make a comment before you get a sign. We're out of control. We need a new vice. >> Just running rogue up here. >> Somebody else needs to be vice chair. >> All right. Go ahead. >> Uh I would like to call uh the Thursday,
March 5th, 2026 Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission meeting to order. Awesome. Approval of agenda. Uh, can I get a motion to approve the agenda for the March 5th meeting? >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda for tonight. >> In a second.
>> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Do I keep going or >> keep going? Oh jeez. >> Approve and I haven't Okay. Approval of
the February 5th, 2026 minutes minutes. Can I get a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from last meeting. >> And a second. >> Second. >> Any questions, discussion? All >> in favor say I. >> I. >> Motion carries.
>> This Oh, I've been I haven't been in this position, but I've seen a lot of them. >> Uh, open forum. Tell me about that, Amber. >> If there was anyone here, they'd be free to speak at this time. We have one person in the open forum. Would you like to share? >> Okay.
>> Right. >> Department report. >> Thank you so much. Um just a quick update this month. Uh reminder that the community center updates and those repairs are scheduled for March 30th. Um we have it blocked off for about 3 weeks
um where the building will be closed for all of those updates. So we are uh quickly getting everything picked out and ready for that. Um, warming house closed shortly after our last meeting. We closed it February
10th um due to the warm weather. Uh, quick recap. It was open for 47 days this season and we tallied uh 1,752 users. So that's that's awesome. >> A pretty comparable, relatively decent
season. A little bit early, a little bit short um but definitely comparable and better than some of our past years. Amber, how how do we come up with the number? I mean, how do you know that that's the number? >> Well, I just asked the warming house attendants to do their best job at
tallying so it's um as good as they are. >> Okay. 40. What does 47 days compare to? >> Um the shortest since I've been here has been 13 and our longest season I think has been 60. So, it's kind of usually a good
season, I think, is we didn't close it a lot for the heat or the cold this winter. Um, we actually only closed it 3 days for coldness. >> Um, so it's pretty pretty average, pretty close to average.
Our time for play program that ends at the end of the month, March 27th. Um, that is the indoor play at the community center. We do have a couple of days with Brainer ECF where they're going to be doing some programming in time for play.
Um, so their first one was yesterday and they'll do another one on the 25th and an outside focused activity on the 27th. So kind of cool to have a another partnership um working with them, pulling in some different people. Um and
then while all the winter is wrapping up, we are also opening spring program registration. So registration for soccer, T-ball, and baseball is now open and quickly filling. So those with little kids, please know
there is limited space available. Um so yeah, that is open. And then also in February, we send out our sponsorship letters for like baseball field banners, um team sponsors for the youth sports as
well as doc sponsors. So um anyone that was due up received a letter and then any new businesses um that are interested can always contact me now or anytime throughout the year for sponsorship opportunities.
>> Can I ask what the categories are the sponsorship? What what does it cost to sponsor? >> Um we have a one-year or a three-year baseball field banner option. Um you get a little price break if you go for the full three. And then we do a team
sponsor. So that's one one season. So it's a name on the back of the shirts, soccer, t-ball, basketball, things like that. And then the docks are a map um down at Nisa Lake Park. and we've gone through a few different things where we had softball
field banners and dasher boards and things like that. Um, but they were never as popular as the baseball field. Cool. Um, one last little update here uh for the G Lake Trail phase 4B amended Nisa Lake
Park project, whatever we're calling it. Um we did receive quotes back. So council approved um us soliciting quotes. Uh we received those and we opened them on Monday. And so right now
WIDSH is reviewing the lowest quote um and making sure that that is accurate and uh we will be bringing that to city council here in March uh to get that work going. So, um, the low quote is
right where we were hoping for it to be, um, to help us complete the project as budget projects. Um, so yeah, as long as that all checks out and we can get that rocking, we should be sitting okay
with um, the financials and that timeline on that one. So, any other questions? All right, to the heart of it. Um, the city park playground design. So, in your
packet, I gave you guys a lot of the attachments for the grant. Um, I was able to get the draft that I sent you guys um into the DNR for their review. So, as everybody's providing their feedback, Alyssa sent me kind of some of
her notes today. Um, going to start getting that incorporated in, but I wanted you guys to see kind of where I'm at with the grant narrative, with the attachments, things like that. So, a lot of the attachments are in the packet.
Um, I did send the recreational site plan and an updated um sidewalk section. um based on wanting the sidewalk to be the playground border. So, I had them adjust
that from the original that was in your packet. Um and so all of that did get submitted in with the DNR. But tonight, just kind of looking to discuss the site plan. Um kind of hear you guys' thoughts, which is going to be a little bit hard because I did not receive the
playground design yet. So, the I was able to talk to um Flagship last week. They did provide me an update. They said that they were able to incorporate a lot of our ideas into this
next revision. Um so, that's a really positive thing to hear that. Um and since there's a few more custom pieces, that's a part of why it's taken a little bit longer to get the design back. Um, so whatever they give us is
we got to submit that. Um, I did put the old ones I think in the grant narrative just as an example of what kind of site plans and images I'll be submitting. Um,
talking to you guys. This is the park boundary map. Um, so you can kind of see how the playground fits in with the existing conditions. This is one of the grant required documents. Um, my question I do have a question on this
one to Woodsth because there is something about having right of way and overhead utilities in the park boundary. And so when we are looking over at Church Street here, this little bumpout is the right of way and overhead utilities. So, I'm just getting confirmation on that as to how we want
to navigate that little section there. Um, and then kind of talking a little bit about the timeline. This is again a required
document for the grant. This timeline is written as fast as we could possibly do it, which puts construction around May. it's likely the better time to do it would be mid August or September based on park usage. So, I wanted to run that
past you guys if you have a preference on how this is written up. It's not that we're going to be held to it because we would certainly meet the grant expiration deadline. Um, but wanted to bounce that idea off if you guys have
tried to spread it out with more of a a August, September installation versus a May, which is in the heart of baseball season run for the Lakes, things like that. >> What is the time frame if they were to start and and able to go straight
through? What would be the completion >> um for the installation and just like demolition and all of that? I have two months on here. >> Yeah, I see I see pros and cons. I see if if they were able to get started like
as soon as road restrictions come off, hit the ground running, I could see a lot of momentum and excitement and maybe by July they'd have I mean that's pretty ambitious, but you know, middle of July if it's two months like and then we'd
still have a good chunk of the summer to use it and there'd be a lot of excitement and we could maybe pull that momentum into continuing this master plan versus August. It gets done by October. It's like we got we built this whole playground and then winter comes.
>> Yeah. >> But also I understand how projects works and May might turn into an a you know it might go into August and then you lose the entire summer. Um and you're in the same situation either
way. So >> um >> I would lean the sooner the better. Yeah, I I guess one thing I would ask is since we're we're going to have city crew help us on some of this, right? The demolition and >> I got to confirm with public works on
that before I I have not written that into the grant yet. We have discussed that. >> But I got to discuss it with public works. That's exactly my point though is we need to talk to public works because Tom may say spring is not a good time and I he'd rather do it in August when
probably his his crew is less committed to things. >> So that would be a factor that I'd want to know. >> Yeah. >> And and I know we're potentially coordinating with um the park or the um
parking lot being redone. And so that might dictate a little bit of the schedule too cuz if I don't know if we want to do the playground first because we're going to be in and out of trucks and then they can come in behind and do the parking lot if they even have the
flexibility in deciding when that wants to get done. But um that might dictate some of the schedule too. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think I don't think whatever we submit in a grant we're going to be tied to as long as we complete the project on time. >> Sure. Um, and so I think
fine-tuning the timeline will we'll get there. Um, but just kind of wanted some feedback because this these are all really good points and the park and the events are fullon until you know mid July and then start to taper. Internal
races don't end until mid August. >> So, but yes, to build a park and then it's winter. Yeah. armed. >> I think Paul makes some good points about getting it done, but I I you know, and so talk to Tom, but I my my
suspicion might be that August because you're right. I mean, any construction project you've been involved in, it's going to be you say two months is going to be August anyway. And u if uh and it sounds like it doesn't really
matter what we think in terms of actual you're just wondering about do what do we put in there? >> Yeah. If there's any >> I I'm just saying I just think uh worth part of the conversation would be what's the cost benefit of having a project
take place with the cost stealing playtime during peak playtime season compared to what benefit is there to put uh a park that's being updated in front of the
tens of thousands of tourists who come into our town. >> Sure. and going like that. It gives people something to get excited about for the next time they come through. So, you know, as we talk about it, I'd want to think about that. Like it's good for tourists to see something changing in the town because it gives them something
to anticipate the next time around. >> So, another good point. >> At this point, we'd be comfortable leaving it at at the fastest have it kind of like the fastest I think we could do it all right now. >> Wow. Right through quick possible. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Why? Why change things up? >> You have to make amendments. If if you put in the fastest and it's delayed, you have to go back and >> No, I don't I don't think so. Not on timeline. Um because it's if you're awarded, it'd be
what year is this? 26. Um July of 26 to June 30th of 28. So you got a all of 27 construction season. And so that's kind of what I'm ultimately looking at whether it's from May somewhere between May when road restrictions lift and like
midocctober before the ground freezes. So that is our window whether it's front half or back half. Um the window is 2027. >> And when in 28 does it end? >> June 30th. >> June. >> So you'd have enough time to just check out restoration after the snow melts and
some final touches and things like that. But I'm going to also run this past um as I talked to public works about if they can do any of the demos now that I got some of that information back from Windsth as as well
as um Flagship about production timelines. If we have more custom pieces, do I maybe need to add another month or two in production? Um if we were awarded the grant, you can see at the top there's a several months about finalizing the grant. So you cannot buy
anything. You cannot procure your equipment until we finalize the contract. >> Do they anticipate a time for that? >> Several months, >> like this summer, it be >> um you we would be notified in June and
then we would begin the contractual part of it, which could include things such as like a phase one archaeological study and further historical reviews, cultural reviews, things like that. Um, and then you cannot purchase
the equipment until the contract is signed and then they have to send it to production, which I think can take upwards of four have four months on here. I wonder if you could split the difference and do some of the like for
the help the city out and do the that stuff in the fall like the removal and then in the springtime when the equipment is made up and ordered they can install within maybe a month then >> possibly. Yeah. If you if you were able
to do Yeah. take out all of the existing structure, remove all of the curbing >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then you just have grading and stuff in the spring. >> Yeah. >> Cool. A >> lot of ways to
go about it for sure. >> Yeah. You're you're talking about the fall of this year. >> If if we get awarded Yeah. And it's agreeable because you only have basically 2027 is when it'd have to go in by. >> I think that'd probably depend on how >> spring and two falls to do the project.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think depending on what they're going to require. Um because likely you can't do any touching till like any of the cultural reviews are done. >> So it depends on how fast kind of what they require and how fast we can
navigate the contract. I think would maybe dictate that. If you could get it done by the end of October. >> Yeah, >> possibly if you know >> ground's not frozen yet. >> Yeah. No, that's that's a good suggestion. I mean, if we can have the city crew,
>> if that was the plan to be start right away in the spring and Woodsth helps us with that, the AR archaeology, whatever the stuff you're talking about, they help us with all that, right? >> Um, it would it's a third party archaeologist that we've hired for the Gull Trail is how we've navigated that.
