Okay, we're ready. We're calling to order the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Commission Board. Today is June 5th, Thursday. We are at city hall and it's 5:00 p.m. And we are going to Can I get a
motion to approve the today's agenda? So moved. Do I get a second? A second. Motion carried. Can I get approval or motion approval of the minutes for April 3rd?
Um motion for the approval of minutes. Second. Motion approved, which brings us to open form. Okay. And yeah, seeing none, um I will head on to department report here. Thank you, Sher. Um, so few updates. We did
not meet in May, so I'm going back a little bit here. Um, we had the pleasure of hosting the American Public Works Association for a volunteer service project in early May. Um, with them, we were able to, um, stain three of the
picnic shelters in City Park, as well as the baseball shed. And then they also helped with prepping the garden beds at Pocket Park in the chamber. So, it's pretty awesome that they were able to come for a couple hours and crank out quite a bit of work with us. So, um we're very
appreciative of them selecting us um and working with us on those projects. Um we're continuing to maintain the uh softball field and baseball field and for wreck programs and a slew of rentals over the last month and a half. Um and
then with that, we've also replaced the roof on the baseball shed. Um T-ball and Mustang baseball started here in May. Um soccer finished up and then tennis is coming up next week. Um and then safety
town is in July and Thurlo T-ball starts in about 45 minutes. So wreck programs are running strong right now. Um we do have a new offering that I just posted. Um, we're going to run a basketball camp
for 7 to nine year olds end of July into August. So, that's a new one. I'm going to give that a try. We have an in um an interested coach. So, uh that's pretty exciting to be able to offer that. Um parks and trails wise, we did
start construction on the Gull Trail. That's the um 77 section. Uh so that started May 5th. Um so far it's going fairly well. Um we are waiting on the rest of the utilities to be relocated
and then um most of the work will happen with the retaining walls and that's going to be probably the largest chunk of time. Um so once the utilities get handled we'll be able to um start working on the retaining walls and then paving. Um there's also uh the four
communities have worked together on the grant. So, the kiosks have been ordered. They'll be coming in soon. Um, the maps are almost done. And so, we'll have a systemwide um map, mile markers, and kiosks, um, to help support the trail
facilities. Um, and then at Between the Lakes Park, uh, the benches have been delivered and assembled. Um, we are working on getting maps produced. They should be finished next week. I have examples of everything down there from
the Gull trail map to between the lakes park map and then the parks and trails rules signs have been finished. So those will get updated here in June as well. Um so it's been a lot of sign work the last couple of months. Um but the
benches and kiosks and maps should be out at Between the Lakes Park by the end of the month. So that's that's what we're shooting for on that. Um and so really really good things to have um out
along the trails safety um especially and good to have that uh information for people. So it'll be on the website and then on site as well um coming up in the next few weeks. Any
questions before we move on? So part of the this the signage, Amber, was that any of the wayward signs for over on the um on the trail over by the camp Lincoln? Yeah. So that's the map on the
far side there. Um that one will have two kiosks at the trail entrance, like the main trail heads. You're going to have some happy people. And then Yeah. And then we'll have metal signs at every um intersection. Cool.
So yeah, really happy with how that one turned out and I think people will be very happy to not get turned around out there because it's pretty easy to do. And then yeah, then we'll have we have five benches out there that will be going out
there. Other questions. Okay. Um we can move on to the bulk of the meeting here. Uh new business uh 6A is the vacant commission seat. So in your packet um you have the application. Um Bruce and I were
fortunate to meet with Dan last week and Dan is here tonight. Um and we think he'd be a great fit for the parks commission. Um him and his family have been here a few years now. Um, and they're pretty pretty involved, pretty
excited to see what's coming down the pipeline. And um, so looking for a any questions from the commission? Um, any comments? Bruce, if you want to say something. I'm just going to say I'd maybe ask Dan to just make a couple comments about his
interest in the commission. I I you know, just put in the plug. He did a great job on the interview. So, come on up to the mic. Oh, goodness. Yes. I I I so I suppose if it if it is recorded, right, it comes through you
wanted to come through the microphone. So I'll I'll keep my uh comments positive then, right? You know, uh I really enjoyed uh interviewing uh with Amber and Bruce. It was sweet. We've been in the community for two years now. We live on Popppler between uh Church
and, you know, Cullen and and we're just really we love the community. We grew up out here. my uh my wife uh her parents, they live they live on Cinnam. They're actually on the Brainard side of Sinam, so you have to forgive them for that. Uh but they love this community. Uh you
know, my my father-in-law has been racing turtles here uh probably since it started. And uh so we just really care about Niswah. Liam is uh doing T-ball through the Niswah program. So, we're uh our prayer is to be long-term residents here and we just really care about the
the direction of the city and and happy to just serve, too. Uh this would, you know, could be my first time being involved uh with a city uh which I'm kind of excited about. Uh but but it's just been it's been good to get uh excited about the community that we're
in. So, yeah. Anything you anything else you want from me, Bruce, Amber? Welcome. Hey, thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks for having us. and thank you for everything that you guys do as well. Yeah, I would just put in a plug. I mean Dan uh passion for the community
mentioned also with his family here. Um obviously a you know family that's going to be participating in events in in in our parks here in Niswah. So yeah, Anna retired or part-time pastor. Is that correct? Yeah. So, I was I was in full-time pastoral ministry for about a
decade and and uh that season uh in the Lord's Providence kind came to a close and and now I we moved back into the area. I worked at a a plant in Brainer for about 18 months and now I I help lead a uh a nonprofit uh in Brainard and
uh so I've been a part of that for about 18 months. Yep. And I Oh, last thing. I uh I I did three summers of park park and wreck work too for the city for the city of Brainard uh when I was a teenager and I I just say
that like if I could do that for the rest of my life, I would you know most of it was sports with kids and I just absolutely love that. We coach our kids now and and it's one of the highlights of of my life. So thank you. Okay. Awesome. Well, Dan, you sound like a good fit. Madam, Madam Chair, I would
make a motion that we uh recommend to the council that we have Dan Nichols as a new member of the parking. Okay. So, I make do I make the motion? I Bruce just motion. So, we need a second
and then Alyssa second. All in favor? I. Okay. So, then that recommendation will then go to city council at the June 17th meeting. Um, and then we'll go from there. Yeah. Do I need to show off that? No.
You're more than welcome to, but no. Um, but Paul needs to come in your place. He's Dan is a good friend of Paul. And we're kind of wondering where Paul is tonight, right? I don't want to say publicity. Awesome. Okay. So, uh, new business 6B,
City Park cleaning. So, this is kind of the bulk of our, um, bulk of our meeting tonight. Um, there was not a whole lot in your packet regarding this, but I did send you some information that has been, um, provided, I guess, over the years, just
as a refresher. Um, and so to speak through just what was in the packet, um, last year we set a fundraising goal of 600,000. The timeline was to raise that by February 1st of this year, um, for
phase 1 playground and pickle ball improvements. We did not meet that goal. Um, subsequently, we did not apply for the DNR outdoor grant and we have paused any site planning. Um, so this is kind of our
regrouping is what I'm going to call it. Um, and so I did put in your packet some questions for consideration. Um, Mayor Carneahan, Council Member Freley, and I did meet with the Lions back in May. Um, they do
have um, various grants available to their organization. So, I just want to remind everybody of that. We've known of some of them. Um, and so they continue to be a valuable partner and interested as we kind of navigate some of this. And
then many of you were also able to meet with um, Cross Lake who has a very strong nonprofit called Pale. Um, they do a lot of their fundraising efforts over there um, and have had really great
success. So, we met with them to hear kind of what some of their practices have been, how they work through some of their things, um how they organize it, and I did put that packet of information in your supplemental um items for review. Um so, I just want
to kind of kick it over to you guys uh if you have questions or want to talk through some of our meeting with the PAL Foundation. Um and then ultimately here kind of trying to work out the next steps. Um trying to figure out again
regrouping on what our priorities are. How do we get how do we get something moving here? Um so throwing it over to you guys if you want to first discuss anything of the meetings with pale or anything. Um and then we can
get into our end of it. The pale meeting was very informative and I actually gained a lot of energy from it. It it it kind of brought us back. I love the word regrouping because that's how I felt. Um, and they talked a lot about
transparency and a lot about starting small and um, doing something well and then moving and taking it on from there so people can see progress and then coming back back to it and picking out another project and heading it heading
doing another project and doing that well and that kind of gains momentum and I love that. So I don't know pick out a small project. So that was my thoughts is pick out a small project, one that we already have monies for and funds for
that that fit the park or the pickle ball court or one of those two areas. That's kind of where that's where my thoughts went. I think mayor that's that's the approach you want to take. Correct. Well, it's not my choice, right? That's That's
Well, but I mean ultimately whoever recommends going to come to the council. Yeah. I'm just kind of following up after that meeting you had expressed a desire you and Mark to have something started rather than kind of being limbo.
Yeah. So that's why we're coming here. Um, so many of us, Mayor Carneahan, Mark Freley and I, um, we're fortunate enough to meet with the Lions, which started kicking off some of the dialogues, and then so our wheels were spinning, and I want to give
you guys the opportunity to vocalize where you're at, what your thoughts are, and then hopefully we can come to consensus and bring something to the council. Um, and so I had similar takeaways as Sherry from the meeting of
trying to find something that we can complete, right? I think that's huge. Um, [Music] and yeah, just showing that we are invested in this. We as the commission, we as the community, we as the council,
um, with our funds, with our planning that we are going to follow through. Um, and so just wanted to get with you guys to figure out what we think is the top priority that we can successfully achieve here and what that
timeline might look like. So what was the community's top priorities? I know pickle ball was third, you know, so what was the first and second priority when we had that meeting back in 2022? Well, beach is not happening. Um,
well, and I'll say the top most used things in the summer were trails and the playground. In the winter, it was the hockey rink. Um, and pickle ball is on there because it was the newest, it was
the most requested new amenity. Um, and I kind of look at it a little different where we picked phase one to be playground and pickle ball. Phase two was the hockey rink. Hockey rink's a much bigger price tag. I think we've kind of talked through a little bit of
we're trying to keep that going, right? We're trying to keep that service. So, we don't want to lose that service, that amenity, the parks. You're talking about the hockey rink. Okay. There any conversations about hockey day Minnesota? Um any if anyone city council or if
anybody has talked about it, just the opportunity that it could bring to Niswah if we had a sheet of ice. There's a council member that has kind of talked about it, not necessarily in Niswah capacity, um but more the hockey day end of it. Um so awareness. Yes. Okay. Cuz
they do additional games outside of just like the the one location. They'll do different they'll do games all around the community. Like they have a game here. That's what I was going to say. But ice has to be good. Yeah. Right. Yeah. And lights have to be working issues we have. So
um the wild is is aware the wild renovation is aware of the issues. So yeah, it's just trying to get them talking. Okay. I'm just wondering if I and I know in the big plan it's to redo the rink al together, but I would like
to just do we talk about fixing it up and making it something that we can continue until you actually do have this big $8 million$10 million funding, you know? I mean, why why not get it to a place where we can actually it can be used for events like this? You know,
it's not because it would bring a lot of people here. Somebody was talking about doing some of the infrastructure under the ground, you know, something that was it the was it the ice or you know, for the chilling the chilling. I
mean, was that be possible with putting that in? The last time I got it quoted for repair was in 2021 and it was 10,000 at that time. And we don't we just don't know the condition of the tubing. So that's the other thing. So
last I talked about it, it was repairable. I just wondered with that $100,000 is that can be spent for the rink, right? The foundation. Yeah. Make nice for the ice was earmarked for rinks
and that's and and that make nice foundation is strictly for the ice hockey rink, right? That's what was intended. Yes. Not to say we couldn't go back to them if there's a plan, but if we have repairs at the hockey rink, that would probably be my recommendation is
that it stays there and goes towards that versus putting it elsewhere. Well, what I got out of the meeting um that you guys had after that uh meeting over at Cross Lake was that there's enough
dollars in a couple of funds in the city to do the playground. And in my mind, that would be if we only had a li limited amount of funds. That's to me is the priority because I think that's what I would find most residents that I'm
aware of would want is the playground. Yeah. So, in in your packet, I put just three different accounts there. The make nice for the ice fund has about 121,000 in it. That is the one that was earmarked for hockey or outdoor rings.
