Park Advisory Board

10801 Town Square Drive City of Blaine Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes Park Advisory Board Chair Jeffrey Bird, Prad Das, Jeff Lester, Tonya Lizakowski, Rex Markle, Kristofer Paulseth 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, October 23, 2018 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Blaine Park Advisory Board met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. 1. Chair Markle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Staff Present: Jerome Krieger, Recreation Manager Present: 7 - Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Varian, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Absent: 1 - Chair Bird 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 28, 2018 PARK BOARD MINUTES Attachments: 08-28-18Pk Commissioner Das stated on page three, first sentence should be filled in as “Commissioner Das asked about the demographics of the neighborhood”. Vice Chair Markle noted on page one, last paragraph, first sentence should read “Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed that the residents of Hidden Acres, located on Pierce Street NE between 113th and 114th Avenue NE had requested . . .” On page three, second sentence should read: Mr. City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 Monahan stated there have been . . .”. Motion by Commissioner Walsdorf, to approve the minutes of August 28, 2018 meeting as amended. Motion seconded by Commissioner Lizakowski. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Varian, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Vice Chair Markle opened the Open Forum at 7:06 p.m. No one appeared to address the Commission. Vice Chair Markle closed Open Forum at 7:07 p.m. 5. New Business 5.-1 STAFF REPORT ON THE 2018 SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMS Recreation Manager Krieger presented a power point summary of the 2018 Summer Recreation Programs. Staff longevity, Community Events, Family Fun Night, 5th Annual Kids Triathlon, Safety Camp, Blaine Festival, Farmers Markets, Youth Programs, Summer Fun, Teen Force Program, Summer Fun, Adult Programs, Senior Center Events & Programs, Lakeside Commons Park Attendance, Facility Use, and Eagle Scout Projects. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if the Eagle Scout projects are done by individuals or groups. Mr. Krieger stated most projects done are by individuals. Commissioner Das asked if the Eagle Scouts are recognized by the City and Mr. Krieger responded after the projects are completed the Eagle Scout is invited to a City Council Meeting. Councilmember Das asked if there are any programs where musically talented youth and a senior are paired and Mr. Krieger stated there is not a piano within the City other than the Senior Center. Vice Chair Markle thanked City Staff, on behalf of the Park Board, for their hard work on programming within the City. Mr. Krieger stated an ongoing struggle is the lack of part-time staff throughout the City. Commissioner Lizakowski asked if there were any programs that were not seen as a success and will not be repeated next year. Mr. Krieger stated some of the programs were offered and participation was low. They try programs for a couple of years to see if participation increases. Commissioner Das asked about the chess boards and Mr. Krieger stated it’s just another thing for kids or families to do while at the park. The chess pieces will be checked out at the boat house. Discusssed. City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 5.-2 RECOMMENDATION FOR ESTABLISHING 2019 PARK DEDICATION FEES FOR THE CITY OF BLAINE Attachments: 2018 Comparative Park Dedication Fees Mr. Krieger 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 the City Council approve a 5% increase in residential fees and no increase for both commercial and industrial in 2018. The current park dedication fee structure is as follows: · $4,319/per residential unit · $8,704/per acre of commercial development · $6,702 per acre of industrial development Staff is recommending the Park Board consider a 3% increase to residential which would take the rate to $4,449 and no increase for both commercial and industrial based on discussions with the Planning and Development Director. Comparative Park Dedication fees with neighboring cities was provided and reviewed for the Board. Commissioner Das stated he is comfortable with the proposed increase and he noted it is a one-time fee when the property is constructed. Commissioner Lester agreed a 3% increase would be fine. Commissioner Lizakowski asked if this is paid by the resident or the builder. Mr. Krieger stated it is part of the new construction home price. Vice Chair Markle noted in the past the Board has followed along with the economy with increases. All the other municipalities do the same. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if the Board would consider moving it to $4500 (4.2% increase). Vice Chair Markle stated there has been significant discussion over the years, and the builder compares it to fees in other cities. Motion by Commissioner Walsdorf, to recommend the City Council to establish park dedication fees for 2019 with an increase of 3% for residential/unit, 0% for commercial/acre, and 0% for industrial/acre. Motion seconded by Commissioner Das. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 7 - Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Varian, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 5.