01/05/2004 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Park Board Meeting - October 6, 2003 Minutes Rick stated that based on the city's current budget situation and the low level of attendance at the rinks the past several years, the amount of rinks could be reduced this year. The City is also getting more requests to maintain the trails during the winter. Also, ongoing maintenance issues such as boulevard tree trimming needs attention. Bill suggested the City enter into an agreement with the various youth groups to help maintain the rinks. He stated that he believes the rinks will have more use if they are better maintained. He suggested Rick contact the youth groups and inquire about the possibility. Rick advised the City does do flooding on the rinks during the workday to avoid overtime pay. The main priority during the winter is the streets. If the City determines there is enough demand on the weekends for flooding the budget would have to be revised to include the overtime pay. He stated he would talk to youth groups about the possibility of helping maintain the rinks. He indicated an update would be given at the next Park Board meeting. REVIEW PROPOSED OBJECTIVES WHEN ALLOCATING FIELDS TO YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS: Rick advised one of the responsibilities instilled upon the Parks and Recreation Department is to ensured that the park facilities are utilized and maintained in an appropriate manner. The current budget crisis has made the proper allocation of athletic fields even more critical. Currently, the City provides and maintains athletic fields for several youth sports associations including Centennial Soccer Club, Centennial Lakes Little League, Forest Lake Area Athletic Association, and Centennial /AAU Babe Ruth Baseball. Staff is proposing that the City provide youth sports associations game and practice fields in proportion to the number of Lino Lakes residents participating in their program. For example, if 75 percent of youth sports association's participants reside in Lino Lakes, then the City of Lino Lakes will provide fields for 75 percent of the games and practices. When allocating fields, the City also needs to consider the long- term condition and quality of the fields. There are several fields within the park system that have been over -used and are at the point of creating potential safety issues. This new policy may allow the City to take a field out of commission periodically for renovation. Rick referred to a draft letter to the Centennial Soccer Club. If the Park Board is comfortable with staff's approach, the letter will be sent out to allow for adequate time to analyze the soccer field allocation for spring 2004. It is staff's intent to address the 2