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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.29.15 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes from the July 29, 2015 Regular Meeting Members Present: David McMillen, Gene Spars, Chad Elliott and Rob Carpentier Members Absent: Mike Haley Other’s Present: 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. II. Approval of July 29, 2015 Meeting Agenda Moved by Carpentier and seconded by Elliott to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of June10, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by Carpentier and seconded by Elliott to approve the June 10, 2015 regular meeting minutes. APIF. Motion carried. IV. Presentations A. Rambling River Center Presentation Distad presented a report on the Rambling River Center for the first half of the year. Information presented included: • Regular membership numbers • Jack and Bev McKnight Fitness Center membership numbers • Program, trips and event participation numbers • Summary of fundraising events and amount raised so far • Building and grounds improvements • Summary of new programs, trips and events offered V. Business Items A. 2016 and 2017 Park Improvement Fund Budget Revised Recommendation Distad presented information about the fund balance being too low to support submitting a request to construct a warming house and shelter in North Creek Park. Instead he noted that staff is recommending the playground equipment be replaced in Troy Hills Park in 2016 given its age and condition and Prairieview Park continue to be identified for improvements to be completed in 2017. Moved by Spars and seconded by Carpentier to revise the recommendation to the City Council identifying in the 2016 and 2017 Park Improvement Fund budgets to show the playground replacement in Troy Hills Park be completed and continue to show Prairieview Park to be funded in 2017 for improvements. APIF. B. Approve Agenda Items for Joint Meeting with the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Chair McMillen shared the HPC met last night and they discussed wanting to do some interpretive signage that will focus on providing an education to Farmington residents and visitors about Farmington history. He shared the joint meeting would be about discussing the interpretive signage including what it could/would be constructed from and where it might be installed in a park or parks. The intent is to direct people to historically significant properties in Farmington. Spars asked if it would be a large map showing historical properties. McMillen stated that it would be and while the parks were one identified location, signage could also be located in such places as: Dakota County Library, City Hall, Rambling River Center and even at banks. McMillen shared the HPC would like to meet on October 14th at 6:00 p.m. By consensus it was determined this date and time were acceptable to the Commission. C. Approve Park and Facilities Tour Locations Chair McMillen asked Commission members which parks and facilities they would like to tour with the City Council on August 12th. The following parks and facilities were identified: • Fair Hills Park • Troy Hills Park • Rambling River Center • Schmitz-Maki Arena • Hillview Park • North Creek Park • Farmington Preserve Park McMillen asked if Commission members would be able to start the tour at 6:00 p.m. and then finish by 7:30 p.m. By consensus the date, time and locations were approved. Distad will create a schedule around the identified parks and facilities locations and email it prior to the tour to Commission members and to City Council members. VI. Discussion Items A. 2015 Annual Work Plan Review Chair McMillen reviewed the work plan and noted the park and facilities tour will be accomplished during the August 12th tour and the park improvement fund recommendation was also completed. He felt progress on completing items in the work plan was being made. Spars asked where things are at with possibly installing solar lights in parks in the future, since this was an item on the work plan that has not been achieved yet. Director Distad shared there was discussion at a recent City Council meeting about installing a solar street light by Hillview Park. City Council decided to not approve this. It was based not only the cost of installation, but also on the fact the city would own and have to maintain the solar street light. Given the battery life and the cost to replace the battery as well as to maintain the solar panels, it is likely solar street lights would be way more expensive than for electrical street lights. Distad asked if the Commission is interested in pursuing solar park lights and if so, would it be restricted to only a few parks where it would be difficult and costly to run electrical service to. Spars thought Lake Julia Park and Meadowview Park would be two parks to potentially try solar lights. It was suggested that Distad contact a solar light company to see if they would be willing to send a manufacturer’s representative to come speak to the Commission about solar park lights at one of its future meetings. B. 2016 Fees and Charges Distad shared with Commission members that the Rambling River Center Advisory Board at its July 13th meeting to recommend to the Commission that the 2016 Rambling River Center fees and charges remain the same as the 2015 fees and charges because most fees were raised in 2015. Distad further shared that at the September 9th Commission meeting staff will be making a recommendation to the Commission about the 2016 Park and Recreation Department fees and charges. C. Possible Agenda Items for Meeting with Empire Township’s Park and Recreation Commission Commission members brainstormed the following possible agenda items for the meeting: • Update from Empire Township on ballfield complex usage and maintenance • Minnesota Trunk Highway 3 trail connection being completed during the resurfacing project that is planned in 2016 • Jim Bell Park and Preserve development • Possible partnership and collaboration opportunities • Discuss entertainment in the park series that both communities have • Aquatics discussion VII. Commission Roundtable Spars: Asked if there was a plan to improve the parking lot drainage by the Rambling River Center. He was at the flea market and there were pockets of water that did not drain very well. Distad shared that the ground is so flat in this area that it is difficult to get water to drain off of the site. He stated there has been some discussion in the past to resurface the parking lot but no timeline has been identified to complete this. Perhaps if the parking lot is resurfaced, it would be good to look at creating ways to improve the parking lot drainage. He shared he also like that the city hosts a farmer’s market. Elliott: Didn’t have anything to share. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. Carpentier: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report A. Project Updates • Hillview Park paved trail was not approved by the City Council. Council wanted to wait until park is ready to be fully developed and the quote was $10,000 more than what was estimated • Central Maintenance Facility lighting retrofit, Rambling River Center occupancy sensor installation and Rambling River Park LED tennis court lights have all been completed • Fairh Hills Park shelter is scheduled to be installed in August • Meadowview Park boardwalk project will be completed late August early September by the Dakota County Sentence to Service crew • Rambling River Center Oak Street entrance and railing will be installed in August. Funds were donated by the Louis Schmitz Foundation to purchase and install two benches next to the building on top of the new concrete entrance • Park signs for Marigold and Prairie Pines Parks were purchase and will be installed in 2016 IX. September 9, 2015 Meeting Agenda Items The following item was identified by Commission members for its next meeting agenda: 1. Review 2015 Work Plan 2. Discussion on possible future work session with City Council 3. Solar Lighting 4. Agenda joint meeting with Empire Township’s Park and Recreation Commission 5. HPC meeting agenda topics 6. Farmington School District’s building usage and fee and charges for their use X. Adjournment Moved by Carpentier and seconded by Spars to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary