Loading...
BCOL Advisory Council Minutes 12-06-2013MINUTES BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES REGIONAL PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL Friday, December 6, 2013 8:00 a.m. Bridge Room, Monticello Community Center Advisory Council Members Present: Martyn Dibben, Jim Hayes, Tom Jahnke, Jim Lindberg, Larry Nolan, Wes Olson, Glen Posusta, Pat Sawatzke, Sandra Theros, Lyle Trunnell Advisory Council Members Absent: Mark Daleiden, Clint Herbst, Pete Stupar Staff Present: Angela Schumann, Marc Mattice, Tom Pawelk, Jeff O'Neill Others Present: Tim Hennagir, Monticello Times, Brian Kirk, YMCA, Brian Asleson, Assistant County Attorney 1) Call to order Martyn Dibben called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. and declared a quorum present. 2) Consideration of approving minutes from November 1, 2013 Meeting SANDRA THEROS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 1, 2013 MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY JIM LINDBERG. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10 -0. 3) Consideration of adding to and approving agenda A. Athletic Field Concept Plan. JIM LINDBERG MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS POSTED WITH THE ADDED ITEMS. MOTION SECONDED BY LARRY NOLAN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10 -0. 4) Review, discuss and make recommendation regarding First Addendum to the Operating Agreement for YMCA Camp Manitou Marc Mattice explained that the framework has been approved for the Ground Lease and the 4th Addendum to MOU and Operating Agreement. Marc said that the YMCA had eluded they would be submitting an addendum to the Operating Agreement. Marc reviewed the First Addendum to the Operating Agreement for YMCA Camp Manitou at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Marc explained that the YMCA is bringing forth the first addendum to request expanding the use of its assets as described in the Ground Lease and Operating Agreement and located on the Premises and Additional Premises Exhibits to accommodate the programmatic uses of these assets outside those times as described in the Ground Lease (Monday- Friday 8am -5pm) as Day Camp Manitou summer camp programs. Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: Dec 6, 2013 The requested changes to the YMCA's hours of operation and programs will provide an added value for the community, park visitors, YMCA members and their guests. The assets listed are considered "existing" and are part of the initial development described in the Ground Lease. This is for consideration and recommendation to the City Council and County Board. Marc explained that this is a benefit and an opportunity for the public to use the YMCA facilities without costing the City or County additional money. The following amenities will be opened up for public use: • Adventure Course — Ropes Course, Zip Line, Climbing Tower • Aquatics area — waterslide, pool, splash pad • Rainy Day Shelter • Program Supplies — canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, cross country skis, snowshoes • Play Field • Amphitheater • Arts & Crafts Pavilion • Nature Pavilion • Trailhead Building • One Night /Week Parents Night (an evening program, outside of operating hours) Concerns were brought up regarding security of the YMCA facilities. Brian Kirk explained that the YMCA operates other camps and they have learned how to secure facilities from groups of kids that stay at overnight camps. Everything is locked up and secured nightly. If additional security issues come up, they may look into installing security cameras and motion sensor security lights. Brian indicated the most vulnerable area would be the pool but they meet the state requirements by having the pool fenced, gated, locked and signed. Marc distributed the Amendment and Authentication of Exhibits. Brian Asleson, Assistant County Attorney, said that by authorizing the City and County to sign the document, it is authenticating that the First Addendum will be incorporated into the Fourth Addendum to the MOU. The City and County will own the property after the closing in June and at that time all of the documents will be signed. Brian Kirk said that the YMCA would like to start construction by the middle of May, and they will be well under way with the heavy equipment earth work in June before the campers come in. The goal is to have the new facilities complete by the end of the summer; then as they close out the camp they can move over to the new buildings by September. TOM JAHNKE MOVED TO APPROVE AND RECOMMEND EXECUTION OF THE AMENDMENT AND AUTHENTICATION OF EXHIBITS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO PART OF THE FOURTH ADDENDUM TO THE MOU BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF WRIGHT, THE CITY OF MONTICELLO AND THE YMCA OF THE GREATER TWIN CITIES. MOTION SECONDED BY SANDRA THEROS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10 -0. 2 Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: Dec 6, 2013 5) MORC Trail Update and option to extend MOU Marc Mattice stated that MORC has been volunteering and working on the single track mountain bike trail at Bertram since July. We currently have a 1 -year agreement with MORC. Recently MORC signed an agreement with the YMCA so that they can continue building and using trails and complete the loop while we are in the acquisition phase of the land purchase. In January Marc will bring forth the MOU with MORC to extend the agreement for 2014. Marc said that MORC has also requested that the BCOL Advisory Board consider winter biking on the single track trails. Marc explained that winter biking has become very popular and MORC volunteers will maintain and pack the trails to keep them open throughout the winter. They provide trail bosses to assess trail conditions, coordinate volunteers, etc. In the spring they will close down the trails until the freeze /thaw cycle has passed. JIM LINDBERG MOVED TO EXTEND THE MOU WITH MORC TO CONTINUE BUILDING AND MAINTAINING THE SINGLE TRACK MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS AT BERTRAM THROUGHOUT 2014. MOTION SECONDED BY SANDRA THEROS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10 -0. 6) Friends update The Friends are in the process of recruiting new core members as the original core group is down to four members. Currently they are running without a treasurer so they are unable to deposit the monetary donations received to date. The next meeting will be held in January where they will elect officers. They plan to meet quarterly and organize events for each season starting with a snow sculpture contest in February. 