Park Advisory Board

10801 Town Square Drive City of Blaine Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final 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, January 22, 2019 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Blaine Park Advisory Board met in the Council Chambers of City Hall on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call Staff Present: Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager Present: 7 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Excused: 1 - Commissioner Varian 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 MIN 19-05 APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 27, 2018 PARK BOARD MINUTES Commissioner Walsdorf asked about the Eagle Scout project. Mr. Monahan explained the project since Commissioner Walsdorf was not present at the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Markle to approve the minutes of November 27, 2018 meeting as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Lester. Motion approved unanimously. 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:06 p.m. City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final January 22, 2019 No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:07 p.m. None 5. New Business 5.-1 PB 19-01 PARKS MASTER PLAN UPDATE Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed Bob Slipka from WSB reviewed the concept plans for Happy Acres and Aquatore Parks. He also reviewed the trails system along with available parcels for parks. He reviewed the various times when resident and key stakeholder input was gathered. Mr. Slipka showed a map showing the trails and trail connections. A draft park and trail plan was prepared. Mr. Slipka pointed out the missing trail connections. Mr. Slipka shared with the Commission a list of parcels that may be available for additional parkland. He reviewed briefly the Senior Center Development Project and Aquatore Park. The parking issues around Aquatore were described. A cost estimate and phasing plan for Aquatore Park will be provided at a later date. Chair Bird asked about the Fogerty Arena north parking lot and Mr. Slipka stated the northernmost lot would remain and the lot just north of the building would be removed with the addition of another sheet of ice. The parking will be separated by a parkway. Chair Bird asked how much of the traditional park would be lost for parking and Mr. Slipka stated he does not have that information handy. He estimated it may be 1 to 1 ½ acre, Commissioner Das asked about the trails he indicated on the map and Mr. Monahan stated that is Lochness Park. Commissioner Das further questioned the parcels that are being considered. Commissioner Markle referred to the first map and the access to Lochness Park. Mr. Slipka stated that was discussed at the open house events. There are no plans for a signal intersection at that point. There will be a light at Woodland Parkway. Commissioner Markle stated he is concerned with getting in and out of Aquatore Park during some of the larger events. Mr. Monahan stated one road, near the dog park, is shut down during the Blaine Festival. Commissioner Lester asked what other events occur at Aquatore other than the Blaine Festival. Mr. Monahan stated the Family Fun Night and City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final January 22, 2019 hockey games/tournaments. This will basically be the event park for the City. There are also private events. Commissioner Lester asked about the land north of the bandshell and if it is wetland. Mr. Slipka stated it could be determined if delineated as wetland. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if there is a timeline associated with the plan and Mr. Slipka stated the hope is to have the plan completed by spring. After that costs and timelines can be determined. Mr. Monahan stated once the concept is reviewed by the Park Board then the Council looks at it. The priority at this point is Aquatore with Happy Acres being next. Commissioner Paulseth asked if the band shell will be semi enclosed and will the existing trees remain. Mr. Slipka stated it will be at the bottom of an existing slope however the sizing and actual location may be adjusted slightly. The oak trees will remain as much as they can. The Blaine Festival will be contributing to the band shell/amphitheater. Mr. Slipka reviewed the concept plan for Happy Acres Park. He stated this is more of a recreational park. The needs they heard were ball fields in a more convenient way to accommodate four fields, the distance from parking to the ball fields, playground equipment replacement in the future, and address parking needs. There will be a shelter near the fields with bathroom facilities. A sledding hill could be constructed. Mr. Slipka further explained the concept plan in detail. An entry off of 118th Avenue NE would be constructed. Chair Bird asked if the new entrance would be park land or an acquisition and Mr. Slipka stated it is existing park land. Commissioner Markle asked for the current layout of Happy Acres Park for a perspective. Mr. Slipka identified the current locations of the park amenities. In the new plan there is efficient use of the ball fields. The green space between the ball fields is 45-60 feet. Commissioner Lester asked the distance for the softball fields and Mr. Monahan stated they are typical 300 feet. The softball fields could also be used for fast pitch. There would be room for two large softball fields and the other two would be smaller. Commissioner Lester asked about the demand for the smaller fields and Mr. Monahan stated there is a great demand for fields. The associations have helped support amenities