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PRA 10/01/2018 City of Fridley Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Oct. 1, 2018 AGENDA DATE: Oct. 1, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. LOCATION: Fridley Municipal Center – Meeting Room 1 CALL TO ORDER APPROVE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES OF: Sept. 10, 2018 APPROVE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA: Oct. 1, 2018 STAFF REPORT 1. a. Program Update (attached) b. Springbrook Nature Center Report (attached) NEW BUSINESS/ACTION ITEMS 2. a. Recognition of outgoing member Greg Ackerman UNFINISHED BUSINESS/STAFF REPORTS: 3. a.Update on civic campus move b.Commission Applications c.Other ADJOURNMENT 4. Next Meeting: Nov. 5, 2018 at the Fridley Municipal Center – Meeting Room 1. CITY OF FRIDLEY PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – SEPT. 10, 2018 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Heintz called the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Greg Ackerman, EB Graham, Mike Heintz, Dave Kondrick, Shanna Larson Others Present: Deborah Dahl, Director of Community Services and Employee Resources Jeff Jensen, Operations Manager – Streets and Parks APPROVAL OF AUG 6, 2018 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Mr. Ackerman requested a correction be made to adjust the Meeting Minutes should read Aug. 6, 2018 (not Sept. 10, 2018). MOTION by Mr. Kondrick to approve the Aug. 6, 2018 of the Park and Recreation Commission as amended, seconded by Ms. Larson. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HEINTZ DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. APPROVAL OF PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA FOR SEPT 10, 2018. MOTION by Mr. Kondrick, seconded by Ms. Graham, to approve the agenda for the Sept. 10, 2018 meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HEINTZ DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 1. STAFF REPORT a. Program Highlights Ms. Dahl reviewed key points from the Program Highlights and the Springbrook Nature Center Report for July/August. b. Staff Reports Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jeff Jensen reported the parks maintenance staff has been very busy this month. They finished up the last of the tree plantings with volunteers today, which was part of a DNR grant. They planted trees at Edgewater Gardens Park along the trail and boulevard and encouraged members to go out to the location and view the site. Mr. Jensen reported that he has been working on the early stages of the Parks Master Plan, which will solicit the input from the Parks Commission as well as the EQEC Commission. He said both he and Ms. Dahl will be meeting with the EQEC Commission on Sept. 11 to let them know some of the activities that staff is working on. Mr. Jensen said that the Parks Master Plan is just underway and will be addressing a number of areas such as ADA requirements, energy, environmental needs, improving water quality, storage, and hopes to be looking for grant opportunities. Mr. Kondrick encouraged staff to continue to find grants and alternative revenue sources and save money where possible. 1 Meeting Minutes – Fridley Park and Recreation Commission (Sept. 10, 2018) Chair Heintz suggested staff look at ways and opportunities for collaborating with Blaine and Coon Rapids. Ms. Dahl thanked Chair Heintz and would commit to continue working with neighboring cities. Mr. Jensen updated the Commission on the Springbrook Nature Center Pavilion project and said that staff is continuing with its research and looking at the requirements of the bidding process to comply with state regulations. Mr. Jensen said he is very excited about the project and will continue to provide the Commission with updates. 2. NEW BUSINESS/ACTION ITEMS a. DNR Grant Request – Restoration Plan for Springbrook Nature Center and West Moore Lake Sand Dunes Ms. Dahl reviewed the DNR grant request from Springbrook Director Mike Maher to develop a restoration plan and removal of invasive species (including Buckthorn) and promote growth of native species at Springbrook Nature Center as well as at the West Moore Lake Sand Dunes. The grant is $37,000 with a $4,200 match provided by a third-party for in-kind contribution of labor. The project would be conducted in the fall of 2018 and go through the spring of 2021. Staff is recommending Natural Resources Restoration (NRR) for the third-party contribution, who has worked with the City and Springbrook for a number of years to help provide habitat improvements. Mr. Kondrick motion to approve staff’s recommendation to submit the application to the DNR for the restoration plan, seconded by Mr. Ackerman. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HEINTZ DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. b. Review of Permit Application Ms. Dahl discussed the City’s current permit application and special use application, stating that staff will be working to improve the application to provide additional guidance and clarity on using facilities for larger events. Over the last six (6) months, staff have had requests for use of parks and shelters, which have been confusing for residents when making reservations. Staff will be working to clarify capacity, restroom accommodations, parking capacity, and other items to assist the user with making decisions related to park/shelter reservations. Once a revised draft is completed, staff will provide it to the Commission for their input and consideration. Mr. Kondrick supported the idea in the form of a motion and Mr. Ackerman seconded. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HEINTZ DECLARED. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS/STAFF REPORTS: a. Update on Moore Lake Beach Ms. Dahl provided an update to the Commission that staff have received no verbal or written complaints about the closing of Moore Lake Beach. She said, however, there have been about six (6) inquiries as to the reason for the decision, but not formal complaints. b. Updates on Civic Campus move, Locke Park Playground and Recreation Software Ms. Dahl reported that the new Civic Campus will be open mid-November with an expected move-in date on 11/13. She said there will be more information to come. 2 Meeting Minutes – Fridley Park and Recreation Commission (Sept. 10, 2018) The Locke Park playground has been removed due to the redevelopment along the southern end of the Civic Campus project. The designs and plans for the reconstruction of the newer playground on the southeast side of the project are still in the development stage. Staff will keep the Commission updated as to the project is it develops. The new registration software is still under the test phase and will likely go-live at the end of November. c. Enrollments and Shelter Revenue Ms. Dahl reviewed the report of year-to-date program enrollments with the Commission, stating staff will continue to look at fees related to shelter revenue and ways to improve interest and participation. d. Brochure Ms. Dahl referenced the new fall brochure and activities flyer that went into the City Newsletter the first week in September and will be a part of the City Newsletter every other month. Commission members commented that they really liked the new format. e. Commission Application An application was included in the packet for members to provide to any interested candidates for the Park & Recreation Commission. ADJOURNMENT UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL MEMBERS VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON HEINTZ DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE SEPT. 10, 2018 AT 8:10 P.M. - MEETING ADJOURNED. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Dahl, Director of Community Services and Employee Resources 3 Meeting Minutes – Fridley Park and Recreation Commission (Sept. 10, 2018) 1a Community Services/Employee Resources UPDATE Recreation Division September 2018 Page 1 Senior Open House was held at the Fridley Community - - - - - - - th - Coming Soon... th Pumpkin Night in the Park 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. October 20 th th Springbrook Nature Center Buckthorn Removal October 27 and November 3 thrd Innsbruck Nature Center Recycling Event 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. November 10 th Green Lights Recycling, 1525 99th Lane NE, in Blaine 1b Springbrook Nature Center Monthy Report – September 2018 Summer day camps wrapped up at Springbrook. We had a great staff of four seasonal naturalists who provided a fun and educational experience for campers with 540 enrollments for our week long nature day camps and two, one-day family camps. This generated nearly $65,000 of revenue for Springbrook. Authorization was given to proceed with resurfacing of the interpretive center EIFS with a product warrantied against woodpecker damage for 10 years. The project cost is considerable at $44,000 and will come from the Springbrook Reserve Funds, which has about $160,000 in it. We received wonderful news on June 19 th that our grant to the MN DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant Program was approved in full in the amount of $150,000. A required match from existing park CIP funds was approved at the March 26 City Council meeting. th A staff committee consisting of Debbie Dahl, Mike Maher, Jeff Jensen and Engineer Nic Schmidt has been formed to develop a plan to complete the design of the pavilion and see it through the construction bidding process. The Springbrook Foundation Development Committee continues to meet to discuss fundraising and opportunities to secure in-kind donations for the project. The four part summer concert series was completed with a performance by Tina Schlieski, known for her work with Tina and the B Sides, on August 14. th A series of found Discovery Dinners is planned for the winter months. Details can be found at: http://www.springbrooknaturecenter.org/821/Discovery-Dinners. One highlight is sure to be an astronomy program with WCCO’s Mike Lynch on Saturday, January 12 th. Three fall Friday Night by Firelight events will be held in September. A visit from Professor Owlbert Eyeshine on September 7 th attracted a crowd of 85. Mad Science and The Life of a MN Voyageur will be held on the 21 st and 28 th respectively. These, along with the summer concerts, were made possible by the Nee Family and Magenic in honor of Kay Bonner Nee and William Nee. School programming has begun with Springbrook Staff visiting Hayes and Stevenson Elementary Schools, Adams Elementary and Fridley Middle School. Springbrook staff continues to work alongside Recreation staff to configure our new registration software, Perfect Mind. This has proven to be a very time consuming process yet we are very excited to have a more user friendly interface for customers and staff alike. A November launch is planned.