-3 PARK BOARD UPDATES Attachments: Senior Center Location Mr. Krieger provided the following updates: Centennial Green Playground - new playground equipment was added to the existing equipment. All were painted and match. Mary Elizabeth Park - new playground equipment and fiber and fabric were installed. A new shelter was also installed. Swan Playground - old equipment was removed and new equipment was installed along with new play curb, fabric and fiber. Carrara East Playground - this park had a very old playground structure which was removed adding a different sized playground. Concrete edging was installed due to its high use. London Playground - this park was in dire need of new equipment. Concrete curb was installed along with new playground equipment, fabric and fiber. Carrara East Tennis Court - was resurfaced and painted. Also, it was painted for pickle ball. Centennial Green Tennis Court - was seal coated and painted. Also, it was painted for pickle ball. Jim Peterson Tennis Courts - was showing flaking of the paint - courts were seal coated and painted. The same was done for the basketball courts. Territorial Tennis Courts - the court was again seal coated by the previous vendor due to grass growing through. Jim Peterson Battling Cages - the Blaine Traveling Baseball group donated $11,000 plus volunteer time and product for new cages. Kane Meadows Basketball Court - new rims and other work done on the court. Jefferson - new hoop and other work done on the court. City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 Quail Creek Basketball Court - Sealcoating and new hoop. Lexington AC Scoreboards - Blaine Youth Football Association donated the scoreboards and labor at a cost of $40,000. Two scoreboards were installed. Lexington AC Windscreens - The seniors worked with City Staff to install windscreens on the pickle ball courts on the East, North and South sides. Projects Still in Progress - Happy Acres Pedestrian Bridge, Happy Acres flooring in building - Blaine Hockey Association donated $20,000. New bathroom fixtures also will be installed. The Sentence to Serve workers painted the interior of the building. New Senior Center/Activity Center Location in Aquatore Park - Mr. Krieger indicated the location of the existing building on a map and also the location for the new senior center which will be constructed to the south. Vice Chair Markle asked what the land the existing senior center covers will be used for and Mr. Krieger stated that will become green space as far as he knows. Commissioner Walsdorf asked when the ground-breaking will be done and Mr. Krieger responded not at this point. Vice Chair Markle asked Mr. Krieger about the inclusion of shade in the new playgrounds and whether there were any comments received from residents. Mr. Krieger stated he has not heard anything one way or another but people always appreciate shade. The trees at LAC have not grown as fast as he had thought they would. Some trees have been transplanted from the nursery to various locations. Commissioner Das asked how much larger the new senior center will be compared to the current and Mr. Krieger stated it is approximately three times larger. The new center will have multiple rooms. Commissioner Das asked if wifi will be installed and laptops available for senior use. Mr. Krieger stated there will be wifi. There are 1-2 computers at the senior center currently and hopefully there will be more in the new facility. Village Bank - Village Bank representatives came to a Council workshop regarding an expansion of their bank. They are looking at a four-story office addition on the north side of the existing building. To meet code, they would need expansion of parking. They are considering expanding parking to the south into the dog park. They would remove some trees and fencing to construct the additional parking space and would be a joint use between Village Bank and the City. They would do the work and insure the City of Blaine Page 5 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 property. The City Attorney stated it is legal to do if approved by the City Council. The date for the construction is TBD. The City Council stated they would be in favor of it but wanted Park Board opinion. Commissioner Das asked to see the picture showing the design of the existing building. Mr. Krieger stated they would be adding to the NW of the current building. Commissioner Walsdorf stated the only concern is that during construction they would take down the fence at the dog park. Commissioner Lizakowski asked what would happen to the dog park and Mr. Krieger stated it would be shortened up 75 feet (1/8 of the depth of the dog park). That section is heavily wooded and has trails running through it. Commissioner Lester asked if the City would hold the park land being lost as right of way. Mr. Krieger stated it would still be owned by Blaine as park land. Once property is deemed park land it cannot be sold. Commissioner Lester stated he would like to see another entrance since the fence would be coming down. Vice Chair Markle stated he would also like to see an entrance added. The disadvantage would be the dogs would be entering and not aware other dogs are in the park. This may not be an issue but it could be. There should be some evaluation of the trails in that area with possible reworking of trails at Village Bank’s expense. The consensus of the Board was to move forward and consider this a viable option. Mr. Krieger stated Chair Bird had said he was getting some questions about the BWS Phase 2. Mr. Krieger stated Phase 2 is supposed to start in 2019 and will be south of the boardwalk and north of Sanctuary Preserve. Residential Park Dedication Fees going back in 2019 to 65% Parks and 35% Open Space. Commissioner Paulseth asked if the soil sample came back for the pickle ball court at Hidden Acres Park. Mr. Krieger stated Mr. Monahan was waiting. An update will be provided to the Board. Commissioner Paulseth noted on the Village Bank plan the code requires 331 stalls and the plan gets 353 stalls. There is 20 extra so room to take some out if necessary. Mr. Krieger stated that additional parking would be available for events such as Blaine Festival. Discussed. Adjournment Commissioner Das motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Lester seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. City of Blaine Page 6 Park Advisory Board Minutes October 23, 2018 Chair Markle adjourned the meeting 8:05 p.m. Aye: 7 - Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Varian, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth City of Blaine Page 7