Park & Recreation Advisory Board

Public Services – Parks & Recreation REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE ANOKA PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024 COUNCIL WORK SESSION ROOM OF ANOKA CITY HALL 2015 FIRST AVENUE, ANOKA MN MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Nelson, Derek Sebesta, Mark Beckenbach, Bob Erickson, Don Rowell, Kirk Schnitker, Anna Hauglie and Joe Anderla MEMBERS ABSENT: Mary Blankenship STAFF PRESENT: Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator and Jon Holmes, Public Services Supervisor APPROVE MINUTES Take don’t out second one from bottom. There being no additions or corrections to the February meeting minutes, a motion was made by Erickson, seconded by Rowell to APPROVE THE MARCH 19, 2024 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. 8 AYES – 0 OPPOSED. Motion carried. OPEN FORUM None. NEW BUSINESS Draft – Park Audit LaCasse met with Nelson, Anderla, and Schnitker about the park audit and capital projects prior to the meeting. LaCasse supplied the board with a 58-page document that includes pages original 2040 comp plan and planned projects. LaCasse added ideas and recommendations for future improvements at various parks for the board to consider. The last few pages are the comprehensive plan project goals, so that the board could review and assess what has been completed thus far. Specifically, Rudy Johnson has been completed, John Ward is in progress, a disc golf course is still part of the goals, Riverfront Memorial and Station Park are in progress, development of the West Rum River Trail is being worked on, and the rail crossing project is on the books for next year. LaCasse said after talking at the sub-committee meeting, she went back and started adding items that she was already thinking about, she plans to go back and add more specific details to the parks. Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board March 19, 2024 Page 2 The spreadsheet of projects and budget figures was updated and a new version was handed out at the meeting. The document has changed from the one sent out with the packet. Page 1 includes the projects recommended for 2025 and the last page is 2024 projects and what we have already completed. Anderla stated that after reading the minutes about park dedication fund and transfers it makes him worry, there is a lot more to do in the parks than what will ever be covered with what we have. LaCasse reminded the board that the park dedication fund is only for new infrastructure and park capital is for existing amenities that need maintenance and to be refurbished. The general parks maintenance budget can handle the little $2,000-$3,000 purchases but when we get to items over $15,000-$20,000, then we need to start budgeting those as capital expenditures. The board wanted this put together so that we can go to council and get on a page of helping each other out. Nelson wants to know what they all agree on and how we can make this happen, so it’s not just one person’s idea. Anderla said if they take the time to read this they would get a good picture of what needs to be done. Beckenbach stated things have kind of just been band-aided to get by. LaCasse said Garfield tot lot is going away, the notice just needs to be sent to the neighborhood. Anderla said if council took the time to LaCasse reminded the board that Garfield is slated to be decommissioned as a park. Other parks have equipment that is 20 plus years old already. And, we still have some items that are a mix of old and new parts like a swing set frame from 1980 original that has been salvaged and painted with new swing components. Nelson asked if staff had a top 10 list for projects and what is not currently on this year’s goals. He said we need to stay with the annual beatification of like 50k per year to keep up. Nickie would like to get the locker room floors done. Staff has been told to work on the stone house bridge, HPC wants to refurbish the stone fireplaces but they don’t have a dedicated budget. Elm St Park will need a new playground very soon. Schnitker agrees with Anderla and be bolder in the things we are asking for and make a statement that says park dedication funds were a viable tool for new infrastructure but we need a reliable source of funding for major maintenance and replacement. He concluded that the board is continually evaluating the park system and projecting that lack of funding will be a problem and the impacts to the park system will be unacceptable as we push repairs out further in to the future. He suggested the capital budget be more of an advisory board push and not just staff wanting these things. Nelson suggested the need for a financial business plan for the parks that would help us prioritize future needs in the park system. We need to pay attention to items that have been deferred before we end up in a state that some of these cities you hear about. Sebesta asked if council is asking for a big draw park or are happy with the system. LaCasse said that has not necessarily been the case; it seems like they are in favor of the small neighborhood park. Staff said that they get the impression that each council member has a varying opinion of Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board March 19, 2024 Page 3 the state of the park system. We have some saying there is shortcomings in the park system and things wrong and there are others that don’t feel as much needs to be done. Nelson stated that as a board they need to prioritize what needs to be done, park board evaluation of the park system as a means to support the need for an annual capital funding plan that supports the maintenance and upkeep of the system and facilities as we reach 2040 What happens is that there’s this focus on down town like Riverfront and Akin Parks and the rest of the system loses focus. Hopefully, with the use of this document, the council can come up with the dollar amount that we can count on coming in each year. This shows why we need it and what we are using it for and this doesn’t include anything someone wants in a few years. The board discussed how to best organize the document and suggested chronological order and how to go about making a clear motion to council on how to get consistent funding. LaCasse indicated that the funding has been reduced and there has not been a contribution from Liquor. There is no dedicated balance transfer amount that she is aware of. City Manager in the past has told staff to plan projects and submit budget requests for items and let the council prioritize it. George Green Park is a perfect example, a previous council member squashed the rehab of the pavilion several years ago and now the building is in even worse condition. Anderla asked about the one council member who thinks the parks are fine and thinks they should actually be getting out and walking around and taking a deeper look at some of these things. Committee is meeting on April 29th at 2pm. Draft – Park CIP 5 Year Plan Staff will come back with a hard 5 year plan for the next meeting. LaCasse told the board if there is something we are not hitting on that they are noticing in their neighborhoods to let her know so that they can be added. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Project Updates • West Rum River Trail Phase 1 – construction has not started. Obtained the ROW permit from MNDot. Permit coming from LRRWMO. Trees should be marked for removal on Thursday. Staff will work to try to save some of the trees, as there are over 100 identified for removal – varying in size from 3” – 30”. Meeting with the HPC out there on Friday to talk about the Giddings Gardens and where the trail crosses through the gardens. Hopefully we have an authorization to proceed from the MN DNR by May 1st. Construction is estimated to take 8-10 weeks once it begins. • Riverfront Park Veterans Stage Roof – front medallion is on, they will begin working on the cedar planking underneath and then the steel roof, electric will install the lights one the ceiling is installed. The final step will be the granite around the posts. We will need to do some landscape repair before Memorial Day. COMMUNICATIONS Community tree planting Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board March 19, 2024 Page 4 Cancelling the firewood harvest May meeting at 5:30pm ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING 5 year CIP plan Adjournment There being no further discussion, a motion was made by Sebesta, seconded by ERICKSON, to ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING. 8 – AYES, 0 – OPPOSED. Motion carried. Time of adjournment 8:13 pm Respectfully Submitted, Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator