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, March 28, 2017 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Blaine Park Advisory Board met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle 2. Roll Call Staff Present: Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager Jerome Krieger, Recreation Manager 2016 Park Board Adjourns Sine Die Motion by Commissioner Das, to adjourn Sine Die. Motion seconded by Commissioner Varian. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle Administration Oaths of Offices to: Rex Markle, Prad Das, Tom Walsdorf City Clerk Sorenson administered the Oath of Office to Commissioners Rex Markle, Prad Das and Tom Walsdorf. Resumption of Adjourned Meeting City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 Staff Present: Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager Jerome Krieger, Recreation Manager Present: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 MIN 17-11 APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 24, 2017 PARK BOARD MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Markle, to approve the minutes of January 24, 2017 as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Lester. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:07 p.m. No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:08 p.m. 5. New Business 5.-1 PB 17-05 PROCLAMATION SBM FIRE DEPARTMENT Chairman Bird presented a proclamation to SBM Fire Department for their contributions to the Blaine Triathlon and Kids Triathlon. Four representatives from the SBM Fire Department were present to accept the proclamation. Informational: no action required 5.-2 PB 17-06 RECOGNIZING RECREATION MANAGER JEROME KRIEGER FOR HIS INDUCTION INTO THE USSSA HALL OF FAME Recreation Manager Monahan announced Recreation Manager Jerome Krieger was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame on Friday, January 20th for his management over 10 years of the City of Blaine Softball League along with many tournaments. Pictures from the Induction ceremony were shown to the Board. Recreation Manager Krieger explained the background of the organization and the award. Commissioner Das commended Mr. Krieger on his leadership during City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 the creation of the Lexington Athletic Complex. Informational: no action required 5.-3 PB 17-07 RECOMMENDING A PROPOSAL FOR THE PLAYGROUND EXPANSION AT LEXINGTON ATHLETIC COMPLEX NOT TO EXCEED $150,000 Mr. Krieger reviewed Staff will present 3 proposals for the expansion of Lexington Athletic Complex Playground. Proposals were submitted by Minnesota/Wisconsin Playground with Gametime Equipment, Flagship Recreation with Landscape Structures Equipment, and St. Croix Recreation with Burke Equipment. Staff provided all three vendors the same parameters for the playground expansion including: SPECIAL CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE BID: The budget for the project is $150,000. The site will be prepped by the City of Blaine. The size of the playground area is 100’ by 60’. The equipment should be for kids ages 5 and older. The equipment should have one or two Zip lines, a rope/net apparatus, 3 benches inside the playground area and any other equipment that will enhance the park. We do not want swings in this area. Other components the bid must include in the project are: Concrete border around the playground area. Fiber Liner under fiber Playground equipment Installation of the playground equipment, concrete, benches and fiber. Site clean up after project is done. Mr. Krieger showed drawings of the three proposals. All concepts and budget break outs for each proposal were included for Board review. Staff is recommending the St. Croix Recreation Burke Equipment proposal. The proposal from St. Croix had a longer Zip Line and provided more equipment within the area for the playground expansion with a 19% discount. Videos were shown of the different pieces. Mr. Krieger stated there have been some issues with the zip line at Aquatore. This zip line is improved. Mike Basich from St. Croix Recreation was present at the meeting and stated their plan fits in the area. He explained the benefits of the proposed equipment. The equipment can handle a large number of kids at the same time. Burke stands behind their product for two years. Commissioner Walsdorf asked about the small numbers on the diagrams and what do they refer to and Mike Basich stated they are the heights of the decks. City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 Commissioner Varian asked Mr. Monahan about the issue with the Aquatore zip line and he stated the apparatus was fraying the cord. A replacement was delivered but was the same as the previous and the fraying occurred again. The second replacement of the head worked better. Commissioner Varian asked if this is a single zip line. She questioned how many play events were in the other proposals. Mr. Krieger stated that information was not provided. Mr. Monahan stated the longer zip line is better received by the children and adults of all ages. Mr. Krieger noted all three vendors visited the site prior to submitting their proposal. Commissioner Das stated the videos and pictures are very exciting and asked what the capacity is for the equipment. Mike Basich stated the capacity for the whole playground is an arbitrary number. Multiple children can be on the equipment at the same time. Mike mentioned the Orb can accommodate up to 6 children at a time. Commissioner Das asked if there are a number of children would it be dangerous. Mike Basich stated life is dangerous but this equipment has features to limit danger but children love the challenge and danger aspect of equipment. Mr. Krieger noted all equipment needs to be certified and the City has certified employees that are responsible for doing annual checks on all equipment. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if there is any more St. Croix equipment within the City. Mr. Krieger stated the one at Cloverleaf Park ($60,000) and there is some older equipment within the City. There is a long history with St. Croix within the City. Commissioner Markle agreed this proposal is the best of the three. He asked if the fiber is a common thing that has been done. It is a wood fiber. Mr. Monahan stated every three year more fiber is added to the playgrounds. It is engineered wood fiber. Commissioner Lester stated he showed the proposal to his 10-year-old son and he liked the St. Croix proposals. Is there a reason why there aren’t more benches? Mr. Krieger stated they didn’t want to use more money out of the $150,000 for benches. More can be added and paid for out of a different budget. Mr. Monahan stated there are 8 benches at Aquatore. Commissioner Markle asked if there are benches in the existing playground and Mr. Krieger stated there are benches and three picnic tables. City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 Commissioner Bingle asked about the 19% discount and Mike Basich stated they want the job. They want to take pictures after it’s installed. This is good advertising for St. Croix. Motion by Commissioner Bingle, to recommend City Council accept St. Croix Recreation Burke Equipment proposal as presented not to exceed $150,000 for the Lexington Athletic Complex Playground. Motion seconded by Commissioner Walsdorf. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle 5.-4 MO 17-41 REQUEST FOR A DRINKING FOUNTAIN AT HAPPY ACRES PARK Mr. Monahan stated Councilmember King would like the Park Board to explore the idea of adding a drinking fountain to Happy Acres Park between the Playground and Field #1. The cost to run the water to the proposed location would be estimated at $50,000 and the cost to purchase the attached drinking fountain would be estimated at $10,000. Staff is requesting direction. Commissioner Varian asked what other parks have drinking fountains and what the cost was. Mr. Monahan stated there are two at the beach, one at Towns Square Park, and they were typical installed during park development. The dog park fountain cost $1000. The cost is higher after a park has been developed if there isn’t a water line that can be tapped into. She feels the cost is too much and a precedent would be set. Commissioner Das asked if any neighbors had requested this or just Councilmember King. Mr. Monahan stated nothing has been heard from the neighborhood and during programs water jugs are brought. An option could be to open the building where there is a drinking fountain inside when City staff is onsite. He agrees the cost is too high and would be a luxury rather than a necessity. Mr. Krieger stated for his programs he advises to have participants bring their own water. The consensus was there is not $60,000 in the budget for a water fountain at Happy Acres Park. Discussed and Forwarded to the City Council 5.-5 PB 17-08 BOARD AND EVENT UPDATES Mr. Monahan announced the City Council has decided to leave the beach parking permits in place. Blaine residents will receive a free pass. Non-residents can pay $25/year. Neighborhoods can be granted City of Blaine Page 5 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 no parking signs if the criteria is met. The beach is staffed the first week of June. Commissioner Das suggested a video camera be installed to monitor activities at the beach. Mr. Monahan stated there is a camera near the boat house and he will look into adding another camera for the beach area. Mr. Krieger stated there are cameras at LAC and a system is being researched for one overall system. Park Board will be paid once at the end of each year for meetings attended. The Lochness Shelter material will be delivered next week with construction done within the next couple of weeks. The four playgrounds where grants were received will be installed as soon as road restrictions are removed. Radisson Woods is last playground with sand - the sand will be removed and put in the dog park. At LAC goal posts will be put in on two fields by the football association. A garage storage facility is being constructed A new van has been ordered for use by Park and Recreation department. Breakfast with Bunny - Saturday April 1, 2017 at City Hall sessions are at 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 12noon. All sessions are full. Outdoor Farmer’s Market - Wednesdays - May 24 through October 18 from 3-7pm at the South Parking lot at City Hall. There will be no Easter egg hunt this year. Earth Day has been planned. Last year 23 parks were cleaned. Fill out form on website for park cleaning this year. Chairman Bird asked for an update on the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary for the next meeting. Informational: no action required Adjournment Commissioner Das motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Varian seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. City of Blaine Page 6 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final March 28, 2017 Aye: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, and Commissioner Bingle City of Blaine Page 7