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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.08.15 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes from the April 8, 2015 Regular Meeting Members Present: Mike Haley, Chad Elliott, David McMillen, Gene Spars, and Rob Carpentier Members Absent: None Other’s Present: Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire and Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad I. Call Meeting To Order Chair McMillen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. III. Approval of April 8, 2015 Meeting Agenda Moved by Elliott and seconded by Haley to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of March 11, 2015 Meeting Minutes Moved by Elliott and seconded by Carpentier to approve the March 11, 2015 regular meeting minutes. Voting in favor: McMillen, Elliott and Carpentier. Voting against: none. Abstaining from the vote: Haley and Spars. Motion carried. IV. Presentations A. 2014-2015 Ice Season Report Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire reviewed the number of hours that were rented by each user group during the season. He noted that Farmington Youth Hockey Association rented considerably less hours than in the past during the season. He pointed out that some of that is attributed to having more teams with the younger players on the ice at the same time during practices and thus not needing as many rental hours for the younger players. He also noted that FYHA has been scheduling time to practice at Total Hockey in Lakeville for younger kids because the size of the ice surface is smaller, which makes it a good fit for younger players. Pire reviewed programs and events that were held at the Arena and commented how participation is on the upswing. He informed Commission members about building improvements that have also been completed. V. Business Items A. Commission Member Photo A group photo of Commission members was taken by Director Distad and will be published on the city’s website. B. Rambling River Center Severe Weather Program Cancellation and Building Closing Policy and Map (Policy) Director Distad provided a brief summary about the Policy and the reasons it was created. He informed Commission members the Rambling River Center Advisory Board had this Policy as one of the items it wished to accomplish on its 2015 work plan. It worked with staff to create the Policy. It has approved the Policy and is recommending to the Commission to also approve it. He stated staff is requesting the Policy be approved by the Commission and then make a recommendation to the City Council to approve it. Moved by Haley and seconded by Carpentier to approve the Policy and forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Policy. APIF. Motion carried. C. Recreational Facilities Task Force (Task Force) Director Distad stated at the March 11, 2015 Commission meeting a discussion occurred about representation on the Task Force and the Commission at the meeting, postponed a decision until all Commission members could attend the meeting and participate in the discussion about who the representatives should be on the Task Force. McMillen asked Commission members who was interested in serving on the Task Force. Carpentier volunteered that he is interested in serving on the Task Force. Haley volunteered that he would serve as a backup on the Task Force if Carpentier was unable to attend a meeting. Moved by Elliott and seconded by Spars to approve Carpentier as the Commission representative on the Task Force and Haley serve as the back-up representative should Carpentier be unable to attend a meeting. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. 2015 Park and Recreation Commission Work Plan Review Chair McMillen reviewed the 2015 work plan and identified items completed since the last Commission meeting. There were several items that were noted as being completed since the last Commission meeting. B. 2016 Park Improvement Project(s) Distad shared the Commission has been asked in the past to provide recommendations to the City Council about the improvements to include in the Park Improvement Fund’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. During the 2015 budgeting process the Commission recommended to construct a new warming house/shelter building in North Creek Park. This recommendation however was not followed by the City Council because the City Council felt it was too costly when compared to the cost of renting a portable warming house. Instead the City Council decided to focus on completing some neighborhood park projects including a new shelter in Fair Hills Park, finishing the last boardwalk segment in Meadowview Park and trail construction in Hillview Park. The warming house and shelter building was instead identified in the CIP budget to be delayed until 2016. McMillen shared he would like to move forward with recommending that the construction of the warming house and shelter be included in the 2016 CIP budget. Haley thought it might be better to wait on making a recommendation until the community survey results are known because the community might provide some direction on what it sees as priorities of parks, trails and recreational facilities projects to be completed. By consensus it was agreed the Commission would hold off on making any recommendation until after the community survey results are known. C. Arena Financial Plan Distad reviewed the information that was in the packet about business plans that were created for Cottage Grove, Minnesota and Park City, Utah arenas. He felt that this was a better way to go rather than developing just a financial plan. He felt a financial plan could be included in the business plan. He stated that a business plan would be more strategic because it could include planning for such things as: operations, maintenance, marketing, and staffing. By consensus Commission members agreed to wait on beginning to develop a business plan until after the survey results are known because the survey will address whether or not there is support for a second sheet of ice in the community, which then should be included in the business plan. VII. Commission Roundtable Elliott: Didn’t have anything to share. Spars: Didn’t have anything to share. Haley: Requested a copy of the final questionnaire that will be used to survey the community this spring. Stated it is hard to argue with the fact it is less costly to rent a warming house versus build a warming house. Informed the Commission the Heritage Preservation Commission is interested in having a joint meeting with the Commission sometime this year. Carpentier: Asked if a city parks, trails and recreational facilities tour could occur prior to the June 10th Commission meeting at 6:00 p.m. Felt it could just be a driving tour. He is new to the Commission and felt it would be beneficial to see the parks, trails and recreational facilities system consist of. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report A. Community Survey Distad shared with Commission members the company hired to complete the survey began calling residents on April 6th. He shared that he thought 400 households would be called during the survey process. He felt that survey results should be known sometime in late May or early June. B. Music in the Parks Distad shared Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck has been working on a new program called Music in the Parks. It will be held once a month on the last Thursday of the month during May, June, July and August. She has also secured four sponsors at $100 each for each of the four concerts for a total of 16 sponsorships to help cover the cost of the entertainment. The free concerts will be held in Rambling River Park at 7:00 p.m. C. Fair Hills Picnic Shelter Distad shared with Commission members that the purchase of the shelter was approved by the City Council and the shelter will be ordered and the shelter colors will be similar to the playground equipment colors. D. Rambling River Center Oak Street Entrance Improvements Distad informed Commission members about two proposals being received for this work and the City Council will be asked at its April 20, 2015 meeting to approve the low quote submitted. The work will be completed this summer after Dew Days. IX. May 13, 2015 Meeting Agenda Items The following items were identified by Commission members for its December 10, 2014 meeting agenda: 1. 2015 Annual Work Plan review 2. Solar lighting in parks 3. Recreational Facilities Task Force 4. Finalize June parks, trails and recreational facilities tour 5. Schmitz-Maki Arena Business Plan 6. Community survey update X. Adjournment Moved by Elliott and seconded by Haley to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary