Parks & Recreation Commission

REGULAR MEETING PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION City of Oakdale April 20 , 2021 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Commission was held on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, via Zoom. Zoom is an online platform that allows persons to “attend” the meeting via video or telephone. The meeting was called to order by Chair Lockhart at 7 PM. CALL OF ROLL On a call of roll, the following were present: Chair: Paul Lockhart Vice Chair: Jenny Cook Commissioners: Jan Cunningham Glen Giacoletto Mark Giannini Freddie Jiles Steve Meyer Also Present: Jake Ingebrigtson, City Council Brian Bachmeier, City Engineer Jeff Koesling, Parks Superintendent Julie Williams, Recreation Superintendent Quorum Present: YES ☒ NO ☐ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Regular Meeting Minutes, March 16, 2021 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM , SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GIANNINI TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 16, 2021 AS PRESENTED. 6 AYES 0 NAYS CITY COUNCIL UPDATE – Jake Ingebrigtson Summerfest – Councilmember Ingebrigtson replied to Commissioner Cunningham that Summerfest is up in the air. Council felt better about holding the event in past weeks than PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 20 , 2021 Page 2 now with the Covid-19 numbers rising and difficulty deciding who will enforce mask requirements. Council is not sure and very few hard decisions have been made. Superintendent Williams reported that summer recreation programming is moving ahead with the current guidelines in place, though the situation may change in June, July, and August. As of now, Concerts in the Park are being scheduled. OAKDALE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (OAA) PARK IMPROVEMENTS – Paul Lockhart Chair Lockhart reported on Oakdale Athletic Association park improvements at Bearth Field. The OAA has given money to repair the fence and install drain tile, and next aims to replace and install new fence screening on the field. The old partial screen is white, and will be replaced to cover the 1,200 foot span of the fence with a royal blue banner featuring the OAA and City of Oakdale logos. The cost will be $2,500 and require three to four weeks before installation. He sought a motion to recommend the project to Council for approval. Superintendent Koesling informed that the partial screening of the fence was purposeful, and that the fence never had a full screen for the 1,200 foot span. The portion with the white screening is the location that water from the lake caused a reflection distracting the ball game, and a screen was placed by the last Parks Superintendent Randy Bastyr. Commissioner Meyer received confirmation from Chair Lockhart that the project will be fully funded by the OAA. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MEYER, SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR COOK TO RECOMMEND THE BEARTH FIELD FENCE SCREENING PROJECT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL . 7 AYES 0 NAYS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE – Brian Bachmeier Director Bachmeier reviewed the four projects listed as 2021 Capital Improvement Projects: 1. Oakdale Nature Preserve South Loop Repaving $120,000 2. Reroofing Walton Park Shelters $90,000 3. Remodeling Walton Park Kitchens $20,000 4. Replacing Oakdale Nature Preserve Park Signs $15,000 The total budgeted for the projects was $245,000. With bids coming in favorably from quotes received by Superintendent Koesling, $8,000 remains after the sign replacement, and $21,300 remains after the reroofing. The combination of conservative estimating and good solicitation of quotes by Mr. Koesling have resulted in a total of $29,300 still available. While bids also came in favorable for the repaving project, additional work may be needed so the funds will be kept in place. In addition to the $29,300, there was $12,000 allocated in the operating budget to resurface a court, to make a new total of $41,300. To make use of the money in 2021, quotes were received for four recommended projects: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 20 , 2021 Page 3 1. Reroof Guthrie Park Shelter $11,800 2. Resurface Oakdale Nature Preserve Tennis Court $18,000 3. Repave Guthrie Park Basketball Court $15,000 4. Install a tennis court practice wall at Eastside Park $16,500 The total of the recommended projects is $61,300. Due to the associated safety concerns of not improving the tennis and basketball courts, it is the recommendation of Mr. Bachmeier and Koesling to address those projects in 2021 for a total of $33,000. A third project could not be fully funded. Commissioner Meyer commented that the price seems high for the tennis court practice wall. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER MEYER, SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR COOK TO RECOMMEND THE OAKDALE NATURE PRESERVE TENNIS COURT RESURFACING AND GUTHRIE PARK BASKETBALL COURT REPAVING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL . 7 AYES 0 NAYS Chair Lockhart noted $8,300 remain for another 2021 project. Mr. Bachmeier replied that the money could be used to address a resident request by making a recommendation to Council, otherwise the remaining money would be carried over to the next year. PARKS UPDATE – Jeff Koesling Fields – Mr. Koesling reported that crews have been pretty successful getting on fields despite that the weather hasn’t cooperated since Easter. Adult softball travelling games start this week on this coming Sunday. The low temperatures mean that water can’t be turned on yet in the buildings. Crews have been leveling, dragging, sweeping, cutting, and dethatching fields. Bearth field was completed today, along with two Walton fields. Two more fields at Walton need to be done. OAA Discussion – Chair Lockhart will meet with Mr. Koesling on Thursday afternoon to discuss the shed addition and adding dugouts at Bearth Field in late summer. Chair Lockhart reported that the dirt settled and caved at Bearth Field, the location of drain tile cannot be determined. The asphalt there is in good shape. Mr. Koesling responded that Bearth Field will be top dressed and seeded. The poor job done by the contractor seeding last fall is never going to grow. It was known that it would settle because the timing of the project was done so late. He will do his best to get Bearth Field in shape. RECREATION UPDATE – Julie Williams PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 20 , 2021 Page 4 Early Newsletter – Mrs. Williams shared that the early newsletter for summer youth programming will be available online and in house this week. Registration begins April 29. The full summer newsletter will be mailed to residents mid to late May and include all kid and adult programming. Mystery Egg Hunt – Held April 3 outdoors on a sunny, beautiful 70 degree Saturday, the egg hunt was full with 150 kids. Thank you to partners Larry and Vickey Eberhard who provided donuts and raffled off two bikes. Best Snow Sculpture of Oakdale Contest – Congratulations to the Ostby family for their winning submission of the Oakdale Police Officer Snowperson. This year’s theme was Everyday Heroes. Community Walk – 180 residents signed up in the first two weeks for the Oakdale Nature Preserve Community Walk now underway. Residents are rewarded for recording their miles. Artist of the Month – Marilyn Stevens will be featured April and May. Park Clean Up – The week of April 26 is Park Cleanup Week. Thank you to the 100 volunteers who have signed up. Junior Master Gardeners – Saturday’s class is full. Pickleball Courts – Pickleball courts were opened early in March. Lessons begin May 4 and the class is full. Wellness 50 Award – Congratulations to partner Oakdale Wellness 50+ for receiving the group category award for the 2020 Washington County Public Health Achievement. Mrs. Williams thanked Commissioner Cunningham who is a member for the appreciated partnership. The award will be displayed at the Discovery Center. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Trail Accessibility – Vice Chair Cook connected with new resident and disability advocate Jimmy through social media after posting a picture of the Oakdale Nature Preserve Boardwalk. She noticed the trail maps do not have Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) information. Superintendent Williams replied that it can be added to trail maps. Superintendent Koesling added that the boardwalk design can hold an ambulance, and the posts that are installed are intended to keep recreational vehicles like four wheelers off. Councilmember Ingebrigtson has also connected with Jimmy and encouraged his involvement in updating information. PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION April 20 , 2021 Page 5 Engineer Bachmeier informed that improvements made 2010 forward have all been ADA compliant. A map can be generated identifying which trails are ADA compliant. As we rebuild, we will make effort to bring the system into compliance. Community Garden Plots – Commissioner Giacoletto was approached by a resident Washington County Master Gardener suggesting a community garden where apartment dwelling residents can rent a plot to grow produce for consumption. Needs would be water access and a way to define the plots. The pandemic has increased demand for growing food and Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, and Scandia within Washington County already have implemented these gardens. Woodbury is considering the concept. A group from Hennepin County had presented the concept to the Washington County Master Gardeners. He wondered if the community could be surveyed for interest. Chair Lockhart liked the idea and asked if there the City had a parcel to use. Engineer Bachmeier informed that the City considered the concept a number of years ago and the report can be provided to the Commission. A survey was conducted and research was completed on sites. The conclusion at the time was that the City was not going to proceed with the program. The report can be used as a starting point. ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM , SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GIACOLETTO TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION, DATED APRIL 20 , 2021, AT 7:37 PM. 7 AYES 0 NAYS Respectfully submitted, Laura Linzmeyer