>> Okay. All right. So, we we line up. >> If it's just type one, I can't imagine it would take very long. They might they wouldn't even need to be on site. >> No. No. um >> because there's nothing to there's nothing to take care of. >> Usually, it's just answering all their questions and making sure it's very
clear what the area we want them to look at is. >> I don't know if they require us to dig up concrete so that they can dig underneath. >> I think they would look on their their information and see if any burials are close or anything of historic value in
>> Yeah. And that was part of the um site review. And so Widsth did look up some of the historical society information and um things that they were privy to and were able to add that into
the grant if you guys haven't read that part of it yet. itself. And I know our goal too, like if to see if we could potentially fund raise for items like concrete and demo and materials and um
so even like if all went well, I mean, if we could do demo and even or the sidewalk in the fall, um >> I think the more we can get done the better. Yeah, it's all dependent on when we can finalize the contract because
nothing can begin until that is signed and received. So if we can cruise through that potentially, but then you're still got to get the quotes and >> yeah, >> the timeline of running through government is not fast.
So yes, all things to keep in mind for timeline options. Most definitely. Um, can I just add, uh, you mentioned how long of a grant this was and until I saw
the draft, I didn't like it hit me just how much work that you've put into this. >> So, I commend all the the effort up until this point that you've put into this. It was a ton of work. So, thank you. >> I really need you guys to proofread it
because I've started zoning. Um, yes, it is thorough. It is very thorough on the front end for sure. Um, and I'm very grateful for Windsth for helping with the environmental components and they were able to speak to it very
thoroughly. So, um, cool. So, yeah, another part of the grant is existing um existing infrastructure. And so we have to identify everything in the park that is staying and going within the site plan.
So you kind of have the photos and I did my best effort trying to figure out when things were installed um or updated and kind of went from there. Um and then put in here our
an example. So, this was the second revision um that Flagship did. And so, I think my thought is these are the plans that they want. When they say they they need the plans for the playground, they need the fall heights, things like that. Um and
then once we get our final design, my hope is that I will be able to speak clearly to like how many um elevated elements, accessible elements, and kind of write some of that up in the grant. but I didn't put it in because
this isn't the final design yet. So, um that's kind of my thought as we go once we get the design then I can add more context to what is accessible, how many accessible things, how many we have right now to maybe what we're where
we're going and the improvements. Um, so I put that in at for an example of what I plan to once we get our third round of revisions. >> So, um, I wasn't at the the public
meeting. I guess you guys were correct. >> By the way, my wife said you did a great job. >> Oh, thank you, Bruce. >> I understand there wasn't a lot of folks there. Did we get much feedback and did we change anything on the design based
on the feedback we did get? >> Um, we did share the feedback. I think the people that were there were very into climbing and liked the nature theme. So, I think there was an affirmation of like kind of the route we were going. >> Um, >> can I can I talk just a little what the
night was like? >> Uh, so it wasn't a huge crowd. Um, but I think what we tried to do was go, so here's the elements that you see. Um,
here's how we've talked about it with the playground designers. So when you see this, don't think so literally about it. You know, just this idea. Um, and I think we really emphasized just like
this is not the final product. Uh I uh and I you know we walked into it relatively disappointed um just in what they had given us. Uh but our meeting with them Thursday was it Thursday right
afterwards we I think we felt and you guys can share to your perspectives. We felt like I I felt like we were heard um in sharing here's some of the feedback we got. Here's some of the things that we're hoping for that you didn't incorporate. Here's some of the ways
that we things that we mentioned to you that you didn't try on and we'd love to see you try on. Um, and so that I, you know, I think it wasn't a loss that not a ton of people came. Um,
uh, because I don't think we were quite there. I don't think we were quite ready for it. >> But it gave us a really good opportunity to speak directly to the actual designer. This was the first time that we had talked to the actual designer of the playground and I I felt like we were
listened to and heard and our ideas were >> Yeah. And we'll see on this next draft, but we had received the revision just a couple of hours before or the morning of the public meeting. And those of us that were on
the committee that originally met with Flagship, we were very disappointed with what we received back. And so we were all kind of going into that meeting and I wasn't able to be there that night, but I know like Dan and um we were pretty pretty like underwhelmed
going into that public meeting going this is not what we envision giving to the public. >> So we're like how do we receive input when what we're providing is not what we had in our mind. So to Dan's point, I think, you know,
they just tried to keep the higher level. >> Yeah. I think >> there were some things the kids liked, right? >> Yeah, they really like the net swing. >> Yeah, we had some stickers there so people could put stickers on what they liked. Um, we had three paper forms filled out and returned. Um, I think
things that maybe would have been helpful is to just have a better understanding. I had some questions posted of like um general theme like how are we feeling about like the nature component which I think the few that were there received it well um cuz one was a little more man-made climbing
versus like rock look climbing um tree toppers things like that and just kind of some feedback on that but like tried to wanted to get some feedback on the surface type um and so that we weren't able to get a whole lot on so we kind of gave the direction of going 50/50 half
port in place, half wood chip compromised. >> Mhm. >> So, um >> which they did not incorporate into the >> in to the second design. >> I asked them to and they didn't >> and but it sound hopefully this next round they will.
