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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 18, 2024 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – APRIL 18, 2024 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Strombeck on April 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Tracy Strombeck, Commissioners Bruckner Johnson, Jim Lindahl, Chuck Naughton, Liza Shafto and Shane Stenzel. Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Kristin Lackie Also Present: Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk RESIDENT FORUM No one appeared to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 21, 2024 Regular Meeting Motion by Commissioner Stenzel, seconded by Commissioner Shafto, to approve the March 21, 2024, Park Commission Regular Meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, 0-present and 1-absent vote. March 21, 2024 Workshop Meeting Motion by Commissioner Stenzel, seconded by Commissioner Shafto, to approve the March 21, 2024 Park Commission Workshop Meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, 0-present and 1-absent vote. April 4, 2024 Workshop Meeting Motion by Commissioner Stenzel, seconded by Commissioner Shafto, to approve the April 4, 2024 Park Commission Workshop Meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, 0-present and 1-absent vote. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024 Page 2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Stenzel, seconded by Commissioner Naughton, to approve the April 18, 2024 Park Commission Regular Meeting Agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, and 1-absent vote. ST ACSO 1 QUARTER REPORT Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Andover Park Activity Quarterly Report for January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024 prepared by Laura Landes of the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office was provided for Commission Consideration. ST PARK DEDICATION IMPROVEMENT FUND 1 QUARTER REPORT/FINANCE DEPARTMENT Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk provided the Quarterly review of the Park Improvement Fund including the Project Commitment Listing Report, Balance Sheet and Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Park Improvement Fund as of March 31, 2024. OUTSTANDING ITEMS Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Outstanding Items Report: 1. On-going Projects: Mr. Baumunk reviewed Athletic fields were opened for use on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Staff was able to get on the ag-lime infields to grade and drag them, touch up pitching mounds and install bases and pitching rubbers. A contractor is scheduled to repair and resurface the tennis courts at Northwood West Park. Crack repairs will be made, and new surfacing will be applied. One court will be converted into two pickleball courts. 2. Updates on 2024 Park CIP Projects: Pine Hills Multipurpose Building – This project is on the 4/16/24 City Council agenda for final approval. If it is approved, the project is expected to start late summer or fall of this year. New Trail Segment Along Crosstown – The new proposed trail segment along the south side of Crosstown Boulevard from Bluebird Street to Xeon Street is currently out for bids. Project is expected to start in mid-June. Irrigation Improvements – Irrigation improvements in Sophie’s South and Hickory Meadows Parks are planned for spring of 2024. Work has started with an irrigation contractor on the addition at Sophie’s South Park. Hickory Meadows installation will be done in-house by Parks Staff and that design plan is currently being put together. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024 Page 3 Hills of Bunker Lake West Parking Lot Paving – The contract for this project was awarded and the preconstruction meeting is scheduled for April 18. This project is being done in conjunction with the Full Depth Reclamation roadway project planned for the surrounding neighborhood. Bids came in much lower than anticipated for the parking lot. 3. Other Items of Interest New Trail Segment Along Coon Creek – The easement has been secured and a DNR Local Trail Connection Grant will be applied for in March of 2024. GameTime Playground Grant – The grant was awarded and the three playground replacements for 2024 have been delivered. All three are comparable in size to our standard neighborhood playground structures. 4. Parks Maintenance Update: Mr. Baumunk reviewed the Weekly Parks Maintenance for 3/25/24, 3/29/24, and 4/5/24. OTHER ITEMS OR UPDATES – NONE. CHAIR’S REPORT Chair Strombeck noted the Library System has park backpacks available. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Stenzel, seconded by Commissioner Lindahl, to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, and 1-absent vote. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION WORK SESSION MEETING APRIL 18, 2024 MINUTES The Work Session Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Strombeck on April 18, 2024, at 6:10 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024 Page 4 Commissioners Present: Chair Tracy Strombeck, Commissioners Bruckner Johnson, Jim Lindahl, Chuck Naughton, Liza Shafto and Shane Stenzel. Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Kristin Lackie Also Present: Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk Associate Planner Jake Griffiths ANDOVER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CONCEPT PLAN DISCUSSION Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk stated the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the concept plan presented by the Andover Football Association. Jason Strasser and Mark Ketchum from the Andover Football Association will be presenting a concept plan for a multi-use building on the small north field at Prairie Knoll Park. This is a preliminary discussion to see if there is support to pursue the project including obtaining accurate project costs, operation and maintenance costs, and logistics of operating the building. The Park and Recreation Commission is requested to discuss the concept plan with Andover Football Association and staff. Mr. Jason Strasser from Andover Football asking if the Park and Recreation Commission is willing to convert a park to an indoor practice facility to be funded and built by AFA and donated to the City. Chair Strombeck asked if it would be a dome and Mr. Strasser stated it was not. The field they are looking at is the small north field at Prairie Knoll Park. The field would be turf. The structure would be up year round. Different types of structures are being considered. At this point AFA is wondering if this is something the City would consider. It would be maintained as a partnership with the City and AFA. The proposal would be to donate the facility to the City and lease it for AFA. It would be available for other sports within the City in addition to football. Commissioner Stenzel asked if the parking lot would support the facility and Mr. Strasser stated it would. Typically the parking lot is not plowed in the winter months. Mr. Strasser stated all the football equipment would be moved to this facility from Prairie Knoll. Chair Strombeck stated the plan lacks a lot of details. Mr. Strasser stated they are just looking for an idea if this is feasible and they should proceed with planning. The Prairie Knoll north field fits the size required for the facility. Commissioner Stenzel asked what the usage is currently for that field and Mr. Baumunk stated football and lacrosse currently use that field for practice space. It is too small for games. Staff’s position is that putting a building in a park it needs to be owned by the City. He asked if there is support for this project. The facility would be open for other activities and would need to be scheduled. The building will need to generate some revenue to cover expenses. Football has the shortest season. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024 Page 5 Commissioner Naughton asked if the other associations have indicated interest in such a facility. Mr. Strasser stated the other associations are spending large amounts of money at other facilities such as the National Sports Center or Adrenline. Mr. Mark Ketchum stated he coached at the high school for a number of years and have talked to other high school coaches who indicated interest in using this facility. The structure would be an open beam facility. It would be a Type 2 Engineered structure. Commissioner Naughton asked how all the equipment for all the sports could be stored in the facility. Mr. Strasser stated there would be storage within the facility. He asked if the parents would be asked to write a check up front prior to construction and Mr. Strasser stated that was not the plan. The other associations would be asked to contribute. If the facility was leased back to AFA they would have a person on staff to handle the scheduling. There would be enough other fields to handle practices for all associations still within the City. Mr. Baumunk stated there are 3 soccer fields the same size available that are not getting reserved for practices. Commissioner Shafto asked what the impact would be on other projects such as the warming house. Mr. Baumunk stated Prairie Knoll if not used for football storage that project would need to be revamped to remodel the inside of the building only. Commissioner Stenzel asked Mr. Baumunk if tonight’s question is whether the Commission feels the facility would benefit the residents of Andover. There is much further discussion needed. Commissioner Stenzel stated he believes it would benefit the residents. Commissioner Lindahl stated this was originally considered in 2005 for a facility such as this as a dome. Mr. Strasser stated the cost of operating a dome is much higher than a fixed wall structure. The footprint would be 100 x 200 with a bump out for storage of 30 x 60 or 80. Commissioner Lindahl stated once this is built it will be too small. He is concerned with the general location and he would look at a field at Sunshine. Parking there would be an issue. Mr. Strasser stated Prairie Knoll was selected as the best option. AFA is looking for the City to partner by donating the land. Chair Strombeck asked if they would look for any financial contribution from the City. Mr. Strasser stated AFA would fund it entirely. The existing community center could not be utilized. Mr. Strasser stated Andover had a good reputation for football and summer camps could be done for youth. Mr. Strasser stated the cost is more than $1M and they are ready to fund that. Mr. Merle Prochniak stated he was a long-time resident in Andover. He provided background on the Field of Dreams. The funding mechanism is not guaranteed through pull tabs. If not able to be funded it would go back on the City and the taxpayers. He stated Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 18, 2024 Page 6 this would have an impact on taxes. Many things need to be considered. The facility would need to be maintained. Chair Strombeck asked the Commissioners for their thoughts. A straw poll was requested from the Commissioners. All Commissioners were in favor philosophically of the project. Chair Strombeck was not in favor. She stated in the past projects such as this, the funding ran short and the City was approached for financial support. Mr. Strasser stated if a land purchase was needed the project would be more expensive and would be delayed substantially. Commissioner Lindahl stated the infrastructure is present in that park. A discussion of other constructed buildings that may be available was held. Mr. Strasser stated they will continue to plan the project and return to the Commission with more details at a later date. Chair Strombeck asked Mr. Baumunk if the building would meet Code and Mr. Baumunk stated it will need to go through the process. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Shafto, seconded by Commissioner Stenzel, to adjourn the workshop meeting at 7:00 p.m. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, 1-absent vote. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.