Park Advisory Board

10801 Town Square Drive City of Blaine Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes Park Advisory Board The Mayor has signed a declaration allowing members of the council, staff, and the public to attend the meeting remotely via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public comment options prior to the meeting must be received by noon on Tuesday, May 25. Email comments to: jkrieger@blainemn.gov or phone 763-785-6161. Zoom is for members of the public who want to comment remotely during the meeting on an agenda item. Join Zoom Webinar at https://blainemn.zoom.us/j/96411124884. Ways to watch if not commenting on an agenda item: BlaineMN.gov/Video or North Metro TV on Comcast, Apple TV, or Roku. Questions? Email - Communications@BlaineMN.gov Park Board Members: Chair Jeffrey Bird, Prad Das, Jeff Lester, Tonya Lizakowski, Hellen Keraka, Kristofer Paulseth and Tom Walsdorf The purpose of the park board is to provide a high quality of life for the city's residents through protection of its natural resources, its scenic, historical and aesthetic values, and by development of compatible facilities for public enjoyment. One of the board's functions as an advisory body 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 27, 2021 7:00 PM Council Chambers 1. Call To Order The Blaine Park Advisory Board met on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this hybrid meeting was held both virtually and in person. 1. Chair Bird called the meeting to order at 7:00PM. Administration Oaths of Office: Board Members Das, Walsdorf, Keraka City Clerk Sorensen administered the Oaths of Office to Boardmembers Prad Das, Tom Walsdorf and Helen Keraka. City of Blaine Page 1 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 2. Roll Call Members Present: Boardmembers Das, Keraka, Lester, Lizakowski, Paulseth, and Walsdorf, and Chair Bird. Adjunct Member Drew Brown. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Jerome Krieger, Interim Senior Recreation Manager, and Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk. Guest: None. Present: 5 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Commissioner Das, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Absent: 1 - Commissioner Markle 3. Approval of Minutes 3.-1 Approval of the January 26, 2021 Park Board Minutes Attachments: 01-26-21 PK.pdf Interim Senior Recreation Manager Krieger requested the following corrections: Page 2 on the sixth line down his last name had to be spelled correctly. Motion by Boardmember Walsdorf to approve the minutes of January 26, 2021 as amended. Motion seconded by Boardmember Lester. A roll call vote was taken. Motion approved unanimously Aye: 5 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Das, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Abstain: 1 - Markle 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input Chair Bird opened the Open Forum at 7:09PM. No one appeared to address the Commission. Chair Bird closed Open Forum at 7:10PM. 5. New Business City of Blaine Page 2 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 5.-1 Recommendation of a proposal for Aquatore Park Shelter replacements Attachments: 017481-000 AQUATORE PICNIC SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.pdf Sunburst Gable 30 x 60 Pitch Study - Specs.pdf Shelter cost estimate 4-15-21.pdf 2021 - 2025 Park Development CIP Budget.pdf Gable 30 x 60 612 - Specs Aquator Steel.pdf Interim Senior Recreation Manager stated Aquatore Park Shelters were constructed in 1988 by the Blaine Public Works department. The two shelters are rented approximately 40 to 45 days a year from May through September. The shelters were identified in the Parks Master Plan for replacement. Mr. Krieger reported the project consultant, WSB and Associates, has submitted plans, specifications, and cost estimate for the two shelters. The initial estimate for the project was $240,000 and the funding was appropriated in the 2021 to 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Plan. However, costs have increased significantly (nearly 40%) since the initial estimate was prepared. WSB’s updated estimate is $333,700 and reflects changes in both the cost of materials and the discovery that new concrete slabs will be required for the shelters. Originally, it was thought that the slabs currently in place could be reused. Upon further inspection, new slabs will be required, increasing the estimate by $38,000. Staff reviewed elevations of the proposed shelters and requested direction from the Board on how to proceed. Chair Bird asked if the $333,700 estimate included the concrete slab expense. Mr. Krieger reported this was the case. He noted the only cost not included was the WSB consulting fee of $15,000. He estimated each shelter would cost $350,000. He noted the shelters at Tom Ryan Park and Lakeside Commons Beach were approximately $200,000 a piece Boardmember Walsdorf asked if the shelters would have facilities. Mr. Krieger commented there would be no restrooms. He indicated the shelters would be an open facility with tables and electricity. Boardmember Walsdorf questioned what the rental structure was for the park shelters. Mr. Krieger explained residents pay $80.39 for a half day and $130 for an entire day. City of Blaine Page 3 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 Boardmember Das discussed the cost for the shelters and inquired if the picnic table building material would be maintenance free. Mr. Krieger reported the tables would be constructed from a maintenance free building material. Boardmember Lester asked how long it would take to construct the park shelters. Mr. Krieger indicated staff would like to present the project to the city council at their May 10 workshop meeting and if accepted, staff would hope to start the project in September. Boardmember Paulseth stated he liked the design of the shelters very much. He questioned what type of lighting would be installed in the shelters. Mr. Krieger commented the lighting has not yet been confirmed, but noted the lighting would be energy efficient. Chair Bird questioned how much the budget would have to be amended to account for the increase in building materials for this project. Mr. Krieger reported if the consulting fee was included, the amended budget would be an additional $110,000. Chair Bird discussed the ending balance of the CIP for 2021, which was $3,107,000. He asked if this number was still accurate. Mr. Krieger stated this was accurate. Motion by Chair Bird to recommend the City Council that the Parks CIP be amended and that staff seek bids for the replacement of the Aquatore Park shelters. Motion seconded by Boardmember Das. A roll call vote was taken. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 5 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Das, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Abstain: 1 - Markle 5.-2 Recommendation of a proposal for Austin Park Pickleball and Basketball Courts Attachments: 2021 - 2025 Park and Trail CIP Budget.pdf 017480-000 AUSTIN PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - 90% PLAN SET.pdf Austin Courts Cost estimate.pdf Interim Senior Recreation Manager Krieger stated the basketball and tennis courts at Austin Park were originally constructed in 1987 as part of a park expansion. In 2015 both courts were resurfaced. Since 2015 the courts have cracked severely from tree roots pushing up the asphalt. The plans for the conversion to City of Blaine Page 4 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 pickleball courts, would move the new courts farther to the west to get away from the existing tree roots. WSB and Associates, the consultant on the project, has submitted plans and specifications for the board to review and discuss. Staff discussed the report from WSB, summarized the costs for the project which totaled $127,457 plus WSB fees ($13,000), and requested direction from the Board on how to proceed. Chair Bird requested comment from staff on the difference between the CIP and the CIF. Mr. Krieger stated the CIP was the Capital Improvement Plan and the CIF stood for Capital Improvement Funds. He explained $500,000 was allotted for parks each year. He reported these dollars can carry over from one year to the next. He described how these funds are used to improve and enhance city parks. Boardmember Walsdorf asked if there were any plans for seating near the pickleball courts. Mr. Krieger reported this would be added afterwards. Boardmember Walsdorf questioned if there would be lighting on the pickleball courts. Mr. Krieger stated the courts would not be lit. Further discussion ensued regarding the projects that were being planned for 2022. Boardmember Lester stated he believed it made sense to complete the trail at the same time as the resurfacing on the pickleball courts. Mr. Krieger stated this would be done as an alternate bid to see how the numbers come in. He reported if the bids are favorable the city could move forward with the trail. Boardmember Lizakowski asked if tree roots were also causing the concerns to the basketball court. Mr. Krieger indicated tree roots and soil correction were concerns for the basketball courts. He noted the pickleball courts had been damaged solely by the tree roots. Motion by Boardmember Lester to recommend the City Council approve a proposal to amend the 2021-25 Parks and Trails CIF and appropriate funds for replacement of the Austin Park basketball and tennis courts. Motion seconded by Boardmember Lizakowski. A roll call vote was taken. Motion approved unanimously. Aye: 5 - Chair Bird, Commissioner Lester, Das, Commissioner Lizakowski, and Commissioner Paulseth Abstain: 1 - Markle City of Blaine Page 5 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 5.-3 Park Board Updates Mr. Krieger provided the following updates: Fort Lion Park - The old playground has been removed and new playground is being installed by Flagship Recreation and should be completed this week. Five basketball hoops were replaced at the following parks - Aquatore, Sunnyside, Van Buren, Jaycee and Ivy Hills. Splash Pad water feature replacement at Lakeside Commons Park - 14 of the 15 features have been replaced. The remaining feature will be customized later this month and installed. Exterior security cameras have been installed at Lakeside Commons Park located at the beach house and boathouse. Mr. Krieger provided an update on the programs being planned for this summer. He explained registrations have been coming in quickly for summer programs. It reported staff was receiving 12 to 15 calls per week for park shelter rentals. He noted Tom Ryan Park was increasing in popularity. Chair Bird asked when the beach would open. Mr. Krieger reported the beach would open on June 1, 2021. Chair Bird requested an update on the community gardens. Mr. Krieger explained dirt has been placed in the community gardens and noted the garden would be open on Friday, May 14, 2021. Boardmember Keraka questioned how often the Board met. Mr. Krieger noted the Board met in January but did not meet in February or March. He explained this group meets when there are items to discuss, otherwise the meetings are canceled. Boardmember Walsdorf inquired if hybrid meetings were being planned going forward. Mr. Krieger reported staff was discussing this topic and anticipated hybrid meetings would be the norm going forward. Further discussion ensued regarding the security cameras that were installed at Lakeside Commons. Adjournment City of Blaine Page 6 Park Advisory Board Minutes April 27, 2021 Boardmember Keraka motioned to adjourn. Boardmember Das seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Motion approved unanimously. Chair Bird adjourned the meeting at 8:01PM. City of Blaine Page 7