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City of Hastings
Natural Resources and Recreation Commission Minutes
Parks & Recreation Conference Room
March 11, 2008 – 6:00 pm
1) Roll Call at 6 pm: Commissioners Miller, Rohloff, Schommer, Vandehoef and Vaughan, Parks and Recreation Director
Bernstein, Superintendent Smith. Lee Stoffel, a Hastings resident, was also in attendance.
Absent: Commissioner Nelson
2) The NRRC interviewed Hastings resident Dwight Scott for the open commissioner position.
3) Approved February meeting minutes. Motion by Rohloff. Seconded by Schommer. Passed unanimously.
4) Setting Agenda: “Visitor Center Meeting” was added to New Business. “46 & Pleasant Trail” and “Joint Powers” was
added to old business. Approved updated agenda. Motion by Rohloff. Seconded by Schommer. Passed unanimously.
5) Department Updates were passed out and reviewed. Updates were given on the arena floor construction. Vaughan asked if
staff has ever considered including a surcharge in the arena fees that could be set aside for future maintenance needs.
Bernstein will check on this possibility with the City’s Finance Department. Miller asked if the NRRC could see samples
of the turf options for the arena before it is purchased.
The Mississippi Boat Dock is expected to be installed in mid to late April. The Lake Isabel dock will also be delivered
soon. Bernstein has been disappointed in the expense of engineering costs and the delivery of this dock, although he is
pleased with the quality.
6) Mississippi River Overlook Update: Bernstein informed the NRRC that while the original estimate that went to Council for
this project was about $47,000 plus engineering costs, the lowest bid came in at around $57,000 plus engineering costs. In
an effort to reduce the cost, staff has removed some of the aesthetic features of the overlook and has been able to reduce the
cost to around $42,000 plus about $12,000 for engineering. An interpretive sign would also need to be added when the
project is complete and shouldn’t cost more than $1,200. Miller asked about the cement runway and the issues of flooding
and erosion. Smith replied that the consultant doesn’t feel that flooding would cause any damage to the cement and that
vegetation would be planted to reduce any erosion.
MOTION:
Miller motioned to proceed with the project per staff recommendations and cost reduction. Seconded by
Vandehoef. Passed unanimously.
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7) HFAC Logo: Since this is the 10 year anniversary for the Hastings Family Aquatic Center, staff felt that it would be a
good time to update the logo. A variety of designs from different sources were shown to the commissioners and a favorite
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was chosen. The commissioners asked what else was being done for the 10 year anniversary. Staff is planning a variety of
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new programs, the availability of birthday parties at the HFAC, and a 10 year celebration of some type.
8) New Business:
- Visitor Center Meeting – Bernstein gave a verbal report about the public input meeting that was held. He thanked the
participants from the NRRC who attended and reported that it was also very well attended by the public. A long list was
drafted of ideas that people wanted to have included in the Visitor Center, but throughout the process that list will be
narrowed down.
9) Old Business:
- 46 & Pleasant Trail – Both Bernstein and Smith verbally reported to the NRRC that our staff is working with Dakota
County to make it safer for the public to bike in the area of the Vermillion River and Cty Rd 46. The main point that is
being worked on is an underpass that would go under the Cty 46 Bridge Vermillion River crossing and connect to the
trail there. The proposed route was shown to the NRRC on a map.
- Joint Powers – Commissioners discussed the need to continue to include Joint Powers Agreement discussions at future
meetings.
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Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at City Hall.
Adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes submitted by: Kristin Behrens