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PRC 2012 05 22 CHANHASSEN PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MAY 22, 2012 Vice Chair Scharfenberg called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Scharfenberg, Elise Ryan, Cole Kelly and Brent Carron MEMBERS ABSENT: Tom Kelly, and Peter Aldritt STAFF PRESENT: Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director; Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent; and Mitch Johnson, Recreation Supervisor APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Scharfenberg: Do we have any changes to tonight’s agenda? Any additions? Hoffman: None. We’ll wait til we get a full allotment of commissioners to elect our new Chair and Vice Chair for 2012 and nothing else from me to be added. Scharfenberg: I want to add, if I could add one thing on reports. Can you get an update on the disc golf? Hoffman: Yep. Scharfenberg: And so that will go under reports and then I was going to give an update on the tree planting and where should we put that item under? Hoffman: Commission Member. Scharfenberg: Commission Member. Hoffman: Committee Reports. I’ll also be glad to give a watercraft inspection update. Scharfenberg: Okay. Hoffman: Let you know about the program that’s up and running within the community and it’s currently operating in some areas but it will kick off at all our lakes this Friday. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ruegemer: I’d just like to inform the commission that the Memorial Day ceremony is coming up this th coming Monday, the 28. 12:00 noon right here at City Center Park. It’s about roughly about a half hour program for that honoring people who served our nation so put on by the Legion with some assistance from the City on that so it should be another great event so please mark your calendars. Also just want to let everybody know Lake Ann concession and boat rental operation opens up this coming weekend so we’ve been real busy trying to get everything ready to go for that so FYI. If you have a little extra time and want to go on a paddleboat or kayak, feel free to go out this weekend. Scharfenberg: Anything new at Lake Ann this year? Any new concessions or anything? Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Ruegemer: What is new? At this point, no. Hoffman: New asphalt as of today in the front parking lots so that’s wonderful. Scharfenberg: Alright, thank you Jerry. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS: Scharfenberg: I note that we have some visitors here today present so please step forward. State your name and your address. Jennifer Roerick: Hi. My name is Jennifer Roerick and we live at 7604 Great Plains Boulevard. The reason why I’m here, is that why you want me now? Scharfenberg: Yep. Jennifer Roerick: The reason why I’m here is my son uses the skate park and there was some things that they were petitioning and I talked to Todd earlier in the month about some of the skateboarders wanted to not allow other kids to use it if they were using inline skates, BMX bikes or scooters and my son Nick scooters and so that’s why we are here tonight to just let you guys know how much, the opportunity to thank you guys, how much you guys do at the City of Chanhassen for the skate park and how much it offers. Having a teenage son that uses it quite often, and just allowing all kids of all ages to use it and I know that obviously some of the older kids do get a little out of hand in some language up there. I do hear from my son but I respect that he’s good and doesn’t use that language and so, but just letting all the kids from skateboards, BMX bikes, inline skates, scooters all to use the skate park and that that it keeps these kids out of trouble. Just from you know causing private property damage I think and just knowing that my son is safe up there rather than being somewhere where he shouldn’t be and being the peer pressure of going and doing something he shouldn’t be doing so I really do appreciate just having the attendant up there and that also that you just allow everybody of all types and all ages to ride and that you guys re-opened that back in I think it was ’99 you guys revisited that and we appreciate that so, and thank you. Scharfenberg: Thank you. Jennifer Roerick: Yep. James Shutrop: My name is James Shutrop. I live on 540 Dakota Lane and yeah, I just came here because there was an opportunity for school to kind of check out like I guess the whole aspect of how like the meetings and like government go and cities and I was kind of curious on how all that works so I wanted to come and just take a look at the structure and how everything work out. And then also I heard that there was going to be some changes to the skate park and maybe a new skate park or something like that and I was kind of curious so I wanted to, I don’t know, parks and recreation, see what was happening with that kind of thing so. Scharfenberg: Well James, where do you go to school? James Shutrop: Chanhassen High School. Scharfenberg: Okay. And any questions you have for us? It’s your chance. You’re here. Any questions for us about what we do or what our role is? 2 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 James Shutrop: Um, let me think for a second. Maybe like, is this like you guy’s full time job? Like you work for the City of Chanhassen planning all the parks and making budgets and everything? This is all a full time job or is that just volunteer work? Scharfenberg: Elise, you want to handle that one. Ryan: We actually are a recommending body. Is it not, some of us have full time jobs outside of this. This is just a volunteer activity from the City that we’re appointed by the City Council and we, based on what the City brings to us and the community brings to us, comments, concerns, we make recommendations to the City Council and then they approve or disapprove of how budgets are spent and what projects are taken care of but this is not a full time job for us. Scharfenberg: But there are members, Todd, Mr. Hoffman and Jerry and Mitch are both, are all full time members that run the park and rec staff and are the people that do the majority of the work and come to us with things that they think we need to address and talk about. They’ll make recommendations to us and we can discuss those you know recommendations with them and ask them to go back and maybe get some more information and bring it back to us and then ultimately we take that information and then we’ll make recommendations to the City Council and kind of pass that onto them and then they make the decisions ultimately. Like for example with the skate park and making those changes and stuff like that, we recommend to them what we would like to do and we get approval from the City Council. Hoffman: The council’s an elected body and so you watch this fall the election and there’ll be some council members on there up for election so they’re elected by the people and the 5 council members, the mayor and 4 council members, they are the elected officials. They conduct the City’s business. They appoint a City Manager and the City Manager then hires staff members to operate and then this body’s appointed, an appointed body. Not an elected body. They’re appointed by the City Council to give advice and recommendations back to the City Council because the City Council doesn’t have time to, enough time to deal with everything and so they want some expertise from the Planning Commission, the Environmental Commission and the Parks Commission so that’s how the form of government works. There is one employee that is hired and fired by the City Council. That is the City Manager and then the City Manager hires the rest of the employees. James Shutrop: I understand. Well thank you. Scharfenberg: And we all serve 3 year terms so that’s kind of how we rotate in off of different faces so, well thank you for coming James. Appreciate it. James Shutrop: Yeah, thank you. Scharfenberg: You bet. Hoffman: Write a good report. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Cole Kelly moved, Carron seconded to approve the verbatim and summary Minutes of the Park and Recreation Commission meeting dated March 27, 2012 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. APPROVE PROPOSED RFP LANGUAGE AND PROJECT SCHEDULE – SKATE PARK RECONSTRUCTION. 3 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: Thank you Chair Scharfenberg, members of the commission. The 2012 budget includes $110,000 for skate park reconstruction. We’re proposing that $50,000 of it be invested in the surfacing for both the skate park and then the inline skating rink or hockey rink and $60,000 for a new Tier I half pipe mini ramp and other equipment that will be replaced. The oldest equipment that is within the park. The park was started in ’95 and it was developed in three phases. Or excuse me, the first phase was in ’99 and then 2000 and then 2003 and so we’re proposing that the phases in ’99 and 2000 have lived their life span. Basically the infrastructure, the wood supports can no longer hold the fasteners tight enough to have the skatelite secured to that surface and so there’s just not the integrity left in that framing to justify us going out and trying to perform repair work. That stuff is not simple to do and so you’re investing a lot of time and a lot of new skatelite and other fasteners and so you don’t want to do that when it really doesn’t last. The third phase we’ll keep in the park and so basically the $60,000 is going to replace Phases I and II and not add a whole lot of new things, although we’re hopeful it will add a few new things within the park. One thing we talked about when we were out there is adding some grind rails on the back side or the north side of the park so that would be added. So that’s the basis of the proposal. The RFP would be sent out as attached. There will be probably 2 or 3 companies that would be interested and really that’s all the skate, that’s all the companies that are really left in the United States that would be able to perform this type of work and then we’ll review those. Make a recommendation and then get that contractor on board here by mid to late summer and construct the new ramps. Move the old ones out. Put the new surface down and re-open the skate park. Ryan: Todd how does that work then when you send out the RFP’s because I’m not sure of this. Does it then, it comes to you and then you bring it to us or what’s the process? Hoffman: Correct. Ryan: Okay. And will the individuals that are responding give us a presentation or? Hoffman: It’s currently not scheduled. Some are from out of state so probably just reviewing it in a paper copy. Ryan: Oh, okay. And then in terms of the equipment that we’re going to dispose of, are there I don’t know boy scouts or groups that would be interested in taking any of the equipment and use it as a project and then put it in another location? Is there anything that can be done with it or is that in the plans? Hoffman: Yeah there is, we talk about that quite often. Like if we were taking out a playground because we deemed it was in need of replacement, we really wouldn’t want to give it to anybody else. That’s I think the same position we’re in here. Ryan: Okay. Hoffman: Is that this stuff is, lived out it’s life. Probably could be perfectly serviceable in a back yard but again there’s issues with, not that you donate it, somebody would have to arrange for insurance on it and same thing if there happened to be an incident on it, if they didn’t maintain it and there was an accident, you know attorneys would get involved and they’d ask, why did you get rid of this? Oh, it was past it’s life span. Then why did you donate it? You should have disposed of it so. Cole Kelly: Deep pockets there, you don’t want to go there. Hoffman: Yeah, so that’s the concern. You always would like to re-use it but if it’s not useable for us we really wouldn’t want to donate it to somebody so it would be disposed of. 4 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Scharfenberg: Brent? Carron: On something like this, what is the typical warranty that we’re going to be asking on what they provide? As far as materials go. Hoffman: Probably about. Carron: It didn’t really say underneath the warranty. I was just, defects in workmanship and materials, equipment. Hoffman: Yeah I’m thinking. Carron: Is that going to be part of the proposal that they give us? Hoffman: Yeah, they’ll include it. I don’t know what their typical warranty is but I’ve got some paperwork. It’s either 2 or 10 so I don’t want to guess for you. th Carron: Okay. The only other thing is on page 2 it says furnished and installed by September 4 through ststth the 21 and the completion date on page 4 is August 1 through the 15. Hoffman: Thank you. Yeah, we did modify that. We moved it out. Carron: So I guess we need to pick, or you can pick one or the other. Hoffman: It’s the second. It’s the later date. Carron: Okay. Scharfenberg: So on page? thst Carron: September 4 to the 21? Hoffman: Correct. Scharfenberg: 4 should be revised. Cole Kelly: Yeah on the last, for the last sentence under discussion is the park will be scheduled to close thth August 15 through September 15 is correct? Hoffman: No, it’s September. stth Ryan: September 1 through September 15? Hoffman: Correct. Cole Kelly: Okay, so that’s wrong. thst Hoffman: All equipment must be furnished and installed between the dates of September 4 and 21, thst 2012. So it’s be closed August 15 to September 21. Scharfenberg: Where’s the closing date? Where is that referenced? 5 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: Under discussion, the last line on the first page. Cole Kelly: So Todd we’ll have all the bids in in time for our next meeting to review those? And then just give the, you’ll make recommendations to us on where you think we should go and then whatever we approve, it will go to the City Council? Hoffman: Correct. th Cole Kelly: And so we’re in a good time basis as far as the September 4 goes for all that so I don’t know when the next City Council will be after our meeting. Hoffman: It will be in July because I believe they’re. Carron: I think proposals are coming in the end of June. th Scharfenberg: Yeah, so we won’t have them for our next meeting. June 28. th Carron: June 29. th Scharfenberg: Yeah well the Tuesday is the 28 so that will be our meeting so the day after is when the bids are closed. Carron: Unless you want to move that up. Hoffman: Yeah we certainly could. th Carron: June 27. Have it in by Monday then we can have it for our Tuesday meeting. Cole Kelly: Are we giving the, you said there’s like 3 sources to go to. Are we giving them enough time? Hoffman: They’ve been working on it already. Cole Kelly: Okay. Well then let’s do it on the Monday before we meet so we have them for our next meeting. Ryan: Or should they come in that Friday. Scharfenberg: Friday, yeah I was going to say. Ryan: So yeah then you have Monday to prepare for the meeting on Tuesday so Friday. th Scharfenberg: I think it’s the 24. th Carron: 24. Hoffman: And then the council is meeting, they’ll see it the fourth Tuesday, or fourth Monday of July. Cole Kelly: So Todd all we’re looking for tonight is just approval of the process correct? 6 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: Correct. I can tell already it was helpful to have the review. Scharfenberg: Alright, can I get a motion to adopt the proposed action for this RFP for the skate park. Cole Kelly: I so move that the Park and Rec Commission approve the request of the proposed language and project schedule that we just amended for the reconstruction of the skate park. Carron: Second. Cole Kelly moved, Carron seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission approves the request for proposed language and project schedule for reconstruction of the skate park as amended. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. ESTABLISH 2013-2017 PARK AND TRAIL ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TOUR SCHEDULE. Hoffman: Thank you Chair Scharfenberg, members of the commission. Each, annually each May or June we take a tour to start taking a look at what is coming up for capital improvement projects. I think it’s just as important this year. We’ll probably be taking a look at some recommendations about, with money being tight about holding off such things as there’s this allocation for the Arboretum trail. We did not receive that grant for underpass and so those dollars would be available to move over to Rice Marsh. That’s a project that’s ready to go and Eden Prairie is moving on that so there’ll be those type of conversations to have, and then the completion of Pioneer Pass and Riley Ridge Parks are the other two really important pending projects we have. Citizens are starting to become educated on what the process is with those parks in the development and the acquisition and so we need to make sure that we meet those demands as well. So those are the sites that I think we should be looking at. There may be others that the commission would like to review but I think for sure we should walk that Rice Marsh Lake trail. Review what’s going on out at the Arboretum. There’s no doubt with the west underpass going on that there is going to be increased pedestrian traffic and so, at the Arboretum. People are going to want to find the entrance, do their biking through the Arboretum and then leave out the west side or come in on the west side and leave the east side, either way. If you’ve noticed there’s a lot of construction going on at Highway 5 and 41 right now and that will still include those at grade crossings. Those pedestrian signals so people will be taking those at grade crossings to make that entrance but the larger project with the underpass at Highway 41 in front of Lifetime and the trail for the Arboretum, it’s a big project and without a future funding source those matching dollars. You could certainly leave them there for the future but they would probably be better used over at Rice Marsh. So those, I want to view the parks that we’re working on. Disc golf, we should probably go out there and take a look at that. That’s really coming together and anything else the park board would like to take a look at and then you need to pick a date. You can either do an off Tuesday or you could do it the evening of your June meeting on the fourth Tuesday and just do it early. Whatever the commission would like. Scharfenberg: Elise, any discussion? Carron: Just underneath the funding source here Todd, would it be possible by that point to get it updated because I think some of these, like 41 we should, have we worked out the details there and what our portion is with the bids that came in? Is it that 633? Hoffman: That’s close. Yeah, it’s a little higher than that. Carron: Because at Bandimere I think it was less than the $500,000 right? 7 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: Correct. Carron: If we could just get maybe an updated one so we’d know where we’re at here in 2012. And then the only other thing is, any word on the stairway trail extension? …out with MnDOT yet review? It’s still sitting there? Hoffman: Still sitting there. We call them. They don’t call us so much but they know we want it. Carron: Who you talking to? I’ll call. Hoffman: We’ll exchange phone numbers tomorrow. Cole Kelly: So we’re looking at pulling 633 back into the CIP from the underpass not going through? Hoffman: No. Carron: No, that’s going through. That’s 41. That’s 205. Cole Kelly: Oh there we go. On the Rice Lake Marsh. Rice Marsh Lake trail we do have a grant request in and what’s the date we’re supposed to hear on that? Hoffman: I don’t recall a specific date. Next year. Cole Kelly: No it’s June. This June. Hoffman: I don’t recall the timing. Cole Kelly: Okay, I knew it was in June sometime we’re supposed to hear. Hoffman: Okay. The one that we’re. Scharfenberg: Is that just the right-of-way are you talking about? Carron: That limited use permit? Cole Kelly: No. Hoffman: DNR grants permit. Cole Kelly: It’s to try and get some money to help us finish the trail and then push for it. Hoffman: It’s DNR local trail matching grant. Scharfenberg: Oh, okay. Cole Kelly: So they turned us down last year so we’re going back again this year. If you haven’t figured it out, Rice Marsh Lake trail is near and dear to my heart so I will be pushing for it. Hoffman: The dollars I was referring to was in 2015 the pedestrian trail at the Arboretum. That 275. Cole Kelly: Oh, okay. 8 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Scharfenberg: That’s what’s available. Well in terms of a date I would prefer they do it other than the night of our meeting if we could do it on an off night. Carron: I would agree with that. Split it up. Otherwise it’s going to be a long day. Scharfenberg: Yeah. Hoffman: Second Tuesday at 6:30. 7:00. th Scharfenberg: Is that the 12? Cole Kelly: Now that week, that’s when we get into June. Scharfenberg: A track meet? th Cole Kelly: No, the 14 we’re having our graduation party so that week I’m unavailable so I would rather not do it that week. th Scharfenberg: How about, is it the 19? 6/19. Cole Kelly: Yeah, 6/19 I could do. Hoffman: Is that a Tuesday? Carron: Yep. Scharfenberg: Yeah. Carron: I’m good with that date. Scharfenberg: 6:00 p.m. Hoffman: Okay. Meet here. We’ll carpool. Scharfenberg: Anyone have any additions in terms of, I agree with Todd. Definitely walk Rice Marsh. The two playground sites. Ryan: Didn’t we move Riley Ridge up to 2013? Hoffman: You’ll be recommending that it be moved up. Cole Kelly: We haven’t gone there yet. Scharfenberg: Does anybody else have an urge to see anything else specifically that’s on the list? Ryan: The neighborhood and the disc golf correct. Scharfenberg: Neighborhood. Two parks. Disc golf. Rice Marsh. 9 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: New projects or future. We could take a look at the Highway 41 trail. Where it’s at with it’s progress. Scharfenberg: Okay. Ryan: When is that proposed to be done? Carron: Not til late this fall. Ryan: Oh really. Carron. Yeah. They can’t do anything with an underpass until Highway 5 is complete so Highway 5 is supposed to complete mid-September I think. Ryan: Why can they not do anything with the underpass. Carron: Because it’s a detour route. Ryan: Oh. Carron: But when Highway 5 shuts down. Ryan: Okay. Hoffman: We’ll make a point to look at some of the missing links. There’s only 3 or 4 so we’ll go out to the west side. Take a look at how we could link up to that underpass at Highway 7. There’s one chunk of trail we need there and maybe take a drive by the south LRT so we can take a look at that. Cole Kelly: Yeah, and the Bluff Creek addition. Hoffman: Yep. Cole Kelly: Yeah I looked where it was, what year you were looking at and I go that’s way too far away. But we’ll see. It’s something that’s a little near and dear and the other thing is, on the LRT when you get past Bluff Creek Road and it looks more like just a road. It’s not graded dirt. Are there any plans for that in the future or are we looking to do anything there? Hoffman: What happens there is, east of the trailhead, Three Rivers Park Districts take care of it and they pump a lot of money into it. West of there it’s the City of Chanhassen. We hold the Limited Use Permit with the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority. We don’t put a lot of money into our section because in the future it’s going to be turned back to probably Carver County. Cole Kelly: Okay. Hoffman: And so, they come out regularly and pave that with new or new aggregate and do a lot of work on it so we just mow our section. But Carver County’s expressed interest in taking it back. Carver County is currently working on the connection piece to take it from the ditch line into Chaska and once they do that, then they would assume, be interested in assuming ownership of the rest of the piece. At least responsibility for it. 10 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Ryan: Has Lyman Boulevard, that’s been on the discussion or the docket before in terms of the really between Powers and the high school. Hoffman: It’s scheduled for 2014. Ryan: Okay. Hoffman: Between. Ryan: A trail and shoulder or? Hoffman: Off, a trail and 4 lanes so it will be between Powers and Audubon. The missing piece. Ryan: Yep. Okay. Hoffman: It’s scheduled for 2014. Ryan: Okay. Hoffman: The hill will come down. They’ll raise the bottom so they’ll flatten the hill and fill up the bottom a little bit and then the trail on the north side to connect. Ryan: Nice. Hoffman: County project. Scharfenberg: And then so Todd the plan would be for our June meeting to set CIP parameters at June for recommendations to council. Hoffman: Correct. Or at least start on them. Scharfenberg: Okay. Hoffman: And if you finish it, you finish it. If not you go to July. Scharfenberg: Okay. Anybody else have any other discussion items regarding CIP? So in summary th we’ll do, can someone set out an email to the rest of the commissioners notifying of the June 19 meeting and we’ll meet at city hall for that. Ryan: I’d be happy to do that. Scharfenberg: Thank you. Hoffman: And we’ll do a box dinner somewhere on the road. Ryan: Finish at disc golf and throw some discs. Hoffman: I’m still a little confused. They say you can’t call it Frisbee but a lot of people call it Frisbee golf so I’m not sure if that’s just. Cole Kelly: Well if we’re throwing it’s definitely Frisbees. 