>> Yes. And most playground for context, most playgrounds go through many rounds of free fishing. >> So, um and then there's some that you're going to like it. That one was great. I like that. And then they switched it and they're like, "Yeah, nope. back to that one and it's just a bunch of mixing and
matching till you get where you want to be. >> Yeah, I think you mentioned last time we were we're on an abbreviated time frame. >> We are along with everybody else they're working for, >> but I the Nicholls family voted about six, eight times. So, I think that's >> there was there was
>> some passionate kids there that were >> excited and engaged. >> We have an artist rivaling Paul's uh creative. Well, it wouldn't take much to uh >> to put something out that's better than what I did.
>> So So if we receive the grant, um we'd have the contract potentially by August of 26, maybe. Um the these guys seem like they take a while to get revisions back to us. Would you anticipate having a final design ready to order?
>> Um I have the final design on the timeline. um a couple month process actually to fit like to go through final design um because Wid Seth is going to have to
finish like grading plans and things like that once we kind of have all that. So I kind of have the working on the contract with the final design overlapping those. >> So how many more revisions do you think we have a have a shot at?
Um, you could probably Well, I mean, if you're shooting again, now here we go. Are we shooting for May? Are we shooting for August? Right. Like, um, you could probably get two, three. I mean, if we want to wait longer at 4, I like
>> I really liked the idea of getting one of the revisions when we start to feel a little more confident in it in front of some of the kids at like Nisle Elementary if that I don't know what that would look like, but I just thought that was a super cool idea to go. What do you like? Let's get some story boards
and what do you what do you >> and likely that would probably have to be September then because um we won't know if we receive the grant and so we don't know the full level of funding. So, >> in my in my mind, we're not going to maybe have a lot of revisions here over
the next couple of months because if our budget changes, >> yeah, >> then there's that. >> We're going to be put in the same position where we're going to wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, and then it's just going to be like hit the ground running as quick as we can again. >> So, if we don't get it, then then the
whole thing just goes on hold, right? >> Well, we'd still have >> Yeah, we we would still have a budget of 500,000. Do you have to spend that or would you try the grant again in 27? >> That's what we would have to discuss. >> So either we can make the project fit
the budget, we need to get extra funds to fit the project or we can wait and maybe there's more options, but those are the three coming to my mind right now. >> Yeah, we could prioritize a different part of the park suppose with council
approval and or yeah, we put in a $500,000 playground. Um, okay. The other things. Um, so again, that's an example. I'm going to show you. This is what I sent
in an updated version. Um, to show that you got the parking lot, um, kind of a concrete walkway, the green space between the parking lot and the playground. five foot wide sidewalk
playground and then back to a five foot wide sidewalk. So, they have a curb going down to help hold up the sidewalk that I kind of asked a couple of questions on. Um cuz I don't know if I've necessarily noticed that in other playgrounds. Uh the thought behind that
is that as it drains, it doesn't like undercut the concrete. Um, so that was something that I wanted to understand the philosophy behind because as you add a curb then it
increases the cost. Um, so to make sure that would be money well spent. Um, as I have not noticed that at say like Pine River, Jenkins sidewalks. Um so yeah that is what we are working with
for the submission for the ADA pathways. Um this is what we submitted and then recreation site plan. I think the other thing that I was going to maybe get you guys' feedback on um we
added a walkway over to that picnic shelter and part of it is with the topography. While it's only 2 feet difference, we still have to be ADA accessible. So the running and cross slope and all of that. So this is what they landed on. Um and then the other
thing that's not factored in here is we talked about putting benches outside the sidewalk. And so none of those concrete pads are also put in this design, which could amount to some sizable areas depending on how many pads we'd put out
there. So open to any feedback and thoughts on this. Uh the grant has very strict criteria. Um so I asked if they had any feedback on how this is drawn up. um
because you have to list what's staying and what's going. And so basically from this inside green to the outside green is what's staying. And then what's being removed is like
in the yellow. But in order to pick places for benches and I mean we can factor in like five pads at whatever 10 ft by 4t and
ma do the math on that. Um can't really pick where to put them until we see the playground design. So that's kind of my hangup on that one. The other thing uh we discussed is I don't know if you guys can tell ever so
slightly it is uh the playground shape is um rotated and so they suggested squaring the playground up to the warming house
and I said my biggest questions are how does that impact the parking lot and how does that impact pickle Are we talking about the future one or the existing >> future parking lot? >> No. Uh warming house. >> Um they said square it up to the
existing warming house. And I said we do know that that is planned to be removed. We don't have a timeline on that. Um or I should say proposed to be removed. Not planned. Proposed to be removed with no timeline. Um they did a
mockup with pickle ball and it didn't look overly impactful. Um but I said we probably need a further review of the parking lot and how that actually all aligns. Um cuz obviously you're not moving the post of the awning and things
like that and um how the entrance into the park to the sidewalk, how all that interacts before you decide to twist it or not twist it. Sure. I guess my first thought would be
we should go off the parking lot and not warming house. But because the parking lot will be the future, the warming house hopefully will get burned to the ground. >> In my mind, it's always been um
>> Can't say those things. >> In my mind, it's always been me. Why did forgive me if I'm not understanding why did they suggest squaring up the playground to the warming house? >> That's what I'm trying to understand.
>> But they suggest who who suggested that? >> Um the landscape architect for Winds. >> Okay. Okay. Not the part. >> And so I'm like in my basic measure and it looks like 5t, however many degrees that equates to. Um
in my mind it's always been square to the parking lot. And so I was trying to understand it. I'm trying to be flexible and it has to the design of the parking lot lot has to work. >> Yeah. >> Right. So like we're just not far enough along on that. And I said we can present
this because it's lines on paper. Um, but as we get into it and we design the parking lot, that's my my biggest question right now is how they interact together, how they line up, how the entrance comes in, how the sidewalk comes in, how does it all align. And I
think in part the idea is this all becomes just one straight line sidewalk. Right now there's a little hitch in it. >> So if you square it up, then that's all square. That's what you mean by squared up is that line on the south side there.
>> Yeah. So, this would be new sidewalk. The existing kind of comes down underneath the green here and comes out right here is the existing sidewalk. I don't know if you guys can This is kind of small. >> I was going to say, zoom in.
>> So, right now you see this big rectangle where the bleachers are. Right next to it is the sidewalk. Those two little black lines right there is a sidewalk that comes in like this >> and then goes straight. And so I think
the idea of squaring it up now you just have one straight line sidewalk from the parking lot all the way to the bathroom. >> Yeah, to me that feels better. >> So I think that's >> kind of the logic of that. Um and I said I just need to see how it interacts with
the parking lot. are is is the public works and specifically Tom, have you and I have you and he kind of looked at this together at all? >> Oh, over the years, yes. Um, I've had
park maintenance look at this most recently. Tom's um been out of the office. He's at training right now. So my my goal is to connect with him next week and discuss it further. And then we did have a brief conversation saying that we need to kind of talk through the parking lot and the entrance and kind of
how that ties in with the road bond and things like that as well. >> Okay. Yeah. Because I just my experience is all of a sudden you think departments are talking to each other and you find out they haven't and you're about ready to sign something and somebody says, "Well, wait
a minute. What about this?" >> Yeah. And I'm gonna make the assumption that because the shape wouldn't change, it would just rotate that it's going to be pretty inconsequential for the grant, but obviously it needs to be ironed out
before you stake it for construction. Um, but yeah, the parking lot project I don't think is far enough along to make for me to understand the drainage and how it all aligns yet. >> Sure.
>> And then I always look to them from where snow is going to go. >> Not in the parking lot or not in the uh playground area. >> Yeah, not there. Um, but we also have some existing drainage issu is issues where the um community center basement
gets wet over here and then there's uh some ponding over on the corner on this side too over here. So trying to keep it all in mind and how it might trickle down as we kind of tug at this first
string here and how what public works and roads are working on and how that now then impacts the park as well. So not just the park to that but I think they've had ideas too and so
getting it all to work together. So, I say I kind of just say these things out loud as we to help me remember as we kind of work through this. Um, find out what the grant is, find out what the playground design is, and we can kind of maybe have any
thoughts on um maybe number of benches that we want to try and toss in. Um, if the funding allows, we could add benches, we can add ADA, picnic tables, things like that for
the picnic shelter. Um, kind of looking through some of the preliminary budgets, which is hard because I don't have the playground budget. >> Real one quick, I mean, the bench thing, I think that's you heard me say before, I'd like to
have more. You know, I mean, sometimes one is enough, sometimes six is not enough. Mhm. >> Uh but I would say if if we end up having to supplement, you know, part of the fundraising, I mean, I think benches are >> ventures are easy. Yes. >> Easy to fundraise for. So, I mean, I
would probably say that's something we could deal with a year from now, you know. >> Yes. I would like to maybe identify where concrete pads need to go, though. >> Sure. >> Um kind of being the the thing. And in kind of my preliminary
estimating, guesstimating here, um, utilizing the $700,000 for everything inside the playground means that all the concrete work, the demolition, and the restoration and landscaping is outside
of the 700,000. And so right now I'm factoring it's probably 80 to maybe a hundred thousand more for those items. And this is where I need to talk to public works on like our staffing
component versus cash value things like that when I write try and finalize the grant in the next three weeks. So, so I have a question for you on that because that's part of the I mean I know you're going to there's more feedback on the grant, but that was as long as you mentioned that. So, we've got committed
from the city the 500,000 and um the cost, you know, the things that the city might be doing in addition to that in terms of what the public works might do or even volunteers might do. Are we also going to try to put a value on that and put that in the grant too?
