00:00:03,400	Good Evening, Ladies and gentlemen, it is Thursday March 21st. This is the regularly scheduled meeting of the Bismarck Board of Park commissioners. I will call this meeting to order julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. jeske here, jordan here. Odell here. Zimmerman here. President Gilbertson here. The.

00:00:25,330	Next item on the agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you please stand and join me. To find the United states of America and to the Republic for which it stands One Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all. Item. Number three is a approval of the agenda. What are the wishes of the board.

00:00:55,330	So moved There is a motion by Comm. Jordan in a second by Comm. O’Dell. Is there any further discussion? Seeing non julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. Jeske, Jordan Odell zimmerman President gilbertson I item number four this month’s featured partners and programs with us today we have Doug wiles, the city forester with the Bismarck Forestry Department. Welcome. Thanks.

00:01:22,500	It’s nice to be here. Um, I. Don’t think I’ve met all of you guys. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve done this, but I’m Doug Wiles Forest Earth City Bismarck. I’ve been here for about nine years or so.

00:01:39,670	Um We’ve been in a partnership with parks and rec for about 49 years now, uh, 1975, I believe was the first was the first document that I’ve been able to find. Um and we we meaning the city we provide about 20% of our time to parks and rec every year. That’s our goal. Uh, this last year we were able to provide 18.3% of our time.

00:01:59,970	Um and that’s we do rotational pruning or regular maintenance throughout the parks. Uh, quite a bit of our time involves storm response or hazard removals or addressing hazards throughout the parks. And, then we do tree planting projects as well. Uh, this last year. Uh, for tree pruning. We prune 232 trees and parks.

00:02:19,070	We were able to prune all the way through Eagles Park north of town, So. We also prune parks that you you may not own. But. You are managing as well. So, uh, removals. We had 382 removals throughout the parks and we ground 100 and 15 stumps. We had a couple of tree planting projects.

00:02:38,500	Uh, the majority of the trees removed were in Sibley Park this last year, and we did that as part of a a grant opportunity that we have which I’ll discuss in a minute. Um The planting projects that we did. I’m gonna bring up one that was from 2022. Because I. Haven’t talked to you.

00:02:54,330	You all for very long for quite a while, but it was part of the C with Centennial celebration we had at New Generation Park. It was a really cool community projects. Uh, partnered with the boy Scouts with, uh, Rotary club parks and rec, Um, North Dakota Forest service.

00:03:13,600	We received a grant from them for that and then pray you landscaping was a was a stakeholder as well. And. We planted 100 and 58 trees as uh, to celebrate our 150th birthday and that was just an incredible project that we did.

00:03:32,470	Uh, this last year we planted about 100 and 20 trees and lions park and I don’t know if you have driven through Lions Park, uh over recent years, but there has been a lot of work that has been done by the forestry division and there a lot of elm trees have been removed and I don’t have the exact number, but it’s well over 100 mature elm trees have been removed from that part.

00:03:46,670	Uh, part of that is due to drought conditions in the park. Um or really dry conditions and then the other part of that is because of European elm scale, which is a an insect. That is Prolific during periods of dry weather.

00:04:02,770	So As, a result those trees were in decline, and we’ve had to remove quite a few, so they weren’t hazards in the park and then this last year, we were able to plant a lot. And. So if you haven’t seen that, or or paid attention to that next time you drive through, Um you’ll see new baby trees all over the park. It looks really nice. So. We’re really proud of that project. Um Do.

00:04:18,400	You have any questions about anything we’ve done in 23? Where I talk about 24. OK? Uh, this year. Um, I don’t know if you pay attention to forestry news or or a tree hugger, But you may have heard of emerald ash bore. Uh, that pest was found in Moorhead last year about a year ago.

00:04:38,530	So that’s big news for us in the forestry industry, because, uh, it’s a pest that will kill Every Ash tree that’s not protected. Uh, for us, at least on the city side that we currently have about 5800 ash trees on the boulevard for parks and rec. We don’t quite know what that means.

00:04:57,600	Uh, we don’t have a full inventory. I do have some numbers for you, Uh, Sibley Park has about 2400 ash trees. Saro Park has over 500 ash trees and Pioneer Park has over 400 ash trees. Now. Those are just trees that are in the maintained part of the parks.

