The next item on our agenda is the rule call.

We'll start with you.

Martin Corneck, uh Ward 1.

Cindy Martin Point.

Mark Builderback Ward 4.

Mark, oh, I forgot.

I know yours on the city council.

It's hard to Paul Marino Ward 2.

I said wrong sentence.

Okay, thank you.

And you are very good at the larger than very long-term too.

Um actually is the approval of the minutes, so maybe uh maybe that the questions and changes with regard to the minutes like that.

Saying none.

So approving.

Move approval.

Mark is a second.

Becky, all papers say aye.

Aye.

I motion.

Next up our agenda is the order of the agenda.

We have a special guest tonight.

Um we have uh Michelle from the Michelle Snyder from the Minnesota Arts and Recreation Association here today to present the city work and award.

She's been here before.

So Michelle, do you want to go ahead?

Certainly.

President Newman and Commissioners.

Um my name is Michelle Snyder.

I work for Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, which is a nonprofit membership-based association representing the industry across the state.

We've got a competitive awards of excellence program, and it recognizes outstanding projects in different categories, and one including the parking facility.

So on behalf of our Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, I'd like to present you and your commission and your wonderful department, the MRK Award of Excellence for your soldiers field memorial park improvements project.

Well, thank you very much.

Okay, well here.

So unless there's any other requests to change the order of the agenda.

We move on to our open comment period.

Uh we always make some what the guidelines are for the open comment period.

It's limited to 20 minutes.

Speaker may speak up to two minutes until the 20 minutes period is exhausted.

Speakers may only speak one time uh per calendar run.

Items on the agenda for public hearing do not be discussed during open cabinet.

Matters currently under negotiation, limitation of later personnel will not be discussed in open account.

Uh with that, Kelly, I see we have three people on our list.

Okay, thank you for getting the list done.

Uh the first is Mike.

Uh Strong.

Yeah.

Okay.

You can be on the end of the report or along the line there anywhere you want.

Thank you.

Proceed whenever you're willing to go.

Yeah, so we can see about these things.

My name is Mike Eggers.

Uh I'm reading a letter on behalf of the Zumbo Valley Autobahn Society.

And this is a follow-on letter to our main five-letter rochester is growing rapidly, and the growth brings a real opportunity as new parks are built and expecting ones are upgraded.

We have chance of design with that wildlife habitat in mind.

We hope the board will take full advantage of this opportunity.

Uh need is urgent.

The Minnesota DNR reports 25 27% of our wildlife species face serious population trend.

Okay, so um I add to that.

And this data, I believe I hold from 2015.

So it's not going to be any better today.

Habitat loss is the primary driver in urban green space, if design intentionally is one of the most practical tools we have to reverse that trend.

Maintaining a biodiverse functioning ecology is essential for a healthy environment, healthy ecosystems, filter and absorb water and support pollinators that much of our food supply depends upon.

Diverse uh ecosystems are also more resistant to temperature and rainfall which streams.

Uh resilience that becomes more important every year.

The longer we delay, the harder and more costly restoration becomes.

Our city has a responsibility to a citizens and to the next generation to act now rather than to pass a larger problem forward.

Our recommendation is straightforward.

These city parks should include dedicated natural areas featuring a variety of habitat types, habitat types suited to the site, a full sun area with prairie adopted plants, what support pollinators.

A shaded area with native understory plants supports a different suite of species entirely, where sites uh conditions allow additional habitat sites could include a rain garden or other what area with moisture-loving natives or a drier rocky area that mimics upland conditions and supports yet.

Uh another community of plants and insects.

Durp gut signage in these areas would help residents understand what they're seeing and why it matters, turning a park visit into a learning experience.

This is community benefit beyond the parks themselves.

When residents see native landscaping well done in a public space, many are inspired to try it on their own properties to support that to say should actively seek out local uh sources of native plants, throwing that supply benefits homeowners who want to make the same changes at home.

Uh ZBAS or Summer Valley Audubon Society welcomes the opportunity to discuss these recommendations for thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

We usually don't answer me when the big issue though, but uh I guess one thing that could happen is our staff could contact you a little uh for meeting your YouTube or tell them what you're what you're concerned about.

Um yes, my emails on here and I pass the letter out to everyone.

Okay, all right.

So yeah, please do contact.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Um the next one is Amy Essenger.

That's correct.

Probably got it.

Hi, my name is Amy Isinger, and I'm a curler, and so I'm here just as one representative of many of our representatives of uh the Crowling group.

