ready to go. >> All right. Welcome everybody. Uh I'm my name is Kurt Johnson. I'm the chairman of this distinguished group. I called to order the regular July 13, 2025
or 26 meeting of the city of New Park Recreation Commission. Um, second order of business is for the commissioners to introduce themselves. Jeff, you want to start, please? >> Jeff Golden, commissioner. >> Uh, Dave Christian, city council leaison.
>> Ann Earl, commissioner. >> Amy Johnson, commissioner. >> Greg Glover, commissioner. >> Jim Jensen, commissioner. >> Cheryl Corman, staff. >> Joey Schugle, staff. >> All right. Thank you all. Uh item number three in our agenda is the approval of
the agenda for today's meeting July 13 2026. All of you have seen this in your packet. Um I would entertain a motion to approve the amendment or the agenda uh for the uh park and rec commission.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed same sign. Motion carried. Item number four is the approval of the minutes for the park and recreation uh
commission of the regular meeting on June 8th uh 2026 that also has been included in your minutes. Uh I'd entertain a motion to approve uh uh that
uh >> I move to approve the minutes of June 8th minutes. Second the motion. >> All right. The motion has been made and approved to approve the minutes of the uh June 8th, 2026 meeting. All those in
favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. Same sign. Motion carried. Item number five is the city council. My thing is not working here. Joy got it now. the meeting recap.
>> Yeah, the city council recap that also has been approved or been included in your packet. Um, I'd entertain a motion to receive an order filed that city council uh passed
action report. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second it. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the and receive an order filed the city council passed action report. All those in favor signify by saying I
>> I >> opposed the same sign. Motion carried. I see nothing under the old business. Is that correct? Director Hugle. >> That's correct. >> So we'll move on to new business. Item number 7.1
is the uh Hermitage Fest 2006 requests. >> Yes, Mr. Yes, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh this is an annual request that's before you uh for Hermanfest 2026. There really are no significant changes being
planned for 2026. Uh but this day does um include just for a little recap it's uh Herman Monument Society runs Hermanfest and this year it would be on September 12th, 2026 and that event takes place in both Herman Heights Parks
and Herman and Harmon Park. Uh some highlights of the day include um music at both locations. They have uh um thunder in the valley which is always a big draw from the the battery as well as
uh the new all municipal band and then uh everyone comes down for fireworks as well. So the fireworks are are some of the best in southern Minnesota. All that is planned again uh some of the things that happen within the parks. Herman Monument Society works with our department to make sure everything um is
in line for that. In addition to that, there is some lo road closures that they work with the city on during the fireworks especially and uh have all um their requirements, insurance certificates and everything in line with that. Herman Monument Society does pay
for reservation of facilities during that event. And then the city does include $15,000 in the budget for fireworks for this event as well. Any questions? I was uh just wondering the certificates of uh liability insurance is that the
who who's covered under the >> right so Herman Monument Society and then the city is additionally insured for that as a requirement. >> My question is why because it's a not forprofit is excluded from a permitting process for the or voice noise ordinance
>> because it's in a city park I in in our ordinance it has that nonprofit. >> It's in an ordinance where it's a not for-p profofit. Okay. I it just kind of went >> with council authorization. >> Right. Okay. >> Still need council authorization for the the noise. >> Okay.
>> I move for approval. >> Second. >> All right. I entertain a motion for the city council to offer the resolution and authorize the request made by the Herman Monument Society for the Hermanfest on Saturday, September
12th, 2026 at Herman Heights in Herman Park. Do I have a motion or did you do that? >> Yeah, I I made the motion. >> All right, motion's been made and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. Motion carried. Thank you
very much. Item number 7.2, Pollinator Park and Natural Resource Area. Director Schugle. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioners. So before you uh we have this item is uh asking to designate both the pollinator
park and natural resource area as city parkland. Uh little background on this and as we go through this I'm going to be pulling up some slides on here as well to to give you some additional background. But in 2015, uh, the park and rec commission approved designating
a portion of 2250 North Broadway Park as natural resource area to be managed as a pollinator preserve uh, for monarch butterflies and pollinator species. Uh, this designated area, so this is the first
map I want to show. So you'll see this map on the screen. So, the current pollinator park is that red box there. Uh, and that pollinator park has seen the most significant uh
work. Uh, we have a great group of volunteers that that pour in countless hours of volunteer time to make that park what it is today. Um, and when I say park, that area has not been dedicated city parkland at this time.
That's city property, however. So, that just keep that in mind. the the natural resource area is these the two uh blue boxes. So they make up one is 8 acres, a smaller one, the other one's 12 acres.
The the red area is about 2.64. So what we're talking about is almost 22.7 acres of land to be designated as city parkland. So as we've went through uh all of you are very aware of our master planning
process. So this next uh inclusion in the packet is from the from the master plan and this area was uh put together as pollinator park and natural resource area because this is an area of land that has been used even though the
pollinator park had 2.64 acres. This other 20 acres is used for some walking trails. Um, and I'm going to get to a slide in a little bit that talks about potential expansion in the future on what could happen in that area. But, uh,
part of the master plan did recommend moving forward with um, potential expansion in this area using that additional 20 acres. In addition to that, and here's here's some of the proposed recommendations that I'll highlight a little more, but in addition
to that, in 2024, the city also did a comprehensive plan and the pollinator park grounds as a it was it was um labeled then included this 22.7 acres and again was in the park development, expansion, and renovation part of the
city comprehensive plan. So, what we're talking about today is taking the next step in uh asking the city council to designate this parkland and look at uh expansion opportunities in the future.
As we talk about expansion opportunities, this next slide, if as I resize it, is a plan, a conceptual plan from ISG. We worked with them in also 2024 and this plan came from the comprehensive plans recommendation before we got into
the park and wreck master plan. And this what this highlights is what some and the the past commissions have seen this before but this highlights of what this area could become. It doesn't mean exactly what it's going to look like but uh it's a good starting point on what
we're talking about. So it shows the existing pollinator area or pollinator park area which is located here and then additional areas a development and it talks about different amenities that would be added or could be added
and the pictures of that. So one of the big things we're talking about and as we went through this process I'm just going to back up for a second. It was city staff and it was volunteers uh as well that were were part of this planning process. So, we did have a lot of different voices in the room. Not only
park and recck staff, community development staff was was included in that as well. Uh, but one of the big features is a nature-based play area. So, that area is located right uh close to a a high density um housing in that area that
doesn't have access to parkland, developed parkland um or park amenities that maybe some of our other neighborhoods have. So, this would be really high on the list to to put together um some opportunities for for those housing areas to to access some
more park amenities. Uh other things could be additional seating areas, some shelter, always important. We do have a shade structure out there right now, but some other different areas. 22 point acres is a is a larger space than that 2 acres we're
talking about today. And then we're going to talk about the butterfly sculpture in a little bit, but that was highlighted as well. Uh, that does conclude my staff report, but I'm happy to answer any questions any of you have. >> This the questions I had about it in the
expansion. I know when when we talked about the existing pollinator park, they were including non-native species and that because they were attracted to monarch butterflies is please correct me if if I'm wrong. Um,
are we sticking with native plantings if we do expansion into this area or are we talking about, >> you know, I think the the finer lines of actually deciding exactly what's being put in there, all of it, you know,
throughout this, we in in addition to these 20 acres, we we're focusing on native plantings in those areas. Okay. But that, you know, would have a discussion on what that looks like. Um, one of the great opportunities for this area that I I didn't highlight is the
educational opportunities that you have throughout this area, educational signage programs that are out there as well that our volunteers help >> make that go. >> Is there a downside at all to putting this in the city park system?
>> I know that's going to come up in council discussion. >> So, so one of the things I I will talk about, we have a very active volunteer group. I hope we can hold on to that for the future as well. Um, we do do maintenance out there. Before this was even a pollinator park, our our
maintenance team is out there doing some mowing, things like that. The bike trail, the paved a pedestrian trail does run through that area. So, our crews are already there. Um, our goal is to kind of keep this area as low maintenance as possible with
native plantings and things like that. There there is no such thing as um, no maintenance. Um and and some of this to make this go. The our volunteers could tell you how hard they've had to work to get this put in there. So um to answer your question, it will take staff time
to uh make all this go. Um if we would add play features, you know, they would be inspected just like our other playgrounds and enhanced. Um but as we talk about um serving our community uh through parks and trails and everything
um this would fall in line with um where we're at in our community where we've expanded over the years and where we're kind of underserved at this moment. In my own opinion as a counselor, I'm fine with the natural resource >> keeping as that. I mean, staff and
council has already talked about some of our other parks. Let some of it go back to natural resource instead of mowing it all the time. >> Well, >> that go back to it. >> Yes. >> And this is a way to protect the natural resources as well. You know, that is in
our uh part of our mission as a department is to to protect the natural uh resources that we have in our community. And this this would be a way to >> and that would fall in next year's budget. >> So I I don't think there's much of a budget. We're ste we still seeking funding sources. So nothing's going to
change that way. We've applied for LCCMR funding to be able to enhance this. Um there are grant opportunities out there in that. So um at the moment in the prelim budget that hasn't even been submitted yet, we're not planning any expanded expenses out in this area. So
it would be I mean if we accept the land as it is now you're already out there. It's budget neutral. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I think it would be a nice addition for that area. I kind of like that that development area down there and has uh kind of gives that part of town
something to cheer about. And I think it's it's kind of neat because it's different than the other parks. So it gives us more diversity for people coming to visit no. And uh that's it's a beautiful area. And I I think we've we've already are into it and now it's probably makes a lot of sense to go
forward and you know do what we can to make it complete. So I I'm in favor of it. >> Yeah. I think it's a beautiful area too and I think they've done a lot of work. Your volunteers up to this point. >> We need to keep it going. >> In the in the thought process for this
is you're including the I think it's lakes area part of this. I know in the comp plan we had talked about the different areas that it was covered and they were trying to pull the lakes area into this because it was within x number of blocks or whatever. So is that part
of this and not an expansion into the lakes? >> No, they have their own actually designated parkland >> which was discussed in the comp plan but they were also talking about if this was in the future expanded it would possibly
cover part of that area. Is that still the thought process? >> I think this commission will have an opportunity to go through some exercises that are in our our master plan to determine on how those future undeveloped parks happen with the lakes area. They've had significant expansion
recently as well. We have a parcel of parkland out there that's undeveloped. Uh there has been uh a decent amount of feedback from that neighborhood on looking for a developed park. Uh so this area um would not necessarily be part of
that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments? >> Uh if not, I re um I'd entertain a motion to recommend that the city council offer a resolution to designate the pollinator park and natural
resourced area city parkland. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion is made and seconded. Uh, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Motion carried. Thank you. Item number
73 is the pollinator park monarch butterfly sculpture and we've seen pictures of that and it's really something. Uh, Director Sugle. >> Yes. Thank you, Chair Johnson. Commissioners. So sticking with the the
pollinator park, um this item is coming before you uh for a recommendation uh that would be looking for a signature landmark in the pollinator park uh in the in the form of a a monarch butterfly uh sculpture. So again, we went through
in 2015 that this was designated um an area for be partially managed of the monarch butterfly preserve and a lot of education has happened over the years due to that. over the last 10 or 11 years now. Um you know a lot of
education has has come through that uh a sculpture uh in the conceptual plan you saw a sculpture as called out as a as could be a signature piece in this area. Uh and it could be an opportunity for local artists and manufacturers to be
part of this process as well. Uh, and one thing we're thinking is how do we drive more people to this very unique area and that would could be something like a large sculpture there. And so right now we're just looking for uh your
feedback on is is that an appropriate option for this area? And then our goal would be to seek uh special funding out there in the form of grant funding or um other opportunities to fund this uh without city budget. that cost is going to be.
>> We have some approximate costs around 30 to 35,000. Now, that could change. Uh it depends on how big you go, how small you go. If you have a local uh uh local input and and and want to be part of that, maybe maybe there's a discounted
rate. But some of the um examples we pulled online are something like this. It doesn't mean it's going to look exactly like this, but here are some options of what we're thinking. um that that could be part of that. And then I talked about our conceptual
plan again that did highlight uh a butterfly sculpture on the right there. >> Question for you, Mr. Shou. Is that considered a monument or not a sculpture? >> We would have to we'd have to go through that process to see what that would look
like. It I think it could maybe be considered one or maybe not. Yeah, >> Hutchinson has a lot of sculptures along their >> way down there, >> but also in, you know, in our um master plan, we've looked at ways to get public
art into our parks and and this could be an opportunity for that. >> And if we if we go along with something like this, that doesn't mean it's necessarily going to happen. >> Correct. Yeah. The Today, we're looking uh at this as um trying to secure special funding to make this happen. And if we don't, it it might not
>> start the process, right? >> Yeah. I think anything that we can do to call attention to the importance of pollinators uh be it a sculpture or or whatever would be something we should we should we should do. >> Yeah.
There's an awful lot of audience members here that are here for the Pollinator Park and I was wondering if any of them had anything they wanted to say promoting this or not or had any discussion or they're all just here to
make sure we vote appropriately. >> Nobody wants to talk. Okay. >> Go ahead. Yes. >> Do you can you step up to the microphone now? >> Yeah. Please come up here. >> Oh, address. >> I'm Sabella Williams and um you should speak a little louder.
