03-04-2013 PRCEMMINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
March 4, 2013
Members present were Elizabeth Hanninen, Lori Hornick- Lindell, Betsy Czmowski, Eric
Opland, Matt Butler, and John Rodeberg. Also present were Dolf Moon and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5:15 pm.
A motion was made by Eric Opland and seconded by Elizabeth Hanninen to approve the minutes
dated February 3, 2013. The board unanimously agreed.
OLD BUSINESS
Luce Line Trail - March 12 will be Parks and Trails Legislative Day at the state capitol. There
will be 10 -12 people from the area attending, including the mayors of Hutchinson, Silver Lake,
and Winsted. The day will consist of networking with legislators to promote the passage of a
bonding bill to pave the Luce Line Trail. If successful and the funds are obtained, the paving
will occur soon thereafter.
Bandstand West River - RiverSong applied for a $15,000 grant to assist in paying for the
bandstand shell at West River Park. It looks favorable that the grant will be approved. The shell
is scheduled to be delivered soon and installation will begin.
Crow River Watershed - Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) will be having a meeting for
community members and Crow River property owners to develop an action plan to improve
access to and utilization of the Crow River.
Annual Report - A hard copy of the 2012 PRCE Annual Report was given to the board members
in attendance. Presentations of the annual report were given at the February PRCE Advisory
Board meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Aquatic Center - City staff has researched improvements to the city pool. Other cities' pool
improvements were looked at for ideas. Information will be given to the City Council at their
March 26 meeting. Recommended improvements will be in the $3 million dollar range with
$1.3 million dollars coming from Hutchinson Health (the privatization agreement in which funds
related to healthy lifestyle will be given to the City).
Art Walk/Hutchinson Center for the Arts - Requests for Proposals were sent to several artists
today inviting them to display their works along the Crow River for one year. Six artists will be
chosen. Their art can be sold. Initial costs will be $18,000 including the cost to construct secure
pads to display the art work. The pads will be reused.
PRCE Advisory Board
March 4, 2013
Page two
Bicycle Friendly Community_ - Bicycle Minnesota will be in Hutchinson in April to assist the
City in developing a 60 — 80 page document to be used to apply for designation as a bicycle -
friendly community. The three levels of designation are bronze, silver, and gold. Hutchinson
has the criteria to be awarded the bronze designation. There are only four other communities in
Minnesota that are designated as bicycle - friendly with Minneapolis being the largest city and
Bemidji being the smallest city. Winona and Mankato are also applying.
R22 Legislation - The current refrigeration systems at the ice rinks use freon which will need to
be converted to R22 to satisfy changes in the law. If the freon were to leak into the atmosphere,
financial penalties can be imposed. A Mighty Duck grant may be available to assist with the
conversion.
BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
Registration - Eric Opland inquired as to the date of registration for summer programs. The date
is Tuesday, May 7 from 6:00 pm — 7:30 pm. In lieu of the regular monthly meeting, board
members are invited to assist with registration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 pm.