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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2021_10_04Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes Monday, October 4, 2021 5:30 PM Call to Order Steve Berseth called meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Present: Steve Berseth, Doug Smith, Erika Saunders (joined late), Ashley Ragsdale, Jay Larsen, & Carson Cody; & City Staff Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Greg Redenius, Stacy Claussen, Darren Hoff, & Ronda May. Twenty-eight pickleball guests and Addison DeHaven w/Brookings Register. Not present: Board Members Andrea Hogie, John Maynes, & Isaac Schulte and City Mgr Paul Briseno. Approval of Agenda Dusty would like to add New Business, Item E–Discovery Trail Development. Motion to approve revised agenda by Doug Smith, seconded by Jay Larsen; motion carried. Approval of Minutes Motion to approve minutes by Jay Larsen, seconded by Ashley Ragsdale; motion carried. Staff Highlights Dusty: Welcomed guests. Last week was Nat’l Rec & Parks Assn Conf w/Dusty attending virtually and Darren & Stacy live in Nashville. Virtual was challenge. Darren–not sure if even 1000 present. Darren represents SD Park & Rec so good networking place & talked w/different vendors–playground, pickleball, etc. Stacy–attended different sessions other than Darren or Dusty & thought sessions she went to were pretty good. A lot were virtual or in-person but had been to better conferences. With repeated vandalism, restrooms closed earlier & hope trend passes quickly otherwise post security cameras. Doug–expensive? Al quoted 3,000 dollars. Parking lot at Larson Park complete. Second round of budget hearings included CIP & have dollars set aside if 5th St Gym becomes available–especially replacing roof. Al: Started bathroom at softball complex, water meter dug in at new dog park, & started on trails–gravel at Hillcrest. Doug asked about irrigation project south of this bldg–cooperative project w/SDSU w/help through City’s drainage fund. We’re supplying some labor w/watering. Greg: Doug asked if we’ve done anything w/well? Was going to do well analysis last week but no show yet. Old Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted A. Bob Shelden Field Update: City’s Eng Dept in contact for drainage area. Art supposed to go in front won’t get completed until next spring due to supply chain issues w/contract extended until next May. B. Parks Master Plan Update: doing final presentation to City Council for study session Oct 19th. Dusty encouraged Board attend meeting. C. Dog Park Update: Shelter has been ordered & hope to complete next year. A guest mentioned bike trail bridges have sharp edge on them so would be nice if could be leveled off. Another guest mentioned tennis courts–backboards don’t have easy access to them so younger people climb fence & discourages young kids from participating. New Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted A. Pickleball Needs/Options: Dusty has met with some of the players & hopefully he’s demonstrated that he hasn’t forgotten about pickleball. This is included in Master Plan as 1 of fastest growing trends so hasn’t been lost. April 2022 is next cycle for Water & Land Grant w/last one contributing significant money. Our intention is to submit grant app next April. Deb Wolforth & Mary Steinmetz, two pickleball guests, spoke w/Deb first thanking for allowing on agenda. They’re asking for dedicated pickleball facility for indoor & outdoor. Pickleball is a combo of tennis, badminton, & ping pong. They need space & donor and understand $250,000 earmarked 3 years ago. Where is pickleball on priority list, where on our schedule, how much dollars necessary to qualify for grants, what is timeframe for grants? Does Board have any guidelines to suggest? Donations written to who, & how will they know get earmarked for pickleball? Deb found these cities had times, location mentioned on web: Aberdeen, Watertown, Miller, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Crooks, Deadwood, Hill City, Hot Springs, Madison, Mitchell, Tea, Yankton, & Custer. Deb requests Page 2 that we “take futuristic approach in consideration & assistance to build pickleball facility to bring your dreams & make them come true.” Mary–new senior & looked for senior facilities–have activities center but need recreational facility. Pickleball for all ages. Tennis court in Indian Hills was where Mary first saw pickleball & then found them at HC courts as grown in numbers. It’s a life skill & wonderful game. Mary has children in Mankato MN so brought their pamphlet. Thinks Brookings could use this to feed tennis program. Dusty said 6-8 courts would be 250-300,00 dollars. Asked if indoor/outdoor facility needs to be in same location? Dept still trying to figure out where to go for indoor space as we’re challenged. We have access now to 5th St Gym. Teresa McLagan mentioned easy access to gym & how anyone can get in. Dusty-do we concrete floor at Holding Barn & put more heat in there? As far as grant–could possibly do 6-8 court complex outside sooner than combined indoor/outdoor facility. Teresa asked if any outdoor spots picked out? Dusty yes–Pioneer Park on S side, old abandoned parking lot which could have trail going to restrooms. Thought