Um, I know we're looking to get a designated area, and being a new curler, uh, when I retired, I decided to something I wanted to do.

We've seen it on the Olympics.

And so, you know, I joined the club.

And you know, one thing I want to say is that you know, in our current environment, you know, with social media, people can feel isolated.

I don't care if you're young, I don't care if you're old or elderly over the age of 65.

Um, this really can provide people just another outlet, and especially with our winters.

Um, not only that, but we have the learn to curls where we're exposing different people to the sports.

And also we've seen that different companies, um, even like Mayo Clinic, their um orthopedics when they were having people come in for their um fellowship, that was a team building or a way for them to be exposed, and they came to these learn to curl.

So I think it really provides not only different companies the ability to be exposed, but it's it can be a family thing, and really we want to try to build from young on up.

And all I could say is, you know, no matter how old you're never too old to try it.

And I have just found that it's been a real social outlet for myself, and I've just met a lot of great people that even that socialism goes beyond just getting together to curl.

And I just see a real um opportunity for our club to grow and having a designated um facility, which is able for us to grow that, let alone um I know Casey will talk more, but we can all put in um we all we already have some bonds fields, but we can be able to do that more.

And so that's why I'm here as just a member of the club, just to really share what I think an important thing this can be for um our community.

Okay, thank you very much.

I want to tell you a story.

I grew up in Winnipeg behind my fence was the curling club I've known curling my whole life when I was in high school my brother became the ice maker at the curling club I got to know a lot more.

In fact he I I think he got me in trouble in science class when our professor said that when water freezes it freezes level and I said tell that to an ice maker and then I was I was called out of classroom.

When I came to Rochester it took me a while to get to know folks in the community I know a lot of church people because when you're a pastor you meet a lot of people um and they're not supposed to be your best friends I know my in-laws very well um I really started to find friends when I started curling again and I I think that it's such a great sport I have no coordination I mean the fact that I didn't trip on one of these people coming up here is a miracle and I can curl no offense to those of you who are really good at it like it does take skill um I don't have a lot of it I can curl I can have fun I can feel successful.

It's one of those things that is great for all ages like we just heard and so I just wanted to speak up in support of the club.

When we curl on hockey ice it is not real um it's not the real deal a designated facility would make us a curling city and right now we have a funky little club that operates out of the rec center but it would really change things that we had designated thank you very much the next item on our is the item 5a the parks and recreation department budget reports maybe does anybody have any questions or both you have any additional or radio any questions from the board um the monthly reports yeah I would just make a comment uh the word the report under uh there about putting uh we ad well at the point okay well thank you for it see more questions we'll receive fire quality here's someone uh a couple things to add just that relate to the few items in the report um wanted to share that we will be going to city council or the study session Monday and we'll be discussing the future of mail field and the that entire campus uh it was understood that once we left that facility uh our maintenance facility transition to the uh new service center the small area plan would be conducted to uh take into account the future of the entire site that future will include retaining some park plan and we'll be talking about the future baseball at that site with the new sports complex are coming online and the honkers um leaving um uh mail field and looking to develop our own site we now have capacity to work all the demand for baseball that was once that mail fields will be making some recommendation that after the 27 season we've no longer operated the the field that's a recommendation we'll be making and uh nothing will be final of the study session we're just getting that in front of council so they can be aware of planning and get their feedback on that uh community development will also be part of that presentation and then the other um reminder I think Gary um mentioned it uh we will be having an opening ceremony for the silver like pool tomorrow at 11 a.m and uh just want to remind you and everyone here that's uh that uh you're welcome to attend okay Paul any other information on your reports seeing none but I don't think we have anything as old business uh we have seven which is our monthly build so I think questions or information you need to provide us all the way so I think we're gonna state nothing to surprise me uh we're normal for this time here okay no questions is there a motion to approve all right so my Marty is our second second all papers say aye motion pass you extended on the agenda is the receiving the financial format for monthly reports we didn't know we have to for the end of the year uh are there any questions on the on the road or you're gonna tell us about any of uh no point uh I I will say the weather has not been our friend on the golf course this year so we're other if you track uh year to year comparison we're just behind this year uh it's way too early to be too concerned about that because we have the entire season ahead of us but we just want to be aware as we look at that so

Or you have anything tell us about any of the uh uh no point uh I I will say that weather has not been our friend on the golf course this year.

So we're like you track uh year to year comparison we're a little behind this year.

