Old - Parks & Recreation Board

BELGRADE PARK AND RECREATION BOARD DRAFT MEETING MINUTES City Hall September 14th, 2021 6:30 PM Park Board Chairperson Perry called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Park Board members in attendance were Chairperson Diana Perry and Board members Jim Simon, Renae Mattimoe, and Vivian Crouse. City staff in attendance were Public Works (PW) Director Steve Klotz and PW Admin Assistant Lisa Blank. This meeting was via ZOOM and was recorded. Action: Chairperson Sarna motions to approve Meeting Minutes from August 11th, 2021 meeting. Board member Simon seconds the motion. All in favor Public Forum: No Comments. Reports: Director’s Report: Public Works Director Klotz reported on the Lewis and Clark Bathrooms. The existing bathrooms have $25K earmarked for upgrade. There have been no bids for the new proposed bathroom. As a result, the bathroom projects are part of the new Library construction and will be bid at the same time. This is possibly going to be the fasts way to get the bathroom projects complete. Board member Simon asked how long it will take for the new Library and it that timeline can be expected for the existing bathroom update and new build bathroom. Board member Mattimoe wanted to be clear that the taxpayers are not paying for the bathroom projects through the $14 million being spent on the library. Chairperson Perry wanted to clarify that the new playground equipment is also separate from the library bond. Discussion: Pump Track Emily Decker was in attendance for an update regarding her proposed Pump Track for the City of Belgrade (CoB). She shared a tentative map from Richard with Integrative Trails Labs to include estimated costs. The proposed Pump Track offers something for everyone: easy to difficult riding opportunities. She stated that he(Richard) would rather build Phase One in dirt and then once the Pump Track is close to complete, then build in asphalt for the final stage. Sievert Construction has offered to either donate a Bathroom or a Sunshade for the project. There is a potential of at least four items that need to be built/donated: restroom, shade structure, irrigation shed, and sod/landscaping. Emily was wondering if the chain link fence can be replaced with landscape boulders to increase the athletics of the Pump Track. Currently the tentative design does have the bathroom on top of the irrigation line because the designer thought this would be cheaper. But she proposed placing the bathrooms by the parking area to include the Sunshade that could be rented through the CoB. Emily asked who should the Pump Track designer reach out to for questions? Do the drawings for the restroom and shade structure need to have an architectural stamp? She also stated that she is looking into grants to help fund the project. Also, she asked if there are any special requests for a play structure such as nylon ropes, etc. and does there need to be any soil testing in Prescott Park? Finally, she shared that Belgrade Community Coalition (BCC) will be accepting the donations for the project. Director Klotz stated he visited with Ali who is the architect for the new Library design about using weed mat and some boulders in the design for the Pump Track. He did suggest moving the barrier fence to the property line of the homeowners around Prescott Park. He does agree to use the design money that has been set aside for Prescott Park to help with the design of the Pump Track. There is an opportunity to use Cash in Lieu or maybe a grant match as well. However, there is no grant writer with the CoB. Director Klotz also suggests using a landscape architect but no thoughts of an RFP. He did encourage Emily to come back to the Park Board with a modified plan and better estimates. He did state that because the bathroom/shade structure will be used by the public, the drawings do need an architectural stamp. His thoughts on the park being ADA is that it would be a nice addition but is not necessary. He also suggested that Brett Walker may be an option for a concrete donation. As for a soil testing, can either use the well that is on site or the backhoe to dig a test pit. Board member Simon asked if the money that was set aside for Prescott Park design could be used for the use of designing the Pump Track? He stated there was help with the design of Ryen Glenn and that there could also be help with the design of the Pump Track in Prescott Park. He is encouraging the proposal to move forward and finally developing Prescott Park. Board member Simon asked if the CoB could offer any grant writing assistance? He believes that the proposed Pump Track for Prescott Park is a good option for the park but encourages reaching out to the nearby residents before the project gets too far along. Jim also stated that there are quite a few play structures around Belgrade and that access to the bathrooms and playground should be ADA compliant if possible. Jim does think an updated proposal could be presented to City Council. Chairperson Perry asked how to move this proposal forward? Should the Park Board wait for more information, or should they keep moving forward? She also stated that Emily should attend the City Council meeting in three weeks (October 4). Board member Mattimoe offered her thoughts regarding playground standards and that they are plentiful in Belgrade. Swim Center Katie Flikkema presented the update for the proposed swim center in Menicucci Sports Complex. There is an obstruction with DNRC due to the non-profit nature of the swim center and how it does not fit into the specifics of the easement. However, if the schools or CoB were to own the building, that would work within the easement. She did reach out the Governor Gianforte because he is the only person that can change the easement for the DNRC land. She has yet to receive an official message back from either him or his office. She does recommend that letters of support be sent