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08-11-2021 PRM Meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Members Present: Chair Williams, Commission members Anderson, Loidolt, Niziolek, and Rathbun Members Absent: Commission members Soltvedt and Holmgren Council Liaison: Ms. Wagner Staff Present: Parks and Recreation Director, Michael Hecker, Recreation Assistant, Ali Wallace 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 6:31 p.m. by Chair Williams. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Consider 08/11/2021 Agenda Mr. Hecker added Item 8.1 Flagpole Donation Park Location and Item 8.2 Paid Parking at Woodland Trails Regional Park. Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Rathbun to approve the August 11, 2021 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda with the additions of Item 8.1 Flagpole Donation Park Location and Item 8.2 Paid Parking at Woodland Trails Regional Park. Motion carried 5-0. 4.1 Consider 07/14/2021 Regular PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Rathbun and seconded by Commissioner Loidolt to approve the following July 14, 2021 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 5-0. 5. Open Forum - None 6. Presentations 6.1 Eagle Scout Project: Timothy Erickson Mr. Erickson, from Troop 99, shared his BSA Legacy Recognition Project. More than 40 Eagle Scout projects have been done for Elk River parks, largely without acclaim. Mr. Erickson would like to install signs for every project with the Eagle Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 August 11, 2021 ----------------------------- Scout’s name and troop number. Mr. Hecker shared that getting people involved is a key point in leadership. Commissioner Anderson suggests having Parks Maintenance involved to sign off on the location of each sign. Mr. Hecker would like Mr. Erickson to come back to a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting once the project is complete to share photos of the project. Commissioner Niziolek asked if the information can be stored in a database and shared on the city website. It could be a second eagle scout project with pictures and contact information. Commissioner Rathbun suggested offering a photo opportunity of each Eagle Scout next to the sign after it is installed. Commissioners applauded Timothy for his efforts and presentation. Commissioner Niziolek added that it can be a video instead of a photo. 6.2 Recreation Sports Coordinator: Warren Ellingworth Mr. Ellingworth introduced himself and shared his background. 7. Action Items 7.1 Bailey Point Nature Preserve Stewards Jeff Anderson & Amy Larson Mr. Hecker shared his staff report and Amy Larson and Jeff Anderson introduced themselves. Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to approve the appointments of Jeff Anderson and Amy Larson as Co- Stewards for Bailey Point Nature Preserve. Motion carried 5-0. 7.2 Elk River Youth Lacrosse Payment Mr. Hecker shared his staff report. Chair Williams suggests tabling this until the new President starts since Mr. Lambertz is no longer the President. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 August 11, 2021 ----------------------------- Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to table the Elk River Youth Lacrosse Payment to a future meeting. Motion carried 5-0. 8. Discussion Items 8.1 Flagpole Donation Park Location Mayor Dietz requested this become a discussion item after meeting with the Flag Runners. They have raised $4,400.00 for a flagpole and solar light to be installed in an Elk River Park. It was suggested the flagpole be installed at Dave Anderson Athletic Complex. Chair Williams said Mayor Dietz called him and asked about putting the flagpole behind left field at Dave Anderson Athletic Complex near field 1. Commissioner Loidolt would welcome a flagpole at any athletic facility but would prefer it be at the Youth Athletic Complex. Mr. Hecker shared the money that was raised would only be enough to buy a residential pole. It’s around $15,000 for a commercial flagpole with LED lighting. Commissioner Anderson would like it where there’s more activity which he thinks is at the Youth Athletic Complex. He asked if staff could raise and lower the flag. Mr. Hecker said staff will be able to do that. Chair Williams suggests adding this as an action item at the next meeting. Council member Wagner asked if the commission would like to use the $4,400.00 for a smaller flag and flagpole or would they like to do pay the extra for a commercial grade flag and flagpole. Commissioner Anderson suggests buying the best pole with the donated money and requested pricing research before the next meeting. Commissioner Loidolt asked to have a diagram showing the height of poles in comparison to the athletic fields. Mr. Hecker will talk to Mr. Sevcik about getting an aerial shot to find the best location for the flagpole. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 August 11, 2021 ----------------------------- 8.2 Paid Parking at Woodland Trails Regional Park Mr. Hecker shared that the Police Chief suggested looking into paid parking for Woodland Trails Regional Park. The Quarry Park in St. Cloud made $226,000.00 in total revenue in 2020. The City of Big Lake Park made $73,000.00 for their highest year. The parking machines cost around $10,000.00. The revenue could be used for the park. Mr. Hecker shared that when Big Lake has their weekly concerts in the park they do not charge for parking. Commissioner Rathbun asked if Woodland Trails Regional Park was suggested for paid parking since it’s the highest revenue generator? Mr. Hecker said that it’s because it’s a regional park and that it also gets year-round use and has revenue potential. Commissioner Rathbun asked since it’s a regional park would we have any obligations or restrictions related to the regional designation and the grant money that’s been awarded? Mr. Hecker will look into it and make sure it doesn’t affect our recreational immunity. Commissioner Anderson wouldn’t want to discourage people coming to Woodland Trails Regional Park or any park because of paid parking. Woodland Trails Regional Park is nothing like The Quarry or Big Lake because we don’t have a lake or venue. Commissioner Loidolt shared he doesn’t agree with paying for parking. Commissioner Niziolek shared we don’t charge for skiing because the organization wanted it open to the community. He doesn’t want to change our philosophy and believes the parks should be open for everyone without paying. 9. Parks and Recreation Director Update Mr. Hecker shared his staff report. Mr. Hecker suggested having a Special Meeting on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 5:00pm. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 August 11, 2021 ----------------------------- Commissioners all agreed they would be able to attend. 10. Announcements Council member Wagner received an email from council member Christianson from a few homeowners regarding the possibility of getting fishing line recycling stations at Orono Park and William H. Houlton Conservation Area. A resident reached out to the DNR but they said they don’t place the tubes and they usually work with the local lake association or sometimes an Eagle Scout. It was brought back to Orono Lake Improvement District (OLID) and Patrick Plante said that the group thought it would a good project for an Eagle Scout or Park and Recreation for placement. Council member Wagner will forward the information to Mr. Hecker and Chair Williams for a future discussion item. Council member Wagner shared that she did a post on the Trout Brook Facebook page to get feedback regarding the Trott Brook Tennis Courts since the project was moved to 2022. She left the survey open for people to include suggestions on what they’d like at the park. Some of the suggestions were a splash pad, dog park, hockey rink, two tennis courts plus a pickleball court, skate park and a community garden. She shared with the group that she would not support a splash pad at Trott Brook Park since there is a beautiful splash pad being installed at Orono Park. She also let them know that it is a public park which will bring in more people and parking. She would like to do a follow up and asked the Commission if they’d like her to do more of a focused and specific question. Mr. Hecker shared he received an email from a resident asking if we can improve the lighting at the Trott Brook Park tennis courts with LED lights. The lighting that’s currently there is older and not as direct. Council member Wagner recalls that citizens complained about the lights shining into their homes. Would you like me to ask a more focused question before the special meeting? Commissioner Niziolek thinks we can make slight modifications to the tennis court site plan that we already have, and we can embellish it with improved lighting. Council member Wagner asked the commission if she should let the Facebook group know that the plan is to replace the two tennis courts and ask for feedback if there are any other simple type of embellishments, such as lighting and shade, that can be added to the site plan. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 6 August 11, 2021 ----------------------------- Commissioner Anderson thinks it is important to take suggestions from the community. Council member Wagner likes getting feedback from the neighborhood. Council member Loidolt asked if the Homeowners Association would be interested in contributing money towards new lights. Mr. Hecker shared the homeowner he spoke with regarding the lighting said he’ll talk to the homeowner’s association board to see if they are interested. Commissioner Anderson shared the fishing line recycling would not be an Eagle scout project and suggests having someone in the community do it. Commissioner Anderson shared that there are 3 more potential candidates inquiring about doing Eagle Scouts projects. He suggested that the commissioners share suggestions for Eagle Scout worthy projects and send them to Mr. Hecker or himself. 11. Adjournment There being no further business, Chair Williams adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission at 7:35 p.m. Minutes prepared by Ali Wallace. ___________________ David Williams, Chair _____________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk