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04-12-1988 PR MIN ~- . . . JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL AND RECREATION BOARD HELD AT ELK RIVER CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM APRIL 12. 1988 City Council Members Present: Mayor Estelle Gunkel. Counci1members. 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 Ci ty Counc il 7:00 p.m. due call and notice thereof. the joint meeting of the Elk River and the Recreation Board was called to order by Mayor Gunkel at 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. 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 a~ 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 April 12. 1988 Page 2 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 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 Counci1/Rec Board April 12. 1988 Page 3 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. Counci1member 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 ibsues 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 B1esener 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. B1esener 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 for park parks. time Street Superintendent. Phil Ha1s. discussed the 1988 work plan improvements at Orono Park. Lion's Park and other neighborhood 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 BOARD MEETING. HOLMGREN MOVED TO ADJOURN THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL/RECREATION COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m. ?l? /q'~ Respectfully submitted. Patrick D. Klaers