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06-15-21 Parks Rec Agenda Packet PARKS AND RECREATION AGENDA Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7:00 PM Prairie Center NOTES/ACTION 6/15/2021 Call to Order Roll Call: 1. Open Forum. 2. Consider Agenda For Approval. 3. Consider the Minutes: 3.1 April 20, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes 4. Unfinished Business. 5. New Business 5.1 Prairie Park Ballfield and River Access Improvement Project Implementation 6. Parks and Recreation Update. 7. City Council Reports. 8. Adjourn. The next regular Parks and Recreation Meeting will be July 20, 2021 at Prairie Center at 7:00PM “OTSEGO PARKS AND RECREATION, THROUGH ITS EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS, IS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING HERITAGE WHILE PROVIDING QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE SERVICES, PARKS, AND PROGRAMS TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.” ITEM 3.1 OTSEGO PARKS AND RECREATION City Hall April 20, 2021 7:00 PM Call to Order. Chair Angie Dehn called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Roll Call: Chair Angie Dehn; Commissioners: Kitty Baltos, Laurie Jones, Jim Breitbach Corey Tanner Angela Hilde, and Liz Benoit (*) Absent: Commissioner Matt Killam City Council: Mayor Jessica Stockamp (*) and Council member Brittany Moores (*) Staff: Ross Demant, Parks and Recreation Director, Nick Jacobs, Parks and Recreation Operation Coordinator and Connie Schwecke Recreation Coordinator. This meeting is proceeding under MN State Statute 13D.021 allowing members to appear by telephone or video conference due to the ongoing health pandemic and state of emergency. For the record, the chair, other commissioners and staff were present in- person. Those indicated with a (*) attended via video conference. 1. Open Forum. 2. Consider Agenda Approval. Commissioner Baltos motioned to approve the agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Breitbach. All in favor. Motion carried. 3. Consider Meeting Minutes. 3.1 March 16, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Hilde motioned to recommend to the City Council to approve all meeting minutes as written. Seconded by Chair Dehn. All in favor. Motion carried. 4. Unfinished Business. 5. New Business. 5.1 Master Plan Review and Prairie Park Ballfield and River Access Improvement Project Implementation. Parks and Recreation Director Demant reviewed a brief history of the master plan and introduced HKGi representative Gabrielle Grinde who presented a summary of the master plan and park projects. Commissioner Tanner questioned if the budget for trail management can be paid out of the park dedication funds. Parks and Recreation Director Demant stated no that park trail maintenance costs cannot come out of park dedication funds. HKGi representative Ms. Grinde then reviewed the park project overview, schedule and Prairie Park and ballfield improvements. ITEM 3.1 City Council member Moores questioned if after the Prairie Park projects were completed, would Prairie Park still have enough convertible space for City events. Parks and Recreation Director stated yes, Prairie Park would still have plenty of convertible space for use at the Prairie Festival parking and other community events. Commissioner Jones asked if parking and traffic were an issue at Prairie Park. Demant stated it can be very busy at times in the summer when soccer and baseball practices games are running simultaneously. Commissioner Dehn requested to add the soccer association as a stakeholder. Ms Grinde presented the water access improvement design concept at Nashua and Carrick’s Landing. Commissioner Breitbach discussed the need to have parking as close as possible to the river access point. Demant stated there is a plan to provide parking either on the north or south end of Carrick’s Landing. After discussion, the commissioners agreed the need for a canoe/kayak rack with a lock box and to develop parking as close as possibly to the river access. 6. Parks and Recreation Update. Parks and Recreation Director Demant presented update. Parks and Recreation Coordinator Schwecke discussed recreation updates and Parks and Recreation Operation Coordinator Nick Jacobs presented park projects. 7. City Council Reports. Mayor Jessica Stockamp presented City Council Report. 8. Adjourn. Commissioner Breitbach motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Baltos. All in favor. Motion carried. Adjourned at 8:46P.M. Written by Connie Schwecke, Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant 1 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Ross Demant, Parks and Recreation Director DATE: June 11, 2021 RE: Ballfield and River Access Update and Review GENERAL INFORMATION Planning Process: • Kick-Off Meeting with Staff (one meeting to include both tasks) • Meet with Parks and Recreation Commission to Review Process • Site Visits and Evaluations • Site Analyses • Engage Stakeholders and Community • Summarize Input and Preferences • Develop Concept Plans • Develop Cost Estimates A representative from HKGi will be present at the June Commission meeting to provide a presentation of the site visit and site analyses that were conducted in May. This presentation will provide a summary of the findings and explore some initial concepts of both the river access and ballfield additions. These concepts could be use during the stakeholder and community engagements to show what improvements could be possible. Once the review of the site visits and analyses is complete, the next steps would be to schedule a stakeholder meeting and implement the on-line community engagement. Staff has tentatively scheduled the stakeholder meeting for Thursday, July 8th at 7 p.m. at Prairie Center. Stakeholders would include representatives from the youth sport groups (Borrel FC, Rogers Otsego Youth Baseball, Rogers Otsego Youth Softball, and Northwood Little League.) A draft agenda has been included with this memo for review. Implementing the on-line engagement would happen within the next two to three weeks and run for approximately one month. Sample engagement questions have been provided and will also be review at he Commission meeting. Once the stakeholder meeting and community engagement information has been completed, further concept plans with costs estimates for the Commission to review. 2 ATTACHMENTS • Draft Community Engagement Summary • Draft Stake Holder Agenda 1 Creating Places that Enrich People’s Lives Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. City of Otsego Prairie Park Planning Stakeholder Meeting July 27, 2021 Prairie Center Invited Stakeholders: Baseball association, Softball association, Little League, Boreal Soccer Introductions Project Purpose • Focus on ballfields—determine needs and desires for future uses, amenities, and connections at ballfields. Review Site Analysis Diagram, Photos, and Opportunities • Ballfields o Current uses—t-ball, baseball, softball (temporary fencing is used to switch between various field uses) o Outfields are used for youth soccer program o Improve field backstops o Add covered dugouts/ADA compliant o Evaluate current fencing o Consider adding batting cages o Consider space for food trucks and/or concessions building o Consider space for permanent restrooms o Formalize parking lots – paved, curb and gutter, ADA access to fields o Consider opportunity for teams to use future ballfields at the Middle School • Prairie Park context o Consider City Hall and Public Works ongoing project to expand or build at new site o New pickleball courts in east area of park o Ongoing soccer program at the park – parking and traffic backups along 90th Street o Potential permanent restroom structure near the splashpad o Potential road connection between 90th and 85th o RC track and archery range are popular facilities west of the ballfields o Park is used for community-wide events, Prairie Festival, movies in the park, etc.—consider event uses and support facilities (overflow parking, restrooms, open lawn areas) Agenda Otsego Prairie Park planning – Stakeholder Meeting Agenda – June, 2021 2 Discussion Questions & Considerations 1. What do you see as the top priorities for improvements at Prairie Park? 2. How do you envision using the ballfields at Prairie Park in the future? 3. Are all four ball diamonds needed considering future fields at the Middle School? 4. Are there any ideas that haven’t been considered or mentioned? 1 Creating Places that Enrich People’s Lives Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. City of Otsego Prairie Park ballfields, Nashua Landing River Access, and Carrick’s Landing River Access Planning Online Engagement TBD June-July, 2021 Method: TBD—Survey Monkey or Social Pinpoint Project Introduction & Purpose The City of Otsego is planning for future park improvements at the Prairie Park ballfield complex, and non-motorized river access at Nashua Landing and Carrick’s Landing. Future improvements would likely be constructed within the next year or two. Current planning has identified proposed concept ideas that are shown below. Please help the city plan by reviewing the concept plans and providing your feedback! Prairie Park 1. If you currently use the ballfields at Prairie Park, what do you use them for? o Programmed baseball o Programmed softball o Programmed t-ball o Programmed soccer o Informal use o Other: ______________ o I do not use the Prairie Park ballfields. 