Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.25.22 Work Session Minutes City of Farmington City Council / Parks and Recreation Commission Work Session Minutes April 25, 2022 1. Call to Order Mayor Hoyt and Chair Caron called the work session to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Hoyt, Lien, Porter, Wilson Caron, Crabtree, Koss, McMillen, Putt Absent: Bernhjelm Also Present: Lynn Gorski,City Administrator; Kellee Omlid, Parks and Recreation Director; Cynthia Muller,Administrative Assistant; Gabrielle Grinde, HKGi; Ryan Bjorkstrand; Farmington Youth Hockey Assoc. 2. Approve Agenda MOTION by Lien, second by Porter to approve the agenda. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. Discussion Items a. Jim Bell Park and Preserve Discussion with the Parks and Recreation Commission The purpose of this work session is for council to give staff and the commission further direction on development of this park. The master plan was presented at the April 18, 2022, city council meeting. The direction at that meeting was for HKGi to update the master plan and send it out for public comments. The next meeting for the Jim Bell Park Advisory Committee is scheduled for May 19, 2022. Mayor Hoyt wanted to know what the commission's feeling is on the plan. What can work and what is off the table? Staff needs a more unified direction. Chair Caron was shocked by the price. The amenities are what the community wanted based on the survey. The community needs this for families with young kids. But the scale is too much; we need to phase it. Member Crabtree suggested utilizing different parks for amenities to reduce infrastructure costs. Member Koss noted we asked for the community's opinion and if we don't consider that, then we are doing a disservice. It needs to be what the community will vote for. Councilmember Wilson asked for the top five amenities: 1. Trails 2. Splash pad 3. Playground 4. Aquatics 5. Picnic shelter It was noted an indoor ice arena was number 10 on the list. Member McMillen recalled in 2016 when this went out for referendum vote, everything and the price tag was big. We need to get something in this area. The council wanted something to generate revenue. Maybe we should just have an Council/Park&Rec Commission Work Session Minutes April 25,2022 Page 2 open grass area. Scale it back to get something. The very least cost would be open space. Councilmember Porter asked what needs to be there to have two access roads? Could anything go in without the Deerbrooke extension? Director Omlid stated we could put down a temporary beefed-up trail for maintenance vehicles until the adjacent land is sold and developed. Councilmember Porter noted the plan contains a splash pad, playground, trails, lighting, picnic shelter, dog park. Perhaps we should look at just over$4 million and spread the existing amenities over other parks. Director Omlid stated we still need a second access. Member Putt has heard there is a community concern that residents will not pay for this if we do not have a grocery store. They will not pay for this if band is cut from school. There is a lot of confusion over a grocery store even though park development has nothing to do with having band in schools or having a grocery store. Councilmember Porter stated when this plan is final, we need really good talking points for the public to understand. Councilmember Wilson noted residents do still have an appetite to spend some money for example$100/year. Director Omlid stated the amenities have to be diverse. There is no aquatic center which is what the seniors want. Councilmember Wilson noted we have discussed an arena and aquatic center. One needs to be in the referendum. Solving hockey has to be figured out. Councilmember Lien felt there is no way this will pass as is. It needs to be under$8—9 million. How do we get to that point on a big ticket item? We need to decide whether this is an economic driver or a community park, such as Ritter Farm Park. There would be very little maintenance required to leave it natural. Councilmember Porter stated ice is an economic driver. Perhaps we should leave this park natural. Does storm sewer, etc. go with any of these? Could we put the playground at Rambling River Park? What can we take out of the plan to keep it natural? Director Omlid stated there is a splash pad in the Distad Park master plan and in the Evergreen Knoll master plan. Councilmember Wilson stated the council needs to have a road discussion. We should incorporate these ideas into the existing park system. Spread the amenities throughout the community and give everyone something. He would like to see a second arena along Hwy 50. To put it in Jim Bell Park would be more benefit to Rosemount. He is in favor of having a referendum, but put it into neighborhood parks and abandon the Jim Bell Park idea for now. Councilmember Ported recalled when we started this, we did not have ARPA funds and were not adding park positions. Let's not abandon it. Councilmember Lien stated this is not a wasted effort. It gave us good information on what residents want. He asked what direction families are coming from for hockey games. Mr. Bjorkstrand stated all hockey teams are north or west of Farmington. Council/Park&Rec Commission Work Session Minutes April 25,2022 Page 3 Councilmember