Parks and Recreation
APPROVAL OF September 10, 2012 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES
MOTION by Mr. Ackerman, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the minutes of the September 10,
2012 meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 1, 2012
MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the agenda for the October 1, 2012
meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
1. STAFF REPORT
a. Program Update
Mr. Kirk stated that there is a Program Update included in the Commission meeting packet
with information on department programming over the past month. He wanted to call attention
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to the Get Fit Fridley event that took place on September 22 at the Fridley Community
Center. This event was coordinated by the District 14 Community Education staff and we
worked with them on this event. There were about 150 people that participated in this first
time event promoting health and wellness in our community.
Mr. Ackerman stated that his wife Sandy volunteered at the event and she spoke very highly
of it.
Mr. Kirk stated that the Senior Center offers a very interesting program called Great
Decisions. It is an opportunity to debate and discuss important issues of our time that are
impacting our world. The latest program was this past month and it focused on the issues in
Afghanistan. There were 17 seniors that participated in a lively discussion on this topic.
Mr. Kirk invited the Commission members to attend the annual Pumpkin Night in the Park
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event at Springbrook Nature Center on Saturday, October 20. Nature Center staff is busy
with the preparations for this major special activity and the goal is to have over 800 carved
and lighted pumpkins along the trail. The event always seems to draw large crowds to the
nature center each year.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – October 1, 2012 Page 2
b. Park Maintenance Report
Mr. Kirk stated that a written report of park maintenance activities for the last month is
included in the report as submitted by Parks Supervisor Dave Lindquist. Mr. Kirk feels it is
important that the Parks and Recreation Commission members hear about all of the work that
our Park Maintenance staff completes to keep our parks in such good condition for our
residents. They have a limited amount of staff, but they do a very nice job preparing the parks
for the recreation programs and for general public use.
c. Springbrook Nature Center Report
Mr. Kirk stated that several weeks ago he was contacted by a representative of the Minnesota
Tree Trust inquiring as to our interest in participating in a tree planting opportunity this fall.
After further discussion with this organization, the Minnesota Tree Trust has agreed to donate
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and plant 40 trees on the new Springbrook Nature Center berm on October 13. A
requirement for eligibility in this program was that the trees needed to go on public property
and the recipient needed to maintain the trees. Having an irrigation system in place on the
new berm allowed us to receive the trees with an estimated value of $6,000.
Mr. Kirk further stated that the Springbrook Nature Center staff and Springbrook Foundation
members are working with a group of engineers from Cummins Power Generation to apply for
a grant to add solar panels to the roof area of the nature center building. The solar equipment
would be expected to generate approximately ten percent of the nature center’s electrical
needs and would be an exhibit to the public showing the effectiveness of solar power.
Mr. Kirk further stated that there are also some additional items included in the written report
from Siah St. Clair that is in the agenda packet.
2. NEW BUSINESS
a.Request to use Commons Park Facilities for Cyclocross Event on October 28, 2012 to
Benefit FMS Physical Education Program
Mr. Kirk stated that this would be the third consecutive year that the Cyclocross race would
take place at the Fridley Middle School and Commons Park property. The request to use
Commons Park came for Bryan Butts, a Fridley Middle School Physical Education teacher.
They have used a small portion of Commons Park in the past two years and there have not
been any problems with this event. The area used for the race is just south of the youth
football field and the sliding hill area.
Mr. Kirk further stated that he would recommend approval of the request with the following
stipulations:
1. The City of Fridley be listed as an additional insured on the insurance policy
covering this event, in the amounts required by our city insurance carrier.
2. The School District agree to cover costs related to repairing any turf damage related
to this bicycle event.
3. The School District agree to cover any additional related costs for the event such as
portable toilets or garbage dumpsters.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – October 1, 2012 Page 3
MOTION by Mr. Ackerman, seconded by Ms. Barrett to approve the request by Fridley Middle
School to use Commons Park for a Cyclocross race on Sunday, October 28, 2012, with the
stipulations outlined by Parks and Recreation Director Kirk.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
b. 2012 – 2013 Skating Rink Locations
Mr. Kirk stated that staff is recommending the same skating locations as last year for the
hockey and general skating rinks this winter. The plan is to provide the one warming house at
Commons Park which can serve the participants of the two hockey rinks, the skating oval and
the sliding hill. The recommended locations call for 12 general skating areas and six hockey
rinks.
Mr. Kirk further stated that the general rinks would be at Briardale, Commons, Flanery,
Hackmann, Logan, Madsen, Ruth Circle, Springbrook, Summit Square and Sylvan Hills parks.
There would also be general rinks at Hayes and Stevenson Elementary schools. The hockey
rinks would include two at Commons Park and one at Flanery Park, Hayes Elementary,
Madsen Park and Stevenson Elementary.
Mr. Ackerman stated that he was at Commons Park recently and noticed that one of the rinks
had an asphalt surface and the other had a dirt or turf surface. Was that done for a reason?
Mr. Kirk stated that the asphalt base is to allow in-line skating and roller hockey during the
non-ice times of the year.
MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Ackerman, to approve the 2012 – 2013 skating rink
locations recommended by staff.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
c. Proposed 2013 Commission Meeting Schedule
Mr. Kirk stated that he has presented the Commission with a schedule of proposed meeting
dates for 2013. The schedule generally has the meetings on the first Monday of each month
starting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting in September would be on the second Monday because of
the Labor Day holiday. Also, there is not a July meeting scheduled.
MOTION by Mr. Ackerman, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to approve the 2013 proposed Parks
and Recreation meeting schedule as suggested by staff.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
d. 2013 Adult Softball League Fees
Mr. Kirk stated he is presenting the staff recommended fees for the 2013 Adult softball league
program. The fees being recommended are the same as 2012, as we are trying to increase
the number of teams participating in the leagues. We lost some teams during the years when
the Community Park facilities were being renovated and would like to bring the numbers back
up. We bring this to the Commission early in the fall, so we can publicize the information over
the winter months. We start registering teams in the softball leagues in February.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting – October 1, 2012 Page 4
Mr. Kirk stated that the staff recommended fees for 2013 are as follows:
Sunday Men’s $699
Mon – Thurs Men’s $769
Women’s $435
Friday Co-Rec $475
MOTION by Ms. Barrett, seconded by Mr. Ackerman to approve the staff recommended Adult
Softball League Fees for the 2013 season.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Mr. Ackerman, seconded by Ms. Barrett, to adjourn the October 1, 2012 meeting at 7:38
p.m.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE OCTOBER 1, 2012 MEETING ADJOURNED.