2. Based on the above concept plan for ballfield improvements, please select what you see at the top 3 priorities: o Improve field backstops o Add covered dugouts/ADA compliant o Evaluate and update current fencing o Add batting cages o Add space for food trucks and/or concessions building o Add permanent restrooms o Formalize parking lots – paved, curb and gutter, ADA access to fields o Other: ___________________________ 3. What other ideas should be considered for the Prairie Park ballfields? Outline Otsego Prairie Park ballfields & River access – Online engagement – June, 2021 2 Nashua Landing 4. Do you currently use the boat launch at Nashua Landing? o Yes—during the summer for boat launching o Yes—for other reasons: ______________ o No, I do not use Nashua Landing 5. Based on the above concept plan for improvements at Nashua Landing, please select what you see at the top 3 priorities: o Improve motorized boat launch o Add formal kayak/canoe launch o Improve road and turn-around area at the launch o Add parking area near the old city hall o Improve screening/fencing of neighboring properties o Add/Improve picnic area at the launch o Add lighting or other security measures along Nashua Ave o Add signage along CR 39 o Consider amenities, such as lockboxes for long haul paddlers o Other: ___________________________ 6. What other ideas should be considered for Nashua Landing? Carrick’s Landing 1. Do you currently use Carrick’s Landing? o Yes—for walking o Yes---for river viewing and access o Yes—for other reasons: ______________ o No, I do not use Carrick’s Landing 2. Do you have a preference for where the proposed canoe/kayak launch is located in the park? o Yes—preference for the north side launch and landing o Yes—preference for the south side launch and landing o No preference 3. Based on the above concept plan for improvements at Carrick’s Landing, please select what you see at the top 3 priorities: o Add ADA accessible kayak/canoe launch o Add wayfinding/informational signage at the parking lot o Add interpretive and information signage along the river/near the launch o Add river overlook/picnic area o Add amenities, such as lockboxes for long haul paddlers o Other: ___________________________ 4. What other ideas should be considered for Carrick’s Landing? Otsego Prairie Park ballfields & River access – Online engagement – June, 2021 3 Thank you for your input! 1 TO: Parks and Recreation Commission FROM: Ross Demant, Parks and Recreation Director DATE: June 11, 2021 RE: Parks & Recreation Update • PARKS o Roundabouts on 39  Landscaping has started on both roundabouts on County Road 39 and should be complete by the end of next week. o Zimmer Park  The irrigation controller at Zimmer Park is not functioning and that type of controller is not made any more. Staff is currently working through options on how best to get that system up and going as soon as possible. o Pickleball Courts  The pickleball courts are now complete and up and running!! Staff is currently working with some of the pickleball participants to pick furnishings that will be placed underneath the umbrella structures. o Norin Landing  The loading dock at Norin was installed on Thursday. o Prairie Park  Splash Pad • The new features at the splash pad have been a huge hit!! • We did have a contractor out this last week to sand blast areas of the concrete to provide more texture,  The net structure that was removed earlier this summer is still waiting a repair kit. That kit is in the mail and will be installed when it arrives. o Misc.  Irrigation • With the dry weather we have been receiving some complaints that the parks are looking dry. We are on an odd/even watering cycle in most of the parks and are watering has much as we can right now. Staff will continue to monitor the parks and adjust the irrigation as mush as possible.  Mowers • We had two mowers go down within the last two weeks. Our wide area mower had to be brought to the dealer for repairs. We just go 2 it back on Thursday. Our other mower needed belts to be replaced. Those belts were received on Wednesday and have been installed and that mower is also up and going now. Our staff have been doing a great job keeping up with the equipment maintenance and scheduling the maintenance in the absence of a mechanic. • RECREATION o Our staff have been busy getting things up and going both for summer and for post COVID-19 programming.  Senior Programming • Our first senior programs in over a year started this last week! We had cards, bingo, line dancing, and open instrumental music all start! Great to have all those familiar faces back again.  Touch-a-Truck • This event took place on Tuesday, June 1st. Staff estimates that we had over 1500 people in attendance. Huge shout out to Elk River Fire, Albertville Fire, Wright County Sheriff, Plastids, Collin’s Bros. Towing, Vision Transportation, and the P&R Staff for helping make this event a success!!  T-Ball • Our t-ball program also started on June 1st with over 300 kids and parents involved.  Tuesday Entertainment • Our first Tuesday Entertainment was also rolled out this week. The Raptor Center came out and showed off birds to over 200 park goers!!  Farmer’s Market • Starts on Tuesday, June 15th!! As a reminder we will be in the Coborn’s parking lot this year. We currently have 24 vendors registered and will have food trucks as well. We will also be hosting the POP (Power of Produce) program again with the help of a $500 donation form the Otsego Lion’s Club!  Sport Camps • All our sport camps will also start-up next week! From Soccer Camps to Ninja Camps!!