And then the capital reserve and the park dedication funds could be utilized for um putting towards implementing some improvement in the city park. Um I will
say the park reserve is for all of our infrastructure. So my recommendation would not be to completely deplete it but what amount of it would we feel comfortable? So given the fact that the city has some money for that and and in
my opinion and I don't know if this is what you got out of the lions but I would suspect that they would be much more willing to put money towards a playground and maybe some of the other infrastructure. Um no offense Sherry but I don't know that they would put money towards the the pickle courts ahead of
ahead of the park of the park ahead of the playground. Yeah I I agree with that. So, if that's what the park commission wants to do and if that's what the um city council wants to do, they want to get a project going, what money do you have and what can be accomplished
the quickest? In my mind, that's it. Now, having said all that, I will go and tell what I've told a number of you and what mayor has probably heard from me. I want to go big and the way to go big is to do the sales tax. And what I would tell to the city council, and I know
there's some reluctance on on taxes, but we got over a hundred cities, it's not probably more than that, but 100 cities in Minnesota that have a sales tax. And the way to do that is to give the citizens a chance to vote. I mean, you guys, five city council members can say,
"We don't want a sales tax." But do you really know that that's what your citizens want when 65 to 70% of it would be paid by non-residents who are using the facilities in the in the community? So my my personal feeling it would this
would be a longer term thing then but I'd rather go big. I'd rather do the pickle ball and the playground in the in the ice arena. Not just a hockey arena. My wife would tell you who was a figure skating. It's not just a hockey arena. It's it's ice arena. figure skaters and well there's another in the original
plan there's another proposed rink too right even even in that sheet of ice the figure skater would probably rather have that anyway that we're getting off the top anyway that would be my preference is to go big and get it done and you could throw in there the remodeling of
the community center you know instead of using city funds for that you could throw that in there uh I know you guys have been talking about a a new fire station I mean, all of those are things in my mind having experience with that that I would tell you people would probably vote for. And usually these
sales tax things vote pass 60 404 60 40 or 60 four and you're always going to have 40% against 55 45 somewhere in that neighborhood. That's what I've seen across the state. So that's fine. But if if all we can do is
is one project and we have the money for that, then my kind of the long- winded dissertation here is I would say I would want the playground. Well, the playground was the playground pop. The playground was in the first
phase. Yeah. Yeah. So, the budget numbers we're using to kind of try and hit that inclusive destination playground was 7 about 700,000. Um there's a lot of wiggle room. I'll say the bare minimum to replace what we
have is probably going to be 150 maybe 200,000 right there or the whole playground capital reserve. Yeah. To do and that would be probably keeping the 2 to 5year-old playground that's already there and just updating swings,
accessories and um the 5 to 12y old. So that won't be relocating. it' just be switching out the some of the equipment. So, I'd say lowend you're looking at 150 up to 200,000. What we
were shooting for to get to that inclusive destination level um was about 700,000 and then you can any range in between. So, the more money we can fund raise or put towards it, the more
options we would have. And you're saying that that could be done in phases. The playground could be done in phases. I would look at that as one phase. Okay. You're not you cuz my my brain goes back to small projects, you know, small take
taking small chunks, you know, that that's kind of what I got out of that meeting was take small chunks with money that we have and then building on that. If you were Is that possible to do make it smaller? You could like purchase a swing set for 15,000. And then you can
purchase like an accessory. Um the big thing that's in obviously we'd want to have a plan for what area is going to be saved for the 5 to 12 year old playground cuz that's the biggest component. Um but yes, that's how you
can make it smaller. Is that feasible? Yes. I have a comment. Yes. So when we went over Okay. Um, when we went over to Cross Lake, I think they said their cost to
redo their I don't know if anyone saw it. I went over and saw it after it was around 350,000. And their playground is beautiful. It's it's fully, you know, a destination with all ages. And some of the things where they were able to save
is like, for example, I don't know what that material is called. Poured in place. What is it called? So by having wood chips, it would reduce our cost significantly by six figure by like a hundred or 200,000 poured in place.
Yeah. The the rubber ground surfacing is about $30 a square foot versus like the wood chips. And then you know they maintain them. And then the other thing where they were the other area they were able to save that they talked about when I did the site tour of the playground
with them was they actually had they assembled and put everything together on their own and that saved them like 80 grand 70 or 80,000 right so instead of like getting to this point where it's like hey let's just replace this one swing setter whatever it is is
there a way right and you Amber would know this I think with more uh research or whatnot not with guidance from you guys and the council. Is there a way to to have this beautiful destination playground, but maybe it's not 700,000, maybe it's 400,000, right? I don't know.