11 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Ryan: Right. Hoffman: A patent thing or. RECREATION PROGRAM REPORTS: LAKE ANN PARK SUMMER SCHEDULE. Ruegemer: Thanks Commissioner Scharfenberg. Just to shed a little more light when you talk about the opening this weekend. We’ve been busy kind of cleaning out there. We have our concession manager out there today and she kind of cleaned from roof to tile here this morning and this afternoon so, just did a lot of cleaning of the cobwebs and getting rid of the winter dirt out of there. Getting it ready to go for the operation. You know mop the floor. Clean the cobwebs. Got all the candy organized and the chips and all that kind of fun stuff. Coca Cola has been out there so we have all the coolers stocked with sodas and water. Vitamin waters, that sort of thing really at this point. Coke was out again today. We’re going to get one of the stand-up coolers replaced. The seal has broken and the door is kind of bombed a little bit so just trying to keep up on equipment and that’s all free per our contract so if it gets bad we just exchange it out. So that saves the City some money on that. Concession manager again will do the schedules and order the supplies. I kind of do the initial stuff and then she’ll take over at this point and you know kind of run the operation so we’re excited again to have it open. The kids, I was down there for a large part of the day here today and the beach is starting to get full already with people and starting at 10:30 in the morning so, which is kind of crazy but be the first one. My daughter went swimming in Minnetonka last night so and kayaking so kind of crazy. But picnics have been kind of off the hook again this year. It’s crazy. You answer one phone call and get 4 more and emails and it’s extremely busy at this point. Last year we had a record high for, it was 20 or 30 percent more than the previous year for paid picnics so we hope to kind of keep that revenue a little higher again this year for that. It’s been crazy th popular. I think at one Saturday, June 9 open for all the shelters and that was because of a cancellation so if I had 8 more weekends of in June for graduation parties and weddings, that sort of thing, we could book them so it’s been really crazy. Just with a lot, we have programs out at the shelters for Summer Sensations and playground programs and Lake Ann Adventure Camps and a lot of those type of things we’re trying to take advantage of kind of our facilities as well. Get people out in the parks for that too. Obviously I think it’s going to hold true again this year that Hilltop is going to be the most popular shelter that we have. People really enjoy having those big shelters. Lake Ann still’s holding some larger companies…you know just a lot of these 300 to 400 person picnics are coming out here now that we do have the Hilltop shelter complete now. So I think a lot of people like to have that capacity and then we’ve been tying in boat rentals. We’re always trying to sell that to try to get them to reserve all the boats and then we’re guaranteed you know $150-$200 a day for that and so we’re just really trying to get the information out there for all these companies and it seems to be working and those are non-resident rates with that too so we’re really trying to bump that increase in revenue. The lifeguards are scheduled to th open June 9 this year. The beach certainly is open at all times. People can come and swim. It just thth won’t be guarded until June 9 and that’ll be 11:00 to 7:00 every day and that’ll stay open until the 19 of th August. Just you know FYI that Miracle Kids Triathlon is scheduled for the 18 of August this year out at Lake Ann so that’ll be a busy couple days out there. I’m sure there’ll be a couple three thousand th people out there that day so that’ll be busy. The, and I think…September 10 the Twin Cities Paddleboat Association is going to be doing a paddleboat, what do you call that? Kind of duathalon. I think they’re running the padding, that’s what it’s called but basically the paddles, they’re run between the trail in the park and over to Greenwood Shores and back and then they paddle, I think they paddle first. Then they th paddle twice around the lake for that so we approved that already for that and that’s September 10. That’s Saturday. So you know Lake Ann is going to be crazy again this year for CAA is doing a state tournament out there again plus a national tournament for softball. Girls softball in July. The first three 12 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 weekends I believe in June are all tournaments for CAA so it’s going to be crazy out there. Boy scouts. Boy Scout troop from Chan and from Eden Prairie are splitting sessions out there. They are operating a concession operation out at the ballfield concessions during the week so they each have a Department of Ag, kind of temporary license. A 21 day license so they’re both kind of splitting the season and then they are operating the concessions Monday through Thursday and CAA then during the course of the weekends when… Scharfenberg: So that’s new this year right? Ruegemer: That is new this year. Scharfenberg: And how did that all come about? Ruegemer: Just a phone call and it kind of started probably in December or January this year so just the boy scout troop thought it would be a great opportunity for them to pay for their trips and for expenses that they have in their troops so then they are splitting with another troop to provide the staffing out there to operate that operation. Scharfenberg: Interesting. Ruegemer: So they’re servicing the needs of you CAA families and adult softball players that are out there and they’re doing real simple things. Popcorn and they’re doing some hotdogs out there with that so that’s, and Gatorades and that sort of thing so yeah, it’s a nice thing. Scharfenberg: Yeah, it’s good that those improvements that we did out there are lending themselves to the use of that facility because it wasn’t getting I don’t think it’s full use but so it will be interesting to see how that all shakes out and if they want to come back and do it next year. Provides a good benefit for the people that are out there definitely. Hoffman: And Jerry worked through the licensing requirements with them. Helped them out on that. Ruegemer: So hopefully that’s going to work out good for everybody and like I said they’re serving a much needed need out there so. Scharfenberg: So Jerry remind me again on the lifeguard contract. That’s a 2 year contract with Minnetonka? Ruegemer: It is a 2 year contract and we are in the final or the second year of that contract so we’ll be bringing that back to the commission in probably January again. Scharfenberg: Okay. Ryan: And do they set those hours? Ruegemer: You know the hours, we adjusted the hours I guess 2 years ago. We used to be 10:30 to 8:00 and we kind of abbreviated that to try to save some dollars on the contract based on patterns. You know kind of beach patterns out there and I guess if we’re looking at it today that certainly would be my recommendation again because I don’t think we missed a beat reducing those hours from 11:00 to 7:00. Ryan: You don’t feel you miss anything in that morning? Okay. 13 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Ruegemer: Not at all. Scharfenberg: And they’re doing lessons mainly in the morning right anyway? Ruegemer: You know lessons is going to be one of those things that we take a look at. The lesson, the outdoor lessons really was very minimal out there so if I, I’ve already kind of investigated it. If it’s going to be my recommendation which we’re going to eliminate the lessons. Scharfenberg: Okay. Ruegemer: Outdoor beach lessons are kind of a thing of the past and people are going to Foss and going to you know other types of situations. Either it’s private lessons or whatever. I’m going to recommend that we get rid of them. Scharfenberg: Okay. Ryan: A couple other things. And I can’t picture it, is there signage that says rent me you know for the paddleboats and kayaks like very easily for people to see when they come down because I think of young families and the kids coercing their parents to take them out. Ruegemer: There isn’t but there is for the picnic shelters but not for the watercraft. That’d be a good idea. Ryan: Okay. Just when kids are coming down with their families to have, you know because I think at a lot of lakes when you walk around you don’t know if people are renting that space to keep their equipment there. It’d be nice so you know kids and families know that they’re able to rent it and how to do it. If it’s just going to that concession stand. And then the next thing is in terms of the concession stand, I know that the City of Minneapolis Park Board is considering moving to healthy snacks at all their concession stands. Is that something that we’re going to look into? I think we should look into. As a parent of young kids and you know encouraging a healthy lifestyle, to have healthy alternatives at snack shacks I think is important and I would like to see some, if we could have some options of healthy alternatives at the shack. Thank you. Hoffman: There are a couple of things that will fit into that category now but not all of them. Ruegemer: Don’t get a bun with your hotdog. Hoffman: The hotdog’s not going to make it either. Ryan: I don’t know maybe when you listed Coke, candy bars, chips. Carron: Popcorn. Sounds like dinner to me. Scharfenberg: Apple suckers. Cole Kelly: You got to keep popcorn. That was my dinner when my kids played basketball. Ryan: Alternative options. Not saying replacement, I’m saying options. Scharfenberg: Anything else? Alright. 14 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 2012 SUMMER PROGRAMS REPORT. Johnson: Thank you Chair Scharfenberg and commissioners. As you can see in the report there I kind of did a recap of some upcoming summer programs we have. I don’t think we, the new summer guides are out since our last meeting or you guys saw them so hopefully you guys got those in the mail. Just kind of highlight a few here. I kind of broke it down by age group. A new one that we’re doing this year, I’m kind of working with Sue Bill, the Senior Center Coordinator. That Grandparent & Me Bingo in the Park. We’re always kind of looking for ways to kind of get both generations together. We thought it would be a great idea to get them out in the park facilities too, especially in the summer in the nice weather so we have a couple shelters on a few dates this summer where we’re going to kind of get the two groups together and kind of, it’s a low fee. Kind of do some small prizes. Just kind of get the awareness out at the shelters too. A couple other ones, the Rec Center Sports. Those are in high gear right now. Tonight is actually our first night for T-Ball. I think we have 80 kids tonight and then Wednesday nights we’ve got about 65 so 8 teams on Tuesday and 6 on Wednesday. That will run two sessions throughout the th summer. One is before 4 of July and then kind of use that as a halfway break in the summer and then we do another second session after that. Another big one is the playground program. With multiple parks they’re already full. Those filled up usually just in a couple weeks so kind of see, looking at that. See where our numbers are. What parks are popular for the next year. We can kind of keep up and kind of provide that service as well. Going into the youth programs, the Lake Ann Adventure Camp year after year is a very popular. I think this year it filled up in about a week and a half. We offer 2 weeks of that so maybe in the future see what we can do about continuing to keep that open for people. We also have th some family programs. Obviously 4 of July. Been very busy with that. You know for summer, everything’s falling into place. You know for leadership we have on board but looking forward to that th one. The KleinBank Summer Concert Series starts here June 14. It’ll be Thursday evenings with a couple of daytime performances as well right here in the City Center Park. We are welcoming Tim Mahoney back this year. Had a great draw with him last year so he’ll be coming in and again in July he’ll be back so. Carron: Are you giving our magnets again this year? Johnson: Yep, you bet. Carron: Alright, good. Johnson: So yeah, just finalizing those so I think those worked out great last year. Just kind of get that th other you know hopefully see you out there. Also looking in the 4 of July brochure, the colored brochure everybody gets, through our partnership we were able to get one ad space in there. In the past we’ve done it for the Rec Center Sports. Looking to put the concert series in there as well just to kind of get that out to that many more faces and visitors who may be in the area Thursday nights…you can stop out so. And other than that be happy to answer any questions if anybody has regarding the multiple programs that we have. Scharfenberg: Family archery night, is that going to be down at Lake Susan? Johnson: The family archery night is actually going to be at Minnewashta Park. We do have some youth archery clinics that are going to be at Lake Susan. We’re partnering with Carver County. They own the archery equipment like the bows and arrows and stuff so we kind of did a 50/50 split. We’re doing two youth sessions down at Lake Susan Park and then one family night in their park facility. Also on Monday we have a new employee, seasonal employee on staff. We hired Kelsey Kes as a program assistant for the summer. Kind of fill in the vacancy that we’ve had an intern in the past so she started on Monday. Kind of doing a lot of the same responsibilities as the intern as done in the past years. She just graduated 15 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 from the U of M and completed her internship for class work at the City of Roseville so we’re lucky to have her on board and it’ll be that same budgeted money for the intern position. We’re just transferring to her position as a program assistant. Ruegemer: And she’ll be also be assisting with Rec Center Sports. Johnson: Yep. So she’ll be kind of overseeing that program as well. Scharfenberg: Other questions for Mitch? Alright. Cole Kelly: The list looks impressive Mitch. I looked it over and I know all you guys are doing a lot of things this summer so thanks for staying on top of it. Johnson: Yeah, absolutely. 2012 EAST EGG CANDY HUNT EVALUATION. Ruegemer: I can hardly remember the Easter Egg hunt. It seemed like it was so long ago. Hoffman: Can we talk about next year? Ruegemer: We certainly can. Just you know here’s kind of the breakdown of it. We had 253 kids register again and everything seemed to go fine out there. We seemed to get a little rain that day. We were just got done with the candy hunt and starting with kind of the door prizes and all we needed was 15 minutes you know and as soon as it started raining everybody hit the streets and got out of there so we were trying to call numbers and give away door prizes to numbers that weren’t there anymore so. Hoffman: That didn’t hold them back. Ruegemer: It didn’t hold them back. But you know it’s one of those things we’ll take a look at. I mean obviously it’s nice having it back at City Center Park but it is also nice to have a back-up plan for the Rec Center in case of rain, but I guess we’ll probably take a look at that for next year. It is nice to have a change of venue to get people downtown as well. Kind of back to where it started but you know had a lot of help too from Key Club and staff and other type of things to help out with the event so we’ll simplify a couple things last year with pre-filled eggs and that sort of thing we can purchase and probably get rid of some of those labor intensive items. But all in all it’s still a nice event. A nice tradition. Ryan: Well we were there and I thought it was awesome and we