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, August 22, 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, August 22, 2017. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Varian, Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, and Commissioner Bingle Absent: 1 - Commissioner Das 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 MIN 17-31 APPROVAL OF THE MAY 23, 2017 PARK BOARD MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Markle, to approve the minutes of May 23, 2017 as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Varian. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Varian, Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, and Commissioner 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. City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final August 22, 2017 None. 5. New Business 5.-1 PB 17-12 AIRPORT PARK UPDATE Recreation Manager Krieger provided an update on Airport Park and stated the National Sports Center has provided a verbal proposal to the City Council that they will be discussing at their September 7, 2017 workshop. The proposal consists of allowing the City to lease 3 of the 4 softball fields at Airport Park for $20,000 a year for a maximum of a five-year lease. The 4th field will be turned into a baseball field. Mr. Krieger was asked to obtain a quote from Musco Lighting for the lights and how long they would last in current site, how much it would cost if moved, and the value of the lights if they were to be sold. The lights were installed on the 4 fields in 2000. Musco advised the fixtures would be good for another ten years, and the poles would be good for another 25 years. To move the lights would cost between $280,000 - $300,000. The City could receive approximately $70,000 - $75,000 if sold. These are all preliminary numbers. Commissioner Bingle arrived at the meeting at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Lester asked if the $20,000 was per field or for all three fields and Mr. Krieger stated it would be for all three fields. Commissioner Lester asked if the City had any fields in mind to move the lights to and Mr. Krieger stated not at this time. Mr. Krieger added if they were moved they would most likely be moved to unlit baseball fields. This may include BBC #4 and #5 and the east and west fields at Jim Peterson. Chair Bird asked what the current lease is on those fields. Mr. Krieger stated the City is paying nothing. There is no lease in place. The last lease payment was $60-70,000 which also included the soccer fields. Commissioner Walsdorf asked about the Victory Links Golf Course and they may be taking over those fields and Mr. Krieger stated there has been a lot of speculation. Chair Bird stated there was a lot of money spent to put the concession complex in at National Sports Center and that money is now gone. A field was moved to allow for the curling facility which cost $750,000. He is concerned the City does not give away further assets. He will share his concerns with the Mayor and Council. Chair Bird asked what impact the loss of all four fields would have on the City programs. Mr. Krieger stated City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final August 22, 2017 he has already planned the budget not including the fields. Adult leagues would need to move to Aquatore and the number of teams would need to be reduced. Youth baseball is backfilling and would need to be moved. It would be beneficial to move the lights to allow for double-headers for the youth games. Commissioner Varian stated she has feelings on this on both sides. The City is caught in the middle needing to pay the lease or move the lights. It seems the City has no choice. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if the current fields produce any revenue to the City. Mr. Krieger stated Adult Softball pays monies but that pays for staff. The rent would only be for five years and the City would provide maintenance. The fields have started to deteriorate. The fields may not be available after the five years. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if the lease is not signed what would the National Sports Center do with the fields. Mr. Krieger stated they may keep them as baseball fields or do whatever they wish with the fields since they were holding the lease. Chair Bird stated it is always difficult when infrastructure is added to land that isn’t owned. Commissioner Walsdorf asked where the lease payment monies would come from and Mr. Krieger stated it would come from fees. Commissioner Varian asked if there was any room for negotiation in the lease such as the NSC maintaining the fields or a longer lease. Mr. Krieger stated a short lease is not helpful at all. A longer-term lease would be better. Commissioner Lester stated he agrees a short-term lease has no advantage. The cost to relocate and rewire the lights would be $280,000 - $300,000. He asked what new lights would cost and Mr. Krieger stated $500,000. The lights at Lexington cost $750,000. Commissioner Markle stated there seems to be room to negotiate and he encouraged Council to look at all the options. He would support moving the lights so the City has control over their facilities and infrastructure. Discussed. 5.-2 PB 17-13 PARK CONSTRUCTION UPDATES Recreation Manager Krieger provided updates as follows: City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final August 22, 2017 Radisson Woods Playground - Mr. Krieger showed photographs of the playground. This was the third playground constructed. There are still a few items that need to be finished and there are a couple more pieces coming in. The park is open to the kids. Lexington Athletic Complex Playground and Field Goal Posts - Mr. Krieger thanked the Park Board for approving the $150,000. This park is completely different with the new equipment. The playground is full of kids from morning until dusk. This playground is the “talk of the town”. The zip line is a hit and holds up to 350 pounds. There is a constant line and parents are using it as well. Burke did a photo shoot of the playground. A security light will be constructed. The football association had requested field goal posts for the LAC. Donations were received from the two football associations to construct the field goal posts. The football fields were painted earlier today. League of MN Cities Insurance Looking at Park Amenities for Damage - With the hail damage there was damage to parks and the park van. Twenty parks were reviewed by the LOMC to determine damage along with the van. Staff is waiting to hear. The City’s deductible is $100,000. There should be no problem reaching the deductible amount. Commissioner Varian stated she was at Lexington and saw the zip line. The playground at Lexington is better than Aquatore which she also visited with a relative. Commissioner Walsdorf stated he was at Lexington a few weeks ago and the playground was packed. He also notices a lot of people playing pickle ball. There are clubs and groups of people playing pickle ball along with some youth. Informational; no action required. 5.-3 PB 17-14 EVENT UPDATES Recreation Manager Krieger provided updates as follows: Blaine Farmers Market - Held Wednesdays 3-7pm through October 18, 2017. An information card was distributed to the Board. After October 18, the market will move indoors. The concerts go hand-in-hand with the market. The last one was August 16. Blaine Triathlon - Will be held Saturday, September 9 at Lakeside Commons Park Race starts at 8:00 a.m. Registrations are close to full. It has been a good switch moving the race from May to September. Chair City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final August 22, 2017 Bird encouraged even non-participants to come to the event. City Open House - Wednesday, September 13 from 3-7pm at City Hall & Town Square Park. The different departments of the City will be featured. Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Information - Grand Opening was held last week and a brochure has been developed. Commissioner Walsdorf stated there are benches along the boardwalk and it is a great success. Commissioner Varian stated there are some boardwalk areas where a fence should be installed. Chair Bird noted there is a railing along a deep water portion. Commissioner Varian noted Commissioner Bingle arrived a few minutes after 7:00 p.m. She stated if there is a September meeting she will not be in attendance. Informational; no action required. Adjournment Commissioner Walsdorf motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Bingle seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Aye: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Varian, Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, and Commissioner Bingle City of Blaine Page 5