9. PRSR 01-08-2014 �/
ElkMemorandum
River
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director
Date: January 8, 2014
Subject: Director's Report
This report is a monthly highlight of our Department's activities informing the Commission on items
related to collaborations, strategic planning, staff changes/ development, and park operations.
Recreation Coordinator Position
Our new Recreation Coordinator Tim Dalton will be introduced to the Commission at the January 8
meeting.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
HKGi will make a presentation to City Council January 6 on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
process. It will be an opportunity for City Council to ask questions and gather initial priorities. The
same presentation will be made by staff to the Commission at the January 8 meeting. The Master Plan
Committee is made up of two Commissioners,Mark Ahlness and Ryan Homgren and staff, Rodney
Schreifels, Steve Benoit, Chris Leeseberg and Michael Hecker.
Minnesota Hockey Day
The Minnesota Hockey Day event scheduled for January 18 has sold over 1, 200 tickets in pre-sales.
Parks and Recreation staff has played an instrumental role in planning for this major event. Dave
Anderson has been instrumental in the planning of the facilities for this event. The Handke Pit Rink is
no longer open to the public for skating. The sliding hill is closed January 9 thorugh January 19. 1
Oak Knoll Athletic Field Lighting
The Oak Knoll Athletic Lighting project is on the City Council agenda for Monday,January 6. In order
to keep pricing for the athletic lighting at 2013 levels,we are requesting approval of the contracts,now
even through the project will not be completed until this summer. This price will increase 3-5% later
this month. The project includes new transformer, electrical and irrigation upgrades to the site that are
required by the changes made to the athletic field with the new lighting poles
On December 2, 2013,the Council approved project funding and an agreement between the City of Elk
River and the Elk River Youth Football Association to donate $73,000 toward this project over the next
several years. The budget for this project was $135,000. The total cost for this project is $128,102.
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Weather related closures
Due to the extreme cold temperatures for Saturday January 4through Tuesday,we plan to not provide
staff for the outdoor rinks. This includes parks maintenance not flooding Sunday through Tuesday and
no warming house attendants at Lions Park until Tuesday night. We have cancelled the Cold Bear
Challenge Hillside Mountain Bike Race on Saturday,January 4.
Houlton Farm Property Acquisition
We are still waiting to hear back from the DNR on the grant to acquire the Houlton property.
Riverfront Concert Series 2014
The lineup for the 2014 Riverfront Conceit Series has been completed. Once contracts have been
accepted,we will announce the bands. The concert series will be ten consecutive concerts from June 12
to August 21 (except for July 3). It promises to be an exciting lineup with half of the bands coming to
Elk River for the first time.
Parks and Recreation Capital Project Requests
As Parks and Recreation Commission members are well aware,we have been receiving many requests
the past year for various projects such as additional athletic fields and field lighting, a skate park, new
playgrounds, a new park,trail improvements and other projects. We need to define priorities and
direction through the parks and recreation master planning process. Until this can happen later in 2014,
I recommend that staff and the Commission place any requests and any requests for action on hold.
N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Commission\Packets\2014\01-08-14 PRC Packet Directors Report 1-8-13.docx