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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-01-2021 Park Board Minutes CITY OF LINO LAKES PARK BOARD MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Park Board Chair Pat Huelman called the Lino Lakes Park Board meeting to order at 6:30 pm. on September 1, 2021. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. SETTING OF AGENDA Agenda was approved as is. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES William Kusterman made a MOTION to approve the August 4, 2021 meeting minutes. Motion was supported by James Zilka. Motion carried 6 - 0. 5. OPEN MIKE There was no one present for Open Mike. 6. DETERMINE PARK NAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director recapped the naming process and the survey that was taken previously to develop names for the park located at Centerville Road & Birch Street as well as to rename City Hall Park. DeGardner detailed that there were 76 respondents. Approximately 50% voted for the name Tower Park, with Blue Heron Park and Water Tower Park each around 25%. He then went onto address the name suggestions for City Hall Park stating that approximately 75% voted for the name “Main Street Park” over “Old City Hall Park”. He stated that Park Boards next step is to prepare DATE: September 1, 2021 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 8:33 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Patrick Huelman (Chair), Clark Gooder, Jame Zilka, Abby Haworth, William Kusterman, John Nordland, and Richard Jensen. MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Rick DeGardner (Director of Public Services) Kellie Schmidt (Administrative Assistant) the name recommendations for City Council to review at the September 13th City Council meeting. William Kusterman made a motion to accept and change the name from “City Hall Park to “Main Street Park. It was seconded by Richard Jensen. Motion passed 6-1 with Gooder opposed. Clark Gooder, Park Board Member, stated he wanted something more unique for the name and that is why he opposed “Main Street Park”. The Park Board went on to discuss the names for Centerville Road & Birch Street. Based on the feedback they received Kusterman made a motion to accept the name “Tower Park” for the Centerville Road/Birch Street location. John Nordland seconded the motion. Motion passed 5-2 with Huelman and Gooder opposed as they were hoping for something more specific and unique to our City. The Park Board did discuss that although many of them like the name “Blue Heron Park” it was pointed out that there is Blue Heron Elementary School nearby and the Blue Heron is used in many areas within the City as a name so it could be confusing for people and the GPS could pull up a wrong site. 7. DISCUSS 2022 PARK BOARD GOALS Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director, recapped how the Park Board typically recommends parks and trials project to the City Council consideration. He detailed that funding is usually provided through the Dedicated Parks Fund, Park and Trail Improvement Fund, and General Fund. He stated currently there doesn’t appear to be much for undesignated funds in the Dedicated Parks Fund and Park & Trails Fund. This may change after Lino Park and Tower Park projects are completed in 2022. He stated there currently is $90,000 allocated for the Parks and Tails Fund. DeGardner then provide a list of potential projects that the Park Board has previously discussed as well as the Existing Playground Equipment Inventory. Pat Huelman, Park Board Chair, also shared some information regarding parks and trails project summary. Huelman stated we should consider the need for a dog park. He also discussed some of the parks that were on the previous list that had been identified as a guide to the parks needs. He stated that there were a few “big ticket items” but that there is only $90,000 available making it hard as they can only do some things but not update the needs of an entire park. He stated that he is glad to have the funds, but it’s hard when more is needed to really make a difference. James Zilka, Park Board Member, commented that it would be hard to make a decision without visiting some of the parks that are at the top of the list in terms of need. He stated that when the Park Board does the park tour he would have a bit more feedback. Richard Jensen, Park Board Member, confirmed with DeGardner that as of right now there is only $90,000 in funds to use to upgrade a park. DeGardner confirmed and added that if Lino Park come in under budget there could be some funds extra however the Park Board should plan on the $90,000. William Kusterman. Park Board Member, commented that the Park Board needs to identify the real important needs and make the City Council aware of them. That they need to try to make them understand what funds would be needed to make a real difference. Clark Gooder, Park Board Member, did request to have Mike Hoffman, Parks Supervisor, attend a park walk though in Ocotber or attend a Park Board Meeting dregarding the needs of each park and the city. Kusterman commented that he remembered at one time the Park Board received Mike’s assessment of each of the park and is looking to have that updated and provided again to the Park Board. Zilka stated that there has to be a clear 5yr plan, 10yr plan, etc. Going year to year will not cut it or make a significant difference. Huelman stated there is two folds. One, is to go back and take a look at the list of needs that they have slowly been chipping away at. He suggest that the Park Board do a work session where they can look at the list and re-prioritize it and then update the long term financial plan. Two, is try to obtain more funding. After a lengthy discussion the Park Board decided to visit the following parks to review and make assessments: City Hall Park, Marshan Park, Wenzel Farms Park, and Shenandoah Park. Park Board did discuss a dog park with-in the City. The logistics and spacing was discussed. Abby Haworth, Park Board Member, stated it would be hard to consider putting in a dog park at this time when they have some many parks and trails they need to update that they are having a hard time funding. Kusterman stated he would go on recorded opposing a dog park at this time. At this time the Park Board will visit the parks and then work to compile a plan/list on what needs to be done. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. PARK SIGNAGE Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director, stated that the need to update our park identification signage has been discussed for several year. He pointed out that many of the parks do not have any signage, and those that do have routed, wood type signs. DeGardner stated he is looking to order new park signs for Sunrise Park, Lino Park, Birch Park, and Tower Park and would like feedback from the Park Board regarding the signs color, font, and if we should include a logo or address. Clark Gooder, Park Board Member, stated he thought that Lino colors are primarily blue and green. He stated he thought blue would be a good background color. DeGardner stated that the blue offered would not be the correct blue due to the type of material. Park Board Members Kusterman, Gooder, Nordland, Zilka, and Huelman stated they like the green background for the sign. Zilka stated he liked the bottom font better (the one featured on the tan sign). The Park Board discussed whether or not to add the address to a park name sign. They stated they thought it made sense to do it if the Park was a “destination” park and had a parking lot vs parks that do not have parking. Another decision was the size of the sign, big sign vs a small sign. It was determined that the big sign would have an address and a small sign would not and that parks that were larger and brought people into a neighborhood would receive a bigger sign than the other parks. B. SCHEDULE PARK BOARD TOUR Park Board confirmed that the next meeting will be off-site tour of the park. Itinerary will be sent out and tour will start at 6:00pm or 6:30pm. 9. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. Clark Gooder, Park Board Member, stated that he just wanted to comment that Park Board meetings are important that we should continue to have them continually to discuss park needs and should try not to cancel. Pat Huelman, Park Board Chair, asked if they could schedule a work session to discuss the Park needs and goals. Rick DeGardner, Public Services Dirctor, stated that the Park Board could do that. 10. NEXT SCHEDULED PARK BOARD MEETING Wednesday, October 6, 2021 – This will be offsite (park visits). 11. ADJOURNMENT William Kusterman made a MOTION to adjourn to adjourn the meeting at 8:33 p.m. Motion was supported by Clark Gooder Motion carried 6 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Kellie Schmidt, Lino Lakes Administrative Assistant