PRSR MEMORANDUM 05-10-1988 Y �
_c -.( Memorandum
SY of f
^. TO: RECREATION BOARD MEMBERS
M : River FROM: PAT KLAERS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR Ali
DATE: MAY 5 , 1988
SUBJECT: MAY 10, 1988, RECREATION BOARD
MEETING
The next City Recreation Board meeting is scheduled for 7: 00 p.m.
on Tuesday, May 10, 1988 , at the Elk River City Hall Conference
Room. Attached for your information is a suggested agenda for
this Recreation Board Meeting. Also attached for your
information are the approved 4/12/88 Joint City Council and
Recreation Board minutes . Information has been previously
distributed that relate to two suggested agenda items - the
Recreation Ordinance and the parks section of the Growth
Management Plan review. If Recreation Board members do not have
their previously distributed copy of this information, please
contact City Hall and such material can be made available.
This agenda for the Recreation Board meeting has been put
together without any discussion with Chairman O'Brien.
Therefore, it is appropriate to amend this agenda as the Rec
Board feels appropriate at the early part of the 5/10/88 meeting.
Additionally, because of time constraints, some of the issues
listed on the agenda may need to be tabled until a future
meeting.
Brief comments on some of the agenda items are as follows:
3) ELECTION OF OFFICERS
It has been the past practice of the Recreation Board to
appoint a Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer. However, the
City Ordinance calls for only the appointment of a Chair and
Secretary. Pending any recommendations from the Recreation
Board on revisions to the Recreation Ordinance, I believe
that the Recreation Board can appoint according to the
Ordinance or according to past practice.
4) WATER SKIING SLALOM COURSE AT ORONO PARK
At the 5/2/88 City Council meeting, Mr. Shawn Knudsen and Mr.
John Travis were present to discuss with the City Council
their plans for the development of a water skiing course on
Lake Orono. The Council required that a presentation be made
to the City Recreation Board so that any concerns that are
expressed by the Recreation Board can be addressed. The only
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720 Dodge Avenue N.W., Elk River, Minnesota 55330 (612) 441-7420
Page 2
Recreation Board Meeting Memo
May 5 , 1988
•
significant issues raised by the City Council related to
safety concerns for nonexperienced skiers, fisherman in the
area, and swimmers in the area, plus any additional liability
upon the City because this private water skiing course is
being allowed. I will be discussing this insurance issue
with the City' s Insurance Agent and present the Rec Board
with an update at the meeting.
8) PARK NAMES
There are a number of City Parks, both large and small, that
currently do not have any names. The Council has requested
the Recreation Board to consider appropriate names for all of
the City Parks and also that a park name policy be developed
in part, so that future parks are not named after
individuals. At this time the Staff has no recommendations
on a park name policy, but Recreation Board members may want
to take it upon themselves to investigate how other
communities go about naming local parks.
9) DISCUSSION ON ORONO PARK ACTIVITIES
• I believe it is relevant for the Recreation Board to offer
recommendations to the City Council on two Orono Park issues.
One issue is the hiring of a lifeguard during certain times
of the day and year plus the need for emergency public pay
phone. Insurance, or City liability, and the financing of
each activity are issues that need to be addressed.
12) OTHER BUSINESS
I believe that the Recreation Board should establish the
second Tuesday of every month (especially during the summer
months) as its monthly meeting date. Once a monthly date is
established, it is much easier to cancel a meeting than to
try to organize a meeting of the Recreation Board on a hit
and miss, or as needed, basis.
I believe that the most important issue for the next meeting
should be a discussion on the Recreation Board long term and
short term goals and objectives for its organization.
•
40
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RECREATION BOARD AGENDA
• Tuesday, May 10, 1988
7:00 pm.
Elk River City Hall
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER AT 7: 00 P.M.
2. CONSIDER 5/10/88 RECREATION BOARD AGENDA
3 . ELECTION OF OFFICERS
4 . PUBLIC MIKE
4 .1 . Public Water Skiing Course at Orono Park
5 . REVIEW OF 4/12/88 JOINT CC/RECREATION BOARD MEETING
6. REVIEW OF CITY RECREATION BOARD ORDINANCE
7 . REVIEW OF PARK SECTION OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN
8. DISCUSSION ON CITY PARK NAMES AND DEVELOPMENT OF A CITY PARK
NAME POLICY
• 9. DISCUSSION ON ORONO PARK
9.1. Lifeguards
9.2 . Public Phones k
10. COMMUNITY ED DIRECTOR, CHARLIE BLESENER, GENERAL UPDATE
11 . PARK SUPERINTENDENT, PHIL HALS, GENERAL UPDATE
12. OTHER BUSINESS
12.1 . Establishment of monthly meeting date
445 12.2 . Next meeting agenda - discussion on short and long _
term goals and objectives of Recreation Board __
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13 . ADJOURNMENT
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JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL AND RECREATION BOARD
HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
410 APRIL 12, 1988
City Council Members Present: Mayor Estelle Gunkel, Councilmembers, Gene
Schuldt, Roger Holmgren, Jim Tralle(7:35 p.m.)
Recreation Board Members Present: Mike O'Brien, Rolfe Anderson, Dave
Anderson, Byron Houghtelin, Todd Mixer,
Marilyn VanPatten
Also Present: Street Superintendent, Phil Hals; Community Education Director,
Charlie Blesener; City Administrator, Pat Klaers
Members Absent: Councilmember Harold Dobel, Recreation Board Member Clete
Lipetzky
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the joint meeting of the Elk River
City Council and the Recreation Board was called to order by Mayor Gunkel at
7:00 p.m.
