##VIDEO ID:5llx2lkcv1s## e well good afternoon everyone welcome to the city of New alms Park and Recreation Commission meeting today is Monday January 13th let's start with our agenda we'll start with our um roll call I call the meeting to order jefff we start with you uh Jeff Golden B lenberg Dave Christian Carissa bugler Amy Johnson Kurt Johnson Cheryl Corman Joey shugal staff awesome welcome everyone all right let's start with agenda item number three approval of the agenda looking for to approve or amend the agenda for the regular park and rec meet commiss to approve we have a motion do we have a second a second we have a motion a second any further discussion all those in favor please say I I oppose same sign motion has carried moving on to agenda item number four approval of our minutes looking for approval or amendment of our minutes from December 9th so moved we have a motion do we have a second second we have a motion and a second any further discussion hearing none all those in favor please say I I oppose same sign motion has carried moving on to agenda item number five the city council meeting recap there was a attachment as well in your pack thank you chair bugler Commissioners few items to discuss here uh or recap at the December 17th meeting we had or the city council authorized uh funds transfer of a battery building funds as you recall in 2024 the battery New Alm battery building was completed uh the idea of that funds transfer would be to go to a restricted count a restricted account for a new trap range building so the reason that did not come to uh Park and wreck commission is uh it didn't hit the meeting Cycles there and city council has to authorize any type of restricted fund move so that one went directly to city council uh the Sue Valley Gun Club is very interested in updating a a new trap building if you've been out to the Trap range you would see that our our building is just hanging on out there uh it's a it's a city building on property but the sou Valley Gun club's very motivated to get a new facility in place so we're working with them on um a matching Grant through the DNR um so look for a a potential for an you to authorize a Grant application in the near future coming up here uh also at the same meeting the career Expo fee request was uh approved by the city council and donations were accepted from the December uh Park and wre commission meeting as well at the January 7th meeting is the first meeting of the year the annual meeting and uh Tom schmidtz former park and rec director was sworn in as a city councelor in W four along with Dave Christian and Andrea beter were also sworn in for their terms and uh at the January 7th meeting as well the master plan the park and wreck master plan was approved for RFP and I'll talk more about that in a little bit okay any questions for director shugal additions hearing none um look for a motion to receive and order the city council report so move we have a motion do we have a second I'll second it motion a second any further discussion hearing none all those in favor please say I I oppose same sign motion has carried moving on to agenda item number six under old business the park and wreck comprehensive master plan request for proposal director shukl yes thank you chair bugler Commissioners uh as you recall at the December meeting we talked to both the upcoming master plan and schedule of um how that wanted to play out with input from our our park and wre commission this did go directly on city council again um that was due to timeline to authorize that RFP by getting it on the first meeting of the year it just moves up our timeline on when we can have the bid open and get a contract executed so it saved us a based on our meeting cycle a couple weeks in there so RFP was authorized in at at that first council meeting of the year in your packet the full RFP is attached and really this is uh a 15-year plan is what we're looking for from qualified Consultants to submit uh the RFP schedule is is also listed and that would that would play out where we'd look to execute a contract at at in March uh and have the project initiated in April and then no more than a year what we we'd be looking at for a a project completion so April of 2026 we uh would likely have a adopted Park and wreck master plan I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding um that RFP at this time uh and I would like to let you know that uh we have submitted uh that RFP to directly to Consultants as well as posted on various Avenues as well and will be posted in our local newspaper as well will the commission be involved in making the decision on who the consultant or the selecting the consultant so we we do have a round of interviews tentative interviews scheduled and and I I I feel that we're going to have interest in this plan so I think we'll have multiple um and we'll have a scoring schedule that um that is one thing I left off of December but I am open if there is a commissioner or Commissioners interested in being part of those interview views if uh I'd be happy to you know I I Envision three to five people being involved in those those interviews and it like it could be a commissioner if there is interest or multiple Commissioners okay would you like us to tell you now would you like an email so we we do have some time if anyone if it does if it does uh strike anyone right now and you would be interested uh we be happy to take that today or I could bring that back to our February meeting as well okay nobody's interested today anyone interested this point know Kurt you said I would be interested as well great so what that process would look like is uh staff would try to we could do it a couple different