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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 03-15 PRM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MARCH 15, 2016 COMMUNITY ROOM #221, COMMUNITY CENTER CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Shinnick called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. ROLL CALL Commissioners Bonovsky, Dalton, Ebert, and Witalka were present. Chair Sorenson was absent and excused, Commissioner Thorbus was absent. Also present was Councilmember April Graves and Community Activities, Recreation & Services Director Jim Glasoe. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice-Chair Shinnick asked if there were any additions or changes to the proposed agenda. CARS Director Glasoe indicated he would like two items added, one relating to a report from the 2/25 BCBA business meeting by Commissioner Dalton and a draft of a new parks and trails map. Vice-Chair Shinnick asked that the items be added to the agenda. By consensus, the agenda was approved as amended. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 16, 2016 There was a motion by Commissioner Witalka, seconded by Commissioner Ebert to approve the minutes of the February 16, 2016 meeting of the Park & Recreation Commission as presented. The motion passed unanimously. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Councilmember Graves reported the City Council had approved the Trunk Highway #252 Corridor study plan at their meeting last evening. Councilmember Graves noted there was a long public hearing on the issue and that it eventually passed 4 to 1. Councilmember Graves reported the City Council had received a draft of the planned Entertainment in the Park series scheduled for this summer at the new Memorial Amphitheater. Councilmember Graves reviewed the planned list of events and commented that she felt it was a nice mix of musical styles. Councilmember Graves reported that BrookLynk, our Brooklyn Center youth employment program, is looking for volunteers to serve as mock interviewers on March 30 and April 6, 2016. She encouraged interested Commissioners to contact Luis Salado-Herrera at 763-398-0796 or 612-834- 6108. Councilmember Graves reported that Brooklyn Center University was in its third week and was being well received by the participants. Councilmember Graves reported The American Red Cross has partnered with the Brooklyn Center Fire Department to provide additional smoke detectors to the BCFD smoke detector program and make them available to any resident who requests it. Councilmember Graves reported the second meeting of Coffee with Cops was scheduled for st Monday March 21 from 4:00-5:30 at the Caribou World headquarters. Councilmember Graves reported she had been appointed as City Council Liaison to the Brooklyns Youth Council, noting it was a good fit with her youth work background. Councilmember Graves reported she had requested the City Council consider supporting an annual Earthfest event. ADOPT-A-PARK, TRAIL, STREET CARS Director Glasoe reported that he had requested an update on the Adopt-A-Park, Trail, Street Program for Renee Anderson in Public Works and that she had forwarded the updated recruitment flyer, but noted commitments weren’t due until early April. Mr. Glasoe noted that she had called the person who had been adopting Marlin and Lakeside Parks and verified they would be cleaning them again this year. CARS Director Glasoe indicated Public Works would be providing a report once all commitments were in and would inform the Commission if there were any parks not adopted. Commissioner Witalka requested that the program update be posted on the City’s website. CARS Director Glasoe indicated he would make the request. APRIL 6 COUNCIL/COMMISSION MEETING Vice-chair Shinnick announced the upcoming joint meeting between the City Council and the th various Commissions. He noted the meeting was scheduled for April 6, at 6:00 p.m. in Constitution Hall. CARS Director Glasoe distributed a draft power point presentation detailing the composition and activities of the Commission during the past year. After review and some discussion, CARS Director Glasoe encouraged Commissioners to continue their review and notify him if they identified any additional changes. th Vice-chair Shinnick encouraged all Commissioners to attend the April 6 meeting. CENTENNIAL PARK TENNIS COURT REPLACEMENT- CONTINUE DISCUSSION CARS Director Glasoe reported that, as requested at the February meeting, he had researched the cost of installing a disc golf course and had included that information in the packet. Mr. Glasoe noted the approximate cost was $15,000 for an 18 hole course. CARS Director Glasoe also reported that Commissioner Dalton had forwarded a suggestion of restoring the area to “Prairie Grass” similar to areas in Brooklyn Park. CARS Director Glasoe noted the anticipated expense for that type of conversion would depend upon the size of the area planted, but estimated the cost at $3,000-$5,000. Vice-chair Shinnick encouraged Commissioners to continue to consider the issue and inform CARS Director Glasoe if they had additional ideas. Commissioners asked for an aerial of that section of Centennial Park. PARKS RECYCLING EXPANSION PLAN Commissioner Dalton noted the Commission had passed a resolution at their November meeting supporting an expansion to all parks. Commissioner Dalton indicated she noted the city had many ongoing initiatives and was inclined to take this year to examine how things were going and how recycling efforts might be enhanced. Commissioner Dalton noted that we might benefit from increased signage on the recycling containers, particularly on the back of the container. She also noted Public Works may have a map of the existing locations of recycling containers in the parks and asked if that map could be located. Commissioner Witalka also asked for a report on how recycling activities in the parks had gone in 2015. CARS Director Glasoe indicated that if may be a good idea to contact Tim Pratt, the current Hennepin Recycling Group Director to see what type of support he might be able to identify. BCBA 2/25/16 MEETING- NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE SUPERINTENDENT th Commissioner Dalton reported she had attended the February 25 Brooklyn Center Business Association meeting where the guest speaker was National Parks Service Superintendent John Anfinson. Commissioner Dalton noted Superintendent Anfinson touted Brooklyn Center’s “local” National Park, the Mississippi River and promoted the Park Service’s “Find your Park” program. Commissioner Dalton added that Superintendent Anfinson reported the #2 thing younger generations look for when selecting a community to live in is parks and open spaces. MEMORIAL AMPHITHEATER- ENTERTAINMENT PLANNING CARS Director Glasoe noted Councilmember Graves had reviewed the planned schedule of events for this summer and echoed her comments on the eclectic mix of musical styles. Mr. Glasoe noted there were five community members, including Commissioner Thorbus, that had assisted Program Supervisor Sue LaCrosse in planning the entertainment for Summer 2016. LITTLE LEAGUE MASTER PLAN- UPDATE CARS Director Glasoe reported the “Request for Proposals” for design services to develop a master plan for the Brooklyn Center Little League were “out” for consideration and that th proposals were due back by March 25. Mr. Glasoe noted the proposals had been posted on the City and League of Minnesota Cites websites. PARK TRAIL MAP CARS Director Glasoe distributed a “draft” of a new parks & trails map that had been produced by the Public Works Department. Mr. Glasoe noted the map was in draft form, and asked Commissioners to review the document and report back any additions or corrections. CARS Director Glasoe noted the intent was to have the final version maps available for the April th 16 Great Shingle Creek Cleanup. SET NEXT MEETING DATE Vice-Chair Shinnick reminded the Commission of the Joint City Council/Commissions meeting on th April 6. By consensus, the next meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission was set for April 19th, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. MEETING ADJOURNED A motion was made by Commissioner Ebert, seconded by Commissioner Bonovsky to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.