I'm just saying numbers. Yeah. And then to the point of like, hey, I get it. We don't we don't want to deplete the capital reserve, but maybe it's like taking half or or some, right? I don't know what the amount is, right? And that would be a recommendation you guys would
need to come to council with. And then would the Lions be able to do some type of matching? Isn't there another is the fund that we have with Blade with BLACF included in that 88? No. So the Niswah Enrichment Fund has
36,000 in it. Some of that is earmarked specifically for different elements like pickle ball. Okay. Um and then a good chunk of it spirits kicked over 20,000. So there is a fair chunk of it that is um open to any of the amenities. Um but
yeah, so like if Niswah kicked in a third and then we know that playground example, the Lions um for an inclusive playground, they have a grant for 100,000. Um so that'd be 200,000. And if you can get community funds for another
one or you can put that towards a DNR outdoor grant, um you could hit that 400,000 benchmark. Um and then obviously beyond that, if there's more funds in fundraising, then that could just open
up opportunity for what we can select in the playground. When do you have to have that DNR grant in? Um they're annual in the spring and usually due March 31st. And you have to be pretty shovel ready
with your plans, including like your pathways, like your approaches, your ready to go in like April of next year or something. April or May. Yeah. So, if you you'd find out um if we applied like in 2026, you'd find out in 2026 you're
likely doing construction in the 2027 season. um you might be able to squeak it out at the end of that fall, but it also depends on production timelines and things like that. Well, the only thing, sorry, the other thing on that local option sales
tax, I think the ledge legislature is still having a moratorium on it though. That that's the last I had heard. So, it doesn't even matter. We couldn't take it to the voters because they're still having the moratorum. So, like I hear what you're saying, right? And we have heard it before. Um, but if they're
still doing a moratorum for another couple years, does it make sense to still sit here and say, "Hey, let's do nothing." Or do we need to try to find a different pathway to like you said to show a small win? To me, a small win would would be the playground, right? I
know it's a higher amount, but I I I just any the playground I think is really high priority. And I I do like pickle ball and I think pickle ball would be a really good benefit. And I do like hockey and I think that, you know, getting the ice ring and that's a really good benefit for the community, too. But
just getting that park would be getting that park in. The playground or the Yeah, the playground. Getting that playground in would be huge. What can you say? I mean, I have I have two kids that love that playground. So, I have I don't really have an issue with the playground because my kids love to go there. They love to be there. We're
there a lot. So, like, are there things that we could save? like the swings for sure they're they've had their time but like even that main structure for the five I you probably saw on Wednesday last Wednesday when the school was done there were probably 35 40 50 kids on
that playground having a blast you know so like I do I do hear it I think it's great to add more things too but like could we add some add something instead of take away and remove and you know what I mean does that make sense like
remove it yeah remove it move it. Even when we first moved here, we had this cool little car and my kids still talk about that. They moved it on the playground and like we want to find it like where is this thing, you know? It's like the little things where like
you sometimes it doesn't have to be the fanciest thing to be to be fun, you know? So, for like example, Cross Lake all their poles stayed and they switched out their slides. Okay. So, like you can switch out like spread slide could go.
So like yes, the plastic on those does not last as long as the vertical Yeah. um poles. Um things that like the the platform, some of them are losing the rubber coating. Um wanting to switch things like that out. Yeah. I don't know
how much is still compatible with like um offerings now. That's that I because it's 28 years old. I don't know how much of it can still be compatible and swapped out. So, that would certainly be something that could
be looked at if we want to keep the polls and switch out other things. Um, Amber, I I asked this I think at the first commission meeting I was at. What was the reason for the uh not using the
wood chips originally in the original specs? um to provide greater inclusivity chair use. Um so typically I think uh you have to have like an accessible pathway and and talking with the
playground designers certain number of elements that are ground accessible versus like vertically accessible and trying to find that balance. Um wood chips are accessible. So if you have a whole playground like we do of wood chips, you're covered. You're fine.
um from an ADA inclusivity standpoint. Um so going with wood chips is just fine. Um the idea was that it's just more accessible with the porn in place. I guess that would be maybe my thought
process is why wouldn't we add the accessibility features and could we leave the features we have right now but add accessibility features? You know, I don't know. because I I would love to see the playground be completely, you
know, accessible to all. Yeah. It's just a really basic one. It's just a really basic question. Sorry. The one that says push um the So, you're
talking about, you know, a win, right, with the park or with the playground. Uh, in the plans, the playground gets moved. What? So, if you just pick the playground, can you still stick with the plans? Like, if
you pick the playground, are you moving it still or is it just is it just staying right where it is, you know, how does like this whole getting a win and doing if it's just the playground, how does that square with like the long term, you know, if we had the hockey rink? So, just a question. Fantastic
question. Um so again in your supplemental information I shared the overlay um the concept design with the existing and I think there's a way if we change the shape of the playground to leave the warming house where it is um
that facility can still operate and support the skating. Um and then it might just be a reconfiguration of the playground to positioning of pickle ball. Um, so I've spent a lot of time on GIS with the measurement tool, seeing
where I can fit stuff in. Um, so that would be my thought. If you are going to if we're going to redo the playground and it's going to change shape, that's what I would do. If we're looking at just fixing up parts of the playground, you're not going to spend money moving
it in my opinion. Um, and so if you're going down that avenue, it stays in its existing container. That's kind of where my mind goes on it. Um, but if you're going to put in the new infrastructure, put it where you want it for the
long-term plan because it we don't want to just end with a playground, right? We want we want that victory and then we want to get the next victory. Yeah. Exactly. So that's kind of where my mind goes.