Uh it's way too early to be too concerned about that because we have the entire season ahead of us because we want to be aware as you look at that.

So that's let's go back.

Any other questions of anybody?

See none, then we'll just receive and file the monthly financial performance report.

The next item on our agenda when we have our consent agenda three items on there.

Uh we've got Rochester Roading Club of Cascade Lake, Zero Lake Skip Public Expansion and the Cimarron Park bookmaker replacement.

Are those any of those items that board members want to pull for the uh individual this discussion?

I'd like to see HC.

Okay, like you want to step on the similar part placement under any other items.

Uh seeing none, is there a motion to approve items eight A and 8B?

So move party, is there a second?

Second.

So the Nidic all in favor say aye.

Umanimous are you have some questions on the simulator?

Yeah, just a question, a couple questions.

Um is this one picture in the park?

Is that pretty accurate what what it's gonna be or general render, but yes.

Okay.

Um I know I say this a lot, but we're gonna make carrots to sit under any bench.

Yeah, benches exist for now, yeah.

And those are gonna say that.

Yeah, we will put you for that.

And then I don't see any additional shade elements.

It didn't look like the existing trees would offer any shade, or is there any which you know didn't seem to be any shade on the movie?

Oh, that's planned, yes.

That's correct.

Okay.

By the way, this we might need some more operations uh supervisor.

Okay, so when I go through parks uh that are adjacent to trails, I look to see first bike racks.

Um is this adjacent to a trail and other bike racks?

It's not adjacent to a trail.

Okay, or it's a pathway that does lead to it accessibility.

Um I mean, for example, I I come through Bear Creek Park and uh it's right on the trail of the plate on is adjacent to the trail, but there's no bike rack, so it doesn't encourage folks to get their bike.

Okay, so noted bike bike.

Two comments for you.

I think that there's um two camps of thought on bike racks, and one is that they are great to have um on our community parks where people do take a bike and walk and drive to.

Um, but we do find bike rates are not always used when they're right there, so there's a challenge of do you put them there?

They sit there not be used, or you put them there when you find out there is a need for them.

So that's part of the the catch when you start looking at infrastructure inputs.

The other example that's similar is the new part, uh the new playground that went in at Silver Lake.

And there are bike racks there in the bike racks are all yes.

So I I was saying in Bear Creek are similar layout, and it's right in fact.

Yeah, and I think we can keep monitoring that to see if there are bikers laying around and if we put a bike right here on a temporary basis.

Yeah, so five seconds.

Okay, that's good to know.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other questions on the park equivalent item?

Is there a motion to approve?

Uh-huh.

Sending a second.

All favor say aye.

Aye.

So we've had item 9A at the beginning of our meeting.

Uh item nine we have to business is the game haven't regional park curling facility.

Uh were we starting off with a presentation all by the curly one?

Uh my list together.

Okay, I'll follow these.

Yeah, thank thank you very much for that introduction.

I think you know, the part of the goal here when we met with curling years years ago, I guess now, it's been uh it's been quite a while.

Is they wanted to find a site in Rochester they've checked out different locations, both public sites that we manage as well as other private sites, and they keep kind of gravitating back towards our sites.

Um, obviously, we backed you folks here earlier at Soldiers Field, and that was dismissed as being a location for curling.

And have landed at uh game even part for that operation.

So with that, we'll turn over to Casey, and I can bring up Ruby's presentation.

So thank you again for the opportunity to hear us out and be with us today.

Um, we're excited to continue this discussion around a dedicated curling facility partnership.

I'm KC Ackerman, I'm the president of the Rochester.

Um, this presentation is intended to provide an overview of who we are, why there is a need for dedicated curling space in Rochester, and how the facility can benefit the broader community, and how this project could also align with Rochester's long-term recreation vision.

Our goal is simply not to build a curling facility, but to create a long-term community recreational asset that complements the future of game for them.

Well about us introduction.

Uh, we were founded in 2017 as a nonprofit organization with the goal of bringing the current to Rochester.

Even with our very limited ICE access, the club has grown to over 150 active members, which reflects our strong growing interest in curling within Rochester area.

Our programming includes leagues, youth curling, learn to curl events, bounce fields, and other community focused programming.

Curling is a unique sport that was mentioned before because it is truly lifelong and intergenerational.

Um, you can have teams that have four different generations all playing together on the same team.

It is accessible to people for many skills, uh, abilities, and uh ages, and it also creates strong social skills and community and connections.

Despite our current limitations, participation and interest continue to grow.

We believe there is a significant opportunity to expand recreation access and community engagement engagement through a dedicated facility.

So the header of this one kind of says it all, Rochester is one of the large cities in the region without a dedicated facility.

Today, many Rochester residents regularly travel up to two hours to run way to access dedicated curling ice and surrounding community communities.

Those travel distance creates barriers for families, youth participation, beginners, and long overall the long-term growth.

Meanwhile, dedicated curling facilities already exist throughout much of the surrounding region.

Given Rochester's size, regional role, and growing recreation base, we believe that Rochester is a natural fit for the next dedicated facility.

A local facility would provide local accessibility, support in use development, strengthen recreational opportunities, and allow Rochester to host regional and national events, which then bring in additional visitors.

Current limitations.

So first we do want to acknowledge and we want to show appreciation for our current partnership with the ice access that is allowed to curl our club to where we are today after breakfast at the Rec Center.

However, um, as was mentioned, Urina ICE does create significant long-term limitations.

Currently, we are limited primarily to curl on Sundays and on Wednesday evening ice time, which effectively caps our membership and program capacity.

With that, we estimate roughly what the amount of ice time we get, the amount of time we're profit to actually be able to play on it.

It really limits our membership to 125 members.

We can exceed that because we've tried to make local rules.

Um and a lot of our members sign up to be members, but then opt to not play together members that ice time so that they can learn and join in.

One good example is this past season.

Um we started at youth week, and by the springtime that actually surpassed our capacity.

Um we actually expanded that capacity so that we weren't able to turn anyone away because we do want our youth to get involved and learn this nice sport.

So even with that limited ice access, we're already seeing strong momentum in youth and beginner participation.

Shared arena ice also creates challenges for consistent curling and player development.

These limitations impact beginner retention, youth programming, competitive development, and our ability to host larger regional events.

So a dedicated facility uh would dramatically improve those conditions.

So our proposal is for up to 31,000 square foot six-sheet dedicated curling facility at Human Penn Park.

The facility would curl include curling ice, a warm room for gathering space, a prep support kitchen and bar areas, locker rooms, theming areas, and operational support space.

The facility is APA would be ADA compliant and accessible for all ages and abilities.

And importantly, this concept is intended to be community oriented and compatible with broader recreational use.

We believe game human is a strong fit as it aligns with the recreation focused development, year-round activation, and long-term community recreational planning.

While the primary purpose of this facility is dedicated ice, we also want this building to create opportunities for broader community use.

This is not envisioned as a full-time staff community, but typically with a full-time volunteer base.

So rather this facility would provide flexible and event based or opportunities depending on scheduling and operational capacity.

So both potential uses could include community gatherings, meetings, youth and community events, team building activities, small rentals, and warming space during park events.

This would essentially create in your shelter.

And I don't think there's one on as help as this.

So this does expand your shelter capabilities really far down.

So the facility would help further activate game haven during the winter months, and it provides that warming space that currently isn't available.

I know that's in some long-term planning, but this would be good, some good introductory phases for that.

More broadly, the need for winter um the more the need for expanded winter recreational opportunities in Rochester was identified during earlier community and engagement, including Destination Medical Center planning.

This dedicated facility helps address the gap by creating additional year-round recreational and indoor community gathering space during Rochester in August season.

In terms of the economic impact, uh dedicated curling facilities often generate local economic activity through tournaments, events, and visitation.

So if you hear the term Bonchfield, that's a tournament.

Visitors support local businesses as well, such as hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation, and entertainment.

Visitor spending figures here are shown from the USA Curl and Economic Impact Study, and that was conducted by CSL International.

Beyond that economic impact, curling also creates broader community benefits that include volunteer engagement, youth development, community pride, and healthy year-round activity opportunities.

Most each regional events can also help bring Rochester to the winter during winter months and support broader recreational tourism.

In addition, we want to point out that USA Curling has provided a letter of intent, expressing interest in hosting a national event in Rochester within the first few years of us opening doors.

This type of event would bring in visitors, hotel stays, restaurant activity, and regional visibility.

So that impact is economic and community-oriented.

In terms of the financial cost, uh overall, the total project is at this time approximately we're estimated about six and a half million dollars.

The proposed funding model is intentionally diversified and conservative.

We would lead fundraising, facility construction, aulations, and ongoing building maintenance.

Revenue sources, once built, would include memberships, needs, events, rentals, and other uh local community sponsorships.

The club is also planning for long-term operating reserves and sustainable financial planning.

So the proposal partnership with Parks and REC is centered around long-term partnership, recreational integration, and coordination with the broader family of envision.

This is intended to be collaborative public community partnership where each side contributes to our different strengths.

So, in terms of timeline, uh it is conceptual and is intended to show the general phase progression of this project.

The product process would include targetship discussions with this group and working with everyone else, fundraising, design, engineering, of course, the additional approvals, and eventually reconstruction.

And the timeline will ultimately depend on the partnership alignment, fundraising progress, and design coordination and overall approval processes.

So no shovels on the ground until we reach a certain amount, since that is the chunk of change that we have to bring forward.

So in closing, this project is more than a curling facility.

It's about expanded recreational opportunities, strengthening community connection, supporting youth development, creating year-round activation, and investing in Rochester's future.

We believe that the concept aligns strongly with long-term recreational vision and game human and the broader Rochester community.

So they've got your consideration and the opportunity to continue these partnership discussions.

We look forward to continuing this discussion.

Thank you.

Thank you very good forward.

Um they're asking for directing parking rank to negotiate terms and conditions with the curly above to law facility.

I was just gonna say this very same thing.

We're looking for your direction on that.

Um, obviously, we went through feasibility report earlier on, we looked at Soldiers Field.

This is a great secondary site that we believed from a staff perspective.

So again, we're pushing this forward now together with the curly club, I think is a good idea.

We'll say I don't know how many of you I don't think we have it that it's a really nice location where they've got this product for I would think.

So one other question uh Mark, you want to go first?

Um first of all, I would just kind of I'm um impressed with the proposal.

So I've wanna help push this forward.

My question though is uh game haven't accessibility to the whole community.

Um is there a plus for uh there is a gonna be a bus route that would go to game haven't about 30% of the population is that right?

And so how do you make it accessible to folks that don't own cars or can't drive?

So a great question on overall accessibility using our business system.

Uh I've had conversation with a Franklin folks in the past about getting access to our parks.

They made a commitment over time to get access to our major facilities again, Soldiers Field, game agency, uh Ori Hill, those popular parks have have a big driving and a big benefit for our community.

So they have a long-term goal for that.

Obviously, they've got like a PD goals along with that for uh the transit system back on line for rapid transit downtown, etc.

So again, it'll be a long-term conversation with them, but that is one of their goals.

Okay.

Um number one, I really like the idea of a dedicated building.

Number two, I think Game Haven Park is a great place to put it.

The fact is it's not that far away from anything when you really think about it when you look at shops on Maine.

You've got hotels, you've got restaurants, uh, would it help activate that as well as your report?

Was really well done.

See, I think when you talk about activation, and when you start looking at Rochester in the future, um, we can't look at Rochester being a couple years, one or two years, and that's our window.

Our ideas needed to be looking out to the future, and I think this really does.

There's great opportunities there.

It's a part this kind of improvement idea, this kind of development would help uh give Game Haven more notoriety than it has now.

It make more things go there.

I mean, think of the now.

Most people realize we have the hill for um tubing and you know a little cross-country skiing in the summer.

You've got archery, you've got the fishing, you've got the trail, the BMX trails that we use with the council.

I think this is a great place to go uh with this.

I think it's a nice idea.

I think it's looking into the future.

I think even in the long run, if you have to expand because people are ploting to your facility and they want to keep using it and using it.

Here's an opportunity that we have the place that there's a world known for that quick UP use for expansion.

I like the idea for Warren House that activates more of the scalp things and other activations for people to use in the winter.

So I really think your report, Casey, was very well done, and uh I appreciate a nice support that we continue work toward uh partnership to move it towards the chat.

I am super supportive.

I um think it's excellent.

It is unfortunate that it is one thing as far away from is the north side of town.

Um but um but that hasn't stopped mountain biking too much and um other sports that have congregated there.

There's lots of space.

Uh frankly, I think that 31,000 square feet of indoor space for less than 65 million dollars.

I think it should receive consideration for funding, it seems like a better value than 65 million dollars for outdoor space only.

Um I would think that the question is always asked how much do we subsidize things and with indoor space being in a premium, especially if the bubble goes away.

Um I think we need all the indoor space we can get, and I think that the city should kick in some money or something.

That's my not that I have control over that, but that's my two cents.

I saw I don't any other questions or comments from the board members.

Yeah, okay.

