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, September 27, 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, September 27, 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: Nate Monahan 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 TMP 16-0528 APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 23, 2016 PARK BOARD MINUTES Commissioner Varian noted on page 4, paragraph 3 the first sentence should end after “concerned”. The next sentence “Is” should replace “Isn’t”. Motion by Commissioner Walsdorf, to approve the minutes of August 23, 2016 as revised. Motion seconded by Commissioner Markle. Motion approved unanimously. City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 Aye: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:05 p.m. No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:06 p.m. None. 5. New Business 5.-1 PB 16-21 STAFF REPORT ON THE 2016 SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed a power point summary of the 2016 Summer Recreation Programs. There were 17 performances in the park events. He provided details on Family Fun Night, 3rd Annual Kids Triathlon, 5th Annual Blaine Triathlon, Safety Camp, Blaine Festival, 70 Youth Programs, 30 Adult Programs, Adult Athletics, Senior Programs, Lakeside Commons Park Attendance, and Facility Use. Commissioner Markle asked about the concessions revenue at the beach and who provides the concessions. Mr. Monahan stated there was no food truck this year so just the concession stand items were available. He will be looking for another food truck for next year. Commissioner Das questioned how much expense was associated with the Lakeside Commons Park staff. Mr. Monahan stated there are three staff present for a total of $26,000. Revenue exceeded that amount. This does not include public works staff cleaning the park every morning. The Park Patrol staff is a police expense and is part of the duties of the police department. Commissioner Das requested information on revenues received from the Lexington Athletic Complex. Mr. Monahan stated that information is not yet available as football is there. That information will be provided to the Park Board when available. Commissioner Das thanked the Park Board and Park Staff for their work and noted the Lexington Athletic Complex was a big win for the City. Commissioner Das mentioned there are people playing tennis late in the evening. Mr. Monahan noted the Lexington Athletic Complex is in need of a larger playground. This will be reviewed at next month’s Park Board meeting. City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 Chair Bird thanked City Staff for the work they do in the City Parks. Many different departments are involved in making the City events happen. Commissioner Bingle asked if there is a proposed use for the future revenues, although they are small. Mr. Monahan stated those revenues go into the General Fund. Informational; no action required. 5.-2 PB 16-22 RECOMMENDATION FOR ESTABLISING 2017 PARK DEDICATION FEES FOR THE CITY OF BLAINE Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed revenue for the capital improvement plan comes from park dedication fees required of all new residential, commercial and industrial development. Park dedication fees are adjusted annually by the percentage of increase in the fair market value of undeveloped land within the City with an annual increase not to exceed 10%. The Park Board recommended and the City Council approved a 10% residential and no increase for commercial, and 5% industrial increase for 2016 park dedication fees. The current fee structure is as follows: · $3,744 per residential unit · $8,704 per acre of commercial development · $6,093 per acre of industrial development Staff is recommending the Park Board consider another increase for residential park dedication fees for 2017 based on the following: · Blaine still ranks 8th out of 13 in residential fees for metro cities in the 2016 Comparison f or Park Dedication Fees. Residential park dedication fees have been near the bottom since surveys have been conducted by the Parks and Recreation staff. Blaine is ranked in the middle of the cities for commercial fees. · The Planning Department estimates a continued increase in new housing permits and of greater importance new land development. Future parks, open space and trail development should keep pace with this growth through measured annual increases in park dedication fees. A table illustrating how increases from 1% to 10% would affect the 2016 park dedication fee structure was provided for Park Board review. Recreation Manager Monahan posed the question to the Park Board City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 “Should the City establish residential, commercial, and industrial park dedication fees for 2017 that are the same, more or less than 2016?” Chair Bird stated these are one time fees are paid by the developer. Commissioner Das asked about the development near Lexington Athletic Complex and which fees they would be paying. Mr. Monahan stated the developer locked into 2013 park dedication fees since they gave land for the park. Commissioner Das asked about the Pulte development and Mr. Monahan stated they are locked into 2015 park dedication fees. Commissioner Das asked about future land for development and Mr. Monahan stated there is a large apartment complex north of 125th and another complex going in behind Northern Tool. The park dedication fees are paid per unit for these complexes. Commissioner Das noted if 2017 fees were increased 10% Blaine would still fall in the middle compared to other Cities. He would recommend 10% increase for 2017. Commissioner Bingle asked how the increase impacts businesses making Blaine their first choice. Mr. Monahan stated based on the Community Development