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Parks Commission Minutes 12-05-2013PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Dec 5, 2013 MINUTES PARKS COMMISSION THURSDAY DECEMBER 5, 2013 - 9:15 A.M. "To enhance community pride through developing and maintaining Cityparks with a high standard of quality. - Members Present: Jack Gregor, Nancy McCaffrey, Larry Nolan, Tim Stalpes Members Absent: Brian Stumpf, Alan Heidemann Others Present: Tom Pawelk, Park Superintendent Angela Schumann, Community Development Director 1. Call to Order. Chair Larry Nolan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and declared a quorum present. 2. Approve Minutes of the October 17, 2013 Special Parks Commission Meeting. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 17, 2013 SPECIAL PARKS COMMISSION MEETING. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 3. Consideration of adding items to the agenda. A. Home for the Holidays: Tom Pawelk informed the commission that the Home for the Holidays event will be held on Friday night, December 6th, at West Bridge Park. This is a fun family community event and includes Santa, sleigh rides, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, ice skating, etc. The event runs from 6pm -8pm. Tom said that the Parks Department crews will be flooding the rink for the next 24 -hours to ensure ice for the skaters. B. Ballfield Schedule: Tom Pawelk explained that through the years he has had a number of requests from individuals and various groups interested in renting the City /Xcel Ballfields. The 2014 Season will be the trial for this concept. Tom said that he is including ballfield rental fees in the City Fee Schedule which will go to the City Council for approval on December 9th. Tom said that he researched a 12 -city area to determine the rental fees for field usage. Tom explained that the ballfield associations will have first priority for field reservations and when the fields are not in use they will be opened to the general public for reservations. Page 1 of 5 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Dec 5, 2013 TIM STALPES MOVED TO AUTHORIZE PUBLIC RENTAL OF THE CITY/XCEL BALLFIELD FACILITY COMMENCING IN 2014, AND TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 2014 BALLFIELD FEE SCHEDULE BY THE CITY COUNCIL. MOTION SECONDED BY NANCY MCCAFFREY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. C. Gun Club Signage: Tom Pawelk said that he has spoken with the Monticello Rod & Gun Club about signage at the Great River Trailhead Facility. The club has agreed to meet as a board and discuss purchasing the additional signage. D. Mountain Bike Article: Nancy McCaffrey shared an article published in the StarTribune on October 22, 2013. The article is about the growth of the Minnesota High School Cycling League which is in its second year and currently consists of 26 teams from throughout the metro area but also from as far away as the Iron Range. The league is organized around mountain bike racing and has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional fall sports. Tom Pawelk indicated there is a high use of mountain biking in this community and Nancy noted that Monticello would be on the front end of this growing sport if a course is established on the Monte Club Hill. The article will be emailed to all Parks Commission members. E. YMCA /Bertram Park Plan: Angela Schumann distributed the First Addendum to the Operating Agreement for YMCA Camp Manitou. Angela explained that the City and County have approved the Ground Lease with the YMCA and the 4th Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Operating Agreement with the YMCA. The approved Ground Lease and 4th Addendum to the MOU establish the parameters of the YMCA Summer Youth Day Camp with operation during summer months between the hours of 8am -5pm. The first addendum being presented will allow the YMCA to operate outside of the operating hours and will be included as an exhibit to the Ground Lease and the 4th Addendum to the MOU if approved. With the $1 million+ the YMCA is spending on the capital improvements, they are requesting to expand beyond the base day camp and open the improvements to the general public and YMCA members after hours and on weekends. 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. From a staff standpoint this is mutually beneficial to all parties involved and will aid in the continuation of maintaining a good working relationship between the parties. The assets listed will be considered "existing" and are part of the initial development described in the Ground Lease. The use of the Regional Park by the YMCA will include: • Adventure Course — Ropes Course, Zip Line, Climbing Tower • Aquatics Area — Waterslide, Pool, Splash Pad • Rainy Day Shelter /Activity Building • Program Supplies: Canoes, Kayaks, Paddle Boards, Cross Country Skis, Snowshoes Page 2 of 5 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Dec 5, 2013 • Play Field • Amphitheater • Arts & Crafts Pavilion • Nature Pavilion • Trailhead Building • One Night /Week Parents Night JACK GREGOR MOVED TO APPROVE THE FIRST ADDENDUM TO THE OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR THE YMCA CAMP MANITOU TO BE INCLUDED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE APPROVED GROUND LEASE AND 4TH ADDENDUM TO THE MOU WITH THE YMCA CAMP MANITOU AT BERTRAM CHAIN OF LAKES REGIONAL PARK. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 4. Citizens requests and comments. • Thank you from Lions Brewfest Committee: Tom Pawelk said the Monticello 2nd Annual Brewfest was very well attended and next year the Lions are anticipating a 15% increase in attendance. Both East and West Bridge Parks may be used for next year's event. 5. Renewing 3 -year Parks Commission Terms. • Jack Gregor NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO RECOMMEND JACK GREGOR SERVE ON THE PARKS COMMISSION FOR ANOTHER 3 -YEAR TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 2016. MOTION SECONDED BY LARRY NOLAN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. • Tim Stalpes NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO RECOMMEND TIM STALPES SERVE ON THE PARKS COMMISSION FOR ANOTHER 3 -YEAR TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 2016. MOTION SECONDED BY LARRY NOLAN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. 6. Review recreational information from IMBA for the development of Monte Hill. Tom Pawelk stated that he has been in contact with two individuals from the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). They have discussed the possibility of a mountain bike challenge course at the Monte Club Hill and how that may be implemented and designed. Tom said that IMBA will be providing him with a packet of information for review. Tom explained that the Minnesota Off Road Cyclists (MORC) operate under the IMBA. MORC volunteers have Page 3 of 5 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES I Dec 5, 2013 been establishing the single track trails at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park. Tom said that they are doing great work and encouraged the Parks Commission members to check out the trails at Bertram. Tom said that they could work with MORC to put together a team leadership committee for helping develop the trails. Tom is going to look into the article on the Minnesota High School Cycling League and see if they are affiliated with MORC. Tom stated that with the two bike shops in town, they could work with the school district to spearhead a high school cycling league in Monticello. Tom will gather the information and bring back to the next Parks Commission meeting for review prior to the joint Parks/Planning Commission meeting in February. 7. Discussion of disc golf course — an Eagle Scout project located at Bertram. With the previous discussions of possibly implementing a disc golf course at the Monte Club Hill, Tom Pawelk said that he wanted to inform the commission that and Eagle Scout has presented the idea of implementing a disc golf course at the Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park in the active recreation area. At this time the BCOL Advisory Council has approved the initial research of the project and has asked Marc Mattice from Wright County to work with the Eagle Scout in designing a possible course and where it may be located within the park. Parks Commission members agreed that if the disc golf is implemented at Bertram then it would not be necessary to have an additional course at the Monte Club Hill. Also, after Tom's research on the number of disc golf courses within a 30 -mile radius, it is looking like this option may not be beneficial at that site. Tom explained that one amenity at the Monte Club Hill should be selected as both (disc golf and mountain biking) would not be feasible in the scope of the site. Parks Commission will await the decision of the BCOL Advisory Council on whether or not they will approve a disc golf course at the park before they make their final decision on the development at the Monte Club Hill. 8. Friends of Bertram looking for core group members to plan events at BCOL. Angela Schumann explained that the Friends started as a sub - committee of the BCOL Advisory Council as a citizen led grass roots support effort. They currently operate under the MN Parks & Trails Council and they act as the fiduciary agent for the Friends. Over the last few years they've had members move away and take other positions so the group is down to about four really active members of the core group that help plan events. Angela said they have had a significant amount of monetary contributions to the organization and it would be great to have more ideas involved in how to utilize the money. She explained that the Friends will meet on a quarterly basis with their next meeting in January, at which time they will elect officers. They will plan an event each quarter beginning with a snow sculpting event this winter, a cleanup day in the spring, moonlight hike and campfire in the summer and a memorial walk/run and Halloween event in the fall. Jack Gregor expressed interested in joining the Friends group and said that he knows of a teacher who wants to become more Page 4 of 5 PARKS COMMISSION MINUTES 1 Dec 5, 2013 involved in the community so he will contact to him as well. Further information regarding the Friends will be emailed to Parks Commission members. 9. City of Monticello sign renovation project update. Tom Pawelk informed the commission that all of the Welcome to Monticello signs have been removed and the Parks Department is currently working on refurbishing the signs with the new city logo. The refurbishment of the signs should be completed in the next few months. 10. Discussion of Final 2014 Parks Budget and protects. Tom Pawelk distributed the proposed budget which will be brought to the City Council for approval on December 9, 2013. Tom reviewed the budget line items with the Parks Commission. Highlighted projects for 2014 include a complete rehab on the entire play area at River Mill Park and the development of the Monte Club Hill. The proposed budget increase from 2013 to 2014 is 1.48 %. No additional staff members will be added and the number of summer /seasonal employees will remain the same as last year. 11. Next meeting scheduled for January 23, 2014. The next regular Parks Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2014, at 9:15 a.m. in the Public Works Conference Room. 12. Adjourn. NANCY MCCAFFREY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AT 10:30 A.M. MOTION SECONDED BY TIM STALPES. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4 -0. RECORDED BY: cqeth C�rem DATE APPROVED: February 26, 2014 ATTEST: Page 5 of 5