about golf course but where? Guest asked if could take out some trees by trail? Possibly but area carries quite a bit of drainage. Dusty’s other thought is Larson Park–we have outdoor ice which is on radio station property, & as we already have outdoor ice rink there not sure if pickleball space wouldn’t be compatible. Guest mentioned how windy it is at this location. Doug–possible to build indoor/outdoor facility that has garage doors? Anything possible. Guest asked if School Dist bus garage going to be empty on 8th St S? No one knew answer. Steve–not sure wind as much a factor in tennis & could use fencing w/screens. A social area would be nice, too. Pioneer would lend itself well to that request. Dusty wanted group to know pickleball is ever present. Guest–what is potential for evening pickleball for working people? Thinks some interest for evening/weekend play in winter. Darren–we utilize 5th St Gym & have VB league Sun–Tues evenings and rental times Wed & Thurs evening & Sun afternoons. Dusty wondered about Outdoor Adv Center? Someone asked about S Main soccer property? We want to continue conversations w/intention of April grant round submitting application. Guest asked if awarded, when built? Another year probably. Doug suggested attending Council Meeting. Jay mentioned he sees 4 courts going commonly & asked if $250,000 is enough for funding? He said typically takes private money to start & then matched by public funds so important to find private funding source. Spearfish built for $250,000 w/6 courts. Steve said City wide bond elections don’t fare well in Brookings & only 2 since he’s been in Brookings. Doug asked how Watertown’s doing new ice arena? Dusty thought private funding & then turn over to City. Doug thought taxing? Dusty thanked each person for coming & asked for suggestions. B. BISA Request for Naming Rights of Blue Rink: In Aug, BISA submitted request for renaming red rink & have another donor for blue rink for 10 yrs. Jay Larsen motioned to rename blue rink w/approval from City Council. Steve asked if same amount of donation? Yes. Steve Berseth seconded; motion carried. C. Intro of Park & Rec Action Plan: Dusty referenced handout & said will be Dept’s working doc. Came from user group input & analysis as way to move forward to being more sustainable w/goals, tactics, etc. Intention is to utilize Plan as move forward. Nothing set in-stone but is working doc so can be revised financially, time lines for community, etc. Dusty just introducing it, hard copy provided, & asking if everyone could please review it & give top 10 things each thinks we should work on ASAP. Then have discussion w/everyone after each submits their 10 choices week before next meeting. Hope to have consensus at end of next meeting as need help to prioritize. As staff, we’ll probably check on this quarterly. Jay needs help to define top 10 … Dusty said let’s do top 5 strategies & then related tactics that go along w/them. D. Review of City/School Joint Use: Dusty had spreadsheet he did & displayed it. We have Joint Use Agreement w/School Dist but outdated, thought 2009. We sat down w/Mike Jewett about month ago & found many changes. The doc was shared w/Mike & he provided some numbers, etc. Dusty then went through the doc area-by-area during meeting. We’re taking care of playground inspections now of all schools’ playgrounds. Erika asked if have documentation? Yes, & Dusty said should be inspected once/month. Steve asked if Dusty thinks we have good checklist on sports facilities or we looking for a checklist for any indoor/outdoor facility? Dusty said only playground inspection & has its own form. Erika asked how much does all the school mowing add up to? Dusty hasn’t calculated it. Jay asked Steve if he developed it? Steve thought it started w/Bob Page 3 Shelden complex & then expanded into school buildings in the winter due to lack of Park & Rec space. Doug asked if SDSU pays +/-$3900 for Fishback? Yes. Doug feels District getting good deal & thinks they should let City use more gym space. Doug expressed great frustration of lack of indoor rec space available. Dusty reiterated we’re doing the best we can with the limited facilities available. E. Discovery Trail Development: one of top requests is natural trails & have opportunity at Nature Park. Bike trails have been taken care of very well. Chris Engbrecht (forestry staff) & Dusty met last week to look at possible new trails, partially paved–yellow on the handout Dusty provided. Yellow are new trails & red are foot traffic only. New trail work getting done w/volunteer labor as Kurt Kabris & Chris working on these this past Sunday. Good use for cross country skiing. Whole loop is about 2 mi around outside. Erika asked if compatible w/birders? Yes, now they’ll have that experience of walking through the tree lines. Upcoming Programs & Events: A. Harmony Park Opening: Oct 6 at 5 PM at Larson Park – funded by Arts Council & Rotary B. Final Master Plan Presentation: Oct 19 at 5 PM – City Council Study Session C. Nov. Meeting: Mon, Nov 1st (not December as on agenda) Adjournment: Doug Smith motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 PM, seconded by Jay Larsen; motion carried. Submitted, Ronda A May Ronda A May City of Brookings Parks, Rec, & Forestry Office Manager