at Jim Peterson and LAC. The larger playground at Happy Acres is scheduled to be redone next year. City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final January 22, 2019 Chair Bird asked about the four fields near the NSC. Mr. Slipka stated a contingent plan will be put into the master plan to provide provisions for those fields. Chair Bird stated the immediate concern is what would be done with the adult softball program if the fields near the NSC were not to be available. Commissioner Lizakowski asked if there was any desire for the residents near Happy Acres for other amenities during the summer. Mr. Slipka stated the plan is flexible but there were no hard play requests for other amenities. Mr. Monahan stated there are 32 basketball courts within the City and there have been no requests for basketball at Happy Acres. This would be Blaine’s premier winter park. A splashpad was previously discussed but it was determined Aquatore or LAC may be a better location. Commissioner Paulsen stated he likes the idea of the sledding hill. He noted the warming house seems smaller than the current one. Mr. Monahan stated the current one is very large but isn’t used to its full capacity. Commissioner Paulsen asked if there would only be one refrigerated ice rink and Mr. Monahan stated it is good to at least have one in the City. A cost estimate can be given for two refrigerated ice rinks. Commissioner Markle asked if there needs to be an equipment house for the refrigerated ice rinks and Mr. Slipka stated there would need to be chillers for the rink. He referred to Coon Rapids new ice arena. This could be accommodated in the warming house. Commissioner Walsdorf asked about Zamboni’s for cleaning the ice and Mr. Monahan stated there is currently one at Happy Acres. They are looking at adding another hockey rink at Lexington also. Chair Bird stated visually the concept plan is stunning. He is impressed with both plans. Discussed 5.-2 PB 19-02 PICKLE BALL COURTS AT HIDDEN PONDS PARK DISCUSSION Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed the Park Advisory Board is requested to provide direction on the following: · Does the Park Board want to remove the basketball courts to better position the four pickle ball courts or keep the court and just resurface the court? · Does the Park Board want to explore adding a small parking lot at Hidden Ponds Park or just start out with the on-street parking that City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final January 22, 2019 the park currently has today. · Budget may need to be increased because of the following: o 2019 Construction Costs 4 courts and fencing o Additional fencing around each of the four pickle ball courts o Adding parking lot Commissioner Das asked how many pickle ball courts are available and Mr. Monahan stated there are four at LAC with some other lined courts on tennis courts in other parks. Commissioner Das would like to retain the basketball court and add the pickle ball courts in a different part of the park. Commissioner Walsdorf asked where the parking lot would be and Mr. Monahan indicated the area on the map or street parking. Mr. Monahan stated he would propose 20 space parking lot. Commissioner Walsdorf stated he does not want to see any trees removed. Chair Bird asked if the curb could be cut. Mr. Monahan stated that has been done at Legacy Creek and Lakeside Park. This is a six-foot shoulder along the park. Commissioner Paulseth stated he would support the removal of the basketball court and putting the pickle ball courts in that location. He feels the curb cut would be a good idea. Chair Bird asked if the neighbors have been surveyed. Mr. Monahan stated that has not been done yet but would be done. The mailing could be done and then brought back to the Commission for consideration. Chair Bird asked if pickle ball became less popular could it be converted to other uses and Mr. Monahan stated he does not see pickle ball going away. The consensus of the Park Board was to cut the curb for parking, no parking lot created, remove the basketball court to allow for the pickle ball courts, and survey the neighbors within a mile radius. 5.-3 PB 19-03 PARK BOARD UPDATES Recreation Manager Monahan provided updates on the following: Senior Center - The bids are going out for the Blaine Activity Center February 21, 2019. The construction timeline will come back before the Park Board at an upcoming meeting. The old senior center will be demolished. Snow Day - Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 1-4pm at Wargo Nature City of Blaine Page 5 Park Advisory Board Minutes - Final January 22, 2019 Center. FREE Event. Super Hero Party - Friday, March 1, 2019 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Blaine City Hall. $10 per child. Indoor Farmers Market - Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Blaine City Hall. Veterans Memorial Update by Steve Guider will take place at the February Park Board Meeting. Name tags and shirts for the Park Board members will be ordered in March. Staff will bring options to the February meeting. Chair Bird requested Christmas tree lighting be added to the next agenda. Mr. Monahan stated a tree will be planted for that purpose by the City Forester. The pillars will also be wrapped in lights. Commissioner Das asked about the type of tree that would be planted. Discussed Adjournment Commissioner Walsdorf motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Lester seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting 8:35 p.m. Aye: 8 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Varian, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth City of Blaine Page 6