Park & Recreation Advisory Board

Public Services – Parks & Recreation REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE ANOKA PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2024 COUNCIL WORK SESSION ROOM OF ANOKA CITY HALL 2015 FIRST AVENUE, ANOKA MN MEMBERS PRESENT: Derek Sebesta, Mark Beckenbach, Bob Erickson, Don Rowell, Kirk Schnitker, Anna Hauglie, Joe Anderla and Steve Nelson MEMEBERS PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Mary Blankenship STAFF PRESENT: Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator and Jon Holmes, Public Services Supervisor STAFF PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Nickie Jenks, Recreation Manager APPROVE MINUTES There being no additions or corrections to the January meeting minutes, a motion was made by Rowell, seconded by Beckenbach to APPROVE THE JANUARY 23, 2024 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. 9 AYES – 0 OPPOSED. Motion carried. OPEN FORUM None. NEW BUSINESS 2023 Year in Review LaCasse presented photos of all of the projects completed in 2023. (Slide show will be added to the website with the minutes) Projects Highlighted include: • Aquatic Center – floor resurfacing, boiler replacement, refurbished water slide, interior painting, and exterior mural • Main Street tunnel mural project • John Ward Bathroom Construction • John Ward Skate Park Planning/Design • Port of Anoka Overlook – Decking Replacement Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board February 27, 2024 Page 2 • Sidewalk extension on 7th Ave – South Street to E River Rd Maintenance Project Highlights • Design process and permitting for the West Rum River Trail (2024 construction) • Design process for Rum Riverbank Stabilization at Woodbury House continues • Purchased Roof Structure for Veterans Stage in Riverfront Memorial Park (2024 construction) • Playground Equipment for Highland Park (not installed) Grant Awards • West Rum River Trail o MN DNR Local Trail Grant $200,000 o $150,000 Local Match • Dam Feasibility Study Grant o $500,000 MN Dept of Commerce • 2022 EAB Grant o $150,000 July 2022 – June 2024 • MRAC Arts Grant o $15,000 grant for community arts • 2023 ReLeaf Grant o $5,570 – Professional training • 2023 Bonding Shade Tree Grant o $491,000 – contracts not signed yet • 4 Ave Rail Crossing on the Rum River Regional Trail th o FY 2025 o $556,000 Met Council Grant Award federal Carbon Reduction Program Funds o $150,000 Local Match Recreation Programs & Special Events Events & Activities Community Service • Kings Island - Buck Thorn Cutting & Tree Planting o Mississippi Park Connection • Lund Blvd Tree Planting o Bolt Hoffer Boyd Law Firm • Pick a Park o Akin Park (Daughters of the American Revolution) o George Green & Akin Park (Boy Scout Troop 513) o Rum Riverbank Clean Up (Skogquist/Scott Campaign Groups) • Adopt a Park o ANP Playground/Trailhead (Mattson Family) o ANP (Rum River Shores HOA) o Peninsula Point Park (Anoka Rotary) Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board February 27, 2024 Page 3 o Stout Pond Trail (Deco Pac) o Mississippi Community Park Entrance (Weston Woods) o Riverfront Memorial Park / Veterans Memorial – ACFD Relief Assoc. The board discussed projects that may not be able to be funded from the 2024 budget request. Blankenship commented that in all her years of being on the park board she has never seen the city in this sort of financial situation, LaCasse reminded the board that the park capital budget no longer gets large transfers in from the liquor store; there has been limited development occurring to generate park dedication as well. We have completed some very large projects in the last several years including Rudy Johnson Park reconstruction, the roof structure in Riverfront Memorial Park Stage, and the playground for Highland Park. 2024 Goals and Accomplishments The board discussed the projects for 2024 and came up with some goals for 2024. Projects for 2024 • Rum Riverbank Stabilization Woodbury House • Park System Beautification o Painting Exterior of buildings: senior center, aquatic center, sunny acres o Replace history signs at Peninsula Point Park o Replacing landscaping at several parks and along Main Street boulevards • Complete construction of West Rum River Trail Phase 1 • Complete Preliminary engineering and acquire easement for Rum River Trail 4th Ave Rail Crossing (Construction in 2025) • Complete construction of Veteran Stage Roof 2024 • Install Highland Park Playground – community build option 2024 Goals 1. Complete easement acquisition and pre-planning/engineering for Rum River Trail 4th Ave Rail Crossing project 2. Complete West Rum River Trail Phase 1 construction 3. Complete Construction of Veterans Stage Roof