So, it it it shows the city contribution be more than 500,000 or >> um well we require 50% match. So like say the playground like if the entire project would be $800,000
we have to put in some combination of $400,000. >> Mhm. Um, and so I'm as I finally get all these numbers coming in and I can start wrapping my head around writing it up, I'm definitely going to um contact the
DNR to make sure I'm doing it correctly because if we say we put in 350,000 in cash and 50,000 in labor for demolition and hauling and you know those things, I want to make sure I'm writing that up correctly. Um, both are secured
matches because they're the city's contributions. Um, but that's kind of my inner thought process right now on how I might try to tackle this. >> Okay. Well, I just I'm trying to think of the name of the engineer, the gentleman that was here last.
>> Yeah. So, I know he said something about, well, we don't want to have our, you know, if we were looking for a $500,000 I'm trying to remember how he worded it, but he didn't. He was trying to encourage us not to maybe have the number exactly >> to the max of the grant or whatever it
was. Am I remembering that correctly? >> Yeah. So, we've given the playground company So, in part, we had to decide what work we were going to do and what work the playground company was going to do. So, we are going to do all of the concrete work outside the playground. We
will do all of the restoration and we will do like all of the demolition. So, whether that is with our staff or we contract it out. That's what Nissa's going to be responsible for above the $700,000 budget we gave them for the
playground. >> No, I So, I sense am I answering? >> So, so let's just say total cost is 800,000. So then we're asking for 400,000. So in terms of saying we we aren't going to butt right up against the maximum of the grant, that sounded
like from what I listened to him last month that was probably a good thing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We're not saying, "Okay, we need we need 500,000. We don't need 300,000, but we need 400,000." >> Correct. Okay. >> Yeah. So we've left it at the playground company for the equipment, the installation, the surfacing.
Um, and then some of the cost like I think they have some dumpsters in there and like a pdeium and things like that. Um, so we have all of that at the 700,000. >> Um, then outside the playground is our responsibility. >> And is this grant just a yes or no based
on what you ask for? So like let's say we ask for $350,000 or a $350,000 match. Can DNR come along and say, "Well, we're gonna give you 250." >> I don't know. >> Or 150 or or 500,000 or is it a just a
yes or no based on what we ask for? >> I'm not positive. I highly doubt it would be anything more than you ask for. >> Um, but I don't know if it's a yes or no or if they would change it. I feel like it'd be a hard thing to kind of change without dialogue.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think that's what you would get. >> I think it's more of a yes or a no. >> Yeah. Well, I think you would get some feedback that um at least my experience is on the is they they there's a little flexibility that they we could ask for 350, but you might only get 250, but
they would probably be giving us uh some feedback on that. that uh >> I've never we've never in my time here never received this grant so I don't have experience with this particular criteria >> which one thing I would okay you mentioned
last month that we're going to do the grant and they don't want letters of support I understand that but one thing I'm going to suggest Amber and and this has been in my experience before the legislators in our district should be made aware of this they just from a general standpoint that they should be
informed. So the Heightsman's, both the senator and the representative, we should send a and and probably the way I would phrase it is we should send this grant application before it's completed to say a first we want you to be aware we're applying for this grant and b is
there any concerns or feedback that your staff can get of us before we submit it on March 31st. So we've done two things. we've asked them, you know, just letting them know it's happening. And two, um, if there's some things that they might
have to help us, they can put, but then the other thing is later on as these things go along, their staff has kind of the ear to the ground, so they might be able to hear something coming out of the DNR to say, "Hey, we hear it's, you know, looking good for you. It's not looking good, whatever."
>> Sure, it's a great idea. Mhm. >> Um, as far as timelines go, this is all going to need to be submitted before we meet next, >> correct? >> Do you feel like you want us to get together one more time before you submit
it? >> Um, >> we just Yeah, we don't have the the the actual design. There's a couple things, you know, you're asking about, >> you know, the the design, you know, the the border. Um, you know, I've I've got
feedback, a little bit of feedback on some of the items and the >> I think that I think that's a great idea. And I was just going to say maybe we could move the April meeting up. Do we have enough time to give a notice to move the April meeting up a week?
>> Because is it the 20? When is this got to be submitted? By the 30th. >> Yeah. And it all goes to council on the 17th. >> Uh and again, not that we they need to approve the resolution. Well, I'm
submitting kind of the other documents to them for context because context is helpful. Um that would be their meeting. I think I can go either way. like if we feel like we need to meet or if we just need a subcommittee or if you guys want to
submit your notes. Um I'm flexible. I I don't know how much it's kind of hard without seeing the playground design how much we might need to discuss. >> Yeah. >> Or not. Um, but if it's just like I just
need to tell Woods to add in five pads for concret factor in five concrete pads like that's a pretty easy number just in the budget. I don't have to necessar like I've already spoken to accessible seating. >> Yeah. >> In the narrative just to make sure that it's accounted for in like the grant. So
>> So I don't I mean I don't want to meet again uh until we get to talk more about park design again because that's what I'm excited about. But I think it's fair if we want to request just like a subcommittee meeting before like we could say cuz if if it's the 30th, can
we do the Thursday beforehand and request that Amber do a meeting with us? >> Yeah. >> Uh what >> it'd be a lot easier to navigate an impromptu meeting with a subcommittee than everybody. >> Yeah. >> But that's what I'm saying is I' if >> but I'd also need enough time to
>> I'm willing to read and submit emailed notes or whatever. I'm more thinking of like bigger picture things for the grant versus just the design of the playground. If you said, "Oh, I would really like your guys' input before I actually hit submit." >> Yeah,
>> I'd be willing to meet again. But if you feel comfortable, I feel comfortable. >> Well, I never feel comfortable. Every time I look at it, I find another spelling error that didn't give me a squiggly line. Um,
>> well, I mean, if if we can get a, you know, if you've got the kind of the final draft of the grant done, you want to send it out to us, that's probably adequate, too. I mean, I just I just might be that um, you know, I know you probably have a number of set eyes looking at it, but um,
>> your guys's, >> you know. So, I mean, I I don't want to nitpick, but I I mean, there's some typos in there that I caught that I would probably pass on to you that >> please do. >> What's that? I said, "Please do because I look for squiggles and I they missed some."
