Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 10/13/2011

Home

Parks Supervisor Riverblood reviewed the advantages and the value to have the two projects together. Mr. Kochi Prosper, 15540 Iodine Street was present to give more feedback and information on the Northern Lights Soccer Club Program. Mr. Prosper feels it is important to attach the playground and the building together as one project. Over the last five years it has been their job to bring awareness to Ramsey and expressed why he feels this project is so important to the program. Mr. Prosper wanted to review some numbers in the tournaments with the Commission. During the District tournament for the north there were about 105 teams participating. That was about 5, 000 people from Thursday through Sunday giving a gross profit of about $8,000. He reviewed some of the expenses that were incurred because there are no facilities. Some items were a tent that needed to be rented, the portable bathrooms, extra garbage's and all those other things which came to about $2,800. Mr. Prosper wanted to mention that during these tournaments people stay, it is a long way that they come from, and the reason why the playground and the building would work great together is the playground will give the parents a place to spend with the kids in between games and maybe the Ramsey businesses would benefit from this venue too. He continued that the Jamboree is a one day tournament that brought in about 6,500 people this year and profit wise was $11,000. About $6,600 could be saved by having the building facility there. More revenue could be made. The $6,600 is earmarked towards maintenance of the building and to maintain the building it is estimated at about $10,000 and with this savings that gets them halfway to establishing that. Mr. Prosper also wanted to mention that they are considering redirecting money toward their adversity fund. The more people they can get into the program the more volunteers they would have and it helps get more support of the building. Mr. Prosper discussed the current concerns he has with putting the project off any further. Just recently the Maple Grove Community has put up their dome. This winter they will be shifting their training to the St. Michael dome facility. Recently he was contacted by Andover that is looking for a partner in their dome project. It concerns him that Ramsey is getting a little behind and he doesn't want people to leave the Ramsey community to find other places to play, other places to train, other places to play volleyball. Mr. Prosper feels the building cost materials are still at a good price right now and that is another reason not to delay. Commissioner Minke asked how does the Commission go about putting together a funding plan that the Commission can advocate for. Parks Supervisor Riverblood feels it is more effective for Commission members and Athletic Association members to go out and advocate for this project. Park and Recreation Commission /October 13, 2011 Page3of5