Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission

SPECIAL PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Feb 21, 2024 MINUTES SPECIAL PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024 - 5:00 P.M. BRIDGE ROOM – CITY HALL Members Present: Julie Jelen, Janine Kopff, Danielle Murdoff Maria Onnen, Daryl Tindle, Mercedes Turner, Charlotte Gabler Staff Present: Josh Berthiaume, Sara Cahill, Beth Green, Rachel Leonard, Tom Pawelk Others Present: School District Reps, Pickleball Reps 1. General Business A. Call to Order. Julie Jelen called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and called for introductions. 2. Special Meeting Agenda A. Pickleball Court Discussion: Tom Pawelk explained that the pickleball courts are listed in the CIP for 2025. Ultimately, that can change based upon Council priorities for other projects such as the law enforcement contracts, custodial contracts, Public Works Facility, Water Treatment Facility, etc. After the preliminary budget meeting in July, Council determines the priorities. If it is approved, then it could be put out there for the levy in 2025. There is also an opportunity for funding with a local option sales tax. That option has been approved by the state and it will be on the general election ballot in November 2024, with two options, one for Bertram Athletic Complex and another for The Pointes at Cedar. That is a ½-cent tax which would offer a funding source of $15M over the next 20 years for each park if both options are elected. Rather than putting the needed funds in a property tax levy it would be funded by the ½ percent sales tax. That not only includes local dollars but also dollars from those living outside the community who do their shopping in Monticello. Based upon a study done by the U of M, 68% of the dollars would come from those living outside of our community with the local option sales tax. This is a great opportunity for Monticello and is a program that is already in place for many surrounding communities in Minnesota. Page 1 of 4 SPECIAL PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Feb 21, 2024 There is a lot of investment in Monticello in outdoor recreation and it would be great to catapult it forward. While the city cannot campaign for the sales tax option, we are hopeful there is enough of a voice from athletic associations and others in the community who are willing to do that advocacy. What about grant funding from pickleball organizations? Pawelk said that there is very limited funding from US pickleball, most would be from an outdoor rec grant from the state, the max award last year was like $40K. Once we identify where the courts will go, we can continue to build off of those. a. Proposed Location: We need to figure out the best location within the community to for access to the courts. There are noises that go along with courts so there have been interesting comments from other communities in residential areas. i. 4th Street Park: Cities do get complaints from residents living near courts as they can get loud, and parking may also be limited in that location. The courts would have to be transitioned into hockey rinks in the winter months. ii. Middle School: The Middle School uses their courts, so they are unavailable during the school day. iii. Pinewood Elementary: Superintendent Eric Olson said that the school district is open to a partnership with the City. He explained that there is a 9-acre field at the far west end of the school property that is a viable space that could be used very well for the courts. The school may want to use it on occasion for students but it’s 1st through 5th grade at Pinewood so it really wouldn’t be accessed that often. It could be open to the public during the day as it is fenced off and not near the school or playground. The school sees a huge need and if there’s a chance to partner and grow the health of the community, they are on board with it. Commissioner Tindle said he supports the partnership with the school but doesn’t feel that Pinewood is the appropriate area for the courts at this time. Other concerns include child safety concerns and public access. That area adjoins a neighborhood so there may Page 2 of 4 SPECIAL PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Feb 21, 2024 be noise issues and parking would need to be addressed, etc. iv. The Pointes at Cedar: Pickleball courts are not identified in the plan for the Pointes so it may or may not work. The points may be a more visible location, though. However, having courts at two locations, including the Pointes and Bertram would be beneficial. v. Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park: the location and parking are ideal, as there is ample parking with lots of open space, and it’s not around a residential area, so noise wouldn’t be an issue. Commissioner Murdoff voiced concerns about whether it would interfere with the nature-based education program at Bertram. Pawelk noted that the nature- based program school does not use the athletic park and that is not included in the agreement with the school district for shared use, it is completely separate. While tennis courts were identified in the initial plan for the Bertram Athletic Park, the school district has the tennis side of things in the community so this would be a perfect fit for the pickleball courts at Bertram instead. The initial estimate for pickleball courts of $250K has been identified in the CIP. With the Bertram location, the dollars could go directly into building the courts as opposed to sharing those dollars with infrastructure since that is already in place. Looking at the entire community as a whole without restrictions, tournament play, etc., this is a very good location. Want to put in an area in our community that’s going to flourish for the community. There’s also potential to draw revenue for the city by having the courts out there. While kids are at soccer and lacrosse practice, the parents could be playing pickleball. Pawelk noted that we can continue to look into organizations like pickleball USA for grants in the future. The City has not completed Bertram and there are still items from phase 1 to go back to, such as lighting, Page 3 of 4  SPECIAL PARKS, ARTS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES Feb 21, 2024 pathways, sidewalks, etc. It will be important to look at the future, Forming a pickleball association where there’s fundraising, tournaments, etc. Continue to build the courts, ongoing maintenance. Right now, pickleball doesn’t have an association but maybe that will come once the courts are in. b. Proposed Budget: If City dollars are put into building the courts, the public should have access at all times, not limited access. Therefore, the consensus of the PARC is to choose the Bertram Athletic Complex for the location of the future pickleball courts. The land owned by the School District west of Pinewood Elementary is the second option. Pawelk will develop the plans with the recommendation as an agenda item for the City Council once we have it all packaged together. Councilmember Gabler is the PARC liaison and can update the Council as we go. Pawelk said that at our next regular PARC meeting he will ask for a subcommittee to be formed and he hopes that a representative from the pickleball club will join that subcommittee. The subcommittee will help make recommendations for planning of the courts. We currently have Otsego’s plan as our model. 3. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. RECORDED BY: Beth Green DATE APPROVED: 03-28-2024 ATTEST: Tom Pawelk Page 4 of 4