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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-2021 Park Board Minutes CITY OF LINO LAKES PARK BOARD MINUTES (VIRTUAL MEETING) 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Park Board Chair Pat Huelman called the Lino Lakes Park Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on April 7, 2021. 2. SWEARING IN PARK BOARD MEMBERS – MR. CLARK GOODER AND MR. JAMES ZILKA The Swearing in of Park Board Members Clark Gooder and James Zilka was administered by Julie Bartell, Lino Lakes City Clerk. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. SETTING OF AGENDA Agenda was approved as is. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES William Kusterman made a MOTION to approve the January 6, 2021 meeting minutes. Motion was supported by John Nordlund. Motion carried 6 - 0. 6. OPEN MIKE There was no one present for Open Mike. DATE: April 7, 2021 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 7:33 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Patrick Huelman (Chair), Clark Gooder, Abby Haworth, Richard Jensen, William Kusterman, John Nordland, and James Zilka STAFF PRESENT: Rick DeGardner (Director of Public Services) Kellie Schmidt (Administrative Assistant) 7. 2021 RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL UPDATE A. LINO PARK RENOVATIONS Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director, updated the Park Board on the Lino Park Renovations. He stated the City Council approved the $85,000 Northland Recreation Inc. contract for Lino Park Playground Project March 8, 2021. The Public Services Department staff will undertake the removal process and perform the necessary site work to prepare the site for new equipment. He stated that the City Council continues to consider options related to other proposed enhancements including new open-air shelter, landscaping, and water fountain. Staff anticipates further discussion at the May 3rd work session. DeGardner mentioned that there were some factors that came up when looking into the replacement of the shelter. He detailed that there is a 30 inch rise in elevation between the side walk adjacent to parking area and the trail loop to the east of the park shelter. In addition where the new park shelter would be there are some gate valves and an irrigation system there that would be expensive to relocate. There is some flexibility with the seating terrace area. He believes it is in the best interest to move forward with the new park playground equipment installation and once that is completed review the shelter again. He stated that with the grade difference, there might be more to be done before the seating terrace and the shelter could be put in and it could affect the look of it. Staff recommendation is to place a hold on the shelter until the playground equipment is put in and more options can be explored for the shelter as well as the possible fountain. DeGardner updated the Park Board on the timeline of the park equipment installation at Lino Park. He stated that the originally schedule had been to install the week prior to memorial day, however there was a manufacturing issue at the plant which has pushed the project installation date out a week to the week of June 1st. He stated that once the project removal begins information will be posted at the park, on the City’s website, and on the City’s social media pages. Clark Gooder, Park Board Member, stated that the current park equipment had a handicap swing available. He inquired if the new equipment would also have one of these available to residents that need it. DeGardner assured that the new equipment would have one. DeGardner detailed that staff had explored some other options to create more of a barrier between the parking lot and the playground area (shrubs, rock, mulch, etc.) but identified that there could be some issues with run off of items getting into the playground area during heavy rains. Staff pointed out the benefit of keeping the side walk area where it is currently would eliminate the need to do have to do concrete edging around the playground which will save money on the project. DeGardner stated that staff’s proposal is to remove the cyclone fencing and replace with some high quality fencing, keep the 5ft sidewalk, and then have the play area. Huelman stated that he thought the plan sounded good. The idea is just to make sure there is some separation between the playground area and the parking lot for safety issues and to also make it look nice. James Zilka, Park Board Member, had inquired if the fence/barrier was necessary. He asked if the need for a barrier was due to the idea that vehicles could roll from the parking lot into the playground area. DeGardner stated that the standard is now that if there is any vehicles nearby, streets or in parking lot, that there be a barrier to protect the playground users. Zilka stated that he thought the fence that is there just doesn’t look good and would push for more of a landscaping barrier option if possible. He said that he understood the cost but his thoughts is do it right or don’t do it at all. Abby Haworth, Park Board Member, stated that although her kids are older now having young children near the parking lot and busy road can be a bit scary. She stated that she supports the nicer looking fence. Huelman agreed with Haworth and mentioned that he thought a fence would be fine but staff should look into a really nice fence that maybe we could put the blue heron design in. He also mentioned that as we re-do the fence and signage at Lino Park think about how we can carry some of the design over to our other parks and give them a more unified look. Kusterman did bring