Park Advisory Board

10801 Town Square Drive City of Blaine Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final Park Advisory Board Chair Jeffrey Bird, Jennifer Bingle, Prad Das, Jeff Lester, Rex Markle, Karen Varian and Tom Walsdorf The Park Board is an advisory body to the city council. One of the board's functions is to hold public meetings and make recommendations to the city council. For each item, the board will receive reports prepared by city staff, provide the opportunity for public response, conduct board discussions and make recommendations. The city council, however, makes all final decisions on these matters. Tuesday, May 24, 2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Blaine Park Advisory Board met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Bingle, Das, Lester, Markle, Varian, Walsdorf, and Chair Bird. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Jerome Krieger, Recreation Manager and Bob Therres, Public Works Director Present: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 MIN 16-20 APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 26, 2016 PARK BOARD MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Markle, to approve the minutes of April 26, 2016 as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Walsdorf. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final May 24, 2016 Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:02 p.m. No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:03 p.m. None. 5. New Business 5.-1 PB 16-17 METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMISSION/AIRPORT PARK UPDATE Recreation Manager Krieger reviewed City staff sat down with the National Sports Center staff in late April to discuss the Blaine Soccer Complex and Airport Park. The National Sports Center informed City staff they had a nine-month lease agreement with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) for all ten soccer fields that the City of Blaine used to maintain and program. At the meeting it was discussed what would happen in the transitional period as far as maintenance programming, bathrooms and billing for the building. City staff told the National Sports Center at the meeting that the City wanted to keep the four softball fields at Airport Park. Staff explained to them that we wanted to maintain those fields for a long period of time. The National Sports Center said they had no interest in the softball fields at this time. Blaine will still run the softball. Mr. Krieger stated he has transferred all the bills to the National Sports Center. There are 91 softball teams registered this year. Commissioner Varian asked if the agreement is in writing and Mr. Krieger stated it is not yet. The nine-month lease between the NSC and MAC has just been finalized. The National Sports Center is attempting to get a 30-year lease with MAC and if they are successful Blaine would like to be a part of that for the softball fields. Commissioner Das asked if the contract for the softball fields would be with MAC or the NSC. Mr. Krieger stated currently as part of the nine month lease the NSC has the softball fields. There would not be a fee for Blaine to use the softball fields. MAC is attempting to sell some of the land to gain revenue. Commissioner Das asked if a private business purchases the land from MAC how would the landscape change and Mr. Krieger stated the City of Blaine has the power over the zoning for that land. Commissioner Walsdorf asked with 91 teams in the City of Blaine with only four softball fields how that would work. Mr. Krieger stated there are 3 fields at Aquatore and the 7 fields would be sufficient to handle the 91 City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final May 24, 2016 teams. Commissioner Markle asked about the Concession Stand and Mr. Krieger indicated the location of the building on a map. Commissioner Markle asked how the Blaine Soccer Club is affected. Mr. Krieger stated the BSC met with the National Sports Center and worked out an arrangement to allow them use of the site for BSC games. The National Sports Center has the ability to program for the entire site including BSC games. Commissioner Markle asked who owns the concession stand. Mr. Krieger stated the City did pay to rebuild the building. The NSC has the capability of using the building. The Public Works Staff has given the NSC a tutorial as to how things work in the building. Public Service Manager Therres stated the concession building currently sits on MAC property. MAC allowed the City and BSC to build the building on that site. Commissioner Markle asked about storage in the building and Mr. Krieger stated only the Blaine Soccer Club uses it for storage. Commissioner Markle noted the City has spent $50,000 on this for the last couple years. Commissioner Markle asked if the City would be maintaining the grounds for the softball fields. Mr. Krieger stated the softball fields and surrounding grass will be maintained by Blaine Public Works. Chair