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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-03-2021 Park Commission MinutesMINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, May 3, 2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. CALL TO ORDER Chair Roath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Roath led the Commissioners and those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chairman Brian Roath, Commissioners Janice Berg, Casey Hudson, Jennifer Klaahsen (arrived at 6:05), and Taylor Stephens. Commissioners Rick Carter and Vanessa Keller were absent. Representing Staff was Adam Edwards. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. February 1, 2021 Park Commission Meeting Minutes Hudson moved, Berg seconded, to approve the February 1, 2021 Park Commission Meeting Minutes. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. CHAIRMAN'S UPDATE Chair Roath shared some good progress at the golf course; he and Stephens have been working with Joey Brettingen, Adam Edwards, and others to focus on the summer golf course business. They have identified certain investments that may be necessary to get a good return -on -investment. They took that to the City Council the previous Monday and received their support. The group is currently defining and pricing the type of improvements and investments to make an addition to the 2021 operating budget for the golf course. They will then bring that to the Council for final approval. Roath noted they did not make any specific asks that were capital improvement related; also out of scope is anything added to the operating budget beyond 2021, and anything in the winter months. Roath made a presentation to the Council on the long-range ideas which included the winter months. Right now, the specific task is for the next couple months at the golf course. Regarding community events at the Parks, they are moving forward with the Bederwood Grand Opening on May 22, 2021, the Big Island ground -breaking on August 7, 2021, and the Tree Lighting. Roath shared that the next trail on the priority list is the Lakeview Legacy Trail; it makes sense to do that at the same time that North Arm Drive is rebuilt and is slotted for 2023- 2024. Lurton Park dog days is not happening and asked if there is a Summit Beach update. Klaahsen reached out to a distributor for Landscape Structures and she has not heard back. She thought he would provide some concept plans to review but if he is not responsive, she would discuss next steps with the Parks Commission. Edwards will reach out to the person, as he had come out after the first meeting and they spoke about playgrounds and how they would work together. Page 1 of 3 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, May 3, 2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. Roath noted there are a couple items on Lurton Park, Hackberry, and Crystal Bay Park to make some progress this year. Klaahsen said at Sandy Beach, the swim platform is dropped off but not yet installed. She asked if there will be a ladder on the platform. Edwards does not know but will double check. PARK SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE Edwards updated the Council on behalf of Joey Brettingen. The docks at the lake access points are all in, they did some work sprucing up French Creek parking lots and access ways, and tree trimming. The golf course is up and running and have been working on the irrigation for the year. Still on the to-do list include quotes for a dock on Casco, trail improvements at Lurton Park, and installing buoys and swim platforms at the beaches. Then, Brettingen will go after some of the dead and dying trees in the parks to get them removed and replaced. The well pump at Lurton died so the well installer has parts on order to repair it. He believes it is a total of around $3,000 to repair. Maintenance work at Big Island is underway, as well as irrigation at Bederwood and City Hall. Klaahsen noted the Crystal Bay Park sign is leaning and asked if that can be propped up. Edwards noted it will be replaced and they are waiting for the new signs to come in; other signs to be replaced are Summit Beach, Crystal Bay, and one other. The Parks Commission approved them the previous December. Roath asked if they will do a couple signs per year. Edwards stated that is the plan as they are around $3,000 apiece. CITY ENGINEER UPDATE Edwards put in grants for Bederwood soccer and lacrosse equipment, as well as partnered with the baseball association to be the municipal partner for some pitching machines and baseball equipment at various sites. Unfortunately those grants will not be decided by Hennepin County until mid-to-late May. Edwards ordered the soccer goals for Bederwood and hopes they will be in soon. Regarding Big Island, the Council approved the sign design. The construction contractor is shooting for a mid-May restart on the construction project pending delivery of the second toilet, and subject to the barge operators. Hopefully once the contractor gets the material out there it will be just a couple of weeks. The contract for the Dakota Trail Connection was rewarded by Three Rivers Park District and they had a pre - construction conference the previous week. The contractor is Sun Ramp, the same people who did Bederwood, and they are scheduled to start May 10, 2021. The contract requires them to be substantially complete by July 2, 2021. Edwards noted there may be a shutdown or two of County Road 19, but for the most part they will shift the lanes and use construction flagging to do the work. In Lowry Woods, they are working with a resident on a permanent easement for access to the park from the Luce Line. There were mountain bikers last fall who wanted to use the access, and it turns out the easement the City had for that access was a temporary easement which lasted for 3 years and expired in 2007. On that easement it said the City and the property owner would discuss a permanent easement but they cannot recall that Page 2 of 3 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, May 3, 2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. follow up conversation; he has given them a draft easement for review. Orono Youth Hockey has also reached out about a potential partnership to establish an outdoor rink. The Commissioners had a short discussion on the Tree Lighting event. Edwards reminded the Commissioners to coordinate things a month out if they expect City Staff support in any way for bigger, special events. Then they can get police, reserves, and other things ready. GOLF COURSE BUSINESS PLAN UPDATE Roath noted they are trying to get food trucks at the golf course and he will communicate the dates and times; the more people they can get the easier it is to get the trucks back in the future. Edwards shared that Roath updated the Council at their last meeting and they gave Staff tentative guidance to look for $37,000 out of the general fund to put towards the golf course. That was a big success. Roath said the next step is giving Edwards, Ron Olson, and Brettingen more direction on the four general things they asked for. He shared slides that stated what they want to do now at the golf course, and what they want to do soon; it all culminates in the 2024 1 006'Anniversary of the golf course. They want to establish a new marketing program, expand the food and beverage capabilities and offerings, food truck Fridays, a porch music series, establish group packages, rebrand and perhaps consider renaming the course. They also want to launch a new website, add a year-round gas fire pit, build a small shelter, and expand the lower parking lot. There are a lot of details to fill in. The immediate request for $37,000 includes some for food capabilities starting this summer, a third table and chair set for the deck, put money towards marketing budget, musicians, and increasing the staff hours during peak times. COMMISSIONER UPDATES Berg reported Norlings came out and did Lydiard Beach and the landscaping looks really nice. On Casco Point, a man has adopted it and will be going out to take care of things he can and notifying the City of other things. She asked if they can get a bigger no fishing sign as the current sign is only 8.5 x 11 inches. Edwards does not know if they have a bigger sign. He noted they talked about extra signage at Lydiard, Sandy, and Casco when they put the docks out. People are not supposed to fish from the dock or bring a motorboat to the dock. Roath thinks they should talk more about the adopt -a -park program to promote it and recognize the people that are volunteering their time for it. ADJOURNMENT Hudson moved, Stephens seconded, to adjourn the Orono Park Commission meeting at 6:34 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. ATTEST: Brian Roath, Chair Page 3 of 3