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Home My WebLink About2022-10-24 PRC Packet Stillwater Parks and Recreation Commission meetings are streamed live on the city website and available to view on Channel 16. Public can participate in the meeting by attending in person at City Hall, logging in online at zoomgov.com/join or by calling 1-646- 828-7666 and enter the meeting ID number: 161 250 2450 AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION October 24, 2022 @ 7 PM I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. September 26, 2022 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes IV. OPEN FORUM – the open forum allows the public to address the commission on subjects which are not a part of the meeting. Commission may take action, reply, or give direction to staff. Please limit your comments to 5 minutes or less. V. NEW BUSINESS 2. Introductions of New Commission Members VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VII. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Staff Updates a. Project Updates (no packet materials) b. Events Update (no packet materials) c. Capital Improvement Plan Update (no packet materials) 4. Commission Member Updates (no packet materials) VIII. ADJOURN Next Meeting: November 28, 2022 at 7 p.m. 216 4th Street N, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-430-8800 www.ci.stillwater.mn.us PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES September 26, 2022 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairwoman Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chair Johnson, Commissioners Christensen, Macswain, Quie, Souter, Councilmember Polehna Absent: Commissioner Weidner Staff: Parks Superintendent Grode, Public Works Director Sanders APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of August 22, 2022 meeting Motion by Commissioner Quie, seconded by Commissioner Macswain, to approve the minutes of the August 22, 2022 meeting. All in favor. OPEN FORUM Louise Watson, 927 Northland Ave., reported on a successful event at Lily Lake Park involving planting fruit shrubs, removing buckthorn, and maintaining raingardens. Regarding the agenda item on possibly eliminating the ice rink at Bergmann Park, perhaps the City should not prepare that rink if it’s not highly used. Allison McGinnis, 415 Willard St., reiterated that the Lily Lake Park event was very successful. It was done through a $1,000 grant from Tropical Wings. They hope to continue working with this organization in the future. Councilmember Polehna said that two weeks ago, the Rotary cleared buckthorn at Bridgeview Park. He noted the passing of long time Parks Commissioner Linda Amrein. NEW BUSINESS Bergmann Park Iceskating Rink Parks Superintendent Grode explained that parks staff has noticed little to no use of the skating rink at Bergmann Park in the last few years. Creating a rink there each year involves hauling in soil, then hauling it out and reseeding in the spring. The berm created for the rink can affect irrigation and quality of the soccer field. A new irrigation system was recently completed, plus this park has no lighting. Due to lack of use and cost to prepare the ice rink, staff recommends eliminating the rink at Bergmann Park this winter to focus on improving the other rinks. Public Works Director Sanders added that the neighborhood seems to have few young families and the City has gotten calls from residents asking why the rink is there because it’s not used. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting September 26, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Souter remarked there are still a lot of good alternatives for outdoor ice, for instance Lily Lake which is a more central, more visible location. Commissioner Christensen asked if staff has talked to the homeowners association, and Mr. Grode replied no. Commissioner Christensen said the rink was located at Bergmann Park because the Legends Homeowner Association wanted it there. Commissioner Macswain asked about the cost savings. Mr. Grode replied that staff usually clears ice and floods rinks 3-4 times per week throughout the winter. That time could be directed instead to snow removal or other skating rinks. Motion by Chair Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Souter, that the City stop maintenance of the iceskating rink at Bergmann Park and instead focus on improving other iceskating rinks this winter. All in favor. UNFINISHED BUSINESS There was no unfinished business. DISCUSSION ITEMS Staff Updates Public Works Director Sanders stated that last spring the City Council directed staff to work with Professional Skateboarder Nicole Hause, after she approached the City about the need for a skateboard park. Ms. Hause and Mr. Sanders looked at 10-12 possible sites, narrowing down to three: Northland Park across from the pickleball courts (about 35,000 square feet); Benson Park on Orleans Drive (about 15,000 square feet); and the Shoddy Mill site downtown (too small at less than 5,000 square feet) with no parking. Paving the Northland site would cost $70,000 (asphalt) or $120,000 (concrete), so maybe in the spring, summer and fall, the City could place apparatus for skateboarders to use temporarily until something else is done. The City Council has not taken action yet. Councilmember Polehna remarked that other Councilmembers voiced to him a preference for the Jaycee ballfields. Commissioner Souter asked if the current skatepark next to the Rec Center can be revamped. Mr. Sanders replied if the curling center project moves forward, the existing skateboard park would go away. The skateboard park was put in over 20 yrs ago and is not popular - concrete is a better surface than asphalt. Commissioner Souter asked if there would be impervious surface restrictions at the Shoddy Mill site, and Mr. Sanders replied there would probably be some questions raised about that use for the area. Additionally, in spring it gets really wet and floods. It also has archaeological ruins, creating more restrictions. Chair Johnson remarked the Northland location has the most traffic and would probably get the most use. Commissioner Christensen said he doesn’t like the idea of removing habitat to do it at Northland. He was reminded of the 5-year hunt for a dog park location which ended up at the Jaycee fields, satisfying all. He feels there would be less neighborhood resistance with the Jaycee ballfield. Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting September 26, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Mr. Sanders stated the Jaycee ballfields was formerly a dump, so the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has restrictions and covenants. Some remediation would be required if a project involves digging. He could bring Ms. Hause there to take a look. Mr. Grode updated the Commission on the following: fences at the tennis courts at Settler’s Park are being repaired; this weekend is the Rivertown Fall Art Festival and next weekend is Harvest Fest; staff has been painting in the parks. Councilmember Polehna reported the flagpole in South Lowell Park was painted last week through a $5,500 grant from Stillwater Lions Club. Mr. Sanders stated that this Friday, Friends of Lily Lake is having a celebration for the delisting of Lily Lake from the impaired waters list. Commission Member Updates Commissioner Macswain asked if changes will be made at the old athletic field this year, and Mr. Grode replied that the sandy soil makes it difficult to get good thick ice in the winter, so one option would be to remove and amend the sand with soil or gravel. The City would have to get school district feedback. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Souter, seconded by Commissioner Macswain, to adjourn. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. ___________________________________________ Pam Johnson, Chair ATTEST: ________________________________________________ Jason Grode, Parks Superintendent DATE: October 24, 2022 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Jason Grode, Parks Superintendent SUBJECT: Introductions of New Parks and Recreation Commissioners With the recent resignations of Commissioners Brandt and Weidner, the Parks and Recreation Commission has 2 new members. Welcome to Commissioner Kristi Larson and Commissioner Megan Lehmann. Below is the current Parks and Recreation Commission: 1. Scott Christenson (5th Term): May 01, 2021 – May 01, 2024 2. Pamela Johnson, Chair (2nd Term): May 01, 2022 – May 01, 2025 3. Kristi Larson (Partial Term): October 18, 2022 – May 01, 2023 4. Megan Lehmann (Partial Term): October 18, 2022 – May 01, 2024 5. Dan MacSwain (1st Term): May 01, 2021 – May 01, 2024 6. Paul Quie (1st Term): May 01, 2022 – May 01, 2025 7. Stephanie Souter, Vice Chair (1st Term): May 01, 2020 – May 01, 2023 Mike Polehna, Ward 4 Councilmember, City Council Representative Jason Grode, Park Superintendent, City Staff Representative