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02-08-2023 PRMIN Meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Members Present: Chair Williams, Commission members Anderson, Loidolt, Niziolek, Rathbun, and Soltvedt Members Absent: Holmgren Council Liaison: Mr. Beyer Staff Present: Recreation Manager Michael Hecker, Senior Administrative Assistant Dawn Larson 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 Williams. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Consider 02/08/2023 Agenda Moved by Commissioner Rathbun and seconded by Commissioner Loidolt to approve the February 8, 2023, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda with the addition of agenda item 7.3 Skate Park Lighting. Motion carried 6-0. 4.1 Consider 01/11/2023 Regular PRC Minutes Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Rathbun to approve the following January 11, 2023, Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 6-0. 5. Open Forum - None 6. Presentations – None 7. Action Items 7.1 Fido and Friends Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser Annie, Co-founder of the Rescue Network and Ashley, Events Fundraising Coordinator presented information on a dog themed easter egg hunt fundraising event they would like to have at Orono Park. The event would take place on April 1st Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 February 8, 2023 ----------------------------- from 10am to 4pm. Rescue Network is a non-profit, volunteer ran dog and cat rescue network based out of Buffalo, MN. The organization relies solely on donations and provides services to Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Volunteers would fill 100 eggs with dog treats and give 10 dogs a 20-minute interval to find eggs. There would 10 minutes to reset in-between. The goal for donations would $15 per dog with a goal/max of 100 dogs and total of $1500 raised. Each dog would be required to be leashed and have 1 adult handler. The organizers want to make sure the event is controlled and structured. The event would provide something for people in the community to do plus a good cause. It would also bring traffic to the City of Elk River. The organization is also working with local business sponsors, Spikes and Dakotah’s Doggy Daycare. The organizations efforts provided 359 adoptions in 2022. $209,631.25 was spent on vet bills in 2022. They have 230 fosters and volunteers. Fosters all over Minnesota, South Dakota. This would bring likeminded people together, benefit local rescue, gets people active with their family, friends, and pets. Commissioner Anderson mentioned that April 1st is a sensitive time for turf. He is concerned about the newly established turf in Orono and that the dogs may dig at the ground. Chair Williams asked Mr. Hecker if staff ran the idea through parks maintenance staff yet. Mr. Hecker said Karen Wingard, the city’s event coordinator, mentioned that she would be contacting them to confirm which area would be used before the event took place. Ashley said Mrs. Wingard did suggest using the dog park but that Ashley did not think it was what they were looking for since it was so small. Annie said they can set up a perimeter to determine where their dogs can go during the event as well to help clarify the event boundaries. Mr. Hecker suggested having the event closer to city hall where turf is established. Commissioner Anderson agreed that would be a better location. Commissioner Anderson asked where the money raised is spent. Annie explained that there are 180 fosters total right now spread across the four states, but most are local and severe medical cases are brought to the Twin Cities, so most of the money spent it spent locally. Commissioner Loidolt asked if waste bags would be supplied to the owners. The organizers hand out goodie bags to the owners with poop bags during the event. Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 3 February 8, 2023 ----------------------------- Chair Williams asked for the organizers to follow up after the event to the commission with photos. Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Soltvedt to recommend to City Council to approve the event and that the area be the city hall lawn between playground and city hall. Motion carried 6-0. 7.2 Mississippi Oaks Trail Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. . Commissioner Anderson asked if there is adequate right away. Mr. Hecker explained that one property needs to be reviewed that was not plotted. Moved by Commissioner Soltvedt and seconded by Commissioner Niziolek to add the segment of the Mississippi Oaks Trail, parallel along Mississippi Road to Joplin Street as a proposed trail in the city’s Trail Master Plan. Motion carried 6-0. 7.3 Skate Park Lighting Michael presented his staff report. Commissioner Anderson asked if this is the attachment is the photo metric study for four light poles. Mr. Hecker explained the attachment. Commissioner Anderson asked if the lighting is facing down, so it is not bothering others on the highway and park. Mr. Hecker said it is similar lighting to what was done at Trott Brook Park. Hubbard Electric is working on it. Mr. Hecker explained that the conduit was added via a change order in the past. Just to the two so they need add to the additional two. There should no disruption skate park. Commissioner Loidolt questioned the math on the action requested Correction to the total on the staff report 15,000 initial and now $9,000 more so total of $24,000. Moved by Commissioner Anderson and seconded by Commissioner Rathbun recommending the installation of four lights for the Orono Skate park at the cost of $24,000. Motion carried 6-0. 8. Discussion Items Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 February 8, 2023 ----------------------------- 8.1 Athletic Field Analysis-HKGI Kevin Clark from HKGi went his slides and presentation. Mr. Clark said one thing that came out of November meeting was trying to refine the classification of the fields and the practice levels of the facilities and looking at dimensions making sure they are full size or not and properly accommodate parking. For example, if it is a football field, does it have goal posts, if a baseball field does it have a backstop. Also defining standards. The commission reviewed the rectangle fields in more detail based on commission feedback. The last time the system capacity was examined was with the expansion of fields at YAC in 2005. The community has grown significantly since then. Commissioner Soldvet mentioned that nothing has been brought forth about the opportunities if the city were to add more fields. He would like to know what the increased capacity could be for future tournaments. Mr. Hecker asked Mr. Clark to add this concept as a discussion point and have it be added into the master planning process. Chair Williams agreed that there could be more tournament opportunities. The commission would like to know what it would look like with field changes or maximization and if it this could be added to the master plan. Mr. Clark said that could be added. Mr. Clark said the final draft of the Athletic Field Analysis will be presented at next month’s commission meeting for approval. 8.2 Electronic Commission Packets Each commissioner decided to choose their own way of having the packet delivered. Councilmember Beyer, Chair Williams, Commissioner Loidolt would like it just emailed with paper packets provided onsite at the meeting. Commissioner Anderson and Rathbun would both still like get the printed document mailed. 9. Recreation Manager Update Mr. Hecker presented his report. He explained that Spectrum ice rink was able to be opened for 3 days but with the warmer weather it will not be open anymore this season. Mr. Hecker thanked Commissioner Soltvedt for his service to the commission since it is his last meeting. He also reminded the commissioners to rsvp for the volunteer dinner. Commissioner Anderson shared his concerns about the size of the shelter at the pickleball court. From driving by they appeared smaller to him that what he thought Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 5 February 8, 2023 ----------------------------- they originally saw in the designs. He is also concerned about the angle of them and whether or not they will provide enough shade. Mr. Hecker said he is looking into that and can bring the designs to the next meeting. 10. Announcements Commissioner Anderson said girls’ cross country ski team won. Chair Williams reminded Commissioner Niziolek to do his reappointment interview. Chair Williams thank Commissioner Soltvedt for his input on the fields while he has been on the commission and for his service in general. The other commissioners thanked him as well. There being no further business, Chair Williams adjourned the meeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission work meeting at 7:20 p.m. Minutes prepared by Dawn Larson. ___________________ David Williams, Chair _____________________ Tina Allard, City Clerk