ways but in in my head staff would narrow down our top picks in case we'd get 10 to 15 submittals in you know to 3 to five and then go from there so we could be involved in that whole process reviewing all that come in or just that what we would feel is top contenders okay and we'd provide a rubric for you to score in all of that okay so any other questions for director shugal related to the comprehensive plan master plan I should say Okay that was just informational so we will move on then to new business of the front burner Sports service agreement thank you chair bugler and Commissioners this is uh this is a service agreement uh request for approval for a service agree agreement with front burner Sports and and really I wanted to back up to start uh in September of 2024 you authorized uh or authorized us to seek approval from City Council on the sponsorship policy and that sponsorship policy laid out some guidelines for the city on how to handle both sponsorship opportunities and larger kind of naming rights kind of agreements and contracts so this would this is a a Next Step that I wanted to present today in to to work with a professional service agreement um or professional consulting services to do this work and the vision here is that front burner Sports would provide these services and with the intention of generating new revenues that focus on our our great facilities that we have here uh something that we haven't really um done in the in the past in on the larger scale um Front Burner Sports has been very successful around Minnesota and and outside of Minnesota uh in securing these uh in your packet you in The Proposal in one of the exhibits you'll see some of the communities that front burner Sports has been involved D in um I have personally talked to uh those communities as well and uh the staff who who work directly with front burner Sports and and also Front Burner sports did um tour our facilities and feel that we are uh have an opportunity here to really generate Revenue around some of these bigger type of sponsorship opportunities and naming rights so uh so today I'd be happy to answer any questions regarding that service agreement and uh seek approval to present this to the city council I two things to note quick uh the total contract or agreement would be for a year and a half and that would roughly be $446,500 if that agreement went that full year and a half uh we would the city has outs at any time front Brer sparts has outs at any time and that that funding would really be paid back if successful you know so part of the uh if we're successful which um staff feels that we we would be we'd be able to pay our ourselves back with that initial investment on that uh 46,500 our City attorney reviewed and revised an agreement um and is comfortable with the city in this type of agreement that's the question I was going to ask and you answered it thank you at what time period would they get paid back I mean is the payback for so you give them $46,000 is it going to be 5 years is it going to be six years one year is it going to be two years right so in The Proposal over that over that year and a half um I feel and and um I feel in working and discussing with front burner Sports this is multi-layered type of sponsorship so um if we're successful in that first year and a half in generating over $46,500 then you know our initial investment at least you know maybe we're not generating new Revenue but we didn't lose anything um but if you notice here if we if we enter in a longterm naming rights agreement there's a commission on top of that so uh one of the things I'm I'm going to present to city council if this if this commission feels that this is a good thing for our department and the city is using our fund balance to initially pay for this and then repay that money based on generated Revenue through the the sponsorships and naming rights so it it all these Agreements are different Jeff where depending on length of time without knowing is it a it could be a 15-year naming rights agreement it could be a one-time type of sponsorship opportunity there's different and we're not just talking about one thing we're talking about multiple facilities and and different layers as a practical matter what do we do do they put signs up or something or how I don't understand this sponsorship thing I just I'm sorry I'm not trying to cause problem nope so uh commissioner Johnson this that's a that's a great question so what what Front Burner Sports does is they first come in and identify our facility so let's use an example of the Civic Center Ice Arena right so currently there's advertising in the in the civic center right so they wouldn't be looking to take away what what's already done there they'd be looking at bigger picture maybe naming rights on one of the ranks or larger type of naming rights on the building and that agreement would come with whatever that proposal so you work with the interested party on saying okay we'll give you this a b and c for this dollar amount and then they might come back and say well we want a b and c and this and then you kind of work with work with um work with front burer sports but they're working with us the whole time and our sponsor ship agreement that we um put in place or our policy that we put in place says everything has to come back to staff and ultimately commission and city council to make sure this feels good and we're not getting into um everything in a facility is represented by a business or something like that so does that make sense I think a little bit in my mind director sual isn't it I'm going to just use Verizon Wireless wants to name the north hockey rank we'll pay you $5,000 a year for that's how I look