>> Oh, I'm Miss Isabella Williams and I'm at um 800 North Jefferson Street. Um I've since I was a kid, I've um always been into butterflies and whatnot. And Deb has taught me a lot about monarch butterflies over the
years. And I've learned to love to go to the pollinator park and experience like watching all the little bugs and butterflies. And I've raised monarch butterflies for a long time now. And I would I wanted to be here to support the
pioneer park and show other people um what I've experienced and like whatnot from the pony park. It shows a lot. um and whatnot. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> It mean it means a lot to hear especially from someone who's used it as
an educational part of their their life and it's not easy to get up here and speak. I appreciate that. >> My name is Anne Vogle. I live at 516 South State Street. And um I had the good fortune and privilege of having an
8-year-old who's absolutely related to me that came from Pennsylvania. And I took I took her out with her older sister to the pollinator park. And what happened is under the tarp this little kid sat and there was a breeze going and the wind was taking many of the
flowering blossoms swaying back and forth. And I had just gotten her a little sketchbook and she had some color pencils and she sat there like she was riveted and she was looking she was going like this and she was looking there and she take a picture of that. That's what I'm doing. And she kept doing this. It was amazing. It was I
could see the wheels in her head that were turning. And I thought that's exactly what this park should do to inspire kids. And I think the monarch uh sculpture is just one more thing. Do I think it's doable? Yes, I do. I think we can find people and grants that will
help help um actually fund that and it'll be something I'm very proud of. I happened to spend four years of my life training in Rochester and at the Oxbow Park there they had a huge huge butterfly. I don't know if it was swallow tail or if it was a monarch and it really drew a lot of attention
including mine and I'd go out there just to find a little piece in the chaos that I was living in. So, I saw a living um example of someone that was actually turned on by that pollinator park by having the ability to look out there and
sketch like crazy. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Hello, Deb Steinberg here. And um this is short and sweet, but a monarch sculpture I think would just add something wonderful for New Alm. Um I
can just hear people from the surrounding areas say, "Let's go to New Alm and check out that pollinator park with the huge monarch butterfly sculpture. Wouldn't that be cool?" So I just think it would just be a great enhancement and a great attraction for
New >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good afternoon, council. Um, John Kellen here. I'm the executive director at the Grand Center for Arts and Culture. Um, I love this town and, um, part of it is because of the parks. People come here
because of the parks. I want to advocate for two things. One, uh, public sculpture. Uh Joey and I have had some conversations about bringing more public um art to New Alm um as a way of drawing tourism, bringing people to the parks.
Uh but also these quiet people back here who do all the work. They're amazing what they do. Um just acknowledge everything that you've done and thank you for that. um inspired me to have my own little pollinator park in my heart in my in my yard. And uh in two years uh
the little plants that I got from their free sale or their giveaway are now as tall as I am. And there's bees and there's butterflies all around it. Um the last thing I'll say is just and maybe you've already talked about this a lot, but the um just the um the importance of pollinators. um you like
vegetables, you like fruits, they all depend on the bees and the pollinators. And so um someone mentioned, I think maybe the chair about um converting more of our parkland into native tall grass prairie. Um it's going to save you a lot of money
over the long run in terms of maintenance and fuel and mowing and all that other things. Um and beautifully enhance our community. So thank you for your time. Appreciate it. >> Thanks. Thank you. Any other questions, Commissioner? All right. At this point, then I'd
entertain a motion to approve the monarch butterfly sculpture as a signature landmark at the uh Poundlander Park and allow the staff to pursue uh funding sources. All those in favor signify by saying I.
>> Uh we need a motion. a motion. I move. >> I'll second. >> All right. Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Um opposed. Motion carried. Thank you.
Item number 7.4 is the uh park and recreation department non resident fee policy. Um, Director Shugle. Oh, >> go ahead,
>> Miss Cheryl. >> Thank you, Chair. Uh, several years back, the Park and Recck Commission implemented a non-resident fee for facility rentals. Um, it was back in 2003 when the first round of sales tax went through and we built the civic
center and tripled the size of the community center and converted the rec center into a fieldhouse and expansion. Um, and then in 2009, the commission re revised that non-resident policy from a
flat fee model to uh across the board 10% um amount across the board. And what we are requesting now is uh another policy change to just
instead of just a flat 10% to round that up to the next whole dollar just for simplicity and stop using coin and and you know for all of those reasons. Um it just makes things easier and cleaner for a lot of
different things. I think that's good. I'm going to roll motion to recommend the city council approve the park and recck department uh non-resident fe policy change. >> I'd second that. >> All right. Any any further discussion?
Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Motion carried. Thank you. Item number 75, 7.5, park and recreation department scholarship policy. Director Schugle.
Oh, back over to you. Sorry. >> This is another uh policy that we've had in place or a program that we've had in place for several years. Uh the city's committed to um providing assistance to individuals or families uh in the terms
of scholarship for for those who um could use the extra help in participating in our programs and things. And throughout this time period, we've received requests also to extend
that to memberships. And we've done some things uh to help that situation like we've partnered with the library and now we offer these memberships to be checked out at the library. But we also want to
um try to expand our scholarship program a little bit to uh provide some assistance for people that want to come at a on a regular basis and just need that extra help. And so we looked at um
what we could do, what was best, what we thought, you know, would be the best solution to reach the most amount of people. Um we looked at our scholarship funding and our spending over the past several years and each
year we don't quite spend all of the scholarship funds that are budgeted for. So, we decided to um that that what what might be the best way to move forward on this policy would
be to add, you know, a slight amount to the scholarship budget, but then also and just but then also designate funds for programs and then also for memberships. It wouldn't be for the annual membership. it would be for like
a three-month membership so that we could, you know, cast the net a little wider and help more people and give more people the opportunity. Now, a lot of the uh um the parameters of the scholarship program that we're
recommending center around what we already offer for for these programs. So like for example, because it's funded through city tax dollars, it has to be limited to city people that reside within the city limits. We would follow
the same um um guidelines for uh in terms of um uh what am I thinking of? like the state we'd follow the state of Minnesota Department of Education guidelines that
they would normally use for like free or reduced lunch programs. So, it's all of those same types of parameters so that we can we're just going to expand that into our memberships. And so, um what I'm asking for is the uh change to the
scholarship policy to now include those three-month memberships. And this is a starting point. You know, of course, it would have to probably be re-evaluated each year and see kind of how it's working. Maybe we make some tweaks. I don't know, but we have to start somewhere. And I think that this is a
good a good place to start. >> How are people How do people find out about these scholarships? >> Well, I mean, we have it advertised in our brochure. We have it on our website. Um, you know, we we try to get the word
out as much as we can. Um, and then of course there's the whole United Way piece also that offers scholarship for programs and their funding is getting, you know, is decreasing and going down as well. So, we're really hoping that this will be another tool, another
um means to help people out into the community and be able to enjoy that facility that's, you know, like the jewel of this of the city of the community is the rec center. So, One of the questions I had and you may
have covered it um was the funding cuts from the United Way such as ARS I know has been cut drastically. Are these people all eligible? Could could one home ask for a grant or a scholarship? >> Yes.
>> A period is would that be considered one or is it by each individual or >> everybody that lives in the same household? >> Okay. >> Is eligible for a scholarship. So, for example, um if you have a group home with three
adults living in there, all three would be eligible for this group membership. >> So, our memberships follow Yeah, our memberships follow um the household. It it's >> it's, you know, there's a flat fee for the first one >> and then there's another flat fee for
each additional one after that. And so, that's that's the model that we would use. Uh, >> and they could reapply after 3 months for a second 3 months. Are you limiting that? >> We're limiting it to one scholarship per household per year to start.
Um, also we would, as I mentioned, designate those dollars and then once they're expended, then then they're gone for that year and you would have to >> okay, >> you know, try next year or >> I just think there that it it's great that you're looking to give relief to
some of the groups that have been drastically cut by other organizations. So, it's important. >> Thank you. >> Who decides who gets what? You guys down there or just get the other? There's an application process and we try to make it as simple
and easy and non-intimidating as we possibly can. It's not jumping through 10 hoops to get it. It we try to make it really really simple. Um most people choose to simply
go to the school and say, "Hey, can I have a letter that says that I'm eligible for reduced or free lunches?" and and the admin department provides that letter. They come in and they show us the letter. We have them fill out a form that just gives their name,
address, phone number, email, approve the scholarship once we see the application and then it all goes back to them. So, you know, it's just the administration that does it. So, it's like two people is >> So, it's not like it's come first serve basis.
>> Yes. >> Okay. It's we're just trying to keep it, you know, as confidential and easy >> and as we possibly can. >> Or if you don't give it out at the end of the year, you could give it back to the city council to give it to Pollinator Park.
>> There you go. >> You you uh you referenced the fact that because of city dollars, it has they have to live in New Alm, but you know, there are probably fair number of people that maybe reside right outside Newm or in a nearby area that could use it. I
mean, is that is that a stipulation? Is that a hard and fast stipulation or have you had any problems with that? >> Um, I mean, occasionally people have asked um that belong to the school district,
but they want to participate in our programs. Um, and we advise them to try to go to like the Brown County United Way because they have scholarship dollars, too. I don't know how far. I don't know what their rules are in terms
of what is eligible. Um if memberships are eligible or if it's just youth programming. I'm not I'm not certain. But um because it is the city budget, we we
that is pretty much a hard fast rule. >> Fair. Any other questions? Um, I'd ask then for a motion. >> I'd make a motion to make the changes. >> I'll second it.
>> All right. The motion has been made and second to recommend the city council approve the park and rec department scholarship policy change to include a threemonth membership to the South Point
Recreation and Wellness Center. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Thank you. Item number 76. 7.6 is the 2027
park and recreation um fee schedule that is attached. Do you have a handout that you received from Director Schugle and it's in your packet? Director Sugle, please. >> Yes, Mr. Chair, commissioners, this is a
a yearly exercise that we go through with uh with this commission uh before presenting it to city council as part of the fee schedule. So all all park and wreck related fees um other than program fees go need to be um approved by city
council um and in ordinance that way. Um so this is our proposed changes for this year. I'm going to go through a few highlights for all of you. Uh and then happy to answer any questions between myself and assistant director Corman. Uh so one new thing we are proposing this
year, new within the last 5 years is an increase to open skate um at the civic center, open skater open hockey fees. Those have not went up for uh over 5 years and that uh we are far under other
facilities like us. So you'll see a big increase there, but it the reason for the big increase is cuz it went up to the whole dollar versus versus versus uh coin. Um that would include skate rental uh as well. Uh proposing skate rentals
to go up, sharpening, and then uh increasing our restroom um costs too. We have very high custodial costs as well as product when we're renting out our restroom at uh for the fairgrounds at the civic center. One thing we'd like the commission to
consider and some feedback on is an increase in our damage deposit uh requirement uh due to increased costs as well. So that damage deposit is for larger events. Those are our dryf flooror shows at the civic center. Uh right now it's a $300. We did leave that
in there uh as left that flat but wanted some feedback from all of you today as well as our weddings and and such. So there's a $300 damage deposit for that. uh we would be uh looking at maybe an uptick to maybe about $400 for that
damage deposit. Admissions fees for the South Point Recreation Wellness Center would remain flat. However, we would have a we're proposing a slight increase to um our memberships there. So memberships, uh, our primary member would just see a very
slight one, but then each additional member would have a $10, uh, increase, um, per member on there, uh, which still has a a very affordable membership model. Um, but that that's one proposed
increase. Um, we set a percentage um, discount was applied for senior memberships. We're going to a flat discount there, which is 15% for senior memberships. 24/7 would be increased by 50 cents per month, 24/7 access to the
recreation center. Uh, a new thing we're excited about uh to include in this fee schedule is the holiday a holiday membership. So each year we get we get asked all the time whether it's a college student coming back who isn't included on a family membership that
just want a shorter time membership but doesn't maybe the punch card doesn't serve them enough. Punch cards are 12 punches per time. So this proposed holiday membership would go from Thanksgiving uh through starting on Black Friday and go to new New Year's
Eve. So, a little bit longer time to to go in there uh to maybe satisfy those requests. Uh and then we are increasing our party packages. So, right now our party packages are for 10 individuals, but that includes the supervision as
well. So, if you have a couple parents coming or other people to supervise, they would be included in those 10. So, we're proposing to increase that to 15 people. And then our gym court uh rental fees as well would be increased due to lake
facilities were pretty low on that. So uh increasing there as well as our um other reasons with our aquatic center rentals. Our lifeguard uh wages have went up significantly over the years. So trying to stay in line with covering costs there.
But again, myself um and assistant director Corman, we're happy to answer any questions, but we for sure do would like some feedback on uh the damage deposit. >> Have you had damage before? >> We have. >> And $300 is not going to cover it.
>> Most of the time it does, but everything is going up so dramatically. If you have if you have more than that, it's just >> Well, how many of these people would say no to rent in the facility if you charged $450?
