11-12-2025 Parks and Recreation Commission Packet (2)

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Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes October 8, 2025 --------- Page 7 of 10 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS 11. MOTION TO ADJOURN REGULAR MEETING Moved by Commissioner Goodwin and seconded by Commissioner Fermoyle to adjourn the regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission at 8:01 p.m. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Varty left at 8:01p.m. 12. WORK SESSION 12.1 2026 Capital Improvement Mr. Shelby reviewed the budget handouts which will be provided as an attachment to the minutes. He reviewed the park improvement fund first. He explained the recommendations that were determined following his meeting with Mr. Baas, the City of Elk River Park Maintenance Foreman. Mr. Shelby explained what a turf tank is. He shared that he and staff are working on creating a flag football program in the spring which will necessitate more lining of the fields. The manpower required to do this would be eased by the leasing of this machine. It would be leased for three years at the cost of $16,000 per year. Chair Anderson said that if this is the only way they are going to get it then should it come out of this fund. Mr. Stremcha said that it is up to the commission and what they recommend, but the general fund could also be an option. Commissioner Niziolek said that he thinks it seems like it should come out of a park’s maintenance type of fund, but he does think it should be pursued but find a different source of funding. Commissioner Goodwin asked what this machine is and if it is better to purchase or lease. Mr. Shelby said that this machine is typically leased because they are so expensive. Commissioner Goodwin also agrees that she thinks this falls into the park’s maintenance budget. Chair Anderson said that if this is an ongoing annual expense and saves on labor and is a piece of equipment that they are renting, then they should pursue it if it is the only way it is going to get done but it should be under an alternative funding source in future years. Commissioner Stewart asked Mr. Shelby if he knew how many hours in labor Mr. Baas thought he would save. Mr. Shelby said that is something he thinks Mr. Baas was working on but it can be used in any field and city wide so it would help with labor. Chair Anderson asked if they could change the paint and use it to stripe the trails. Mr. Shelby said he isn’t sure what all the capabilities are quite yet, but he can follow up with the company to clarify all of that. Commissioner Stewart said that if it is going to be an ongoing expense then they should find another way to pay for it other than the Parks and Recreation budget. Commissioner Niziolek said he wanted to say two things before he had to leave for the night. He thinks that the Ridgewood East court usage doesn’t warrant the cost of replacement because Salk Junior High School has a nicer court that is nearby. He thinks they should tear it out and not replace it. He thinks if they replace it, they would be wasting the $30,000. Commissioner Niziolek also thinks that they need to stripe the trails. He said that he is concerned there could be a bad collision at 20 mph. He thinks there will be serious injuries and maybe a death. He DRAFTPage 8 of 34