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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-02-2001 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 1 The April 2, 2001 City of Lino Lakes Park Board mee ting was called to order at 6:30pm, by Chair Lindy. Roll call was taken, members present were Pam Tasch uk, Paul Montain, George Lindy, and Chris Welsand, Pat Huelm an, and Bill Kusterman. Members absent were Michael O’Connor. Also present were Rick DeGardner, Public Services D irector, Sandie Wood, Office Manager. APPROVAL OF MARCH 5, 2001 MINUTES: Paul Montain made a motion, seconded by Chris Welsa nd, to approve the March 5, 2001 minutes. The minutes were approv ed. SETTING THE AGENDA: The agenda was passed as presented. OPEN MIKE: No one was present for open mike. DISCUSS DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Rick advised a few weeks ago all members of the var ious advisory boards received a copy of the revised draft compreh ensive plan. The City Council has requested the advisory boards review the latest draft and provide input at their next regula r board meeting. Chair Lindy referred to page 39, item 6 regarding t he administration goal to promote open space. He state d the Park Board presented this idea to the Council earlier th is year relating to programs being funded from the General Fund. He stated the Park Board should keep this in mind. Hi storically, the Park Board did sit down every year and look at the CIP. Rick stated he does look at the CIP every year for equipment. There have not been any funds to make it come to fr uition. Chair Lindy noted the City Council has agreed to lo ok at it this year. Pam asked if the 2000 census date would be implemen ted into the draft plan. Rick advised he would have to check wi th the Planning Department regarding that issue. Paul stated he has several questions relating to wh en the plan was originally written up to now. He stated there are some pieces missing and he needs to review it in detail. He stated his main concern is the greenway corridors and main taining the Park Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 2 rural atmosphere. He indicated he would speak to t he City Planner. Rick referred to the attached memo that indicates t he plan is a work in progress. The plan is not complete and no maps were attached. He stated he understands that the Counci l will look at the various Boards’ comments and then schedule a pu blic hearing. Chair Lindy noted the plan does address the land ac quisition for the athletic complex. REVIEW 200-2001 WARMING HOUSE REPORT: Rick stated another winter season has come and gone . This winter was more of a traditional Minnesota winter. Most o f the shelters were ready for skaters by winter break and closed i n late February due to an unseasonable warm temperature an d rainstorm. In calculating attendance figures this year, Rick i ndicated he chose not to add organized team practices in the fi nal numbers. By doing this, it was possible to obtain some true figures on how much the rinks are being used by the general skatin g public. There were several organized practices conducted by the Centennial and Forest Lake Youth Hockey Association s. The primary rinks used for organized practices are City Hall, Sunrise north rink and Birch Park. As in the past, it was attempted to schedule organized activities on the rinks during t he later hours. Rick referred to a copy of the Warming House Report and noted that this time, there are not any proposed changes for next season. Bill clarified that the rink numbers are up and do not include numbers from organized sports. Chair Lindy asked if City Hall Park is programmed f or hockey. Rick advised City Hall Park is programmed on a limi ted basis for youth hockey. Bill inquired about the savings if the City only op ened some parks on the weekends. Rick stated the savings wou ld be minimal. The City has not yet considered if some of the rink s should only be open on weekends. If Necessary the City may jus t look at unsupervised rinks. This issue will be reviewed fu rther in October or November 2001. RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick referred to the Program Highlights Flyer from March 2001. He noted a week of filed trips is scheduled for Apr il 9 – 13. Park Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 3 Currently, the City has at least 20 participants si gned up for each trip except the Underwater Adventures and Hayr ide trip. Winter sessions of the Toss, Kick and Catch, Soccer Mini Camp, Floor Hockey Mini Camp and Dance programs have ende d. Registration is currently going on for the spring s essions of the Floor Hockey Mini Camp and Soccer Mini Camps progra ms. The Recreation Department is now offering a youth t ackle football program. The local youth tackle football organizat ion approached the department last fall and after several meetings decided to turn this program over to the Recreation Department . Registration for many of the spring outdoor activit ies, such as golf, T-ball, tennis and softball have been slow du e to the late spring weather. It is anticipated that registratio n numbers will pick up with the warmer weather and match past regi stration numbers. The City is currently hiring for a variety of seaso nal staff positions including Playground Leaders, Options Lea ders, Maintenance and Athletic Program Instructors. Rick noted the Spring Activities Guide, which inclu des spring and summer programs, was delivered to homes the last we ek in February. The Summer Activities Guide is scheduled to be in homes the last week of May. Pam asked where the youth tackle football program w ill be located. Rick stated the football program will pri marily be held at the Centennial Middle School and Centennial High School. The Recreation Department is working with Blaine and Sp ring Lake Park on this program. Pat inquired about the equipment for the football p rogram. Rick advised the City will be supplying two jerseys for each participant. The participants are responsible for the rest of the equipment. The Recreation Department is consid ering having an equipment sale or trade show to help out with eq uipment needs. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick reviewed a memo from Mike Hoffman, Parks Super visor, which summarized the maintenance highlights for March 200 1. Rick noted March activities include snowplowing of streets, tr ails and parking lots. Maintenance staff attended a number of educational and safety training seminars. Staff began painting picnic tables, picked up hockey goals and cleaned warming houses. Park Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 4 Rick added that staff also began the removal of haz ards trees (Wood of Baldwin Lake Park) and prepping wood duck houses for nesting season. NEW BUSINESS: None OLD BUSINESS: Review Referendum Information – Rick stated that at the last Park Board meeting, Pam suggested the Park Board review the information pertaining to a referendum. Rick state d he compiled the following items to review: • Resolution 97 – 30, Council Support to Pursue Refer endum • Referendum process overview • November 19, 1997 Park Board meeting minutes • January 5, 1998 Park Board meeting minutes • Spring, 1998 article in city newsletter • Program statement/cost analysis, page 1 (dated 1/8/98) • Estimated annual tax impact (November, 1997 and February, 2000) • Check list for a successful referendum Chair Lindy stated the decision regarding a referen dum rests on the City Council. A decision will be made in May. Pam asked if the Council would give a time frame if they decide to go ahead with the referendum. Rick stated he ho pes the Council would give a time frame. The Council is aw are of the Park Board’s position on a referendum. The issue w ill be discussed further at a Council work session in May. Chair Lindy stated he assumes the Council will leav e it up to the Park Board as far as progressing the referendum pro cess. The Council did mention a feasibility study. He asked if the Park Board should pursue that. Rick stated the Park Boa rd first needs to find out if the Council wants to pursue a refere ndum. Once that is determined, there are options to explore re lating to how the process should proceed. Chair Lindy stated the Park Board is looking for ap proval to proceed and a timeline. If the Council does approv e a referendum, the Park Board needs to be prepared to move forward at the June Park Board meeting. Rick stated a refe rendum is a huge undertaking. The process would include having 8-10 area volunteers to form a committee to make the referend um work and make people aware of it. Pat stated the Park Board needs to contact people w ho have a big interest in the complex as well as residents. Park Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 5 Bill inquired about the design cost estimate and as ked if the City needs a better one. Rick advised the City doe s have an accurate costs estimate for the athletic complex. The question will be what else should be included in the referen dum. Pat stated the City will need a consultant to provi de that information. Chris asked about the difference in the estimated a nnual tax impact for November 1997 and February 2000. Rick a dvised the difference comes from the increase in total market value of commercial, industrial, and residential. Chris suggested the estimated annual tax impact for the future be include in the information that is given to residen ts. She asked how many key people will be need for the committees . Rick advised 8-10 area volunteers will be needed. Pam added that the volunteers need to represent a b road spectrum of the population. Rick advised an update will be given at the June me eting. Pat asked what kind of input the Council will expec t from the Park Board. Chair Lindy stated he believes the Council will rel y on the Park Board completely. The Council is sure they want to pursue the referendum if it is feasible that it will pass. Rick stated he has provided the Council with inform ation regarding a referendum. He stated he is not sure t here is anything else the Park Board can do at this point. The City Council needs to look at the “big picture” and dete rmine if this is the right time to pursue a referendum. Chair Lindy stated he does not believe the Council would have purchased the property if they did not have the goa l of completing the project. The Council is aware of th e referendum process. They want to be reasonably sure it will p ass. Pat stated the Council is aware of the need for the complex. The timing of a referendum is the issue. Bill stated it needs to be made clear to the reside nts that a complex will never get built if a referendum does n ot pass. Park Board Meeting – April 2, 2001 Minutes 6 Pat added the Park Board needs to stress its commit ment to the project also. He stated he is willing to put in ex tra time to get it done. Park Dedication Fee – Paul inquired about the proposed new Park Dedication Fee. Rick advised the City Council will be discussing the Park Dedication fee at the work session on Wedn esday. SCHEDULE NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: The next Park Board meeting will be held on Monday, May 7, 2001, 6:30pm, at Lino Lakes City Hall. ADJOURN: Pam Taschuk made a motion to adjourn, seconded by P aul Montain. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10pm. Respectfully Submitted, Kim Points Recording Secretary