up the concern of having an opening in the middle of the fence defeating the purposes of letting the kids run out to the middle of the parking lot. DeGardner agreed and stated that they were still exploring that and leaning more towards not having the opening and just having the entrances on either side of the fence. He stated that they would relocate the handicap spaces in the parking lot to either side of the parking lot to be closer to the park entrance. Haworth commented that the current proposed layout of the park with the equipment shows the slide placed right where that center entrance would be and would make it easy for kids to go down the slide and run right out to the parking lot. Gooder had asked about the path area and if the accessibility to bikers and yet keeping them separate from the playground area. DeGardner said that there will be many opportunities to have the path access but keeping it separate from the park area. He stated that they are still in the concept phases right now. Huelman clarified with DeGardner that the delay in putting other amenities into the park is due to the further research and projects going on rather than the City Council not approving the project. DeGardner stated “yes” that the project is on hold due to needing to explore more and different options and staff is working on getting more info. DeGardner pointed out that there is still a working/standing park shelter that is still there and available for residents to use, because of this it allows staff to do the research and work needed. B. CLEARWATER CREEK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT DeGardner stated that the playground equipment contract with Northland Recreation Inc. had been approved for $80,000 at the March 8, 2021 City Council Meeting. Public Services Department staff will remove the existing equipment this fall followed by the installation of the new equipment. He went on to state that it is a fairly straight forward project. The existing equipment will be removed, the new equipment put in, and engineered wood fiber will be installed as needed. Gooder inquired if this park will also include the handicap accessible swing and DeGardner replied that it would. 8. 2021 TRAILS PROJECTS DeGardner informed the Park Board Members that the Project Manual for the 2021 Trail Maintenance Project has been finalized. He went on to say that the City Council will consider awarding the contract during the April 12, 2021 City Council meeting. The project location is in the South Reshanau Lakes Estates area, directly west of Fox Road. The project bid came in a bit higher than anticipated. DeGardner stated that this is due to the three ADA ramps that would need to be installed at about $5,000 a piece. The City Council will be considering that at the next Council Meeting. 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. OLD BUSINESS A. TOWER PARK DeGardner stated that the City Council authorized the preparation of plans and specifications for the development of four pickle ball courts and two tennis courts and Birch and Centerville Road (Tower Park) during the December 14, 2020 City Council Meeting. The City Council then approved plans and specifications, and authorized advertisement for bids at the March 8, 2021 City Council Meeting. The City Council will consider awarding the contract during the April 12, 2021 City Council Meeting. DeGardner informed the Park Board Members that they receive eight bids ranging from $326,000 -$609,000. He cited that WSB is in the process of verifying the accuracy and validly of the low bidder. He stated that the low bid is significantly under the estimate of WSB’s estimated cost of $414,000. The intent of staff is to validate the bids by end of week and present to City Council at Monday’s meeting. DeGardner went over the phasing plan, completing the plan highlighted in green. Huelman inquired that if the walking trail to the south of the proposed area that was cut by Park Staff this past fall continues to be popular, would the parking lot that is being put in for the park also be the parking lot for the trail? And if so, would we entertain the idea of putting in a path that leads to the parking lot to the trail? Zilka commented that he himself had explored that area and noticed that there was a lot of land over there and was wondering if there was any more thought to more development in the area? DeGardner stated that in 2002 a referendum was created for the development of that area and it went to vote. He stated that the residents shut it down. The City Council is focusing on the development of the hard court surfaces near the water tower. DeGardner stated that if the walking path continues to get use and residents want to keep the trail, staff could look into making a path from the parking lot to the trail, etc. Richard Jensen, Park Board Member, commented that he did not see a park shelter in phase 1 and thought it should be added. DeGardner addressed Jensen concerns stating that the bids had already been sent out however, there might be some dollars still available for additional items. Gooder asked DeGardner if the City Council had mentioned anything about additional or budget dollars given to the park and trails funds that the Park Board will be able to work with, etc. DeGardner stated that he expected to hear more about that during the 2022 budget discussion. 11. NEXT SCHEDULED PARK BOARD MEETING Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10. ADJOURNMENT Kusterman made a MOTION to adjourn to adjourn the meeting at 7:33 p.m. Motion was supported by Gooder. Motion carried 6 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Kellie Schmidt, Lino Lakes Administrative Assistant