00:05:13,070	You have a lot of areas that are natural that have quite a bit more ash. And that so the impacts are significant. So in 24. We’re really gonna try to focus on EAB preparedness. Uh, talking with Kevin and David.

00:05:38,270	Um Trying to figure out how we can be a little bit more, Uh Creative and how we’re Taken preventative action because 20% isn’t enough time for my staff to fully address parks, so trying to figure out how we can utilize staff and do some trainings with with parks and rec staff, so they can do some of that work will be really important. Um, to be better prepared when we do have the past.

00:05:51,770	Uh, one of the tricky things about Emerald Ash bore is that It’s often established for 4 to 5 years before we actually find the pest, and by that time the population is throughout an area and depending on where it is in the city, or where we find it that would have different impacts for parks and RECs. So if they find it along the river.

00:06:09,870	First, the impacts will be more severe in the action would have to be more aggressive rather if we found it on the east side of town where you have You, ash trees and parks.

00:06:29,970	Um So My staff at the end of last year, we started working through Sero Toma Park identifying ash trees that are in poor condition and start removing them and then in Sibley Park all the trees that we removed in preparation for the grant that we received, Uh, for tree planting. Um were all ash trees in that park, so we removed like I said.

00:06:47,900	100 and 20 ish 100 and 27 ash trees last year in Sibly, and we’re going to plant I wrote that number down. It was around 220. I think 100 and 90 or 100 and 90 trees in Sibley Park this spring, so that’s a huge planting project. Uh, for that park. Um, which is really good work. Um Do.

00:07:10,700	You have any questions about that? That’s That’s Our most significant project for this coming year? Comm. jeske President Gilbertson. I’m Doug. So it Protecting our parks. What can homeowners do in order cause I imagine that we’re not the only ones who have these types of trees. So what are homeowners doing Because. That’s a great way for this to spread as well. Yeah. That’s good question.

00:07:28,000	There’s There’s nothing really, that needs to be done right now because we don’t know that we have the pest, so it would be like taking medicine when you’re not sick.

00:07:43,300	Uh, but for residents when we do get the past or it is within 15, Miles is kind of the guideline that that we wanna tell people about it. You can inject Your ash trees with an insect insecticide and that will protect your tree. The insecticide is typically good for two years, sometimes three, depending on which brand you get. Um, but you would need to treat that tree for the rest of its life. Where once we get a AB, we will always have EAB.

00:08:02,930	Um So my advice to residents as I meet with them would be well, Let’s take a look at your ash tree. Is it one that is worth saving, Or is it one that you might consider removing now and replacing it with another tree so that you don’t lose it, you know, in a few years or 10

00:08:16,330	years or whenever we get the best, um So when I when I do those consults, That’s what I’m talking to them about is what’s evaluate. And let’s think about Is this something we wanna save as a sentimental for some reason.

00:08:33,330	Was it an Arbor Day tree when your kids were in school, you know those are all things that homeowners should consider before making a decision. Mhm. Mr zimmerman, President Gilbertson and Doug Uh, this project you mentioned for Sibley that will be done in 2024? Yes this spring zooming in the fall you we’re gonna do this one in the spring, OK? Yep.

00:08:55,200	The Wood when it’s cut is that I mean is that safe then for firewood or what do you What do? You do currently it’s fine. Yes. Um Sibley Park is using the ash wood for firewood for the park. I believe they sell that there so all the logs that were in good condition were were left at the park.

00:09:11,270	Thank you for going to process. Doug. My question would be that if it was found in Moorhead, what is typically the, um, the time period to advance from Morehead to to Bismarck. That’s a good question that we don’t really know the answer to, um it traveled 200 miles in one year to get to Moorhead. So.

00:09:33,730	It was in Sock Center got to Morehead was found at Morehead. I’m Sure it’s somewhere in between, as well. Um Usually we only travel great distances on a pile of wood or packing material or something like that.

00:09:49,830	So people going back and forth to lakes if they go to Minnesota, cut down some firewood, and they accidentally put a piece of ash wood in and then come across and bring it into North. Dakota is probably how that happened. Um, and probably how it would make a huge jump.

00:10:05,870	Um, we have Historical information about how other diseases have traveled like Dutch disease, and it took quite a number of years for it to make its way from South Dakota in North Dakota and across the state, So if it just were to naturally move, it would take quite a bit of time. But it’s probably not how it’s gonna be transferred across the state. Thank you. Mr zimmerman, Uh, President gilbertson. Doug.

