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06-07-1988 PR MIN . . . MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER RECREATION BOARD HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL ON JUNE 7. 1988 Members Present: Mike O'Brien. Chair (7:55 p.m.); Dave Anderson. Vice Chair; Rolfe Anderson. Secretary; Clete Lipetzky; Byron Houghtelin Todd Mixer Member Absent: Marilyn VanPatten Other Present: Pat Klaers. City Administrator; Phil Hals. Street/Park Superintendent (7:45 p.m.); Charlie Blesener. Community Education Director (7:55 p.m.) 1. Pursuant Recreation to due Board call and notice thereof. the meeting of the Elk River was called to order by Vice Chair Anderson at 7:00 p.m. 2. Consideration of 6/7/88 Recreation Board Agenda It was the consensus acceptable as presented Community Festival and of the Recreation Board that the agenda was with the addition of Discussion on the 6/11 a Tour of City Parks as items number 5.7 & 5.8. 3. Consideration of 5/10/88 Recreation Board Minutes MOTION BY ROLFE ANDERSON TO APPROVE THE 5/10/88 RECREATION BOARD MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. SECONDED BY BYRON HOUGHTELIN. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. 4. Public Mike Mr. Fulton Bjergun. 510 Jackson Avenue. was present before the Recreation Board to discuss the entrance into Lion's Park from Jackson Avenue. His concern was for the children in the area crossing this very busy street without signage alerting drivers in the area of this park crossing or without a crossing flasher being present. This park entrance is at approximately Jackson Avenue and 6th Street. When Phil Hals. the Parks Superintendent. arrived later in the meeting. this issue was discussed further. Mr. Hals indicated that the present plans for this entrance into the park call for a marked crosswalk on Jackson Avenue and signs being installed that notify driving motorists of this park crossing. The concern over a signalized crosswalk similar to what exists on School Street near the Gates Avenue and Irving Avenue intersections is that there would be no supervision over the controlling of these flashing crosswalks. The possibility of physical abuse to the crossing lights. abuse by unsupervised children causing the red light to stop motorists. plus the cost of installing such crosswalk signals has led the City in the direction of signage and a marked crosswalk. . . . Page 2 Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 5 City Administrators Update 5.1 Recent City Council Action The City Administrator informed the Recreation Board that the City Council took the following action at its 5/16/88 City Council meeting. 1. Concurred with the Recreation Board recommendation on the water skiing course on Lake Orono north of Highway 10. 2. Concurred with the Recreation Board on the installation of a public pay phone in Orono Park. 3. Agreed that the Recreation Board should closely evaluate the need for a lifeguard at Orono Park in 1989. 4. Approved the Capital Outlay expenditures in Orono Park and Lion's Park. 5. Agreed to having Street/Park Superintendent Phil Hals investigate the need and cost for a warming house facility at Handke Pit. The City Council expressed concern over whether this project should be a school project or city project. but agreed to start working with Charlie Blesener on evaluating this situation. 6. Enthusiastically approved the "Name That Park" contest as suggested by the Recreation Board. 7. Agreed to financially participate in the construction of a softball complex shelter and also to have the City work crew assist as necessary in this construction. 5.2 Status of "Name That Park" Contest The City Administrator informed the Recreation Board that the City had officially purchased the so called Wilderness Park as of June 1. 1988. Therefore the plan of the Recreation Board to have a contest to name the newly purchased park and the old dump site could proceed as previously discussed. The Recreation Board members decided that they. along with the Deputy City Clerk. would put together a form and map outlining the conditions of the contest and have such forms available at the 6/11/88 Community Festival City Council booth. The Board decided to have the deadline for entries close after the 4th of July community celebration. Contest entries will be evaluated at the Recreation Board meeting following the submission deadline. Page 3 Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 . 5.3 Growth Management Plan Status The City Administrator distributed an updated draft of the Parks and Open Space section of the proposed Growth Management Plan. The entire Growth Management Plan is to have a public hearing before the Planning Commission on 5/31/88. Comments from the Recreation Board on errors or proposed changes in the Parks and Open Space section of the Growth Management Plan should be submitted to the City Administrator prior to this Planning Commission public hearing. The City Council will hold a public hearing on this document following a recommendation from the Planning Commission. 