by City Council and/or the school board. Katie did state that her board may look at land on Penwell Bridge Rd. but there are no services over there so it may extend the timeline of the swim center construction. Katie also stated that the school district is not interested in owning the building because they don’t want to be stuck with the building if the swim center nonprofit dissolves. However, the plan for the swim center is for it to be self-sustaining and for it not to be a monetary drain of resources for the community. Also, another hurdle is that the swim center would be building the building and there is only a need for the land. The airport is not willing to give any land to the swim center. Most likely the swim center hopes to get into an easement or long-term lease at market price for minimum of three acres to five acres which would offer more parking. Also, Katie said that Morrison & Maierle suggested the CoB pay for the land to join the current easement in Menicucci Sports Complex. Lastly, Katie said she could gather more information regarding the cost of the land and that the goal is to offer an affordable place for swimming where it is possible for the Belgrade residents pay even less to swim. Director Klotz added that the DNRC land on Penwell Bridge Rd. has lots in front of the lagoon that are more affordable. He asked what the minimum acreage the swim center is seeking? Board member Simon asked if the school had made any indication regarding their participation? He stated that City Council had not changed their mind about participating in the swim center, but the school district has an increase in taxpayer input. Jim keeps circling back to the schools due to the need for their new swim team. He encourages further knowledge of costs from the swim center and for how long the swim center is looking for a long-term lease. Chairperson Perry asked Jim if the City Council has changed their minds about participating at all with the swim center? She was wondering if the DNRC land on Penwell Bridge Rd. was a lease? Baseball Agreement Chairperson Perry said she read the agreement and currently it seems fine. She asked about #6 in regard to the insurance information required or if what it says is just fill in numbers? Diana also asked if Belgrade Baseball (BB) normally maintains the inner fences and the CoB maintains the outer fences? She also wondered about the BB buildings and if they are attached to the ground? She was simply clarifying that there would be no changes then in regard to any of the current buildings and what the CoB owns. She asked why/what were BB intending about requesting $30K for fence repairs? She sees no red flags in the proposed agreement except for removing the graffiti part and then moving it forward to BB for suggestions. Director Klotz stated that presenting this proposal to Park Board is simply getting the conversation started with BB and a long-term lease. He said in the past BB typically was committed thru the baseball season by a park use permit. He stated that the CoB maintains the Park structures and BB maintains the infrastructure and infield/ dirt fill. Also, he added that the CoB has maintained the mowing responsibilities for simplicity. As for the BB buildings, Steve added that once the buildings are built they are given to the CoB which then has the right to move them, ect. if it is appropriate. Steve did agree that the graffiti was not really their responsibility and that the rough draft of the BB agreement was just a start so that it could go to BB and Jeremy could then take it to the BB board for their input. Lastly, he stated that this agreement would then go into place for future organizations. Board member Crouse asked if there was a current lease. Board member Simon suggested that the start date of the long-term lease be February 1st instead of March 1st. He also supported the notion that current numbers in the long-term lease were simply place holders. He had a question regarding section 4 regarding the maintenance of the infield/dirt and if the CoB was currently doing that? He was not quite sure about BB dealing with graffiti. Also, he was curious about interior fences and BB’s request for $30K- some of the fences are fowler/welch fields? All in all he thinks the template looks good but specifics need to be more clear. He thinks BB’s input will help with clarifying the specifics. Jim said that the agreement needs to be balanced and not used to stir up the current relationship with BB. Board member Mattimoe stated that BB starts outdoor practice in the park around Spring Break and that during the winter they find indoor accommodations. She does agree that the CoB maintain the park grounds because when BB is not using the park it still needs to be maintained. She does agree with moving the rough draft forward. Lewis and Clark Play Equipment Director Klotz stated that tentatively the new equipment is to ship 10-10-2021 and that after Fall Festival is over, Public Works will remove the old equipment. He also said that due to the weather, the old equipment may be stored until Spring but would like to get poles in the ground because then the construction can be worked on throughout the off season. For Your Information: The current City Manager will be vacating his current role on 10-19-2021 and transitioning into a consultation role until March 2022. Ted says that he wants to work on code updates. Board member Crouse thanked Public Works for cutting down the weeds on cruiser. Director Klotz stated that the developer finally got to it. Item for Next Agenda: • Pump Track Update • L&C Park Play Equipment Update • Belgrade Baseball Agreement Set Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 12 @ 6:30pm Adjourn: Board member Crouse motions to adjourn, Board member Simon seconds- All in favor! 8:04pm ________________________ _________________________ Diana Perry Lisa Blank Park Board Chairperson Admin. Assist. Public Works