Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
Sept 6, 2011 – 6:30 p.m.
PRESENT:
Azer, Diedrick, Doneen, Etten, D. Holt, M. Holt, Pederson, Ristow, Simbeck
ABSENT:
STAFF:
Brokke, Anfang
1.
INTRODUCTIONS/ROLL CALL/PUBLIC COMMENT
2.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 2, 2011 MEETING
Commission Recommendation:
Minutes for the August 2, 2011
meeting were approved unanimously.
3.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TASK FORCE REPORT
Greg Simbeck and Randall Doneen
updated the Commission on the status of the Community Engagement Task Force.
Task Force has been involved in working on topic specific committees. The Task
Force is planning on reporting back to the City Council in October or November.
A Community Forum is scheduled for
September 14, 2011 at the Roseville Skating Center. The forum is an opportunity
for the Community to provide input to the task force for their report back to
the Council.
Doneen commented on how the Master
Plan process to date has been a model example of a successful Community
Engagement process.
4.
MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION DISCUSSION
Brokke briefed the Commission on
the status of the bond process and project planning progress. Project planning
is going to be complicated in order to maintain program offerings and facility
use without (or at least minimal) interruption. Brokke explained the upcoming
processes for this first step in the implementation process. The next task
includes final review of proposed projects and defining those projects with
costs and possible timing considerations along with sector/district designation
to comply with bonding requirements. Once the projects are more defined a
public hearing will be schedule (a 30 day notification is required), following
the public hearing the council can authorize the bond sale. The planning team
is looking to hold the required public hearing and issue the bonds sometime
before the first of the year.
Etten initiated a discussion on
the compiled input from the July 28th community meeting. Attendees
weighed in on their recommended priorities and potential missing projects and
opportunities from the proposed renewal plan. Brokke also spoke about a recent
all-staff meeting that reviewed the park renewal program and discussed
priorities and content.
Commissioners recommended finding
ways to keep neighborhoods and community members involved in planning and
reviewing sooner rather than later in an effort to continue the momentum and
energy realized through the master planning process. Dave Holt inquired into
what can be accomplished while waiting for the final bonding requirements to
take place. Harold Ristow commented on the significance of including shelter
development early in the renewal program so as to involve the community and
demonstrate how beneficial this is to the entire community. Along this same
thought process, Etten spoke to how significant development of Central Park at
Lexington might be early in the project timeline. CP Lexington is a heavily
used community park as well as a very visual location that could act as a
showcase for the renewal program. Pederson reminded the Commission that work in
Central Park can potentially be supplemented by financial support from local
foundations and friends organizations.
5.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
Brokke reviewed the most recent
City Manager budget that included a number of adjusted cuts. The Park
Improvement Program (PIP) continues to be identified for reductions in the 2012
and 2013 budget. It is very important that all resources remain in the Parks
and Recreation Budget and that a thoughtful approach be given to the future
Park Improvement Program. Commissioners were reminded that the Park Improvement
Program has become more of a maintenance based operation rather than a
development or improvement program. The City Council has asked for staff to
share a vision for future maintenance needs and how future funding may be
structured.
- Etten commented on the need to implement both a park
improvement program that provides for development and a park enhancement
program that provides required maintenance to keep up our extensive park
system.
- D. Holt recommended renaming the Park Improvement Program
to better identify what the funding is for, why it is needed and what the
intended purpose of the funding is. Holt also commented on how he sees a
large portion of the bonding money going towards maintenance needs that
would have been taken care of with appropriate park improvement funding.
6.
DIRECTORS REPORT
- Staff will be taking a proposal to the Council on Monday
for rebuilding the Lake Bennet fishing pier using DNR funding for the
materials and maintenance staff for labor.
- Public Tree Master Plan Update – Boulevard tree inventory
complete, park tree inventory 80% complete. Staff will present the update
to Council in late September and to the Commission in October.
- Arboretum Celebration Walk Update – The Central Park
Foundation has contributed needed funding to replace the current engraved
bricks. Over the years, the older bricks have gotten harder to read. A
foundation member researched other brick companies and found one that
provides an engraved brick that guarantees it will not fade or wear away.
Because this is an out-of-state company the replacement and ordering
process is more complicated than in the past and has required scheduling
of orders and installment 2 times each year – orders placed January 15th
and July 15th each year with installation in the spring and
fall.
- The Geyen Memorial in Bruce Russell Park is planned to be
completed in September, the walkways will be poured in the coming weekends
and plantings will follow.
7.
OTHER
- Etten reminded the Community of upcoming events – Wild
Rice Festival on September 17, 2011 and the Arboretum Plant Sale on
September 15, & 16, 2011.
- Ristow encouraged Commissioners to contact Mayor and
Council members to thank them for their support of the Master Plan
Implementation. Ristow also commented that a Community Center would be a
good addition to Roseville and this $19M bond for renewal and land
acquisition is a good opportunity to demonstrate to the community that
this is money well spent and a possible local sales tax is a good option
for funding a future community center. Ristow also complimented the
Commission for being an aggressive group that is on the right track.
- Etten thanked the citizens of Roseville, at all levels,
for their work on the Master Plan and their support of its implementation.
- D. Holt inquired about Reservoir Woods activity – the
foundation has been poured, the project will continue into the next year.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Jill Anfang, Assistant Director