>> WELCOME. EVERYONE. HOPE YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A NICE SUMMER.
[00:00:07]
>> ARE YOU? [LAUGHTER] IT JUST STARTED. I HEAR.
>> IT FEELS LIKE IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> FIRST ORDER, I WANT TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, AND THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WE HAVE AN AGENDA TONIGHT WITH A LOT OF UPDATES.
CAN I HEAR APPROVAL FOR THE AGENDA.
[Approval of Agenda]
>> CAN [INAUDIBLE] THROW SOMETHING AND ASK IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN TABLING THE HACKBERRY PARK UPDATE BECAUSE NO HACKBERRY RESIDENTS ARE ATTENDING.
THEY HAVE THEIR EXTRAVAGANZA TONIGHT.
>> WHAT IS IT? NATIONAL NIGHT OUT?
>> WHEN WOULD YOU PROPOSE TO TABLE IT INTO?
>> I THINK NORMALLY IT'S THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING.
THE REASON WHY WE WANTED IT ON THIS ONE, AT LEAST ADAM'S SCHEDULE WOULD BE TO BRING IT TO COUNCIL SOMETIME AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THE PROCESS COULD BEGINS FOR US TO START TO APPLY FOR GRANTS..
BUT LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHY WE ADD IT TO THIS ONE.
>> WOULD WE ADD IT TO THE NEXT TO THE MEETING WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD?
>> SINCE THAT'S A WORKSHOP SHOP WOULDN'T I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE KEEP IT ON HERE AS AN UPDATE.
THEN WE CAN DECIDE DURING THE UPDATE WHETHER WE ACTUALLY VOTE OR NOT.
EITHER WAY, WE'D LIKE AN UPDATE.
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE VOTING ON IT TONIGHT, ARE WE JOE?
>> THERE'S NOTHING TO VOTE ON.
EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE PROJECT.
THINK YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THERE'S BEEN NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
WHEN IT GOES IN FRONT OF COUNCIL FOR THEM TO MOVE IT FORWARD, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO VOICE ANY PROBLEMS THEY HAVE WITH IT.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO YOU GUYS.
>> EITHER WAY, I'D LIKE TO HEAR AN UPDATE. I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED.
>> YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY DO AN UPDATE, JUST SO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
EITHER WAY, IF WE WANT TO DISCUSS IT MORE, IT'S GOING TO EVENTUALLY THAT WOULD BE A DECISION ONTO COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO VOTE ON IT OR IF THEY WANT TO PUSH THAT ON TO LATER AFTER THE COMMISSION HAS MORE INPUT OR THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S WHY I FEEL WE COULD DO AN UPDATE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD JUST BASED ON US TALKING ABOUT IT.
I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
>> WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS AN UPDATE PROBABLY IS OKAY.
AS A MEMBER OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
WE'RE NOT REALLY READY TO PUT FORTH OUR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.
FROM A SUBCOMMITTEE PERSPECTIVE.
BUT MAYBE TO SHARE WITH THE BROADER GROUP IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.
>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, JOE, IT WON'T GO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WOULD SAY IF IT'S NOT, IF COUNCIL DECIDES THEY WANT TO PUSH IT, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE DELAYED.
ANOTHER YEAR, JUST BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO WE CAN APPLY FOR THE GRANTS, BUT SINCE IT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING FORWARD AT THAT POINT, WE DON'T HAVE AS GOOD OF A CHANCE.
>> WELL, THERE'S A SPRING GRANT, SAME GRANT, BUT IT'S A SPRING ONE.
>> POSSIBLY. I'M NOT SURE [OVERLAPPING] FOR THAT.
>> THE QUESTION AT HAND IS THE AGENDA.
CAN WE PIT ON THE AGENDA AND THEN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
>> JUST TALKING ABOUT IT DOESN'T THAT PART PUSH ANYTHING TOWARDS.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, BUT THE STAFF IS GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO THE NEXT MEETING ON AUGUST 11, I THINK IT IS.
THEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL ON
[00:05:04]
AUGUST 11 TO GO TO DESIGN BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.>> NO, THAT WAS I THINK ADAM WAS LOOKING AT THE 18TH, JUST BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE GRANTS ARE COMING IN SEPTEMBER.
WE NEED TIME TO WRITE THEM. THAT'S WHAT HIS PLAN WAS.
>> WHAT'S AT HAND IS THE AGENDA.
YEAH. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IF WE HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HACKBERRY, THAT IT'S PART OF THE HACKBERRY UPDATE.
THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY GO BACK AND REFERENCE THIS MEETING, THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND THIS DISCUSSION.
IF IT'S OKAY, I WOULD RATHER HEAR A MOTION ON THE AGENDA.
WHETHER IT'S OKAY TO KEEP IT ON THE AGENDA AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA HERE.
THOUGH THE OTHER THING, JANIE, I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE MONARCH?
>> YEAH, BUT I'M GOING TO DO THAT ON THE COMMISSIONER REPORT.
>> I'M NOT THE LEAD ON THAT, SO KIM'S ON TOP.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING THOUGH ON THE AGENDA FROM THE DESIGN MEETING.
IT SAYS AUGUST 11, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR CONCEPT APPROVAL NEXT SIX DAYS FROM NOW.
>> THAT'S WAS JUST A PRELIMINARY DECISION.
ADAM'S NOT EVEN HERE THIS WEEK, SO IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
I CAN SAY THAT. IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA AT ALL.
>> IT'S NOT SO THIS NO LONGER [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST AN INTERNAL THING THAT HE USED AS A GUIDELINE, WHERE WE WOULD BE.
NOTHING ON THIS AGENDA WAS A LIKE SET IN STONE.
IT'S JUST LIKE THIS WOULD BE A GREAT.
A GUIDELINE FOR WHERE WE HAD SO WE CAN STAY ON SCHEDULE TO GET IT DONE THE SUMMER OF 2026, BUT IT'S NOTHING SET IN STONE.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S NOT ON IT FOR THE RECORD.
>> WELL, JUST SAY THIS FOR THE RECORD THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE, SO I'M HOPING THAT IT WON'T GO TO THE COUNCIL ON THE 11TH AS THE ORIGINAL AGENDA THAT WE GOT AT THE DESIGN MEETING.
>> I'D LIKE TO ADD JUST THAT I WOULD THINK AS A PARKS COMMISSION, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO HAVE ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A DESIGN PLAN THAT WE CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT SUPPORTING IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I THINK THE PIECES ARE TRYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY A PUZZLE TOGETHER.
>> DURING THE UPDATE, THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO POTENTIALLY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA?
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR MAY 6,
[Approval of Minutes]
2025 PARK COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING.ANYONE HAVE ANY UPDATES OR QUESTIONS? ABOUT THAT? NO. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES SECOND MAY 6, 25, MIKE SECONDS IT. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LET ME OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC IN OUR AUDIENCE.
NO. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FIRST AGENDA AND THE NEXT AGENDA TOPIC,
[Staff Report]
WHICH IS A REPORTS.>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T AT COUNCIL.
THAT DOES TIE INTO THE PARK STANDARDS.
COUNCIL DID APPROVE PURCHASE OF PARK SIGNS AT THE LAST MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PURCHASING THE REMAINING 11 TO FINISH OUT THOSE PARKS.
IT DID COME OVER A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR JUST THE SIX SIGNS, BUT WE GOT A REALLY NICE DONATION FROM THE ORONO GARDEN CLUB TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOR BOTH COUNSEL AND THE DONATION FOR GETTING THAT DONE.
THEY JUST HAVE TO BE CREATED AND THEN DELIVERED, AND THEN WE'LL START GETTING THEM OUT.
ANOTHER PART OF THAT, WHICH WE CAN LOOK TO THE COMMISSION TO BE A PART OF IS LOOKING AT SOME LANDSCAPING FOR WHERE THOSE SIGNS ARE, OR IF THERE'S ALTERNATE PLACES WHERE WE WANT THEM PLACED.
[00:10:04]
YOU CAN HAVE SOME INPUT IN THAT JUST.IN THE PAST, I DON'T THINK THERE REALLY WAS AS MUCH THOUGHT OR INPUT INTO WHERE THOSE WENT.
THEY JUST WHERE THEY ALWAYS WERE, AND THEY GOT REPLACED.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU GUYS WALKED IN TO GET MORE PERSPECTIVE AND HOPEFULLY GET HIM PLACED IN A NICE SPOT AND MAKE HIM LOOK NICE.
>> WILL THEY BE IN BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES, DO YOU THINK OR?
I REALLY JUST GOT THIS MORNING SAYING, GREAT. CONTRACT SIGNED.
WE'RE GOING TO START PRODUCTION.
MY FEELING WOULD PROBABLY BE NOT, BUT I'M HOPEFUL. HOPEFUL FOR THAT.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT.
>> WELL, IT'S GOING TO FINISH OUT ALL 11 PARK THAT DON'T HAVE THEM.
>> DOES BIG ISLAND HAVE A SIGN?
>> DOESN'T. IT HAS PARKED SIGNAGE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A SIGN AS WE WOULD LOOK AT.
IF THAT WAS NOT IN OUR INITIAL BREAKDOWN, IF WE WANT TO DO A SIGN OUT THERE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK AT GETTING SCHEDULED TO BUDGET THAT IN THE FUTURE.
>> I'D BE UP FOR A SIGN THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
>> YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE DOCK, ANYWAY.
>> I MEAN, IT IS AN ORAL PARK.
IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE AN ORAL PARK.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE? MAYBE A SMALLER ONE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SUCH THING AS A SMALLER VERSION OF THAT THAT THEY COULD DO.
>> THERE'S NOT REALLY A SMALLER VERSION, BUT I COULD TALK TO THEM TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT AS LARGE..
>> WANT A GREAT BIG ONE LIKE WE'RE PUTTING.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY JUST [OVERLAPPING].
>> MAYBE AN INFORMATIONAL SIGN HISTORY OF THE PURCHASE OF THE PARK.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE MOST PEOPLE GO.
>> YEAH, THERE IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT SIDE FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD IS WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OF [OVERLAPPING].
>> OUTSIDE THE SANDY BEACHES, NOT A CRUISERS COVE.
>> IT DEFINITELY GETS BUSY OUT THERE, AND WE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ISN'T THERE A JOINT OWNERSHIP OF THAT PARK THERE WITH MINNETONKA WATERSHED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I WONDER IF THEY'D HAVE ANY REMORSE ABOUT US CLAIMING IT AS A ORONO PARK WITH A BIG, BEAUTIFUL SIGN.
BUT IT HAS A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? A JOINT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE WATERSHED DISTRICT.
>> IT WOULDN'T HURT TO REACH OUT TO THEM BEFORE WE PUT SOMETHING UP THERE OUT OF COURTESY.
>> I'D BE SURPRISED IF IT DIDN'T.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION LOT OF SIGNS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OUT THERE ALREADY HISTORIC.
>> I'M SURE IT'S MENTIONED THEIR ROLE.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THEY'RE ROLE BREAKING. OUT THERE THE WATERSHED.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN ARTICULATE RIGHT HERE [LAUGHTER]
>> I MEAN, ARE THEY ACTIVELY INVOLVED?
>> THEY JUST OVERSEE AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING.
>> YES THEY'RE MORE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE MORE JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL THAT LAKE SHORE.
>> THEY WERE A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST MANAGEMENT PLAN.
BUT I REMEMBER BECAUSE THAT WAS DONE WHAT 2008.
THEY WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THAT PIECE OF IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE CONTINUED OR IF THAT MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS EVOLVED AT ALL.
I KNOW THEY WERE QUITE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE FIRST ONE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT UPDATE SO EVERYONE COULD BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH.
>> WHAT IS WORTH? I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE A SIGN OR TWO A BIG ISLAND.
PROBABLY IS DOESN'T MAKE THIS CUT?
>> I CAN CONTACT COMPANY BACKER WHO DOES THE SIGNS.
I'M SURE THERE'S ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE NOT AS BIG THAT COULD WORK FOR THE BEACH AREA, TOO.
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU INSTALL THEM? DON'T PUT THEM ALL SUPER HIGH, LIKE YOU DID AT [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHEN HE WAS FIRST INSTALLED, IT WAS HUGE.
[00:15:04]
IT WAS REALLY TALL.THEN YOU HAD TO COME BACK AND, CUT IT DOWN AND REINSTALL IT.
>> ONE STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS TO PUT THOSE UP, SO IT'S A LARGE PROJECT AND IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE.
JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND WITH INPUT FROM COMMISSIONERS.
WE TOURED PRETTY MUCH ALL THE PARKS, HAD A LOT OF GREAT CONVERSATIONS.
THE COMMISSIONERS WE WENT OUT WITH HAD A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, A LOT OF GOOD POINTS, AND A LOT OF WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE THE PARKS.
I DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE JUST THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE STUFF THAT WE CAN TACKLE OR HAVE BEEN TACKLING IN THE SUMMER, JUST BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WHILE VERY HELPFUL TO GET THOSE AND GET THOSE FIXED, IT DOESN'T FIT INTO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR THIS OVERALL PROJECT.
BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN NOTED AND ARE BEING WORKED ON, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
I BROKE IT DOWN INTO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
THIS WOULD BE, LIKE, I SAY SMALL, BUT MORE JUST THINGS THAT WE COULD TACKLE IN OUR NORMAL BUDGETARY SEASON AND NOTHING THAT WE NEED EXTRA FUNDING FOR.
OF COURSE, DEAD TREES AND BRANCH TRIMMING AT THE PARKS.
WE HAVE BUDGETED SOME INCREASE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR TREE REMOVAL, AND PART OF THAT WOULD BE FOR REPLANTING.
WE'RE DEVELOPING A POLICY OVERALL IN THE CITY, AND OUR POLICY IS GOING TO BE IF WE TAKE A TREE DOWN THAT WE'RE REPLACING A TREE.
>> IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THESE OR IS THIS JUST AN OVERVIEW?
>> THERE'S NO TIMELINE BECAUSE IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH BUDGET WE HAVE.
IF WE HAD ENDLESS MONEY, WE COULD SAY, LET'S GET THESE DONE NEXT YEAR, BUT I WOULD SAY MOST OF THESE WE CAN WORK ON THIS YEAR, AND WE CAN START TO LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR FOR BENCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WHAT SIZED TREES DO YOU REPLANT OR ARE YOU THINKING?
>> BECAUSE OF THE COST, THEY WOULD BE SMALLER SAPLINGS THAT WE WOULD REPLANT.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IF WE'RE JUST REPLACING ONE FOR ONE, WE CAN'T DO MORE.
OR EVEN IF WE TAKE ONE DOWN IN A CERTAIN PART OF THE PARK THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING IT IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE PARK, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT REPLANTING TO GET THE TREES BACK.
WE'RE KEEPING THE THE CANOPY HEALTHY AND OUR CYCLE GOING, SO WE'RE NOT STUCK WITH JUST A BUNCH OF OLD TREES AND THEN CUT.
>> DOES THAT MEAN SAPLINGS MEAN TWO FEET TALL OR FIVE FEET TALL? USUALLY, THEY GO FOR ABOUT DIAMETER OF THE TRUNK, SO A TWO INCH OR IT MAYBE NOT THAT BIG.
>> I WOULD SAY WE DON'T WANT TO PAINT OURSELVES INTO AN EXACT SIZE, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT THEM TO SURVIVE AND BE HEALTHY.
[LAUGHTER] IF WE CAN GET THEM A LITTLE BIGGER, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE BETTER CHANCE.
BUT GOING ON WITH THAT, TOO, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF PRUNING AND JUST TREE MAINTENANCE TO MAKE SURE THEIR HEALTH IS BEING LOOKED AT, NOT JUST, I THINK WE ARE CAUGHT IN A REACTIONARY SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE TREES ARE DYING AND WE'RE COMING DOWN.
WHAT I WANT US TO GET MORE TOWARDS IS PREVENTATIVE CARE, SO WE CAN SAVE TREES THAT MAY BE A LITTLE DAMAGED AND KEEP THEM HEALTHY, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.
>> AGAIN, MAYBE THIS IS TO BE FIGURED OUT AT A LATER DATE.
IS THE STAFF MANAGING THIS TREE REMOVAL PROCESS?
>> YEAH, IT WOULD BE STAFF, FOR THE MOST PART.
WE DO CONTRACT OUT WHEN WE'RE PLANTING TREES SOMETIMES, JUST BECAUSE IF YOU PURCHASE THEM FROM NURSERIES, THEY WILL PLANT THEM.
THAT'S PART OF THE PURCHASE PROCESS. TREE REMOVAL.
STAFF, AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, WE'LL TAKE THOSE TREES DOWN JUST BECAUSE IT'S LESS EXPENSIVE FOR US TO DO IT OURSELVES.
>> BUT THE BIG ONES WOULD BE CUT,
>> BUT THEN SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES OR ONES THAT ARE IN CLOSE TO POWER LINES OR CLOSE TO HOMES, WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO THAT SO WE'LL CONTRACT THEM OUT.
[00:20:07]
AT PARKS, WE'RE MOSTLY WAITING FOR THE GROUND TO FREEZE, SO WE CAN GET A LOT MORE TREES OUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IT DOES TO THE GRASS AND THE PARKS, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.WE HAD SOME MULCH REPLACEMENT AT BEDERWOOD, WHICH REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.
REPLACING THE MULCH AT FRENCH CREEK, AND THEN JUST AN OVERALL REFRESH AT THE PARKS TO MAKE SURE ANY OF THE ONES THAT DO HAVE A WOOD BASE, THE MULCH IS LOOKING GOOD AND FILLED UP.
WE NEED SOME NEW BIKE RACKS AT A FEW OF THE PARKS, SO THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE THE OLD METAL ONES THAT ARE NOT IN GREAT REPAIR.
IF WE CAN GET ALL OF THOSE PARKS UP TO OUR STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE OUTLINED, THAT WOULD I THINK REALLY HELP THE LOOK OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE PARKS.
I KNOW A BIG THING FROM LOOKING OVER EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AND JANIE'S.
LIST THAT SHE DID AT THE PARKS WAS JUST MAKING SURE ALL OUR SIGNAGE AND HOURS ARE CONSISTENT AND OUR ON BRAND, WHICH RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT AT PRETTY MUCH ANY OF THE PARKS.
I THINK IT GIVES US A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NICE SIGN.
WE CAN THROW A QR CODE ON THERE SO PEOPLE CAN GET SOME PARK INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE THE HOURS ARE CONSISTENT AND CORRECT AT ALL THE PARKS, SO THAT IS OUT THERE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET DONE ONCE WE HAVE A DESIGN AND WHAT WE WANT TO GET OUT THERE, WE COULD GET THAT DONE FAIRLY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S REALLY JUST REPLACING A SIGN.
>> YES. IT MAY HAVE TO BE DONE IN PHASES BUT I THINK WE CAN GET MOST OF THEM PRETTY MUCH REPLACED EVEN THIS YEAR.
>> IT'S WITHIN THE OPERATING BUDGET?
>> HAS ANYTHING GOING FORWARD WITH DAVEY? AS FAR AS THE TREE REMOVALS, I REMEMBER, THEY DID A [OVERLAPPING] BUT I THINK THEY EXPANDED IT BEYOND JUST BEFORE.
>> WE HAVE OUR PLAN. LOOKING AT IT, BUT NOW WE'RE DEVELOPING A TREE POLICY FOR THE CITY, WHICH IS DEEPER THERE IS REALLY JUST AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE HAD IN THE CITY AND WHAT THEY THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ASH TREES AND THE COSTS FOR THAT.
IT GAVE US, WHAT I WOULD SAY A NICE BARE BONES IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN.
NOW, WE HAVE TO FILL IN ALL THE BLANKS AND REALLY DEVELOP OUR POLICY, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY COME FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT, AND THEN COUNCIL TO ULTIMATELY APPROVE.
>> THERE'S NO CONTRACT WITH THEM TO TAKE THESE TREES OUT?
WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR TREE COMPANIES WE USE TO TAKE TREES DOWN, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH ONE TO WORK ON IT.
WE JUST DO IT ON A NEED BASIS.
RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THE TREE COMPANIES ARE ABOUT TWO MONTHS OUT.
FOR TREE REMOVAL, WE CAN SOMETIMES SNEAK IN JUST BECAUSE WE USE THEM A LOT, BUT THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY BUSY.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DEAD ASH TREES AROUND THE AREA.
THAT STORM LAST WEEK, DIDN'T REALLY HELP THE SITUATION.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY ADDING A LITTLE HISTORICAL MARKER AT THE SEVEN NATIONS.
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THERE TO NOTE THAT, THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT AREA.
>> I HAD HEARD THAT THEY DID RESOLVE FAKE HISTORY.
>> I COULD BE WRONG. I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS INTERESTING HISTORY.
>> [LAUGHTER] WHAT I HEARD THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY INDIANS OUT THERE OR INDIANS AT ALL.
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING FOR A COUPLE OF US TO TAKE ON.
>> [LAUGHTER] DON'T CREATE A STORY, BUT DO THE RESEARCH.
>> MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS SOME VALIDITY TO IT OR IF THERE'S NOT.
>> I WOULD START WITH ADAM BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY DID DO SOME RESEARCH.
>> I THINK IT DOES TELL THE HISTORY IN THE COMP PLAN OF EACH PARK.
>> I THINK IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ONE IN THERE ON SEVEN NATIONS, BUT I BELONG TO ALL THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES JUST MERGED.
>> THAT'D BE GREAT IF YOU ARE.
>> AT LEAST LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE IF [OVERLAPPING]
>> [LAUGHTER] THEN WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OPPORTUNITIES
[00:25:02]
TO ADD SOME MORE POLLINATOR GARDENS, ADD SOME OF THE PARKS.THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME SPACES WHERE THOSE CAN BE PUT IN WITHOUT LIMITED IMPACT ON PEOPLE USING THE PARKS JUST AS A NICE BEAUTIFICATION.
THEN WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DEDICATED LANDSCAPING FOR THE NEW PARK SIGNS.
I MENTIONED HERE, THE LAKE ACCESS POINTS.
I KNOW MICHAEL AND JANIE ARE REVIEWING THOSE, AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE DONE A FEW THINGS OUT ON THOSE, BUT I KNOW ONCE YOU GUYS HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS THAT A LITTLE FURTHER, THAT CAN BE INCORPORATED.
>> SOME OF THEM GET USED AS MUCH AS THE PARK.
HAVING THEM ON SOME MAINTENANCE PLAN WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.
>> BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING CONCRETE THAT WE CAN GET A LITTLE MORE DETAILED AND MAKE SURE THINGS HAVE ATTENTION ON THAT.
NEXT ONE WOULD BE SOME LARGER PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK IN, WHICH WOULD BE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, BUDGETING.
THE BEDERWOOD PLAYGROUND BORDER, THE EDGING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
IT IS PRETTY OLD AND STARTING TO BREAK DOWN.
WE COULD UPGRADE TO CONCRETE, LIKE WE'VE DONE AT SOME OF THE PARKS, WHICH LASTS LONGER, A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU GET A LITTLE MORE TIME ON THAT.
A LOT OF THE OLD WOOD PICNIC TABLES ARE AGING AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
SOME OF THOSE THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE, AND THEY COULD DEFINITELY LAST FOR A FEW MORE YEARS, OR DO WE WANT TO UPGRADE THOSE TO MAKE SURE THE PARKS ARE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT? THERE'S A NEED.
FIRST, WE HEARD FOR MORE BENCHES AT THE PARKS.
THERE'D BE HACKBERRY, SAGA HILL, BEDERWOOD, AND THEN THE ONES AT SEVEN NATIONS, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY FROM THE '70S LOOKING AT THEM.
THOSE WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO GET SOME IMPROVEMENT OUT THERE.
THOSE I PUT IN LARGER PROJECTS, JUST AS AN OVERALL, IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT ALL AT ONCE.
IF WE WANT TO JUST REPLACE A FEW, THOSE COULD BE DONE NOT AS LARGE OF A PROJECT.
IF WE SEE SOMETHING THAT'S A BIGGER NEED OR THAT WE KNOW PEOPLE REALLY WANT AT BEDERWOOD.
I ALSO DIDN'T INCLUDE MUCH FOR BEDERWOOD JUST BECAUSE OF THE PARK PROJECTS GOING ON.
>> HACKBERRY, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T INCLUDE MUCH FOR HACKBERRY. YOU GO.
>> YOU MENTIONED BASED ON PRIORITY, HOW DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM US ON WHAT WE THINK THE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE?
>> WE CAN DEFINITELY DO IT IN OUR MEETING, OR IF WE WANT TO BREAK BACK AT THE SUBCOMMITTEES FOR EACH PARK, IF SOMEONE AT ONE PARK, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND SAY, I HEARD THESE BENCHES AT SEVEN NATIONS REALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
I THINK THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY, AND THEN WE CAN BRING IT UP.
HOWEVER, YOU GUYS WANT TO DO IT, I'M OPEN TO IT.
>> PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT YOU SO YOU SHOULD DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO USE OUR INPUT.
IT'S NOT JUST WITHIN THE PARKS THAT WE'RE ASSIGNED TO.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL LOOK ACROSS THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND DECIDE WHICH ARE THE PRIORITIES HERE.
IF THAT'S PART OF THE CIP PROCESS.
>> ESSENTIALLY IS PART OF OUR UPCOMING MEETING.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BREAK THIS DOWN.
ARE WE GOING TO DO ONE PARK, GET IT ALL DONE AND THEN GO TO THE NEXT PARK? THEN I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT A BIGGER PICTURE THAN JUST TREES AND BENCHES AND PICNIC TABLES.
WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR ORONO PARKS UNIQUE? I THINK NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REVAMPING SOME OF THESE.
>> IS THIS LIKE A MASTER PLAN FOR EACH PARK OR?
I'M JUST THINKING WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MAKE ALL THESE PARKS OUR OWN?
[00:30:03]
WHEN YOU GO TO AN ORONO PARK, YOU GO, I'M AT OUR ORONO PARK, NOT JUST BECAUSE A SIGN SAYS IT, BUT DO WE HAVE QUIET SPACES? I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST REPLACING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.SEE>> I THINK THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT BRIAN AND KIM, AND I ARE ON ARE GOING TO HELP INFORM THAT.
IN MY VIEWPOINT, THIS IS GETTING OUR PARKS UP TO PAR.
>> THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT. [BACKGROUND]
>> THIS ISN'T NEXT VISION, NEXT BIG STEP.
ALSO, I THINK ALL OF THIS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, AND IF IT IS FINANCIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE PULL THE CITY COUNCIL IN AND ASK FOR MORE FUNDING, BECAUSE OUR PARKS AREN'T UP TO PAR AS THEY ARE NOW.
I THINK BEFORE WE START THINKING ABOUT BIGGER AND BETTER AND WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE, I THINK WE NEED TO TACKLE THESE THINGS.
AS I READ THROUGH IT, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT DOCUMENT.
>> THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS LIKE [INAUDIBLE], THIS IS A START TO GET US BACK TO A BASELINE, AND THEN I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT, AND THEN WE CAN DEFINITELY START TO LOOK.
I THINK JANIE MAKES A GOOD POINT, TO KEEP A PERSPECTIVE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE, FOR SURE.
>> I BEG TO BRIAN'S POINT, THOUGH, ON THE PRIORITY THING, HOW WE CAN HELP.
I THINK EACH OF US HAS SOME THING IN OUR MIND, AS AN EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY SITTING ON THE BENCHES AT SEVEN NATIONS PARK, AND I GO BY THERE A LOT.
I'VE SEEN SOME CARS IN THERE, PEOPLE MAYBE HAVING THEIR PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES AND TOSSING THE WRAPPERS OUT THE WINDOW AND STUFF, BUT IT DOESN'T GET MOWED, AND PEOPLE DON'T SIT THERE.
THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO SAY, I'M GOING TO GO THERE AND RELAX.
THERE IS A TRAIL THAT GETS MOWED, BUT IT IS A WILD AREA, SO THAT'S SEEN IN A LATER SLIDE.
THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE TO USE.
>> BUT THE POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE WAS COMPARE THAT TO STUBBS BAY DOCK.
I SEE PEOPLE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SOMETIMES, IT'S MULTIPLE PEOPLE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT DOCK IS IN DISREPAIR.
IF WE WERE GOING TO THINK ABOUT PRIORITIES, I WOULD SAY, WELL, LET'S SHIFT STUBBS DOCK, CERTAINLY IN FRONT OF SEVEN NATIONS' BENCHES.
>> IT'S MORE AN ORDER OF GO, I THINK.
>> IT'S MORE AN ORDER OF GO, SO WHAT COMES FIRST? WE'VE GOT TO DO ALL OF IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> SEVEN NATIONS IS SCREAMING FOR A POLLINATOR GARDEN, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME AND SIT ON BENCHES.
>> WELL, I DEFINITELY HAVE TO SAY THE SAME THING.
>> JUST REAL QUICK, THIS IS GREAT CONVERSATION.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T GO BY SEVEN NATIONS.
THAT'S GREAT INPUT THAT YOU'RE GIVING.
YOU HAVE GREAT VISION, SO THAT'S AWESOME THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO INDIVIDUALLY CONTRIBUTE ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
>> BUT I DON'T DISAGREE ON THE DOCK.
>> WELL, AGAIN, I'M JUST BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE THERE'S A PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED FOR TRANSFERRING ANY OF THAT STUFF TO STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN USE IT.
>> I'LL GO THROUGH THIS A LITTLE FASTER.
PAINTING OR REPLACING SOME OF THE GATES AT THE VARIOUS LAKE ACCESS POINTS, A LOT OF THEM DON'T LOOK GREAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY DO TO JUST SPRUCE THEM UP A LITTLE AND MAKE THEM LOOK A LITTLE MORE INVITING TO PEOPLE, AND MAKE SURE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE LAKE ACCESS POINTS THAT THEY CAN USE.
WE'VE ADDED A FEW MORE MARKERS AT SOME OF THEM THIS SUMMER ALREADY, SO WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON THAT.
SOME GRADING IMPROVEMENTS AT PARKING AREAS WHERE WE CAN.
THAT'S REALLY JUST FILLING IN DIRT.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY AT SUMMIT BEACH TODAY DOING SOME WORK ON THE PARKING LOT TO JUST BECAUSE THE PARKING LOT RAMP TO GET INTO IT HAD WASHED OUT FROM THE RAIN, SO CONTINUING TO GET THOSE,
[00:35:01]
SO WE DON'T HAVE LARGE PUDDLES OR POTHOLES THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO PARK.IRRIGATION AT THE BASEBALL FIELD AT BEDERWOOD.
WE TALKED TO ORONO BASEBALL ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO FUND THAT, BUT THAT WOULD BE A PROJECT.
>> HAVE YOU TALKED TO THEM LATELY ABOUT THAT?
>> NOT SINCE WE WERE AT THE OPEN HOUSE, WHICH WE'LL GO.
>> IT'S PRETTY RECENTLY. THEY HAD SPOKEN TO JOSH BEFORE HE LEFT ABOUT IT, SO THAT GOT LOST IN THE TRANSITION.
BUT THEY'RE READY TO GO, AND ACTUALLY, WE JUST HAVE TO REALLY REACH OUT TO TORO, WHO DOES THE IRRIGATIONS, TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
I EVEN TALKED TO OUR STAFF, AND THEY THINK WE COULD INSTALL IT OURSELVES AND SAVE SOME MONEY FOR THE BASEBALL ASSOCIATE.
>> I KNOW SOMEONE AT TORO, CAN HE GET US A DISCOUNT?
>> WE HAVE TWO EX-PARKS PEOPLE AT TORO.
>> REPLACEMENT OF THE STUBBS BAY DOCK, WHICH WE'VE LOOKED AT, DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND THEN TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL RAMP AT THE CASCO POINT BEACH DOCK.
THE WAY IT IS NOW, IT'S TOUGH TO GET TO, JUST BECAUSE OF THE ROCKS ON THE SHORELINE, THERE FOR SOME RESIDENTS.
WE'D LIKE TO JUST GET A LITTLE ADDITION, SO IT'S CONNECTED TO THE GRASS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SCALE.
>> HOW I REMEMBER IT IS, IN ORDER TO GET THE DEPTH, IT HAD TO BE SET OUT.
>> THERE NEEDS TO BE A RAMP TO GET TO THE FIRST SECTION.
>> IF WE JUST MOVE THAT UP TO THE GRASS, IT WOULD BE OUT OF THE WATER.
YOU CAN GET A LITTLE ADDITION.
IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE THAT WOULD CONNECT TO THAT RAMP, OR CONNECT TO THAT DOCK, AND BE A NICE RAMP TO GO ON.
LARGER PROJECTS, WHICH WE CAN GET INTO A LITTLE FURTHER, IS THE RECYCLING TRASH CANS.
I THINK IT'S A SHAME WE DON'T HAVE ANY RECYCLING AT THE PARKS, WHICH IS NOT GREAT.
AT LEAST IF WE'RE TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS FOR THE CITY AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE, NOT TO EVEN OFFER A PLACE TO RECYCLE WHEN PEOPLE ARE AT THE PARKS, IS I THINK SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
>> JUST WHILE YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS LIST, IT SEEMS APPARENT TO ME THAT THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, BULLET POINTS, WERE PICKED FOR SOME REASON.
WHY CAN'T WE JUST USE THE SMALLER PROJECTS THAN THE LARGER PROJECTS, AND IMPROVEMENTS AS THE PRIORITY LIST? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE CAN. I'M JUST SAYING WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE LARGE PROJECTS.
>> BUT I MEAN, MAYBE REORDER THESE.
>> FOR SURE. THAT'S WHY I PUT THEM TOGETHER.
JUST BASED ON WHAT PEOPLE WERE SUGGESTING, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT THAT WE CAN MAKE WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHAT WE THINK SHOULD GO FORWARD.
>> WHEN YOU SAID WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THAT AT ONCE.
>> NEXT YEAR OR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THEM ALL AT ONCE.
>> I DON'T SEE THE FACTOR THERE, IS IT MONEY?
>> IT'S MONEY, FOR THE MOST PART.
>> YEAH. I'M NOT SAYING WE COULD NEVER DO, BUT IT WILL TAKE TIME.
>> JOE, ARE YOU THE ONE THAT WOULD GO OUT FOR BIDS FOR THIS STUFF? AT SOME POINT, IS IT THE CIP COMING UP? WHEN DO WE DO THAT? WOULDN'T WE BE LOOKING AT THIS?
>> WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD JUST SAY IS WHAT YOUR PRIORITIES ARE, WHAT WE WANT TO PUT IN THE CIP FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
WE WOULD GET AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PARK SIGNS LAST YEAR, THAT WAS DESIGNATED AS SOMETHING.
WHAT WAS ESTIMATED AS THE BUDGET WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST JUST TO DO SIX SIGNS.
THAT'S SOMETIMES HOW IT IS, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT MONEY YOU HAVE.
THEN WE WOULD JUST PUT AN ESTIMATE IN THERE.
THEN ONCE WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THE PROJECT, LET'S SAY, IT'S TO REPLACE A PLAYGROUND.
WE WOULD SOLICIT BIDS FOR THAT.
THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE IT IS MONEY BEING SPENT.
THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE APPROVAL.
THE STAFF USUALLY GIVES A RECOMMENDATION, LIKE THIS IS THE ONE WE THINK, IT'S THE BEST DEAL, OR IT'S WHAT FITS THE BEST, AND THEN IT WOULD BE APPROVED.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CIP DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN,
[00:40:03]
BUT USUALLY, THAT'S WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WILL BE TO GO FOR.>> MOST OF THESE WOULD BE FUNDED BY OPERATION FUNDS, RIGHT?
>> I WOULD SAY THE FENCE PROBABLY AT BEDERWOOD.
JUST WITH THE COST OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE 25% OF MY OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR TO FIX THAT.
>> YEAH. BUT IF WE'RE REPLACING ALL THE BENCHES, IF WE WANT TO HAVE JUST A TOTAL OVERHAUL OR ADD 20 BENCHES AT PARKS, THEN THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A CIP.
IF WE'RE JUST DOING THREE OR FOUR, THAT COULD BE OPERATING, FOR SURE.
>> SOME OF THESE SHOULD BE PART OF OUR CIP DISCUSSION?
>> YEAH, I THINK SO. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
>> THE PLAYGROUND STRUCK ME A LITTLE BIT, THE BEDERWOOD PLAYGROUND, BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER PLAYGROUNDS.
IS THAT THE OLDEST AT THIS POINT?
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED IN THE CIP.
AT LEAST THE PLAN WAS FOR 2026 FOR A PARK REPLACEMENT OR A PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT.
IF WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALL THOSE PLAYGROUNDS, AND SAY, WAIT, THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY NOT TOO BAD, AND IT JUST NEEDS A LITTLE, WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT SOME OTHER ONES.
BUT THAT'S I THINK THE ONE THAT'S THE OLDEST AND GETS THE MOST USE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
THEN THIS IS JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
THESE ARE NOT ANYTHING THAT I WOULD SAY ARE PROJECTS THAT HAVE TO BE HANDLED, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN OUR PROCESS.
CRYSTAL BAY PARK HAS A LOT OF OPEN SPACE THERE.
THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE, WHAT THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S SOMETHING TO BE DISCUSSED MORE IN THE FUTURE, TO THINK ABOUT, BUT JUST THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.
DEFINITELY SEVEN NATIONS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S MOSTLY WEEDS IN THE MEADOW AREA, SO THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ACTUAL FLOWER MEADOW FOR POLLINATORS.
THEN MOLLY AND I, WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE, AND EVERY TIME I GO BY SEVEN NATIONS, THE PARKING LOT THAT'S ON THE WEST SIDE IS ALWAYS MUDDY, RUTTED, YOU CAN'T EVEN GO INTO IT.
WE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THAT INTO SOME MORE USABLE SPACE, SINCE IT DOESN'T NEED TONS OF PARKING, LIKE MICHAEL SAID.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO USE IT FOR LUNCH.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WHERE YOU WOULD NEED THAT MUCH SPACE, AND THE CIRCLE, YOU CAN TURN AROUND.
>> THIS IS JUST NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST.
>> WE'VE GOT 35 THINGS ON THE LIST, TOO.
>> THOSE ARE THINGS THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE.
THEN, I DO HAVE A SECTION HERE ABOUT TRASH CANS, RECYCLING BINS.
I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG FOCUS FROM COUNCIL.
JUST TO LOOK AT THE PARKS WHERE WE HAVE OUR CURRENT TRASH HAULERS, TRASH CANS OUT THERE, WHERE ANDY IS, TO PICK UP.
I JUST WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE OPTIONS WOULD BE AND WHAT THE COST OF THAT WOULD BE.
I DID AN ESTIMATE BASED ON PARK SIZE, HOW MANY TRASH CANS WE WOULD NEED.
A BIGGER PARK WOULD NEED MORE THAN SOMETHING LIKE SEVEN NATIONS, WHICH DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A TRASH CAN RIGHT NOW, OR SOME OF THE BEACHES WHERE JUST ONE TRASH CAN IS GOING TO SUFFICE.
BUT SOME OF THE BIGGER PARKS WILL NEED MORE THAN ONE TO MAKE IT USABLE.
THERE IS, OF COURSE, SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
I WENT LOOKING AT A LOW-END TO REPLACE THOSE.
OBVIOUSLY, THINGS ARE GOING TO LOOK NICE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO LOOK CHEAP, AND SO ESTIMATE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 16,000-27,000 TO GET THOSE IN ALL THE PARKS.
IF WE'RE DOING A TRASH AND RECYCLING BIN, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO INCREASE THE COST A LITTLE BIT, SO YOU'RE LOOKING 32,000-49,000 TO REPLACE THOSE AT ALL THE PARKS.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE, BUT LOOKING AT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS, THAT'S THE RANGE.
[00:45:02]
THE OTHER THING ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND IS, IF WE DO HAVE DEDICATED TRASH CANS, STAFF WILL HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND CHANGE THOSE OUT.>> THERE WILL BE LABOR COSTS FOR THAT.
IN THE SUMMER, IT'S GOING TO BE BUSIER.
IN THE WINTER, THERE WON'T BE AS MUCH, SO IT WILL VARY.
BUT THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT HAD TO THOUGHT ABOUT.
WE HAVE A LARGE TRASH CAN AT PUBLIC WORK.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE FOR IT TO ALL BE COLLECTED.
THERE WILL BE SOME ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THAT, BUT WE DO CURRENTLY PAY FOR TRASH PICK UP AT ALL THE PARKS.
>> SOME ARE WEEKLY, SOME ARE EVERY OTHER WEEK.
IT DEPENDS ON THE PARK, AND SOME ARE WE JUST CALL THEM WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A LOT OF.
THERE WILL BE SOME SAVINGS IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
WE WON'T BE PAYING THEM TO DO PICKUP.
THAT COULD OFFSET SOME OF THE STAFF COSTS, I THINK.
>> IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS IN COMPARISON TO THE COSTS YOU'VE LAID OUT HERE.
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK, BECAUSE I HAVE TO.
>> RIGHT NOW, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT, JUST BECAUSE THE WAY THEY BILL US FOR ALL THE PARKS, OR THEY BILL US FOR THE GOLF COURSE IS SEPARATE, AND PUBLIC WORKS IS SEPARATE AND THE BRUSH SITE IS SEPARATE.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD, POSSIBLY THE GOLF COURSE, BUT I COULD DEFINITELY GIVE THAT A LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE.
>> I THINK TOO, THE ADVANTAGE TO HAVING TRASH CANS, NOT THE FLIP TOP PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM PUTTING A LOT OF TRASH IN THERE BECAUSE THE OPENING IS MUCH SMALLER.
I WONDER HOW MUCH OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S TRASH.
>> I KNOW YOU HAD SENT US SOME PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DUMPING, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY A COMMON PROBLEM AT A LOT OF OUR CITY TRASH CANS WE HAVE, BUT THOSE ONES ARE EASY JUST TO FLIP IT AND THROW SOME BIG STUFF IN.
THE ONES I LOOKED AT WOULD BE YOUR CLASSIC TRASH CAN, AND I THINK ANOTHER BENEFIT TO THESE WOULD BE WITH THE FLIP TOP ONES, IF SOMEONE LEAVES THAT OPEN, SOMEONE THREW PAPER IN THERE THAT FLIES OUT, THAT GETS INTO THE PARK.
>> YEAH. THERE'S DEFINITELY BENEFITS TO IT.
THEY'RE A LITTLE EASIER TO USE INSTEAD OF, I THINK, RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THE TRASH CANS AT THE PARK, THEY'RE IN ONE AREA, SO PEOPLE HAVE TO REALLY WALK TO THROW THINGS AWAY, WHICH THEY DON'T ALWAYS DO.
I THINK COULD BE A GOOD PROJECT TO LOOK AT, BUT OF COURSE, THE OTHER SIDE IS THE COST.
>> ARE YOU ASKING FOR OUR INPUT ON THIS OR IS THIS JUST THE STAFF INITIATIVE OR WHERE [OVERLAPPING]?
>> YEAH, I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION AND THEIR THOUGHTS.
JUST BEFORE, I DO HAVE ANOTHER OPTION THAT YOU COULD DO IS LIKE, WE HAVE AT SOME OF THE PARKS, WE HAVE COVERINGS OR SHEDS THAT BLOCK THE TRASH CANS.
THERE WOULD BE SOME DEFINITELY COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTING THOSE.
IT WOULDN'T BE QUITE AS MUCH AS THE TRASH CANS, BUT THERE ARE DOWNSIDES TO THAT LOCATION.
PEOPLE WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO GET THEM, AND SO THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL.
>> JOE, HOW OFTEN ARE PARKS PEOPLE AT THE PARKS? YOU COULD GET A SENSE OF HOW OFTEN.
BUSIER PARKS NEED TO BE EMPTIED MORE OFTEN.
MAYBE AFTER SIX MONTHS IN THE SUMMER.
>> YEAH. THEY'RE AT THE PARKS RIGHT NOW WHEN THINGS NEED TO BE DONE.
>> I WAS OUT AT CASTCO, AND THERE WERE WEEDS IN THE CANS, I THINK THE SOONER YOU GET RID OF THOSE FLIP TOP ONES, THE BETTER OFF YOU'RE GONNA BE.
I THINK I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE RECYCLING BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE ARE INTO THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] PEOPLE RECYCLE.
[00:50:01]
AND THERE'S TRASH CANS FILLED WITH BOTTLES, AND IT'S JUST A LITTLE DEPRESSING.IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE TIME OUT OF THE PARK STAFFS, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD SAY THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO GET ON GET A GOOD SCHEDULE DOWN.
ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE, WE CAN FIGURE OUT IF IT'S WEEKLY, SOME MIGHT BE EVERY OTHER WEEK, AND EVENTUALLY, WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT, I THINK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HERE TO PEOPLE. CAN YOU USE THE FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO TRASH COMPANIES TO HIRE MORE STAFF.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU TO DO.
IT GOES BACK TO PRIORITIZATION, BUT ARE THOSE TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS?
>> THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS, BUT THEY COULD BE ADJUSTED.
>> YOU CAN USE [OVERLAPPING] TO JUSTIFY A NEW FDE?
>> YEAH. THAT'S PART OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, THE TRASH SERVICES.
IF THAT MONEY'S NOT NEEDED, IT COULD BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS STAFF OR OTHER PROJECTS.
>> I'D LOVE TO SEE JUST A LITTLE DIG DEEPER INTO THE ACTUAL COSTS AND BENEFITS AND REALLY HERE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO REALLY IMPACT YOUR STAFF, HOW VIABLE THIS IS.
>> I CAN APPRECIATE THE LOGISTICAL, LABOR, ETC., FOR TRASH COLLECTION, BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I'VE BEEN TO PARKS WHERE THEY'VE TRIED TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS BY NOT COLLECTING TRASH, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR PARKS.
>> THEY DON'T HAVE A TRASH CAN AT ALL OR IT'S FULL?
>> WELL, I THINK BOTH, BUT ACTUALLY, I'VE SEEN SOME PARKS IN OUR REGION THAT HAVE GONE WITHOUT TRASH CANS IN THE PARK.
THIS TAKES VERY LITTLE TIME TO BECOME UNSEEMING.
>> THERE'S A PHILOSOPHY THAT WE USED TO HAVE HERE THAT LET'S NOT PUT A TRASH CAN OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL THEN PACK OUT THEIR OWN TRASH.
I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT, BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE 27 TRASH CANS ARE NEEDED.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE WERE THAT MANY DEPLOYED IN OUR 20.
>> THERE'S NOT. THERE'S NOT RIGHT NOW.
>> NO. IF YOU'RE AT HACKBERRY OR AT BAER, THERE'S ONE TRASH CAN THAT'S OUT THERE, BUT IT'S IN ONE LOCATION.
SO PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE PLAYGROUND IF THEY HAVE TRASH, THEY HAVE TO WALK ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FIELD.
>> YOU'RE PROPOSING TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF TRASH CANS?
>> YES. THAT'S RIGHT NOW A LOGISTICS THING, BECAUSE THE TRASH CARRIERS WILL NOT PICK UP IN TWO PLACES.
THEY WILL NOT PICK UP NEAR THE PLAYGROUND.
THE TRASH CAN HAS TO BE IN A PLACE ACCESSIBLE FOR THEIR TRUCKS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEPENDENT ON WHERE THEY CAN BE RIGHT NOW.
>> I HAVE PICTURES OF BEDERWOOD.
IT'S LIKE A YARD SALE, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE.
>> BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENT. I LOVE THAT, AND I TELL HER THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT THAT THING IS SO OVERSIZED, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO PRINT IT OUT.
>> YEAH, THE POWERPOINT BECAUSE YOU'D GO THROUGH 10 CARTRIDGES WITH THE FULL FLOOD.
I CAN EXTRACT THE TEXT OUT OF THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS A LIST BECAUSE THIS SEEMS LIKE IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE PRIORITY LIST.
>> I ACTUALLY WORKED ON THIS ONE.
>> THE POWERPOINT FOR HACKBERRY?
>> NO, THE BIG FLOODED ONE BECAUSE IT TAKE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH. I WORKED ON THAT ONE.
>> OH, WELL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
>> I CAN JUST BREAK THAT DOWN WITHOUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WELL, I'M MORE OF A FINGER PERSON, SO I LIKE TO GO THROUGH AND CREATE NOTES.
>> I HAVE SOME COPIES THAT I PRINTED OUT JUST IN CASE.
>> BUT I CAN DEFINITELY BREAK THAT DOWN TO WHERE IT'S JUST A NICE LITTLE LIST, AND YOU CAN HAVE IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DIDN'T SEE ON THE LARGER PROJECT LIST WAS
[00:55:03]
REFERENCE TO A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE LAST TIME WE GOT TOGETHER ABOUT GETTING A WATER FOUNTAIN ON BEDERWOOD.HAS THAT BEEN TALKED ABOUT ANYMORE SINCE WE HAD A DISCUSSION OF THAT WELL BEING PUT IN THERE OR WHAT WITH CITY WATER?
>> AT BEDERWOOD? NO. NO SO FAR, BUT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING I CAN ADD TO IT.
>> COULDN'T YOU PUT THAT IN AT THE SAME TIME YOU PUT THE IRRIGATION IN?
>> IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S AROUND THE SAME TIME.
>> ONE AD AND MAYBE IT WAS ON HERE, AND IF IT WAS, I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE DUGOUTS NEED TO BE PAINTED.
>> I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT THE BASEBALL.
>> THAT'S USUALLY SOMETHING THE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION GETS THEIR VOLUNTEERS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE SHOULD JUST HAVE IT ON RECORD THEN.
>> YEAH. I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT ON THERE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> OTHER THAN WELL DONE, AND THANK YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR GUYS' HELP.
IT WAS NICE TO GET OUT TO EVERYONE IN HERE AND GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE, SO THANK YOU AS WELL.
NOW WE CAN GO ON TO THE HACKBERRY.
I WON'T GO TOO DEEP INTO IT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW IT'S GOING TO.
>> SORRY. NEXT STEPS ON THIS, THEN.
WOULD THIS GO TO COUNCIL AT THE [OVERLAPPING]?
LET'S START AND WORK OUR WAY BACK.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT A GRANT FOR THIS YEAR, THERE'S ONE AND ONLY TIME TO DO IT, AND THAT'S SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE DEADLINE.
>> OH, I'M SIGNING A TRASH THING.
>> NOT EVEN JUST TRASH, JUST THIS WHOLE LIST.
>> I'M ASSUMING AT SOME POINT WE'LL NEED TO PRESENT.
>> WE'LL BE TALKING IN UPCOMING MEETINGS ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGER ONES.
THE OPERATING BUDGET, RIGHT NOW, WE PRESENTED OUR DRAFT TO COUNCIL AT THE LAST MEETING AT THE LAST WORK SESSION.
THE BUDGET IS PRETTY MUCH GOING TO SAY FLAT FROM PRIOR YEARS.
THAT'S OUR DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE WON'T HAVE MONEY TO DO THINGS.
WE DO HAVE BUDGET TO DO PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT WILL BE THE SMALLER PROJECTS, WHAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING.
>> BUT IS COUNCIL AWARE OF THE STATE OF OUR PARKS? DO WE OWE IT TO COUNCIL TO SAY, THEY'RE IN NEED TO BRING THEM UP TO PAR?
>> YEAH, I THINK COUNSEL IS AWARE OF IT, AND THEY DEFINITELY WANT THE PARKS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD.
>> YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND KEEP FLAT.
>> WELL, AND I HAVE ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
YOU ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE OF THE OPERATING BUDGET NEXT YEAR DEDICATED TO THE TREE MANAGEMENT.
IF YOU EXCLUDE THE TREE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS NET NET NEW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE LESS FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THIS YEAR.
>> BUT COULDN'T WE LOOK AT THE CIP BECAUSE THERE ARE PROJECTS ON THERE, LIKE THAT NORTH ARM TRAIL.
IS THAT REALLY A HIGH PRIORITY TO HOOK THAT? THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE USED A LOT.
WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE OFF, DOES THE MONEY STAY IN THE IT DOES I MEAN THE ONES THAT ARE IN THERE.
>> THAT MONEY, IT DOES STAY IN THAT.
>> OR THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT COVER?
>> BUT IT CAN'T BE USED FOR OPERATING.
>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOR ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT.
>> MOST OF THE STUFF EXCEPT FOR THE FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM, MOST OF THEM ARE OPERATIONAL.
THERE WERE SOME ON THE LIST THAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> THAT COMES OUT OF A DIFFERENT FUND.
I THINK I NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
IT JUST LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS MONEY ALLOCATED TO CERTAIN PROJECTS ON THERE.
>> YEAH, I THINK FOR THE ONES IN THE F.
>> WE NEED TO REVIEW THE PROJECTS.
>> THE ONES THAT ARE IN THE FUTURE ARE REALLY JUST WE THINK THIS WILL HAPPEN.
THERE'S NO MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THAT YET.
IT'S REALLY WHEN WE GET INTO THE 2026 CIP, THAT'S WHEN.
>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
[01:00:02]
THAT COULD BE WITH THE BIGGER PROJECTS FOR SURE.WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON.
AND WHAT WE WANT TO RECOMMEND TO FUND FOR THAT.
>> I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL WOULD BE TO PULL APART WHAT'S OPERATING BUDGET AND WHAT'S CIP FOR CLARITY? THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AS FAR AS FLAT BUDGET, THAT'S THE OPERATING BUDGET.
>> THAT ALSO NOW INCLUDES A LOT FOR TREES.
THERE IS SOME INCREASE IN TREES JUST BECAUSE IF MOLLY, I LIKE HOW YOU TALK ABOUT BRINGING OUR PARKS UP TO PAR.
MOST OF THAT IS THE STUFF ON THE LIST AND MORE OPERATIONAL TYPE OF OF COST.
IT'S GOING TO BE A SQUEEZE FOR JOE TO FIGURE IT OUT, BUT I'M SURE THAT HE'S GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE DOESN'T HAPPEN.
>> OR WE GO FIGHT FOR MORE MONEY. MUSIC]
IT'S A ZERO-SUM, YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE EITHER DO MORE AND IT COSTS MORE OR WE DON'T DO MORE.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I AGREE WITH MOLLY THAT A LOT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THIS SPRING AND SUMMER ABOUT BRINGING OUR PARKS UP TO STANDARD, WHETHER IT'S THE TRASH CANS, IT'S THE SIGNS, SO FORTH, MAKING IT LOOK THIS SIMILAR LOOK.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME FUNDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> WE'LL MAKE IT WORK WITH WHAT WE CAN, BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S ONLY WE HAVE TO MAKE PRIORITIES.
>> I'LL JUST ADD THAT [INAUDIBLE] WHAT I THINK WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR ME IS FOR THE PARK COMMISSION AND JOE TO IDENTIFY THE PATH FORWARD WITH RESPECT TO HOW WE WANT TO APPROACH GETTING THE PARKS TO STANDARD, MEANING, ARE WE GOING TO TAKE AN APPROACH OF TACKLING PARK BY PARK, OR WE'RE TACKLING ELEMENT BY ELEMENT? IF WE'RE ATTACKING IT EITHER ONE OF THOSE WAYS TO COME UP WITH A COST TO GET THIS PARK UP TO STANDARD OR THIS ELEMENT UP TO STANDARD ACROSS OUR PARK SYSTEM.
FOR ME, AND AGAIN, I'M SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF, BUT IF WE WERE TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD SPELL THAT OUT IN A WAY THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY SAY, THIS PARK, THESE ELEMENTS, THIS IS THE COST.
THIS IS THE ELEMENT, THESE ARE THE PARKS, THIS IS THE COST TO GET THAT ELEMENT TO STANDARD.
THAT, TO ME, ALLOWS YOU TO CONSIDER A CAPITALIZED APPROACH TO THE PROJECTS AT HAND, AND THEN SQUEEZE IN OR FOLLOW THE RULES AROUND OPERATIONALIZING AND BE ABLE TO ATTACK CERTAIN ELEMENTS TOO.
THAT STARTS TO TELL THE STORY OF IN ORDER FOR US TO GET OUR PARKS TO STANDARD, WE NEED $350,000, AND THAT'S WHAT IT DOES TO GET 27 TRASH CANS, TO GET 40 BENCHES, WHATEVER IT IS.
BECAUSE TO ME, ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO WORK UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO PRIORITIZE AND FRANKLY LISTEN TO THE COMMISSION TO SAY, THIS IS HOW WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE, THIS IS OUR PATH FORWARD, SO LET'S START DRAFTING.
>> I AGREE. SO THE APPROACH IS, IT'S A GROUPING LIKE THIS LIST HERE.
IT'S A GROUPING OF OPERATIONAL PROJECTS.
>> I KNOW WHAT STEVE SAYING IT'S EASY TO JUST SAY WE WANT MORE MONEY, BUT IT'S RESIDENTS HERE WANT TO SEE WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING FOR, AND I KNOW COUNCIL DOES.
I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE ALL CAN WORK ON, AND I CAN DEFINITELY WORK ON AND START LOOKING AT THAT TOGETHER SO WE CAN DECIDE GOING FORWARD IF WE WANT TO DO PARK BY PARK, IF WE WANT TO DO ASPECT BY ASPECT.
>> WELL, IT DEFINITELY MAKES PRIORITIZING EASIER.
>> YEAH, WE MIGHT SEE LIKE, WE CAN DO FOUR PARKS RIGHT AWAY AND GET THAT DONE,
[01:05:04]
OR WE CAN DO THIS ASPECT, THIS ASPECT, ALL AT ONCE, AND THEN PUSH THIS TO THE NEXT YEAR.>> WELL, IT'S NOT JUST THE INITIAL COST.
AS SOON AS YOU ADD SOMETHING TO THE PARK, YOU'RE ADDING SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AS SOON AS YOU HIT A CERTAIN STANDARD, YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO KEEP THAT STANDARD UP.
THERE'S A MULTIPLIER EFFECT HERE EVERY TIME YOU DO AN IMPROVEMENT.
WHAT IS THIS GOING TO COST ME IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, HOURS, PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT?
>> IT GOES WAY ON OUT FROM INITIAL EXPENSE.
I WOULD DEFER TO YOU WHAT'S MORE EFFICIENT, PARK BY PARK OR ELEMENT BY ELEMENT? I WOULD ASSUME ELEMENT BY ELEMENT, BUT I THINK THERE'S A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY THAT PLAYS INTO THIS TOO.
>> I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BOTH BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE PARK-SPECIFIC.
>> LIKE SAGA HILL. WE COULD GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> SOME ARE EXPENSIVE. SOME ARE NOT.
I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS, JOE, FOR YOU TO TAKE THIS WORK THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR AND THESE IDEAS AND TRY TO QUANTIFY, INCREMENTALLY, WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE DONE IN 2026.
>> YEAH. WE HAVE BIG IDEAS ALSO FOR 2026.
>> YEAH, AND THIS IS JUST GETTING IT UP TO PAR.
>> WELL, WE HAD A REAL ZEALOUS PARK COMMISSION BACK IN 2008, AND THEY GOT SO ZEALOUS THAT THEY SHUT IT DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS RECOMMENDATIONS BEING MADE THEY JUST COULDN'T.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND THEY ALREADY HAD TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IS, ANYTHING THAT WOULD HOLD JOE AND HIS STAFF BACK FROM KEEPING THIS STUFF TO STANDARD.
CAN WE EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING IT FOR ALL OF THE PARKS THAT WE'VE GOT? WHEN WE START ADDING SOME OF THESE ACCESS POINTS, AND NOW THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEND PEOPLE AND MONEY TO KEEP IT.
YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, AND SO WE'RE PUSHING AN AGENDA THAT IT CAN'T BE MET.
NOW, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A DIFFERENT A COUNCIL NOW, AND I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENT BUDGET THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BACK THEN.
SO I THINK THINGS ARE A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY USED TO BE, BUT THERE'S STILL THIS GLASS CEILING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUMP UP AGAIN, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH.
>> WELL, JUST A LITTLE PEEK INTO SOME OF THE THINKING BEHIND THE WORK THAT BRIAN, AND KIM, AND I ARE WORKING ON.
IF WE ARE LOOKING TO BE A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE, HOW DO OUR PARKS FIT INTO THAT? THERE'S A LOT ABOUT OUR CITY'S VISION THAT I THINK SPEAKS VERY LOUDLY TO OUR PARKS.
IF YOU GO TO PARKS IN EDEN PRAIRIE, AND MINNETONKA, AND DELANO, WHICH I'VE HAD SEVEN GRAND-KIDS IN TOWN FOR THE LAST MONTH, THEY'RE NOT A PARK OF A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE.
THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, AND IF THE DECISION IS FLAT, THEN WE BUILD A PLAN AGAINST THAT.
BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES, AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE CITY OF ORONO, TO ASK FOR WHERE WE THINK OUR PARK SHOULD FIT INTO WHAT OUR CITY'S VISION IS.
>> AGAIN, I LIKE THE WAY THAT YOU PHASE THIS.
FIRST PHASE, GETTING THE STUFF UP TO UP TO PAR.
UP TO PAR, MEANING THE BORDER AROUND THE PLAYGROUND AT BEDERWOOD, THAT STUFF.
>> IT'S A SEPARATE EXERCISE THAN WHAT WE'RE ALSO DOING, WHICH IS CIP STUFF, WHICH IS CAPITAL TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS LIKE BEDERWOOD, AND SO FORTH.
WE HAVE TO DO THOSE AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT LET'S NOT CONFUSE THE TWO TOGETHER.
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST, I HOPE THAT
[01:10:02]
THE SURVEYS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR OWN PARKS AND SUBMITTING, WE'LL HAVE THAT PRIORITY LIST OF THOSE URGENT ITEMS LIKE A RAMP TO STUBBS DOCK.>> THERE WAS DEFINITELY STUFF THAT WE TALKED LIKE, THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE SCREWED IN, THAT STUFF.
>> THE CITY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE SHORT-STAFFED.
WE HIRED A COMMUNICATIONS PERSON WHEN WE FOUND THE COMMUNICATIONS FEES WAS BROKEN IN THE CITY.
I THINK WE CAN AFFORD IT IF WE DO THE BUDGET.
YOU HIRE PEOPLE WHEN THERE'S A DEMAND, AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE A REALLY POOR CITY THAT'S SUFFERING AND CAN'T ADJUST THE BUDGET FOR THE PARKS THING.
I AGREE TOTALLY WITH MOLLY THAT WE NEED TO GET THESE.
ALL OF THE PARKS ARE IN POOR CONDITION, THAT WOULD BE BY MY ESTIMATION.
TAYLOR, BEFORE HE LEFT, HE WAS ASKED THAT QUESTION AT A PARKS MEETING, THEY ASKED HIM HOW HE WOULD EVALUATE THE PARKS, AND HE SAID, NOT GOOD.
I THINK WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND WE'RE PAYING FOR NOT DOING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE WANT TO DO THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR YEARS FOR QUITE A WHILE OVER THE LAST DECADES.
I THINK WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE, THE PAIN IS THERE, SO LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.
>> THERE'S DIFFERENT PRIORITIES, AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS, AND THEN OTHER THINGS GET NEGLECTED.
I THINK WE CAN BRING IT UP TO THE NEGLECTED PARTS AND GET THEM BACK UP TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S DIFFERENT, IS THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHERE PARKS WEREN'T A PRIORITY AT ALL.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE PARKS COMMISSION.
THEN THERE IS A CHAPTER OF PARKS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LIKE EDEN PRAIRIE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
NOW, YOU GUYS ALL AND THE NEW COUNCIL ARE REALLY BRINGING A NEW PARADIGM INTO THIS, WHERE YOU'RE SAYING OUR STANDARD THAT WE'VE BEEN DRIVING TOWARDS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT, WE WANT HIGHER STANDARDS. NOW WE NEED TO GET US THERE.
>> DIFFERENT STANDARDS, IN SOME CASES.
>> JUST TIMELINE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REASONABLE, AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU NEED FROM US?
>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE 2026 PLANNING PROCESS.
>> WHAT I THINK I REALLY NEED IS PERSPECTIVE ON CIP BECAUSE THAT IS GOING TO BE WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON.
THE OPERATING STUFF, IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE IT'S AT.
WE'LL HAVE MONEY TO DO IT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON, AND MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE.
>> MAYBE I'M CONFUSED. I THOUGHT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT TAKING THIS WORK THAT WE DID AND QUANTIFYING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE.
>> YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT. THAT'S GOING TO NOT BE SOMETHING I CAN PULL OUT BEFORE THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU HAVE THE OPERATING BUDGET IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ALL THE MOST OF THESE NON CIP THINGS IN 2026.
>> I DON'T REALLY NEED ANYTHING FROM YOU GUYS FOR ME TO WORK ON THAT PORTION OF IT.
I REALLY JUST NEED WHAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM YOU ALREADY.
>> I DON'T KNOW. MY MOST RECENT CONVERSATION WITH A CITY COUNCIL PERSON FIVE MINUTES AGO SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE US TO BRING A PROPOSAL TO HIM THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING RELATING TO THIS GROUPING OF OPERATING PROJECTS.
>> YES. SPEAKING ON MY OWN BEHALF, WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS SOME TYPE OF THE DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS, THESE ARE THE AMENITIES WE PROVIDE OF STANDARDS IN OUR PARKS, THESE ARE THE PARKS WE HAVE, THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THE BRAND THAT WE WANT AS A BASELINE STANDARD, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT IS.
MOST OF THESE ARE PHYSICAL AMENITIES.
I THINK A VERY GOOD COMMENT IS OKAY.
WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE LONGER TERM IMPLICATIONS OF MAINTAINING MOST OF THAT BRAND GOING FORWARD, THERE'S FUEL, THERE'S CAPITAL, WHATEVER THAT CASE MIGHT BE.
BUT HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF MYSELF WOULD REALLY HELP ME GET BEHIND THIS FUTURIST PLAN OF OUR PARKS ARE NOW SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF,
[01:15:03]
THEY'RE OF THE STANDARD THAT WE'VE BEEN PUBLISHING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.LET'S GO AHEAD AND DIGEST THAT INFORMATION AS A COUNCIL AND THEN MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR PARKS THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
>> YEAH. I KNOW THAT YOU COULD DO IT, JOE, ON YOUR OWN, BUT WE'RE OFFERING OUR HELP AND OUR RECOMMENDATION ONCE YOU HAVE THAT DOWN AND SUPPORT IT AS IT GOES TO COUNCIL.
>> FOR SURE. YEAH, I ALWAYS FIGURED THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I COULD SHARE WITH YOU GUYS FOR YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT.
>> BACK TO MALI'S QUESTION, IS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT.
WE HAVE A MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE US TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?
>> WELL, LET ME GET IT TOGETHER, AND THEN I CAN SEND IT OUT TO EVERYONE.
>> NO, OCTOBER WOULDN'T BE TOO LATE.
IT WOULD BE FOR OPERATING, BUT THAT BUDGET IS GOING TO BE SET.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS, WHEN WE'RE MAKING OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR, I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED.
DEFINITELY FOR THE CAPITAL, IT WON'T BE AS MUCH, BUT IT'D BE GREAT.
JANIE WAS LOOKING AT THINGS THAT WERE PUT INTO THE FUTURE, AND WE CAN ADJUST THOSE TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AT NOW WITH THIS COMMISSION.
ARE YOU GUYS READY FOR HACKBERRY NOW?
>> YEAH, RIGHT. SEPTEMBER, ARE WE?
>> THERE'S AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THAT TO VOTE ON THAT FOR THE MEETING. WE'LL GET TO THAT.
>> YEAH, I'LL WORK ON THAT, AND I'LL TRY TO GET THAT DONE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO REVIEW IT.
IF WE COULD GET IT DONE SOONER, WHY NOT?
MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE ON IT, BUT MAYBE AT LEAST YOU COULD SEND IT OUT TO US AND GET OUR FEEDBACK SO THAT WHEN YOU BRING IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY THAT IT'S BEEN BLESSED BY US, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON IT.
SOMETIMES THAT JUST HAS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF SCHEDULE.
>> YEAH, JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENS.
>> JOE, YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION IF YOU LOOK AT THE STANDARDS LIST.
>> A LOT OF IT HAS ALREADY BROKEN DOWN.
WHAT YOU DID, WHAT WE DID WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S THERE. IT'S MORE JUST NUMBERS, WHICH IS NEVER FUN, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UNTACKLEABLE PROJECT WHERE I'M PULLING MY HAIR OUT AND BEING LIKE, NO.
A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION, WE ALREADY HAVE, IT'S JUST BREAKING IT DOWN INTO A DIGESTIBLE WAY TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED OR HOW MUCH OF A COMMITMENT IT'S GOING TO BE TIME WISE.
>> YEAH, NO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS.
>> BASICALLY, WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO DO IS GOING OVER THE PROCESS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR WITH REGARDS TO HACKBERRY AND JANIE AND JACOB.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.
ALSO BRIAN, GORDY'S NOT HERE, BUT IN THE PAST THEY WORKED A LOT ON THIS PROJECT WITH THE PRIOR FEEDBACK FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING AT THE MEETINGS, GIVING YOUR THOUGHTS, MAKING A REALLY GREAT PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT HELPS SHAPE IT, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A PROJECT THAT'S SUCCESSFUL FOR EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED, HOPEFULLY.
JUST TO GET A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
ON MAY 27, COUNCIL APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN PHASE.
PART OF THAT APPROVAL WAS, THOUGH, TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE DESIGN ASPECTS AND GET SOME MORE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMISSION AND THE GROUP WERE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT PARK.
WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE PARK.
A FEW OF THE COMMISSIONERS WERE THERE AND SOME OF COUNCIL WERE THERE. THAT WAS GREAT.
WE OPENED UP SURVEYS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE, AND I CAN GO IN.
HERE IS SOME OF THE SURVEY JUST STATS FOR THAT.
WE GOT 53 RESPONSES TO THE SURVEY, 89% OF THEM FINISHED THE SURVEY, SO 11% JUST STOPPED AT A CERTAIN POINT AND CLOSED IT DOWN.
[01:20:04]
THEN THE AVERAGE TIME PEOPLE WERE ON IT WAS ABOUT 6.5 MINUTES.I KNOW IT'S SMALL TO SEE, BUT MAJORITY WERE ORONO RESIDENTS, ALMOST 94%.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS, HOW DO YOU USE THE PARK? AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A DIVERSE USE OF THE PARK.
YOUTH SPORTS, BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL, YOUTH SPORTS, FOOTBALL, AND SOCCER ARE PRETTY PRETTY CLOSE AROUND THAT 28% TO 26%.
THAT WAS NOT SEPARATED IN THE SURVEY.
COULD JUST BE ALL PLAYGROUND, IT COULD BE ALL BASKETBALL, BUT WE KEPT THAT THAT WAY SINCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN PROPOSED JUST TO STAY HOW IT IS.
THAT'S WHY THOSE WERE GROUPED TOGETHER.
SLEDDING SEEMS TO GET A LOT OF USE AND THEN JUST OPEN FIELDS AND RELAXING AT THE PARK.
IT'S DEFINITELY A PARK THAT IS USED FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF REASONS, AND WE WANTED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND DURING EVERYTHING.
INCLUDED IN THIS IS JUST THE RESPONSES.
WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS IN THE MEETING JUST SO THIS INFORMATION CAN GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
>> RACHEL PUT THIS IN AS NEGATIVE COMMENTS.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE DESIGN? IT SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN I LIKE THIS PART OF IT AND THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? THESE ARE ONES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.
THEY INCLUDED WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE ABOUT IT.
SHE JUST PUT THAT IN RED TO SHOW THAT THAT WAS NOT WHAT THE QUESTION WAS ASKING, BUT STILL INCLUDED IT SO IT'S THERE.
THEN YOU CAN SEE THE SAME THING HERE, SHE PUT GREEN BECAUSE THESE WERE WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT IT.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO ALL THE COMMENTS, BUT WE DID WANT THESE TO GET OUT.
THERE WAS THREE DESIGNS OR CONCEPTS, I GUESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FINAL DESIGNS OR ANYTHING.
THREE DESIGNS, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT.
THE FIRST PART, WHY THE PROJECT WAS EVEN STARTED IN THE FIRST PLACE? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT IT NEEDS UPGRADES.
A LOT OF THAT WAS PUT OFF UNTIL THE REMAINING PRIVATE PROPERTY WAS TAKEN CONTROL OF BY THE CITY.
THE EQUIPMENT OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.
PARKING AND SAFETY WERE ALSO A BIG CONCERN THERE.
WE HAD A LOT OF DEAD AND DYING TREES, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM IN THE FIELD AREA.
ALL WERE THINGS THAT PROMPTED THIS PROJECT TO BE TAKEN ON MANY YEARS AGO.
THAT'S, LET'S SAY, 96% ARE ORONO RESIDENTS.
THE CONCEPTS WERE BROKEN DOWN A, B, C. ALL THE FIRST COMMENTS WERE FOR THE CONCEPT A WITH THE TWO FIELDS AND THEN THE PARKING LOT OFF OF WILLOW.
RACHEL, WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER, JUST BROKE IT DOWN WITH SOME JUST HIGHLIGHTS.
IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO READ THROUGH EVERY COMMENT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT PEOPLE WERE COMMENTING ON.
OF COURSE, THESE WERE THINGS THAT SHE PULLED OUT.
BUT YOU CAN SEE ON THE FIRST ONE, PEOPLE LIKE THE PARKING.
BUT THEN YOU'LL SEE, ALSO ON THE DISLIKES, PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THE PARKING.
IT'S THERE'S DEFINITELY NOT A CONSENSUS ON ANY OF THE PLANS WE'VE HAD, BUT THERE'S BEEN A CONSENSUS ON WHAT NEEDS THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WAS TWO BASEBALL FIELDS, WHICH WE HEARD,
[01:25:02]
AFTER THE INITIAL PLAN THAT TEE-BALL REALLY WANTED TWO BASEBALL FIELDS.THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY INCLUDED, AND I THINK THAT GOING FORWARD, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
THEN FROM THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE OPEN FIELD SPACE IS PLAYABLE AND USABLE WHERE THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD COME IN.
HERE ARE THE DISLIKES. PARKING, ALSO A DISLIKE.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE BALL FIELD. SOME PEOPLE DON'T.
>> IS THIS RELATED TO THE CURRENT OR THE PLAN?
>> YEAH. THIS IS JUST CONCEPT A'S COMMENTS, WHAT PEOPLE LIKED WHAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE.
THEN TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THESE, PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THESE ON THEIR OWN AND READ WHAT PEOPLE SAID.
THEN THIS WOULD BE CONCEPT B, WHICH IS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT PARKING AND THE FIELD ORIENTATION.
WE DID HEAR, BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, THAT FROM THE NEIGHBORS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THIS FIELD TO BE ORIENTED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
YOU'LL SEE IN OUR LATEST CONCEPT WHERE THAT'S ADJUSTED.
SIMILARLY, WE GOT PEOPLE LIKE THE PARKING ON THIS ONE.
THEN PEOPLE DIDN'T LIKE THE PARKING.
>> JOE, WERE THESE COMMENTS, LIKE THE THEMES, WERE THEY GENERATED FROM SURVEYMONKEY OR?
>> YEAH. RACHEL PULLED THESE FROM THE SURVEYS AND TRIED TO JUST BREAK THEM IN A MORE DIGESTIBLE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT EACH OF THE PLANS.
>> IT GOES AND SEARCHES FOR KEYWORDS?
>> I LIKE THE VERSION WHERE IT WAS JUST THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S WHY THAT'S THERE TOO.
>> YOU COULD PUT GREEN SPACE AND TREES IN THERE, AND SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SAID TREES BUT IT PICKED UP ON IT.
>> EXACTLY. THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO INCLUDE THOSE SO PEOPLE COULD SEE WHAT EVERYONE WAS SAYING AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR OWN.
BUT PEOPLE ALSO DON'T TEND TO READ 20 PAGES SO THAT'S WHY.
>> THIS IS SUMMARY, BUT DIDN'T RACHEL DO THE SUMMARY?
>> SHE USED AI BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T READ IT.
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT HER OPINION.
SHE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE SHADED BY WHATEVER.
SHE TRIED TO BE IMPARTIAL, BUT ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THAT.
THEN THIS WAS CONCEPT C, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT WAS PROPOSED BEFORE.
ONCE AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE THIS WAS THEIR FAVORITE DESIGN.
THEN ANOTHER PERSON, I HATE THIS.
THIS IS THE WORST THING I'VE EVER SEEN.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A WIDE CHASM BETWEEN WHAT PEOPLE LIKE AND WHAT PEOPLE WANT, WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED BECAUSE DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES TO USE THE PARK AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
THAT'S GOING TO BE EXPECTED THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
THAT MAKES IT HARD TO GET A PERFECT DESIGN, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
BASICALLY, THE TOP THREE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE IS THE PARKING.
SOME PEOPLE WANTED A BIGGER PARKING LOCATION, PRETTY MUCH.
I THINK WHAT WAS VOICE FROM A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IS PARKING AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTS UP ON HACKBERRY, AND TO BE MORE ON WILLOW, WHICH YOU'LL SEE ON OUR LATEST ONE WAS UTILIZED THE BASEBALL FIELDS THAT THERE WOULD BE TWO.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY UTILIZED AND THAT THE MULTI USE FIELDS.
WE HAD THE DESIGNER FROM BOLTON MINK PUT TOGETHER A QUICK, UPDATED CONCEPT FOR WITH THE FEEDBACK WE HAD.
THE BASEBALL FIELDS WERE MOVED OVER TO THE WILLOW SIDE.
THE PARKING LOT WAS SKINNIED UP A LITTLE BIT AND MADE ONE WAY.
I DID TALK TO ADAM BEFORE HE LEFT, AND HE STILL THINKS THAT COULD BE BROUGHT
[01:30:03]
DOWN A LITTLE MORE ON TO WILLOW AND MADE A LITTLE THINNER.THERE'S DEFINITELY STILL SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED.
THIS KEEPS THINGS WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMENTS WE HAD.
THE SLEDDING HILL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THE TWO FIELDS THAT CAN BE USED FOR TEE-BALL, AMPLE SPACE FOR MULTI USE, WHETHER IT'S FLAG FOOTBALL, LACROSSE, SOCCER.
THE FIELDS RIGHT NOW, THIS WOULD BE MORE TALKED ABOUT ONCE THEY GET DEEPER INTO DESIGN.
BUT THIS FIELD, MOST OF THE FIELDS ARE DESIGNED FOR NOT A HIGH LEVEL OF ATHLETICS.
THERE IS SOME FLEXIBILITY WHERE IF YOU CAN USE THE TEE-BALL FIELD FOR TEE-BALL AND THEN SOFTBALL FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS AS WELL FOR THE GIRLS.
BUT NOTHING WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE A TOURNAMENT OR ADULT SOFTBALL OR HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIVE LEAGUES.
WE ALSO TOOK OFF ALL OF THE MULTI USE FIELDS, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS CONFUSING PEOPLE THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WOULD BE SIX OR SEVEN FIELDS THERE WHERE THAT DEFINITELY WON'T BE ANYTHING THAT'S SET UP.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT PLAN? THE ONE WHERE THE LINES ARE.
THE REASON I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT TOP TEE-BALL FIELD IS REALLY FLIPPED.
FLIP IT OVER IN FRONT OF THE PARKING LOT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING THE FINAL CHOICE WAS.
BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO ARE THE MULTI USE FIELDS, ONE BEFORE, BECAUSE THAT INDICATES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EARTH MOVING AND RETAINING WALLS.
>> I THINK THIS IS MORE OF AN ENGINEERING THING, SO THAT'S ADAM'S EXPERTISE.
THE RETAINING WALLS, HE BELIEVES, WOULD JUST BE NEEDED IN THIS CORNER IF THE FIELDS WERE HERE.
THIS AREA IS ALREADY PRETTY FLAT.
THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME GRADING IN THIS AREA HERE.
>> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE THOUGH THAT SHOWS THE FIELDS?
>> CAN YOU BLOW IT UP A LITTLE? IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT TEE-BALL FIELD IN THE POSITION YOU JUST SAW, THE TOP ONE, THOSE SQUARES, 01, 2, 3, 4,, WHATEVER THEY ARE, ARE ALL TO BE FLAT AREAS.
I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS.
I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD INITIALLY.
ALL THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE GRADED FLAT.
I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE RESIDENTS OR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AT THE OPEN HOUSE UNDERSTOOD.
YOU CAN SEE THE ELEVATION LINES.
>> A PART OF THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE TO DEAL WITH THE DRAINAGE.
>> YOU CAN ALSO MAYBE TAKE PART OF THAT DIRT AND BRING DIRT IN.
THAT'S WHAT ADAM SAID AND FILL THAT PART WHERE THERE'S A DRAINAGE PROBLEM.
>> I THINK WHAT HIS PLAN WAS, YOU TAKE DIRT FROM THE HIGH PART HERE.
YOU BRING IT INTO THE LOWER PARTS, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU'RE GOING TO FLATTEN IT OUT WHAT YOU NEED.
>> SLEDDING IS HERE, SO WE'RE NOT TOUCHING BASICALLY.
>> FROM HERE, THIS IS A HILL HERE, SO THERE'D BE NOTHING DONE TO THAT HILL TO BE GRADED.
IT WOULD REALLY BE WHERE THAT OLD BRINK IS AT.
>> DOESN'T IT COME DOWN THOUGH FURTHER TOWARDS WHERE THE BASKETBALL COURT IS?
>> THE BASKETBALL COURT, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT, YOU CAN SEE IT HERE.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE FIELDS ARE POSITIONED ON THAT OTHER ONE WITH THE FIELD LINES, THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THOSE ARE LEFT ON THERE, BECAUSE THAT INDICATES EARTH MOVING.
IF YOU GO OVER THERE, THAT'S QUITE A DISTANCE UP.
IS EACH ONE OF THOSE LINES LIKE A TWO-FOOT DROP?
>> I HAD THE SAME QUESTION OR SIMILAR QUESTION OF JOE ABOUT THESE CONTOUR LINES.
[01:35:05]
THESE CONTOUR LINES ARE EXISTING.>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE PROPOSED CONTOUR LINES.
>> THEY WON'T GET IT THEN UNTIL DESIGN.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME TO THE EAST OF THE BASKETBALL COURT, AND THEN SOUTH, THOSE WILL STAY THE SAME, BUT THE EARTHWORK IS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL TO THE NORTH OF THE BASKETBALL COURT, SO THAT THERE'S, I THINK A HILL TO THE NORTH OF THE BASKETBALL COURT, BUT THEN THE REST OF THE PARK WILL ALL BE LEVEL, ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
>> BRIAN, THIS WILL ALL BE LEVEL.
>> YOU WANT THE FIELD LINES PUT BACK ON THERE SO THAT IT IMPLIES THAT IT'S ALL LEVEL.
>> BUT IT'S GOING TO BE WAY DOWN FROM WHERE IT IS.
>> THOSE LINES WERE JUST EXAMPLES OF, THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.
THIS COULD BE WHAT WE COULD FIT IN THIS SPACE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO BE.
>> IMPLIES THAT IT'S FLAT, IS WHAT I THINK [INAUDIBLE]?
>> IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN FOR A SECOND, I THINK OBVIOUSLY, THE DRAINAGE AND THE PARKING ARE WHAT MAKE REDESIGNING THIS PARK COMPLICATED.
THE CURRENT SETUP ACTUALLY DOES ALLOW FOR THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF MULTI USE FIELD SPACE.
AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE, JANIE AND I, WE'VE BEEN WORKING PRETTY HARD TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE DIFFERENT DESIGNS THAT WE'RE DEFINITELY GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.
I THINK I HEARD JOE YOU SAY THAT THERE MIGHT EVEN BE MORE POTENTIAL TO NARROW PARKING AND TRY TO MAXIMIZE AND MAINTAIN, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THIS DESIGN HERE AND THINK OF HOW IT IS CURRENTLY, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NICE, FLAT GREEN SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR MULTIPLE YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL, WHICH IS SECOND AND THIRD GRADERS.
THE BASEBALL IS KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE, WHICH I THINK IS SIMILAR WITH THE SOFTBALL GIRLS.
IT'S ALL REALLY WELL UTILIZED, AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN REALLY TRYING HARD IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT AS WELL AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING TO BULLDOZE AWAY SOME OF THE MORE NATURAL FEATURES THAT KIDS DO LIKE THE SLIDING HILL.
KEEPING SOME TREES THAT MAKE IT A NICE.
ACTUALLY, WITH MY OWN CHILDREN, WE LIKE PLAYING AT THE PLAYGROUND, BECAUSE IT'S SHADED AND I THINK THAT ALSO GOES FOR THE BASKETBALL COURT.
IT'S NICE TO NOT BE BURNING IN THE SUN WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT.
I DO WANT TO SUGGEST TOO THAT FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE REALLY WISHED FOR ICE SKATING, AND I KNOW THAT THAT WE HAVE SOME WARM WINTERS AND WHATNOT.
BUT I WAS OUT HUNTING FOR ICE SKATING, AND WE'VE BEEN HERE EIGHT YEARS, AND THEY QUIT MAKING THE RINK THERE 10 YEARS AGO, AND I WAS LIKE, OH, DARN MY OLDEST WILL BE GRADUATING SOON.
IT'S LIKE, I MISSED THAT WINDOW OF ICE SKATING.
THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT AS A COMMISSION, THAT IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THE NEEDS AND WANTS, HOPEFULLY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND HOPEFULLY WE REPRESENT THAT WELL.
I GIVE YOU SOME CREDIT HERE THAT WE KEEP MOVING, I THINK, IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY THE TREES AND THE SLIDING HILL.
WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO KEEP THAT AREA AND ALL THE TREES AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
LIKE, WITH ADAM'S PLAN TO MOVE THIS A LITTLE MORE THAT WOULD OPEN UP THE POSSIBILITY FOR LESS GRADING BECAUSE THE FIELD CAN JUST REALLY BE IN THIS AREA.
THAT'S WHY THOSE FIELDS WERE TAKEN OFF, BECAUSE I THINK IT MADE IT SEEM LIKE GOING BACK HERE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE FOUR FIELDS THAT WERE GOING TO BE LINED, AND THAT'S MORE OF LIKE THE ARCHITECT PUTTING IN, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT WE COULD FIT IN HERE.
>> BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT WITH THE PROPERTY THAT WE ACQUIRED ON THE NORTH END OF THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE FULLY GRADED UNDER SOME OF THOSE OTHER DESIGNS.
I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
LIKE JANIE AND JACOB SAID, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY STILL SOME THINGS TO BE DISCUSSED.
>> I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE BASKETBALL COURT THERE, AND THAT'S FINE IF THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IS RESURFACING AND REFRESHING?
[01:40:03]
>> COULD BE. I SEE RIGHT NOW, IT'S A BLACKTOP [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOT ON THE PLAN, BUT IT SHOULD BE RESURFACED.
>> RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST BLACKTOP.
THE HOOP IS NEW. IT'S BEEN REPLACED.
>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE WAY IT'LL STAY.
BECAUSE DOING LIKE A FULL COURT.
BUT THERE COULD BE SOME SPORT I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE, LIKE, SPORT COURT, AND THEN YOU COULD HAVE SOME OPTIONS FOR SOME OTHER THINGS.
WHAT WE DO GET IS SOME PUSHBACK FROM THE NEIGHBORS, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THERE AREN'T ANY PLANS FOR THAT.
>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE IF WE'RE GOING TO REDO THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE WEST END GOING NORTH UP, WHY CAN'T THAT JUST BE GRADED AT THE UPPER LEVEL? BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLLEYBALL.
THERE'S SPECIAL OLYMPICS PLACE BEACH BALL THERE.
>> I THINK WE WANT THAT TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES.
>> BUT ACCORDING TO THE FIELD LAYOUTS, YOU'RE GRADING ALL OF THAT.
>> YOU DON'T WANT VOLLEYBALL TO BE ON A HILL.
>> NO, BUT THERE IS A PLATEAU UP THERE.
I GUESS, IT COULD BE UTILIZE THAT CORNER WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW.
BUT I THINK TO UTILIZE THE SPACE, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS MORE LIKE AN ENGINEER THING.
BUT JUST IF YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE ACTIVITIES.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO OTHER ACTIVITIES IF THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM THERE.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK SO. I THINK WHEN WE'RE DOING A PROJECT LIKE THIS, YOU WANT IT TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY USE IT FOR CERTAIN THINGS FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A NICE, SHADY AREA TO THE NORTH OF THE EXISTING BASKETBALL COURT THAT COULD BE A QUIET ZONE.
BUT THERE COULD BE BENCHES THERE, BUT ACCORDING, AGAIN, BACK TO THE FIELD PLAN, THAT IS GRADED DOWN.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF LEVELING THE DRAINAGE.
THE DRAINAGE IS THE WATER IS MOSTLY WHERE THE HILL MEETS.
>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH FROM FIELD TO FIELD.
THAT IS BAD. YOU'RE NOT GETTING A [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHERE THERE'S HILL RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S FINE, BUT IT'S REALLY FROM ABOUT HERE ALL THE WAY DOWN OVER TO THIS AREA.
>> I THINK IT'S GREAT [INAUDIBLE] SPORTS.
BUT I ALSO THINK I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH JANIE THAT ALSO LOOKING AT IT FROM CREATING A NICE SPACE FOR NEIGHBORS TO SIT AND CHAT.
YOU'VE GOT A PLAYGROUND WHERE THE KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND.
BASKETBALL COURT MAY OR MAY NOT BE USED A LOT, BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THERE.
THEN THINKING ABOUT LIKE, HAVING A GOOD STANDARD TO PARK IS A NICE PLACE TO SIT AND CONVERSE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND ENJOY.
>> IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE AMENITIES THERE BENCHES.
>> I WOULD SAY IF BASKETBALL COURTS NOT BEING USED.
MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE LIKE A GAZEBO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE PLAYGROUND, AND THAT WOULD BE THE SPACE FOR NEIGHBORS.
>> I THINK WE GOT SOME COMMENTS FROM NEIGHBORS THAT THEY WOULD NOT LIKE A GAZEBO THAT CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES.
>> I DO LIKE THE BASKETBALL COURT.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE FOR KIDS.
>> BUT THERE COULD BE A QUIET AREA OR BENCHES OR SOMETHING WHERE I KNOW THEY LIKE HAVING THE PICNIC TABLES THERE SO THEY CAN GO AND SIT OUT.
I THINK THAT COULD BE A GOOD USE OF THAT SPACE, LIKE WE SAID, WE WANT TO KEEP ALL THOSE TREES THAT ARE COVERING THE PLAYGROUND.
>> AN EXAMPLE IS LIVINGSTON PARK.
WALKING YOUR DOG AND YOU TAKE A BREAK AND HANG OUT AND THERE'S A LITTLE BUTTERFLY GARDEN THERE, AND LIFE IS GOOD.
>> [LAUGHTER] DEFINITELY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, A NICE LITTLE AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND ENJOY THE PARK, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THE FIELD.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE TIMING OF THIS PROCESS.
I THINK MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THIS DONE SO THAT WE HAVE IT FOR THE GRANT APPLICATION FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT MEANS IT HAS TO BE DONE SEPTEMBER 30TH.
>> IF I CAN GO THROUGH MY LIST QUICKLY HERE, I'LL TELL YOU WHY I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE SIDING FACTOR, THE GRANT APPLICATION, BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER ONE IN THE SPRING.
[01:45:02]
>> [INAUDIBLE], IS THAT DIFFERENT?
>> THERE'S ONE IN THE SPRING, BUT I THINK THAT'S JUST FOR EQUIPMENT.
>> MAYBE WE SHOULD VERIFY THAT. CAN YOU LOOK THAT UP?
>> I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TRIED TO APPLY FOR IT.
BUT I WILL LOOK IT UP TO CONFIRM.
>> THE LAST TWO TIMES YOU APPLIED FOR HACKBERRY FOR GRANTS, I DON'T REMEMBER THEM BOTH BEING IN THE FALL, THOUGH.
>> YEAH. IT'S BOTH IN THE FALL, 100%.
>> I'LL DOUBLE CHECK THOUGH JANIE, JUST TO MAKE SURE.
>> BUT IS THAT THE ONLY GRANT MONEY OUT THERE?
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS BECAUSE BACK IN APRIL, WHEN I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TO HACKBERRY, I STARTED TO DO SOME RESEARCH.
THE RESEARCH WAS, WHAT IS THE FIELD USAGE AT HACKBERRY? WELL, SO I WENT ONLINE AND THE ONLY OFFICIAL PLACE FOR FIELD USAGE IS ON THE CITY WEBSITE, AND NOBODY WAS KEEPING TRACK OF IT.
I WENT BACK TO 2021 AND TO 2024.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING TO DETERMINE WHAT SHOULD GO IN THIS PARK IF WE DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS PLAYING THERE AND WHAT SPORTS WERE PLAYING THERE.
I ENDED UP, IT IS A LONGER STORY THAN THIS, BUT I ENDED UP REACHING OUT TO THE ALL FOUR ASSOCIATIONS, BASEBALL, LACROSSE, SOCCER, AND FLAG FOOTBALL.
THE ONLY TWO ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAD PLAYED AT HACKBERRY ARE FLAG FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL, WHICH INCLUDES GIRLS SOFTBALL.
THEY'RE ALL YOUNG KIDS SPORTS THINGS.
LACROSSE AND SOCCER HAVE NOT USED HACKBERRY AT ALL SINCE 2022.
THAT BEING SAID THEY'RE BEING NAMED AS STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS, BUT THERE'S NO DOCUMENTATION.
THERE'S NO PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAME FROM THIS 2023 PLAN THAT EVOLVED WITH THE SINGLE SOCCER FIELD AND THE BASEBALL FIELD.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE HOW THIS FIELD IS GOING TO BE USED? WELL, THEN AS WE GOT FURTHER IN AND I HAD CONVERSATIONS, IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE'S THIS UNWRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH SOCCER AND FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYERS THERE.
THEN, THE OTHER TWO SPORTS PLAY AT THE SCHOOL FIELDS AND THE DISCOVERY CENTER OUT IN MAPLE PLAIN.
THEY HAVE THIS AGREEMENT BECAUSE IN REALITY, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THEY CAN'T PLAY AT THE SAME TIME.
THEIR SEASONS ARE RUN AT THE SAME TIME.
CURRENTLY, HACKBERRY IS BEING USED APRIL THROUGH JUNE, ON MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHTS.
THERE'S NO PLACE TO BRING IN SOCCER OR LACROSSE.
LACROSSE SAID THE FIELDS ARE TOO SMALL ANYWAY FOR THEM.
NOW THIS GREEN SPACE IS GOING TO MAYBE BE EITHER LARGER OR NARROWED DOWN, BUT IT COULD BE THE SAME OR LESS, BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING A PARKING LOT AND ALL OF THAT IN.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THESE TEAMS MADE THIS AGREEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS UNBEKNOWNST TO THE CITY.
MAYBE THE CITY KNEW, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNEW, SO THERE'S REALLY NO OFFICIAL THING.
THEY APPEAR TO BE OKAY WITH THIS SETUP BECAUSE OF THEIR CONFLICTING SCHEDULES.
THERE'S REALLY NO WAY THEY COULD PLAY TOGETHER ALL FOUR OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE FIELDS.
ADAM HAD MENTIONED THAT MAYBE WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IS CHANGE THEIR SEASONS AND THEY'RE SCHEDULING.
WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY WORKS IN THE BIG PICTURE.
THEN, IT COMES TO THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH ACTIVITY AND WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF THIS PARK? HOW MUCH CAN YOU SHOEHORN IN THERE?
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY A DISCUSSION TO HAVE LATER.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS CREATE A PARK AND A PLAN BASED ON HOW IT'S BEEN USED JUST RECENTLY.
BECAUSE YOU COULD GO BACK A FEW YEARS AND THEY WERE USING ONE BASEBALL FIELD.
NOW WE KNOW THAT'S, BECAUSE THE OTHER FIELD WASN'T IN GREAT CONDITION.
BUT IF YOU JUST LOOKED AT THE RAW FACTS, YOU'D SAY, WE DON'T NEED TWO BASEBALL FIELDS. THEY ONLY USE ONE.
IT'S DEFINITELY GOOD TO KEEP ALL THIS IN MIND, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO
[01:50:02]
HAVE ONCE THE PLAN IS DECIDED TO THEN LOOK AT HOW THE USE IS GOING TO BE.IT MIGHT BE WITH THE WAY THE SCHEDULING IS, SOCCER IS NOT ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO DISCLUDE HAVING THAT BECAUSE 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR SOCCER AND LESS FOR BASEBALL, OR IT MIGHT STAY THE SAME, AND THEN THE FIELD CAN STAY THE SAME.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE OPTIONS?
>> THAT'S THE BIG PIECE THAT I WAS FIGHTING FOR WAS TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MULTI USE FIELD BECAUSE MOST OF THE OPTIONS REALLY WERE CHOPPING IT UP QUITE A BIT.
WE KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND FORWARD AND WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER.
THIS IS CLOSER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
AT SOME POINT, WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE, IS A PARKING LOT THAT CRITICAL, AND IS THAT MUCH RAIN GARDEN OR STORMWATER POND.
>> WELL, THE STORMWATER WILL BE NEEDED BECAUSE THE HARD COVER, IF WE DO ADD A PARKING LOT, THERE HAS TO BE SOME STORM DRAINS.
>> THAT'S ADD A DRAIN TO THERE.
THAT HELPS TO BE AND WITH THE DRAINAGE, THEY'LL NEED A SPOT.
ONCE AGAIN, IT'S MORE OF LIKE AN ENGINEERING QUESTION ONCE THEY GET IN AND START LOOKING AT THAT.
BUT I DO KNOW, ADAM, THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE TALKED TO ZEIGER TOOK YOUR GUYS COMMENTS, AND LIKE I SAID, HE THOUGHT THIS COULD BE SKINNIED UP A LITTLE MORE TO GIVE THEIR MORE FIELD SPACE AND MORE GREEN SPACE.
>> BE MOVED A LITTLE BIT MORE EAST.
BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS.
IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A PARK. IT'S A GREAT LITTLE PARK.
THE KIDS LOVE PLAYING YOUTH BASEBALL THERE.
MY SON LOVED IT. FAMILIES LOVED IT.
IT DOES NEED BECAUSE IT KEEPS GETTING KICKED DOWN, THE CAN KEEPS GETTING KICKED.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S A LONG TERM DECISION THAT IS THE WRONG DECISION.
>> IT'D BE NICE WHERE WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE COULD, AS A COMMISSION, HAVE A FAIRLY UNIFIED RECOMMENDATION THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT CITY COUNCIL WE THINK WE'VE GOT A SPACE HERE THAT'S GOOD FOR KIDS WITH THE PLAYGROUND, THE YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS? IT'S NOT OVERDONE, AND WE CAN EXECUTE OUR FUNCTION AS A COMMISSION.
WE'RE HERE TO HOPEFULLY PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
I JUST THINK IT HAS GONE REALLY QUICK, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF CHANGE AND PROBABLY CHANGE FOR THE BETTER, BUT STILL MAYBE SOME WORK TO DO. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> WHAT I MIGHT PROPOSE IS IF EVERYONE AGREES THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THIS DONE BY SEPTEMBER FOR THE GRANT TIMELINE THEN I MIGHT PROPOSE THE SEPTEMBER MEETING THAT WE'RE ADDING.
MAYBE WE DO THAT AS A FORMAL MEETING SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A VOTE TO RECOMMENDATION.
TO PUSH IT FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE ON IT FOR WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE GRANT.
>> WE COULD DO THAT AS A FORMAL MEETING OR EVEN IN THE WORK SESSION, IF WE JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN TO AT THIS POINT.
WE THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUPPORT AS LONG AS COUNCIL JUST KNOWS AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A FORMAL VOTE, IT COULD JUST BE, WE SUPPORT THIS.
>> WELL, WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, JANIE BROUGHT UP ABOUT HACKBERRY, THOSE RESIDENTS BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEIR OPINION.
I THINK THAT THEN WE NEED TO BE UP AT THE DAIS HERE FORMAL.
>> I DON'T THINK THE PARKING SITUATION HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.
>> IT JUST WENT OUT, I'M SORRY.
>> HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE FLAG FOOTBALL ALONE, WHICH PLAYS AUGUST THROUGH POTENTIALLY OCTOBER, THEY'RE THINKING OF ADDING ON, HAS OVER 100 CARS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT PARKING LOT, THAT ONLY TAKES 24 CARS OFF THE ROAD.
THERE'S ONLY SPACE FOR 10 CARS ON THE TWO SHORT ROADS THAT GO UP THERE.
CURRENTLY, THEY'RE PARKING IN PEOPLE'S YARDS.
>> SORRY, THE COMPUTER JUST WENT DOWN, NOTHING I CAN DO. I APOLOGIZE.
[LAUGHTER] WE DO HAVE PAVERS AROUND THE SIDE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER FOR THE PARK USE.
[01:55:04]
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S A PROBLEM, AND THERE'S NO PARKING.ANYTHING WE CAN DO, I THINK, TO IMPROVE THAT AND GET A LITTLE BETTER PLAN WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.
>> IS THAT NOT THE RIGHT PARK FOR FLAG FOOTBALL?
>> WELL, THERE IS PARKING, BUT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IS PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF ALL THREE STREETS.
NOW THEY WOULD ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE CARS.
THERE HE GOES. I THINK THERE'S 28 THERE.
>> I THINK PART OF THIS THING WAS TOO WITH THE SKINNING OF IT, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN SOME MORE PARKING, WHAT WE ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT, I THINK, 36 OR WHATEVER WE DISCUSSED, SO THERE'D BE A FEW MORE.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN.
I THINK THE PAVERS WOULD HELP AROUND THE EDGES, AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF THE NEIGHBORS.
>> WHERE WOULD THE PAVERS SPEECH ON THIS?
>> YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE HERE, SO THAT GREEN AREA.
>> ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PARK?
>> THEN NO PARKING ON THE OTHER SIDE?
>> CORRECT. NO PARKING ON THE RESIDENTS SIDE.
>> I AM WONDERING IF YOUTH BASEBALL WITH FOUR TEAMS PLAYING, TWO TEAMS AT EACH FIELD HAD 50-60 CARS.
I COUNTED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MY COMMISSIONER HAT ON.
I THINK HAVING COACHED FOURTH GRADE THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE FOOTBALL, COACHING THAT FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FOR MY OWN SON AND HIS CLASSMATES, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF TEAMS, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 50 KIDS TOTAL HAVE BEEN PLAYING THAT.
I THINK THERE'D BE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT FOR THE FLAG FOOTBALL.
MY OWN SON'S NOT GOING TO PLAY THAT SO I WONDER WHERE THAT 100 CAME FROM.
THAT REALLY [OVERLAPPING] TO COUNT.
>> HERE'S WHERE THEY'VE DONE CAR COUNTS [OVERLAPPING] BEING FRUSTRATED, I WOULD IMAGINE.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE, IS NOBODY'S REALLY BEEN ON SITE TO OBSERVE THE ACTIVITY THERE.
EACH ONE OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY CARS END UP PARKING THERE.
I DON'T KNOW. I WENT TO ABOUT THREE GAMES.
TWO OF THE GAMES I WENT TO THERE THIS YEAR, I WAS JUST SITTING IN THE TRUCK OBSERVING.
BOTH THOSE GAMES GOT REINED OUT RIGHT AFTER THEY STARTED. IT WAS BREEZY.
THERE WERE [LAUGHTER] ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET.
IF THE PARKING COULD GET ORGANIZED SOMEHOW [OVERLAPPING] IS THE BIG THING.
>> TO HELP MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER AND THEN NOT IMPACT THE FIELDS IN THE GREEN SPACE.
>> PARKING ISN'T THAT MUCH FUN IN THE CURRENT STATE.
I THINK IT HASN'T BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AT 6:00 TO 7:30 P.M.
I DID MAKE A SUGGESTION TO LOOK INTO LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT DURING YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES, LIKE YOU WOULD SEE DURING SCHOOL.
THIRTY MILES AN HOUR DURING SCHOOL AND 40 MILES AN HOUR REGULAR.
THIS WOULD BE 30 MILES AN HOUR DURING SPORTING YOUTH PROGRAMS LIKE THE LITTLE BLINKY LIGHT.
AS A POTENTIAL OPTION, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES THAT PARKING WHATEVER LEVEL THEY THINK, THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE THAT'S JUST A DECISION THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE.
>> I AGREE. I THINK THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET THESE FOUR ASSOCIATIONS IN THE SAME ROOM.
EVIDENTLY, THERE'S BEEN SOME CONTENTIOUS ISSUES WITH WANTS ON FIELD USAGE.
IT'S HARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE SAME ROOM AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS PARK IS AND WHO'S GOING TO PLAY THERE AND WHO ISN'T, OR WHEN OR WHEN THEIR SEASONS ARE.
>> I PARTIALLY AGREE WITH THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE MULTI-USE PIECE.
>> JUST WHAT WE WANTED TO DO TONIGHT IN TERMS OF AUGBURRY.
>> I HAD PLENTY OF UPDATE ABOUT AN HOUR.
[LAUGHTER] MORE LIKE THE DESIGN.
>> I AGREE. IT'S GETTING INTO THE WEEDS THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE GOT A GOOD PLAN TO DISCUSS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YET, THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT OR REACTION TO THIS UPDATED DESIGN OR ANY CONCERNS THAT
[02:00:01]
YOU WANT TO GIVE TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO TAKE OFF AND WORK?>> AS AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN, I THINK THIS DESIGN IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT TRYING TO BE TOO MANY THINGS TO TOO MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT WOULD BE ONE WORD OF CAUTION, ESPECIALLY THINKING ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF PARKING AND THE PROXIMITY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE VERY KEEN ON KEEPING THIS NOT ONLY A GREAT SPORTS FACILITY, BUT TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, IT'S A LOVELY PARK TO JUST BE IN.
I THINK BEING MINDFUL OF THAT AND NOT RIPPING THE TYPOGRAPHY OF THIS LAND SO THAT EVERYTHING IS JUST FLAT.
AGAIN, GETTING BACK TO WHAT ORONO SPEAKS TO AS A CITY AND A VISION, WE'RE ALL ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVING THOSE RESOURCES.
WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE SOMETHING, MAYBE WE LEAN THAT DIRECTION VERSUS TRYING TO MAKE IT COMPLETELY FLAT.
>> THAT PART THAT IS RAISED WAS CREATED.
>> WELL, THE PERCEPTION OF NATURAL.
>> I THINK THIS IS WETLANDS THAT WAS FILLED IN.
>> MINNEHAHA WATERSHED DISTRICT MUST HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THAT ONE.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION ALSO, WHEN WE CREATE THE LARGEST MULTI-USE FIELD SPACE, WHICH WE'RE GETTING BACK TO, THEN AT A LATER DATE YOU CAN SAY, THEY CAN START FIGHTING OVER IF IT'S GOING TO BE FOOTBALL OR IF IT'S TOO MUCH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PARKING FOR FOOTBALL.
SORRY, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOCCER OR LACROSSE.
IT'S LACROSSE, MAYBE IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BIG KIDS, BUT IT'S BIG ENOUGH FOR SEVEN-YEAR OLDS TO LEARN LACROSSE.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT AS A SUBCOMMITTEE AS A YOUTH SPORTS PARK, A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT SUPPORTS YOUTH ATHLETICS, BUT IT'S A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, NOT A SPORTS COMPLEX SITUATION.
>> I THINK THESE OPTIONS ARE GREAT, ALL IN THEIR OWN WAY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE 100 DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.
BUT NOT EVERYBODY WILL BE COMPLETELY HAPPY, AND NOT EVERYBODY WILL BE COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED IN WHATEVER ENDS UP BEING CHOSEN.
BUT WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT IS THAT THIS THING, WHEN WE START TO DIVE INTO THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, IT SHOULD BE DONE WITH CITIZENS PRESENT.
JUST A GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS ESTABLISHING WHAT WE THINK THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WANTS.
>> THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE OPEN HOUSE AND DID OPEN UP ALL THESE SURVEYS.
>> WE'RE GOING FURTHER THAN THAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ONE THING THAT DID CROSS MY MIND WHEN THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS HERE, YOU SAID, ARE WE GOING TO DO UP THE STANDARD, OR ARE WE GOING TO DO MORE THAN THAT? SOME PREMIER THING.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE OR THE OTHER? I THINK WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP DOING A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.
I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, WE'LL TRY TO GET THINGS SAFE, NUMBER 1, UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF STANDARD, AND THEN MAYBE HAVE A COUPLE OF PARKS WHERE WE REALLY MAKE THEM LOOK, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM A LOT, LIKE METER WOOD AND HACKBERRY, WHEN IT'S DONE WITH THIS DESIGN THAT MAYBE WE DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA THERE.
WE'VE GOT SHOWCASE PARTS TOO, AND MAYBE WORK TOWARDS THAT OVER THE LONG RUN, BUT IT'S A LOT EASIER TO DO ONE OR TWO OF THEM THAN IT IS TO DO 17.
>> I THINK WE'RE AT A GOOD POINT FOR THIS.
WE'LL BRING IT UP AT THE SPECIAL MEETING, SO PEOPLE CAN ATTEND, WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT TO COMMENT.
>> IS IT FAIR TO SUBCOMMITTEE? IS IT A FAIR EXPECTATION THAT WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER?
[02:05:03]
>> I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF EVOLVING THE PARK AND TO THIS POINT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S A LONG-TERM DECISION TO PROBABLY GO THROUGH ONE MORE ITERATION TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE FOLKS FEEL LIKE.
BECAUSE REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF WE CAN KEEP THAT GREEN SPACE FOR MULTI-USE, THAT'LL MAKE THE MOST OF PEOPLE HAPPY.
I THINK WE DID NEED AND THE NEIGHBORS WANTED THE TWO FIELDS.
THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTH BASEBALL ACTIVITY, AND THE OUTFIELD BECOMES A MULTI-USE FIELD.
THE ONE THING THAT HADN'T GOTTEN BROUGHT UP, AND MAYBE I HADN'T CONSIDERED THAT AS MUCH, OR WE DIDN'T DURING THE SURVEY WAS KEEPING THE YOUTH PROGRAMS TOWARDS WILLOW.
WE DID HAVE A BASEBALL FIELD IN THE NORTH WEST CORNER, AND THEN YOU'RE BRINGING THE KIDS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
WHEN YOU'RE ON WILLOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME BUFFER, THERE'S A HILL. THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN VERY VALUABLE.
I THINK IF THERE'S ANOTHER ITERATION AVAILABLE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TO A REASONABLE CONCLUSION.
>> THANK YOU GUYS BOTH FOR WORKING ON THIS.
>> IT'S LIKE OUR NEXT ITEM, I GUESS BRIAN CAN INTRODUCE IT.
I JUST WANTED TO DO A LITTLE OVERVIEW, JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ANTOINE PARK.
IT'S AT THE BEGINNING PROCESS OF WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.
WE DO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE THAT'S TAKING PLACE AT THE PARK, IT'S ON AUGUST 20.
RYAN AND MICHAEL ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR THAT, SO I ASSUME YOU GUYS WILL BE THERE.
BUT IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO BE THERE, JUST LET ME KNOW BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE TO JUST SAY THAT THAT'S ANNOUNCED THAT, BECAUSE THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A QUORUM THERE.
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM TO DO THAT.
>> BECAUSE I SHOWED UP AT THE HACKBERRY.
I THINK IT'S GREAT IF OTHER COMMISSIONERS ARE AVAILABLE.
>> WHAT I THINK I'LL DO IS I'LL JUST SAY THERE'S POSSIBILITY OF A QUORUM, AND WE'LL PUT THAT OUT THERE TO JUST COVER OUR BASE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ANTOINE, THIS ONE, WE'RE GETTING INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS.
THEY MAY COME BACK TO US AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL NOT DO ANYTHING.
THIS ONE'S NOT AS BIG OF A PROJECT AS HACKBERRY.
THERE WAS JUST SOME PEOPLE WHO REACHED OUT IN THE PAST ABOUT POSSIBLY A SHELTER THERE AND SOME SIMPLE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'LL BE DOING AT ANTOINE, IS GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS, AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROCESS WHERE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE OPEN HOUSE AND TAKE THE SURVEY, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT INFORMATION.
LIKE I SAID, THAT'S ON THE 20TH FROM 5:00 TO 7:00.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A HARD DEAD TIMELINE HERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO.
>> THERE'S NO TIMELINE FOR THAT.
RIGHT. WE'LL HAVE THE OPEN HOUSE ON THE 20TH.
>> RACHEL WILL PROBABLY DO IT.
>> YOU GUYS PROBABLY WON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT AGAIN UNTIL OCTOBER MEETING.
>> THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING TO EVEN DO.
THEY DON'T WANT ANY FIELDS OR ANYTHING THERE, IT WOULD BE PRETTY.
>> DID THE ANTOINE PARK, THE RESIDENTS AROUND THERE, REQUEST SOME IMPROVEMENTS?
>> YEAH. THEY MENTIONED THEY MIGHT WANT TO SHELTER BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY FREQUENTLY USED PARK BY THE RESIDENTS, THEY DO A LOT OF THINGS OUT THERE.
BUT I AM OUT THERE, WELL, NOT QUITE OFTEN.
BUT WAS OUT THERE FOR SOME THINGS, AND I INTERACT WITH THE RESIDENTS A LOT.
THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, MAYBE WE DON'T WANT THE SHELTER NOW, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT FEEDBACK WE GET.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THERE, OR WHAT WE HAVE PLANS FOR, SO WE'LL [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE PLAYGROUND TOO, THERE'S A COUPLE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAYGROUND.
>> THEY MIGHT NEED SOME REFRESHING ON THAT.
>> IS JUST NOT THE STANDARD ANYMORE.
BUT THE RESIDENTS LOVE THAT, SO WE MIGHT HAVE A FIGHT TO GET THAT UP TO STANDARDS.
>> THEY LIKE THE PLAY BACK THERE.
>> THEN I'LL LET YOU BRING THE NEXT ONE UP FOR ABOUT THE NOW THE IT'LL JUST BE A REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING, BUT YOU GUYS WOULD NEED TO.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING IN BETWEEN?
>> NO. YOU MEAN LIKE A SUBCOMMITTEE?
>> YEAH, FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE. WHEN WILL THAT BE?
[02:10:02]
>> I'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE'S SCHEDULE WORK.
YOU'RE TALKING TO ADAM, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY SCHEDULE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE, BUT IT WOULD BE BEFORE THE MEETING, OBVIOUSLY.
>> BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING I WANT TO VOTE ON.
>> I DO HAVE A LIFE. I KNOW, BUT YOU GUYS CAN FIGURE.
>> THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY SOMETHING.
>> WE'LL SEND OUT, LIKE SOMETHING SO WE CAN PLAN A DATE.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST MAKE UP A DATE AND WHO KNOWS IF IT WORKS FOR ANYONE.
>> BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS TURNING NOT ONLY HAVING THIS IS GOING TO TURN INTO A REGULAR MEETING.
>> BECAUSE THEN WE CAN HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ONE IN SEPTEMBER?
>> THEN THEY'LL BE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE GUIDING DOCUMENT TO?
>> WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT. I MEAN.
>> IT WAS ON THE AGENDA, KNOWING THAT IT WAS.
ASSUMING IT WAS A WORK SESSION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE OFFER OR DO YOU WANT?
>> THAT MIGHT. I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE HACKBERRY VOTE THAT NIGHT AND TO HAVE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT.
>> CAN WE HAVE A WORK SESSION PRIOR TO THE MEETING?
>> WE COULD. I THINK JANE AND I SHOULD TRY TO GET THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO GET ONE MORE ITERATION.
MAYBE REACH OUT TO SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY TO FIND OUT THE PARKING, WHERE THEY FEEL ON THE PARKING ISSUES.
ARE WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT TO SOME DEGREE, I IMAGINE?
>> YEAH. YOUR RESIDENTS. THEY'RE YOUR.
>> A WORKING SESSION AT FIVE, REGULAR MEETING AT SIX?
>> I WAS THINKING A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING MAYBE LATE AUGUST.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S A WHOLE SEPARATE.
>> OH, SURE. WE DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS THAT HERE.
WE CAN ENOUGH TO FIGURE THAT OUT ON OUR OWN.
>> BUT THIS IS REALLY FOR THAT SPECIAL MEETING ON.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD. I'M OKAY WITH THAT IF YOU GUYS.
GO AHEAD AND PROPOSE THAT IF YOU WANT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT ON WHAT'S THE DATE?
>> SEPTEMBER 9TH, WE HAVE A WORKING SESSION AT 5:00 P.M, AND A PUBLIC MEETING AT 6:00 P.M.
>> DID YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S THAT?
>> OH. ON THE AGENDA FOR THE WORKING SESSION WILL BE THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS FOR THE PARK COMMISSION, AND IN THE PUBLIC MEETING, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING HACKBERRY PARK AND THE PLANS FOR THAT.
>> I SECOND, THAT MOTION. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEETING THEN AFTER SEPTEMBER 9.
>> PROBABLY ON THE 22ND OR ON THE 15TH.
PROBABLY. OF COURSE 22ND. SOMETIME.
>> SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER LATER.
>> HOW DO WE THEN, JOE, WOULD YOU GET US ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING?
>> ADAM WOULD PRESENT THAT IF THE PLAN IS THERE.
>> FOR HACKBERRY, BUT OUR GUIDING DOCUMENTS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL BE READY TO PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL THEN.
>> WHEN IT'S READY, WE WILL. WE'LL GET IT ON THERE.
>> I CAN GET AN AGENDA FOR THIS.
>> I'M LOOKING FOR THE MEETING.
>> THEN THERE'S ONE LAST THING BEFORE I LET YOU GUYS GO.
AT OUR PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET MEETING, I INQUIRED WITH COUNSEL THEIR VIEWS ON THE HOLIDAY TRADE LIGHTING.
BECAUSE WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT COUNSEL FELT ABOUT THAT EVENT, SINCE IT WAS A PRIOR COUNCIL'S EVENT THAT WAS PLANNED.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WANT TO SPEND MONEY ON THAT GOING INTO THE FUTURE, BUT FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE EVENT.
A PORTION OF THAT IS WE DO SOLICIT DONATIONS FROM BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING CITY STAFF CAN DO.
[02:15:03]
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT POSSIBLY THE COMMISSION AND HAS DONE IN THE PAST TO SOLICIT DONATIONS FOR THAT.I JUST WANTED TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT ON THE RADAR THAT THAT'S AN EVENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC.
IT'S WELL ATTENDED. I KNOW JANIE KNOWS [LAUGHTER].
>> I SAT ACROSS THE STREET LAST YEAR, AND LESS THAN 200 PEOPLE CAME.
>> I THINK KIM TOOK DOWN, LIKE OVER 500 BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PARKED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD.
>> IT'S DARK. THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS. IT'S COLD.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER FIREWORKS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CHRISTMAS.
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT WE DISCUSSED.
>> IT'S SENSITIVE [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE. I THINK RIGHT NOW IT IS FROM WHAT COUNCIL SAID TO GO FORWARD THIS YEAR, BUT THEY WANT TO RE LOOK AT THAT.
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES COULD JUST BE A TREE LIGHTING HERE AT CITY HALL.
THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY NOT INCLUDE FIREWORKS.
IT WOULD JUST BE HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES AND TREE LIGHTING.
>> I WENT TO LONG LAKES LAST YEAR.
THEY HAVE HOT CHOCOLATE. SANTA COMES ON THE FIRE ENGINE. KIDS LOVE IT.
>> THIS IS A STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL THING. IT'S NOT A PARKS.
>> I THINK GOING FORWARD DEFINITELY WE COULD CHANGE FOR SOME VOLUNTEERS TO IF IT MOVES FORWARD, AND IF IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE WOULD BE HELPING WITH THE FUND RAISING.
>> I SUGGEST ANYONE, IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR WANT TO GIVE SOME INPUT ABOUT THE EVENT ITSELF TO REACH OUT TO STAFF OR CITY COUNCIL ABOUT IT.
>> THE LIONS CLUB HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN.
>> I WOULD VOLUNTEER TO DO THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING IT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS GETTING OR FUNDRAISING FOR IT.
I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO HELP ME, I'D BE HAPPY TO PASS ON SOME OF THE LEARNING S FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT THAT.
>> WE HAVE A LIST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST, SO.
>> I POURED THE TOT CHOCOLATE LAST YEAR.
>> HOW MANY CUPS DID YOU POUR?
>> I KNOW THERE WEREN'T 500 PEOPLE THERE.
>> JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR, YOU SIGNED UP NOT TO POUR CHOCOLATE. [INAUDIBLE] FUNDRAISING.
>> YEAH. FUNDRAISING. I'M GOING TO CALL ON THE LIONS CLUB [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU LET US KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD AND SO THAT WE CAN, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT WE KNOW, SO WE CAN DESCRIBE TO THE POSSIBLE DONORS WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR.
FIREWORKS, NO FIREWORKS. HERE THERE.
>> ALL THIS HERE, IT'LL BRING THAT [LAUGHTER].
THANK YOU. WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE FOR THAT.
>> GREAT. NO. WE NEED THE COMMISSIONER UPDATE.
>> YEAH, I KNOW. I'M JUST ON THIS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.
IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO HELP, MIKE AND I, THERE CAN BE MORE THAN THREE IF WE WANT WHATEVER.
IT COULD BE MORE THAN. IT COULD BE KIM OR.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD TO THE GOLF COURSE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT I HOPE THAT IS SO LABOR INTENSIVE THERE'S STAFF OVER THERE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.
STRINGING STRING AND THEN LIGHTS.
I MEAN, TALK ABOUT MAYBE THAT'S A LOT OF LABOR.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY A TRADE OFF FROM, WE DON'T HAVE REALLY ANY EVENTS IN THE CITY WHERE ANYONE THAT WE DO.
THAT'S THE ONE EVENT WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME TOGETHER.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT, BUT THERE ARE TRADE OFFS TO HAVING AN EVENT LIKE THAT TO STAFF TIME.
>> JOE, I NOTICED LAST YEAR THEY HAD HARD LIQUOR BEHIND THE BAR WHERE YOU GO IN AND SIGN UP FOR GOLF. DID YOU NOTICE THAT?
>> IT IS? YOU CAN SELL HARD LIQUOR AT THE GOLF COURSE. NO.
>> NO. WE DON'T SELL HARD LIQUOR.
>> OH, IT'S THERE. I HAVE A PICTURE OF IT.
>> OH, I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS THERE.
>> IT JUST MIGHT BE A DECORATION.
[02:20:01]
>> IT WAS JUST FOR THAT OCCASION.
>> I THINK SO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE IT'D BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
>> LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE BAR BEHIND THERE.
>> I APOLOGIZE. I FORGOT TO READ AS STATEMENT FROM KIM.
SHE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S JUST ABOUT THE HACKBERRY PARK PROJECT.
I THINK WE'VE HAD GOOD DISCUSSION ON IT TONIGHT.
THIS WOULD BE HER CONTRIBUTION.
AS A PARK COMMISSIONER, FORO, I DO NOT SUPPORT PROCEEDING ON THE REDESIGN OF HACKBERRY TODAY.
FIRST BULLET, I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DESIGN THE PARK THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROTECTS ITS NATURAL BEAUTY OF GREEN, OPEN SPACE, MATURE TREES, BEYOND THE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND SHARED.
THERE ARE SOME GAPS IN WHAT I AM HEARING FROM STAFF AND RESIDENTS REGARDING SPORTS TEAMS NEEDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ARNOLD'S ROLE IN LOCAL SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN GENERAL.
NEXT BULLET, IS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE INCLUDING A PLAYGROUND UPGRADE IN THE SCOPE OF PROJECT.
I ALSO BELIEVE THIS IS A LARGE PROJECT WITH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF PARK COMMISSION MEMBERS THAT IS NOT UNDER ANY TIGHT TIMELINE.
I ALSO REQUEST THAT MY COMMENTS BE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC RECORD OF THIS MEETING ON 86 OF 25.
>> I WOULD TAKE FIVE. AT LEAST YOU KNOW THAT [LAUGHTER].
CORRECTION ON THE DATE [LAUGHTER] 85 OF 20 [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, KIM. YOU'RE WATCHING.
>> THEN THE FINAL, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE AGENDA? I THINK IT'S JUST COMMISSIONER UPDATES, WHICH CHAIR MIER UPDATE, ANYWAYS.
>> CHAIR REPORT AND THEN COMMISSIONER UPDATES.
>> OKAY. I'LL JUST GO WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONER UPDATES.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY?
>> NO, I THINK MOST OF MY UPDATE WOULD BE WITH THE HACKBERRY PARK, AND JUST ALSO A COMMENT OF THE SURVEYS AND HOW THAT CAN HELP US PLAN OUR PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S IT.
>> I'VE GOT ANTWAN AND THEN ACCESS POINTS.
JANE'S GO TO HELP ME WITH THE ACCESS POINTS.
BUT WE'VE BEEN GETTING TOGETHER HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THERE'S, 41, SOMEWHAT UNDEVELOPED RIGHT OF WAYS THAT ORONO OWNS THAT ARE ACCESS POINTS TO LAKE MANATAKA.
THOSE ACCESS POINTS WERE PUT IN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND USUALLY, WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS BEING DEVELOPED, THEY'RE PUT IN FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION FOR ACCESS FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS.
THERE'S NO TWO THAT ARE EXACTLY ALIKE, AND THEY SEEM TO BE SUITED BETTER FOR SOME USES THAN OTHERS, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES, AND WHAT WE FEEL OUR ROLE IS IS TO VISIT THESE SITES, DO AN INVENTORY OF WHAT THE BEST USE MIGHT BE FOR THEM, BASED ON TOPOGRAPHY, BASED ON LOCATION, BASED ON THE CONTEXT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN, AND THAT WE INTEND TO HAVE A FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL OF THESE AND PEEL BACK THE ONION ENOUGH THAT WE CAN DESCRIBE THEM, PERHAPS ALONG WITH WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS, AND THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO WHICH OF THOSE MIGHT BE PRIORITIZED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, FOR IMPROVEMENT, FOR SPECIFIC USES.
WE DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVIDE EARLY MAYBE THIS FALL.
WE'LL BE READY TO RECORD, BUT WE'RE WORK.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK JUST LOOKING AT THE EXISTING DOCUMENTS, THEY'RE DIFFICULT. YOU'VE SEEN THEM, JOE.
WE'VE MANIPULATED THOSE, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD PLAN.
I THINK MIGHT FINALLY ACCOMPLISH ALL 41, RIGHT?
>> AHEAD OF ME. YOU SEE THEM ALL [LAUGHTER] THERE STILL MIGHT BE A COUPLE.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THAT STUBBS BY ONE THAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT IS ONE THAT I WANTED TO LOOK IT UP BEFORE I WENT BACK OUT THERE TO FIGURE IT OUT THAT EXTENDED PORTION FROM THE DOCK?
>> OH, YEAH, THAT'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> SIXTY SOME FEET ADJACENT ON THE SHORELINE.
THAT WE'RE JUST SO CURIOUS ABOUT WHY THAT WOULDN'T BE ACCESSIBLE FOR SHORELINE FISHING OR ANOTHER DOCK, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU SEE PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
[02:25:02]
>> WELL, RIGHT BY THE BLUE SIGN RIGHT BY BEDERWOOD.
PEOPLE BRING THEIR FISHING POLES, AND THEY GO DOWN THERE FOR TWO.
>> DO YOU SEE KIDS ON THEIR BIKES WITH THEIR RODS ON THE LOOSE SIGN?
>> I'VE BEEN FISHING DOWN THERE IN THE LAST.
>> WE WERE FISHING IN LONG LAKE AND FISHING THERE.
THE FISH WE CAUGHT THIS WAS MY TEXAN GRAND SON.
THE FISH WERE MUCH BIGGER IN LAKE MANATAKA.
>> DID YOU LEAVE SOME FOR THE REST OF US.
>> WE DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING HOME.
>> I DON'T THINK IT. BUT IT WAS FUN.
>> YEAH, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE USING IT. I LOVE THAT.
UNLESS JANIE WANTS TO ADD SOMETHING.
>> FOR KIM, SHE'S THE LEAD ON THE, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE MAYOR'S MONARCH PLEDGE.
HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE MET WITH ALISA ONE TIME AT CITY HALL GROUNDS HERE, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING AND LOOKING AT OTHER SPACES AND PARKS THAT ARE POSSIBILITIES.
THIS IS REALLY THE COUNCIL'S PROJECT.
WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING INSTALLED EARLY SEPTEMBER.
THE PLANTS THAT BLOOM EARLY, THE POLLINATORS THAT BLOOM EARLY WILL COME UP IN THE SPRING, AND THEN WE CAN ADD THE ONES THAT BLOOM LATER IN THE SPRING.
WE'VE GONE WITH JOE AND HE SHOWED US ONE SPOT, BUT WE HAVE A FEW OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE WANT TO PROPOSE THAT WE THINK WOULD BE MORE VISIBLE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT AND PROBABLY NOT GIVE THAT AWAY QUITE YET. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PROJECT, SO THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON IT.
>> THE DONATION GARDEN, WE ARE WILLING.
WE'VE GOT MASTER GARDENERS ON THERE TO AT LEAST PLANT AND MAINTAIN ADAM HAS REQUESTED A PROPOSAL FOR MAINTENANCE.
WE'LL DO IT UNTIL WE CAN RECRUIT ENOUGH PUBLIC MEMBERS WHO ARE WILLING TO MAINTAIN THESE GARDENS.
IT WON'T BE FOR EVERYTHING FOR THE DONATION GARDEN, BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR WHERE WE ARE ON CITY LAND.
THIS IS A WAY TO GIVE BACK, TOO.
THEN THE PARK COMMISSION WILL TAKE A LEAD ON IDENTIFYING THE VOLUNTEERS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN.
ALL INFORMATION TO BE HELD BY STAFF.
THEN THIS ALIGNS WITH OUR ROLE AS PARK COMMISSIONERS.
THE PARK COMMISSION ADVISES THE CITY COUNCIL ON MATTERS OF PRESERVATION, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND PROMOTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S IT.
>> YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR UPDATE TOO?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER THAN, I WOULD SAY, SORRY FOR THE DETAILED INFO ON HACKBERRY, BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE WHOLE PICTURE.
WE HAVE TO KNOW WHO'S USING OUR PARKS.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND HOW THEY'RE BEING USED AND WHEN THEY'RE BEING USED, AND JUST FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS, MAINTENANCE.
>> AS WE GO INTO MASTER PLANS, THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE SOMETHING THAT WE ASK FOR AS PART OF THEIR PROCESS.
>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHO DICTATES THAT? DO THE ASSOCIATIONS COME AND IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM, HOW DOES ALL THAT WORK? I THINK THAT'S ALL YET TO BE WORKED OUT FOR SURE.
>> AS FAR AS HACKBERRY GOES, IT FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT GOOD ENGAGEMENT FROM THE U SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS?
>> I REACHED OUT PERSONALLY, SO I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT I GAVE YOU, WHO'S PLAYING, WHO'S NOT PLAYING? I THINK THEY ALL NEED TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM.
MY ADVICE WOULD BE FROM A CITY STANDPOINT, I'D WANT TO GET ALL THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SAME ROOM AND BE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE CALLING THEM STAKEHOLDERS.
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD. MAYBE THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT A MAYBE A COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE, MAYBE PARKS PERSON AND JOE?
>> OF A SUBCOMMITTEES? WOULD THAT BE A SUB [OVERLAPPING]
>> TO TALK ABOUT HACKBERRY SPECIFICALLY?
>> YEAH. THOUGH HOW THEY'RE USING.
[02:30:02]
[OVERLAPPING] HOW ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE THAT WORK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ALL PLAY THERE.LIKE LACROSSE, I JUST HEARD FROM HIM.
THEY CAN'T PLAY THERE BECAUSE A FLAG FOOTBALL'S THERE, SO EVEN WITH ALL THE FIELD CONFIGURATION, IT WOULDN'T WORK TO HAVE A [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, LACROSSE IS A SPRING SPORT.
LAKE FOOTBALL IS A FULL SPORT SO I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT.
>> WAIT A MINUTE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> LACROSSE DOES HAVE SOME ACTIVITY INVOLVED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE YOUNGER KIDS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE PRACTICING AND TRAINING CAN BE ON MI SHAPED FIELDS, SMALLER FIELDS, AS LONG AS IT'S FLAT, AND THEY GOT LITTLE NETS THAT THEY CAN BRING OUT THERE.
BUT IF YOU'RE COACHING THAT STUFF, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A FULL FIELD.
I HAVE YOUR THREE-YEAR-OLDS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS TWO TIMES A YEAR, ACCORDING TO THEIR SCHEDULES.
>> YEAH, KEPT SPRING AND FALL.
>> BUT THEY'RE PLAYING AT THE SAME TIME, SOCCER AND THE SAME TIME, T BALL, AND SOFTBALL IS.
THEN IN THE FALL, THEY'RE PLAYING [OVERLAPPING]
>> HOW MANY THAT YOU GUYS HAVE GOT THERE?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T RESOLVE ANYTHING.
I WAS ONLY GATHERING INFORMATION.
>> I KNOW THAT BACK WHEN I STARTED THIS PROJECT AT GORDY, AND WE TOOK ALL OF THE ASSOCIATIONS OUT THERE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIELD ITSELF, AND THEY WERE ALL EXCITED ABOUT IT.
I'M SURE THAT YOU MENTIONED THIS.
I'M SURE THERE ARE NOTES SOMEWHERE, A SUMMARY OF ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
>> I'VE ASKED FOREMAN AND THERE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING PUT FORTH.
>> BECAUSE OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, THE TRICKY PART IS IT'S BEEN A FAST TIMELINE.
>> I THINK THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS THEY ALL SAY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FIELDS.
THERE'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH.
>> I HAVE A NON UPDATE UPDATE.
MY NAME IS ON THE ADOPT-A-PARK TASK FORCE.
I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS SOMETHING, AND I'M LOOKING AT JOE, AND I HAD HEARD RUMBLINGS THAT MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING TO TAKE A PAUSE ON, WE HAVEN'T MET, AND WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT ANYTHING.
I WAS HOLDING BACK BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE WORK FOR STAFF.
DO WE SAY TIME OUT AND PUT THIS ON THE 2026?
>> IT'S UP TO YOU. I THINK RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO ANYTHING GOING ON WITH ADOPT A PARKS, WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHO IS STILL UP TO DATE WITH THEIR PARKS THAT THEY'RE ADOPTED AND IF THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF IT.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REVISIT EARLY NEXT YEAR AND REVAMP AND MAKE A REFOCUS ON IT WHEN WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME, WE DON'T HAVE.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, I THINK.
>> ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GETTING OUR STANDARDS UP TO PAR, I THINK [OVERLAPPING] GETTING NEIGHBORS ENGAGED AND DOING ALL THAT WOULD BE A GREAT THING.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A TRUNCATED SCHEDULE WITH A LOT OF NEW COMMISSIONERS, NEW COUNCIL, THINGS HAVE BEEN NOT ON THEIR NORMAL TIMELINE.
IT'LL BE NICE NEXT YEAR, WHERE WE'LL BE ON OUR NORMAL SCHEDULE THING.
>> I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING, SO WE DON'T NEED TO, THERE'S NOTHING TO REALLY VOTE.
>> THEN THE OWNER OF GOLF COURSE WE HAVEN'T MET, AND I GUESS I'M JUST WAITING FOR GORDY TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING OR SHOULD I [OVERLAPPING]
>> EITHER WAY. I KNOW HE'S BEEN SUPER BUSY, BUT THE FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO DO IT ONCE THE RESULTS COME BACK FROM THE GOLF COURSE.
>> ARE THERE MEETINGS ABOUT THE GOLF COURSE THAT HAPPEN THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO ATTEND OR NO?
>> LIKE STAFF MEETING? BASICALLY, I JUST HAVE A WEEKLY STAFF MEETING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS, BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE GOLF SPECIFIC TO THAT.
>> GORDY KNOWS KIM. KIM'S A GOOD PERSON TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE SO YOU GUYS DO IT.
>> WELL, MAYBE I'LL JUST REACH OUT TO KIM.
>> HE'S WISH OR TOLD ME HE REALLY WANTS TO START GETTING GOING ON SOME OF THAT STUFF.
[02:35:01]
I WOULD REACH OUT TO HIM AND I'M SURE HE'D BE WELCOME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT. YOU GUYS CAN DISCUSS.>> THEN, BRIAN, ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROJECT?
>> I GOT SOME UPDATES FROM RICK.
FIRST OF ALL, HE APOLOGIZES, HE CAN'T BE HERE, AND IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER FOR HIM TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OF HIS NEW FOUND RETIREMENT FREEDOM AND DOING A LOT OF TRAVELING AND SO FORTH.
HE SHARED WITH ME THAT HE WOULD LIKELY BE ROLLING OFF SOMETIME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN, BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE WANTED TO SEND SOME UPDATES HERE.
HIS PASSION IS AROUND TRAILS AND BIG ISLAND, AS WE KNOW.
BIG ISLAND. HE SAYS THE PARK IS LOOKING GOOD AND OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
JOE MOBILIZED HIS STAFF TO FILL RUTS AND KEEP WEEDS GROWING IN THE BARRIER FREE TRAILS. THANK YOU.
THE TRAILS NEEDED SOME ADDITIONAL MATERIAL AND SOME MINOR REPAIRS ANNUALLY.
THE PATHS HAVE BEEN MOWED AND TP SOCKED.
NEW SIGNS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FOR THE DOCS, WHICH IS GOOD.
IT WOULD STILL BE A GOOD IDEA TO HOLD AN EVENT OUT THERE AT SOME POINT.
MAYBE WE CAN THINK ABOUT THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
I'M READY TO HAND OFF THIS PARK, ALTHOUGH I WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT IT WEEKLY, AS LONG AS WE LIVE ON LAKE AND PROVIDE UPDATES TO JOE AND/OR COMMISSIONERS AS NEW COMMISSIONERS ASIDE.
>> NO, TRYING TO GET OUT THERE AT LEAST EVERY OTHER WEEK TO DO MOWING AND KEEP IT AS GOOD AS IT CAN.
>> TRAILS, HE MET WITH JANIE AND JACOB TO GO OVER THE HISTORY OF THE WORK, DATING BACK TO THE 2040 COMP PLAN PRIORITIES AND UP TO CURRENT AFFAIRS, INCLUDING THE CONNECTION TO LOSE LINE UNDER LOWRY WOODS.
I LEAVE IT UP TO THE NEW COMMITTEE.
I THINK THAT YOU ARE CHAIRING THE TRAILS COMMITTEE, LEAVING UP TO THE NEW COMMITTEE TO MOVE THEM FORWARD AND MAKE CHANGES AS NEEDED.
I DO THINK MAKING ROAD 19 SAFER FOR BIKING AND WALKING BETWEEN SOUTHWEST REGIONAL TRAIL AND IN ROAD 15 SHOULD BE A PRIORITY AND WOULD REQUIRE SUPPORT FROM OUR NEW HEM COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
GOOD. LOWRY WOODS, WHICH IS A PART OF THE TRAILS THING.
HE SAYS, "MY PRIORITY HERE IS TO CREATE A PERMANENT LEGAL ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CONNECT FROM THE NORTH END OF THE PARK TO THE LOOSE LINE." JOE IS CURRENTLY EXPLORING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW HOMEOWNER IN THE NORTHWEST.
CORNER. IT WOULD BE BASED ON AN AGREEMENT TO KEEP THE PARK VERY PASSIVE, WITH NATURAL TRAIL SIGNAGE, BARBED WIRE REMOVAL, ETC.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT LOWRY.
>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S REALLY NO UPDATE ON MY SIDE, JUST REACHING OUT TO THE NEW OWNERS JUST TO TRY TO AT LEAST ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP, BUT NOTHING'S BEEN DISCUSSED ABOUT ANY KIND OF AGREEMENTS OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] A COUNCIL LAND USE ISSUE?
>> YEAH. BASICALLY, WHAT RICK ASKED ME TO DO IS JUST AT LEAST TALK TO THEM AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE THE PARKS AT AND WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
I HAVEN'T PROPOSED ANYTHING OR DONE ANYTHING BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALLY WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE'RE WORKING AS A SUBCOMMITTEE ON THAT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPEN HOUSE.
MOLLY, KIM AND I HAVE MET A COUPLE OF TIMES, HAD SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS.
IT'S PROBABLY SITTING IN MY COURT FOR US TO CONTINUE WORKING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT WITH YOU IN AUGUST.
[INAUDIBLE] FORM [INAUDIBLE] IN SEPTEMBER.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE THREE OF US,
[02:40:05]
WE'RE NOT SETTING THE COURSE FOR PARKS OR WHATEVER, OUR ROLE IS TO TRY AND FACILITATE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSION AND WITH STAFF AND THE CITY COUNCIL ON THAT.WE DON'T EVEN HAVE OUR ACT TOGETHER.
THE THREE OF US AREN'T REALLY ALIGNED YET ON THAT MUCH LESS READY TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS, BUT HOPEFULLY WILL BE BY SEPTEMBER.
ANY OTHER UPDATES FROM THE STAFF?
>> NO. GREAT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> OPPOSED? OKAY. MOVED. ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU, JOE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.