HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2022_06_06Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Notes
Monday, June 6, 2022 5:30 PM
Call to Order
Chairperson Erika Saunders called meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Present: Andrea Hogie, Steve Berseth, Doug Smith, Jay
Larsen, Erika Saunders, Isaac Schulte, Lindsay Borer, and City Staff: Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Greg Redenius, Stacy Claussen,
Darren Hoff, & Cameron Harms (PRF Office Assistant). Absent: Ashley Ragsdale, John Maynes, and PRF Office Mgr Ronda
May. Guest: Mondell Kack w/Brookings Register and Matt Rustman w/Wooden Legs.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda by Doug Smith, Andrea Hogie seconded; motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Jay Larsen motioned to approve the minutes, Doug Smith seconded; motion carried.
Staff Highlights
Al–storm clean up: been through city once. Forestry taking down dangerous tree hangers. Have about 3 wks left to find
damaged & dangerous trees. Next week will be delayed w/last curb tree/branches pick-up occurring (10 hr days to get
done). Tree planting might not get done till fall. Still a lot of stumps to dig out in blvd & parks. Pioneer Park mostly finished
due to Arts Festival & other activities.
Stacy–Pool has opened & only been closed 1 day w/couple of days closing early due to temps/attendance. Programs start
this wk. All new staff at Nature Park but they have been doing well. The upcoming weekend is the swim meet. Dusty said
last yr pool had a record year. Pool still losing a bit of water but is starting to level off & will investigate why this is
happening. No operational effects.
Darren–T-ball & adult leagues started last wk. First tournament this coming weekend at SouthBrook. Jay mentioned the
fast work on getting the courts back up & running was appreciated.
Greg–Due to the storm the course lost 56 trees. We received extra chipper & truck from Forestry to aid in clean-up. Still have
to go back & get the hangers.
Old Business: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Grant Applications Update: AARP $6000 bean bag board grant application didn’t get approved nor did trails grant
(add’l trail repair). RTP (previously approved for phase 1) has been requested for phase 2 but we haven’t heard
anything. Submitted a Land Water Conservation Fund Grant application in April w/no response at this point.
B. Project Updates:
1) Dog park: The cement poured & shelter here but has not been built. Al-still waiting on fencing & water is in. Erika-
will this be completed by end of summer? Dusty–yes.
2) Bob Shelden Art: Art supposed to be done end of May but contract extension added until end of June.
3) Holding Barn: Banner’s putting together cost estimate. On-hold since storm but we’ll get back with them on items
needing to be included in about a wk or two. For instance, climbing wall wasn’t included. The Holding Barn isn’t
designed to hold weight such as a basketball hoop so items will have to be cemented into ground instead of
hanging.
4) Playgrounds: Contractor for McClemens playground selected. Equipment needs to be ordered soon to get it
installed in the fall. Circling back to the donor on the other park as donor didn’t understand some of the cost
variables.
5) Bandshell: Brookings Area Community Band invited our staff & this Board to their concert. We’ve submitted the
11-1 review & will get sent to different boards for approval. Bandshell needs some help & we’re in beginning
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steps of the restoration process. The stage & front area needs most restoration due to years’ worth of water
damage. Jay-acoustics are great. The Parks staff takes good care of it. Issues aren’t seen but appear with the
structure. Dusty- once approved we ‘ll begin seeking grant funding.
6) Tree Program: With the storm, tree initiative has picked up. Cameron added we have about $7000 left in the
budget. Dusty said w/more dollars in the budget & lowering price, available money time has extended it. We
anticipate this funding to happen again next yr.
7) Community Games: Last yr had 5 teams & everyone super excited. Currently, have 3 full teams & enough
individuals wanting to be involved. Staff discussed condensing everything into 1 long day starting at 7:30 AM,
ending at 9 PM. Want to give individuals opportunity to have fun. Have done a lot of marketing this yr but no
attendance. Could possibly be due to the long time frame for commitment. Doug-would getting Chamber
involved, making more of an incentive help? Dusty–they’re involved & Chelsie has marketed some. Looking at
condensing & trying to find alternative that gets teams together. Goal might be to find the 1 person that can drive
a group together. The packets got out to businesses, most importantly the big manufacturing. The smaller team
sizes may help bring in teams.
8) Golf Well: Greg-they’ve done 2 more test wells & still in research mode. Ponds tend to maintain the level but water
leaches out of ponds just as fast as it comes in.
C. Staffing: Seasonal/Temp, Activity Center
1) Parks staff at good level & have couple of younger people. Golf course doesn’t have younger staff due to mowing.
2) Activity Center continues to function. Current agreement made about 11 yrs ago. Want to model new agreement
more off of the Arts Council - want them to hire their own staff.
New Business: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Event Approval: Comedy in the Park–Matt Rustman … Interest in outdoor show, first thought was Pioneer Park, &
looking at July 14th starting at 5, ending at 10 PM. Alcohol won’t be served after 9 PM & show starts at 8 PM. Hope to
invite 1 food truck. Wooden Legs started alcohol approval process. Has been talking to police chief about safety. They
will have at least 2 police in area to monitor & happening rain or shine as of now. Employees will check ID & give wrist
bands color-coated by age. The event will be 18 & older. Insurance already been created & submitted to Bonnie.
Capping event at 200 people due to insurance cap. Doug Smith motioned to approve, Erika Saunders seconded;
motion approved.
B. Operating Budget Review: Budget meetings begin next wk for operations & then CIP later. Record yr for pool revenue.
Hope in coming yrs to bump revenue by possible price increase & more individuals coming in. Temporary pay for
lifeguards & with swimming lessons a lot was overtime. With swim club doing lessons, staff employed by us & by swim
club. Reduces OT pay but we won’t be gaining revenue from lessons. Both drop about same amount. Dusty has
determined prices by looking historically what has been spent & then at inflation. Total capital expenditures will follow
plan done as part of Master Plan. Every yr some things more expensive than other yrs. We hope to do better with
revenue, looking at maximizing every dollar. Rec supplies will be budgeted closer to our actuals. Jay-are we absorbing
fees for Active Net? Darren-user charged fees but if done in the office we absorb fees & budget for it. Golf course runs
same way.
Dusty-Parks: Last yr w/donations we had good yr with revenue & also w/camping. Budgeted smaller amt because
hard to judge donations. Personnel-HR generates this. Supplies-price of items continues to rise so bumped up. CIP-
anything that is about 25,000 dollars. Overall we try to keep increase reasonable. LIC-looking at increase in revenue.
Forestry remains consistent, wages down because have newer staff w/lower wages. Golf-looking at bump in revenue,
possibly 5 percent. Try to keep expenditures flat as possible. Staff meets every yr to look at different areas to find
efficiencies, increases, decrease, etc.
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C. 2023 CIP Review: CIP items inc vehicles & equipment (mower, pickup), trail repairs, pickleball 6 court complex, outdoor
sport courts repairs/resurface/access ($100,000). Jay asked about basketball court. Dusty–it may be put at a
different site, will be looked at in future. Playground equip replacements, Hillcrest parking lot repairs, LWCF Grant
match for 2024 aid year, Activity Center repairs, LIC-possible new lobby rubber & ext windows, golf course–adding to
cart path, tree program, & trails (phase 2 of trail grant if approved) preliminary engineering.
D. 2023 Fee/Rate Discussion: We got fee info from other similar towns. Looking at possible 5% increase is certain areas.
Golf: family memberships very affordable compared to other competitive communities. Looking at bumping young
adult by $20, memberships $50 increase. Doug–talks about how our golf course is a bargain, families & sr rates
increased but individual didn’t–why? Dusty-still very compatible. Individual is currently at higher end in the market
unlike other memberships so opts to have no increase. Combining a lot of different aspects to find new fees. Erika–
will we still have golf early bird fees? Yes. Doug would like to see 5% increase in early bird prices. Dusty-won’t be
compatible in the market. Jay-why are we comparing with other markets? Doug-increase is a bit excessive & should
go along with quality of life. Asked about using a subsidy. Dusty-historically golf course has been subsidized, as long
as we don’t have to tap into subsidy, we have more for capital improvement. Erika mentions individuals would be
paying full price this yr w/early bird next yr. Jay mentions really a bargain since we didn’t increase the fees this year.
Erika-could we see how many memberships we sell, how many people come in, etc? Dusty-yes, Ronda can provide.
Doug-it’s excessive when one individual has to pay full cart trail fee, will we see a change? Dusty is going to look into
this & possibly add trail fee. We can submit this as proposed & possibly do budget amendment, will have to get
approved through City as well. As Board, this can be approved in August. That cart fee will be added & early bird will
be added for comparison.
Parks and Rec Fees: other aquatics memberships similar across the board. Individual & family membership increase
by $10 & daily admission up a dollar. Gardens increase to $35 & court rental/5th St Gym increase by 5 dollars. Jay–
considering bandshell, he feels larger events should have larger price. Dusty-issue is for smaller groups that want to
have events. Larger groups also may pay different fees through City for items such as alcohol. Doug–possible fees
for commercial? Dusty-this creates issue because we then have to look at all other items. Camping increases to $32
but still a bargain & the demand is high.
Upcoming Programs & Events: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Juneteenth: June 19 @ Hillcrest Park but moving back to Pioneer Park next year.
B. Community Games: June 24 – 26 but will likely be June 25th.
C. Arts Festival: July 9-10
D. Have some Park Board member present at the City Council meeting end of June to receive Proclamation to honor
month of July as Park and Rec month for the City.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn meeting by Doug Smith, seconded by Andrea Hogie. Meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM.
Submitted,
Cameron E Harms
City of Brookings Parks, Rec, & Forestry Office Assistant