Loading...
06-06-2022 PARK COMMISSION MEETING June6, 2022 7:00 PM st Locke Park Pavilion, 840 71Ave. NE Fridley, MN 55432 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Heinzcalled the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting to order at 7:00p.m. PRESENT Mike Heintz EB Graham Peter Borman Ken Schultz Shanna Larson Mike Maher, Community Services Director Mayor Scott Lund Karen Blaska, Anoka County Parks Planner APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by CommissionerLarsonto approve the Agenda with the change to move agenda item 3, Anoka County Rice Creek West Regional Trail Master Planning Process, to item 2. SECONDEDby Commissioner Graham. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Approval of March 7, 2022 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes MOTION by CommissionerLarsonto APPROVE the May2,2022meeting minutes. SECONDED by CommissionerBorman. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 2.Anoka County Parks Rice Creek West Regional Trail Master Planning Process Karen Blaska, Anoka County Parks Planner, presented an update on Anoka County Parks plans to create a new master plan for the Rice Creek West Regional Trail. This is a four-mile segment of trail which runs through several City of Fridley parks as well as Locke County Park, which is owned by the City of Fridley but operated byAnoka County under a Joint Powers Agreement. Park Commission 6/06/2022 Minutes Page 2 Ms. Blaska provided an overview of the Anoka County Parks system including parks, trails and facilities. She outlined the history of Locke Park and how it had come to be operated by a Joint Powers Agreement. Both the Rice Creek Trail Master Plan and Joint Powers Agreements were over 40 years old and need updates. Ms. Blaska shared an overview of the process that Anoka County will undertake to work in partnership with the City of Fridley to update the Master Plan and Joint Powers Agreement. Ms. Blaska indicated that Anoka County Parks was currently gathering input from community stakeholders and that she would like to hear from the Commission with their thoughts on park and trail improvements. Mayor Lund stated that the Fridley City Council would like to work in close partnership with Anoka County to provide input to the Master Plan and Joint Powers Agreement because the City of Fridley is the landowner. He stated that a lack of clarity in the Joint Powers Agreement has resulted in neglected maintenance in the parks and trails operated under the agreement. Mayor Lund detailed the desires of the City to have more input in the future vision of the park and trails and outlined the desires of the City for accessible trails, more available restroom facilities, improved signage and increased removal of trees and debris on the Rice Creek waterway. Chair Heintz requested that Anoka County attend a future meeting to provide an update on the been incorporated. 3. Moore Lake Park Community Building Update Community Services Director Mike Maher provided an update to the Commissioners on the initial concept design process for a community building at Moore Lake Park. Mr. Maher shared that the City of Fridley has selected Ortel Architects to work on the project. He indicated that staff had shared program requirements for the building such as a gathering room, restrooms available from the exterior and views to the lake. Mr. Maher shared four concept layout schemes with the Commission and indicated that there are th plans to share refined concepts with the City Council at their June 27 Conference meeting. Commissioners would be welcome to attend this meeting. 4. 2022-2023 Parks and Recreation Commission goals Mr. Maher shared a list of proposed goals with the Commission including refinement of Parks and Recreation policies, serving as a resource for the park System Improvement Plan, review of parks capital investment and providing recommendations on programs. Mr. Borman indicated that he would like to see more contact with representatives from community athletic associations. Ms. Larson shared a goal for the Commission to play a more active role in providing recommendations to the City Council. OLD BUSINESS STAFF REPORTS 5. Springbrook Nature Center Report Mr. Maher provided an update on May activities at the nature center. He indicated that spring season field trips have grown in number and that summer seasonal staff was being trained for the summer th day camps, which begin the week of June 13. 6. Fridley Parks and Recreation Report Mr. Maher provided an update on hiring and training of summer seasonal staff. He reported that the th summer ROCKS program will begin the week of June 13 and would be held at Fridley Middle School. 7. Park Maintenance and Construction Report Mr. Maher reviewed the report prepared by Jeff Jensen, Operations Manager for Streets, Parks and Facilities. It was reported that much of the parks maintenance team has been focused on preparing all of the athletic fields for spring and summer sports. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Larson made the MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 p.m., SECONDED by Commissioner Schultz. The MOTION PASSED unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Mike Maher Community Services Director