But anyone else? Well, I I think to me working with numbers, I'd want to know the commitment from the council as to what they're willing to commit out of city funds, what commitment the Lions are willing to
to do, what other dollars are available, and whatever number that is, that's what we have to work with, and that's going to determine how much we can do. I mean, if that's if we want to move ahead with the playground and if it's going to be 400 grand, then we'll we'll have to taper whatever we get to 400 grand. If
it's 500 grand, then we can taper it a little bit more to what's 500 grand. But, um, I guess I would agree that if we're going to do something, we need to probably do it in terms of how that fits up for the following plan. So just
replacing something within the existing footprint doesn't sound like what originally we had planned on. Correct. For long term. Yeah. Did the Lions indicate areas that they wanted to support? Not
necessarily. They just kind of listed some of the different grant Okay. Yeah. options that they might have that might fit. Like so I knew about the playground one. Okay. Um, I think they mentioned another veterans accessibility one. Um, but I think there's multiple Yeah.
sources and then obviously, you know, that's just like Lions International. Yeah. Okay. And then there's Lions like Nysan region whichever region we're in. But if and mayor, I know that you had uh
the attorney write a note, but on fundraising, you you know, you as city council people can't lead that and we as commission members can't lead that, but we can certainly be involved in whoever if there's a outside uh community member who wants to lead the charge. And that
doesn't have to be for the whole piece. that that would be like if someone particularly wants to do 50,000 for this piece of equipment and get recognized for it, you'll go parks all over in different communities and see that where somebody has paid for just a particular piece of equipment. So that could
supplement whatever the city does and whatever the lines do and whatever grants you do, there might be a family or two out there that would say yes, we're willing to put 20, 30, 40 grand towards this piece of equipment. So if the Lions are interested in a
specific piece that is not the playground or would we change our plans then? So, like let's say the Lions are interested in helping the the rink then would we be okay with that or do we have to say no then your funds go to the
playground because that's what we're putting our stamp on okay so we have to decide a phase one okay and show's where we need some additional funding and support, right? Like maybe you can go with your ass to them. Okay. Because I just
know I know a lot of them and I know where their hearts are at. So that's kind of why I'm sitting where I'm sitting and saying the things I'm saying. I think the takeaway that I got from them is there there's a the few that were in the room, right? There's it
wasn't Yep. the entire body. Um, so the few that were that came to us to have a discussion, um, I think they want to see there's a lot of passion for the hockey rink and maintaining what we have. Yeah. And so I think that's kind of the takeaway that I had is that they want to
see that service continue. Yep. And I think would be willing to help that continue in the interim. Yes. That was kind of my takeaway on it. Um I being that that is such a maybe large project to um undertake I think that's kind of
where the lens went like we can maybe support keeping it going. That's and I think it falls within that little chip away where it'll we could show a lot of progress to a lot of people and I think they'd be really happy if we did do that. So, what I'm kind of hearing is one,
keeping the hockey rink going as best we can, making some necessary Yeah. improvements. Improve improvements. Repairs. I'll call repairs. Yeah. Um to keep that operational while prioritizing.
And Amber, that would come from the make nice foundation. That's where I would start with those funds. And one, all of this is going to have to now go through its process of getting new quotes and and finding out, you know, just how far that money can go. Um, and what exactly
that looks like. Is it just the lights? Is it lights and refrigeration? Is it a brand new Zamboni? Mhm. All the things. So, I'm missing something here because this may have come up in prior conversations, but this Mcnite Foundation that's specifically
for the 121. Does that mean that there has to be a match from the city? No. So, this McNight, we call it the Mcnice for the ice fund. It was private donations from years and years and years ago. Um Oh, you I thought you said Mcnite. Oh, no,
no, no. McNight. Okay. I Because there is a Mcnite Foundation. Oh, yeah. No, that's not us. Yeah, that's what I Sorry. Do they want to adopt us? There is a They actually have money if you wanted to apply to them. Yeah, they they aren't
the operating Minnesota. Um, no. Make nice for the ice. Um, I think it would be earmarked and I think they would generally support using it to make repairs, whatever that comes to be, um, to keep the hockey rink going in the
interim. And then subsequently, I'm also hearing pickle ball or pickle ball playground would be our first small bite. Agreed. And then also keeping in mind the longer term plan sales tax may or may not come
back in some fashion. That could be then pickle ball, hockey, community center, you name it. But that's a discussion for another excuse me, Madam Chair. I want to go ahead make sure in a consensus here because I heard what Alyssa was was
talking about earlier. So, are we talking about the playground, but in the sense that it's going to be the footprint that you originally mapped out, or is it going to be just we're just going to do small pieces of equipment? That's what I'm unclear as to
what we're supporting here. I I don't you think we need to figure out how much money we have to spend first? Yeah. So take all these all these grants and funds and add them all up together and find out what how much money we have before we can decide where that if you
move or we add or Well, and the grants aren't a guarantee. No. Well, I'm talking about what we have already. Yep. So, the guaranteed money that we have is what's listed up there. Yep. Everything else [Music] is not guaranteed beyond that.
