HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2022_02_28Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Notes
Monday, February 28, 2022 5:30 PM
Call to Order
Steve Berseth called meeting to order at 5:31 PM. Present: Steve Berseth, John Maynes, Ashley Ragsdale and City Staff
Dusty Rodiek, Al Kruse, Greg Redenius, Darren Hoff, & Ronda May. Guest: Addison DeHaven w/Brookings Register. Not
present: Board Members Doug Smith, Erika Saunders, Andrea Hogie, Jay Larsen, Isaac Schulte, Carson Cody, Rec Mgr Stacy
Claussen, and City Mgr Paul Briseno. Due to lack of quorum, no official act of business took place and this meeting was only
informational.
Minutes corrections: after $100,000 better spent in our Dept, not Sept. John wanted to change his wording to city gov’t
funding scholarships for higher education instead of state gov’t funding private education. Ronda will bring these forward
for approval at April’s meeting.
Staff Highlights
Dusty: Frost Fest was Feb 19-20 weekend w/activities throughout the community. Ashley said BAC hosted Art Market
downtown w/372 people. Summer employment openings posted. Ashley asked if 15 year olds? Yes, depending on position.
John–hourly rate changed? Yes, last Sept.
Al: picnic tables in so putting together & finished tourney at LIC. Forestry working on trail by McClemans Park, removing
trees, & will let brush grow back. Dusty said Forestry still has 1 open tech position w/interviews occurring.
LIC (Larson Ice Center): Darren talked about sled hockey jamboree during Frost Fest, 2nd time we’ve hosted. They continue
to be impressed w/our facility & staff and w/how accessible everything is ADA wise. They want to book again next Feb &
make it annual event. (Sled hockey is for people w/physical impairments.) Biggest challenge is getting enough handicapped
accessible hotel rooms. Hosted Bantam Tourney & won state championship with figure skating held concurrently
w/Tourney. Dusty said Ranger Hockey Performance Center construction begins in March.
Golf: membership sales continue to be going well w/early bird rates until end of March. Greg–Clubhouse painted by Nick
and new vanities & sinks put in both bathrooms. Cleaning floors w/steamer. John–how are we doing w/ the well? Ground
still frozen. Dusty –w/Interchange, they have to dewater the pond to the S of the Course. Any potential to pump into our
pond? Looked at price of boring line under interstate–10x higher than cost of well. Discussion was held about possibly
installing lockers for members/players. Dusty needs to talk w/Gary. Greg–w/previous mgm’t there was club storage & then
in 2015 was removed. Greg talked w/Kevin Norby, about ¾ done w/our plan. Should have something ready by Monday of
next week & will want to setup a Zoom mtg. John–if we get something, could Board share in that? Dusty–yes, as long as
we don’t have a quorum & especially if a Zoom.
Old Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted
A. Trail Grant Update: Received signed agreement from State last week. Working w/Banner’s for affordable design to
get us into Prairie Hills area. Also had conversation w/Jacob Mills.
New Business: Reported by Dusty Rodiek unless otherwise noted
A. New Grant Applications: Darren submitted the Wellmark Grant on Feb 16 for pickleball court project. Hope to have
variety of funding–locally, Wellmark Grant, City funding, and Land & Water Conservation Grant. Identified AARP grant
(between $5,000 - $35,000) for bean bag boards.
B. Board Terms: May 1st end date for terms of Erika, Carson, Isaac, & John. Just wanted to make everyone aware & City
Clerk Bonnie Foster will be sending something out soon.
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C. Tree Contractor/Arborist License: We were approached, especially when EAB (Emerald Ash Borer) gets here, to
potentially license tree contractors/arborists. Al-when EAB gets here, there will be injections so we need to keep track
of them properly. Only thing required to get license is to be insured for $1 million & have their applicator’s license
along w/some other rules like tags on trees that are getting injected. Also want to ensure quality removal. Dusty–
reasoning behind it is to have record. Could also be resource for citizens w/list of licensed tree contractors/arborists.
A minimal fee is proposed for license & renewals. City Attorney Steve Britzman will write the ordinance. John doesn’t
want to see a huge cost differential to the public w/this process. Dusty will bring ordinance to next meeting if ready.
D. Review of Boulevard Tree Fees: Staff went to arborists convention & were asked to see what other communities are
doing with blvd trees & Al found most cities don’t supply blvd trees like we currently do. Home owners in most cities
make a request if wanting to plant on blvd, and staff then flag a general area (Mitchell & Sioux Falls). Some cities
reimburse $100/tree. Aberdeen replaces trees for free when mature tree removed in blvd w/$150 per tree added to
new development fees. We will come back for broader discussion on this before budget talks start. Brookings as a
whole does more than any other community. Steve–are we a Tree City? Al said yes & this year will be 42 years. Very
few communities have dedicated forestry dept like we do. Al said it would be nice to do something as we exceed our
tree budget every year w/so many requests & new development requests. Dusty asked should we bear the entire
cost? Staff likes the way Aberdeen does it as homeowner gets building permit & however many trees can fit on
property, charged fee per tree.
E. SDSU/Fishback Soccer Complex Agreement: typically 10 yr agreement & coming due this year. SDSU has announced
they’re moving forward w/soccer facility on campus so changed it to year-to-year w/same fee ($3,900 /year). Ashley
asked if there’s a fee for Soccer Club to use fields in the summer? No, but working on it. Are we also asking Brookings
School District since they also use it during summer? No, part of joint-use agreement. Ashley asked if press box is
tilting? Yes, due to water table & construction and in our budget for this year to make it level.
Upcoming Programs & Events:
A. April Meeting: April 4 at 5:30 PM
B. Arbor Day 5K: April 29 at Dakota Nature Park
C. Community Games: June 24-26, 2022 – Dusty said we may ask for volunteers to help.
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 6:17 PM.
Submitted,
Ronda A May
Ronda A May
City of Brookings Parks, Rec, & Forestry Office Manager