Park & Recreation Advisory Board

Public Services – Parks & Recreation REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE ANOKA PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024 COUNCIL WORK SESSION ROOM OF ANOKA CITY HALL 2015 FIRST AVENUE, ANOKA MN MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Nelson, Derek Sebesta, Mark Beckenbach, Don Rowell, Kirk Schnitker, Anna Hauglie, Mary Blankenship and Joe Anderla MEMBERS ABSENT: Bob Erickson STAFF PRESENT: Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator, Jon Holmes, Public Services Supervisor and Nickie Jenks, Recreation Manager APPROVE MINUTES There being no additions or corrections to the April meeting minutes, a motion was made by Schnitker, seconded by Beckenbach to APPROVE THE APRIL 16, 2024 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. 8 AYES – 0 OPPOSED. Motion carried. OPEN FORUM None. NEW BUSINESS Park Capital Improvement Plan for 2025 and 5-Year Plan The board received a handout not included in the packet. The first page is the park dedication fund history and balances. There have been no contributions into Park Dedication (from new development) since 2022, the ending balance is $230,000. The second page is the park capital fund, there are no projects proposed in 2025 for park dedication. The highlighted dollar amounts are grant funding payments for the Rum River Riverbank restoration project (north of Woodbury House) cannot be used towards anything other project. The balance in park capital is $103,000, which will not support the projects that we currently had planned for 2024. The 2024 approved projects included the system-wide beautification project ($125,000), for purchasing easements for 4th Ave ($30,000) ahead of the trail project, and pre-engineering ($80,000) for the 4th Ave Trail crossing that project. LaCasse said we should focus on identifying what the boards priorities are and council will have to figure out how to fund it, which would most likely be transfers from electric or the general Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board May 21, 2024 Page 2 levy fund. The cities finance director has indicated that for every $100,000 needed to be transferred out of the general fund equates to 1% on the tax levy. Nelson asked if there needs to be a written rationale for these projects for the council. LaCasse said projects requested/supported by the park board are usually fairly easy to defend. There has been a significant amount of money spent on updating parks within the park system in the past 7 years. The 3rd bridge at Mississippi River Community Park has been in discussion because the new trailhead parking lot off HWY 10 which was constructed as part of the Ramsey HWY 10 reconstruction project. Taking a closer look at 2025 and what we absolutely have to commit to is the Rum River Trail connection at the railroad tracks. The city construction match is $150,000 and Anoka County has committed $30,000. Ahead of the project construction is $80,000 for engineering and $30,000 to purchase easements. The city will have 2 years to construct the trail crossing once the grant contract is signed. Nelson asked why the engineering costs don’t come out of the engineering budget. LaCasse said its because that fund is used for the streets and sidewalks, so reconstruction projects and bigger ticket projects. The capital budget is usually reserved for the major projects like items over $10,000-$20,000. Anderla commented that the park dedication fund is something that can’t be depended on, and the general fund is dependent on the electric department and the success of the liquor store. LaCasse said Park Capital used to received annual transfers of $50,000 - $80,000 transfers from the liquor store but in the last few years it has gone down to $20,000 and in 2024 the transfer was $0. The boat slip revenue has been identified as a source of funding to support river related projects like dredging and not for park capital. When we added the Akin North Slip system we borrowed funds from the SAC/WAC fund which will be paid back from slip rental revenues each year (but this year we don’t have those slips installed because of possible dredging and moving the Akin system to Peninsula Point Park for the season). Anderla mentioned that he is a little scared, if we are looking at a project like Riverfront Park and then all of a sudden, we can’t do it if we don’t have the funding and the project just quits. Lisa said the council would just have to commit funding like the West Rum River Trail. Rowell said all council is worried about is the golf course. Anderla said that what bothers him, they are so focused on Greenhaven and what’s going to happen is when we need money they won’t have it because they just spent millions on a golf course. Nelson said that what joe is saying is, we have lost track of our process and they need to gain back control of that process. There are projects in the budget that the board hasn’t even approved, like the stone fireplaces in Akin and the Storehouse Bridge. Items listed under park rehab projects, some of them are small enough that we could do them with our regular maintenance budget and not necessarily have to do them all as one thing. We have also been looking scaling down projects like the benches and garbage can at Stout Pond. There are 13 benches and 13 garbage cans on the 1.0 mile loop seems a bit excessive. This year intended to do a $125,000 and hit it hard but we don’t have the funds available. LaCasse is still hoping to do the Pen Point story boards in 2024. Looking at 2025 three things that are essential, 4th Ave rail crossing, Rum River trail reconstruction (south of high school), reached out to Anoka county for some funding since it’s a regional trail. LaCasse inquired to the County Parks Director about sharing in maintenance costs for the Rum River Trail; the response was favorable, Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board May 21, 2024 Page 3 indicating that after 25 years of claiming it as a regional trail that they agree that a joint powers agreement should be entered and they are willing to share maintenance costs going forward. If there is anything from 2026 that the board wants moved forward we can do that. If you may recall, the sunny acres tennis court rehab did not work so it also will require a full rehabilitation. Holmes opinion is that it was built substandard and that’s why is failing. Beckenbach stated that the amount of use of the Sunny Acres pickle ball courts warrants a full reconstruction, it’s used for tennis and pickleball by many people every day. There are 3 tennis and 4 pickle ball. Beckenbach asked if we were to rebuild do we need to maintain 3 tennis and can we expand the pickle ball courts? Nelson said there permanent nets at sunny and George Enloe, but Rudy Johnson and Highland Park people can bring portable nets. Nelson mentioned that he supported rebuild sunny acres and it makes more sense than doing rick Sorenson. Sorenson Park is used much. LaCasse said the courts are in rough shape, the fields aren’t used very much, the playground will soon be due for replacement, and the building is in rough shape. She suggested that Sorenson should have a full re-envision/reconstruct project like we did at Rudy Johnson with public comment and not pursuing reconstruction of the tennis courts until that is done. A full reconstruction would be well over a million dollar project that would likely take multiple years to complete. Hauglie inquired about the revenue generation from the boat slips. LaCasse indicated that the slips at the Akin boat launch generates about 40,000, and Akin north once the loan is repaid, has the capacity to generate 21,600-28,800, Riverfront and Rum River north combined is about $10,000. Council has discussed using boat slip revenue for river projects like dredging. Hauglie asked if boat slip funds could be used for the pedestrian bridge at the dam since it’s over the river, LaCasse, said possibly. Nelson questioned the budget estimate of $100,000 for King Park? LaCasse responded that amount would include a new playground, curbing for fall surface containment, and rehab of the shelter. She indicated that a turnkey small playground costs at least 50k for the equipment, installation and fall surfacing and if we need to replace a shelter or add curb/sidewalk than $100,000 will barely be enough. Anderla asked if any improvements were needed to the duck blinds at the nature preserve for the Waterfowl for Warrior program. Holmes, responded that there are always more additions we could do like dig hunting pits to make them ADA accessible. Nelson and Schnitker agree, but were unsure about what kind of dollar amount to throw at it. Crew could dig the pits and build the retaining wall. Nelson asked if the duck blinds at Kings Island need anything done to them. Holmes replied that staff has. Holmes confirmed that staff has rebuilt them a couple of times and aside from major vandalism, they seem to be holding up. Nelson send the 5 year plan forward and make changes as needed with the duck blind update to 2027, Blankenship motioned, Schnitker seconded. Motion Passed 8 Ayes 0 Nays Weather & Environmental Conditions Closure Procedure for Aquatic Center Jenks is bringing this forward in response to past summers with air quality alerts related to heat and wild fires and wanted to add this in to the Aquatic Center inclement weather procedures so that we have something in writing. Jenks asked for the park board’s input and support. The last Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board May 21, 2024 Page 4 couple of years this has become an issue. LaCasse indicated that it is frustrating when some facilities have these policies in place and they close down – causes questions for staff as to why we don’t. Wanted to start with this at the pool and expanding it to the concerts in the parks, farmers market, and other city events. Last year, we had a couple bands cancel because of air quality. Sebesta asked where the Air Quality policy was borrowed from and Jenks said she used South Saint Paul and Bloomington to model the policy. Beckenbach motioned Sebesta seconded. Motion Passed 8 Ayes 0 Nays UNFINISHED BUSINESS Project Updates  West Rum River Trail Phase 1 – hasn’t started yet, new slightly shifted alignment of 8 feet through the Giddings Gardens. Some additional engineering but will result in a really nice layout of the trail. Waiting for construction documents and change order for the contractor. Nelson asked if we had a cost estimate update for the changes. Staff does not know yet. Probably an additional 10k in Engineering. All permits in place and authorized to go. Just waiting for the last few things now to get the contractor mobilized. Hopefully, by next meeting construction will started  Riverfront Park Veterans Stage Roof – stage is up, waiting on granite cladding around the posts, some sprucing up the next couple of days to prepare for the memorial service for Monday, mid-June will probably come back to do the granite. COMMUNICATIONS  Highland Park moving towards a playground build the week of July 10th.  Rudy Johnson significant vandalism, the varnish came off the building when they removed the paint so the repairs will be difficult. 6 kids ages 12-14, 1 is known to be involved in the Sorenson Park incident from last fall. The damage took 3 crew a full 8 hours to clean all the graffiti, back side of Washington Campus, spray painted cars, street signs, portable toilet, and sidewalks. Will go to insurance, and hopefully restitution; current estimates are adding up to about $3,000 with just our repairs so far.  Aquatic Center opens for the season on May 25  Anoka Conservation District has started prepping for the pollinator garden at Bob Ehlen Park - they have sprayed the grass and eventually will tilling up the area to be planted in pollinator friendly plants. They are preparing info signs to be placed on site.  Over the last couple of years trending away from annual flowers this year will be planting perennial bulbs in many of these areas include Main Street medium behind the clock at Second Ave. Sourced 600 flower bulbs; some are pollinator specific. ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Regular Meeting of the City of Anoka Parks and Recreation Advisory Board May 21, 2024 Page 5 Project updates Budget update Adjournment There being no further discussion, a motion was made by anderla, seconded by Blankenship, to ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING. 8 – AYES, 0 – OPPOSED. Motion carried. Time of adjournment 7:40 pm Respectfully Submitted, Lisa LaCasse, Public Services Administrator