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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.11.23 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the January 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Members Present: Katharine Caron, Ashley Crabtree, Elizabeth Koss, Katie Putt, and David McMillen Members Absent: Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid I. Call Meeting to Order Chair Caron called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of January 11, 2023 Meeting Agenda Moved by Putt and seconded by Koss to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of December 14, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes Moved by McMillen and seconded by Putt to approve the meeting minutes with no revisions. APIF. Motion carried. IV. Presentations A. Public Comments There were no public comments shared at the meeting. B. Recognition of Outgoing Commission Member Elizabeth Koss Director Omlid and commission members thanked Betsy for her service to the parks and recreation commission, community, and city. She started on the commission in February 2019 as she finished an existing term and then was reappointed to a three-year term ending in January 2023. She will be missed as she brought a unique perspective and background in adults and youth with disabilities. Betsy said she will still be around, will follow what is going on, and might show up to a meeting to participate in public comments. V. Business Items A. Approve 2023 Work Plan Chair Caron reviewed the goals and objectives of the draft 2023 work plan. Moved by Putt and seconded by Crabtree to approve the 2023 work plan. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections During February Meeting The commission discussed the chair and vice-chair positions for the next year as the election will take place at the February meeting. Chair Caron said she wouldn’t mind continue being the chair as still learning. Putt said she is willing to be the chair or vice-chair. Crabtree has another commitment, so not interested in the chair position but willing to be vice-chair. McMillen is willing to be the chair or vice-chair. Chair Caron is going to think about it more until the February meeting. In addition to running the meeting, Director Omlid said the chair and director get together in-person or via zoom a week prior to the meeting to set the agenda. Crabtree mentioned she received phone calls from city council when she was the chair. Chair Caron said she hasn’t received any calls. Megan Merricks will join the commission in February as the new member. B. Parks and Facilities Tour with Rambling River Center Advisory Board and City Council The commission discussed and agreed the parks and facilities tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board and city council is a good thing to do. The Dakota County fair this year is August 7 – 13. Commission members identified Wednesdays, August 16, 23, and 30 at 6 p.m. as potential tour dates. Director Omlid will follow-up with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board and city council to see which date works best. VII. Commission Roundtable Koss: Didn’t have anything to share. Crabtree: Mentioned there was a post on Facebook about a young girl swearing at other kids when ice skating at Farmington Elementary School. Asked if the Schmitz-Maki Arena sold punch cards for open skating as went to the National Skating Month special event and her son said he wanted to go every Sunday. Director Omlid said punch cards for open skate is $45 for 10 admissions. Caron: Didn’t have anything to share. Putt: Didn’t have anything to share. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report/Updates Director Omlid provided information on the following: A. Safe Routes to School Planning Assistance for Great Oaks Academy Great Oaks Academy is applying for a safe routes to school planning assistance grant. A letter of support from Mayor Hoyt was included in the application, which was submitted today. As written in the letter “A 2016 Downtown Redevelopment Plan showed within the study area, a lack of trails within the downtown area, although most streets are served by sidewalks on both sides of the street. Downtown Core Redevelopment initiatives included improving the pedestrian environment, adding bike trail facilities to the river and regional trail connections, completing a downtown trail network, and improving Highway 50 crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists. These initiatives haven’t been completed yet. This area’s need for pedestrian and bicycle improvements was identified in recent City of Farmington plans including the 2016 Downtown Redevelopment Plan and the 2019 Bike and Ped Plan. Community engagement in those planning processes specifically identified concerns with crossing both the rail line and Highway 50 by pedestrians and bicyclists.” If Great Oaks Academy is awarded a grant, hopefully the aforementioned improvements can be addressed. B. Outdoor Rinks and Warming Houses The warming houses opened Monday, December 26. They were closed last week for two days due to snow fall. The warming houses are at Rambling River Park and Distad Park. Staff floods a pleasure rink at Farmington Elementary School. The goal is to keep the rinks and warming houses open through President’s Day. C. Demolition of Bathhouse at Evergreen Knoll Park The bathhouse at Evergreen Knoll Park was demolished on December 12 and 13. Director Omlid showed pictures of the demolition and the park today with the bathhouse gone. D. Rambling River Park Master Plan Staff met with HKGi to discuss them drafting a proposal for master planning services for Rambling River Park. Staff also met with Dakota County to gauge their interest in looking at the trails through the park as part of the master planning process. The County is interested in looking at design improvements, evaluating the trail alignment, and how it connects to the North Creek and South Creek Greenway regional trail. The County is putting up to $400,000 toward restroom facilities if the location becomes a trailhead. Long-term maintenance is then a 50/50 (city/county) split. Staff anticipates receiving the proposal from HKGi soon. E. Pavement Condition Ratings for Trail Pavement Segments The city hired Goodpoint Technology to evaluate the entire paved trail network along with the streets. The pavement condition ratings are a 0 to 100 scale with 0 being poor and 100 being new. All 52 miles of trails will be evaluated this spring with the data returned to the city by July 15, 2023. The ratings will be used to help determine priorities for trail maintenance, replacements, reclamations, and long-term costs. The trails will be re-rated every two years and new trails will be added to the base map annually. It was asked if Empire Township replaces their trails as they are in better condition than Farmington’s. Commission and staff don’t recall commission members from Empire Township talking about trail improvements. Willows and tree roots are damaging the trails in Farmington. City council is meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. and will recognize and thank Minnwest Bank for their $16,000 donation to the Rambling River Center for the passenger van. Commission asked if the Expo was being held this year. The Expo is Saturday, January 28 from 9 a.m. – noon at Farmington High School. IX. Meeting Agenda Topics The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its February 8, 2023 meeting agenda: 1. X. Adjournment Moved by Koss and seconded by Putt to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Kellee Omlid Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary