BCOL Advisory Council Minutes 11-06-2015MINUTES
BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES REGIONAL PARK ADVISORY COUNCIL
Friday, November 6,2015,8:00 a.m.
Bridge Room, Monticello Community Center
Advisory Council Members Present: Mark Daleiden, Martyn Dibben, Jim Hayes,
Tom Jahnke, Jim Lindberg, Larry Nolan, Wes Olson, Scott Peterson, Glen Posusta, Pat Sawatzke,
Sandra Theros
Members Absent: Kim Hewson - Garber, Brian Stumpf
Staff Present: Kitty Baltos, Beth Green, Marc Mattice, Jeff O'Neill, Angela Schumann
Others Present: Tim Hennagir, Monticello Times
1. Call to Order.
Chair Martyn Dibben called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. and declared a quorum present.
2. Consideration of approving minutes from August 7, 2015 meeting.
Pat Sawatzke suggested that it be noted that there was not a quorum present at the regularly
scheduled meeting in October. While the members present discussed the agenda, no formal action
could be taken on any items.
MARK DALEIDEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 7, 2015
REGULAR MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY LARRY NOLAN. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY, 11 -0.
3. Consideration of adding to and approving the agenda.
A. Delete Item #8
B. Natural Resource Tech Committee
C. At -Large Council Member
MARK DALEIDEN MOVED TO APPROVE THE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE
AGENDA AS NOTED. MOTION SECONDED BY SANDRA THEROS. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 11 -0.
4. Athletic Complex — Master Planning Update.
The Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Athletic Park Concept Master Plan was included in the
agenda packet for review by the Council. Angela Schumann said that on October 12th the City
Council reviewed the concept plan and approved the plan with some minor modifications.
Schumann noted the minor changes on the plan, including adjusting the fields on the NE side to
include four fields in the pinwheel, which adds two youth baseball fields as there was an identified
need for those fields. The City Council's primary modifications were, 1) a slight reshaping of the
parking lots due to concern about maintenance. Schumann noted that there won't be any parking
BCOL Regional Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2015
eliminated, just changing of the shape of the lots, and 2) the pedestrian bridge over the pond area
is being removed. Schumann further explained that the committee noted an important feature to
have in the plan is an even number of soccer fields, which was a concern for tournament play.
WSB & Associates, the consultant, will now go into a greater level of detail in terms of the design
itself. They are developing landscaping, signage, operation, maintenance and construction costs.
Schumann said that the detailed design will be brought back to the stakeholders at another public
meeting which will be scheduled late in November or early in December. The goal is not only to
have a master plan but the City and County need to implement a set of interim improvements in
coordination with the grant approval. Those would include a trail to the larger regional park, and
some type of open play space. Schumann explained that in order for those interim improvements
to get in place by 2017 to meet the grant requirements, the City has to work through a land
alteration process, which is splitting off a piece of the City owned property, with Wright County;
and WSB will be helping with that process.
Schumann noted the primary concern from the stakeholders now is, "how fast can the athletic park
be built ?" as they want the fields now. Once planning details are in place, the next conversation
the Council will need to have is about financing and funding. Schumann said the construction
plan will be based on need and not necessarily on building from west to east. Comments are still
welcome and can be made online at www .bcolmasteiplan.mysidewalk.com. Schumann said she
will email out the invitation for the public open house once the date is determined.
Tom Jahnke asked to go on record officially thanking Schumann for her hard work and efforts in
working with the subcommittee, and to WSB & Associates and the stakeholders for listening to
the wants and needs for the park and respecting the guidelines set forth from the BCOL Advisory
Council.
5. Bertram Programs Update.
a. September 10, 2016: — Blazin thru Bertram Phillip LaVallee Memorial Run: Kitty
Baltos said that the run will be the final in a three -run series as they did this year, which
worked very well. Promotion for the race series will begin in January.
b. Bertram Triathlon Discussion: Baltos said that Brad Harrington and she met with
the man who ran the Buffalo triathlon for the first 10 years. He is interested in getting
involved in another triathlon. It would be a 1500 meter swim, mountain biking and a
5K trail run. Baltos and Harrington will meet with him in two weeks and the costs for
the race and the City and County involvement will be determined at that time. Mattice
said the tentative plan is to host the triathlon in late July 2016. Mattice explained that
the triathlon would be set up as a non -profit organization which will take the liability
away from the City and County. The triathlon then donates the profits from the event
back to the park system; and that's the concept they would like to move forward with.
Baltos said she will update and provide more specific information at the next meeting.
MARK DALEIDEN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE BALTOS, HARRINGTON AND
MATTICE TO CONTINUE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF A
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BCOL Regional Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2015
TRIATHLON EVENT AT BERTRAM, NOTING THE BCOLAC IS SUPPORTIVE
OF THE EVENT, WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO BE BROUGHT
BACK TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, REVIEW AND
APPROVAL AT A FUTURE MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY TOM
JAHNKE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 12 -0.
6. Grant Applications Updates.
Marc Mattice said grant applications were due at the end of October, and he has submitted two
applications. The first one is for a Park Legacy Acquisition Grant. Mattice explained that there is
a total of $12.1M in grant funds available and they will be awarding the total amount in this grant
cycle. It is a new process this year through the Greater MN Parks & Trails Commission, so to be
able to apply you have to have a designated facility that's considered regional in Greater
Minnesota. At the end of the application cycle there were 29 applications totaling just over $19M.
Mattice said the application he submitted includes the final 203 acres of the passive use park with
the grant application request totaling $2,839,000. The City and County both passed a resolution
in support of that grant application, including the local match from each totaling $345,000 +
closing costs. If the grant application is approved, the final passive use area of the park will be
completed for acquisition in 2017.
