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Home My WebLink About02-10• CITY OF LAKEVILLE PARK BOND REFERENDUM TASK FORCE MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 1994 • • Task Force Chair Kevin Illa called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and welcomed the 22 members who were present. Guy Larsen, Lakeville Fastpitch Softball Association (LFSA) Commissioner, gave a brief history of their organization. The league was ongmally, operated by the Lakeville Athletic Association but now has its own board of directors. The league emphasizes skill development and fun. In 1990 there were slightly over 30Q participants in this league. Projected enrollment for 1994 is 500; for the year 2004 it is 1,100. More teams will be added this year at the 18 & Under and 16 & Under levels to give girls in this agegroup who are not involved in the high school leagues an opportunity to~ppl~ay. projected LFSA enrollments are based on school enrollment projections for ISD #194. Clem Czerniak, LBA Commissioner, mentioned that the growth proJ'ections closely resemble those of the baseball program. Steve Michaud mentioned that the sport of Fastpitch is easier to accommodate with fields because their field sizes are relatively standard, as opposed to LBA whose infields vary with the level of play.. Guy Larsen stated the LFSA's greatest needs are fields and equippment, especially pitchin machines. He would like to see an 8-field complex set aside. solely for L~SA and Women's Softball. The LFSA also predicts that with the growth of their program, the Women's Softball pro ram is also destined to expand greatly as these players graduate from school. his theory can also be applied to Men s Softball. Kevin Illa introduced Rick Dale, Lakeville Hockey Association president. Mr. Dale stated the pphilosophy of the LHA is to teach the fundamentals of the game and encouragge iun. The growth rate for the program for the past two years has been 11-12 % annually, or about 15 % of the total enrollment of boys m the school system. (Althou h the program is open to girls, there are onl a few who choose to play). ~e average cost for ice time rental is $95 to $y125 per hour. An average of $110 per hour is budgeted with a total annual ice time budget, of $50,000. The new arena is expected to increase registrations by approximately 20 % at the lower levels of Pony, Mite and Mini-mite for the next few years. These three levels will continue to use outdoor ice on weekday nights, ,but will receive indoor ice on Saturday or Sundays. Ice time will need to continue to be purchased from surrounding communities. Steve Michaud asked if the need for outdoor ice would decrease and was told that with the program participation expected to increase, the need for outdoor ice will also increase. Mary .Nelson, LCC reppresentative, commented that rinks are not only used by organized hockey but by many neighborhood youth and adults for recreational play. The LHA feels that more sites similar to McGuire are needed, where there are two hockey rinks, plus a pleasure skating area. The LHA would like to have one outdoor rink with a hard surface which could be used in the summer for in-line skating/hockey.. The surface could be painted a light color and act as a good base for winter ice. Park Bond Referendum Task Force Minutes • February 10, 1994 Task force members were shown an architects rendering of the Lakeville Civic Arena. Rick Dale gave an ,update of the project and explained that it is a joint effort amon the Lakeville Hockey Association the Lakeville Community Corporation, the ~ity of Lakeville and Independent school District #194. The LCC and the LHA have raised $700,000 for the first phase of the arena. The building is intended to be multipurpose with a concrete floor beneath the ice so that it can be used for such things, as tennis, voile~yball and possibly even flea markets. The ice will by ~ Olym_pic size -- 200' X 100' as opposed to a standard size of 185' X 85' . Wally Potter asked if the rink would also be used for figure skating and was told that although the figure skaters have not requested use of the facility as of yet, their needs were being considered. It was also asked if a second sheet of ice could be accommodated on this site in the future. Steve Michaud stated that this is feasible but will have an impact on the elementary school. It was pointed out that no bond referendum funds would be delegated to the civic arena. Task force member Robert Reiner mentioned that in his past experience . in another community, once the arena was built, several more outdoor rinks were needed because of the growth of the rogram. Other sports may also see increases such as girls ringette and ~igure skating. John Wilhelm, Lakeville Soccer Club field coordinator, stated that the mission and philosophy statements of their organization are centered around kids having fun within the sort while developing skills and enjoying team .play and • sportsmanship. ~wo levels exist in this sport -- recreational and develop- mental. The club runs the Pan-O-Prog soccer tournament and will need 22 fields this year. Mr. Wilhelm stated that volunteerism is the key to their success and discussed the basic highlights of their 1993/94 pprograms., They are especially proud of their coaching programs and instruction by specialists. Long range program pprojections are also based on school enrollment pprojects, plus 2 % per year. Projected registrations for 1994 are 710 for travelin and recreational spring/summer program. By the year 2000 they expect 1,35 to register for this aspect of the program. In addition, the fall program is also growing and is projected to have over 1,000 participants by the year 2000. Because the Lakeville Parks and Recreation Dept. and the Soccer Club are both concerned about field preservation, certain fields are reseeded each year to prevent long-term damage. Those fields which are being reseeded are not scheduled for play that year. The Soccer Club sees the future needs for their rogram to be: the dedication of North Park as a soccer complex only, except ~or the baseball field; an improved irrigation system at North Park; and long term, a second soccer complex similar to North Park with designated game fields, and practice fields with kick boards. It was mentioned that staff is working on the relocation of the two softball fields at North Park which are encroaching on soccer play. Also, plans are underway to install drain the in Aronson to help channel water and alleviate wet fields from springs in the area. The top dressing/seeding of fields at . North Park is being done on a three-year rotation, though it may go to a four-year rogram so that a field is only ,taken off the schedule every fourth year. Sta~f added that the existing irrigation system could be expanded on in the future. Park Bond Referendum Task Force Minutes February 10, 1994 Steve Reishauer Treasurer and consultant to the Rosemount Area Athletic Association (RASA) explained that due to Doug Mulville's work schedule, he was unable to present the needs of the RAAA or be an active task force member. Lisa Noble has agreed to represent the orgganization. Mr. Reishauer stated that 25 % of the RAAA participants are LakeviIle residents. Dodd Park, Bunker Hill and Parkview, a total of six Lakeville fields, are used byy the RAAA, with other fields being provided by Rosemount and Apple Valley. , At this time the RAAA is not requesting any additional fields from the Lakeville Parks and Recreation Department, as the future needs of the RAAA are being addressed by Rosemount, Apple Valley and Independent School District #196. Staff stated that league play at Bunker Hill Park was not desirable as it is a neighborhood park and not designed for league play with associated parking and facility needs. Apple Valley recently purchased 70 acres of land which will be developed into an athletic complex. A list of Park Bond referendum ideas was distributed to task force members, including estimated costs. Kevin Illa suggested that at the next meeting the task force break down into small groups to discuss the bond referendum ideas. The groups can then gather to discuss issues and suggestions raised by each of the small groups. Steve Michaud used Aronson Park as an example of a large tract of land beingg developed for multipurpose uses and various sports existing harmoniously. It is the intent of the Parks and Recreation Dept. to continue to work cooperatively with the school districts to develop available lands when appropriate to meet the needs of the various athletic groups. It was also pointed out that when athletic facilities can be built near schools, land and money can be saved by sharing facilities such as restrooms and parking lots. Task force member Gene Stimson asked about purchasingg land for future use, possibly outside the urban service area. This possibility willl~e addressed. Wally Potter commented that the bond referendum amount should be enough to cover needs as they are determined. Chair Kevin Illa discussed the agenda for the next meetin a The next Park Bond Referendum Task Force meeting will be held on February 24, 1994 at 7:00 PM. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM. Respectfully submitted, ud Ryan, Recor g ecretary jr