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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 3, 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – APRIL 3, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Stenzel on April 3, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Shane Stenzel, Commissioners Emily Honer, Bruckner Johnson, Kristin Lackie, Jim Lindahl, and Liza Shafto. Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Ryan Dawson Also Present: Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk. RESIDENT FORUM No one appeared to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 6, 2025 Regular Meeting Commissioner Shafto noted during the discussion of the CIP Winslow Cove East that she made the recommendation for a fitness trail rather than Commissioner Honer. Motion by Commissioner Johnson seconded by Commissioner Lindahl, to approve the March 6, 2025, Regular Meeting minutes as amended. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, 0-present, and 1-absent vote. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Honer, to approve the April 3, 2025, Park Commission Regular Meeting Agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6- ayes, 0-nays, and 1-absent vote. CONSIDER DONATION NEW SCOREBOARD EVELAND FIELD #1 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 3, 2025 Page 2 Parks & Street Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Park and Recreation Commission is requested to consider a donation by Andover Athletic Association (AAA) to replace the scoreboard at Eveland Field #1 with a new scoreboard. Staff was approached by AAA about replacing the scoreboard at Eveland Field #1. The project would be completely funded, coordinated, and professionally installed, including all necessary building and electrical permits, by AAA. With the scoreboard being located on City of Andover property, the scoreboard would be considered a donation to the City. The total estimated value of the donation is $32,750. Commissioner Shafto asked how they were coming up with the money, and Mr. Baumunk stated it would be from donations by AAA and Andover Fast Pitch Softball. Commissioner Johnson asked if they would be using the same structure, and Mr. Baumunk stated they would likely be putting up a new structure. The old structure may remain for advertising. Motion by Commissioner Honer, seconded by Commissioner Shafto, to recommend the City Council accept a donation from AAA for a new scoreboard at Eveland Field #1. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays, and 1-absent vote. DISCUSSION – 2026-2030 PARK CIP PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Mr. Baumunk reviewed the Commission is requested to continue discussing the 2026-2030 th Park Capital Improvement Plan. The target date for the draft CIP is Friday, June 6. The Park & Recreation Commission should review the future improvements in zones A-D and determine what projects should be considered for the next 5 years. Provided for Commission review was a draft of the 2026-2030 CIP including notes from staff and the condensed version of the 2021 Future Facilities Chart based on staff recommendations as well. The following was identified in the 2025-2029 CIP: 2025  Annual Misc. Projects - $25,000  Park at Fields at Winslow Cove - $170,000. This is a new park that is identified in the development plans. Plans will be brought to the next Park and Recreation Commission Meeting.  Contribution to ACC - $159,107. Final payment for the ACC expansion contribution.  Sunshine Basketball Court Improvements – Sport Court surfacing, fencing and improved backboards $65,000 – The asphalt court needs replacement before improvements can be made. Staff will be presenting to the City Council in April a proposal to replace the asphalt this year and bid the project in conjunction with the Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 3, 2025 Page 3 mill and overlay project for the south parking lot at Sunshine Park. This will come before City Council on April 15, 2025. Mr. Baumunk stated he will reach out to the neighborhood around Meadow Woods North Park regarding the sand volleyball court that was used in previous years. 2026  Annual Misc. Projects - $25,000.  Kelsey Round Lake Park Master Plan Additions. Building w/Bathrooms, Wayfinding, and Interpretive Signs - $230,000. Mr. Baumunk would like to move this to 2027 and apply for a DNR grant.  Skate Park Expansion - $125,000 – The contractor stated to replace current equipment would be $100,000. Some further decisions will need to be made. Chair Stenzel asked if more permanent equipment was being looked at and Mr. Baumunk stated concrete was being considered. Commissioner Honer stated she drives by frequently and the skate park is used a lot and it is worth making more of an investment into the park. Chair Stenzel agreed and believes there are other companies out there. Chair Stenzel suggested this be left in 2026 and have further discussion. Commissioner Honer suggested more benches be added. He will try to find other vendors that handle smaller projects.  Sunshine Parking Lot Lights, West and South Lots - $30,000 (Actual costs TBD in 2025).  Oakview Park Irrigation - $20,000. No other parks are in need of irrigation at this time. Northwoods East may need irrigation in the future. It is currently listed as a practice-only field. It is within MUSA (City-water). Oak Bluff and Timber Trails Parks are irrigated and have very little use.  Pave Hawkridge Park Parking Lot - $150,000. 2027  Annual Misc. Projects - $25,000.  Zone A Projects – TBD - $150,000. (Fox Meadows Park) This is used for practice only. It is irrigated but there are no lights. There was a discussion about the need for more baseball fields and possibly a trail. Lunds Park and Langseth Park.  Pine Hills North Master Plan Additions – TBD $100,000.  Pave Timber Trails Park Parking Lot - $52,000. 2028  Annual Misc. Projects - $25,000.  Pleasant Oaks Sidewalk – ADA Access trail from the street to the playground $4,000.  Zone D - $100,000. North woods parking lot and addition of a medium-sized shelter to replace a picnic table with a roof. 2029 Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 3, 2025 Page 4  Annual Misc. Projects - $25,000.  Parking Lot Paving TBD - $100,000.  Zone C Improvements TBD $150,000. 