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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2021_03_01Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes Monday, March 1, 2021 5:30 PM Call to Order Steve called GoTo meeting to order at 5:33 PM. Verbal Roll Call - present: Steve Berseth, Andrea Hogie, John Maynes, Carson Cody, Doug Smith, Jay Larsen, Erika Saunders, Isaac Schulte, Ashley Ragsdale; & City Staff Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Stacy Claussen, Darren Hoff, & Ronda May; & guest Aaron Jorenby. Not present: City Staff Greg Redenius & City Mgr Paul Briseno. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve agenda by Doug Smith, seconded by John Maynes; motion carried. Approval of Minutes Motion to approve minutes by Doug Smith, seconded by Andrea Hogie; motion carried. Ashley Ragsdale introduced herself. Staff Highlights Dusty: referenced sent highlights. A few other things: community gardens seem to be doing well again this year w/nearly every day citizens reserving plots. Last year was a record year w/out flooding! Under Forestry – last week interviewed 3 candidates in-person to fill forestry tech. Extending position to Reid Peterson who has lots of hands-on experience, will learn the forestry side, & has a great work ethic. Edgebrook – both Greg & Nick are at a supt’s conf part of this week. Membership sales started first part of Feb & compared to last year to date we’re approximately ahead $14,000 in membership sales. Old Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted A. Bob Shelden Field Update: Originally were going to do architectural punch list tomorrow but w/snow pushed off to next week. Will do add’l punch lists as weather breaks a little more & thinking about planning a ribbon cutting sometime in the spring. Doug asked when art project would be done? Dusty thought in August – possibly 2 ribbon cuttings, one for the project & another for art project. B. Parks Master Plan Update: General survey should go out some time next week. Wanted to do the mail survey a couple of weeks before sending out the general survey. Dusty sent out a park matrix this morning – Interstate Lake & Central Park don’t belong on matrix. More in-depth inventory sheet for the major parks (maintenance requests on specific areas, some areas identified for improvements, etc). If you see anything on that attachment, please reach out to Dusty. Sent out requests for benchmark for info to 6 communities, received from 4 – Aberdeen, Laramie WY, Hayes KS, & Kearney NE. Hoping to get yet from Watertown & Winona MN. Meeting w/consultants w/park staff sometime in Apr to discuss operations, etc. Survey should be open for several weeks. C. Boys & Girls Club – Gym Access: Dusty said Darren has reached out a few diff times. He’s waiting to hear back from Chelsey & Lindsey from Club to meet. Might be moot point for this season but will certainly explore for next year. D. Bob Shelden Fees: Jay brought up question on this last month & Dusty said he’d look back on it. Found we were going to discuss in Oct 2020 meeting but didn’t have meeting due to lack of quorum. Darren found some charging college games $250/game, amateur baseball 100 dollars. From Briar Cliff College call last week – $650 for double header for college team & Brandon also charges same rate. So $325/game. John wondered if SDSU will want to use Bob Shelden? Darren hasn’t taken any calls but feels once field is fully operational, won’t be shocked if we get calls from SDSU. Amateur baseball fee comparable to Mitchell’s fees when Dusty was there. Jay asked if we’d be charging for practice? Dusty is interested in Board’s thoughts. Doug asked who does scheduling? Darren. Doug asked if local baseball association would have priority? Darren has gotten ages 13-14 & Legion games & practice schedules. Cubs works closely w/FOB. Ryan has penciled all the potential home dates for the Cubs. Dusty asking would we want to charge adult baseball a minimal practice fee to utilize the fields? Doug thinks a good idea – puts wear & tear on field. Erika – do we charge for practices at our other locations? Dusty said it’s sometimes hard to compare but most of our adult use is charged in some fashion. Adult hockey, Fishback Soccer Complex, adult softball at Southbrook Complex all get charged. Do we go to user fee for them? Softball group in particular has been very generous in their donations to our facility. Could set a minimum donation amount instead of user fee – Page 2 Softball group paid 2014 light pole replacement & utilities-$14,000, 2017 right around 16,000 dollars. Erika suggested making a policy so groups can see our fees. Steve asked if costs included infield preparations as now will be considerably less. Yes, & not as much every day prep for in the infield w/turf but still prep machine to sweep the field on a regular basis, no lining/chalking. Maybe a practice fee of $25-$35/practice? Nominal but consistent as charging other adult facilities such as golf course. We want to keep fee reasonable. Jay – what happens with tourneys? Dusty said tourney fees same as field use w/per game rate. If larger tourney requiring more staff to do prep in-between fields, would have maint fee of $150/person if organization requires staff to be on-site. This would be on case-by-case basis dependent upon number of staff. Jay looked at the FOB’s tourneys & most listed are 9–14 year olds. Jay said all teams are using Bob Shelden w/adaptable mound, & Dusty said we requested base anchor path so majority of age brackets could play on field. John – punch list getting moved to later – turf & sod coming through the winter season. How can we evaluate that in March? We’re not, only architectural – structures, built type features – fences, dugouts, parking lots, grandstand. Guest Aaron Jorenby: has concerns/conflicts being discussed with this not being finalized & budget already in place. Cubs rely on donations & team dues. Last year was huge because of COVID & think it isn’t going to be great again this year. They spend dollars on beer licenses & pay the 11% to the City, $50/day. They set budget in Oct 2020 & didn’t hear a thing on field or practice costs. They buy their own gear, supplemental insurance, umps, & not in it to make money. Not a City league, organize everything themselves & planning on hosting a tourney this summer between Bob Shelden & Aurora, good chance State tourney here in August. Cubs would be only adult team using field from Brookings. Can’t do sponsorships yet as waiting upon FOB. If this Board & City Council are going to be adamant that Cubs pay fees, Aaron has problem with this. Dusty said they did visit back in Oct & discussed the $100/game fee. Practice fee concern is fair, & we could wait to implement this fee until next year. Aaron said looking at 21-22 home games this year. Aaron would request that if City wants to charge Cubs, please defer to 2022 as he didn’t work into their budget as nothing was laid out officially. Dusty said there are fee schedule adjustments 4x/year. Aaron saw last month’s fee schedule in Council Minutes & didn’t see this mentioned. Dusty said it didn’t get included & yet at same time Aaron didn’t include in this year’s budget planning. Doug asked if Cubs paid last year to play last year? No, paid 3 bags of agrilime to Aurora. Doug thinks Cubs should pay something. Aaron said they could & would need to charge players more but doesn’t want it to be a lot. John asked how Cubs played in the past? Aaron said no fees in past. Doug asked what is fair? Eighteen days access to field & lump total & if go past those days then per game fee. Steve asked if Aaron & Dusty could visit some more & then add to agenda for April? Agreeable to Aaron & Dusty both. New Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted A. Election of Officers: Steve Berseth nominated Erika Saunders for chairperson, John Maynes seconded. Move to accept Erika in unanimous ballot by Jay Larsen, seconded by Doug Smith; motion carried. Vice Chair: Doug Smith nominates Steve Berseth, John Maynes seconded; motion carried. B. Trail Project Options for Grant: Dusty wanted to bring everyone up to speed – last week had Bike Comm meeting with option selected & Dusty sent aerial photo attachment today. Extension of bike trail on S end of soccer complex, continuing W, alongside pond designed for Prairie Hills Dev. Submit rec trails grant to develop this portion of trail & consistent w/Bike Master Plan. Had City Council Retreat last week & appears that Council moving forward that Bike Comm become subcommittee of Park & Rec Board. Dusty believes that Comm will stay together but have meetings that don’t necessarily require public agenda or minutes & act as working group. Steve is liason to Bike Comm. John asked if bike path goes all way around? No, may at some point in time but will link into the development & continue that W to create other trail connections. What is estimate on costs? Dusty working w/Engineering, & Rec Trails Grant app is 80% grant & 20% City funds. Dusty asked to carry over some funds from last year to have matching funds in place. Still need to apply & deadline is Apr 15th. Working to acquire easements in that area. Erika – if we don’t get grant, then something for future? Dusty said we didn’t spend a lot of funds last year so Dusty asked to carry over trails assets funds. Sidewalk/trail in Moriarty that goes around park but doesn’t connect to turf on other side. If get grant, go forward with it but if not use some trail monies to create gravel path to create base. Page 3 C. Tree Program Draft Review: Our hope for this spring we’re going to launch Brookings Urban Forestry Initiative. This year, strictly City funded unless get add’l donations. Last year funds from 1st Bank for trees along 6th St. Working with another donor for tree program. Encourage residents to plant trees in yards as well as blvds. Rebate program to plant trees. Brookings identified by our nice trees so credit to our forestry division, & residents care about trees so created program. John asked how much in this year’s budget? Approx $10,000 for decent amt of trees so good pilot year. Erika asked how many years going on? Depends on donations – hoping for at least 10 years. Jay – minimal size, seedlings? John referred back to the attachment - #2. Doug asked would fruit trees be possible for future? Yes, but only in yards & Dusty thought included – pear, mulberry, fruit/nut trees in yards. John – who has responsibility for trees in blvds after planted? Our intention is landowner would take ownership of their tree. Some corrective pruning we’d assist with but initial care would be landowner provided through establishment. John’s thought is this is a change in policy & public needs to be aware of it. Dusty anticipates most would be planted in yards – blvd planting we approve location & then we’d have this discussion. Will change requirement of 2 trees/year. We would ask them to take care of tree through establishment. Will change to SD One Call, too. Erika asked when we’re hoping to roll this out? Dusty needs to get w/Chelsie for website & hope to present this at a March City Council study session, yet this spring. Ashley asked if we’re going to have a list of possible people plant the trees? Local nurseries would be local resource. Right now we purchase a lot of trees, & we get a good price when buy in bulk but that money doesn’t stay in town. At least a good portion w/this would stay, & if going to local nursery, then those folks could be paid to plant the tree. John asked if Norm’s considered local? Yes. D. Recreation Brochure: Putting together & this year we’re putting out a Spanish version w/basic info & other part is our intention to move forward w/full programming. Darren – will come out a little later w/registration 2 weeks later but gives advertisers & us more time to button up things. Spanish version is hoped to be translated as close as possible but coming through Human Rights Comm & extra costs coming from City. Two front covers–one in English, other in Spanish. Thirty eight pages last year w/27 translated w/out advertising so going to be a bigger brochure instead of running a separate run for Spanish & 8000 copies total which is what we’ve done in the past. Dusty said as far as programming – Nature Park programming, tball hopefully, hoping swimming lessons at both HC & BHS pool (waiting for BHS confirmation), Safety Town, tennis, soccer, 1st Tee a little different w/reg going through State instead of our local, horsemanship still deciding as SDSU, and library & Arts Council still going. Include tree program, 3-on-3 BB so some changes. Steve looked at parks attachment & in 2020, US avg was 1 park for about 2000 people. so we should have 10 parks instead of 29 parks. Steve thinks we’d be doing very well in avg numbers of acres compared to other cities. Dusty said yes, correct, & some of this will be in Parks Master Plan. We’re roughly twice the # of acres that many other communities our size are so that is a testament to the park system in Brookings. Good press, Steve said! Upcoming Programs & Events: A. April Meeting Date: Apr 5, 2021 B. Dusty would like to ask the Board what is thought of social distancing & meeting in Room 300 for April meeting? John agrees, Steve said we could push chairs back to perimeter of room & wear masks. Dusty thinks we’ll schedule the room but have a GoTo meeting option if anyone’s not comfortable attending in- person. Adjournment: Steve adjourned the meeting at 6:46 PM. Submitted, Ronda A May Ronda A May, Park & Rec Office Manager