Bernhjelm couldn't attend this meeting, but sent an email with her comments. Go big or go home. Have a robust plan that includes indoor ice. We can have a destination park or a run of the mill park which we have lots of. Mayor Hoyt stated council authorized funds to update the Jim Bell Park master plan. There has not been a definitive answer it will go to referendum. We have new events now—ARPA funds—there is a county wide 20% property tax increase— lingering effects of covid—fuel increase—everything is more expensive. With the Jim Bell Park property, we have a lot of constraints with policy, legal viability and expansion. We have$2.7 million in roads that gives nothing to residents. How do we justify that money when we have road projects? Since 2006, we have not hired parks staff and added other staff. We have master plans for parks that are aging. We are considering adding to something that is already aging. Look at the existing master plans, locations, usages, age of park and determine what are we missing? Whether we do Jim Bell Park or update parks, what does that mean to the budget? Look at a 10-year vision for the area. Maybe give the park to the county and let them build it. If this isn't an economic driver, build up existing parks. If we ask residents for$10 million and invest in a robust park structure, that's an easy sell. We are not recouping money; it is used by other cities. The second biggest expense is the arena and hockey is the biggest player. They are paying our bills. We need to discuss their needs in a separate conversation. This does not work here and there is far too much expense. We will not be able to build what we want for a dollar amount that would be approved. We have to give residents something that is palatable and they will use it. We should invest more into what we have. We need to be good across the entire park system, then add new. Chair Caron agreed Farmington needs a destination like Ritter Farm. If its nature based, it needs to be different than other nature parks. She suggested including the nature-based playground. Mayor Hoyt noted this area has a high-water table. We could remove soil to create a pond and trail. Councilmember Porter asked what is the county's palate for a natural park that close to White Tail Park? Chair Caron noted Lebanon Hills connects throughout Eagan. Director Omlid added there will be a trail from Farmington to White Tail Park. Mayor Hoyt will talk with the county and see what their interest is. Do we want to push something at Jim Bell Park or look at needs of the current park system? Councilmember Lien stated to develop our own internal park and residents having to go from one end of town to the other to get something is a good thing. Director Omlid stated we would be trying to make neighborhood parks a destination. Councilmember Porter felt we would be remiss to not ask the county. Bring an ice Council/Park&Rec Commission Work Session Minutes April 25,2022 Page 4 arena to Hwy 50. Great Oaks Academy is relocating to downtown. We would be connecting all areas. Councilmember Wilson asked if we should cease the consultant activity now? Ms. Grinde stated if we change the scope of the plan,there would be no extra charge. Member Putt would like to see something good in Rambling River Park for Dew Days and seniors. Councilmember Porter agreed seniors do need something downtown. Revitalizing downtown is part of our plan. Member Crabtree recalled during the public engagement there was a big representation for a skate park and we need it somewhere. Mayor Hoyt stated we have talked about revising Rambling River Park and Feely Fields. We have electricity in place there. We could move the Rambling River Park playground to higher ground. Put in a skate park at Feely Fields and have a smaller ballfield. Councilmember Wilson asked if we should abandon this plan and give direction to the commission and staff to review current master plans? Mayor Hoyt asked if anyone wanted to put more efforts to proceed with Jim Bell Park. The consensus was no. He asked if it was the consensus to take the survey results and overlay it into existing parks? Councilmember Lien asked if a nature park would be off the table? Mayor Hoyt stated that is changing the scope of the plan. Mayor Hoyt had a brief conversation with Commissioner Slavik during the meeting, the county would not look at a park smaller than 400 acres. Commissioner Slavik suggested staff look at the Greenway master plan and look at something more natural. Councilmember Lien would like staff to look at making a nature area. Administrator Gorski noted high on the list is having an inclusive playground in Rambling River Park. Member Koss was very much in favor of this and others were in agreement. Councilmember Wilson asked if we should define the cap of what we want? Mayor Hoyt gave direction to review existing master plans and identify what is reasonable to bring everything up. Then figure out the five oldest parks and break them down for a dollar figure. It has to be a 10-year bond. Depot Art Park was mentioned, and member McMillen stated a train viewing platform in that park would draw people into town. Everyone liked this unique idea. Mayor Hoyt asked staff to determine what is the dollar figure to require a referendum and to send that to council and the