And then like Alyssa sent me a bunch of like uh suggestions on cont like when you say inclusive like let's find some places to elaborate on what exactly that means and not just like the very generic term but neurodeiverse or mobility or
intergenerational and like add some specificity to kind of the terms and things like that. And so happy to take that kind of feedback to spelling, punctuation, grammar, you name it. Like I said, and you start reading it and it just blurs together.
>> So just in general, you're probably going to continue walk through this, so if I'm jumping ahead, I apologize. But so when I was reading through there, and I know last month we talked about a butterfly garden. Was that Did you have that narrative in there somewhere? Did I miss it? Not specifically butterfly garden or
pollinators, but native plantings. >> Okay. Right. >> I kind of tried to leave it loosely specific. >> You did kind of mention that. And then uh storm water. Did was there an area where you mentioned storm water?
>> We talked about drainage best practices. Um kind of how it improves the water quality around the area by improving our >> Okay. some of that stuff, right? >> Some of it's in the environmental.
>> And then the the final thing was um the the nature walk, you know, the still walking through the I don't know if that should be part of the grant here or >> I really wrestled with some of that stuff of how much of outside of the playground to keep
including. Um, so maybe that like as you guys are reading it, if you have any thoughts on too much or not enough or I kind of like we reference the nature trails, we reference that we have woods next to it,
how that helps with the environment, the, you know, >> sure, >> the animals and just the natural habitat and maintaining that. Um, I tried to minimize committing any improvements to the trail
because that's not a part of the project. >> So, if you guys have feedback or if I'm jumping around or like I know I jump from past tense to like present tense and things like that. Um, if you guys catch that stuff, help me out. Um, and
if it's not clear what the focus of the project is or why the time is now, like those are a couple of things that they also really highlighted. I don't want to go off on too many tangents, but also need to speak to like that's a future
phase and that's why it's not being ADA updated now. >> No, and I understand all that and I think that's I mean again I'd second what Paul said. I mean the narrative I've read here is great. You've emphasized a lot of good things. I know you mentioned with Seth helped you with
that. That's great. But I think the environmental part where you're mentioning the, you know, the natural plannings, the storm water and the nature walk. I mean, those are all environmental things that hopefully might score us a few extra points when they're because that's what they're doing, Steve, right? When they guys are
doing these grants, you're putting some points to it. And >> yeah, they they're all going to have a scoring of something whether they want to share that or not, which they they haven't. Um um but yeah, there's there's they always have a um a nonbiased, you
know, standard of how they rank each proposal, right? >> Well, supposedly nonbiased, but yeah, >> take most of the grant programs I've worked with are they like to see like strong matching. Um so if you come with multiple matching partners uh different
stakeholders and then you know they're they're requiring a one to one but some people might come in three to one you know which which might rank higher. >> Yeah. >> Um >> in this one they said if you you get one point if you have at least 20% of your
funds like either secured or um like from your own entity. I forget exactly what it said, but like it was they've not shared a whole lot of what the points are. And there's like one to two points for this and one to two
points for that. Um, but not the full, you know, the other 97 points that they might have. Um, and then I was going to make another point and now I totally forgot. So, keep going. >> Yeah. So, you you're just trying to check like, you know, you're trying to
anticipate their ranking sheet and and try to hit as many as you can to rank high. >> Yeah. Um and and you want to put that in the narrative of your grant um without overcommitting as well, you know, and because then you're on the hook for it if you if you say you're going to do it,
>> right? And so that's why I I understand Amber your reluctance that you don't want to get too wordy, but I mean emphasizing especially in the environmental area, some of the things we do, I think at least would be a positive for us. >> Yeah. I think if you're like restoring natural habitats, it's like one more
point. um or like if you've been impacted by invasive species and can kind of >> restore. Um but I think like they said what they could tell me is its relationship to the state comprehensive
outdoor recreation plan, the SCORP. However you can relate to that is how you're being graded so or scored. Um so I kind of printed off the cliff notes of that and tried to try and find some of the common language. Um
that was thoroughly like everything from signs to yeah native plantings and connectivity and programming and we don't program a playground a lot. So in that part it's hard. Um but interpretive
signs we can I can say we can improve our signs things like that. Sometimes creating an urgency helps too. If if you say have expiring funds and you and you write that in there that it's kind of now or never, uh they might
take that into account. I don't know if the city funds are have an expiration date, but you know, >> no, but the playground age infrastructure does. >> Well, >> so that's what I gota I'm trying to speak more to that one, >> too. That's a great thing to add.
>> Yeah. I mean I just wrote the age of the playground but if we think I need to elaborate more on >> because there's 96 I think I saw >> 95 yeah >> relevance like what the lifespan is >> what is what is there a typical time
frame um you know age what I'm trying to say is there a typical how long are playgrounds kind of as an infrastructure supposed to last is there any >> 20 >> 20 >> plus or minus 20 I mean there's different components within that right So the steel post could add like for a
long time versus like a platform and the platform doesn't last quite as long. Um and then the obviously a plastic slide is it's plastic versus steel. Um so I'd say plus or minus 20. Um I think we've
gotten everything we could out of this playground. So, I think in the sense of urgency and why now, that's the part I'm trying to highlight. And if I can put more words to that, if you guys think there needs to be more context, let me know. That's kind of in the first
section, like literally first paragraph. Um, and then the last thing I can think of is just u facts on usage. you know, like show a demand for the park, like why our park, why we need it over somebody else, >> whether we get a lot of visitors, a lot of summer traffic. Um it's the only park
maybe within 20 miles or, you know, something something that makes it relevant. >> Um the only park in the city. Um stuff stuff that shows that that it's important to to us in the area, the region. >> That was something that Alyssa commented
on of just maybe more of the regional um significance. I do have in there that it's the only municipal playground. Um cuz I said don't write a narrative. So I'm like what's a narrative? Um but trying to put some facts in there of like we had 19,000 visitors. Um and it's
our only municipal playground and speaking to like we got one and it's well used. Um so kind of trying to backs to narrative and what does that actually >> look like? So yes, all in that first paragraph, guys, just
>> Well, I think you did a nice job of emphasizing, you know, yeah, it might be the only playground in the city, but also you mentioned that it was unique compared to existing playgrounds around the area and I think that was good to point out. >> Yeah, of course. Um, going back to programming,
just back in my day working with Flagship, some of the programming elements, and it's not necessarily a a scheduled programming, but in some of these inclusive destination, custom
playgrounds. A lot of a lot of times we incorporated like um searching elements. At the entrance, you'd have maybe a sign that has 15 different pictures of animals, >> you know, and then you'd be able to
through all of the custom concrete that we have, there's critters everywhere that are associated with the pictures at the front. And so you'd have to go through the playground and try to find all the critters. And same with a word search. You might have different words on a sign. And from a from a you know a
language perspective um having a word search throughout. So whether yeah animals or words or that type of programming could definitely be incorporated into our >> program. Thanks for reminding me of that one because I was on my radar but I didn't want to write anything specific
because I don't know what's in the design >> know exactly how. >> So other than like >> that's an easy ad. >> Yes. So, I'm like, I don't know exactly how I kind of worded any of that, but that was on my radar of just whether it's animals or science or space or
maybe just kind of a little >> programming. >> Yes. A little context to that. Yeah. So, you guys have some homework to do in your reading and your notes and um but like I said, if we I as soon as I get that design, I will send it out and
maybe um that'll give me some if we're hitting the mark or if we maybe need to regroup and pivot and I can certainly we can either call a full meeting probably that third uh where are we at? the week of the 23
or if we need to um a subcommittee meeting to just discuss anything. But I'm happy to just take your guys' full edits of you missed a period and a comma to concept and add more on this. I'm kind of missing this area. Um and going
from there. So, um, but yeah, it's going to be kind of a quick rush to get it all in with the budget. And >> well, appreciate again all the hard work you've done to put >> Yeah, >> same same to you guys.
>> I appreciate bouncing ideas and what I think makes sense in my head and what that means to everybody else is super helpful. Um, getting perspective. So, um, yeah, as soon as I get the playground design, I will fire it off to you guys so you guys
can look at that. It's really hard writing a grant without knowing your design. But I we have a vision and we have a vision. I'm going with a vision. So, we'll get the playground design there. And like Stephen said, try not to like
overcommit to something. Um, vaguely specific is what I'm going for. So, yes, let me know if you guys get your revisions to me, um, feedback, if you guys want to meet one-on-one, but like I said, I think we'll once we see
the playground design, we might feel a little bit better and give us a clear direction on how much dialogue we need to have between now and March 30th. >> Have you gotten any feedback from council members at all on this project? >> No.
I will say uh Mayor Carneahan and Council Member Freley were both at the open house. So much appreciated to them for popping in and kind of seeing what's what's up where we're at. So um but yeah, that's why I want to run a
lot of the attachments through um city council. And then there's obviously you guys probably saw in there things like on fraud and or financial and those types of things for them to be aware of. >> Sure. >> So Dan, do you want to uh open public forum
back up just in case we had any comments from the uh from the >> Yeah. Uh >> people in the crowd? >> We Yeah, we'll do that with with our new business. >> You guys have any new business for us? Any
new business to put on the agenda for April? >> I got nothing. I just next meeting would be April 2nd. Um, but also can with a note to maybe need to move that >> or cancel that depending on where we're
at. So, >> what are we going to talk about on April 2nd? Well, if Jane can get the community center contracts updated, >> community center contracts, >> huh? >> Yeah, something else.
>> Totally different topic. >> We'll have >> um yeah, I'll keep I'll keep you guys posted as soon as I get the playground design. That'll be the first thing and then I think we'll be able to it'll shed a lot of light. Okay. >> Can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting?
>> I will make a motion to adjourn the meeting >> and a second. I'll second. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Motion. >> Motion carries. I We got silence over there. I don't know.