The second application was a Development Grant application, with a request of $700,000. Mattice
said the County Board has approved CIP funds for development costs if the grant is approved. The
breakdown of the request includes $200,000 for improvements to hiking and ski trails, bridge
construction on 90t' Street and a bridge by the dam; access road and parking construction with
aggregate base for $375,000; restroom, changing room, septic and utilities at the beach for
$200,000 (with some cash match from the YMCA as that's a shared facility); picnic shelter and
utilities for $75,000; as well as funding to improve the inside of the chalet to make it ADA
compliant, adding lighting and bathrooms. The County has budgeted dollars to work on the outside
of the old chalet, including re- roofing and materials for siding, windows, etc.
Mattice said he is hopeful the acquisition grant will be approved, noting that they may not be
awarded both grants. The acquisition grant is the first priority. Next Friday the evaluation team
meets, along with the system plan consultant and the executive director to review the applications.
Wednesday before Thanksgiving the Commission will meet to make recommendations on the
applications and those recommendations will go to the legislature for approval on January 15tH
7. Discussion of Park Boundary Expansions Ownership /Partnerships.
Marc Mattice said he wanted to discuss how the Advisory Council would like to go forward if the
existing boundaries of the park are ever expanded in the future and whether or not that would be a
50150 City and County shared ownership. For example, if the ballfields go 30 acres to the north
is that land ownership a single entity or is that a 50150 ownership? Or after the original acquisition
of what we've mapped if the City or County wants to add additional land is that on their own or is
that still part of the original partnership as joint land ownership in the original MOU? Pat Sawatzke
said it would depend on how they acquire it and relative to the 30 acres that is already City owned
property. Schumann said there might be some advantages to having it jointly owned as part of the
BCOL Regional Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2015
larger regional park but there are things that need to be explored in more detail. Ultimately the
Council could make that determination. Mattice said it may be necessary to make an addendum
to the MOU about additional lands added to the park being reviewed as individual or joint
ownership. Mattice said it should be addressed in all the agreements so that in the future when
there may be a different board or different employees that this is clear.
Mattice said that he will review the MOU and bring back an addendum to the council for review
to detail the statutory boundaries as they existed when the partnership began as a joint ownership
and any additional lands purchased thereafter will be considered on a case by case basis for
ownership.
Schumann said that this is good timing to be discussing this as the City considers the split of the
30 acres, noting that if the land was held in joint ownership her understanding from Wright County
Planning & Zoning is that they wouldn't have to go through the MOA board and they could just
make that adjustment.
Tom Jahnke noted that the City should consider making that 30 -acre parcel part ownership with
the County to keep it 50150 throughout the park and to make it easier for members on the Advisory
Council today to make determinations. Although the County probably would not consider
reimbursing the City for their share of the property, the donation of that property benefits the City
more than it does the regional park. Jahnke said that the regional park is made more whole as an
entity by making all the land 50150 shared ownership. Schumann said that she will bring this
information to the City Council for consideration.
8. Status of 2015 Work Plan.
Item removed from agenda as it was discussed at a previous meeting.
9. Friends of Bertram Update.
Jim Lindberg provided Friends of Bertram updates as follows:
• Capture the Seasons Photo Contest: Deadline is today; however, the contest may be
extended due to a low number of entries. Contest details and online entries are accepted at
the Friends website at www.friendsofbertramlakes.org.
• LaVallee Run: The Friends portion of the proceeds from the run totaled $1,700.
• Snow Sculpture Contest: Contest will again be in coordination with the Winter Block
Party at the MCC, which is scheduled for February 20, 2016. The Friends are requesting
members of the Advisory Council to participate by signing up to create a sculpture.
• Bertram Playground, Second Phase: Will be meeting with the Rotary on November 161h,
to determine what is involved with Phase 2 of the Natural Playground Project. Mattice has
a concept plan and that will be discussed and reviewed at that meeting.
• Amphitheater: The Friends will continue to keep this project on the radar and work with
the Eagle Scout on restoring the old amphitheater, which will most likely be a project next
spring.
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BCOL Regional Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2015
10. Discussion of added items.
A. Tech Committee: Marc Mattice said that the Natural Resources Tech Committee needs
to be reorganized. Discussions with the group are needed to determine the transitions
between the passive use of the park and the ballfields, as well as the grading and planting
plan for the campground area. Martyn Dibben is a member of the tech committee and
other members expressing interest to serve on the committee are Tom Jahnke, Mark
Daleiden, and Jim Lindberg. Mattice said there will also be an ad -hoc member from
Wright Soil & Water. Mattice will send out a meeting request with some tentative
meeting dates. Members will meet at Marc's office at Wright County.
B. Membership, Kim Hewson- Garber: Mattice said that Hewson- Garber contacted him
and stated that she cannot attend meetings due to her work schedule changing. She
indicated that she would like to continue to be part of the group and could possibly give
input on future agendas. The discussion concluded that the member at -large position should
be a position where the member is actively involved in meetings.
WES OLSON MOVED TO ADVERTISE A CITIZEN AT -LARGE POSITION TO
FILL THE REMAINING TERM FROM KIM HEWSON- GARBERER. THE TERM
WILL RUN UNTIL 12/2017. MOTION SECONDED BY GLEN POSUSTA. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 11 -0.
11. Schedule next meeting — December 4, 2015.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2015, at 8 am in the Bridge Room at the
Monticello Community Center.
12. Adiourn.
GLEN POSUSTA MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:43 A.M. MOTION
SECONDED BY LARRY NOLAN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, 11 -0.
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BCOL Regional Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes: November 6, 2015
Recorder: rl�SzREth &rem
Administrative Assistant
Approval Date: 12/4/2015
Attest: M n, BC AC Chairman