Bird stated he sent a letter to the City Council yesterday and stated the cost for the concessions building ($419,000) came out of the Park CIP. The Blaine Soccer Club contributed $100,000 of that back. In addition, the BSC paid $28,000 for the concession equipment in the building. There is no guarantee past the 9 months. Chair Bird asked the Council if any of that money could come back to the Park CIP as the money could be used. Chair Bird will copy the Commissioners on any response he receives from the Council. Commissioner Varian asked how much was paid for the concession equipment and Chair Bird stated $28,000. Commissioner Varian stated possibly that equipment could be used elsewhere or sold. Chair Bird stated he will let the Blaine Soccer Club deal with that. Discussed. 5.-2 PB 16-18 COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE Public Services Manager Therres provided an update on the community center progress. The Community Center Task Force has met and a second survey was presented to the City Council. The suggestion from the Council City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final May 24, 2016 was not to take a second survey and use that money for public education/outreach. This will be discussed at the next Task Force meeting. The City Council passed a principal partnership agreement with the YMCA. This will be on the ballot in the fall. Commissioner Mingle asked how much would have been spent on a second survey and Mr. Therres stated there would be $12,000 - $13,000 to be used toward the cost of public education. Informational; no action required. 5.-3 PB 16-19 STAFF REPORT ON WINTER/SPRING RECREATION PROGRAMS Recreation Manager Krieger provided a summary of the 2015/2016 winter/Spring recreation programs. Mr. Krieger stated there were 11 community events. The staff of the department has not changed. He reviewed the community events that were held. There were over 4000 participants in these events. The Earth Day park cleanup was a huge success. Mr. Krieger reviewed the World Fest event and thanked the sponsors for their support. He also thanked all the volunteers that helped. There were 50 youth programs offered with 582 participants. There were 19 adult programs offered with 121 participants. Mr. Krieger reviewed the adult athletics including volleyball, basketball and softball. 3023 meals were served through the Senior Program. He reviewed the various activities held. Facility Usage was reviewed. There were 1672 registrations from December 1 to April 1 with 81% being done online. Mr. Krieger stated for the community gardens there were 55 plots. There are 30 new gardeners this year. Chair Bird thanked Recreation Manager Krieger for his report. Commissioner Das thanked the staff for their work. Informational: no action required 5.-4 PB 16-20 PARK UPDATES Recreation Manager Krieger provided updates on the following parks: Cloverleaf Park - The money from CIF fund was used to replace playground. The playground project is complete. Pictures of the new playground were shown to the Commission. The Baseball Association has put money into the park. Broken Oaks Park - This project was started last fall and the project is finally completed. Some of the equipment was moved from Cloverleaf City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final May 24, 2016 Park. Harper’s Park - This park is ready for walk through on the punch list. Aquatore Dog Park - Nate Monahan has been working on this along with the Park Commission. The City Council approved the plans. The fence has been constructed. The black fencing has been put up along Highway 65. Lexington Athletic Complex - The concession stand was opened on April 29. Mr. Krieger reviewed the menu. Sysco is providing all the food. Mr. Krieger is now a State certified food manager. Chair Bird asked if clearing has been done in the Dog Park. Mr. Krieger stated that will be done in the fall. Chair Bird asked when the beach opens and Mr. Krieger stated June 3. Chair Bird stated he is very pleased with the way Town Square Park is looking Commissioner Varian asked about the large piles of gravel near the dog park. Mr. Krieger stated it is used or seal-coating and is stored there. Commissioner Markle asked if Lexington Athletic Complex fields are all being used and Mr. Krieger stated there are four multi-purpose fields and fields 7 and 8 are being used by baseball groups. There is now a Blaine Pickleball Club. Informational; no action required. 6. Old Business The June Park Board Meeting will be a tour of parks. The Senior Van will transport the Commission to which parks they would like to visit. Mentioned were the Dog Park, Lexington Athletic Complex, Field 1 at Aquatore, and Airport Park. The tour will begin at 6:30 p.m. Discussed. Adjournment Commissioner Das motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Varian seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Aye: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle City of Blaine Page 5