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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 7, 2025 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING – AUGUST 7, 2025 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Park and Recreation Commission was called to order by Chair Stenzel on August 7, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1885 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners Present: Chair Shane Stenzel, Commissioners Ryan Dawson, Emily Honer, Bruckner Johnson, Kristin Lackie, and Liza Shafto. Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Jim Lindahl Also Present: Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk. RESIDENT FORUM - NONE No one appeared to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES June 5, 2025 Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Motion by Commissioner Lackie, seconded by Commissioner Honer to approve the June 5, 2025 Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 4-ayes, 0-nays, 2-present (Dawson and Lackie). AGENDA APPROVAL Parks & Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk added a Request to Waive Tournament Fees to the agenda. Motion by Commissioner Honer, seconded by Commissioner Lackie, to approve the agenda for the August 7, 2025 Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting as amended. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025 Page 2 ND PARK DEDICATION IMPROVEMENT FUND 2 QUARTER REPORT/FINANCE DEPARTMENT Mr. Baumunk provided the quarterly review of the Park Improvement Fund. The following items were reviewed for the Commission:  Park Improvement Fund – Project Commitment Listing.  Park Improvement Fund – Balance Sheet.  Park Improvement Fund – Revenues.  Park Improvement Fund – Expenditures. Commissioner Honer asked when the funds are received, and Mr. Baumunk stated that for a residential development, the park dedication fees are received when the final permits are pulled, before the project is started. Chair Stenzel requested that at a future meeting, the Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed and possibly updated. Mr. Baumunk stated that the park dedication study will also be reviewed. The most recent study was done in 2018. The rural reserve area is not included in the study and needs to be updated. Chair Stenzel suggested the study be reviewed every few years, at least every 5 years. ND ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 2 QUARTER REPORT Mr. Baumunk reviewed the April 1 – June 30, 2025 Andover Park Activity Quarterly Report from Laura Landes – Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. There was a rash of destruction of the porta-potties recently. There have also been several motorized vehicles on the trails, which is a big concern for the City and the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Honer noted in the last Andover Today publication that there was a notice included. Mr. Baumunk stated that another article will be in the next issue. Chair Stenzel stated that the technology on the e-bikes is changing, and he has seen many on the trails. He sees more adults on e-bikes but more kids on gas-powered vehicles. DISCUSS NEW TRAIL SEGMENTS – FOR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING Mr. Baumunk reviewed that the Park & Recreation Commission is requested to discuss identifying New Trail Segments for future capital improvement planning. At the joint meeting with the City Council on June 24, 2025, the last remaining future trail segment was removed. The discussion was to have the Park & Recreation Commission identify more future new trail segments. The maps of the current trails and a map of the proposed regional trails for the City and Anoka County were provided for Commission review. The Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025 Page 3 City Council will determine how the proposed trail improvements will be funded. The current budget does not support building any new segments. Once identified, the timing of construction will be determined as funding becomes available. Trails need to be included in the CIP to apply for grants. There are several trails along county roads. Mr. Baumunk noted on the map the proposed additional trails to be constructed. He requested that the Commission keep an eye out for additional trail connections that would be a benefit. Commissioner Honer stated she would love to see a trail on Andover Blvd. that would connect Prairie to Xeon. Mr. Baumunk showed a possible trail that would not need to cross the railroad tracks. This would make a nice crossing. st Commissioner Lackie stated she would like to see a trail that connects Hanson to 161. Mr. Baumunk stated that there may be some wetland challenges and that a boardwalk may be required. He will research further. Commissioner Shafto stated she suggested prioritizing Andover Blvd. to the park first, which would get pedestrians off the road. th Commissioner Johnson asked about the segment on 157 and asked if Ham Lake or the County was doing anything with that segment. Mr. Baumunk stated that it is Andover’s street, and he has not spoken to Ham Lake. Commissioner Johnson stated that it would be a nice long trail. Mr. Baumunk will speak with Ham Lake. Commissioner Dawson asked if there is a plan for connecting the trail on Round Lake Blvd that ends on the north side of the lake to the Kelsey Round Lake Park. Mr. Baumunk stated that it can be looked at as a potential trail to add to the CIP. st Chair Stenzel suggested connecting Veterans to Kelsey and 161. He agrees with all other suggestions. One other trail segment he noticed would be a trail on Veteran’s roundabout that stops at a driveway. He suggested running that trail to the new development to the north. Mr. Baumunk stated that there is an L-shaped sidewalk. Chair Stenzel stated that trails in general are intergenerational, bring huge value to the City, are heavily used, are not seasonal, and are year-round. They are a great commuter path for kids going to school and people who work locally going to work. In most cities, trails and parks are combined. There is $3M and no money in trails. It should be considered taking money from park dedication to trails. Everyone can use trails, and they are accessible. There are always people on the trails. Trails are for recreational use. We should consider funding for trails. Mr. Baumunk noted that trail fees are collected from development. Maintenance on trails is comparable to parks. He hates seeing an empty park that is only used seasonally. If the Round Lake trail were expanded, it would be highly used. We have taken a lot of cash instead of land over the years, and we should revisit the park dedication. He feels trails bring more benefit to the City, and money should be placed where the residents want. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025 Page 4 Commissioner Johnson agreed on the importance of trails but questioned if the park dedication funds could be reallocated. Mr. Baumunk stated that moving forward with new developments, this may be an option. Commissioner Honer stated she loves our trail system. The trail systems in neighboring cities are not as good. She likes the idea of revisiting how fees are allocated. Chair Stenzel suggested putting this on an upcoming agenda. Mr. Baumunk will review with Administration and Finance on how to proceed. Chair Stenzel stated this could also be a part of the park dedication study. UPDATE 2025 ANDOER SUMMER/FALL FIELD USE SCHEDULES Mr. Baumunk provided an update about the 2025 Summer/Fall Field Use Schedules. The finalized schedule for all Andover athletic fields for the Summer/Fall season. All conflicting requests have been resolved between the requesting associations. WAIVE FEES FOR A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT ON OCT 11-12, 2025 A letter was received from Ms. Heather Cook, President of You’re Not Alone MN, requesting the waiver of fees for a softball tournament to be held on October 11-12, 2025. They are in the application process for becoming non-profit. Mr. Baumunk noted this has been done in the past for non-profits. Commissioner Honer asked if there are guidelines for waiving fees when an organization is non-profit. There are a lot of checks that need to be in place before that is granted. Mr. Baumunk stated that in the past, fees have been waived for tournaments that are not official 501C’s non-profit status. The City does not put in extra time for these tournaments. Commissioner Honer stated that when tournaments come in, local businesses benefit from people coming into the area. Commissioner Honer asked how Andover was suggested, and Mr. Baumunk stated they needed a larger facility than SRO where the tournament was held in the past. Chair Stenzel stated that what we do for one, we need to do for all. If there is nothing in writing as far as a policy, there should be one written. He is in favor of passing this request. Commissioner Dawson asked if any research had been done on the park users who don’t pay fees. Mr. Baumunk stated that there is a list of conditions that need to be met. Commissioner Johnson agreed that a policy needs to be in place. Commissioner Honer stated this request should be handled as others have been handled in the past, and a policy needs to be in place. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025 Page 5 Mr. Baumunk stated this could be tabled and brought to the next meeting to get a policy in place prior to approving. Commissioner Honer stated that since this request was submitted, we cannot put a policy in place before approval. She is in favor of passing this today. Motion by Commissioner Honer, seconded by Commissioner Shafto, to waive the fees for a softball tournament on October 11-12, 2025, for You’re Not Alone. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays. OUTSTANDING ITEMS Parks and Streets Operations Manager Jason Baumunk reviewed the Outstanding Items Report: On-going Projects: Park Maintenance Staff have started on playground replacements, mid-summer fertilizing of athletic fields, and addition of the yellow- cap fence guards in areas identified as potential safety concerns. The movie in the st Park was held on August 1. 86 Pounds of food were donated for the food drive. 2024 CIP Projects – Pine Hills Multipurpose Building: We are still waiting for Comcast to install its service to the building to get this project completed and open for reservations. QCTV did a feature video on the facility on July 30, 2025, Live and Local Show. The video will be posted on social media when available. Updates on 2025 Park CIP Projects – New Park at Fields of Winslow Cove East Park – The park is complete and open to the public. Sunshine Basketball Court Upgrades – The asphalt is planned to be removed in the next two weeks and re-paved. We are working with a contractor to apply the sport court surfacing once the asphalt cures for at least 30 days and do the upgraded hoops. The blue-green color was the consensus of the Commission. Playground Replacements – Red Oaks West playground has been removed and replaced, including a new EWF. The County Oaks playground is scheduled for later in August. Other Items of Interest: New Trail Segment Along Coon Creek – Staff is working to procure the bridge this year. This project is scheduled for spring 2026. Workshop Andover Park & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes – August 7, 2025 Page 6 New Trail Addition – Crosstown Blvd from Xeon to Prairie Rd – Plans have been submitted to BNSF for the pedestrian crossing of the railroad tracks, and comments have been returned. Staff is currently addressing the BNSF comments. A video of the Pine Hills North Shelter was shown to the Commission. CHAIRS REPORT Commissioner Honer had no report. Commissioner Johnson had no report. Commissioner Shafto thanked the Andover FunFest Committee and City Staff on the Movie in the Park. Commissioner Lackie had no report. Commissioner Dawson had no report. Chair Stenzel had no report. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Shafto, seconded by Commissioner Dawson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. Motion carried on a 6-ayes, 0-nays. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Wolfe, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.