Introductions of City Council members, Recreation Board members and Staff
were made. It was noted that Recreation Board election of officers will be
made at the next Recreation Board meeting. It was noted that no formal
minutes were taken at the last Recreation Board meeting held in September
1987, when the Recreation Board budget was considered so, therefore, no
minutes of the Recreation Board need to be approved at this meeting.
400 At this time the Mayor distributed the City Code section that relates to the
City Recreation Board. The Mayor indicated that through the course of the
discussion at this meeting there is anticipated to be direction to the
Recreation Board to review its ordinance and to consider amendments to the
ordinance so that it reflects the current status of the Recreation Board.
Also, it is anticipated that the Recreation Board will be expanded to a Park
and Recreation Board and that the City Council will want the Recreation Board
to be involved in park planning and development. Accordingly, elements
relating to park involvement (planning and development) should be added to the
ordinance.
General discussion then took place regarding City park and recreation needs.
It was clearly stated by the City Council that it is their expectation that
the Recreation Board become much more active than it has been in the past few
years.
It was noted that around the time of City and Township consolidation that
park responsibilities were removed from the Recreation Board. Since that
time, the only input from the Recreation Board to the City Council related to
recreation activities, especially in the softball and hockey areas. The Board
was not involved in park planning and development. It was the consensus of
the Council that it is now the desire of the City Council that the Recreation
Board expand into park planning and development activities.
•
Meeting of City Council/Rec Board Page 2
April 12, 1988 •
Recreation Board Chairman, Mike O'Brien, noted that the City entered into a •
joint powers agreement with the school in approximately 1981. Prior to that
time the Recreation Board was very active. However, since that agreement the
school (Community Ed) has taken the lead in recreation planning and activities
and, accordingly, the Recreation Board has been somewhat dormant because of
the lack of need. Charlie Blesener, Community Ed Director, indicated that
most of the space for youth recreation is provided by schools while most of
the space for adult summer recreation (mainly softball) is provided by the
City. The budget and recreation activities are currently planned by the
school and the City finances some of these recreation activities.
Discussion on the growth the City has been experiencing and how this will
affect future park and recreation needs took place. Specifically mentioned
was the need for additional parklands and recreational equipment. Also noted,
was the importance of obtaining the railroad bed for a trail system.
Comments were offered that it may be appropriate for Elk River to learn from
other more developed communities on how their recreation activities and
departments were organized.
It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that they should return to their
monthly meeting status (especially during summer months) in order to: 1.)begin
planning for park development; 2.) work on revisions of the City ordinance;
and 3.) plan for the future total park development of the community so that
adequate park and recreation facilities are available once the community is III
fully developed.
•
The City Council requested that an immediate work assignment of the Recreation
Board be to evaluate the names of the City parks and that policies be formed
so that future names of City parks are not made in reference to individuals.
It was noted by the Council that it may be important for the Recreation Board
to develop an inventory of all existing parks and that all members may want to
take a field trip and visit every City park.
The discussion then moved to the topic of softball and the importance of more
softball fields in Elk River. It was stated that the existing facility, which
has five fields, one of which is lighted, is very adequate. It was also noted
that softball is a growing group and as the community continues to grow so
will the demand for softball facilities. This demand includes additional
lighting for softball fields and more fields being available for softball
activities.
Discussion on a larger softball complex which could be used as a multi—purpose
area (i.e. soccer activity during non—softball activity) may be needed in the
future. Approximately 10 acres is needed to construct four softball fields.
It was suggested by the City Council that the Recreation Board examing some
City flood plain areas for a future softball complex.
Meeting of City Council/Rec Board Page 3
April 12,_1988
At this time the parks section of the draft Growth Management Plan was
distributed. It was stated that review of this document would be a good
starting point for Recreation Board discussion on the future park and
recreation development in the community. Councilmember Holmgren suggested
that the Recreation Board evaluate the need for neighborhood parks, which may
include a paid summer supervisor, for recreational opportunities at each
neighborhood park.
The issue of a lifeguard at Orono Beach was discussed. It was stated that
such a lifeguard was present a few years ago but that the service was most
likely discontinued due to City liability issues.
Other issues that were discussed include: the growing need for soccer
facilities in the community; the growing need for ice skating, both open and
hockey, in the community; the fact that elderly recreation needs must be
addressed as the community grows; and the growing need for bicycle paths in
the community.
Charlie Blesener mentioned the 2001 Committee and its formation of a sub-
committee to work on green space in the City and work on improvement of the
river as a focal point of the community. Mr. Blesener noted that a meeting is
scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, 1988, at 7:00 p.m., at Lincoln School to
discuss these issues.
At this time Street Superintendent, Phil Hals, discussed the 1988 work plan
for park improvements at Orono Park, Lion's Park and other neighborhood
parks.
•
It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that its next meeting will be
held on Tuesday, May 10, 1988, (second Tuesday of the month) at 7:00 p.m. at
the Elk River City Hall Conference Room.
It was the consensus of the City Council to continue its past maintenance plan
for Tot Park and to pay Mr. Trochlil $200.00 in 1988 for maintenance of this
neighborhood facility.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL/RECREATION
BOARD MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick D. Klaers