00:10:25,000	Is there something else the district should Pa as we look at budgeting or I mean is this a and I’m sure you’ll you’ll work with David and kevin on that, But. Is this a major? Budget issue to be combating emerald Ashburn. It is and I can tell you what we’ve done at the city.

00:10:47,870	Um we were able to earmark funds. Um and set those aside for the initial first couple of years that way, because we don’t know when it’s gonna be here. It’s gonna be a surprise, so to have funds available, so if we need to start injecting trees right away, or hire a contractor or Uh, increase our staffing to to manage that,

00:11:04,870	whether that’s through removals right away or just injections right away to protect what it the the trees around. Um, the area where the insect is found, Um That’s something that we have done, and we’re investing in equipment that Um, makes it safer to remove the ash trees when they do have the have been

00:11:22,230	infested for a number of years, And. There’s a difference, Um, between The way in enrolled dashboard, The the pest kills an ash tree versus uh, Dutch arm disease like AAA disease that attacks the vascular system when The insect is in an ash tree for a number of years. It becomes extremely brittle because it Feeds in the cambium.

00:11:43,000	It cuts off the water supply to the top of the tree, and then it just dries out and becomes brittle. So when they fall, um they shatter tend to shatter and it throws whatever. So we have purchased a piece of equipment that makes it much safer to remove the trees. Um So.

00:11:59,630	We’ve done some things preemptively to try to be more prepared. Um, I do think it would be wise to, um as you’re getting into budget season and and Sasko next year begin to try to figure out a plan for how to manage it. And Kevin and I, Um, along with Dave have have been talking about this.

00:12:17,300	How. Can. We be more strategic to leverage the assets and the partnership that we have to to make parks more prepared. Thank you. Commissioners. Are there Any other questions, Doug or we didn’t mean to Uh, cut your presentation short. If You, didn’t no. Um I I.

00:12:40,500	It’s really a lot easier when you guys ask questions because I can go into greater detail. I was just here basically to let you guys know what we do, Uh, for with our partnership, and, um some of the ways that we’ve been serving serving you and how much time we actually spend and and that’s all kept track of very very, uh, in a lot of

00:12:58,100	detail. And if you have any questions or or would like to see more from forestry, please give me a call, and I’d be happy to talk and and see what we can do to help. We appreciate the partnership that, uh The district has with the Forestry Department and and the work that you guys do, And.

00:13:17,800	I mean I. I will correct you. I mean it’s I would say it’s 48 years because I’m also a 1975 model, and we’ll go by my birthday, which is at the end, so it’s not 40. Well, thank you for the correction. No, I. Just. Are there any other questions? Commissioners, So. Thank you, Doug? Yep Thank you very much.

00:13:39,270	Uh, the next item on the agenda is the dispositions of bids, and we have three of them tonight. The. First. One is the water lion project at Sir Toma Park, which, um, I think we’ve We’ve seen a couple of times.

00:14:03,270	So Susan is back, Uh, Susan Haslett with Apex Engineering, uh and the reading the last line of the thing is we will not get a better price. So Susan Let’s hear the good news. Um Yeah. You got a great price here. Take it. Um I’m Assuming. You’ve all read the memo. Maybe. So, the city of Bismarck went ahead and added the water line to their project. They’re they’ve awarded it to Basara.

00:14:31,000	And they’ve They’ve been working with bass Araba for years, so that’s A good thing. Um The bid price came in, um lower than our estimate, which is good. And then once you add the city, um, budget for construction administration and all that it’s still below our estimate, which is good.

00:14:52,400	Uh, On top of that the Dakota zoo is offering some cost share. The City is also, um, applying for a grant money from the state. And hopefully around 60%. So that will reduce your cost even more. Um, So by all means. Take it. Comm. Odell President Gilbertson. Thank you, Susan. Do.

00:15:19,530	We know when we’ll find out about the cost share if if it’s gonna be granted or not, Um, if I’m not mistaken, they’re going to be the State Water Commission is going to be looking at that in the next month or two, But. I don’t know for sure on that.