2030 Commissioner Shafto asked if Fox Meadows would be a good location for the sunflower fields. Mr. Baumunk stated the flat area where the soccer fields would be the ideal location but there is some elevation between the parking lot and the fields. Chair Stenzel asked if usage could be researched. Mr. Baumunk will reach out to the soccer associations. Commissioner Honer suggested tying in some historical pieces to the parks. Chair Stenzel suggested a discussion be held on plantings in the parks. Mr. Baumunk stated that can come out of park dedication funds. He suggested this type of investment in the parks be discussed. Commissioner Lindahl thought that was a good idea. A number of trees are removed. Mr. Baumunk noted Pine Hills North has some scrub trees not in the best shape. The residents from the west side of the park were concerned about bringing activities close to the homes. It is a nature park. Chair Stenzel suggested some low-maintenance plantings and would like to identify a fund for tree planting every year in the parks. Mr. Baumunk stated a landscaping line could be added to the CIP. Mr. Baumunk will check and report back to the Commission. Funding for these projects comes from the Park Dedication Fund. The Finance Department has indicated to staff that the ending fund balance for each of the $50,000 or more. Mr. Baumunk requested the Commission review the draft and make recommendations for revisions, additions, or subtractions. DISCUSS 2025 MOVIE IN THE PARK Mr. Baumunk reviewed that the Commission is requested to continue discussing the 2025 Movie in the Park date or dates, time, and select options for movies to be shown. The following are the current dates the movie screen is reserved.  June 13 – Champlin  August 8 – Ramsey Moana 2  September 12 – Ramsey Beetlejuice  September 5 – Champlin  Anoka is unsure about showing a movie in 2025. If so, it would be later in August. Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 3, 2025 Page 5 th In 2024, the event was held on Friday, August 9 and the movie Migration was shown. It was a cool, slightly windy night, and only had 50-75 in attendance. In years past, we have had 200-300 in attendance. An idea was presented about the four cities doing a joint flyer advertising all the summer movie events for 2025 and staff would like the Commission’s input about this proposal. The City Council has identified $10,000 in funding for programming opportunities in the Parks each year. This event is estimated at $1,500, depending on the movie selection. Commissioner Shafto suggested Dog Man. Commissioner Lackie suggested Sonic the Hedgehog III. Commissioner Lackie suggested Minecraft. Chair Stenzel stated it would be nice to show a series, but that takes labor. Commissioner Bruckner asked for prior showings was attendance low due to weather. Chair Stenzel recommend doing it in August. stth Commissioner Johnson suggested August 1 or August 15. Fridays seem to work the best st for Staff. The consensus of the Commission was to put on the calendar for August 1. Mr. Baumunk will research the cost of getting the movie. Staff has spoken with the other cities planning movies to do a joint flyer advertising all the movies. This may draw people from other communities to Andover. UPDATE: 2025 ANDOVER SPRING/SUMMER FIELD USE SCHEDULES Mr. Baumunk provided the finalized schedule for all Andover athletic fields for the spring/summer season. All but four fields are being utilized daily, two of which are non- irrigated, practice-only fields. All duplicate field requests were resolved without issue. There are 2,489 youth Andover residents that are expected to utilize the athletic fields this spring/summer season. This is up slightly from 2,450 in 2024. Applications are available to review upon request. Currently, this is approved by Staff. The tournament schedules were also reviewed. OUTSTANDING ITEMS Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Outstanding Items Report: On-going Projects: Staff continue to work on tree trimming along trials and in the parks. It has been a very productive year for this with the dry weather. Staff are currently working on tilling and reshaping the ag-lime infields to get them ready for the season. Along with this, they are installing and adjusting pitching rubbers and base anchors. 2024 CIP Projects – Pine Hills Multipurpose Building: The septic system was installed and passed inspection. Final electrical connections will be completed for the alarm and lift pump. Comcast is finalizing the design plan for connection to the Regular Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – April 3, 2025 Page 6 building. Connexus is expecting to install electrical connection to the building st sometime after April 1. Staff will begin working on final grade work and sidewalk connection to the parking lot shortly. The target is to have the project completed and open by June of 2025. Reservation rules and regulations are planned to be discussed at the April City Council Workshop. Updates on 2025 Park CIP Projects – New Park at Fields of Winslow Cove East Park – The playground equipment has been delivered, and the contractor is scheduled to install the playground, sidewalk, and picnic table pad early in the spring. Parks staff are planning on installing the irrigation right after the playground is completed. UPDATE: Grading plans are in the works now and staff will start grade work and excavation for the playground early to mid-May. Sunshine Basketball Court Upgrades – Staff will present this to City Council for replacing the asphalt surface in conjunction with the mill and overlay work that is being done on the south Sunshine Park parking lot this year. After that, the upgrades can be completed. Other Items of Interest: New Trail Segment Along Coon Creek – The easement has been secured and a DNR Local Trail Connection Grant was awarded in the amount of $250,000. The grant funds must be used by June of 2026. Staff has brush mowed the trail, and survey and design work has started. Staff have started the bridge design with the th bridge contractor. A neighborhood meeting was held on March 26 with those properties adjacent to the new trail. The meeting had a mixture of support and opposition. Many opposed had concerns of liability of having people in their backyards in the trail easement. Parks Maintenance Update: Mr. Baumunk reviewed the Weekly Parks Maintenance for 3/14/25 and 3/21/25. CHAIR’S REPORT - NONE ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Lindahl, seconded by Commissioner Lackie to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 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.