HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2021_11_01Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Minutes
Monday, November 1, 2021 5:30 PM
Call to Order
Erika Saunders called meeting to order at 5:28 PM. Present: Steve Berseth, Doug Smith, John Maynes, Erika
Saunders, Ashley Ragsdale, Jay Larsen, & Andrea Hogie; & City Staff Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Greg Redenius, Stacy
Claussen, Darren Hoff, & Ronda May. Not present: Board Members Isaac Schulte & Carson Cody and City Mgr
Paul Briseno.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Steve Berseth, seconded by Andrea Hogie; motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve Aug 17, 2021 Special Meeting minutes by Doug Smith, seconded by John Maynes; motion carried.
Oct minutes correction - Pg 2, 2nd paragraph, 4th line down, … do we concrete THE (add) floor. Motion to approve
revised minutes October 4, 2021 Meeting minutes by Jay Larsen, seconded by Doug Smith; motion carried.
Staff Highlights
Dusty: DNP had fish stocking on E pond w/rainbow trout & people taking advantage of it. Discovery Trail work –
natural surface trail constructed by volunteers done for this season – from W parking lot, along tree line perimeter,
to E parking lot. This would be most labor intensive section. John–what group? Dusty–some staff & mountain
biking club as have experience building trails. John–how did they handle the surface? Dusty–some used our mini
excavator & mtn biker has tractor that has soil conditioner that they also used. John–very impressive. Office staff
had winter programming meeting last week – disc golf putting league after 1st of year, corn hole tourney in
cooperation w/Swiftel, and mini golf in Holding Barn & offered same time as Open Skate. Trying to get contact of
someone w/remote controlled cars, electric only, to possibly have a couple of dates for this also.
Greg: took golf ball off the building and staff removed the sides & screens off gazebo.
Old Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted
A. Park & Rec Board’s Mayor’s Award Update: through email responses doing individual award to Dr Matt Bien
& group organization to Prairie Striders Running Club. Ronda brought up award verbage. Need a volunteer
to read this info at the ceremony. Doug Smith volunteered. Dusty thanked everyone to contribute.
B. Parks Master Plan Update: Last Tues night, Council formally adopted the Parks Master Plan.
C. Pickleball Update: Dusty had 3 pickleball players visit him – Deb, Teresa, & Mary. Tentatively have plan in
place for moving forward … 1. Put add’l pickleball courts in 5th St Gym for this winter season. 2. At Hillcrest,
we proposed putting 2 pickleball courts/tennis court on the 5 tennis courts on W side which will give them
10 outdoor courts. They were thrilled & helps achieve some of their goals. 3. Next cycle of Land & Water
Conservation Grant, we’ll be preparing an app for 6-8 court standalone pickleball complex. Jay–any formal
group like Prairie Striders? Dusty alluded to this during their conversation as they’re hoping to bring in
tourneys, etc. so hoping they’ll get an organization going. Steve asked if we’d still be facilitators? Jay said
there’s a formal way of going through the State & would be nice to say we have something organized here.
Dusty’s anticipating something will happen. Steve said they gave a good presentation. Darren said that he’s
on the SDPRA Board & it’s on agenda this year to create a pickleball type calendar of events.
D. Joint Use Agreement Update: Had meeting about 2.5 hrs ago w/Mike Jewitt, Brian Lueders, & Dr Willert
w/Dusty & Paul. Primarily talked about 5th St & what BSD’s intentions are for that facility. No answer but
assured to have answer by end of week. Whether they keep & invest in it or elect to have City have it – valid
reasons on both sides. Either way we’ll look at upgrades to Holding Barn & still have access to 5th St if they
don’t turn it over to City. Can offer alternate programming besides just sports, other forms of recreation.
Still look at adding court space w/portable type of floor as Swiftel still have need for this space as well so
joint use space w/us & Swiftel. John–what uses does BSD have currently? Dusty–sports practices after
school for both MMS & BHS and fall-back venue for poor weather FB practices. Doug–they probably don’t
use it a lot do they? If goes to City, BSD could still use it? Yes. Steve asked when BSD uses it? Dusty said
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Mike said 2–6 PM. Doug–how about Bob Shelden’s/BHS track bleacher section? Dusty said City will probably
turn it over to BSD. Jay–said high school softball coming in as sports sanctioned sport so will BSD invest in
that again? Dusty said they’re planning on using Southside & really won’t change what we’re doing. Steve–
their intention might be to use Southside but last 20 years the largest number of suits for gender inequality
is w/fastpitch being off-campus & baseball on-campus. Initial intent was to build where District wanted
track stuff but maybe the W side of teener field? Most likely look at cost to invest in Holding Barn.
New Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted
A. Review of October Bike Comm Meeting: Bike Comm had their last meeting in Oct & Dusty wanted group
together to meet Charlie Richter, City Eng, as he’s been with us 3 mths & Dusty wanted him to hear their
concerns. Comm still together but now is sub-comm of this Board w/Steve liaison from Board. Steve said
they used to meet monthly–yes, Dusty said but lack of quorum stopped that. Steve said he’ll continue but
not part of bike community so willing to give it up. Jay’s interested so will talk to Dusty/Steve later. On 6th
St–expanded bike trail from residence halls to downtown w/new sidewalk on N side of 6th St as joint bike
route. Anymore news? Mike Lockrem’s priority is trails for transportation instead of rec trails. Sidewalk
did get built on N side of 6th but no signage. Jay thinks good but maybe put some signage up? Dusty will
bring to Bike Comm at next mtg. At last Council mtg, change in ordinance so became sub-comm last week.
B. Department Action Plan Discussion: Ronda displayed Current/Ongoing Strategy Area Efforts & Dusty went
through it. Prairie Hills is funded, not done yet as is Discovery Trail so making strides. Next year we should
be adding Wi-Fi into Pioneer, Larson, & Hillcrest Parks. New playgrounds will probably get changed to only
1/year. Jay–3.1 will we change that to corporate games? John asked about golf being 100% cost-who
decided this? Dusty said recommendation from them & himself. John would like this to be discussed w/this
Board. Dusty has started already–goal is not to use all of subsidy from Liquor Store, keep that & put in capital
reserve acct to use for cart paths, irrigation replacement. John asked when 100% cost recovery achieved?
Dusty said a lot of factors–it’s a goal. Steve said memberships have been up, length of season. Dusty said
cost recovery doesn’t include equipment as funded by gen fund. Dusty’s intention is if Course generates
enough rev outside of capital equipment that we get from gen fund, that’s a win & meets that criteria, even
w/Liquor Store subsidy. John said it doesn’t make sense to him when he contacted Aberdeen & Watertown,
neither wants to balance books w/out subsidizing. Dusty thought $100,000 by Liquor Store & $150,000 in
equipment. Ashley–want to create an investment acct for Course so that it grows & $$ is reinvested back
into Course.
Action Plan Priorities: Dusty thanked everyone for their vote. Then went through the list. Dusty said in order
to update pricing & partnership policies, need to do Cost Recovery & Cost of Service analysis as homework
to be done. Some of this can be done internally, & Dusty would like to have conversation w/Jay.
Top vote: Updated Pricing Policies/Partnership Policies
Next: Feasibility Study–Dusty thinks aquatics will drive an indoor rec center. A lot to be incorporated into
2023 CIP unless City Mgr/City Council wants to move faster. Doug–if start Foundation, would Parks Board
be facilitator? Dusty’s had conversations w/Kurt Osborne regarding a Foundation. Maybe go through the
community foundation & then channel into parks.
Next: Trail Development, Connected Trails, then the 3 votes, & possibly one of the cost tactics to complete
top 10 items.
Only 3 tactics didn’t get a vote. Ashley–want does Park & Rec Dept want to see? 1.1, 2.3, 3.2, 4.4 were all
fairly consistent. Stacy looking at it by how we’re going to fund things, & Darren looked at it as knocking off
what we’re already doing, showing it as advancement. Dusty’s first choice is 3.3 or 3.4 to get to 2.3. Do we
choose all the 7 to 3 votes & include 3.3/3.4 and couple some together? Erika sees 5-6 major activity headers.
Erika–bring back top 10 at next meeting. Dusty–yes & then within specify tactics? Yes. Erika asked if this
survey will help w/feasibility study? Definitely. Staff will reorganize this list & then bring back next month.
Steve appreciated asking for Board’s input but staff are the ‘pros’ & know what City Council/Mgr value.
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Greg–done 2 test wells at Course. First was not successful so 2nd spot went farther E indicated by orange
dot on printout–150’ away from pump house & only 22’ deep. Hoping to go deeper as pond depth when full is
11’ deep. Greg thinks might run out of water at 16’–if water level went down to 15’ in well, ponds would be
bone dry. Greg doesn’t know will ever happen but idea would be to run smaller pump there & if ponds did
go dry, hopefully have enough water for greens. Lacey Drilling said best place would be fence line by
Interstate but drawback would be figuring out where main line goes, electricity another drawback. Doug
asked if could put pump house over there if had electricity? Just recycling as aquifer. Al said could run line
& electricity like we did at Fishback. John–what have we spent so far in test wells? Greg hasn’t rcv’d bill
yet, guessing $700-800 so far. Erika–is this an insurance policy? Yes, need mainly for greens, 29 of them.
John’s preliminary thought is to drill over by Interstate to see what’s there. Greg–where orange dot is right
by tee box w/motor sticking out of ground. Al–how far to fence line? Prussman did Fishback’s & still shallow
enough to blow out. Greg said would be same at Course, need to be blown out. Tough thing is big pump
would still be pump house so well would have to communicate w/that. If look at moving well by Interstate,
pump house in horrible spot. Al-abandon that pump house? An idea but part of that coincides w/new
irrigation system as pick pump house location & then build out lines. Right now irrigation isn’t big enough to
tie in. John asked Greg what have coming out of pump house for main lines? It’s 25 hp is 4”, 75 hp is 6”, &
go into 10”, down to 8”, branches off that are 6” & 4”, majority is 2”-3” line. Fairway lines are 3”. John–aren’t
we long way out of replacing irrigation system? Yes. If did well at orange dot & use our pump & motor would
be 20 grand & they’d pull our 25 hp from pumphouse & sitting outside on Course.
Upcoming Programs & Events:
A. Mayor’s Holiday Party / Mayor’s Awards: Thursday, Dec 2, 2021 5–8 PM w/Awards Presentation from 6–7
PM @ Swiftel Center, Daktronics Room
B. December Meeting: Monday, Dec 6, 2021 at 5:30 PM
Adjournment:
John Maynes motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 PM, seconded by Doug Smith; motion carried.
Submitted,
Ronda A May
Ronda A May
City of Brookings Parks, Rec, & Forestry Office Manager