That's excluding the make nice, but the Lions have a couple other they might have some more money. They have various grants and then you can always make a request to them for their with their gambling funds for a
donation. But I'm kind of with Bruce in the fact that you have to figure out how much money you have first, right? And I and so I I that that's okay, Sherry. That's what I meant. But also what I heard Amber saying earlier and that's why I'm trying to clarify if we are
going to only be able to do so much, right? But are we still going to want to move the footprint? I think your point is very valid because if we don't I mean because I'm I'm the one who said let's keep it right where it is. Right. But if we don't have pickle ball in the future,
I think this community is going to be very upset. Oh, you're going to have to have pickle ball in the future. though if we leave the park where it is, we kind of go against what the original plan is. And I don't think that's very that's not going to push us forward.
Right. So, are you saying that if we keep the the playground as it is, there won't be room for the pickle ball courts? Yeah, because the playground moves for the pickle ball courts, right? If you keep the playground exactly where it is, there won't be room for pickle
ball courts. You have to find it. So, what needs to be decided is, yeah, are you just going to add something to the footprint and move it later or are you going to say, "Yep, this is what we want to do. We want to move it to it." It It may not be exactly where it says on
here. It might be shifted a little bit so that you can keep the warming house open for the time being. Move it and then there. So, I mean, because if you don't move it, I'm with you. I'm I'm with you now on that part. That was my
point. Yeah. And definitely that pickle ball thing is huge. You have to have room for the pickle ball. So, so I would decide you going to move it so that you have the pick balls later. Then I would then you have to move it. Well, then you have to decide too. It's like Amber
said, you don't want me to deplete the capital reserve nor the park dedication, but maybe half of it. So, you know you have that. and then talk with the Lions to say, "We're able to come up with this. This is our
goal. We're sitting. Do you think you'd be able to fund raise the rest of that?" And then once that's expired. Yeah. So if we if we have a cons that's kind of what my point was because I can make a motion for you, but I wanted to
make sure we had a consensus that we do need to still move the footprint and then from there whatever money the city can get through various means. Yeah, thank you for clarifying that. Yes. So if that would be our next step here is we want to make a recommendation to the
council. So, Madam Chair, I would make Sorry. Sorry. I I always got accused of talking so loud that I didn't have to use the microphone. So, um, so, madam chair, I
would make a motion as as park commission that we, uh, follow the original footprint design that was laid out in your planning and that as a park commission, we ask the city council as well as other funding sources to the
dollar amount that we can get a playground put together. That would be my motion. And I would second the motion. Is can I ask a question before? Is there enough room
without the with just reconfigure? Is there even enough room without tearing down the warming house? Yes, there is. Um, let me see if I can pull it up here
real quick for you guys. Um, so the nice thing with the playground is it's the one thing that can change shape. Yeah. Right. Exactly. So, um, still trying to hit about 10,000 square ft. Okay. Um, it changes it a bit
more rectangle. Sure. There's enough square footage in there. Yes. So again, with all of my playing around on um GIS and trying to measure things, yeah, if you're looking,
you see the existing playground is in red. Yep. And then the proposed was in the blue. Yep. So instead of having it going kind of like a north south Okay. rectangle, switch it to kind of an east west. you're starting to go towards the
softball field. And I know one of the concerns we had with the playground design is having that 2 to 5year-old in close proximity behind the back stop of the baseball field. This would give more space between. And so that was my thought. Um that you're just kind of
instead of going towards the warming house, you're taking that part and you're putting it towards the softball field instead. Yeah. The only overlap is just this little piece right here. Correct. Okay. Yep. And so you're just bringing it Yeah. more rectangle than square and it's
going rectangle east west parking lot to softball field. Y um and then from there uh the pickle ball courts I mean I measured a lot of different things. Um like putting it over the like where the existing basketball court is. We'd
need it 15 ft wider to put it there. Um, and if it was 15 ft wider there, you could put three quarts. Okay. So, I I was moving around a lot of things.
Um, okay. Did that answer the question? That did. Okay. So, Bruce's motion was to follow the original footprint, i.e. moving the playground location and not putting it back in the existing. and
then council to um help determine the amount of funding available. Perfect. Did I summarize that accurately? Okay. Bruce motion. I second and then Sherry second. Any other discussion?
No. Okay. All in favor? I I carried it unanimously. I was I was used to the staff re rephrasing my motions to get it correct. Well, Maggie's the official mark. Maggie's the official, but I try to take
some notes, too. Um, okay. So, the last thing we have tonight, we do have a hard stop. There's a meeting at 6:30, so this is awesome. Um, in front of you, this was not in your packet. Um, but I did provide you
some information that I shared with council regarding um the amended scope for the G Lake Trail. So, if you guys remember, there's the potential to have some extra grant funds available. Um, it's limited in
what we can use those grant funds for. And if you remember, the one thing we talked about was maybe doing a bathroom in Nisel Lake Park um to kind of help support it as a trail head facility. And so at the May council me May, yeah, May
council meeting, um, city council asked me to put together some numbers, put together some research for them, some information, and I just sent this to them on the 3rd as a check-in before the next council meeting. So, I want to give you guys the opportunity to see this
information as well. Um, one of the large discussions that happened at the council meeting was regarding um, it being a flushing toilet. And so that means connecting it into the sewer, adding a well, adding electricity, um, things like that. And so not really
knowing what that price tag was going to be. This is the preliminary run at some of those numbers. Um, and so you kind of see our best guessing so far on what the trail cost would be to connect in um,
from the tunnel into the park and then um, the cost of the bathroom and so it's broken into two parts. The structure, which is what's on here is a pre-cast concrete like what we put out at between the lakes park. Um, and then the
foundation. So, we'd have to build the foundation for them to then put the structure on top of. And so, you have those preliminary costs there. Um, the different permits that we would need to go through this. And then I did put a
comparison. Um, right now we have portaotties out there. And then, um, we have the vault toilet out at between the lakes park. And then I put in what I think um kind of a cost analysis on what I think the flushing toilet would be. So
this is all going this has already gone to city council for just questions. What else information do you need before I bring it back um in June? The red picture here is anything in red is not
where we can build. So the green part is the buildable area. And then the backside which is um a little pixelated for you um but an idea in yellow is where the trail would be.
It would go over um the drainage for the tunnel and so that would have to be looked at as well as we have to navigate a protected butternut tree. And then the big red line through there is the the forest mane. So wanted
to give you guys an update on this. um kind of where we're at on that project um and see if you had any questions, thoughts, comments. Um wanted you guys the opportunity to see this and get an update on that.
I got a question Amber I know Mark had brought up about talking to the DNR about sharing in the cost of the toilet. Did there any discussion on that? Do you know? Um it did not I would did not propose it to them that way. Um, in part of the grant
funds, there's a land use requirement. So, that we would have to amend our existing agreement with the DNR for uh 25-year extension. Um, because that's how long we have to maintain the amenities for. And so, when I proposed
it to the DNR, it was going to be on our land, our bathroom, our maintenance, um, because that's part of the grant requirements. And and how many dollars again do do you have to what's the dollar amount not on
here but what's the dollar amount excess on the grant um base we have over 900,000 in grant funds. The bids came back at 500,000 and then we can also get reimbursed on professional services. Um,
and so based off of those preliminary numbers, I think it's almost up to 300,000. I do want to be a little mindful that we don't get too close just because we are in the current project and I don't know what change orders are going to
happen. So, best laid plans, it's about 300,000. But, but you're saying we could have a two-holeer instead of a oneholer potentially. The the this is a oneholeer. Two-holeers are always good. They are. And looking at unisex. So, yeah, you got
the the price tag of the structure for the two-hole. Um, but the foundation that's priced out is for a single. Any other questions, comments, feedback? That would be nice nice amenity out
there to be able to get it. The other thing is it' have to be completed on the timeline which is by June 30th of next year. So there's very specific grant requirements that we're trying to achieve through this as well during current project. So trying to time it
all time it all out is a little tricky. essence. Yes. Okay. Any other final discussion and comments? Our next meeting will not be
July. It will be August 7th. Okay. Well, Mayor, I appreciate you coming to the meeting tonight. Also, that was great to set up the, you know, the conversation with Cross Lake and and if you can do that with other communities, that's always good to have, you know,
share ideas. For sure. It was nice having you here today, too. Thanks for coming. And then I make a motion to adjurnn. I'll second the motion. All in favor? In favor? Awesome.