Um the actual ask bike is is basically for them to get some sort of a land lease and also parking was really our uh the other thing they're looking at, or yeah, yeah.

I'm gonna bring up a map here, and early folks have not seen this map either, but I did it here so much for that map.

Um basically they had a layout.

Let me go to that map here.

They provide we can talk from that just real briefly.

So they've got the building shown as it's shown right now.

Um, we actually have as part of our master planning another role of parking right up in this area.

So we'd be looking to talk with them and say, push this building back a pure further.

And again, a future chalet, we could sit right here, kind of parallel with what they've got proposed as well.

These areas right through here are planned for parking right now.

I think as part of their project, we're gonna say you should probably build this park in here.

It's about 45 stalls, um, very easily built as part of that project.

And again, deferring the future parking to some future phase that we would help participate in.

So again, we'll have some future cost participation in this project.

That could be a grant supportive activity or through our CIP program.

Next question.

Anyone have a question?

What happens in two years and six and a half million dollars is that raised?

And you're committed to the project.

Great question.

Isn't it?

It is.

So as part of our agreement, we'll have a provision in there that we will not start dig the ground until we have a certain commitment by the organization, whether it's 70% or 75%, or pick that number.

Um, and basically they'll say, okay, because they don't want to have the same issue that you just raise it either.

They want to be successful in this process.

This is we do.

If they are successful in raising those amount of funds, we would say yes, we'll move up allow some to move forward.

Again, the last five percent or 25% pick that number.

Um, they'll continue raising those funds, and typically when you start building construction, more funds will start rolling because they see the the outcome's gonna happen for sure.

Um there, there are always is always risk, but we will address that in the agreement itself.

You'll you'll see that agreement come back to you.

All right.

I mean, the concept, no no argument.

You know, it's fantastic.

And I come from a community that had a good curling uh club and facility.

Uh the thing that you know, um when I initially reviewed it and I looked at it as all right, you have six and a half million dollars.

It's a very, very ambitious project.

You have 150 members at this time uh to pursue this.

And if I'm gonna use an analogy here, your pickleball association here in uh Rochester has 500 members, and they tackled a 200,000 liability.

Um and they're having you know some difficulty in uh being able to do that.

It's again, they look at it as a very ambitious situation.

So when you come to the table at six and a half million, um, again, that the idea of the facility, what you're intending, and all of that, I have no argument with it's the monetary issue and our legal commitment uh to that.

And uh I think that uh we can certainly look at it as a concept that we uh approve of and endorse and embrace, but I do think that on the financial side of that coin, uh we have to be somewhat cautious.

I saw in the document where it said, well, at 75% will move ahead.

Well, that sounds like a good number, but that means 25% of that money isn't committed anywhere unless you have a bridge alone through a bank or something like that.

Uh I'm wondering if realistically that should be 80 or 85 percent uh before you move on such an ambitious project.

Again, the project is is great.

If we can do it, that's wonderful.

Uh, but I do think that we need uh make sure that you know from a legal point of view that we are covered on that kind of an endeavor.

I would say, sorry, no, well, that doesn't mean I don't support it.

I do support it.

But I would say that uh if I may, that you aren't the only one that has those financial concerns and the concerns about back stopping about this kind of issue.

Um our administration team is discussing about that, our finance team will be concerned about that, our our insurance team.

Everybody is making sure that we want to do this right and be successful at it.

So we are going as you know, eyes blinded, we we are eyes wide open.

We understand the risks that are going forward in that agreement.

We'll talk about with our city attorney's team as well to make sure it's backstops are there.

Let's say uh the fundraising takes a lot longer than they were hoping.

Um spot accounting and sit idle for an extra two, three years.

Does that change any of the other planning for the park or does it include other uses of the park?

It does not.

Um because we had the chalet in this very location, it was definitely for building a subsort.

Now the scale of this is much larger than that, but the space that allocation is still very similar.

Um, I would say that if that were the case and things did slow down, I've not talked to curly about this, but one idea is to do outdoor curling as well.

That was talked about earlier on years ago too to start someplace with outdoor curling.

And that happens elsewhere around the country too.

It's outdoor curling to start with, and you build that up.

So that may be a possibility to start there as well.

So I turned Casey don't suit.

I like the idea of outdoor curling.

We do that little thistle.

It's very limited time because it's very limited.

I would say if if we're if we're under a timeline, we would probably scale this project back and maybe four sheets with the hope to eventually expand.

That would cut the cost down.

Some of the cost two um is more of uh a feature land on that too.