00:15:34,870	I can, um Give my career a call and find out So President gilbertson and Commissioners Comm. O’Dell, Uh, when I was my conversations with the city as they hope to find out by mid to late April on that Comm. zimmerman.

00:16:00,470	President Gilbertson, are we? So you’re recommending even to go ahead without knowing of the car share is that even without the cost there, you’re saving a lot of money. OK with the cost share, you’ll save even more money so And the timeline for this project. I believe they’re going to do all this this year. Yeah. There’s I mean this project is being coupled with a, um other city projects, so they’re gonna be going around town.

00:16:20,670	I don’t know the exact schedule as to when they’re going to do this project. So, but it will be this year. Thank you. Comm. jeske President gilbertson. This is directed more towards executive Director Cliff. Kevin has the, um Zubin made aware of these recent developments. President Gilbertson and Commissioners. Comm. Jesy? Yes.

00:16:42,430	I had a conversation with Terry Lincoln once we got these prices to let him know where we were sitting, um, that the city was going to approve this, and then our board would consider it at tonight’s meeting, and then I would let him know for sure after this meeting, OK, thank you. There any further questions. Comm. zimmerman.

00:17:02,130	Uh, President Gilbert is not a question, but a comment. Thank you for Sticking with this project. It seemed like, Yeah. We were up and down and Back and forth on the bidding for it, so it’ll be good to see and hopefully it won’t be a big disruption to the use of that part of the park.

00:17:21,330	They will provide temporary water during construction. So the, UM The amusement park there, and the the zoo will have water during construction. So good. Thank you. What are the wishes of the board. Mr jeske President gilbertson. I’ll make a motion that we approve the, um Did presented to us, Um Into, um Don’t make me say their name. Basa Basa RAA Excavating.

00:17:56,070	Um And. Uh, I don’t think I have to give the cost on that one because it’s contingent upon, um The ground, But yes, There is a motion by Comm. jeske. Is there a 2nd 2nd There’s a second by Comm. Zimmerman Is there any further discussion? John and kevin were OK with that motion the way it sits.

00:18:26,400	President Gilbertson Commissioners Comm. Jeske I. I think the motion would be to to approve the cost? At the, uh at the stated cost and then the and then obviously accept the Grant funding in the event that that was to be accepted. OK? What he said. Yeah.

00:18:53,730	I can I can amend my motion that we accept the bid from Basara excavating at the stated cost. And then, um If we receive the 60 per cent state reimbursement. Um, move forward with that. Correct correct. OK Thank you and the second was Comm. Zimmerman. Are you OK with that I will amend that second. Awesome any further discussion. Seen? No.

00:19:20,800	Julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. jeske, jordan. Alright Odell Zimmerman, President gilbertson. The. Next. One is the BSC Aquatic and Wellness Center pool deck project michael Vedder with JLG is here to review the bids with us. Um, and also included was the, um The proposed budget for the the project by finance director Kathy Feist. So, michael welcome.

00:19:54,000	Thank you, Um So. We have been working over the last couple of months with Kevin and his team to look at options to replace the the pool deck and some of the accessory spaces. Uh, the the the flooring on the pool deck. Um the old system is failing.

00:20:12,870	It has a kind of outlived its life span. Um and so we put together some drawings that had, um, a whole host of bids, or, um, an alternate for different flooring products. Um And after receiving the bids.

00:20:39,930	Uh, we would recommend, um, proceeding with the base bid, which is a, uh, a a concrete floor sealer with, um Uh, And added a texture in it, um, a slip resistant and then um, alternates 234 and five are some of the support spaces. The locker room showers. Um The hallway and family changing rooms, the community rooms and then some of the storage rooms. Comm. jordan.

00:21:11,000	I just have a question on the alternative one like and this is because I’m very naive and and don’t know anything, but, um, how important is that epoxy on the pool deck arena is that another layer of protection or It is I wouldn’t say it’s a A It is an added layer, but, um At this point.

00:21:32,430	I think it’s It’s sort of a matter of opinion on on the product so that that product that you put down is has a life span. Um, and then that product will need to get removed with grinders and you’d have to go through this whole thing again. Um, where is the The clear coat sealer with the slip resistant on it. The.

00:21:51,470	The reapplication process is a lot lot simpler. Um, so I think over the course of the period of time, you know, reapplying. That system is a little bit easier. Just so Or hearing you correctly, then the epoxy would be more of a, um What’s the word I’m looking for, Uh, For show a a turn back a better term aesthetic. Yes. Yes.

