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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRMinutes_2025_06_02Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Notes Monday, June 2nd, 2025 5:30 PM 1. Call to Order Chair Erika Saunders called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. Board members present: Erika Saunders, Jay Larsen, Stacey Zerfas, Nathaniel Condelli, Paul Meyer, Brenda Andersen. Board Members Absent: Steve Berseth. City Staff Present: Kristin Zimmerman, Director of Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry, Joshua Bauman, Assistant Director of Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. Ashley Marler, Office Manager of Brookings Parks Recreation and Forestry Department. 2. Approval of Agenda Jay Larsen motions to approve the agenda, Brenda Andersen 2nds Motion; Motion is carried. 3. Approval of Minutes Brenda Andersen motions to approve the May minutes, Stacey Zerfas 2nds; Motion is carried. 4. Call to the Public There were no citizens of the public attending the Park and Recreation Meeting. 5. Discussion and Possible Action: Skate Park Renovation Plan The design is right at our budget. The Public Arts Commission is working with an artist to create a shade area and benches. This will not come out of our budget; it will come out of there. The skateboarding community really does love the layout. The design includes skating for all ranges of skaters. The half pipe will be wrapped and reused. Ground breaking and construction this fall. All we need is the support of the Park Advisory Board to go to city council for approval of the construction. Jay Larsen motions to move forward to city council. Brenda Andersen 2nds the motion; Motion is carried. 6. Directors Report Summer Recreation Program and Events: We had a carnival last weekend! The pool is now open, we did have to delay it a couple of days due to the weather. The Larson Nature Center is open as well and will be open normal hours. We will have shorter hours in the winter. Larson Ice Center has ice year-round now. So, it will be a great way for skaters to keep up with their skating during the summer and it is a great way to cool down in the heat. Parks and Recreation Month: We celebrate Parks and Recreation in the month of July. This year’s theme is “Build Together, Play Together’. We will be doing a proclamation at City Council on Tuesday July 8th. We are looking to have activities every day in the month of July. We will send out a calendar when that is approved. 5th Street Gym: The transfer for 5th Street Gym is final. For summer usage in the gym, we are looking at walking in the morning, transferring into pickleball and then open gym 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. In the evening the gym will be open for rentals. This summer we are operating 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. We aren’t going to schedule a lot this summer because we want to see how the floor does with the heat and humidity. We are also working with the Special Olympics on a partnership to help them have space to have their activities. Project Updates: We will have a QR code posted alone the bike trails so that people can let us know about any maintenance that they notice that needs to be done. It will tag you where you’re at on the trail. We have hired all of our seasonal employees and we are full! That is a first in the last few years. We are going to do some surveying primarily with youth sports to find out if they are declining or if they are growing, this survey should help us know what the needs are in our community for more recreational activities. We will also be doing a survey in the fall for ages 20-38. We would be looking at what activities they would like to see to stay here in Brookings. We aim to make sure that our young professionals want to stay in Brookings. Kristin will be speaking at the 2025 NRPA Conference. They have chosen to highlight Brookings for our substantiality efforts. Including our pest management plan, native species initiative, how we handle our EAB, and things of that nature. These all show how our programs and plans impact our community. We Page 2 are in the middle of Budgets and Kristin did put in for two full time positions. A new parks technician and a marketing and sponsorship coordinator. Plans for Sarah Renee, Hillcrest swings and Indian Hills Park are moving forward. We will have some musical instruments at the parks and more shade options. 7. Discussion and Possible Action: 5th Street Gym Celebration We talked about maybe having a celebration with the transition of the 5th Street Gym becoming ours. Kristin recommends doing something the month of July since it is Parks and Recreation Month. 8. Discussion and Possible Action: July Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Kristin would like to not have a meeting in July due to everything that will be going on in July. The proclamation will be the day after what would have been our park board meeting. Brenda Andersen motions to cancel the July Meeting, Nathaniel Condelli 2nds the motion; Motion is carried. The next meeting will be the Monday August 4th. 9. Adjournment Nathaniel Condelli motions to adjourn the meeting. Brenda Andersen 2nds motion; Motion is carried.