>> I have no idea. I mean, I don't know to be honest. when when we collect the damage deposit for like individual weddings and things like that at the community center, I just I have them either I charge their card and then four
4 days later when I get the report back from the maintenance person who worked, they get a refund. So, they don't act it doesn't ever actually come out of their pocket. If they have to write a check out and nothing happens, I give them the option to that I would just shred the
check and if they want their check back, they have to come in and get it. We don't mail checks out or anything like that. If they want it back, they're they can come and get it. I don't even deposit it or cash it. I just hold on to it. In the case of the dry floor users,
um businesses will um when they sign their contract for their shows, they just write me out a check for four for $300 and then if if all goes well, I just deposit I just not deposit, I I deposit it right away, but
I just deduct that off of their bill. And their bill is more way more than that. I mean, some of those shows are thousands of dollars. I can't really imagine that a $300 fee these days is
not below what market value is other in other places. >> I mean, if you go stay even like I'm just throwing this out there, but even if you go stay in a VBO, they automatically charge your card a damage deposit until you you're checked out,
they go back in, they inspect everything, and then they'll refund your card. So, I can't answer, you know, is that going to affect the rentals? I I don't know. >> Well, and if it's $1,000 or 1,500 damage, you guys are going to go after
them in court probably at that point if they don't pay. >> Well, it almost came to that with one rental and I don't remember if it was last summer or the summer before because they caused significant damage from a restroom rental at the civic center.
um they had rented it for an event, you know, not by any fault of the renter themselves, but one of their guests caused a significant amount of damage and it was very difficult to collect. And then I had a lot of time into it to
try and try to get them to comply with paying the damages. you know, make copies of the bills and several phone calls and I actually had to file a claim with the courts. Um, and it it finally then got settled before it actually went
there. But all of that costs money. And I think if you um, you know, if you increase that, you know, and it doesn't have to be 400. If you want to go up $50, >> it could just be 500. >> Mhm. I was like, >> well, yeah,
>> I realize that with our cost, I understand how it works trying to get them to pay restitution and what our attorney fees cost. >> Yeah. You're not getting it out of there. >> You're not getting it out of it. I >> mean, you got labor. >> I mean, it's very, very rare that people
do not get their damage deposit back. It's very rare. It's probably happened since we had the new facilities. I shouldn't say new. Some of them are 20 years old already. Um I Brett I can count the number on one
hand >> and that's five fingers $500. >> Well well I think if you if you charge $500 and somebody knows that they have that amount at risk, they might be a little more motivated to make sure that things don't get damaged. I mean I
>> myself I don't have an issue with raising it to 500. >> Yeah. The only time it comes out of their pocket is if it happens to cross one month to the next. If it's 6 months in advance that they res reserved it >> and pay the deposit and charge it on their card, they're going to get it back eventually at
>> I don't I don't actually charge the damage deposit until their event. >> I mean it if it they don't even know it's there. I would say I don't I agree with Councilman Christensen. I don't object $500.
It's a lot of area. One of the questions I had for you, Cheryl, is this is some of this um like punch cards eligible for the um scholarship thing or is it just membership to can can I go skating if I
get a scholarship? >> If you get a scholarship and you get a three-month membership, our our memberships extend to the civic center as well. >> So, they can use that for the South Point Recreation and Wellness Center and they can also use it at the Nome Civic
center. >> Thank you. I know that's an aside question, but I wanted >> Yes. And when I looked at likes facilities, um, ice arenas in the area, admission goes anywhere from six to to the uptick of $9 to for open skate.
>> Okay. >> Now, I'm not suggesting we go to $9, but I think we could go to six since it hasn't changed in 5 years. Yeah. >> I'll make a motion to adjust the fee schedule from the $300 damage deposit to 500. Is there a
>> second? >> Is there any other fee schedules that we want changed in there? Was there any other questions that you had? >> Not direct questions. However, if there are any other any other feedback on here, is there a second? >> I go ahead.
>> Any other discussion? I I just was going to say I don't it's totally your decision if it to go from three to five that could affect a rental. I don't know that it will be at all. >> I don't think so. >> I don't rental that much then we
shouldn't have them out there. >> I don't think it'll be a problem. >> I'll second the motion. >> Any other any other uh discussion? Well, I was just going to ask uh in light of our previous discussion, um there's a lot of fees that end in a penny and are
we going to be rounding those up to uh the nearest nickel or dollar? >> No, they're going to round down. >> Round down. >> Yes, it's true rounding. It's not >> up. It's not. Yeah. >> Okay. Excellent.
>> Anything further? All right. I have a motion. All those in favor signify by saying I. I >> I >> opposed. Motion carried. We will rec uh we will
recommend to the city council to adopt the uh 2027 park and recreation department proposed fees with a $500 uh an increase of $500 to the damage deposit. >> Chairman, can I ask who seconded that motion? Was it?
