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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.09.15 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes from the December 9, 2015 Regular Meeting Members Present: Chad Elliott, David McMillen, 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 December 9, 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 September 9, 2015 Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Moved by McMillen and seconded by Carpentier to approve the September 9, 2015 meeting minutes. Voting in favor: McMillen and Carpentier. Voting against: None. Abstaining from the vote: Elliott. Motion carried. IV. Presentations A. None V. Business Items A. Review Meeting with Empire Township’s Parks and Recreation Commission (ETPRC) Chair McMillen shared he and Commission member Haley both attended the meeting and he thought Empire Township was eager to share information. He shared the following information from the meeting: • Empire’s ballfield complex had drain tile installed on the infields to help correct drainage issues • Performances in the parks discussion focused on comparing the types of entertainment provided by both entities • Swim bus will continue to have three stops in Empire Township and the Stelzel Field stop will be advertised more • 2016 Minnesota Trunk Highway 3 resurfacing project that will include a paved trail connection on the west side of MN TH 3 from 197th Street to 190th Street • Empire Park and Recreation Commission will make a request to the Township Board of Supervisors to have Empire Township employees do snow removal on the new trail to be constructed during the project from 197th Street to the 190th Street roundabout B. Approve Rambling River Center Room Naming Director Distad provided background information to Commission members about renaming the current Rambling River Center (RRC) Arts and Crafts Room to the Harry and Louis Ross Room. It was based on Happy Harry’s Furniture giving more than $7,200 to the RRC through a program it created with the RRC in 2011. 10% of the money spent on a purchase goes to a designated organization and the RRC is one of the designated organizations. He informed Commission members the RRC Advisory Board has reviewed this and approved recommending to the Commission to rename the RRC Arts and Crafts Room to the Harry and Louise Ross Room. McMillen asked if this would create any issues. Distad stated it wouldn’t because it is following the original room naming rights program created back in 2009 when the building was renovated. He is confident that Happy Harry’s Furniture will continue to donate additional funds to reach the $10,000.00 that was identified to acquire the naming rights for the Arts and Crafts Room. He said anyone could have approached the city about this since 2009, but no one has. Moved by Elliott and seconded by Carpentier recommending the City Council rename the Arts and Crafts Room to the Harry and Louise Ross Room. APIF. Motion carried. C. Approve 2015 Meeting Attendance Director Distad explained that attendance is recorded for each monthly meeting and then at the end of a year an attendance report is compiled, so Commission members can be paid for their attendance at the meeting. Commission members receive $20.00 for every meeting they attend. He stated that Commission members should review the 2015 Attendance Report for accuracy and if it is accurate, he is looking for a motion to approve the 2015 Attendance Report. Moved by Carpentier and seconded by Elliott to approve the 2015 Attendance Report as written. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Review 2015 Annual Work Plan Chair McMillen reviewed each of the work plan items for completion. He shared that some of the goals that were not accomplished in 2015 annual work plan should be reviewed for inclusion in the 2016 annual work plan, which will be discussed next on the agenda. Director Distad shared some of the goals that were not completed, may well in fact be addressed when the city completes the 2040 Comprehensive Plan sometime in 2018. B. Draft 2016 Annual Work Plan Following items were preliminarily identified to be included in the 2016 annual work plan: 1. Troy Hill Park playground equipment improvement project 2. Begin the 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s Parks, Open Space and Recreation Chapter 3. Meet with City Council once in a work session setting 4. Meet with Empire Township’s Park and Recreation Commission 5. Collaboration with Heritage Preservation Commission on wayfinding signage for historical properties 6. Park and Recreation staff seasonal reports Director Distad shared he would take these ideas and incorporate them into a draft 2016 annual work plan that will be brought to the Commission at its January 2016 meeting to review and approve. C. Board and Commission Reception Update Director Distad stated Commission members should determine what information they would like to have included when a Board and Commission reception is held. The following information ideas were identified: • Review accomplishments completed on the 2015 annual work plan • Review improvements Commission has been involved with • Share information about the Hillview Park Master Plan and what has been implemented from the master plan D. Review Snow Removal Priority Map Director Distad provided a brief explanation about the map. He shared the only changes that have been made since the Commission last reviewed the map is that the new trails constructed on both sides of 195th Street from Pilot Knob Road to Meadowview Elementary School have been included in the category of the highest priority because of the walking boundary in this area and also because of the pedestrian underpass needing to be cleaned so students can cross under 195th Street to get to Meadowview Elementary School. He stated it has been a few years since the Commission has reviewed this map, so this is an informational item only and no action is needed. He felt it would be helpful for Commission members to be familiar with this map in case they are asked in the community about the snow removal process for trails, sidewalks, outdoor rinks and parking lots. E. Rescheduled Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) Meeting Chair McMillen asked if the postponed meeting with the HPC could be scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on January 13, 2016 because it could be held prior to the regular Commission meeting and then when the meeting with the HPC ended, the Commission could just move into its regular meeting. He added the intent of the meeting is to discuss installing wayfinding signage in parks to direct people to historical properties in the community. Because Haley was not in attendance and it was not known if this would work for HPC members, it was determined Director Distad should discuss this with city Planning Manager Tony Wippler first to see if there would be enough HPC members available to attend the January 13th meeting. Director Distad informed Commission members he would check with Planning Manager Wippler and then let Commission members know if the joint meeting will occur on January 13th or if a different date would work better. VII. Commission Roundtable Elliott: Shared that he would not be available to attend the January 13, 2016 meeting, so this will be his last meeting because he has decided to not reapply to be on the Commission. Thanked other Commission members for the work they did this past year and wished them good luck in the coming year. Carpentier: Thanked Commission member Elliott for serving on the Commission the past three years. McMillen: Provided an update on the Downtown Redevelopment Committee including there is an open house planned on December 15th. It will be held in City Hall and invited other Commission members to attend. There will be a couple of concept plan options that have been developed for the public to look at and give feedback on. Thanked Paige Marschall for the help she provided during the Trains and Treats event that was held at the Rambling River Center. Shared information about the recent City Council work session where a discussion took place about a part-time position at the Rambling River Center not being included in the 2016 budget. He thanked Commission member Elliott for the 3 years he has served on the Commission. VIII. Staff Report A. 2016 Budget Update Distad reviewed the City meeting and holiday calendar that was included in the packet. He thought it was good for the Commission to see this document and to be able to reference it during 2015. B. Projects Update Shared the budget was approved and reviewed the projects in Parks and Recreation that were funded in 2015. C. Mighty Ducks Grant Commission members were made aware that work was completed on the sledding hill including benches being installed on top of the hill. He made Commission members aware that despite the limited snow we have received so far, there have been people using the sledding hill. IX. January 13, 2016 Meeting Agenda Items The following items were identified by Commission members for its December 10, 2014 meeting agenda: 1. Approve 2016 Annual Work Plan 2. Discuss 2016 meeting date with City Council 3. Troy Hill Park playground design 4. Update on applications for open seats on the Commission 5. 2016 Budget Update 6. Update on Downtown Redevelopment Committee 7. Discussion on information to present during board and commission reception 8. Identify new meeting date with the Heritage Preservation Commission X. Adjournment Moved by Carpentier and seconded by Elliott to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary