HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 21 16 MinutesParks Advisory Committee Minutes
July 21, 2016
Members Present: Jason Tschetter, Kendall Larson, Ken Calautti, Steve Pany
Members Absent: Cat Soukup, Kelly Loose, Andrew Uzpen
Staff Present: Angie Barstad, Katy Gehlar
1. Shakopee Tennis Facility
See attached email.
2. Ice Rink Survey
The City currently has 16 neighborhood pleasure ice rinks that are flooded (they did not get flooded in
2015 because the water truck was broke). Around Christmas, a park’s staff person floods the rinks
nightly for 1-2 weeks to get a base going, then floods approximately once a week until early/mid-
February. The average size of a neighborhood rink is 35x65 – 70x140. Each year City staff receives
complaints on the ice quality on these rinks because the City does not have a Zamboni (like the one at
Lakefront Park owned by the Hockey Association) to use at all the rinks.
City staff put out a survey last winter (see attached results) to ask residents how often they use
neighborhood rinks and what kind of amenities they would like to see to make them more useful. Per
the results, the respondents would like to see lights and a warming house at these rinks.
The City could build a small warming house, out of wood, at these rinks but the average cost to
construct one would be around $12,000. The wood “huts” have been known, in other cities, to attract
un-savory behavior in the warmer months. City staff looked into a glass enclosure, like the ones that are
used at transit stations. These units cost $20,000+. The City does not have the funds to install this type
of amenity at the neighborhood ice rinks.
All 16 ice rinks, per staff opinion and experience, are not utilized in the winter. There is no cost savings
for the City if they flood 4 rinks or 16. If it was decided to not flood any rinks, the park’s department
would allocate those staff hours onto another area. The PAC collectively recommended that the City
staff should determine which neighborhood ice rinks to flood based on what they see is being used. If a
new development requests flooding of a rink they can do so and be added to the list, but the ones that
are not being used will no longer be flooded.
PAC also recommended that City staff advertise which sites will be flooded on the City website and
other media outlets.
3. Bi-Annual Meeting with Associations and Surrounding Communities
The bi-annual meeting usually occurs in August. Due to a city council workshop on 8/22 regarding all city
fees and the 2017 budget, it was decided to move this meeting to September 15 so staff can share the
City Council direction on future fees relating to fields and their organizations.
4. Parks Tour
The PAC will go on a parks tour Augusts 25th, leaving Lakefront Park at 5pm. The following parks will be
on the itinerary: Pike Lake, Watzls Beach, Spring Lake Park, Jeffers Fish Pond, Markley Lake and the
Ponds park.
5. Future Meeting Date
a. August 25th – Park Tour at 5pm
b. September 15, at 6pm in Parkview Conference Room in City Hall
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Submitted by Angie Barstad, Recreation Coordinator