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04-12-2023 PR MINMeeting of the Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Held at the Elk River City Hall Wednesday, April 12, 2023 Members Present: Chair David Williams, Commissioners Dave Anderson, Mike Brown, Ryan Holmgren, Greg Loidolt, Mike Niziolek, and Mark Rathbun Members Absent: None Council Liaison: Councilmember Mike Beyer Staff Present: Recreation Manager Michael Hecker, Senior Administrative Assistant Dawn Larson, Special Events Coordinator Karen Wingard, Street and Park Superintendent Tim Sevcik 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 6:33p.m. by Chair Williams. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Consider Agenda Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Rathbun to approve the April 12, 2023, agenda Motion carried 7-0. 4. Consider Minutes Moved by Commissioner Rathbun and seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the March 8, 2023, Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes. Motion carried 7-0. S. Open Forum 6. Presentations 7. Action Items 7.1 Neighborhood Ice Rink Status Michael Hecker presented the staff report. Members of the public were in attendance. Michael explained the survey results. Commissioner Anderson asked Mr. Sevcik how many hours were spent on flooding the rinks. Commissioner Anderson explained that his group puts in many hours grooming ski trails at Woodland Trails Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 April 12, 2023 Regional Park for 1000s of people. He questioned if the number of hours spent on prepping the ice serves as many citizens as possible. Commissioner Loidolt said if rinks are being used, he sees value to the community and suggested reviewing them in a year and see if it improves. The commissioners liked the survey and were impressed that people showed up to speak, agreeing that another year's review would be a good idea. Commissioner Holmgren stated that he sees the rinks as assets. Commissioner Niziolek. likes the transparency of the survey. Melissa and Matt Wilson (Elk River residents) spoke on behalf of the ice rink in Riverplace Park. They live next door to the park and can directly view the rink from their windows. Melissa said she was thankful for the survey since it is the first time it has been done to her knowledge. She and her husband as well other neighbors shovel and keep the ice cleaned off etc. especially when it is a snowy winter and see kids using the ice regularly. They also supply a light for the kids to use after dark. Matt is an Elk River Fire Fighter and electrician. Mr. Hecker connected Mr. Wilson with Karen Wingard who manages the parks volunteers so he can complete the process to become a park volunteer. Levi Asap also spoke (Elk River resident) to the commission while his family sat in the audience. He also lives by Riverplace Park. He said it is fun for the neighborhood to get together and have boot hockey tournaments. It was a tough year with snow, but the kids are out there every night after school. Moved by Chair Williams and seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the continuing operations of the Riverplace Park neighborhood ice rink. Motion carried 7-0. Moved by Chair Williams and seconded by Commissioner Loidolt to approve the continuing operations of the Mississippi Oaks Park neighborhood ice rink. Motion carried 7-0. 7.2 Farmers Market Coloring Contest Karen Wingard presented her staff report. It is the third year of the coloring contest for art that will go on the farmer's market tote. Mrs. Wingard has seen an increase of people asking for the coloring sheets. 64 entries were submitted this year. MN Grown and other sponsors contribute to the cost of the bag. There are three options for the Commissioners to vote on. Commissioner Brown asked about any printing limitations with color. Karen explained there were none. The Commissioners chose the third option presented, option c. 7.3 Athletic Facilities Master Plan Committee Michael Hecker presented his staff report. Three commissioners have been requested to serve on the committee. Responsibilities include a commitment to attend three to four meetings over the summer and fall. Commissioner Holmgren, Chair Williams, Commissioner Brown all volunteered. Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve Chair Williams, Commissioner Holmgren, and Commissioner Brown to be on the Athletic Facilities Master Plan Committee. Motion carried 7-0. 8. Discussion Items 11�EtE/ it IN"ARWEI Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Page 3 8.1 Lion John Weicht Park Playground Concepts Michael Hecker presented the staff report. Chad Simich and Bailey Wolf from Flagship Recreation were available to answer questions. They helped with the Splashpad, Orono Park, and Deerfield Park. Mr. Hecker had requested concepts for additional playground designs at a price point more than $200,000. The additional designs were presented in the packet and as a slideshow. Mr. Hecker also showed two videos featuring the net features and We Go Round. Ms. Wolf explained the different playground options to the Commission, noting that all the new playground concepts are slightly larger than the current space. One constant is the We Go Round, an ADA accessible feature like a merry go round that allows kids of all abilities to partake in play. She believes it would be a great asset to Elk River Parks system. Following the slides, Miss Wolf explained the unique features of each playground option. This is a state contract so the prices presented are what they would stay. As a state approved vendor there is an 8% discount and other items are not marked up. Option two includes something called quants which is net related and fits the need for what is popular with net play or ninja play. This would be the first one installed in MN. Another inclusive item is the sensory wall and crawling tunnel. Also, a version of a double teeter totter. Both option one and two are around the same price and size with the option of a zip cruise. Option three is the $400,000 price and includes the net and unique style of tower and a zip cruise. Musical play is also incorporated throughout each design. Mr. Hecker and Mr. Sevcik met together to review maintenance concerns and Mr. Sevcik is fully in support of the playground project. Mr. Sevcik explained that the current playground is 28 years old, making it the oldest playground in the system, normally playgrounds are replaced at 25 years with parts needing replacements at 18-20 years old. Mr. Sevcik also said that the quality of Landscape Structure playgrounds is exceptional, making them quite easy to maintain, and parts are easy to replace compared to other providers. Mr. Sevcik pointed out that in the 2015 master plan Lion John Weicht Park was identified as a signature park and now it is the last park to be updated according to that plan. He believes the playground should be a destination style playground and the designs presented could reach that goal. The $400,000 design would provide a playground with the most amenities in the city other than the Orono Park playground. With more families using the playground from all over and keeping the area flooded with kids' vandalism will go down Commissioner Loidolt asked if the city staff would be doing the removal of the existing playground and woodchips. Mr. Sevcik said no because in the past they worked with a group that would take the old equipment and reuse it. He believes that the park equipment is past the point of being recycled. Ideally Mr. Sevcik sees this as a turnkey product other than city staff helped with dirt moving and removal. Commissioner Brown asked how many kids can be served by the playground at one time. Mrs. Wolf said the company measures that by the formula of about 25 kids per 10 square feet of playable surface but with the different components it can change, for example with vertical climbing features. 11"IN Mr. Simich also explained that option one and two will provide play for more than 50 kids and with option three being double the size it would serve 100-150 kids. Commissioner Brown asked if the playground could 1 I E A E I 1 1 NATURE Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 April 12, 2023 have pieces added on overtime versus doing it all at once. Mr. Simich said that can be done but it would be best to plan for what would be added so the container would be large enough for the growth. Commissioner Niziolek asked the Flagship staff to look at the elementary school playgrounds in Elk River for comparison. He expressed that he did not want to double up on features, therefore providing a wide variety of play for Elk River citizens. Commissioner Anderson asked if this discussion would come back to a future meeting. Mr. Hecker explained that it would and at this time there is $200,000 in the park improvement fund this year. If the Commissioners chose the $300,000 or $400,000 option something else in the budget would have to go. Commissioner Anderson asked Mr. Sevcik what the condition of the Country Crossing and Trott Brook playgrounds are. Mr. Sevcik said the Trott Brook playground is next and then Country Crossing. He explained that we do not want to push those projects too far out. Commissioner Anderson pointed out that it would take a reshuffling of the budget to fit the higher priced playground in and just push everything in the budget out a year. He also asked Mr. Sevcik about the idea of moving the funds around with finance for the Woodland Trails Regional Park garage funding. Mr. Simich explained product lead times, and that with state contract pricing is locked in. An order today would be delivered in 6 months. It is a 6-month lead time with a guarantee for Landscape Structures while it is not for a lot of the competitors. There is about 60 days to lock in the