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, April 23, 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, April 23, 2019. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. OATHS OF OFFICE TO: REX MARKLE, PRAD DAS, TOM WALSDORF City Clerk Cathy Sorenson administered the Oaths of Office to Rex Markle, Prad Das and Tom Walsdorf. 2. Roll Call 2019 Park Board Staff Present: Nate Monahan, Recreation Manager Present: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Absent: 1 - Commissioner Lester Chair Bird announced Mr. Drew Brown will be an adjunct member of the Blaine Park Advisory Board. Mr. Brown introduced himself and provided a brief background. The Park Advisory Boardmembers introduced themselves to Mr. Brown. 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 26, 2019 PARK BOARD MINUTES City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 23, 2019 Attachments: 02-26-19 Pk Commissioner Paulseth noted Mr. Steve Guider did not provide an update on the Veteran’s Memorial in Town Square Park at the meeting. Chair Bird noted Vice Chair Markle adjourned the meeting. Motion by Commissioner Walsdorf to approve the minutes of February 26, 2019 meeting as presented. Motion seconded by Das. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:11 p.m. No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:12 p.m. None. 5. New Business 5.-1 UPDATE ON THE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL AT TOWN SQUARE PARK Mr. Monahan provided an update to the Park Advisory Board on Veteran’s Memorial in Town Square Park. Mr. Steve Guider met with Mr. Monahan a week ago to give him the update. Mr. Monahan showed a drawing of the location of the memorial along with the different pieces representing the wars. The planters will remain along with the vegetation. Bricks will be sold to those who donate toward the project. The Eagle Scout project location was shown on the drawing. Mr. Guider is continuing to fund raise. A boulder will be placed near the fountain. The fountain has been working fine. The cost of the large monument is $800,000. Commissioner Walsdorf asked if there are plans for additional conflicts or wars and Mr. Monahan stated that was not discussed. Currently Mr. Guider has the concrete working being done in-kind donation. The City of Blaine is providing $10,000 and Mr. Guider has $15,000 in additional donations. Chair Bird asked what the construction material is and Mr. Monahan stated it is granite. City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 23, 2019 Discussed. 5.-2 EASTSIDE PARK TENNIS COURT Attachments: Eastside Tennis1 Eastside Tennis2 Eastside Tennis 3 Recreation Manager Monahan reviewed the Eastside Park Tennis courts are in very poor condition due to the soil under the courts. Staff has resurfaced and crack sealed the court a few times and it doesn’t seem to be helping the surface of the tennis court. Staff has also been receiving calls from residents about the condition of the court the last few years as well. Staff is asking for direction on what course of action should be taken with the Eastside Tennis Courts and offered two options for Park Board consideration: Option 1 - Remove Eastside Tennis Courts and do not replace. The City does have courts located at Austin and Centennial Green Parks which are in close proximity to Eastside Park. Option 2 - Remove Eastside Tennis Court and replace it in another location within the park at a cost estimate of $100,000 as soil corrections would be necessary. An aerial view of the tennis courts was shown for Board consideration. Adjunct member Brown asked the age of the courts. Mr. Monahan stated they are 32 years old and typically if they are maintained and resurfaced every 7-9 years they should last. Commissioner Walsdorf asked what would be placed if the courts were removed and Mr. Monahan stated it would probably just be seeded. The $100,000 would include the soil correction. The cost could possibly go over $100,000. Commissioner Paulseth stated it seems like a good spot for the tennis court and would be leaning toward Option 1 as there are courts at Centennial High School also. Commissioner Das asked if there is demographic information for that neighborhood. Mr. Monahan stated he did not pull the information. Commissioner Das is leaning toward Option 1. City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 23, 2019 Chair Bird lived across the street from the park for 19 years. The court has had issues since 1993. It is a highly used park in the summer. The tennis courts get a lot of use. If it can’t be re-located within the park, he would suggest a pavilion (covered shelter). Mr. Monahan stated that would be an option and asked if it would make sense to have it closer to the playground where the soils would be better or between the ball fields. He requested if the court was removed an amenity be added to the park to replace it. Mr. Monahan agreed. Chair Bird stated there is a single lane pedestrian bridge that goes across the pond. It is still in great shape but would like to see if there is an option to widen it. Commissioner Das asked if there is a half basketball court in the park and Mr. Monahan stated there is a half court located SE of the playground equipment. That is in need of some maintenance also. Commissioner Das asked if the basketball court can be improved. Motion by Commissioner Das to recommend the City Council approve Option One – Remove Eastside Tennis court and do not replace if the demographic information or neighborhood survey shows that is the best option. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Commissioner Paulseth stated it would be difficult to put money toward something that would not last. Mr. Monahan suggested the survey to residents explain the removal of the tennis court and what would they like to see in its place. Chair Bird stated he does not know when the budget could handle a replacement for the tennis court. He is fine with delaying the decision a month until resident input is received. Motion by Commissioner Walsdorf to table consideration until more information is provided by Staff regarding the demographics. Motion seconded by Commissioner Markle. Motion approved unanimously. 5.-3 UPDATES Mr. Monahan provided updates on the following: Parks Master Plan - Staff is reviewing the preliminary plan that was just received. The final plan will be reviewed at the Park Board’s May meeting. It is 170 pages. The removal of the Eastside Tennis Courts was part of the plan. The Council will also review the plan in May. Pickle Ball Courts at Hidden Ponds Park - WSB is finalizing the plans City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 23, 2019 which will be one row west to east along with a full-size basketball court. The cost estimate is $200,000 for all. Chair Bird asked where the additional money would be coming from and Mr. Monahan stated from the CIP where there are sufficient funds for this project. Chair Bird asked that the Park Board look at this next month to see the impact on other projects agreed upon. Mr. Monahan will also bring back the design and there is not a huge rush. Commissioner Paulseth noted a resident had come into the Park Board Meeting and stated she liked the open space which would be decreased with the addition of a full basketball court. WorldFest Event has been moved to Saturday, September 14 - This is when it was previously from 1-4pm. Commissioner Paulseth noted SBM Fire is having their 75th Anniversary Party for September 14, 2019 which may have some impact. Summer Farmers Market Canceled due to low vendor turnout. There had been 24-25 vendors and this year only 11 would commit. There are a variety of reasons for low vendor turnout. The Winter Indoor Market will be discussed in the future. Chair Bird asked when the youth triathlon is and Mr. Monahan stated it will be July 27, 2019 8am at Lakeside Commons Park Beach. The beach opens May 31 and will remain open until September 2. Same dates for the splash pad. The final touches are being done on the chess board and chess pieces for use in the park. Informational; no action required. Adjournment Commissioner Lizakowski motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Das seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting 7:55 p.m. Aye: 6 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Markle, Commissioner Walsdorf, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth City of Blaine Page 5