commission. If we go for a referendum in November, there is a lot of work with potential change. Get more Council J Park&Rec Commission Work Session Minutes April 25,2022 Page 5 thorough and fine tune details and determine the spending mechanism. Ms. Grinde mentioned HKGi has prepared a spreadsheet for other cities with maintenance expenses and they have found this useful. Councilmember Lien asked if we could reassess the Jim Bell Park master plan as more of a nature park. Mayor Hoyt would like to do both. Director Omlid confirmed the direction is for HKGi to revise the Jim Bell Park master plan to a nature park and review master plans for the park system. Ms. Grinde confirmed we do have budget left to do that. She questioned the need for the Diamond Path extension. Director Omlid noted we have half the budget left. We will keep the advisory committee and look at everything. Councilmember Wilson questioned the need for the advisory committee to continue. Mr. Bjorkstrand commented that for FYHA, this is disappointing. As a taxpayer, he gets it. Member Putt stated for the advisory committee to have a May 19 meeting is too soon. Mayor Hoyt stated we have to approve the ballot question the last meeting in July. Is it unreasonable to have a general upgraded plan in six weeks? Ms. Grinde stated they can do that. Mayor Hoyt suggested having the advisory committee meet in June to review the updated plan. Use the first work session in July for this. Check out legalities and financial obligations. Administrator Gorski found where the requirement for a referendum depends on what it is. Councilmember Wilson stated we have a July 11 work session and a July 18 meeting, unless we want to meet on July 5. Ms. Grinde asked if we should skip the second round of public engagement? Director Omlid advised we should not go to the public now. Mayor Hoyt agreed that after more information is obtained, come up with verbiage for the public. Mayor Hoyt stated youth hockey is a big part of park and rec. He asked Mr. Bjorkstrand if he is disappointed there is not as much weight put into a hockey portion of this project. FYHA contributes$10,000 every year to the arena and also indirectly. FYHA spends 48%of their time at the arena. They are not practicing as much due to not enough ice time for rental. FYHA continues to pay our bills when half their time is spent in other communities. FYHA is prepared informally to be part of a second arena and contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars. We have to listen to the loudest voice and that is youth hockey. If we don't'figure this out, it will not be favorable for us. Mr. Bjorkstrand stated last year FYHA was traveling two paths, one with the Jim Bell Park master plan and saving 75%of gambling funds and contributing to a fund that now has $300,000. We spend over$300,000 on ice. Of that, $140,000 is spent in Burnsville, Faribault and Lakeville. We also spend $60,000 of that ice time on food, etc. at our lowest level. We could fill 300+ hours of ice time. We spend $160,000 - $175,000 outside of Farmington. We want to try to host one tournament with 8 teams. Four separate 8-team tournaments would put 400 people in Farmington. Councilmember Lien asked if eventually youth hockey will build their own arena and is there enough funding for a private enterprise? Mr. Bjorkstrand stated one sheet Council/Park&Rec Commission Work Session Minutes April 25,2022 Page 6 of ice would be $8 million, another$12-$13 million for second sheet. This would be just a shed with ice; not a lot of seats. Mayor Hoyt stated instead of hockey spending money outside Farmington, keep them here and that is an economic tool. Mr. Bjorkstand stated they have 550 skaters, and it is not getting smaller. Mayor Hoyt stated based on what we have discussed, an ice arena is not included. The feedback to FYHA is we want to see what that looks like. Figure out legal mechanisms and devise a plan of what a second sheet looks like. Councilmember Wilson noted we can't have two referendums in two years. Mayor Hoyt noted ice is not part of the action going forward. If in six weeks, we find out it's $20 million, we can move that two years out. Director Omlid noted the only land we have to hold an arena is at Jim Bell Park. Councilmember Lien added we have a grocery store looking to sell land and they have a $2 million assessment. Councilmember Porter asked what is youth hockey's timeline? Mr. Bjorkstand replied first they wanted to travel the path with the Jim Bell park. They can't do anything without 20%cash. Councilmember Lien felt the ice arena becomes a separate discussion. Councilmember Wilson agreed we need a separate ice discussion and a separate parks system. Mayor Hoyt encouraged staff to not rule out a tall ask. If it has to be a referendum and not this year, sort out VRC, parcels in town and it could be one large enhancement. Councilmember Wilson add if we don't do a referendum, there will be a lot of confusion about what the referendum was. Communication needs to be tight knit to explain what we are doing now. 4. Adjourn MOTION by Porter, second by Wilson to adjourn at 8:09 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Koss, second by McMillen to adjourn at 8:09 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Nuller Cynthia Muller Administrative Assistant