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08-28-2017 • CITY OF HOPKINS PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES August 28, 2017 A regular meeting of the Hopkins Park Board was held on August 28, 2017. I. CALL TO ORDER Kyle Kaczmarek, Park Board Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 6:36 pm. II. ROLL CALL Present were Park Board members: Kyle Kaczmarek, Mohamed Warsame and Emma Figgins. Caroline Rinker and Laura Cooper were absent. Also present was Steve Stadler, PW Director/Park Board City staff liaison, John Kuhl, President of the Hopkins Fastpitch Association (HFA) and Sara Jessen, HFA Secretary/Treasurer. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes for the July 24, 2017 Park Board Meeting: • Emma Figgins made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Mohamed Warsame. The motion passed with a 3-0 vote. IV. BUSINESS A. Hopkins Fastpitch Association request for Central Park fields Background: Hopkins Fastpitch Association(HFA) is a girls youth fastpitch softball organization. They have historically used fields within the City of Minnetonka at Hopkins High School, West Jr. High School,North Junior High and at the City park at Gilliam Fields. Scheduling has become a problem with the School District fields. Therefore, the Association is pursuing options for community—based home fields rather than continue to rely on School District fields. They would prefer to find a home field/park in Hopkins, if possible. They have requested the fields at Central Park. Stadler opened the discussion by providing some background based on the information and discussion from the July 24 Park Board meeting and a meeting that was held on August 24 between Hopkins staff, Minnetonka/Hopkins Joint Recreation Dept staff and John Kuhl, President of the HFA. The HFA primarily would need the three Central Park fields on up to 13 weekends during the summer& fall for tournament play. HFA would use fields for practice and/or league games during the week if they were available. HFA does not need or desire lit fields. Stadler provided a calendar showing weekend programming at Central Park for the 2016 and 2017 summer/fall seasons. There would be some potential conflict to current weekend programming but those conflicts appear to be workable. - 2 - John Kuhl shared that the only Central Park field that would need safety work would be field#3 where • the current 4' high dugout area fence would have to be raised to at least 6' high. This could easily be done with fence post extensions. HFA would require an outfield fence for field#3 and the options are fence post receivers put into the ground or a portable, spiked fence which would be put up and taken down for each tournament. HFA would also require a small shed for their field prep/maintenance equipment and supplies. No wheeled vehicle storage would be needed. The subsequent Park Board discussion covered the following topics: Raspberry Festival events, Pavilion large group events,parking,picnic reservations at Central Park, concessions,the potential for loss of new large group/draw Pavilion rentals due to HFA tournaments/parking demand, HFA field/park use fees and the likely positive impact to Hopkins Downtown businesses during the FIFA weekend tournaments. John also mentioned that during the months of August and September they could use every available weekend for a tournament. Besides those two months,they would prefer to be able to host a tournament on the first and last weekend of June as these are long-standing tournament dates. John mentioned that HFA would perform all the field prep and restoration associated with their tournaments, including base length adjustments&pitching mound adjustments. Stadler stated that City staff would next start discussing the HFA request in more detail and put together the framework of a memorandum of understanding regarding their use of the park. John Kuhl said that he'd like to have a decision from the City by the January/February 2018 timeframe to allow enough time to plan for the 2018 season. It was agreed that this item would not need further Park Board consideration until the MOU was drafted or we come to an impasse. Emma Figgins made a motion in support of City staff continuing to work out the details and negotiate an • agreement with Hopkins Fastpitch Association for the use of Central Park fields, seconded by Mohamed Warsame. The motion passed with a 3-0 vote. B. Park Board Action Items &Updates Burnes Park Improvement Project: Stadler provided an update as follows: - Playground area upgrade is almost completed, looking into the possibility of opening it up to the public in late September—this would require fencing it off from the rest of the park which will remain under construction through October - Work continues on the warming house renovation - Final shade sail design has been selected and footings will be poured soon followed by the concrete plaza area and splash pad construction - Work will resume on the new pavilion and picnic shelter upon receipt of the large laminated wood beams, expected mid-September 2018 Hopkins Pavilion Upgrade: design is underway, floorplan layout has been approved, copy of floorplan and rendering of outside elevation views provided Upcoming Park projects: 1)play court maintenance work to be done this fall/next spring as schedule permits—awaiting contractor schedule, 2) Elmo Park playground upgrade options (2-5 play eqpt only) - 3 - • being considered+play court upgrade, 3) Park Valley Playground new play equipment designs being considered, options will be shared with neighborhood residents for input, 4) Continued planning for Central Park Pickleball courts in conjunction with Central Park master planning, CIP project cost seems reasonable based on recently bid Minnetonka project for 8 courts at Lone Lake Park. C. Central Park Planning Work will resume now that we know that the park will continue with three ball fields much the same as the current configuration+we have a good idea of the look and impact of the improved Pavilion on the park. D. Park fund working capital report Stadler explained the report and the need for continued franchise fees to be dedicated to park improvements/repairs. Stadler explained that the current report includes yet to be realized revenues based on new redevelopment areas—Creekview Apartment development and the cold storage site redevelopment. These projected park dedication fees, coupled with the annual franchise fees, are needed to support the current debt payments and capital improvement program. E. Other topics of interest- Stadler reported on the park sign upgrades that are currently underway. This work is being done in house by a seasonal employee—Lori Freiberg. The existing signs are being stained a darker color and the lettering is being painted a strong-contrasting beige color— the improved signs look really good & are much more readable from a distance. • Stadler reported on the trail bike race events that are programmed at Valley Park. One event was held on Wednesday, August 23,there were about 100-150 bikers and the event drew many spectators,the park seems to have held up alright but we're waiting to confirm that the turf will recover before we agree to another bike race event. F. Park Area Assignment Report— Kyle Kaczmarek: Hilltop Park, Shady Oak Beach, Shady Oak Nature Area, Minnehaha Creek Preserve—nothing to report. Emma Figgins: Cottageville Park, Oakes Park, Maetzold Field, Hiawatha Oaks—graffiti at Maetzold Field—bench near 14th Ave steps Caroline Rinker: Interlachen Park, Burnes Park, Harley Hopkins Park—absent Mohamed Warsame: Buffer Park, Park Valley Playground,Valley Park— Park Valley Play park sign was down(could be due to street reconstruction project), tree down behind the community garden area • Laura Cooper: Downtown Park, Elmo Park, Central Park—absent. - 4 - V. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS: The next regular Park Board Meeting is 6:30 pm on Monday, September 25. VI. ADJOURNMENT Emma Figgins moved to adjo the meeting, seconded by Mohamed Warsame. The motion passed 3- 0. The meetint j , ed at ;•01 p.m. Attest: 64411.kr- Gst , Chairperson •