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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-2005 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – February 7, 2005 Minutes 1 The January 4, 2005 City of Lino Lakes Park Board m eeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m., by Acting Chair Tasch uk. Roll call was taken; members present were Pam Tasch uk, Aaron Frederickson, Pat Huelman, Bill Kusterman and Paul Montain. Members absent were Katie Boyle and George Lindy. Also present was Rick DeGardner, Public Services Di rector. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 4, 2004: Pat Huelman made a motion, seconded by Bill Kusterm an, to approve the January 4, 2005, minutes as presented. The min utes were approved. SETTING AGENDA: There were no changes to the agenda. OPEN MIKE: No one was present for open mike. REVIEW 2004 PARKS AND RECREATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Rick stated the Parks and Recreation Department had a very busy and productive 2004. He referred to a summary of a ccomplishments that was included in the packets noting the followi ng: Parks • Installed open air shelter at Birch Park • Installed trail in northeast area of Pheasant hills to connect to Regional Park Trail • Installed full size basketball court at Rice Lake Elementary School • Installed ½ court basketball court at Behm’s Park • Planted 70 bare root trees and 60 shrubs throughout various parks • Installed 20 bluebird houses at various park locati ons Recreation • Processed 3,241 registrations • Special Events continue to improve: Sweetheart Dance – 209 participants Family Turkey Shoot – 167 teams Breakfast with Santa – 200 participants Snow Day – 160 participants • Summer playground enrollment was highest ever at 34 7 participants • Tennis program had enrollment of 171 participants Park Board Meeting – February 7, 2005 Minutes 2 Aaron asked if there is a list of priorities for Gi rl Scout and Boy Scout projects. Rick advised the City is invol ved early in relation to a specific project. The City does prov ide a list of options for possible projects. He explained the pr ocess noting most of the projects include landscaping, murals or signs at various parks. REVIEW NEW TIERERD FEE STRUCTURE, REGISTRATION PROC ESS & PROGRAM CHANGES: Rick advised beginning this spring, there are sever al significant changes related to the Parks and Recreation Departm ent. The most substantive changes pertain to program fees and the registration process. The Department has converted fees for mos t of the programs to a tiered rate system. Those programs w ith the new tiered-rate system will have a regular fee and a Li no Lakes resident fee, which is lower. The process to register for programs will change dr amatically. In summary, all resident registrations received (by mail, fax, drop box) by February 28 will receive first priorit y. Resident registrations (phone-in, walk-in) will be accepted beginning March 3 – they will receive second priority. Genera l registration will begin March 7. At this time, anyone who wishe s to register may do so. No residency requirements will apply at this time. A copy of the registration information page that will be included in the spring brochure was also included in the pac kets. Rick stated since the Centennial School District is now operating the Kid’s Club program during the school year and s ummer, the Parks and Recreation Department would no longer be offering the “Options” program. The Parks and Recreation Department will not be ope rating a summer playground program at Golden Lake Park in Ci rcle Pines this summer. However, the summer playground progra m is being expanded at Sunrise Park by adding a morning progra m. Rick also advised the size of the adult softball pr ogram has been reduced by eliminating the Tuesday night men’s leag ue. This will provide additional fields for the various youth spo rts associations. The Department has also given regist ration priority for resident teams, and will be charging a n additional fee for “non-resident” teams. Rick noted programs that are co-sponsored with othe r communities typically will not have a tiered fee schedule. Ther e are other cities that have a tiered fee schedule and program fees for Lino Lakes are very reasonable. Park Board Meeting – February 7, 2005 Minutes 3 NEW BUSINESS: Discuss Merit of Park Liaisons – Rick stated historically, the Park Board has assign ed a member to each of the 21 neighborhood parks on an annual basi s to serve as the park liaison. Rick indicated that since 1997, he does not recall a situation where a designated park liaison has attended a neighborhood meeting or addressed concerned residen ts without City staff and/or other members present. There hav e also been situations where the designated park liaison was un comfortable conveying the Park Board’s position to their neighb ors. (Typically, park board members have been assigned t o be the park liaison for their neighborhood park.) Rick suggested the Park Board members discuss the m erit of continuing with the practice of assigning an indivi dual park board member to address any concerns that may arise regarding a neighborhood park; or if any concerns comments, or suggestions should be conveyed at the monthly park board meetin g. Bill stated he feels a sense of ownership to the pa rks he is assigned to. He indicated he makes sure he is awar e of what is happening at the particular park so he can better a nswer resident’s questions. Aaron agreed there is an ownership aspect with bein g a park liaison. He stated he also believes resident’s may be more comfortable approaching a park liaison as opposed t o the entire Park Board. Pat stated he also like the ownership aspect of bei ng a park liaison. Paul added he takes pride in the parks he is assign ed to. Rick referred to the 2004 list of Park Board Park L iaisons and asked if any changes should be made. Aaron Frederickson made a motion, seconded by Bill Kusterman, to adopt the 2004 Park Board Liaison list for year 200 5, as presented. The motion was approved. Elect 2005 Community Service Award Committee Member – Rick advised each fall, the Lino Lakes Community Service Award is presented to two residents whose actions and servic e make a significant impact on the community. Dr. Lindy was a recipient in 2001. Each of the advisory boards is requested to elect a member to participate in the evaluation process. L ast year Paul Montain was the Park Board’s representative. Park Board Meeting – February 7, 2005 Minutes 4 Aaron Frederickson volunteered to be the Park Board ’s representative for the 2005 Community Service Award Committee. OLD BUSINESS: Rick advised there is no new information on Rice La ke Estate Park. RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick referred to the Program Highlights Flyer from January, 2005. He noted the 6 th Annual Snow Day was held on January 29 at Wargo Nature Center. Overall, the event was a huge succe ss. The Sweetheart Sock Hop, now in its fourth year, is sch eduled for Saturday, February 12 at Centennial Elementary Scho ol. Currently 67 people have registered. Summer Softball information packets have been sent out and registration is set to begin for resident teams Fri day, February 18. There are three weeks left of the outdoor skating s eason. The rinks at Birch, Sunrise, and City Hall Park will ho pefully remain open until Monday, February 21. Rick advised the Spring Edition of the Recreation R eview is scheduled to be in homes the last week of February. He noted the City’s web site has undergone a major overhaul and is very much improved. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Rick reviewed a memo from Mike Hoffman, Parks Super visor, which summarizes the maintenance highlights for January, 2005. Rick noted the main activities included rink maintenance – daily sweeping, blowing, shoveling, and flooding of four hockey and four pleasure rinks as weather permitted. NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: Acting Chair Taschuk advised the next Park Board me eting would be held on Monday, March 7, 2005, 6:30 p.m. ADJOURN: Paul Montain made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Pat Huelman. The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kim Points Recording Secretary These minutes were approved at the March 7, 2005 Pa rk Board Meeting.