won a prize because we were diehards. We weren’t leaving until every prize was given away. We got a big bunny so. Hoffman: Nice. Ryan: So great job. It was a lot of fun. Very nice job. SELF SUPPORTING PROGRAMS: 2012 ADULT SOFTBALL UPDATE. Ruegemer: Just want to let you know, you know we did, Monday nights we’re essentially the only Monday’s and Thursday nights for adult leagues. We had some unfortunate downturn again with the adult softball program. Last year we had 8 teams on Monday night. We increased that to 10 this year. I tried something new on Tuesday nights with a co-rec church league. I kept hearing from a lot of people that it’d sure be nice to have a co-rec church league and so I thought okay, I’ll go ahead and try it to try 16 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 and get some teams going again on Tuesday nights. Sent out 70 to 80 packets of information to area churches from here to Jordan to Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and I didn’t get one phone call on it which I was a little surprised at so that didn’t go. Wednesday night I offered a couple other leagues. I keep hearing that’s what we want. That’s what we want. Had 4 teams signed up for that and then with only 4 teams one backed out and then, so I moved the rest of them over to Thursday night so that the teams that we did have are playing, so that didn’t go. What we are doing with the Tuesday and Wednesday, I did schedule that for CAA for practices and for games so the fields are being used out at Lake Ann where there is some gaps in the schedule. That Thursday night we have 17 teams on Thursday night. I did slip that into 3 different divisions. Kind of an upper, middle and lower division to kind of match up people to where they’re, kind of their skills and abilities were to hopefully have a better experience for everybody. And at this point it seems to be pretty even across the board so, which is good for that. Teams seem to be having a good time. We’ve got knock on rain, or knock on wood we’ve had some pretty good luck with rain and not getting it on game nights. Co-rec again, we offer that again and you know I had 3 for sure teams with a potential of 6 to 8 and the other additional teams didn’t pan out. Every time I thought I’d get a couple more to run the league it didn’t go and so I had to cancel Friday night as well so that’s the first time since I’ve been here in 22 years that we don’t have a Friday night league so. Not sure exactly what’s going to happen next year. If we’re going to maybe try to do some kickball leagues or something like that or some other type of things, or try to go again. We lost a couple teams due to you know pregnancies and some other type things kind of beyond certainly my control, that I know of. But we’ll take a look at some way that we can fill some of those needs with that. Scharfenberg: Jerry, in talking with other people that do your same job in Eden Prairie and Chaska and that, are they seeing similar types of situations as well? Ruegemer: Eden Prairie I know is down again at least 20 to 30 teams so it really isn’t anything unique to Chanhassen. I’m still part of the Recreation Sports Commission for the State of Minnesota and for MRPA, it’s really down across the board. Where teams have had you know 200 teams a number of years ago, now are down and so it is declining so we’re just trying to figure out you know why is it declining. More people are doing you know disc golf and working out. There’s a lot more of those individual type of things that people are doing so just trying to find out what the next new thing is and keep it going. Scharfenberg: Alright, thanks again for all that you do in that area. Appreciate it. DISC GOLF COURSE UPDATE. Hoffman: Jeff Nettesheim and his group started out there a week ago Saturday with Chuck Kennedy who came out and they spent about 3 hours. The group starting to clear and they found out that clearing grubbing with hand saws and one chainsaw is a lot more work than it looks at the surface so they got completed what they could complete. Then later on that week, which was last week, Chuck came out again. He’s been out, remember early on he warned us you know he’s very busy but he’s falling in love with this course so he’ll come out at the drop of a dime and so he came out and met with all of our park maintenance staff. Walked through the course. Talked about what needed to be removed. What needed to stay. All the little intricacies of the course design and then we had to get a piece of equipment that could manage that and so we rented a piece of equipment that would go ahead and clear and grub that in an efficient manner, and that was completed yesterday. It started last weekend. It was completed yesterday so if you go out there today you’ll see all the fairways are in. The tee boxes. Chuck talked about walking paths between baskets and the next tee basket so those are cleared. We’ll be doing some seeding and some restoration in those areas so you can start to grow some grass, especially in the side areas. The foot travel areas are going to continue to be pretty much barren but other than that we want to get some turf and grass established in the outside areas of the fairways. The baskets were delivered this morning to the Nettesheim home and the plan right now is to have them installed on this Saturday and 17 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 have the course open on Sunday, unless I hear a change from Jeff and his group, that’s what’s currently planned. We’ll be playing disc golf this Sunday. Memorial Day weekend. Scharfenberg: So I think we had mentioned, or somebody had talked about doing kind of a grand opening or you know a kind of a dedication. Hoffman: Yep, probably a little bit later on once the course gets, it’s going to be pretty barren right now and so yeah, let’s plan that for later on this summer. Scharfenberg: Okay. Hoffman: The tee box plates are going to be put in place once he gets those constructed but then we’ll need to incorporate some benches at least on a temporary basis and some, and I think the crew recognizes now that this is going to be a labor of love for them and it’s, there’s going to be some TLC along the way. Once the traffic patterns are established and other things, there’s going to be some additional daily maintenance on this site as well so we’ve successfully added another thing to their list to do. Which they think we’re pretty good at. Scharfenberg: Are we, have we let the Villager know and you know have them put in a piece about this? Hoffman: Yep. Scharfenberg: Okay. Hoffman: They know what’s going on. I leave some of that up to the boy scout, up to Jeff so he can report his progress as well. If you follow Chuck’s website, he uploads his updates instantaneously as he’s taking pictures out there so I know it’s on his Facebook page. Chuck Kennedy and he’s very excited. He thinks it’s going to see you know a couple hundred rounds a week probably of play so. He likes the course. He likes the transition of the grade and the transition from wooded to the open space. He thinks it’s going to work out really well. The pond is exciting. There’s that risk involved with you don’t want to dive that disc into the pond and either have to be looking for it in shallow water or lose it in deeper water, depending on where the pond’s at… The neighbors were very curious but no issues or complaints about the course of construction but a lot of interest and Tom said he’ll be playing on Sunday morning if you want to join him. Scharfenberg: Okay. Alright. And then watercraft inspection update. COMMISSION MEMBER PRESENTATIONS. Hoffman: Currently City of Chanhassen is involved in administering a program for three lakes. Lotus Lake, Lake Ann and Lake Susan. The dollars are $10,000 in City dollars, $7,750 in DNR grant dollars, and then $25,000 in watershed district dollars from Riley-Purgatory and now the homeowners have come forward with just over $2,500 so far and so that’s where the resources are coming from. All of that is being invested in temporary contractors through VOLT Temporary Services and so I administer that on behalf of the City Manager who has been directed to do so by the City Council. So they’re there Monday through Friday right now at Lotus Lake, depending different times depending on the day. These are trained inspectors. Trained by the DNR. There was another training session this past Saturday we’ve offered up at the Rec Center and we’ve had at least our third training at the Rec Center. It’s Level I inspectors and so you, it’s not voluntary anymore. You have to comply to inspection. They don’t get in your watercraft. They stay outside your watercraft. You still participation in the inspection as an education process as well. At Lotus it’s going to be just about continuous coverage from 6:00 a.m. to 18 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 9:00 p.m. once the homeowners get their volunteer inspectors out so they’re going to fill any hours that are not filled with either a VOLT or a DNR inspector. Lake Susan and Lake Ann are going to be a little different. They’re going to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday and that will be 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at those locations Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Whereas Lotus is a little bit different. By our agreement with the DNR we have to supply data. Currently we’re working on acquiring approximately a dozen PDA’s so they can just be loaded right into a PDA. You don’t have to do a paper copy. Then we have to upload that information so if our inspectors can be assigned a PDA, then a DNR supervisor can actually just drive around every week, every other week and hot sync their PDA to that and grab that data. DNR wants that data and then we have to pose or we have to develop a year end report as well for the entire program. So there’s a lot going on so when you hear from friends and neighbors who are boating, they will be approached by a watercraft inspector at our lakes in the community. It’s just one of those things where it’s really been a fast evolution from last year’s position to where we’re at this year so we don’t have complete 100% coverage but I think of any community in the state of Minnesota we probably have more coverage than most. Carron: Out of curiosity where did the City Council come up with the $10,000? Have they found that yet? Hoffman: I don’t know where, yeah I’m not sure where it’s going to be coming from. Scharfenberg: Have they started at Minnewashta as well now? Hoffman: Minnewashta, that’s a County program. Yep, they’re working there as well. And they’re also up at Christmas, which part of Christmas Lake is in Chanhassen. That’s being funded by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and they’re there 7 days a week, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. I believe. Scharfenberg: And has there been any further discussion from any other lake groups like Riley, given what’s been going on around here? Hoffman: Eden Prairie’s doing Riley. Scharfenberg: Okay. And are they going to, they’re doing inspections daily out there? Hoffman: Daily. I’m not sure what, if it’s 7 days a week or if it’s just the weekends but the City of Eden Prairie, the same $2,500 that we received from Bluff Creek, City of Eden Prairie received as well so they’re funding programs over there so they’re going to be on other lakes as well besides Riley. The only lake in our community which really isn’t covered which is a watercraft lake would be Lake St. Joe which is a small body of water on Minnewashta Parkway and I know the Minnewashta group is watching that because it does flow directly into Lake Minnewashta. And it has a public water access off of Minnewashta Parkway by the DNR. th Scharfenberg: I’ll just jump in with a tree planting. On May 4 was the City’s Arbor Day tree planting at Lake Ann. We planted 18 different trees. Well not 18 different but a total of 18 trees with different variety of trees. Wasn’t the best of weather that day. We didn’t have great numbers but. Hoffman: Rainy again right? Scharfenberg: Yeah. Hoffman: Just like last year. 19 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Scharfenberg: No, last year was good. It was the year before. Hoffman: Year before. Scharfenberg: Year before was bad, yeah. But obviously something, I think that’s important that the City is taking on that project and replacing or planting to eventually replace those other trees because we know that they’re going to be gone at some point and spacing them out like that around the park will be wonderful so I appreciate the work of the Environmental Commission and putting that all together and I think that’s something again that we should continue to promote as a City. Hoffman: Thank you for representing the commission and the City and anybody can make it. I know they’re going to keep the program going. They’re looking at Bandimere or Lake Susan for next year. I think in the end, like you said, when the ash borer eventually makes it way to the outer suburbs and trees start to perish, having those new ones up and growing at that time they might be 5 years old. They might be 10 years old but people are going to stand back and say wow, somebody was thinking and that’s a great place to be once in a while in life so it’s a good thing. RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL CONCERNING APPOINTMENT TO THE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION. Scharfenberg: Alright, I think our last item of business, recommendation to City Council concerning appointment of Park and Recreation Commission. So we interviewed two candidates earlier this evening prior to our meeting. Todd Neils and Jim Boettcher. Just open it up for discussion at this point Todd. Hoffman: Yep, and the council will be interviewing both of them next Monday night with your recommendation. Scharfenberg: Okay. We’ll start with Brent. Carron: Alright. Well I guess I’ll just talk freely here. I think, I liked them both. I did. I think Todd has obviously got his benefits of being directly with this commission and with being the baseball group there and all of his time and energy with that and I think he knows quite a bit. I liked, I kind of liked what he said when I asked that question about what he would change to speed a resolution and it could kind of get frustrating but I guess I’m used to that because that’s government. That’s just the way things are but I think he’s got a passion for it. He does and if he sits around, you know not sits around but he volunteers so much with the baseball program I think that the commission would benefit well from him. Jim, I think he, you know he’s a talker. He had some good ideas and I think he would, I think he’s a little bit of a, what I like about Jim is he’s a little bit outside of the situation and he knows, he’s not shaped by anything and he knows what just he knows and what his experiences are in the area. Growth. Over loaded facilities. I didn’t even know that but with everything booking up on the shelf, Jim was talking about you know do we keep spread sheets and do we track this stuff and he’s really worried about you know with the growth of Chanhassen and if we’re over loading our facilities. He’s the type of guy that really likes to have, it’s there for the public so let’s let the public use it and hopefully (a) it gets used and (b) there’s plenty of it for everyone to enjoy it. I like that point about that too because I think that’s a thing that we need to start looking at as well. I mean we’ve got, we’re spending some big bucks on this year on stuff, expansion projects that we need to do and it’s the right time to do it but going forward I think Jim has some good ideas about you know preservation and doing some smaller things maybe to help some things out so to me it’s my first time sitting through an interview and just, was it last year or two years ago, how long have I been doing this? Hoffman: Two. 20 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Carron: Two years? Kind of the overall feel. I guess I’m usually not like this. I usually pick someone right away and go, pick my pony and go but I’m kind of tossed between the two right now. So maybe hearing from you guys I might be able to come to a better opinion. Scharfenberg: Sure. Cole. Cole Kelly: I liked them both. They both had some interesting ideas and you did a nice job of summarizing some of their ideas. I think Todd’s a little intense and sometimes that’s a good thing and I think Jim was, he’s kind of