05-15-2019 PRMSpecial Meeting of the Elk River Parks and
Recreation Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Members Present: Chair Anderson, Commission members, Loidolt, Niziolek, Rathbun, and
Williams
Members Absent: Commissioners Holmgren and Soltvedt
Council Liaison: Ms. Wagner
Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director, Michael Hecker, Recreation Manager, Steve
Benoit, and Recreation Coordinator, Tonya Love
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. Discuss Rivers Edge Commons Park Rental Policy
Mr. Benoit shared the current Outdoor Facility Use Policy. Sharing the policy and fee
structure that were developed in 2007, and what allowable uses are; city operated events and
private weddings.
Mr. Benoit shared that there have been requests from bands to use the park for their own
concerts.
City staff discussed the use of the park with the Rivers Edge Downtown business group and
the consensus of the group was to continue with city operated events and private weddings.
Staff recommends that the fee remain the same or increase slightly to $200 for two hours and
$50/hour additional and keeping city operated events and private weddings, noting the Elk
River American Legion was using the park this year for their Memorial Day event.
Commission discussed process of allowing outside special events and that city could sponsor
an event, for instance the American Legion event this year. The city has a special event
process for outside organizations to follow and commission agreed to refer future requests to
that process.
3. Discuss Field Allocation Policy
Mr. Benoit shared his Field Usage Fee presentation. Sharing the two group rates discussed at
last the meeting and how much revenue those rates could potentially bring in for each group
Discussed residency requirement, sharing that staff researched the high school residency rate
Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2
May 15, 2019
-----------------------------
which is at 77% and recommend the rate to be 80% residents for the youth associations.
Current youth associations are around 71% to 80% or more. Then refer to rate structure.
How to allocate fields at these percentages. Is it better to have flexibility to allocate the fields
than to have handcuffs, will this give enough flexibility?
Staff shared that most groups will fall into Group 3.
Fees would be grouped but not the allocation.
Make Group 3 be 60% Elk River residency for allocation
4. Discuss Athletic Field Usage Fees
Mr. Benoit shared Field Usage Fee presentation. Discussed having two rates one for Group 3
and one for Group 4. By updating the fee structure it makes it more equitable to all groups.
Commission agreed that this will promote participation and collaboration, fees will go into a
sinking fund for future capital improvements to the athletic complexes.
Discussed concerns of Lacrosse losing participants and being able to afford new rates of $5
per participant.
Rates for Group 3- 70% Elk River residents and above for $5 per participants.
Rate for Group 4- 60-69% Elk River residents for $10 per participants.
59% or lower would be other rate structure. This will be effective 2020.
Revenues from fees will go into a sinking fund for field upgrades.
5. Discuss Lion John Weicht Park Master Plan
Mr. Hecker shared Lion John Weicht Park Master Plan presentation.
Commissioner Niziolek stated that it is very important to discuss the driving and pedestrian
entrance to the park from Elk River High school, stating the current entrance is not safe and
this new facility will bring in more traffic, buses, and student pedestrians with no safe way to
get there.
Commission discuss the pond shaped as an Elk and that they do not want to sacrifice the
looped trail in the park for the this shape, also expressing concerns regarding the antlers would
fall inward due to it being a peat bog. Having the trail in the park is important especially with
Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3
May 15, 2019
-----------------------------
the new residents moving into the southeast corner.
Commissioners discussed the parks top priorities:
Making the pond bigger
Improving the entrance driveway to park
Looped trail in park
Discuss having a plan in place if disc golf course is removed
Possibly replacing the lights along trail
Concerned about losing a trail due to the new fields and will the new constructions replace the
trail? Discuss the value of trail behind fields and aligning up to the old trail or creating a new
trail. What will be the most cost effective for placement of trails.
Discussed the idea of abandoning the southern trail behind the concrete hill as it costs too
much money to maintain. Discussed changing the trail in outer field to aggregate and not
plow in winter and have an inner trail only.
Discussed doing a round pond and do one inner trail.
Trail is a top priority, recognizing the difficultly to do good things in the park with a peat bog.
The commission members agreed on having a single loop around the pond, a high quality
pond to be able to maintain it at a reasonable cost. Do natural landscape and tamarack trees,
and wetland forest this will reduce the amount of mowing. Creating trails that connect to the
two entrances into the park.
6. Adjournment
There being no further business, Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting of the Elk River
Parks and Recreation Commission work session at 8:50 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Tonya Love.
___________________
Dave Anderson, Chair
_____________________
Tina Allard, City Clerk