7) 2015 Frostbite Challenge This item was carried over from the previous meeting. The event is currently behind held on Pelican Lake. However, The DNR will begin the first drawdown phase of Pelican Lake in 2014. The drawdown will help re- establish the aquatic vegetation that provides food and habitat for ducks and other wildlife. There has been a lot of talk about moving the event out to Bertram Lake to keep the event in the Monticello area. Wes Olson gave a brief summary of the event and referred the Advisory Council to review the previous meeting minutes for event details. Wes explained that 2014 will be the fourth year of the event located at Pelican Lake which started out as a national professional event. After the second year of the event, it was determined that the event should be brought down to a more family friendly, affordable local event. The tickets are sold at a cost of $25, and last year over 400 tickets were sold with over 200 anglers on the ice. Nearly half of the tickets are purchased solely for the chance of winning one of the many prizes. Wes said that they hire an organization known as Simply Outdoor Experiences. They are a non - profit organization designed to help people enjoy the great outdoors. Their mission is to empower kids and adults with the knowledge and resources to create positive outdoor experiences. They are very environmentally conscious. They provide all the fishing gear, bait and professional guides for the event and they run the weigh -ins and return the fish to the water. 3 Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: Dec 6, 2013 Wes said that this is a one -day event with the day prior to the event spent plowing the parking area, drilling holes and setting things up. The kids contest is run from loam -noon and the adult contest is run from noon -3pm. Everything is taken down at the end of the event. For the event they would need permission to drive on the lake to set up the tents, including a first aid tent and an office check -in tent, along with two or three fish houses. They will need parking space for 200 -300 vehicles and will have to shuttle participants down to lake so people can walk on the lake. Ideally they would like to come on the beach side and park up top. Wes said that while this year's event is already scheduled for Pelican Lake, a lot of planning goes into the event so they would like to know a year in advance if they can host the event at Bertram so that they can advertise word -of -mouth at 2014's event. Wes said that the event will leave a footprint on the ice but that it is only a one -day event. He said that they could educate the public about conservation and bring awareness to the park to people that may not have known about Bertram otherwise. The Chamber of Commerce wants to continue to have the fishing tournament. Wes said that he co- chairs the fishing tournament and they see the Frostbite Challenge evolving to an annual community event like Riverfest is in the summer. The Friends group could do a polar plunge fundraising event as well. Further discussions revolved around whether or not this would be an appropriate event for the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. This may be a debate for the Park Use Subcommittee and the Natural Resource Subcommittee as it may be an issue for Bertram having to split its philosophy. Wes said the Chamber understands the sensitivity of the park but they just want to get their planning in order for 2015's event. If the event is not authorized at Bertram then they can move on and look at other alternatives. Wes said that he can go back to the committee and come up with a concept that would provide the least impact on Bertram. PAT SAWATAZKE MOVED TO TABLE THE FROSTBITE CHALLENGE FISHING TOURNMENT IDEA FOR BERTRAM PARK FOR ONE MONTH TO ALLOW WES OLSON TO BRING BACK A PROPOSAL WITH LESS IMPACT ON BERTRAM LAKE IN JANUARY FOR A VOTE. MOTION SECONDED BY SANDRA THEROS. MOTION CARRIED UANIMOUSLY. 8) Discussion of added items A. Athletic Field Concept Plan: Jeff O'Neill informed the advisory council that the athletic complex was designed in the park to encompass approximately 150 acres. The design was done when the City owned farmland to the north was still being used as a biosolids facility by the Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant. That property is not currently being land applied, which allows for an opportunity today that wasn't there when the complex was first designed. Jeff suggested that utilizing some of that city owned property would improve the funding sources for the overall park and could add more flexibility and create an opportunity to rethink how the fields are laid out. Tom Pawelk explained that the grant money awarded with the Outdoor Recreation Grant was based upon the original design Bertram Regional Park Advisory Council: Dec 6, 2013 and those funds are required to be utilized within the next three years. That grant will require 20 acres to be developed. Utilizing the city property could expand the footprint of the park and allow for a more natural transition from the active athletic area to the natural passive areas of the park. Jeff asked that the Athletic Subcommittee review the concept with the City Council. Tom Pawelk said that there is an opening on the subcommittee and Larry Nolan agreed to sit on the subcommittee. SANDRA THEROS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE BCOL ATHLETIC SUBCOMMITTEE TO RE -LOOK AT THE ATHLETIC FIELD DESIGNS AND REFER THE IDEA OF UTILIZING THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY FOR ATHLETIC FIELD DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION. MOTION SECONDED BY JIM LINDBERG. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 10 -0. 9) Next meeting scheduled for Friday, January 3, 2014 The next regular meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 3, 2014 at 8 a.m. in the Bridge Room at the Monticello Community Center. 10) Adiourn JIM LINDBERG MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:40 A.M. MOTION SECONDED BY SANDRA THEROS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Recorder: teeth &reel? Administrative Assistant Approval Date: 1/3/2014 Attest: 13COL qlk Vii0on Schumann 5