03 09 2011 PR MINMEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
HELD AT CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 201 1
Members Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Ahlness, Jaker, Karlsen, Niziolek,
and Nystrom
Members Absent: Commissioner Peterson
Council Liaison: Mayor Dietz
Staff Present: Steve Benoit, Recreation Manager; Chris I.eesebexg, Planner/Park
Planner; Tonya Love, Recording Secretary;
1. Call Meeting To Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Parks and
Recreation Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Anderson.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Consider March 9. 2011 Parks & Recreation Commission Agenda
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NYSTROM AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER AHLNESS TO APPROVE THE MARCH 9, 2011 PARKS
& RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA. CARRIED G-0.
Consider Minutes of February 9 2011 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER JAKER AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 9, 2011
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
Open Mike -None
Volunteer of the Month
Ice Arena Manager, Rich Czech presented Bill and DeAnn Givens as the Volunteers
of the Month.
6. Recreatoon Manager's Report -Steve Benoit
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit shared the Elk River Senior Center and Elk River
Ice Arena staff reports.
Mx. Benoit reported that the Summer Program Guide has been in production and
will be available the second week in March and shared department updates.
Park & Recreation Commission blinutes
March 9.2011
Mayor Dietz asked out the Pinewood Clubhouse position opening.
Mr. Benoit stated the Clubhouse Manager resigned and it was decided to hire a
seasonal position instead which will result in a net savings of $15,000.
Discussion/Action Items
7.1.A. MPCA Ambient Groundwater Quality Monitoring Networking Program
Planner/Park Planner, Chris Leeseberg shared that staff was contacted by Peex
Engineering, on behalf of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, about the
possibility of placing a monitoring well in Windsor Park.
Page 2
Peer Engineering staff, Steve Jansen presented information about what the
monitoring well would be used for and that MPCA and Peer Engineering axe seeking
and access agreement with the City of Elk River at no cost to the city.
Commissioner Niziolek asked how deep the well would go and why locate it at
Windsor Paxk.
Mr. Jansen explained that the well would be 20 feet deep with a two inch well casing
at the top one foot above the ground. MPCA looks fox certain types of land use; city
type property and density when choosing a location.
Commissioner Jaker questioned if there were any arguments against installing the
monitoring well.
Mr. Jansen expressed he was a biased opinion and that it will provide data as to what
is going on with the water. One drawback may be the actual drill damaging park
area.
Commissioner Anderson stated that when restoration is worked on that it be native
to the area.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NYSTROM AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER JAKER TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO
APPROVE INSTALLATION OF A MONITORING WELL IN WINDSOR
PARK WHILE WORKING WITH STAFF AND COMMISSION
MEMBERS. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
7.2.A. Field Use Policv
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit reported that staff met with a representative from
the Elk River Youth Football Association and gathered the information requested at
the February Commission meeting. Staff is looking for direction on how field
allocation issues should philosophically be approached in the future.
Park & Recreation Commission Minutes
March 9, 2011
Page 3
Elk River resident, Todd Raymakers, 10725 186`h Circle NW; President of Elk River
Youth Football Association (ERYFA) expressed his concern that city fields may be
taken away from the ERYFA in order fox the city's flag football program to expand.
Mr. Raymakers explained that the ERYFA is anon-profit organization run by
volunteers and is a feeder program for the Elk River High School program.
Elk River resident, Tyler Hemmesch, 1332 5`° St; 2007 Elk River graduate and
ERYFA volunteer shared how the football association impacted his life by keeping
him involved, goals and lessons all while maturing.
Elk River resident, Craig Hemmesch, 1332 5`" St; Past President of ERYFA shared
that he had three sons go through the football program, a great family sport and with
last fall's Varsity programs issues it is important to support the organization more
than ever.
Elk River resident, Bob Schilz, 18499 Olson Circle NW; Vice President of ERYFA
shared that he would hate to see the fields taken away from the football association
and impressed with how organized and the sense of community the association has.
Elk River resident, Mike Brown, 11360 193"' Ave. NW; shared that he has been
involved with ERYFA, it is a great group and the money is always put back into the
group, cost is kept low for all to be able to afford.
Mr. Raymakers expressed that taking away fields from ERYFA will affect the
community being the association is a mentoring program teaching them the best life
skills they can.
Commissioner Niziolek expressed supporting the volunteer and non-profit group in
our town. More than football, they make Elk River special.
Commissioner Jakex stated that it was helpful to hear from the ERYFA and hope to
not lose focus that it is not that the commission is against ERYFA. Issue is how to
allocate fields and come up with a creative solution.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER JAKER TO RECOMMEND THE YOUTH
ASSOCIATIONS HAVE FIRST PRIORITY AND RECREATION
PROGRAMS HAS SECOND PRIORITY. MOTION CARRIED 6-0
8. Information/Update Items
8.1. Community Events
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit showcased the 2011 Shiver Elk River Community
Event on March 12, 2011. This event took place at Lions Park, Handke Ice Rink
and Orono Park.
Paxk & Recxeauon Commission bfinutes
March 9, 2011
8.2. Paxk/Program H~hliehts
Page 4
Planner/Park Planner, Chris Leesebexg showcased the Youth Athletic Complex.
Citv Council/Planning Commission Review/Updates
Mayor Dietz stated that City Council approved $2,000 to be used towards sprucing
up the Pinewood Clubhouse.
10. Other Business
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit stated that a workshop needs to take place to
review the work that has been done on the Bailey Point Grant. A proposed date for
the workshop meeting was March 16, 2011.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO SCHEDULE AND HOLD A PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING ON
MARCH 16, 2011 AT G:30PM. MOTION CARRIED G-0.
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit shared that the commission needs to recommend
a commissioner to be on the committee fox hiring the Parks and Recreation
Director.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER KARLSEN TO RECOMMEND COMMISSIONER
ANDERSON TO BE ON THE HIRING COMMITTEE. MOTION
CARRIED 6-0.
11. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:12pm.
Minutes prepared by Tonya Love.
T' Allard i Cle
Dave Anderson
Parks and Recreation Commission Chair