at it I'm correct yes almost like Target Field Target Center we paid you Metropolitan Sports $50 million and there's our name on the little smaller numbers well that's why I said 5,000 but well but I mean I you going to put a name on the glocken Spiel and the things like that I mean I don't know I where does where do we stop this is this is right and great questions and I anticipated those would come up and I was hoping those would come up so we we're kind of identified in in in the first part of this agreement we identified which we feel are some areas that naming rights fit the Civic Center the recreation center a youth baseball complex maybe the amphitheater at German Park not all of German Park but just some ideas with with that and um and again we don't know for sure what's out there for businesses and entities that are interested in this but um with the types of facilities that we have and other communities that been successful it um facilities very similar to what we have have been really successful in generating high dollar amounts that come back to the municipalities um to offset costs of operating those facilities so it's really in no competition to any current contracts that we have with any private nonprofits or associations that's in addition to that or on the outskirts of what that contract covers yes and and Front Burner Sports have been provided those agreements already so they're aware of those and that's very common and and really we're looking at this is bigger picture than um signs in the Civic Center you know and and things like that it could be some of that or or Dasher boards uh this is you know maybe um naming the Aquatic Center or the Fieldhouse at the recreation center after and generating some Revenue that way well they must have been successful in other cities in order for you to call them out you know right even our size right cities our size that yeah they have relationships with so I have a feeling this will pay off I would think in the long run right any other questions I I'm not I'm not sure I'm understanding this what this money is how are they going to promote I don't know I just don't understand this concept so I Bev I I think I could give you a little bit so on some level this is already happening so right now New Alm sleepy ey Hockey Association has uh has an advertising agreement with us um the New Alm steel also had one so they wrapped the Zamboni for instance for a certain dollar amount that um that Advertiser paid and they paid then the association or the steel and then the steel in turn with our agreement the city got some of that funding this is that's a smaller scale example now this agreement with we would be seeking out professionals who who have the connections and bigger type of connections with businesses to seek out some of those larger potential sponsors and not knock on every mom and pop shop in new home but look for some of that corporate advertising potentially and then if an agreement feels good we could see potentially a facility being named after a business doesn't mean we lose they have ownership of any facility they have any say on what happens at that facility but within that agreement they're recognized in some form or fashion for their dollars and then that income that they spend on that naming right so that facility helps us maintain the facility and cover costs right related to that facility which then in turn could mean just helping us with our fee schedule or whatever that may be related to having just additional Revenue right we have the right to say yes or no when they come up with some of these things yeah absolutely yes so that is that is a big thing they they will not be working behind our backs we'd be involved in the whole process it would still come back for approval once a deal is close to being done to say this is what it this is what the deal is should we take that last step to do that and we'll have updates along the way a good example of this so Elk River had a local option sales tax like New Alm has built a large community center they had Front Burner Sports worked with them and they now have the furniture and things which is a local company in large company in Elk River Furniture and Things Community Center and over the next 20 years that generates Elk River $2 million they put the salesman on the streets yes y so an example doesn't mean that scales here it could but an example of how and then and then that company is recognized in certain ways throughout that facility Shields does that at uh the Mano Dome that's the shields sports dome at MSU um and that so that's a naming rights agreement on the campus of Mano State what questions what other questions Commissioners have for RoR shugal essentially we are doing this today it's just on a much bigger scale right it not hearing any questions I guess we'd be looking for a motion to recommend to the city council that we approve this service agreement between the city of New almond Front Burner sports do we have a motion I'd make a motion to approve we have a motion do we have a second second we have a motion and a second any further discussion all those in favor please say I I I all those oppose same sign the motion has carried moving on to agenda item eight under reports from commissioner and staff let's start first with 8.1 the department activity report some fun updates that you shared um looking back on the growth that I was especially excited about so looking forward to hearing more great thank you cheer bugler Commissioners yes our assistant director was responsible for um providing that those graphs in your in your activity report so you'll see at the the bottom of page 85 uh that the rec center um membership history and um 2021 was the year that we opened in the fall September so that year um started low 2022 realizing the impact it had and then the last two years kind of really getting the picture what use looks like um there there's another graph on the next page as well that shows visits as well um and really showing that you know the popularity continues uh over the last couple years here and we continue to see that at the at the rec center um additionally uh this month our couple things to highlight adult volleyball league started uh at the recreation center 35 teams again really really good interest there uh at at the dog park uh one of the some feedback we received on the new shelter is uh wind protection for users down there so staff found a way to provide that uh down at the the dog park as well um so but any questions on Rec Center use or any of those other items in December any questions or comments nice job because I think they're keeping it nice and clean and I think that's just a indication all people are using it it's a busy time of year healthier Community as a result just appreciate that much access many different uses I think I highlighted last month that Bloomington was down looking at a huge project first one of the first places they come to is come to New Alm to look what we have and that's a community of 100,000 people and hats off to your staff I haven't heard any complaints today and Truth at all just positive things that's good excellent all right um looking for a motion to accept and file the department activity report for December of 24 I'll make that motion we have a motion do we have a second I'll second we have a motion and a second any further discussion hearing none all those in favor please say I I I oppose same sign motion has carried moving on to agenda item 8.2 the staff report thank you chair bugler and Commissioners few updates today so uh with our nice cold weather uh so far um we are we've been able to open the warming house and ice rinks and so far ice season is longer than it has been last year already so uh rinks warming house officially open last last week on uh January 8th so with the upcoming temps we look to continue that for um the foreseeable future so staff continues to uh flood rinks and prepare for for skating and there's been high use already so far so um great amenity at Harmon Park uh additionally hockey day was hosted at the Civic Center this past weekend and always a great day the new Al sleepy ey Hockey Association puts a lot of effort into running that event um and coordinating a full day on both sheets of device um both High School athletic um varsity and JV programs play during the day as well so thanks for the schools for participating as well um but really good day to celebrate hockey in new home also the this week we have the final review of our air handler project at the rec center uh so looking forward to wrapping that project up that's a huge Improvement in the Fieldhouse if you've been in there um for air flow and just sound and and everything that goes into into those type of units operating staff has put out an RFP for asht tree removals uh so this RFP will be for 28 uh asht trees and these are some of the larger uh ash trees that we have and really uh Washington and Nells Parks will be two of the two of the parks that will look very different after this the goal is if we get qualified proposals is to have those trees down by May 1st so more updates to come on that um and one other tree related item I wanted to highlight uh tree commission did approve the disease tree removal program and that is open for 2025 so that's a re reimbursement program that the city council allocated more funds in 2025 for that program just due to the high number of Boulevard and private property Ash that still needs to come down in the community so uh the allocation was $100,000 this year usually the allocations around $10 to $12,000 so so there's more money out there if you do have uh an ash on either your Boulevard or private property for some reimbursement um within that program those details can be found on the city website on the tree commission page so I just want to start getting the word out a little more on on that any questions on any of those items no question I think it's appropriate to say thanks to the staff you all did a really good job you're doing a good job and I appreciate that thank you well said so when they cut these trees down how do they dispose of them so this disease doesn't spread so one of the the DNR um has requirements still in place that to take down between um before May 1st or after October 1st so that's why we're asking contractors take it down before there and we're asking um contractors to remove on site and grind on site for within this proposal uh so they all the these are all licensed tree contractors with the city so they have proper um disposal of of these ash trees this these this disease doesn't spread to other trees oh yes to to other ash trees it does I mean other besides ash trees not that no no no hopefully not not at this time yes any other questions or comments on the staff report hear none looking for a motion to accept and file the staff report so move we have a motion do we have a second second that we have a motion and a second any further discussion hearing none all those in favor please say I I same sign motion has carried moving on to agenda item 8.3 the commissioner reports do we have any reports from Commissioners today okay all right hearing none we will that concludes our agenda topics um the date of our next meeting will be February 10th at 400 p.m. in this room there being no further business I declare the meeting adjourned thank you everyone have a good afternoon for