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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05-09-06 Special MeetingApproved Members Present: Jason Eisold, Mike Eliason, Mark Jacobs, Eric Johnson, Kelly Sampo Members Absent: None Staff Present: Dan Schultz, Director of Parks and Recreation and Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary Student Volunteer: Jonathan Nutzmann Others Present: Alan Cox, City Communications Coordinator; Tom Luing, RAAA Board of Directors; Jeff Bergman, RHS Football Coach; Ken Snare, President RAAA; Mike Floersch, RHS Boys Soccer Coach and RAAA Member; Sandra Knight, President Dakota Rev Soccer Club and RAAA Member; Nels Dakken, Dakota Rev Director of Player Development. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA: 3. b. Old Business: Bloomfield Shelter Building. 3. DISCUSSION ITEMS: a. Outdoor Recreation Complex – Schultz explained that the City Council had discussed the athletic complex at a recent work session and asked for a work plan to be put together. They would like feedback from residents and athletic association participants regarding the need for this complex. Schultz explained that the City’s Parks Master Plan called for the purchase of 80 acres of land in 2003, and for the development of an athletic complex in 2006-07. At this time, we do not have the land for this project. Johnson explained that the Commission has been talking about the athletic complex for years and is looking for assistance from the athletic associations in order to begin the education process, to identify the stakeholders, and to get the message out to the community about the need for this facility. Neighborhood parks are good supplemental locations for youth activities, but our primary focus is to have one main facility for activities, where different age groups can play multiple sports at the same time. There was discussion about the ability to host tournaments if we had an athletic complex, that tournaments are fundraising opportunities for the athletic groups and they also bring money to community restaurants and businesses. Lack of fields in Rosemount and surrounding communities was discussed. More cities are restricting use of fields to in-house groups, or requiring a higher percentage of participants from their city. Scheduling fields is becoming more and more difficult. The number of Rosemount participants in RAAA versus participants from other cities was discussed. We need to be sure we can show the benefit to Rosemount residents if there is a referendum. The last statistics Schultz had regarding participant percentages, etc. were from 1996. Ken Snare, RAAA President, said that RAAA could provide updated statistics for the City Council. RAAA is already cutting participants from traveling teams and will be limiting some in-house programs next year. The athletic associations’ goal is to provide Rosemount youth with the opportunity to participate in sports and have a meaningful experience, and they are losing the ability to do this. Other communities have grown, but they have facilities available. Rosemount is growing, but does not have facilities. The need for an indoor recreation facility was also mentioned. Those in attendance felt that the outdoor facility was needed more at this time. Other issues included: Doing nothing costs the same as doing something; land is increasing in value every year; parking is a concern – at what point do sports take over neighborhood parks; there is interest in other sports such as lacrosse, but no fields for them; and adults want to be able to continue to play sports, too. Naming rights for a facility was also mentioned. The following stakeholders were identified: City council; athletic associations; parents of participants; school athletic programs; citizens who live around neighborhood parks; our children; seniors; teens; business owners – they would benefit from tournaments; adult community programs; Dakota County Technical College athletics; marching bands; middle and high school athletic directors. We need to determine how each stakeholder is affected by action or inaction. The following reasons for action were identified: Keep participation vision; reduce fees; increase community development; supplement/increase the tax base; greater neighborhood park availability; city prestige/branding, i.e. the Blaine facility; availability of new sports; families want to move here; increase high school sports competitiveness; provide a positive athletic experience; loss of use of other communities’ fields; promoting healthy lifestyles; citizens’ perception that they are first class citizens. The following costs of inaction were identified: Reduction in participation – traveling and in-house; increase in fees; lights may have to be added to neighborhood park fields; loss of neighborhood parks; loss of competitiveness; loss of healthy play choices for kids; reduced playing seasons; loss of “safe community” feel; the attitude of participants has changed in the last three years, teams no longer feel like they are second class citizens, and we want this to continue. The following competitive communities were identified: Eagan, Lakeville. Johnson will work on the above items and e-mail information to those who attended the meeting. It was asked whether the referendum would include the funds to purchase the land for the athletic complex. Schultz explained that the city has approached Flint Hills Resources regarding the possibility of some type of donation or prededication of land. There may also be options available through Dakota County Technical College or UMORE. The current value of land in Rosemount is approximately $120,000 – $140,000/acre. Johnson also mentioned that the Commission has discussed property east of Hwy. 52. Discussion returned to the reason for tonight’s meeting - to get the athletic associations to talk more about the need for an athletic facility. The parents may not be aware of the problems with scheduling fields and limiting participants in programs. The key is getting the information to the parents. Having something in the paper each week was suggested. Snare will contact Chad Richardson regarding this. Tom Luing asked for a fact sheet to hand out to parents at this Saturday’s registration and a letter for parents to send to the City Council. It was decided that it would be best to use a form letter stating: “I have an interest in an athletic complex.”, with space provided for their name, address and phone number. The fact sheet will list statistics on population, etc. and include information on how people can contact the City Council and Mayor. RAAA will get the word out to the parents and will also put the fact sheet and form letter information on their web site and provide a link to the City Council. Schultz will provide the following information: population growth in Rosemount from 2000 – 2005 projected population growth from 2005 – 2010 cost of land from 2000-2005 projected cost of land for 2005 – 2010 Snare will provide statistics on RAAA participation, percentage of Rosemount residents, etc. The Commission will have another meeting during the second week of June to see how things are progressing. Chad Richardson of the Town Pages should be invited to this meeting, as well as Mike Humbel, Rosemount Middle School Athletic Director, Barb St. Aubin, District 196, and members of the Dakota County Chamber of Commerce. Schultz will contact everyone once a date is set. The City Council asked for a joint meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council on June 24 and asked that the stakeholders be invited. b. Bloomfield Park Shelter – Schultz provided the Commissioners with the elevations and floor plan received from JAE Architects and asked for their input. The shelter is similar in size and design to the one at Jaycee Park. The Commission noted that the entrance door should be a double door, and they requested that the bathrooms be moved over to make room for one larger storage area instead of two smaller storage areas. It was also requested that the roof-line over the picnic table area be changed to match that of the main shelter building, and that the dormer windows be removed from this section. No action was required on this item. 4. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Jacobs to adjourn the meeting. SECOND by Sampo. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sonja Honl, Recording Secretary