price because that falls within the window of the initial 6 months for the design process. Any date after the next 60 days would require a new quote with 2025 pricing. Prices would increase historically again two and a half to three percent range. Commissioner Niziolek questioned if the current budget of $125,000 would provide the proper playground for Trott Brook Park. Mr. Sevcik explained that since the container and concrete are already established it would just be the cost of the playground equipment. Commissioner Anderson said that it would make sense to plan for Spring of 2024. Flagship can hold the playground equipment for next spring if it is purchased now. Commissioner Anderson requested that the discussion of the budget for the Woodland Trails Storage garage continue at the next meeting. Commissioner Niziolek asked Mr. Simich if he could do an estimate for adding the Trott Brook playground to the current pricing as well. Mr. Simich said it would only be savings of $2,000 to $3,000. The commission agreed to stick to the original timeline. Chair Williams asked if we are trying to lock this in for 2023 as far as prices are concerned. Mr. Hecker and Mr. Simich said yes, if possible, but the deadline is tight. Mr. Hecker and Councilmember Byer asked if Flagship could add a wheelchair platform swing to one of our current playground sets. Mrs. Wolf explained that after the creation of the we go round Flagship created a wheelchair swing that does not have a protective barrier but not the same. Councilmember Byer said he has some very motivated organizations that would love to fund the wheelchair swing at Deerfield Park. Mr. Simich and Mrs. Wolf explained that they can look at the playground to see what would fit. The good news is that the footprint is smaller. Councilmember Byer asked if the commission would be okay for Flagship to look at this option for the playground and he would work with the organizations on the funding. Mrs. Wolf can send the information about the swing over to Mr. Hecker. The commissioners did 10�EAE1 �r INARIREI Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Page 5 -*—N not see a problem reviewing the options, especially if there were people interested in funding it. Mrs. Wolf will provide Mr. Hecker with information, and he will follow up with Councilmember Byer. Commissioner Brown asked if there is a standard for playgrounds. Mr. Sevcik said that each park landscape determines the size of the playground. Each component of the playground has a fall zone. Staff must go through playground safety training etc. A lot of playgrounds do not include swings because of the fall zone size they take up. Staff and playground designers must look at maximizing every piece of equipment for safety and to maximize inclusion. The focus of playground design includes less single kid/single activity. Now the concept of playgrounds is play in motion, where each piece of equipment leads into the next item of play. The commissioners were unanimously in favor of playground design option three for the Lion John Weicht Park playground. Mr. Sevcik and Mr. Hecker will work together to figure out a new budget plan to make the $400, 000 playground option possible. They will present the budget plan at the next commission meeting with hopes to then make it to Council in time for purchase yet this year. 9. Parks and Recreation Manager Report Mr. Hecker presented his staff report which he handed out at the meeting including the Great Northern Trail Partners MOU and the Parks and Recreation Program Guide. The MOU will later be approved by City Council. City of Elk River Parks and Recreation received two MRPA Awards, one for the Orono Park Project and one for the Rivers Edge Commons Park Dock. The awards will be presented to Council later this summer. The Friends of the Mississippi River informed Mr. Hecker that they were awarded the Sherburne County grant that will help them move forward in partnership with FMR to write a Natural Resources Management Plan for Camp Cozy Park. Once the NRMP is completed by the end of this year, they will be eligible to access state grant funds for the restoration of Camp Cozy Park. The city's obligations include staff reviews of the plan, public input meetings and approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Rathbun asked for an update on the Great Northern Trail extension project at a future meeting. Mr. Hecker suggested having Sherburne County Parks Coordinator Gina Hugo come and present an update. 10. Division Manager's Reports 11. Announcements 12. Adjourn Regular Meeting Moved by Commissioner Loidolt and seconded by Commissioner Rathbun to adjourn the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission at 8:OOpm. Motion carried 7-0. pIIEIEI I NATURE/ Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes April 12, 2023 Minutes prepared by Dawn Larson. David W' s, Chair I Tina Allard, City Clerk Page 6 '-N NATURE