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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-18 - Parks and Trails MinutesMinutes Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission Tuesday, September 18, 2012 7:00 PM Present: Commissioners Trish Krueger, Val Nybo, Judith Strehler, Kevin Dale, Chad Robran Absent: Rachel Tessmer, Tom Anderson Others attending: Council Liaison Guenthner, City Administrator Donahue, Darlene Wedin- Concessions, Rockford School Superintendent Paul Durand, Melanie Robran- Soccer, Sean Thorp - Basketball 1) Convene Regular Parks & Trails Commission Meeting — Chair Krueger called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm in the Corcoran Community Center 2) Pledge of Allegiance 3) Approval of: a) Agenda. Robran suggested that agenda item 5 Presentations be modified as followed: i) 5a. Soccer Association ii) 5b. Darlene Wedin- Concessions in the Park iii) 5c. Paul Durand, Rockford Schools and pending Hennepin Youth Sports Grant Application iv) 5d. Basketball proposal v) 7a. changed to a Discussion of the proposal for a varsity level baseball field on the Rockford property vi) Motion by Robran, seconded by Nybo to approve the agenda with the suggested changes. Voting Aye: All (Motion carried 5:0) b) Minutes of 08.21.12 Meeting. Motion by Robran, seconded by Nybo to approve the meeting minutes as presented. Voting aye: All (Motion carried 5:0) 4) Open Forum -None 5) Presentations a) Soccer presentation by Melonie Robran i) More space needed, 350 kids, growing, and struggle to find space ii) Corcoran kids about 50% iii) Fee is $65 (very low compared to other programs) which covers state association, insurance, uniforms, refs, field supplies, year end picnic iv) There has been talk in the past about combining with Corcoran Athletic Association but this has not progressed beyond talk. Dale agrees that joining would not have any positive benefits for either group. Robran stated that their struggles is another reason for the city to start thinking about a parks director and a parks department v) Commissions complemented how well the soccer organization is run with limited resources b) Concessions in the Park - Darlene Wedin. She gave a summary of the efforts on her behalf this past summer of providing a concession (truck) at the park. She was out 39 evenings and netted $4,240. She presented to the Commission a check for $424 [this represents the agreed upon 10% payment to the city for allowing the truck and concession sales in the city park]. Parks and Trails Commission Minutes, September 18, 2012 She gave her observations on the program, she stated she would like to consider undertaking it again next summer, and that she would propose some changes to increase visibility and sales. c) Paul Durand- Rockford Schools i) Discussed upcoming school bond referendum in November and the implications for the school sports programs and the youth sports programs in the cities Rockford serves. ii) A public meeting will be held at the Corcoran Community Center on October 24th on the bond issue iii) One item in the bond proposal is spending up to $750,000 on creating a varsity level baseball /softball complex at the Rockford School property adjacent to the Corcoran Park. He proposed that the 2012 Hennepin Youth Sports Grant proposal be re- activated. This year's proposal would be to ask for a grant of $325,000. He asked that Corcoran committee $45,000. The school district will commit $70,000 [more if the bond passes]. Other pledging are: (1) Rocket Boosters - $3,000 (2) City of Rockford - $20,000 (3) Rockford Atletic Assoc. - $5,000 (4) Corcoran Athletic Association $3,000 (5) Chamber of Commerce $1,000 iv) He said that if the field are built, an agreement on the fields use by Corcoran, length of commitment, maintenance, etc. will have to be developed v) He was very complimentary of Corcoran, their leadership, and their commitment to last year's grant effort and, to their support for this year's application vi) Sean Tharp- Basketball Association. He outlined their program in the area. It is the biggest such program in the state with 1900 participants from youth to adults. They are looking to partner with a city to build a large facility housing up to 10+ courts. The association 6) Old Business a) Hennepin Youth Sports Equipment Grant. Donahue raised the question of the 2012 Equipment grant for the field netting. He asked the commission if they wanted to pursue a 2013 Application for the same item. The Commission and the PW Superintendent had questioned the wisdom of proceeding since the cost had gone up from around $10,000 to over $17,000 with the grant only paying a maximum of $10,000. After discussion, the Commissioners decided that the netting and its cost should be dropped as it appeared that it was not that critical of a need. Donahue brought up other possible options for a 2013 Equipment Grant application. Donahue proposed that a grant be submitted for a turf mower for the fields that cost a total of $17,000. This item was in the Capital Improvement Program for bonding in 2013. He could submit a grant application for $10,000 and lower the city cost to about $7,000. The Commission said that was a good idea and that they would support this application b) Hennepin Youth Sports Grant application for 2013. The commissioners discussed the proposal brought forth by Superintendent Durand earlier in the meeting. They liked the idea of a significant upgrade to the field that are used by city youth. Motion by Robran and seconded by Dale to recommend to the city council that they support the grant application as 2 Parks and Trails Commission Minutes, September 18, 2012 outlined by Durand and, that the city commit $45,000 from the Park Dedication Fund towards this grant if successful. Voting aye: All (Motion passed 5:0) 7) Men's League us of Fields. The chair asked that this item be laid over to the next meeting due to the late hour. 8) Subcommittee & Miscellaneous Reports a) City Liaison. Mayor Guenthner provided information on: i) Sewer and water project update. Talked about the option for extending the sewer and water pipes into downtown. ii) Public Works Facility project. The council hired Oertel as architect and Ebert Construction as construction manager. The council is in the process of putting together a bond sale of up to $4 million iii) 2013 Budget and preliminary budget levy iv) Five Year finance Plan v) Council elections vi) Street Improvement proposals b) Corcoran Athletic Association (CAA). Dale updated the Commission on the Athletic Association c) Park Dedication Fund. No discussion 9) Other Business a) Robran asked if the $424 from Concession could be dedicated to the parks or parks program. 10) Announcements. None 11) Adjourn. Motion by Robran and seconded by Dale to adjourn. Voting Aye: All (Motion carried 5:0) Meeting adjourned at 9:48 p.m. Next Meeting: October 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Daniel Donahue City Administrator 3