00:22:16,570	There’s. There’s some aesthetic value With that, um As well, OK? Thank you. Comm. Odell Gilbertson. Thank you So. What is the lifespan of that epoxy. 10 to 10 to 15 years. And. That’s about what you’re I think you’re on your 13 of what? You 14 He just answered my question. Thank you. Is there any further questions? Comm.

00:22:49,070	Zimmerman, President gilbertson and michael on the, uh And. Maybe our staff jump in here as well. The storage rooms. Why, uh I know, storage rooms get you know used to the floor as well. But As. An option is that Why. Are. We doing why we resurfacing a storage drill.

00:23:09,400	I think the goal and kevin you can jump in. But. The goal was to to support all the spaces that were touching the pool deck and kind of create the same seamless transition from pool deck to, um, you know, I.

00:23:27,530	I believe that probably some of the patrons of the pool will go in and out of that storage at points, so just creating a similar surface for where everyone is going in and out of the pool. President gilbertson and commissioners Comm. zimmerman.

00:23:43,600	So two of the things that we we, Uh, the spaces, we added as alternates for the community rooms where we have a lot of birthday parties and also the storage spaces, and so the community rooms you have kids going in there for birthday parties. It’s a tile surface, so it gets very, very slippery Once. There’s a little water on it. So that was was one of the projects. The storage rooms were added, and both that we have two storage rooms.

00:23:59,600	They both have equipment that our patrons use, whether it’s our swim teams swim club or people, uh, doing water exercise classes, so there’s equipment. There, so they’re going to get that equipment probably dry most times.

00:24:13,500	But when they come out of the pool, they’re wet and going in and taking, putting that equipment back, and so they’re going into those spaces just like they are on the pool deck, and it’s a safety concern for our staff that that those floors wouldn’t have that surface. Thank you, mike. President Gilbert’s continues. So are we seeing in the Community rooms that tile floor and I’ve been in there that’ll come out. And then this. This goes in and in place. Correct. Thank you.

00:24:36,630	Are there any, uh, if I could continue President, Gilbert’s and Michael so time frame again. I’m. I’m always concerned about time frames. How does this impact the The use of the of the pool area.

00:24:56,730	Um, we’ve been working with kevin on this, and he’ll probably expand but we’ve been targeting a couple weeks in August, where there’s been some relief on on planning, so Thank you. Are there any further questions? If not what are the wishes of the board? I would, uh, move to approve the bid. For the aquatic center. Uh, the base bid at 100 and 30,926 alternate two at 40,004 22. Alternate three at 12,633.

00:25:31,500	Alternate for at 13,792 alternate five for 13,660 for a total of 211. 433,000 A second. We Need to include the Consultant for the No. OK the, uh There is a motion by Comm. Jordan in a second by Comm. O’Dell. Is there any further questions? Any further discussion. President Gilbert, I just came to me a question for perhaps our executive director, the A.

00:26:05,630	Couple of these bids say, you know, we’re using funds from the Construction reserve and then we have we still have additional funds. In that Budget. Just a quick explanation of that if we if I may Yes. So, President gilbertson and Comm.. Comm. Zimmerman.

00:26:29,230	Uh, once we got these quotes, uh, price these bids we worked with finance director to look at what our construction reserves so to see if we had some extra dollars that we could fund these projects. Like, I said.

00:26:43,630	Initially, our initial estimate for this project, uh, didn’t have the storage rooms in the community rooms, but we felt it was it was important from a safety standpoint to try to include those in also at the same time. Thank you. Any further questions or discussion. See No. Julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. Jeske, jordan Odell Zimmerman President. Gilbertson, I. Thank you, michael. Thanks. Next. We have the Bismarck Municipal ballpark improvements. We have brad Krogstad with KLJ. And Brett.

00:27:19,370	Don it from E, A PC who review bids, uh, received for this project. Welcome welcome. Thank you good evening. I’ll. Just go through. Uh, I’m Brett don at E with architect with the ABC Red krogstad with KLG, Uh I’ll go through our bid Result.

00:27:37,100	Summary quick to kind of give you a a low down of the bid price Then We can talk a little bit about the project. Um so this is for replacing the natural turf at the municipal ballpark with synthetic turf, um and adding a couple other related items, so we received bids on March 13th for Project. There was five different bid bid numbers given Uh, the surface prep for the artificial turf.

00:28:01,470	The artificial turf itself, Uh, sub grade stabilization of batter’s eye and a ticket booth expansion. Um, we worked with Kevin for a couple of months on this project, uh, and with a recent project in Mandan, uh, Brad had recent, uh, numbers for his estimate. Opinion of probable cause, uh, that made this project look favorable.

00:28:18,730	So we put it out for bid. Um, that opinion of probable cost was about 2.6 million. We received one bid from Northwest. Contracting at around 2.2 million, So. We are under budget. Um, the bid form itself consisted of multiple different turf providers and turf level.

00:28:41,970	Um Of products so you can kind of think of a good, better or best system for the turf. Uh, we narrowed it down to some high end baseball specific products, and then we further narrowed it down, based on quality of the products, the price the proven reliability, durability and playability of those products, And so, uh, we are here to recommend, uh, to prove Northwest contracting bid, um, which is below the

00:29:05,470	engineer’s opinion. Probable cost for the sub grade prep the alternate for Turf most common actual turf. Uh, schedule two is a batter’s eye and schedule three is the ticket booth expansion for 2.2 for $2,241,272, and this work would begin.

00:29:32,070	Um After the lark season August 19th and would be completed before March 14th next spring to the next baseball season. Questions. Mr Jew President Gilbertson Mine is more for executive director. Um, clip. So. Kevin, Refresh my memory. We have grant funding for some of this, Do we not President Gilbertson and Commissioners Comm. Jeske? Yes If. You.

00:29:57,400	Remember we worked with, uh we applied for a grant through the state and we received an A A million dollar grant for that. Mr Odell. President Gilbertson and then executive director Clip fell. The Bismarck baseball fundraising. Those funds are available now. President Gilbertson and Commissioners Comm.. They have not raised those funds to date. OK, Yeah. They have not. Mr Zimmerman.

00:30:27,730	Thank you, President Gilbert send in You know we’ve been on this one for a while too, on this project is this in your opinion, evidently the best Product we could put on the field here. I know, you know, we continue to have you know more use of that field. I’m concerned that we’re getting our best. Best bang for our buck here on this project, are we President gilbertson.

00:30:54,700	Commissioners Commissioners zimmerman. Yeah and you know, based on the amount of play that you get on this field, which is in talking with some of the turf companies is more than they’ve seen on a lot of their fields ever.

00:31:12,070	You get a lot of play with all the user groups that are using this and so it gives you the opportunity to get on the field sooner in the spring. Like. You could maybe be on it right now playing or even a month or two ago playing and then you can play continuously on it.

00:31:31,900	And without having to worry about the damage that happens to natural turf when you play on it that much so Mr jeske. No. OK. Um, Brad. Thank you for that, Uh, President Gilbertson. Just a quick question regarding this turf. What is the life expectancy. I know it’s average because it just depends on how many times you play. But.

00:31:53,400	Do you typically expect to get 10 to 15 years out of this type of turf. President gilbertson commissioners Comm. Jeske. Uh, yeah, I Think 10 to 15 years could be possible. It all depends on how much play it’s getting, which you’re gonna get quite a bit.

00:32:14,100	Uh, the advantage we have up here, uh, in our climate is it gets snow cover in the winter, so it it doesn’t react as much to the ultraviolet rays that tends to damage a lot of the fields in areas that get a lot more sun.

00:32:34,270	So we’ve seen in Bismarck pretty good life expectancy on these, um, from Shiloh that hasn’t been replaced yet, or, you know, other than the bowl, really? None of the turf has been replaced. Uh, they do come with a third party warranty that covers the turf for eight years, which is kind of industry standard so you can expect at a minimum that but generally it’ll go beyond that. Maybe even double that so May. I continue, President Gilbertson. One other question, Brad. You alluded to this. So.

00:32:53,030	Is this a similar product to what we find at Shiloh and at the, um Don Right? President Gilbertson Comm. Comm. jeske, Um Uh, yes and no it It’s not the same product. This is a product that’s advanced.

00:33:18,030	Over the years Shiloh was a very early version of turf and not even necessarily baseball specific turf. It came as part of a combo package in developing the turf football field and the baseball field. Uh, what you’re gonna see here is a product that’s similar, almost identical to what’s over in Mandan at their memorial ballpark. Which was installed about five years ago and up at Corbett Field in Minot.

00:33:40,170	You know both of these are high competition fields like you have at municipal. And, So. It’s a. It’s a high end turf project Baseball specific so It should be much better than those that you’ve seen at, uh, maybe legacy or or Shiloh. OK thank you. And. One additional question If. You don’t mind President Gilbertson.

00:34:03,400	This is towards, um, executive Director clip. Do we feel Fairly confident that the Bismarck baseball, um People are gonna be able to raise the projected Um, dollars that they said they’d be able to raise towards this project President Gilbertson and Commissioners Comm. Jeske.

00:34:24,770	Yeah as soon as the the bids were led, it was contacted again by by Steve, Chubby and the group they wanted to meet to to make sure that they got to get this done. OK and knowing steve Chubby, he can get this done. Thank you. President gilbertson and perhaps for these gentlemen or again for our staff, if If.

00:34:45,600	We have some budgeting issues with the batter’s eye and the ticket booth expansion. Where are Where are we at on What We could wait on. Let’s say, if if things don’t go our fundraising or our budgeting Is there. I mean the turf once we start, Of course the turf’s gotta go in, but What else do you see as possible? Changes to the project or If.

00:35:06,600	That’s a fair question. Uh, yeah. President gilbertson. Uh, commissioners pre, uh, Comm. Zimmerman. I know we’ve talked a little bit about this with kevin. And. Um, some of the priority that we’ve been told is with the turf baseball field, You know that’s the highest priority and then the batter’s eye and then down to the ticket booth.

00:35:35,270	Um, you know, the ticket booth is in that range that the the user group is looking Or to raise And so maybe that might be the first thing that you put on hold. Um if they are unable to raise those funds, but I’ll defer to staff with any other direction, and I’m anticipating that they will, But I.

00:35:55,130	You know, I Just wonder seems on several projects we come back in or you hear around town. There’s change orders or costs go up or, you know whatever the circumstances would be. Just say what? You know where we at on this, Uh Again.

00:36:12,230	This is to me a big project for the district and, uh, make sure we’re doing it right here for all the folks that use that ballpark, so Good II. I appreciate the work being done here. It’s great with the scoreboard and the video board is sure added to the facility and now the turf. I know there’s some issues as we say.

00:36:29,670	We talked earlier about, you know the heat on that field in the summertime with our you know, with the turf on it, but, uh, I think it’s It’s gonna be a good thing for us to To have on there, so I appreciate the work of all the groups on this to to get this to a at so What

00:36:45,330	are the wishes of the board. Oh, Comm. O’Dell President Gilbertson. Um I. Guess. This is more for executive director Clip Feld. But if those funds aren’t raised, do we? Are we sitting comfortably to cover the cost of anything that isn’t raised. Comm., Uh, excuse me. President Gilbertson Commissioners Comm. O’Dell.

00:37:06,730	I think that we could adjust our budget to make that work? The. One thing you also did is remember. We did a also the board authorized us to apply for a garrison diversion. Cons Conservancy district Grant that we just presented yesterday and so hopefully we’ll hear with that within the next couple of days, which could help offset some of those dollars Also.

00:37:26,800	What are the wishes of the board. I would move a prison Gilbertson I would move that we accept the bid for the renovation at the Municipal Ballpark of the artificial turf at $1,199,504. No the turf. I’m Sorry 7 54 9 48. The Batter’s eye at 1, 1,717,000 and the ticket booth expansion at 169,820. For.

00:37:57,270	Total Construction of $2,241,272. Second There is a motion by Comm. Zimmerman and second by Comm. Jeske. Is there any further discussion? See none. Julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. Jeske jordan Odell zimmerman. I President Gilbertson. I. Thank you gentlemen. Thank you. The next item on our agenda is the 2025 budget development schedule.

00:38:35,070	Uh, we have, uh, finance director Kathy Feist. She has provided a schedule in your packet. Welcome Cathy. Good evening, President gilbertson and Commissioners in your agenda packet is a list of, um dates. Proposed for to prepare the 2025 budget. We did send out budget request to staff this week.