Structure 4. Install Highland Park Playground 5. Work with council to commit funding for future park redevelopment/enhancement projects and facility improvements 6. Align operating park budget and staffing needs with maintenance needs and standards of care 7. Identify long term funding strategy for park capital fund to support park system needs in the future 8. Pursue grant funding for future projects LaCasse explained that some of the park system’s largest playgrounds are nearing the 20-25 year mark and will need to be replaced/refurbished, so those projects will need to be worked into the budget soon. Blankenship commented that she has asked for the signs at Peninsula Point Park to be in the budget for 3 years, LaCasse was trying to do the sign replacements with Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board February 27, 2024 Page 4 the city beatification project but we may not have the funds available. Schnitker suggested putting together some history of revenues that park capital has received before and compare it to what is coming in now. Lacasse said she could ask the finance director to pull a 20-year snapshot of it all. The cost of construction materials and supply has gone way up as well, so that’s another factor. Hauglie asked if the community is ever involved to help build things like Highland Park, LaCasse said that the intention with Highland Park is to make it a community build. We did that with the Enloe playground, it still costs money, but it is still a cost savings to not pay a contractor to build it. Blankenship thinks the council needs to know which projects we are trying to accomplish with the park beatification project funds and list that out with the goals for 2024. A motion was made by Schnitker, seconded by Blankenship to APPROVE THE 2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND 2024 GOALS AS DISCUSSED AND AMENDED. 9 – AYES, 0 – OPPOSED. Motion carried. Anoka Aquatic Center Umbrellas/Shade Jenks brought a couple options to the board for shade. There are sail shades and tent structures available besides the funbrellas. The other structures are more hexagon shaped and there is a one pole umbrella from MN/WI playgrounds. The downfall is that the height of them is only 10 ft, that’s 10ft shorter than what is currently at the aquatic center. She also received a quote for what is currently installed, they would be about $6,000 each. There is sufficient budge to outfit each umbrella with new chairs and picnic tables. A couple of different placement options on the deck were reviewed. Erickson asked how often the fabric has to be replaced, LaCasse answered about 8-10 years so they hold up well. When they get rips we can take them to a place nearby to stitch them up. Sometimes the cable systems break but parts are available and our crewmembers can repair them. Jenks mentioned that the pricing went down significantly since the last time we bought these umbrellas. The expensive part is plastic deck chairs. Erickson asked if we could replace all the canvases with the project funds. Jenks said that is the plan, and she would also like to coordinate the colors so that a specific color is for the rental ones. Nelson asked if holes will have to be drilled in the concrete for the poles. LaCasse answered yes, the deck will have to be core drilled and care will need to be taken not to damage underground pipes. Placements will need to be verified. Hauglie suggested putting an umbrella by the zero entry area for the people with small kids that want to stay in that area. Staff mentioned that there is a lot of pipelines and mechanisms under the concrete in that area and the emergency vehicle entrance is right there, it can’t be blocked. So staff will have to figure out what will work in that corner. Beckenbach asked if we could find cheaper chairs. There are a couple options that Jenks is trying to work out, like potentially ordering with other aquatic facilities in the area for more of a bulk discount and just having one city as the “host” site. The other facilities would have to go pick up their chairs from the host facility. The boards recommended that staff moves forward with purchasing 3 funbrellas, new canvases for the existing umbrellas, and purchase new picnic tables and pool deck chairs. Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board February 27, 2024 Page 5 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Project Update – West Rum River Trail Phase 1 Bids Included in the packet is the bid results and the memo that has been prepared for council decision on March 4, 2024. The bid request was put out as a base package with 5 bid alternates. In a nutshell, bid alternate #1 and #2 go together and represents the northern trail spur. LaCasse explained that several council members did think it was important to have that piece for a future extension to the stone houses. Alternate #3 adds decorative concrete and paver accents to node A, B & C. They will be 3 points were the trail converges with Ferry St. Alternate #4 includes a stand for Iron Jack and decorative concrete along Ferry St. Alternate #5 is for the S-curve that comes down from Ferry St which would change out the bituminous and make that whole section concrete. It will be difficult to find a contractor that will be able to do both bituminous and concrete but it is a cost savings. Concrete would last longer and be more enjoyable for the public. Eleven bids were received with a large cost difference from $498,046 to $969,880. The lowest bidder was Sunram Construction. This bid was $75,000 under the engineers estimate. All combinations of base bid plus bid alternates confirm that Sunram Construction is the lowest bidder. To complete the entire project we are short just under $400,000. Staff recommendation would be, at a minimum, to do accept the base bid and alternates #1, #2 and #5 so it would not include the special elements. The City’s Finance Director has come up with 3 sources of funds that the council could choose to allocate to this project. Council could zero out the park dedication and park capital funds, take an internal loan from the redevelopment fund, or take an internal loan from Anoka Municipal Utility. Internal loan would be paid back through the tax levy starting in 2025. The finance director recommends that the funds come from an internal loan rather than zeroing out the park funds. The council is aware of the budget shortfall, and has requested park board input before making the final bid award. Holmes indicated that alternate #5 is essential for constructability, aesthetics and maintenance longevity. Nelson commented that if we don’t do the decorative elements now, it’ll never get done. Much discussion occurred regarding the intentions of the ‘Riverwalk’ project was to beautify the Ferry street corridor. That’s why the counseling center was moved. Multiple board members shared this concern and supported asking for consideration for the decorative elements as this is the entrance to the City from the west. The board discussed which alternates to go with the base bid would be the best recommendation. Multiple board members expressed concern regarding spending down all of the funds in the park accounts and supported asking council to consider the option of an internal loan for the project. A motion was made by Schnitker, seconded by Blankenship to RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BASE BIDS AND ALL THE ALTERNATES #1 - #5 ASSUMING AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCE IS AVAILABLE. 9 – AYES, 0 – OPPOSED. Motion carried. Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board February 27, 2024 Page 6 Project Update – Riverfront Park Veterans Stage Roof Construction has started, the manufacturer failed to send the hardware with the structure so we are just waiting on that so the installers can move forward. It will take them about 6 weeks to get the structure up and then we will have to do concrete where repair where they dug footings and we are replacing the grass strips with concrete. All 4 posts will be clad with gray granite to match the decorative elements in the rest of the memorial. COMMUNICATIONS Rockin’ on the Rum Concert Schedule All concert dates for the Rockin’ on the Rum 2024 series have been filled, the schedule is included in the packet and can be found on the city website. Staff is looking forward to having the shade structure for the bands and the patrons enjoying. There were a lot of donations from various businesses around the community for the concerts that helped us get some great performances. Jenks also included the themes for the Farmers Market. 3rd of July Celebration/10 Year Anniversary Castle Field Jenks and Lacasse are working with the Castle Field Association for the July 3rd celebration. There will be a band, bounce house, petting zoo, concessions and beer sales. CFA is planning a Legion alumni game, a community game of kickball, and bags tournament. We are creating a community celebration before the fireworks. Events will kick off right around 5pm. More details will follow. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Park Capital Account Balances and Revenues Adjournment There being no further discussion, a motion was made by Erickson, seconded by Rowell, to ADJOURN THIS REGULAR MEETING. 10 – AYES, 0 – OPPOSED. Motion carried. Time of adjournment 6:36 pm Respectfully Submitted, Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator