HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2022_10_3Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Notes
Monday, October 3, 2022 5:30 PM
Call to Order
Chairperson Erika Saunders called meeting to order at 5:27 PM. Present: Andrea Hogie, Steve Berseth, Doug Smith, Erika
Saunders, Ashley Ragsdale, Isaac Schulte, Lindsay Borer, John Maynes, & City Staff: Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Greg Redenius,
Stacy Claussen, Darren Hoff, & Ronda May, & Paul Briseno joining late. Absent: Jay Larsen. Guests: Mondell Kack w/Register
& Randy Franklin.
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Steve Berseth, seconded by Andrea Hogie; motion carried.
Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by John Maynes, seconded by Doug Smith; motion carried.
Staff Highlights
Dusty: fall & winter leagues approaching & accepting registrations. Darren & Josh B attended NPRA Conf in Phoenix. Dusty
leaving & taking director’s position in Watertown. Larry Maag taking forestry supervisor position in Watertown. A lot of
stumps have been ground & 100 flags in blvd for tree planting w/200 more after call locates. Start planting next week. May
recruit some Parks staff to help w/planting.
Old Business: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Project Updates:
1) LWCF Grant–Pickleball: Unofficial as haven’t received written confirmation but Dusty spoke w/State Coord last wk
who indicated verbally we’ll be funded $125,000 grant request. Pair that w/WellMark Grant & City match along with
Dusty & Deb from pickleball group approaching a donor tomorrow. Hopefully this may be bid. John–timeframe?
Dusty–construction happen next yr, depending on contractor’s schedule/availability but most will be fence &
concrete, shelter, etc. Also lights included in org budget price but could come out while still having a good complex!
2) Playgrounds: Lions & McClemans: McClemans playground funded & probably carried over w/equipment hopefully
here end-of-this-mth but too late to put in. Brought up Lions Park document & Dusty went over it. Erika–climb on
the lions? Yes. Steve–fiberglass? Yes, w/sealing once/yr. Doug-still have skating rink in winter? Yes, footprint
really won’t change, just equipment. Erika–next summer this will go in? Yes, next spring/summer.
3) Bandshell: Revised 11-1 Review: requested 8’ add’l stage area all across the front & ADA accessible ramp. Has been
submitted w/no word back yet.
4) Tree Program: Closed out end-of-Sept w/about $1,000 left. Program in budget request for 2023.
5) Prairie Hills Trail: Phase 1 Construction, Phase 2 Funding: Ph 1 funded w/grant & City match w/part already poured,
just waiting on the crossing in wetland area. Installing box culvert w/concrete on top, hopefully end-of-this mth,
early Nov for culvert. Ph 2 also another grant request, & we received verbal confirmation w/written confirmation of
$56,000 funding from State. Erika–which State program? Recreational Trails.
6) Edgebrook Golf Course–water source: Explored boring under Interstate & connecting to Everist pit. We got estimate
from Banner’s at approx $600,000 so new plan. We did few test wells in that general area & when BMU put in their
water line, they never hit clay near property line. Dusty talked w/Banners today & they’re going to stake property
line & then have test drillers come back. John–how far from current test drills? Greg–apprx 800 ft? As soon as we
get line marked, well drillers lined up & maybe w/interconnected pumps get us an emergency source of water.
Erika–how many test drills? Quite a few. Doug–we should know something before winter? Good indication there’s
water there but how much & need to find enough to meet our needs. Doug–can we pump out of ponds? John–cart
paths look very good as well as backfilling but course getting damaged without water. Greg’s not sure we’d ever get
into situation to get our current ponds full. BMU was pumping so much water in there this summer & probably not
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half full. As to cart damage, those spots would still be problem due to no irrigation in roughs. John–what would it
cost to put emergency line from Bowe’s pit & pump? Next thing we look at? Dusty–not this yr as too late but would
need to evaluate cost, etc. We do need to plan if we don’t have any water.
7) Hockey Performance Center: Nearing completion & sounds like next wk doing punch list walk-through so getting
real close. New target date is Oct 15th. We’ve started making ice in blue rink & hopefully first use on the 15th.
8) HAC Leisure Pool Water Loss: w/full confidence we found 1 major leak but under pool shell. Number of pipes feeding
it from underneath & 1 at elbow was cracked so under pressure pushed out a lot of water. Al-we cut hole already &
pipe is 3-way elbow. We checked all E side & now bringing back to check W side to see if any cracks. BMU going to
put a saddle on to blow it out. John–estimate on cost? Al–about $25 on parts & then fix spots where we thought it
was w/concrete–probably $10,000-25,000 as long as we don’t find anything major. Now we know how to pinpoint
it w/special camera. BMU did help us from day one.
9) Office Software: Getting new software this fall. Until first of yr use existing but Jan 1 kickoff using new software.
10) Mayor’s Award: Did get responses back w/2 different org & different individuals. Org: BISA & FOB. Ind: Cami Powers
w/BISA & Cody Wright formerly w/FOB. Doug made motion for FOB, lack of second. Individual–Cami is hockey parent
& involved in other arenas & Cody formerly w/FOB. Steve Berseth motioned to award BISA, 2nd by Andrea Hogie.
Show of hands vote–7 for BISA; motion carried. Individual–Doug Smith motioned to have Cami Powers, 2nd by John
Maynes; vote by hand & all in favor; motion carried. Suggested to have FOB next yr for both awards. Dusty asked
Erika make contact w/each so they’re aware.
New Business: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Food Forest: Dusty brought up document. Sustainability Comm members approached us w/concept of food forest.
Essentially area in City land w/fruit bearing trees & further on in process bushes for berries, other edible landscape.
Location is off Medary Ave S, S of Fishback Soccer Complex, near water source for dipping buckets. Would be volunteer
driven. We’ll order variety of fruit trees for spring planting & Dusty’s already talked w/Sust Comm member who’s
organizing volunteer group. Erika’s concerned about vol group continuing. Dusty said even if falls away, residents ask
about fruit trees. Doug–no mow area? Yes. Doug–would it stay that way? Al said probably once a month mow it now.
Doug–produce to Food Pantry? No, free-for-all. Al said around 80 trees–apples, plums, pears, apricot, peach. Doug–
would we have to spray? Al–we have a rig to do it but they’d have to get chemical, & right after blossoms fall otherwise
kill the bees. Doug–are they aware of all this? Dusty–yes, gal who brought forward is aware. Ashley–will they take care
of fallen apples so no wasps as close to Fishback? Yes. Doug Smith motioned to support project going forward, 2nd by
Ashley Ragsdale; motion carried.
B. 2023 Budget Item–Staff: Make everyone aware we were able to include another FT Parks employee in budget due to
strong sales tax. This was brought up in Parks Master Plan & we are short staff w/number of acres. Doug–someone
who falls under Al? Yes & we’ve discussed how another position would be best used so we’ll be efficient with it. Probably
flip some Parks staff over to Forestry to get more trimming done & also getting another boom truck next year. Add’l
seasonal staff money included in budget. John–solve the power equipment issue? Dusty has talked w/HR to allow 17
yr olds to operate basic power equipment. Almost every other community allows 17 yr old to use weed whip & not
limited strictly to hand tools. John–did this issue arise w/our insurance carrier? Dusty assumes so, & HR wants to be
extra cautious but we’ve demonstrated w/proper training we took care of our employees.
Paul Briseno: contracting out snow removal. Next City Council mtg proposing moving PT Senior Activities Center director
to FT. Previously, we gave funds to them to pay director but violates City Charter & after talking w/that group, we could
do more for our sr citizens & tap into a resource for programming. Don’t have resources in gen fund so paying from 3B
fund–bed, booze, & boarding. Traditionally used for economic development but can use this for Parks. Will be under
Parks Dept & make our commitment to our sr citizens strong. Doug–City employee? Paul-yes, w/benefits. Steve–would
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they be advisory board? Paul–yes to provide volunteer oppt. Dusty-their Brd will stay intact for 501 3C status & help
w/fundraising efforts, etc. Programming will now fall under Park & Rec.
C. HC School Proposed Land Use: Dusty mentioned on our tour & brought up map. Paul Briseno–met w/schools last Dec &
they provided high level discussion w/give & take between us & District. They asked if we would give some park land for
new Hillcrest School. Yes. Now, going further N which would take out 3 shelters & parking lot. Talking through w/City
Attny & we can lease or convey land which could require a vote of the people. Could lease it for 100 yrs but District
would like to own it. Convey land to them in exchange for them to put shelter area somewhere else at their expense.
There are some requirements that we get to use parking lot, replacement of shelters somewhere else on site, &
playground areas, right-of-way at Dakota Prairie. Ashley–what are they doing w/old school? Green space. Pretty much
all playground would be removed tentatively. Do we maintain the current green space? Yes. Doug–where will pickleball
courts go? N of horseshoe courts. John–where would we suggest moving shelters? Dusty suggests moving them to
another park. Doug thinks we should negotiate on 5th St Gym & make trade. Ashley–SDSU also uses these shelters as
in close-proximity. Steve–Al Frerichs told him 50 yrs ago City & Schools had rare joint-use agreement & it’s a good thing
for the City. Doug–is City looking for something from Park Board whether in favor of this? Paul–yes, after we learn more
of their requested land use. Steve–getting more difficult for us to use gym space? Darren-we can manage what we
currently do. Doug–what about SouthSide Park for softball? Dusty–joint use agreement will need to be reviewed
annually.
D. Recreation Annex (Holding Barn) Cost Estimate: Dusty brought up Banner’s document. To create 4 courts in Holding
Barn looking at 1.8 million dollars. Council has $850,000 set aside in priority project list so look for donors for balance.
Preliminary conversations w/a donor who has expressed interest. Looking to get daytime use & attract users. About
the number Dusty thought, so hoping to get a donor & obviously short of a community center but we’re short on indoor
recreation space. Doug–how much does Dusty think donor would spend in that location? Paul Briseno–we’re not going
to get facility anytime soon so whatever we can add to existing facilities is better than nothing. Doug’s thinking about
accessibility & this area isn’t easily accessible. Ashley–what’s the use for daytime hours & evening hours? All day,
evening, pickleball, walking track–maximize the use of this space. Ashley–this could be an asset for Activities Center
members, after school programs, rainy days, some place to go for above 9 years old. Next step would be to have further
conversations w/donor. John–where is this facility? Dusty–part of Larson Ice Center, to the S, & is 250’ x 90’, roughly
23,000 square foot. Ashley–if pickleball had extra money would they donate here?
E. LIC Dehumidification System: We’ve had some recent issues & need to replace part of it. Currently in 2023 budget but
may not be enough money. We think we have temp solution for red rink issues but that system in need of replacement
very soon–motor went out & control panel needs to be replaced, existing system limping along. Doug–price? Dusty–
current budget amt is $450,000 next yr & Johnson Control’s gave quote for 900,000 dollars. John–normal wear?
Equipment put in blue never worked as used but equipment in red has operated.
John–Dusty’s replacement process? Paul Briseno said Doug represented Park Board w/Dusty, & he would like someone
from this Board to help out w/process. Going out for national search & hoping about 5 weeks. Dusty thanked Brd &
staff.
Upcoming Programs & Events: (reported by Dusty unless otherwise indicated)
A. Next meeting: Nov 7 at 5:30 PM. Paul asked Brd appoints someone at next mtg & have add’l 2-3 members help w/ new
director’s process.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn meeting by Doug Smith, 2nd by John Maynes; motion carreid. Meeting adjourned at 6:52 PM.
Submitted, Ronda A May Ronda May, City of Brookings Parks, Rec, & Forestry Office Manager