freelance. Those are just my take on these guys and you know that can be a good thing too. Todd and I are going to, I know we’re going to mesh a little bit because he doesn’t, he wants to see expansion other than the trails and of course I’ve become a trail guy but actually Todd is, and I think that’s good. I think it’s good to have somebody who offsets some of your desires and so I would favor Todd because I know he would balance me a little bit. Scharfenberg: Okay. Elise. Ryan: I think I liked both of them a lot as I said just prior to the meeting. They were just very different individuals and have I think each would bring you know great things to the commission. I don’t need to re-summarize what both of you had said previously but I am torn. I like Todd. I believe that he really understands the City. He understands the commission. He understands how things work and I think that’s a nice quality to have or a great quality to have when you’re coming into the commission, especially with a lot of big projects that we have coming up and decisions that have to be made but you know I like to also bring somebody in from the outside and sitting in interviews myself, when you’re asked those questions and you don’t really know what you’re, you’re trying to think of the right answer and it doesn’t always come to your head right away and I felt like he was searching a little bit but I felt him to be very sincere in what he was saying and you know he could probably provide some great ideas and approaches to the commission so I don’t know. I could be convinced either way. I really like both of them a lot. Scharfenberg: Yep, I agree with what everyone else has said that I think Todd, having interacted with the commission over the years through his associations with the CAA certainly could hit the ground running and kind of be up to speed with things that are going on and I think Jim brings a fresh perspective of somebody who you know, maybe not be as involved as Todd is but has other interests in fishing and things of that and obviously that’s his passion and has done a lot of good things with respect to that and would be able to offer up some opportunities and ideas with respect to that so. Carron: Yeah, I hate to say this too but, and I’m at fault here as far as participation goes but I think Jim, just to put a little nod to Jim, I think he’s, sounded like he’s participated in quite a bit and he would be a good participant here with the commission. Now Todd, I mean with he’s being done with the baseball thing that will save him a lot of time but that’s one aspect I always look at myself and saying I’ve got to make it to more outside things instead of just the meetings but just you know like the tree planting and that sort of thing. I think that’s a huge benefit, even though I’m shooting myself in the foot. I’ll work on it. Hoffman: We’ll keep inviting you. Scharfenberg: Do we need to make a recommendation to council? Necessarily or can we just say we’re neutral? 21 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 Hoffman: Absolutely. You can take the survivor vote. You can say you’re neutral. You can vote in the open. You can vote in secret. That’s all up to you. Carron: I guess I’ll start. If we’re going to pick, if I had to pick someone I’d probably pick Todd. Even with all the good things with Jim, I think he would probably nudge him out just a little bit as far as knowing the system. Just call it that. Knowing Chanhassen. How things work a little bit more, which is unfortunate for Jim but. Scharfenberg: Does anyone want to make a motion or recommendation? Cole Kelly: Are we in agreement then? I mean two of us said Todd. You haven’t said anything. Elise has taken a neutral stand you know. I’m going to make a motion and then we can talk about it. I make a motion that we recommend to the City Council that they pick Todd Neils to be the next park and rec commissioner for the open spot. Scharfenberg: Can I have a second? Carron: I will second. Scharfenberg: Any further discussion? Ryan: What if you want to stay neutral, how do you do that? Scharfenberg: Abstain. Ryan: But can you do, oh yeah I suppose. Carron: We can recommend that half was for and half were for both. Hoffman: Your recommendation is just a recommendation. The council will take that into consideration and select who they choose to appoint. Cole Kelly moved, Carron seconded that the Park and Recreation Commission recommends the City Council appoint Todd Neils. All voted in favor, except Ryan who abstained. The motion carried with a vote of 3 to 0 with 1 abstention. Hoffman: Thank you. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. Hoffman: One last item. We close on the Nettesheim properties on Thursday morning. Cole Kelly: Very cool. Carron: Oh cool. Hoffman: That’s been a pretty intense week to get the appropriate paperwork and closing documents and wire transfer information and signatures and transfers so Thursday morning Carver County Abstract. The Nettesheim’s will go down there and we’ll close on the property. Take possession of the front house immediately. Take possession of their primary residence in July and then we’ll incorporate the 22 Park and Recreation Commission – May 22, 2012 demolition of both of those properties into the 101 project so we’ll have a clean site at the end of that 2013-2014 101 highway project. Scharfenberg: Okay. Hoffman: That’s pretty big news. Pretty big check that is leaving on Thursday morning. So it’s $440 plus change from the park fund and $220 plus change from the highway project and we just received our first advance from the State. It was $1.8 or $1.9 million from the State of Minnesota for right-of-way acquisition. It’s a state highway project. If you’re following that at all, it’s a state highway. City has taken the lead in the project. It will eventually be turned back to the County as a County road but the City is administering the right-of-way acquisition. It’s good to do that because we’re at a local level. We know most of the residents or all of the residents that we’re working with so the cash comes from the State. It comes to the City and then we negotiate the acquisitions and write the checks and conduct the closings. Then the land’s available for the road. It’s a complex project writing those. We’ve been meeting, Three River meetings on monthly for two years now getting that thing planned and designed and underpasses turned and trees saved and trails moved and roads moved and it’s going to be pretty nice improvement when it’s all said and done and then it’s tying into the ridge, that if you watch that, that the Governor said he would support 4 lane raised, elevated bridge down there so. And last I heard the money went away but they’re going to find the money in another fund so it was a battle even at that level. We’ve got our own little stadium debate right here and it’s the Highway 101 bridge. Some people want to try to get it away and the Governor’s pretty convinced that he’s going to keep it in and as are others so we’re pretty confident that’s going to go. So then you leave, talk about a missing link, you leave one piece between the bottom of the hill and the top of the hill at Pioneer and so that’s going to put some good reason into the thought process on why you would finish that last segment. So you make that final connection to Shakopee. So watch for those improvements. It’s a busy year. You’ll see much of it in progress as we go out. Houses are continuing to sell. Real estate in Chanhassen has been better than I would say just about anywhere else in the state so we’re fortunate in that aspect. The margins have come down but we’re still building houses and still selling houses and still dealing with developers so that’s a good thing. Ryan: So will Tom be able to go say goodbye to the dog? Scharfenberg: Tom Kelly. Hoffman: Oh. Ryan: Be able to say goodbye to the dog. Hoffman: Yes. Yes. Yes. Carron: After it takes his Frisbee away. Hoffman: The Doberman will be leaving soon. Scharfenberg: Alright, do we have a motion to adjourn. Carron moved, Cole Kelly seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. The Park and Recreation Commission meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Submitted by Todd Hoffman, Park and Rec Director Prepared by Nann Opheim 23