5.4 Park and Recreation Commission Ordinances . The City Administrator discussed a number of Park and Recreation Commission ordinance examples from other cities with the Recreation Board. The main distinction between Elk River's existing Recreation Board ordinance and the examples provided by the City Administrator is that the current Recreation Board is an Independent Board whereas the ordinance examples discuss an Advisory Board. The City Council desires the Recreation Board to become an Advisory Park and Recreation Commission. The Recreation Board concurred that this was an appropriate City roll for them as a group. In review of the sample ordinances the Recreation Board specifically requested that an item be included within the ordinance that discusses training for commission members and that the commission participate in the planning for development and aquisition of parks. The Recreation Board requested the Administrator provide them with a draft Park and Recreation Commission ordinance as soon as possible. Such a draft ordinance would be sent to the City Attorney for his review. 5.5 Park and Recreation Budgets The City Administrator briefly reviewed the City General Fund Park Budget and the City General Fund Recreation Budget. Additionally. the City Administrator discussed the City Park Dedication Fund. the 1987 expenditures from this fund and the projected revenues in this fund. Additional information on financing park and recreation activities will be provided to the Recreation Board as the City budgeting process further develops around August. 1988. 5.6 Recreation Board Agendas The City Administrator requested Recreation Board input on future agendas be funneled through the Recreation Board Chairman. Mike O'Brien. to City Hall approximately one week before Recreation Board meetings. In this manner. timely information can be received prior to the development of the Recreation Board agendas. . Page 4 . Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 5.7 City Council Booth at 6/11/88 Community Festival The Recreation Board concurred that it was appropriate to have "Name That Park" contest entries and maps available at the City Council Community Festival booth. Recreation Board members should be available throughout the day to discuss this contest with the public. 5.8 Tour of City Parks It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that a tour of a number of City Parks needs to be conducted in order for the Board to get a better understanding of the existing situations and future needs. It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that prior to the next Recreation Board meeting they would jointly tour the old City Dump site. This tour is to begin at approximately 6:00 p.m.. one hour before the Recreation Board meeting at City Hall. Members will meet at City Hall and go to the old Dump Site as a group. 5.9 City Administrator Update - Other Business . ---Board member Clete Lipetzky questioned whether or not the City had plans to sell any of the newly purchased so called Wilderness Park. Also questioned was the status of the abandoned railroad bed that the City hopes to purchase as a trail and whether or not the mun~cipal sewer main is projected to be expanded within this vacinity. City Administrator indicated that there may be a future need to sell some of the Wilderness Park to finance its original purchase. Additionally. the City has always stated its agreement to work with the adjacent property owner(Golf Course) in helping them achieve their long term goals for development of the Golf Course. At this time. other than working with the Golf Course. there are no City plans to sell additional lands at the so called Wilderness Park. Regarding the railroad bed the City is continuing to pursue the purchase of this abandoned line and the information received from a representative of Burlington Northern is that the City financial offer is "in the ballpark" and that this purchase request will be processed according to the Railroads timetable. which may be sometime in the summer of 1988. Regarding sewer extension along this future walking trail. the Administrator indicated it was conceivable such a line could be constructed. but at this time no plans have been discussed for such an extension. If a sewer line was extended along the abandoned railroad trail. this would not have any effect on the development of a walking trail by the City. . ---Community Education Director. Charlie B1esener. informed the Recreation Board that no progress has been made regarding the evaluation of the warming house at Handke School and the feasibility of constructing a new warming house at this site. It was requested that this item be placed on the next Recreation Board agenda for discussion. Page 5 Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 . ---Phil Hals. Street/Park Superintendent. updated the Recreaton Board on the preferred location for a public phone at Orono Park. The location near the southern entrance to the park was agreed upon as being acceptable by the Recreation Board. Regarding the phone at the Salk athletic complex area. Charlie Blesener updated the Recreation Board on discussions he has had with Mike Hadlin. the school athletic director. At this time. it was being discussed that such a phone not be a public pay phone but that keys be distributed to supervisors so that in the event of an emergency any supervisor