>> Thank you. >> I think Yeah, Mr. Johnson did. >> Right. >> All right. Item number 7.7, the uh park and recreation donations. Um Director Sugle.
>> Yes, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh a good number of donations this month. First one is uh Terry Steinbach plaque at Johnson Park from the New Alm Baseball Association that would honor Terry Steinbach. The total for that plaque was $3,860.99.
That would be to be installed at a future date inside the main entrance. Uh Herman run FTH Miley Insurance for $150 to sponsor that event on the morning of Hermanfest. uh at Nell's Park, a little free library
donated by Kathleen and David Suker. The value on that is $75. The goal of that would be to have around the the fitness trail. German Park Stone from Shila and Brian Earl honoring Jerry and Jojo Earl for
$200. Flowers at Riverside Park. Uh Dr. Vogle honoring Ron Balden uh curator of environmental learning center $13.31. Uh pickle ball general donation from uh Jazelda web for $30 and another pickle
ball general from Betty Camels and pickle ball players for $200. Our wreck on the grow go our mobile recreation program from New Public Schools for $6,400 for that program ongoing program. uh pollinator park donation from Robert
and Linda Beck in the amount of $500. That total uh is $11,519.30. Do I have a motion to recommend to the city council to offer the resolution and wave the reading and accept the following the donations is set out by uh
deputy or director Schugle offered to the city of New Alm through the park and recreation department for the identified purposes. >> So move second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Um, any further discussion?
All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carried with great thanks to all those donors. Thank you very much. Moving on to item eight, report from the commissioner and staff. 8.1, the deputy
activity report. >> Mr. Chair, commissioners, just a couple things to highlight here. In your June activity report, you'll see the communication board was installed at Herman Heights Park. Great thanks again to Tavern 507 and the Optimus Club for helping make that happen. Uh you'll also
notice in this activity report, summer's began. So all the recreation programs that are highlighted in there, a lot of activity in the parks and continue through this month. Happy to answer any questions regarding that report. A motion to accept and file the park and
recre department activity report for April and May 2026. Seconded. >> Motion has been made and seconded to accept the and file the park and recreation department activity report for April and May of 2026. All those in
favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed motion was approved. Uh item 8.2 two staff report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioners, a couple more items to highlight. Uh the city of New Alm is hosting the Coalition
of Greater Minnesota City conference next week in NewM uh and park and recck department is on tap for a couple tours. Uh uh to see Herman Monument and the recreation center and talk about the impact of local option sales tax. So, not only Herman Monument, but Herman
Heights Park saw the the sales tax dollars. So we'll tour uh a group next uh next Thursday for that. That conference is Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday uh in Newolm. So excited to host that. Uh you'll see a variety of ash trees continue to be removed in the
parks. Uh we'll have new plantings uh in German Park. Uh a good number of new plantings there as we've lost a decent amount of ash trees and have some spruce trees added into the black forest as well on the on the south end of the park. And then just a quick volunteer
update in the park. So we have uh we've talked about volunteers, many of many of them sitting here today, but in addition to that, we have volunteers at Adams Park. Uh we have um volunteer groups that have helped us clean out the rain gardens at Herman Heights Park. Uh the
retaining wall, which is uh native plantings in there, and and do a lot of that manual work that not our staff can't always get to. So, it's it's great to uh have that. These uh these groups do sign waiverss to help us out. Uh we have the New Public Football Team
helping out in a couple weeks again, too. So, just wanted to uh thank all those volunteers and those groups that help us out uh in a variety of ways throughout the parks. >> Just just wondering uh will the coalition be going inside Herman? So,
uh, myself and our our building inspector did go, uh, inspect Herman. Um, and we've deemed that we can take small groups up. Uh, probably is going to be the last time that, um, anybody will, uh, be able to go up versus
hopefully until construction time on that. So, um, but we did do that. There is uh significant deterioration still, but we we feel it's a safe endeavor to uh to have a supervised group up there. >> All right. I'd like a motion then to
accept and file the park and rec department staff report. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded to accept and file the park and recreation department staff report. All those in favor signify
by saying I >> opposed. >> Same sign. Motion's carried. Uh the item number nine, the date of our next meeting is uh August 10th at 2026
at 4 p.m. here in the council chambers. That's the second Monday in each month as we typically have it. Is there any other business need to come before us today? I'd like to thank all of the people from the pollinator park from attending this
>> and getting up to speak. That's that's really important for us. Thank you. >> Yeah, likewise. Thank you very very much. It's really something. All right, hearing no other business. Uh the uh motion is or the meeting is
adjourned. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.