00:38:56,930	So, Um they have that in hand, So they’re, um going to be gathering cost estimates and putting together budget requests for that. One of the, um A big date, so we’ll have internal meetings. Um, after that information is returned to the directors, Um, on April 12th and then on May 6th that information gets turned over to the finance area.

00:39:15,670	We have internal meetings and then we will prepare the proposed 2025 budget. Um, and the work plan, which will be distributed to commissioners after the June 20th Park board meeting. We will have individual meetings with the commissioners, then, um between June, 24th and 27th. And. Then.

00:39:34,870	We will, um in preparation of The introduction of the budget at the July 18th Park board meeting. We do have a deadline, um, of August 10th to get a preliminary budget to the county auditor so that they can send out tax statements by the end of August. And. Then.

00:39:52,770	We would, um, schedule our public hearing for September 19th and then in have that approved and adopted so that we can, um, have the information turn over for the final budget to the county auditor by the October 10th deadline. Any questions or concerns on the proposed schedule. I have one question, I.

00:40:18,700	Guess, Uh, for both Cathy and Executive director director that Sticks out in your mind right now, that might be of a concern going into the budgeting. Uh, planning for next year that Would have had arisen from this past year. President Gilbertson and commissioners. At. This point There is nothing that comes to mind that we’re aware of that We’re expecting to have to address. Um At this point.

00:40:44,330	I’m not sure if kevin is aware of anything, but, um, President gilbertson and commissioners. Nothing at this point in time, that is a red flag, but obviously we have many groups and and many things that we would like to accomplish in the district, and, uh, we’d like to see what we can get done in 2025. Awesome. Well.

00:41:03,470	I know that, um, our Uh, the two of you and our staff is, um Is always does a great job in preparing and, um you know, contrary to what some people in the community think you you do a fantastic job and and present a, uh, a balanced budget every year and, um and and it will be

00:41:26,530	exciting to see the, uh, the plan for the staff presented to us as as you move forward, So. Are there any questions from fellow commissioners? No. Thank you, Cathy. Appreciate it. The next item. On. Our agenda is the consent agenda, as is customary.

00:41:50,930	A variety of items have been placed on the consent agenda. A consent agenda can be approved with one motion or an item or items can be removed for additional discussion and separate action. The staff recommends approval of the following items for this month. First is the consideration of the February 15th and February 20th 2024 board meeting minutes.

00:42:14,030	Those have been provided for your review. Next is a request for board authorization to call for bids for the lighting upgrades at the NIU Bowman archery complex in the Joanne Hetzel Memorial for each building Parks and rec district has received a grant to assist in the lighting upgrades in these two facilities.

00:42:34,800	Um, so S Request board authorization to call for bids consideration of the joint exercise of governmental powers concerning the Bismarck Community Bowl agreement. That attached agreement is included. Consideration of changes to the local food coordinators position that has also been included in the board packet. Uh, the AD a transition plan executive summary. Uh, this document is provided for our consideration.

00:43:01,600	It’s an executive summary of the Park district’s 80 a transition plan, the AD a access and inclusion solutions process. Staff request board approval of this process and the consideration to dispose of obsolete equipment There has, uh Been included A. Uh, a list of information for the description of the items requested for disposal.

00:43:25,130	What are the wishes of the board. I’ll make a motion that we approve the consent agenda as presented There’s A motion by Comm. Jeske. There’s a second by Comm. O’Dell. Is there any further discussion? See Nan. Julie, will you please call the roll? Comm. Jeske Jordan Odell. Zimmerman.

00:43:51,500	President gilbertson I Item eight is approval of the bills. What are the wishes of the board. His motion by Comm. Jordan. Is there a 2nd 2nd Second by Comm. Zimmerman. Is there any further discussion? See N and julie, will you please call the roll? Comm.

00:44:21,600	Jeske Jordan zimmerman President Gilbertson I That brings us to the end of our agenda the next regularly scheduled board meeting will be on April 18th. 2024 right here in the fabulous tom Baker meeting room at 5:15 P.m.. The, um Also it just for the information of citizens. The Comm., Uh, the commissioners will be taking a tour of park facilities on April 24th.

00:44:50,600	That is something we, uh, customarily do in the spring and the fall just so we can stay abreast of what’s going on in our district. Thank you very