can dial 911 and get an emergency response to the site. Charlie indicated that additional information should be available on the progress of such a phone by the time of the next Recreation Board meeting. ---Charlie Blesener asked the Board if they perceived a continuing need to have a Recreation Board member on the Community Education Advisory Board. Currently. Rolfe Anderson fulfills this roll. It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that with Mr. B1esener. Community Education Director attending most of the City Recreation Board meetings. that a Recreation Board position on the Community Education Advisory Board was not needed as Charlie will be able to fulfill the needed communication function between both groups. . ---Phil Hals provided a general update on the development of Lion's Park. Items briefly discussed include the Lion's shelter under construction; future installation of hockey boards for a hockey rink; maintenance of the ice for hockey and open skating; and employees for supervising the skating shelter. The Recreation board discussed youth hockey activities at Lion's Park and the philosophy of the Lion's Club toward league activities taking place within the park. It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that Recreation Board member. Dave Anderson. would discuss this issue with representatives of the Lion's Club and provide the Recreation Board with an update at their July meeting. ---It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that the July meeting would be held on 7/19/88 instead of the regular. second Tuesday of the month. meeting date. Softball Complex Lighting 6. . City Economic Development Coordinator. Richard Fursman. was introduced to the Recreation Board. Dick informed the Board that he had just returned from a LAWCON Pre Grant Application Seminar in Mankato. Dick indicated that the criteria for awarding grants would not favor the Elk River proposal to install lights at the softball complex. The grant formula would favor something more on the order of the development of the new Wilderness Park than putting a final improvement into an already existing facility. Page 6 . Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 The Recreation Board discussed the overall need for lighting in the softball complex; the long range softball needs in Elk River (more fields); and how the joint financing of the lights is the key element in having softball lights installed for the 1989 season. MOTION BY CLETE LIPETZKY TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE INSTALLATION OF SOFTBALL LIGHTS AT THE SOFTBALL COMPLEX FOR THE 1989 SEASON BE CONSIDERED AS A HIGH PRIORITY DURING BUDGET CONSIDERATION; THAT THE LIGHTING BE JOINTLY FINANCED BY THE CITY. UTILITIES COMMISSION. AND SOFTBALL ORGANIZATION: AND THAT IT BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE RECREATION BOARD. THE NEED FOR A BALANCE IN CITY PARK AND RECREATION FINANCING FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF PARK AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES. MOTION SECONDED BY BYRON HOUGHTELIN. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that the financing aspect of the lights would need further discussion at a future meeting. The actual financial participation by the softball organization. City and Utilities Commission needs to be further evaluated. 7. Comprehensive "Wish List" for Future Park and Recreation Development . Without getting into specific details. the Recreation Board discussed the enormity of the task before them in developing a Comprehensive "Wish List" for future park and recreation development. This issue deals with the development of a total park and recreation plan which is much more extensive than the park and open space section of the Growth Management Plan. The need for a consultant to assist in the development of a parks plan was also discussed. There was a significant concern registered by the Recreation Board that the City's recreation program could quickly deteriorate without a solid volunteer organization to help substain the programs. It was the consensus of the Recreation Board that the Comprehensive Plan - Wish List issue would be a constant agenda topic at future Recreation Board meetings until such a time when a plan of action for the development of a Comprehensive Plan was agreed upon by the Recreation Board. It was also the consesus of the Recreation Board to attempt to visit all or most of the larger parks within the City park system prior to future Recreation Board meetings. Additionally. as the Recreation Board evaluates the need for a consultant to assist them in the development of a Comprehensive Park Program. such a need and financial paramaters for such a consultant would be recommended to the City Council. Other Business No items were discussed at this time. . . . . Page 7 Elk River Recreation Board Minutes June 7. 1988 9. Adj ournment MOTION BY MIKI O'BRIIN TO ADJOURN THE 6/7/88 RECREATION BOARD MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY BYRON HOUGHTELIN.' MOTION CARRIED 6-0. The meeting of the Elk River Recreation Board adjourned at approximately 10:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted. -::? cd-1\Ja_~A-S (cJJ.-) Patrick D. Klaers