So I think like the highlighted yellow parts are more of like uh like that bar and locker rooms, those are more of like uh we'll build it out as we go.

Um, and then in terms of the building material, it'd be more of like the metal, like uh like the lower cost um kind of materials to help forward to help achieve our goal.

This is this is like an exploratory thing with our staff will work with them on an agreement.

I will say the cost is always gonna be the biggest concern both for you and for us, and uh so that is something that we'll have to watch very carefully.

And it's in the first one.

I also wanted to ask why are we looking at that location instead of uh writing off of uh 48th Street or 101, kind of a more commercial area toward kind of just higher visibility, doing it along our access gives us a little more control over it, so I can see that, but like from a standpoint of it's already a standalone facility.

Well, we put it in more commercial area on the by 48th Street and bridge or channel.

Bridget Street, same branches, same bridges.

Uh I'll answer that question two ways.

One is that the access point we have if I can map up here down to that location.

There we go.

So here's our game aven park and this part of it.

Here's our parking area, the the complex or this the curling location be up in this area.

You're talking placing something down here.

The vast majority of this area is wetlands and non-buildable.

There's no utilities down there, no sewer, no water, nothing.

All of that infrastructure is planned to be up here.

Uh, it actually is the sewer and water right here currently.

So again, just right next to the building.

That was planned that way for our basic master planning efforts of where we're gonna uh build up the site.

But when they updated 101, they didn't put electrical.

I mean, I know there's no access into the park, but well, you may have electrical, uh in fact, there is no electrical here right now either.

So there's no infrastructure at this location.

Okay, besides being non-buildable.

Yeah, I mean the non-buildable, I kind of was questioning that on the lower half.

Yeah, just seems like a little better spot, but I'm supporting either way.

I'm just curious.

Yeah.

I was uh just for my understanding awareness.

What's our history of partnerships like this, especially with this kind of dollar amounts tied to it?

Um, I would say that we've got several partnerships we can point to that are very successful.

Youth hockey association, it's a big organization, but they've raised lots and lots of money over the years.

Ben probably hasn't number what that is, it's probably six million dollars overall.

The second to that is probably quarry hill.

They've raised about two and a half to three million dollars.

Um tennis center has raised probably close to a million dollars over the years.

So again, they're raising big dollar amounts uh for their particular uh projects successfully now.

Again, over time, very successful, immediate short-term areas.

I think less successful, except for hockey, which is has poll tabs and some other sources they've got money coming from.

Any other questions from the board?

Any other comments from Paul or Mike?

This point then, no.

We'll bring if you're if you agree with this, we'll bring this back to you at some point.

And as I said, you're gonna have to get the finance of our attorney that's going to be invoked in for sure.

Correct.

So uh but this point in time the action is uh directed in Rochester Rack team to go shape terms and convention with coming from the Rochester Law curling facility to be constructed within the Navy Regional Park at the site that you're showing.

Um does anyone want to make a motion on that?

Uh um move approval.

Martin, is there a second?

Second, chat second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye unanimously.

Thank you.

Okay, if you folks and then the next item on our agenda, and we've just your financial policy upgrades.

They're all good starting with my pickets together.

Um we always have our uh since we've been on the creative agency.

We need to move uh policies and updates need to happen in order to maintain that.

Um I don't know.

Um at some point the incentive to stay accredited kind of goes away and we just start thinking uh like uh uh accredited, you know, uh quality agency that these are the things we should be doing anyway.

And that's kind of how this came to be.

Um the finance department concluded comprehensive updates policies.

Uh Mike was in that on our agenda to uh here we have it on the record as uh board and be there to review the policies, and so we're uh that uh were you overview anything you want to do that?

I think just two comments.

One is that this is an overall citywide policy that that applies to not just department department, but every department in the city of Rochester.

So there are some nuances.

That's number one.

Number two is there's nuances that we deal with on a daily basis that you guys are involved with you as a board for financial approvals and that that are not covered by this policy.

So we still haven't used the go-to as far as those other things that are required for us.

Okay, probably one comment for those of you who don't look three, I guess.

City Rochester has a triple A bond rating, which means that when you issue bonds for projects, you get the lowest possible register of any city.

And we've had that since the mid-1970s.

I think we're either the the longest city in Minnesota continuously have it or in the top five.

Uh in addition, annually, all the city budgets, including old budget for architect rent, are audited by and auditing firm.

And there's a report made annually to the mayor and council on to have that in which we have you could uh see the two if you'd like for our operation.

But uh, we have great confidence in our finance staff.

Goes back to we have city administrators seeing both from 1978 through 2017, and our finance director Paul Yutesh was around not quite that long, but a long time.

But they've had our finances in top shape for a long time and saved the city countless millions of dollars in going out for contracts, and our finance department does a good job of managing the cost.

But that's just a little background.

So what policies they come up with will be very good, and I think we'll be very um we should follow those problems if it will happen.

So um questions regarding that.

Otherwise, we'd need a motion, I believe, to authorize the implementation of the policies by your department uh acceptance by the council.

There are a motion to that still moved.

Mark, is there a second?

Second, Becky all the paper say hi.

Ask unanimously okay.

Um the next item on the agenda is our other shipments.

I don't know of any other business other than the meeting.

Anybody got any other business mark?

Um there came up earlier in that rank that's out there that is in really bad shape.

It is.

And I'd like to I just want to bring it to somebody's attention so we can address it because it looks really bad and actually looks like a hazard.

If I could um we are well aware of the condition of that rank.

Uh we have reached out to actually pick up a cross group to see if they want to have that at their spot uh to kind of uh the old Universal RV marine now, which is Beniki construction building.

And we have wait, we're waiting that answer right now.

If they do want to have that, we'll take it out of that location and move it over to that uh site, and they'll be rehabbed at that point in time.

If they do not, it'll be removed and not relocated.

Thank you.

Didn't say some fixes on that though.

We did some temporary fixes this past summer because uh lacrosse wanted to use it again.

So through partnership, they did some work and we did some work just to get it by for a season or so.

It's pretty beat up this we have there all day.

Yeah, I screamed it on it two years ago, and well the the end boards are all broken or any other questions.

I have a couple.

Uh one was I know the uh um who has this our only personal in the office and they're opening this here this weekend.

So like do we know how many uh so no?

We've sold 40 season passes so far as of saying the family ones or the individuals are just totally well.

So that's total.

So yeah, there's several of them families where they've gotten a cascading discount on them.

Yes.

Okay, but 402.

Okay, good.

Um then the second one was um the Lincolnshire slash pad when it opens, when it was supposed to open it, didn't really work.

Um is there something that we can do maybe next year to avoid so that whatever the broken maybe is checked you guys before or something.

Well we did quite a bit of that prior to opening and it was uh uh unavoidable, but we got kind of running as soon as we could think that's to say whenever you have mechanical things sitting over winter, you get them up and running, you start putting pressure on everything, it can't blow something out, which is what happened here.

Yeah, but the a newer splash pad or an old pool or old splash pad, things do happen, we progress as quickly as we can.

Okay, so that that was done though beforehand.

It was, yes.

The RT was up getting it all ready prepped for opening and they had it all set and things did not work out as planned.

Yeah, okay.

The other question mark McCoy splash.

Yes, uh, we are currently waiting on a variance request from the state health department.

Um, as you may or may not know, we had some challenge with the health department this past two years.

They keep changing regulations.

The code has stayed the same, but a person that was in place for about 30 years retired, and now you have different people out there making different interpretations, and it's now cascading a whole bunch of different regulations that we now do abide by and not just abide by planning ahead, but oh by the way, you need to comply with this new code or this new interpretation now after you built it.

So there's some things happening right now that we're still working towards.

So hopefully soon.

Any other questions?

Uh uh I don't know if we talked about this at the previous meeting or not, but I know both Paul and I I think are going for the meeting on July 7th.

So we were wondering if uh how people would feel and what do you want to remove that meeting to July 14th here on the 13th?

14th on the second sound.

Okay, uh okay.

I'm here.

So you are all you'll be here, yeah.

All right, well just if uh people already got this down then some like the other board members are all able to make it on your side.

Okay, okay.

And we'll just go more.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, it's fine by um paper quite if we have to make a motion on that.

I don't think we do.

Let's just go ahead and change our meeting, leave our meeting gate at July 7th.

Okay.

All right.

And that's it.

I mean, if there's no other any other questions, we're ready for a motion to adjourn.

Move to adjourn.

All papers say aye.

I motion approved.

Thank you all.

I wanted to mention what we think of the real quick on this.

We got a big award for soldier film avoidance uh park uh meeting.

And I wanted to mention, you know, I looked together wasn't around.

We're very familiar.

Yeah, and our and you had some other people that were very archery.

Thanks.

Okay.

Sorry.