Director this does not make a big deal and is not a deterrent. More important is the amount of traffic going by and the visibility for their business. Commissioner Bingle stated she agrees with Commissioner Das. Commissioner Walsdorf questioned if there is an estimate as to the amount of revenue that will be generated in 2017 based on current fee structure. Mr. Monahan stated the number projected was $700,000 but that may be low. A better estimate will be brought to the Park Board at next month’s meeting. Commissioner Markle stated as the percentages are looked at this is not really a deterrent for people building. Compared to other cities, if we increased to 7% for residential it does not equal the next highest city with fees. Commissioner Markle suggests the Board consider 7-10% increase for 2017. He would like to include Industrial in the increases. Chair Bird referred to the comparison and the lower the City is in the ranking the more attractive Blaine is. He is comfortable with the increases mentioned this evening. Commissioner Varian stated we want to have Blaine be seen as a City that has nice parks. The money would be spent wisely. Motion by Commissioner Varian, to recommend the City Council establish park dedication fees for 2017 with an increase of 10% for residential/unit, 0% for City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 commercial/acre and 10% for industrial/acre. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Commissioner Walsdorf asked for a description of the difference between commercial and industrial. Mr. Monahan stated industrial is near the NSC. For the most part anything coming into Blaine would fall into commercial. Commissioner Varian stated some of the other cities lump commercial and industrial together and her goal would be to bring them closer together. Commissioner Das stated he would recommend 10% for residential, 5% for commercial and 10% for industrial. Motion by Commissioner Varian, to recommend the City Council establish park dedication fees for 2017 with an increase of 10% for residential/unit, 5% for commercial/acre and 10% for industrial/acre. Seconded by Commissioner Das. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle 5.-3 PB 16-23 UPCOMING EVENTS Mr. Monahan summarized Upcoming Events as follows: Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt - Friday, October 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Aquatore Park Cost - $10/child. Princess Party - Saturday, November 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Blaine City Hall Community Center Update - A flyer is being finalized that will be sent to all residents. There is an Open House Monday, October 10, 6pm in the atrium. There is an update on the Community Center Task Force tab to calculate the increase per residence. Commissioner Varian stated due to early voting, residents need to be aware of this information. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if there has been any communication about the vote on the ballot for the community center. Mr. Monahan stated there has been some information in the newsletter and the flyer will have information. Commissioner Das asked if something could be put on the City Facebook page. Mr. Monahan stated a collaborative partner may put in City of Blaine Page 5 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 more capital into the project. Taxes will not go up to cover the cost ongoing of the community center. Commissioner Das asked if Medtronic or any other large companies were approached for monies for the community center. Mr. Monahan stated they were not approached. Commissioner Das also suggested the Infinite Campus. Commissioner Das asked if businesses pay into the community center and Mr. Monahan stated he will research and report back to the Park Board. Chair Bird reminded the Board the question is to fund a community center and a senior center. The voters will decide if a community center and senior center will happen. Mr. Monahan stated as of Monday the Infinite Campus put in the new trail in Lochness Park. He showed a picture of the shelter that will be constructed which will be 20 x 20. A meeting will be held to determine location and size. Chair Bird asked if there would be electricity and Mr. Monahan stated there would not be electricity as it is a stand-alone structure. Mr. Monahan stated the first Dog Park Advisory Meeting was held last week and summarized what occurred at the meeting. The portable toilet will stay throughout the winter. It may need to be moved closer to the road for service by the company. Public Works will sweep a trail in the winter months from the parking lot. Erosion around the drinking fountain will be addressed. A meeting with Prairie Restoration will be held regarding the clean-up of the fence areas. The heater was turned on at the Dog Park. There has been great feedback from the residents who use the Dog Park. There will be another meeting in the spring. Commissioner Varian stated the feedback on the Dog Park was very favorable. Commissioner Markle agreed there was positive feedback with a few minor issues brought up. Residents are encouraged to provide feedback to Mr. Monahan and are invited to participate on the Committee. Chair Bird asked if any participants were part of the Lochness Park Dog Group and Mr. Monahan stated he has not heard any feedback from the Lochness Park users. Discussed. Adjournment City of Blaine Page 6 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final September 27, 2016 Commissioner Das motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Markle seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Aye: 7 - Comissioner Das, Comissioner Markle, Comissioner Walsdorf, Comissioner Bird, Comissioner Lester, Comissioner Varian, and Comissioner Bingle City of Blaine Page 7