02-13-2013 PR MIN MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
HELD AT CITY HALL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013
Members Present: Chair Anderson, Commissioners Ahlness, Karlsen,Niziolek,Nystrom, and
Sagan
Members Absent: Commissioner Kallemeyn
Council Liaison: Mayor Dietz
Staff Present: Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director, Chris Leeseberg,
Planner/Park Planner Steve Benoit, Recreation Manager, Tonya Love,
Recreation Coordinator
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. Consider February 13,2013 Parks &Recreation Commission Agenda
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit requested to present Item 6 in the following order.
First, Item B. Special Park Use, second,Item C. Eagle Scout Project,third,Item A. Orono
Park Playground Recommendation and fourth, Item D. Skate Park Committee Formation
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER AHLNESS AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO APPROVE THE FEBRURAY 13, 2013 PARKS
& RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA WITH STAFF CHANGES.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
3. Consider Minutes of January 9, 2013 Parks &Recreation Commission Meeting and Minutes
of January 31,2013 Parks &Recreation Commission Work Session.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NYSTROM AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER AHLNESS TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 9,2013 PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES AND THE
JANUARY 31, 2013 PARKS AND RECREATION WORK SESSION MEETING
MINUTES. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
4. Open Forum- None
Park&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2
February 13,2013
5. Park/Program Hrehlight
Recitation Manager, Steve Benoit shared highlights from the Activity Center's five year
anniversary celebration,FatBike Fest held at Hillside City Park and the Fire &Ice Festival.
6. Action Items
6.B. Special Park Use - Lions Park- German Heritage Festival
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit presented a Major Park Use request for Lions Park on
Saturday,May 18,2013 to host a German Heritage Festival.
Representatives from two of the four groups collaborating were present to answer questions.
Mr. Beniot shared that staff recommends approval of the use of Lions Park, payment of a
$250 damage deposit,waiving the facility use fee,operate the event within regular park
hours, group work with the Parks &Recreation Department staff and group will cover
additional expenses related to staff,trash cans and portable toilets as needed for the event.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SAGAN AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO
APPROVE THE LIONS PARK MAJOR PARK USE FOR THE GERMAN
HERITAGE FESTIVAL ON MAY 18,2013. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
6.C. Eagle Scout Project
Commissioner Anderson introduced Eagle Scout, Blake LaValle.
Eagle Scout, Blake LaValle shared that he would like to do a trail blazing project that will
connect up to the bridge project that the Parks and Recreation Commission previously
approved for another Eagle Scout.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER AHLNESS AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK TO APPROVE THE EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
PRESENTED BY BLAKE LAVALLE WHO WILL WORK WITH CITY STAFF
TO BLAZE A WALKING TRAIL IN WOODLAND TRAILS PARK. MOTION
CARRIED 6-0.
6.A. Orono Park Playground Recommendation
Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker presented staff's recommendation to remove
the current playground at Orono Park for liability/safety reasons and recommend that it be
replaced with a playground design recommended at the January 9,2013 Parks and
Recreation work session.
Commissioner Sagan questioned if the current park benches would stay or be relocated.
Park&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3
February 13,2013
Mr. Hecker explained that with the new design there will be two new benches added and the
old ones will be worked into the design.
Commissioner Nystrom questioned who would do site preparation.
Planner/Parks Planner, Chris Leeseberg stated that the parks crew will remove and level site
and the company will do the installation.
Commissioner Anderson questioned when the project would start.
Mr. Hecker shared that after City Council approves the project it will take approximately
three months.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER KARLSEN AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER AHLNESS TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL TO
ACCEPT STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO REMOVE THE CURRENT
PLAYGOURND AT ORONO PARK AND REPLACE IT WITH A
PLAYGROUND DESIGN THAT WAS RECOMMENDED AT THE JANUARY 9,
2013 PARKS AND RECREATION WORK SESSION. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
6.D. Skate Park Committee Formation
Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker shared that at least one member of the Parks
and Recreation Commission is needed to serve on the Skate Park Committee.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER AHLNESS AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER NYSTROM TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER NIZIOLEK AS
THE COMMISSION MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE SKATE PARK
COMMITTEE. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
7. Parks &Recreation Director Report
Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker presented department updates including the
confirmed 2013 Riverfront concert series line up, Olympic rink ice plant issues and
Recreation Coordinator, Stephanie Albin resignation.
8. Division Manager's Reports
Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit shared that staff continue to learn the new parks and
recreation registration software and in addition staff have been a part of the development of
the new city website project.
9. Announcements
Commissioner Nystrom shared that Sherburne County has recently acquired the easement
from waste management along the Great Northern Trail that extends towards City of
Zimmerman.
Park&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4
February 13,2013
10. Adjournment
There being no further business,the meeting adjourned at 7:43pm.
Min .-s p -p. -•syy inya Love.
Ar
lave Ande ..n
Parks and Recreation Commission Chair
....___--/
Tina Allarrty erk
12. Work session Discussion
Interested community members and Commission members continued discussion of Bailey
Point concept, design and usage.