10-05-2004 PRCEM
MINUTES
Parks, Recreation & Community Education Advisory Board
October 5, 2004
Members Present: Mike Schiesl, Ralph Johnson, Bill Arndt, Mary Inglis and Lora Muilenburg.
Also present were DolfMoon and Karen McKay.
The meeting was called to order at 5: 15 pm
A motion made by Bill Arndt and seconded by Mary Inglis approved the minutes dated
September 13, 2004. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
Summer Projects:
*Rec Center - There have been many positive comments from participants regarding the new
flooring/lighting. The floor is a little tacky at this time, but as it is used more that will improve.
*Rotary Park - Rotary Club members planted 42 trees. The shelter is complete, and the restroom
should be installed by the end of October.
*Rolling Meadows - Residents in the Rolling Meadows neighborhood planted 400 plants and 36
trees. The plant materials were supplied by dividing plantings from other parks. High School
students in a landscape class divided the plants.
*VMF Field - Clean up and painting is taking place in the park in preparation of the State
Amateur Baseball Tournament next year. Replacing the backstop is too expensive; staff will
renovate the existing backstop. 250 Tons of ag lime will be delivered and distributed to the
ballfields in town.
*Northwoods Park - The north field will be reoriented to the east side of the park.
*School Property - The fields have been aerated four times and top dressing has been applied.
Mike Scheisl recommended that the newspaper cover the ongoing projects in the community that
the PRCE Department complete.
2005 Budget - The Directors have presented their 2005 budgets to the City Council. An
additional park maintenance staff position has been included in the PRCE Department budget.
The Event Center has a position at % full time and is expanding to full time. The position is a 30
hour receptionist and will be a 40 hour coordinator position. Currently the person is taking
bookings, typing monthly newsletters, and setting up and tearing down rentals.
Smoke Free Parks - Quentin forwarded his powerpoint presentation to Dolf. If a no smoking
policy is adopted in the parks it could lead to bigger issues. The city buildings are smoke free
because of the Clean Indoor Air Act. In other communities that have smoke free policies,
campgrounds are exempt. The school property is tobacco free. Ralph Johnson agreed that areas
such as bleachers near ball fields at spectator sports should be smoke free. Mike Scheisl told the
board that many youth organizations already have a policy in effect. He has been taking a poll of
smokers and non-smokers and doesn't feel there is a problem in the parks since there have been
no complaints thus far and that the topic is an "emotional issue". The litter created by
MINUTES
PRCE Advisory Board
October 5, 2005
Page two
the smoking is a problem. Dolfwill forward information from the board's discussion to City
Council members who will make the final decision.
NEW BUSINESS
Aquatic Center/ Ball Fields - The Rec Center Pool is almost 20 years old and in need of
maintenance repairs. A facelift or update should also be considered. As the number of
participants in youth programs such as soccer, baseball, and football maintain or increase, the
number of participants at open swimming continues to decline. The Rec Center debt was paid in
2002. New Ulm voted on a halfpenny sales tax, which they were able to retire early, that paid
for a second ice rink and a Senior Center. The Board will review what the community wants and
will make a recommendation to the City Council.
V olunteerism - There was letter to the editor of the Hutchinson Leader newspaper suggesting
that the city have volunteers mow park land in the city. Dolftold the Board that there are 465
acres of public land. At this time there is a large number of volunteers picking up litter in parks,
planting in parks, and coaching youth sports teams. Dolf is considering having a volunteer
coordinator.
BOARD MEMBER ITEMS
Mike Scheisl asked how to handle the questions regarding the sponsorship of the ice rink. Dolf
told the Board that the Hockey Association will write their check for $50,000 annually to the city
for ice rental, rather than to Citizens Bank as part of the loan payment. The City will write a
check to Citizens Bank for $200,000 to buyout the loan. Citizens Bank will write a check for
$100,000 to the City as a donation.
Bill Arndt requested that the trees along Grove Street be pruned where the school buses load
children at Park Elementary School. Dolfwill pass this on to Mark Schnobrich the City Forester.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6: 17pm by a motion made by Lora Muilenburg and seconded by
Mary Inglis.
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