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01-14-2014 PR MIN City of Elk ` Meeting of the Elk River Parks and River Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, January 8, 2014 Members Present: Chair Anderson, Commission members Ahlness,Holmgren, Kallemeyn,Niziolek, and Nystrom Member Absent: Commission member Sagan Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director,Michael Hecker, Recitation Manager, Steve Benoit,Park Planner Chris Leeseberg,and Recreation Coordinator, Tonya Love I. 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 01/08/14 Agenda Mr. Benoit requested to table Item 4 until the February 12 meeting. Commissioner Anderson requested to add Closing Warming House Weather Policy as Item 7.2. Moved by Commissioner Ahlness and seconded by Commissioner Nystrom to approve the proposed changes to the January 8, 2014 agenda. Motion carried 6-0. 3. Consider Minutes Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to approve the following December 11, 2013 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 6-0. 4. Recreation Coordinator, Tim Dalton Introduction - Tabled 5. Open Forum - None 6. Park/Program Highlight Mr. Benoit presented a slideshow highlighting the Annual Downtown Holiday Special Event. Parks &Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 January 8,2014 7.1 Mississippi Oaks Park Outdoor Ice Rink Lighting Mr.Hecker presented his staff report. Commissioner Kallemeyn asked how many outdoor ice rinks were maintained city wide. Mr. Benoit stated there were six outdoor rinks. Commissioner Anderson expressed that the neighbors of Mississippi Oaks Park be given the opportunity to come up with the money and let them put up and control the lighting of the skating rink. Mr. Hecker stated that to install lighting in the park permits would have to be secured. Commissioner Anderson stated that this could be a good Eagle Scout project. 7.2 Warming House Weather Policy Commissioner Anderson shared that he was down at Handke Pit on Saturday, January 4 when several people showed up to skate and use the warming house. The warming house was closed and he wondered why it would be closed when it was 12 degrees and the sun was shining. Mr.Benoit stated that staff discussed on Friday,January 3 whether to close the warming house based on the forecasted temperatures which were stated to be unsafe. The current policy to close the warming houses is to close when at-20° below zero base temperature or wind-chill. Commissioner Anderson stated that it would have been better to put one person down there at the warming house during this time. Mr. Benoit stated it is not reasonable to put staff in harm's way and if people choose to still skate,that is their choice. Commissioner Anderson shared that Handke Pit will have a different temperature than forecasted due to the location and how it is lower when making the decision to close due to the weather. Mr. Hecker shared that many other programs were cancelled due to the forecasted weather and staff referenced guidelines put forth by the state athletics sports guidelines. Mr.Benoit also shared that staff is not just in the pit,they may drive from other cities which put them in more danger when traveling. raPIRLI Ir NATURE) Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 January 8,2014 Commissioner Holmgren questioned if this would be an issue if this had happened during the week with timing of forecasting. Mr.Benoit shared it would be a factor as staff are able to make these kinds of programming calls due to weather. Commissioner Niziolek stated he believed Handke Pit has a different temperature profile due to the location. The temp could be higher than what is forecasted. Mr. Benoit stated that we are still asking our staff to drive in unsafe conditions. Commissioner Anderson asked if this decision was based on a state wide policy stating he thinks we should be trying to do better.Negative 20 wind-chill is pretty weeny in Minnesota and if our public is still out there recreating at their choice why wouldn't we give them a place to warm up? Mr.Hecker shared that the policy referenced was a state wide policy. Commissioner Niziolek discussed that we have a facility and it should be open as this is a clear separation of sponsoring an event and providing a facility for people to safelyparticipate in an event. We would cancel an event in Summer when we know the risks involved with the temperature but we wouldn't lock a building and deny them the opportunity to go to a place that is air conditioned and in this case we are opening a facility, recognizing that individuals might get themselves into trouble and they can warm up but we are not supporting the endeavor. That might be the policy idea that we might want to look at. Leave the facility open so the kids do not get in trouble. Commissioner Anderson asked if Fargo and International Falls abide by the same rules we do. Mr. Hecker stated he did not know. Commissioner Anderson asked staff to talk about the current policy and consider what the temperature is versus the wind-chill and if the temperature is above zero it would be appropriate to keep Handke Pit open with 20 below zero wind-chill. Consider 25 to 30 below zero. 8.1 Windsor 3rd Park Donation Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Mr.Leeseberg presented a slide show of pictures of the property outlining the concerns that would require costs of improvement. POIEBL1 IB 8NATUR Parks&Recitation Commission Minutes Page 4 January 8,2014 Commissioner Anderson stated that there are two requests for actions, one is to rescind the past recommendation and the other is to not accept this donation,for now. He also, explained the choices of what the Commission members could do. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Nystrom to rescind the recommendation made to City Council to accept donation of Windsor 3`' Park fenced-in playground area. Mr. Felska asked to speak, Commissioner Anderson stated to let"Robert's" take its course as he asked for a second to the motion. Commissioner Anderson asked if there was any discussion on the commission or if the Home Owners Association members would like to talk to us; starting with Commission members. Commissioner Niziolek stated that this motion is to rescind the previous motion and not to carry on a future discussion about what we might do in regards to this proposal. Mr. Felska, 13855 214th Ave. Elk River,Windsor Homeowners Association(HOA) board member, stated that the Wmdsor Homeowners Association have been trying to donate this park for good reasons as stated in past meetings. There shouldnot be another vote and the Association feel they are not being treated properly. He indidcated the association is rescinding then original offer as of today. He said the city should be looking for positive ways to make things happen instead of trying not to do it. Commissioner Anderson asked if there was any other discussion. Commissioner Kallemeyn stated that we have been offered a used car and it has a couple dents in it and when we talked about it before we said we would take it dents and all and maintain it.Not restoring it to new but maintain it after an appropriate fashion. Mr.Hecker stated that taking on this property would cause expense to the city. Commissioner Kallemeyn stated the city could choose to have it cost less. Commissioner Niziolek stated that he wanted to be able to have an additional conversation and feels bad about how this ended.He did not want to close the door but wanted to open the door as we cannot accept it the way it is but there is room to make it happen. Commissioner Anderson stated that this is another bad way out. It's certainly as good as any other park.We are taking the easy way out by saying it costs too much money.We should be figuring out how to make things work instead of how not to PRIERER .T1 NATURE Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 January 8,2014 make it work.He stated he is disappointed in us as a city and that it is not gone to council.Who are we if our motions do not go forward> Motion failed 3-3. Commissioner Niziolek discussed taking the recreational elements and not the irrigation system and not the mowed amenities. Focus on the recreational element as it is a community asset. Mr. Hecker shared that part of the complication is that the irrigation system is combined over the whole property. Commissioner Anderson shared he was disappointed that this did not go to council and the council could have shot it down, if they wanted to. Mr.Leeseberg asked if this previous recommendation should go to council when it has been rescinded. Commissioner Ahlness asked if it should have been brought to council right away. Mr. Leeseberg stated that it has been done in the past to bring items back after getting more information. Moved by Commissioner Ahlness and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to recommend to City Council that staffs recommendation is null and void due to new information and that they took the offer away. Commissioner Nystrom asked if the tie vote did the same thing. Commissioner Anderson stated that the offer was taken away before the vote was taken. Commissioner Holmgren asked if we need to look at why the property is not available any more. Commissioner Anderson stated"Yeah;because he thinks we are a bunch of clowns." It could be aired at council and if it were aired at council we should be there to explain and if we are not there to talk about it we shouldn't send it to council. Commissioner Holmgren asked if they really want to throw away the opportunity in the heat of the moment or try to continue to work with them. Commissioner Anderson stated he would like them to come back. Commissioner Kallemeyn asked if he could amend the motion. Commissioner Anderson withdrew his second to the motion. r1B / EAim I7 NATUREI Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 January 8,2014 Commissioner Kallemeyn asked to amend the motion made by Commissioner Ahlness to not submit this to council for 60 days and allow for reconsideration contact the Homeowners Association and see if this was a hasty decision and try to come to an agreement. Commissioner Ahlness accepted the amendment to his motion. Commissioner Kallemeyn stated he thought the decision to not offer the park donation any longer was made in anger and passion and when people get the chance to sleep on things the decision can change. Moved by Commissioner Kallemeyn and seconded by Commissioner Holmgren to amend the motion recommend to City Council to not submit this offer for a period of 60 days to allow for reconsideration and re-contact the HOA if they would consider renegotiating the offer. Motion carried 6-0 Mr. Hecker stated he would contact both the HOA President and Treasurer. Commissioner Kallemeyn stated he would like to contact the Treasurer. 8.2 2014 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Dates Mr.Hecker proposed to add the July 9 meeting back into the schedule due to if the Planning Commission has a Plat and if there are any items regarding the Master Parks Plan. Moved by Commissioner Niziolek and seconded by Commissioner Kallemeyn to recommend to City Council to approve the 2014 meeting dates along with adding the July 9 meeting. Motion carried 6-0. 9. Parks and Recreation Director Report Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Mr. Leeseberg shared the HKGi presentation that had been presented at the City Council meeting. Commissioners answered the questions that was posed in the presentation. Commissioner Anderson requested that all commission members be informed of any Parks and Recreation Master Plan meeting dates in the future. Mr. Hecker asked the members if getting the packet electronically would work for them. Commissioner Holmgren stated he would still like a paper copy mailed out. PD , E811 1 / NATURE Parks&Recreation Commission Minutes Page 7 January 8,2014 I0. Division Manager's Reports Mr. Benoit presented his staff report. I I. Announcements Commissioner Anderson shared that Hockey Day MN preparations are going well and city staff have been awesome. 12. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Par andRecreation Commission at 8:15 p.m. utes pr 'd ./(onya Love. ) Dave Ande 'on, Chair Tina Allard, City Clerk POWEIEI Ii NATURE