HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.13.21 Parks and Rec Packet
Meeng Locaon:
Farmington C ity H all
430 T hird Street
Farmington, M N 55024
PA R K S A ND R E C R E AT I O N R E G U L A R M E E T I N G A G E N DA
January 13, 2021
7:00 PM
1.C all M eeng to O rder
2.A pprove M eeng A genda
3.A pprove M eeng M inutes
(a)A pprove D ecember 9, 2020 Meeng M inutes
4.P resentaons
(a)P ublic C omments
5.B usiness I tems
(a)Parks and Recreaon D irector Posion
(b)A pprove 2021 Work P lan
6.D iscussion I tems
(a)D iscussion C hair and V ice-Chair Elecons at February 10, 2021 M eeng
(b)Park and Facilies Tour with Rambling River C enter A dvis ory Board and City Council
7.C ommission Roundtable
(a)Round Table Format
8.S taff Report/Updates
(a)I nformaonal Updates
9.M eeng A genda Topics
(a)I tems for February 10, 2021 M eeng A genda
10.A djournment
"The F armington Parks and Recreaon A dvisory C ommission's mission is to advise and make
recommendaons to the F armington C ity C ouncil concerning the comprehensive planning of the C ity
parks, trails, open space, recreaon facilies and recreaon programs."
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:A pprove D ecember 9, 2020 Meeng M inutes
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
A#ached are the dra% minutes from the Park and Recreaon C ommis s ion's D ecember 9, 2020 meeng.
Commission members are as ked to review the minutes and provide at the meeng any correcons or
addions to the minutes that are needed.
AT TAC HMENT S :
Type Des cription
Backup Material Draft December 9, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes from the December 9, 2020 Virtual Regular Meeting
Members Present: David McMillen, Laurie Suchanek, Elizabeth Koss, Brian Tennant and Ashley Crabtree
Members Absent: None
Other’s Present: Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler 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.
II. Approval of December 9, 2020 Meeting Agenda
Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Suchanek to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion
carried.
III. Approval of October 14, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions identified.
IV. Presentations
A. Public Comments – There were no public comments provided.
V. Business Items
A. Approve Completed 2020 Work Plan
Chair McMillen reviewed the work plan and identified the goals and objectives completed and not completed. He noted
that some of the goals were not able to be completed because of the COVID 19 Pandemic. He asked if any Commission
members had any edits or revisions to the work plan. There were none identified.
Director Distad informed the Commission that a motion and a second was needed to approve the 2020 work plan as being
completed. Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Koss to approve the completed 2020 work plan. APIF. Motion
carried.
B. Approve 2020 Meeting Attendance Report
Director Distad reviewed the 2020 meeting attendance report and said that the report would be updated to reflect the
members who attended tonight’s meeting. He made Commission members aware the attendance report will be submitted
to the city’s finance department, so payment can be made to Commission members in a timely manner. He stated the
amount of pay received by each member depended on how many meetings were attended during the year. He further
shared Commission members are paid $30 per meeting that they attend. He made Commission members aware that the
attendance report is also shared with the City Council.
Moved by Tennant and seconded by Crabtree to approve the meeting attendance report with the additional attendance
added to the report for those members attending the meeting tonight. APIF. Motion carried.
Director Distad said he thought a check would be mailed to each Commission member before the end of December.
C. Whispering Fields Residential Development
Director Distad presented the preliminary plan showing the park, trail and sidewalk locations. He noted that the
residential development will consist of 119 units. Based on the net developable acreage and the density of the
development, the developer will be required to dedicate a little under 4 acres of park land. He shared that staff has
worked with the developer to show a 1.5 acre park in the southwest corner of the development that is abutted by a storm
water pond. As a result of locating the park and the storm pond adjacent to each other, it will make for about 6 acres of
park and open space in the southwest area of the development. This will abut Flagstaff Meadow Park which is located in
the Regetta Field development. He noted the Whispering Fields park location fits with the master plan for Flagstaff
Meadow Park by enlarging the park through the park dedication process as land adjacent to the park is developed. He also
reviewed the park development fees that would be collected from the developer.
He reviewed the trails and sidewalk plan the developer had proposed. He showed the revisions that staff are proposing to
make to the trails and sidewalks plan. He said the trail will provide a connection to the Farmington High School site and
staff will be working with the developer and Farmington School District staff to see if the trail connection can be finished
on the high school site, so it doesn’t dead end at the property boundary.
Suchanek said she liked the revised sidewalk and trail plan that staff is proposing. She liked that Flagstaff Meadow Park
will be enlarged with the park land that is being given by the developer.
Chair McMillen shared he also liked the plan. He asked if the trail would connect to the west when this land is developed.
Director Distad shared that the 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s Park, Trails and Open Space Plan Map identifies future trails
to be constructed in this undeveloped area to the west that will connect to the trails in this development. Additionally, he
said the sidewalks in this development would also continue to the west and connect to future sidewalks when this land is
developed.
He asked the Commission to make a recommendation to the Planning Commission concerning the park land to be
dedicated, and the trail and the sidewalk locations proposed by staff.
Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Suchanek to recommend to the Planning Commission the following:
• Approve the park location identified as Outlot C and accept 1.5 acres of park land dedication in the development
• Approve the .04 acres of park land dedication for a trail shown as Outlot D
• Approve the trail and sidewalk location proposed initially by the developer and also approved the revised trail and
sidewalk locations proposed by staff in the development
APIF. Motion carried.
VI. Discussion Items
A. 2021 Draft Work Plan
Chair McMillen reviewed the 2021 draft work plan goals and objectives. Director Distad informed the Commission
members that no action was needed at the meeting and that he welcomed comments and edits to the draft work plan.
The following revisions were suggested:
• See if the Rambling River Center Advisory Board would be interested in attending the tour with the City Council
• Identify a different meeting time with the City Council than the park and facilities tour if possible
• Include in the pickle ball goal an objective that allows public input, so the public has an opportunity to “weigh” in
on it
Director Distad informed the Commission members he would update the draft 2021 work plan to include these suggested
revisions and would bring a final draft to the January 13, 2021 meeting, so the Commission could approve it.
VII. Commission Roundtable
Crabtree: Didn’t have anything to share.
Tennant: Didn’t have anything to share.
Suchanek: Didn’t have anything to share.
Koss: Didn’t have anything to share.
McMillen: He made everyone aware that some programs at the Rambling River Center had to be either cancelled or
paused due to COVID-19.
VIII. Staff Report
A. COVID Update
Informed everyone the Rambling River Center building is being closed starting on Thursday, December 24, 2020 and not
reopening until Monday, January 11, 2021 in order to build in a quarantine period in case members wanted to spend the
holidays with family members. He also shared that City Hall will be closed to the public from December 27-31, but
people who needed a building permit or pay a water bill could make an appointment and still be let into city hall to meet
with a staff member.
B. 2021 Budget Update
Made Commission members aware the 2021 budget was approved by the city council on December 7. He further shared
the parks and recreation department budget was fully funded.
C. Schmitz-Maki Arena Improvement Projects
He informed members that because of the most recent Governor’s Executive Order, the arena is currently closed to the
public through December 18, 2020 at which time the Governor will either let the order expire or will extend it. As a
result of this he informed Commission members the following project work is occurring in the building:
• Team room 6 is receiving cosmetic work on one of its walls due to humidity issues
• Staff are painting the wall panels behind the bleachers
• The new batteries for the Zamboni were replaced yesterday
• Preventive maintenance work on compressor #2 will occur on December 17
D. Outdoor Ice and Warming Houses
Staff has hired seasonal staff for the warming houses. The plan is to open the warming houses unless there is a
Governor’s Executive Order that prohibits this. There will be a limit on how many people can be in the warming house
at the same time. People using the warming house will have to social distance and wear a mask. If the warming houses
are not able to open, then benches will be set outside the warming houses, so people can use them to put on their skates.
Staff is still planning on flooding the rinks as long as the weather cooperates and there is no Governor’s Executive Order
that prohibits skating on outdoor rinks.
E. Park Maintenance Projects
Staff are trimming trees along trails to provide proper clearance for snow removal equipment. Trees in parks will be
trimmed after this work is completed. Christmas decorations that were purchased from donations were hung downtown
and along Elm Street by park maintenance staff this week.
IX. January 13, 2021 Meeting Agenda Items
The following items were tentatively identified by Commission members for its January 13, 2021 meeting agenda:
1. 2021 work plan approval
2. Skate park idea presentation
3. Discussion about Chair and Vice-Chair elections in February
4. COVID update
X. Adjournment
Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Koss to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was
adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Distad
Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:P ublic C omments
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
This agenda item allows the public to s peak to C ommis s ion members about any item that is not on the
agenda. W hen s peaking to the C ommis s ion it must be in a respec&ul and non-threatening manner.
A nyone w is hing to provide public comments mus t provide their name and addres s for the record. P ublic
comments shall not exceed five minutes.
The C ommis s ion w ill not res pond to the comments and a formal wri-en response w ill be sent to the
pers on w ho made the public comments prior to the next C ommis s ion meeng. Under no circumstances
w ill any formal acon be taken on the public comments that are provided to the Commission.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Parks and Recreaon D irector Posion
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
A s you are all aw are, a"er 18 plus years of working for the City of Farmington, I will be rering from the
Parks and Recreaon D irector posion on F riday, A pril 30, 2021.
This item is meant to serve as an update about the Parks and Recreaon D irector pos ion and the current
plan for the city to fill the posion. This als o w ill be an opportunity to dis cus s if the C ommis s ion is
interested in having any involvement during the process of filling the posion.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:A pprove 2021 Work P lan
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
I ncluded in your meeng packet is a final 2021 Work P lan based on the discussion that occurred at the
D ecember 9, 2020 C ommis s ion meeng. I t's a very ambious plan, but one that seems to have great
promis e to connue to guide the community's future parks and recreaon sys tem.
Commission members are being as ked to review and come prepared to discuss the final 2021 Work P lan
and then formally approve it a,er the dis cus s ion.
AT TAC HMENT S :
Type Des cription
Backup Material Draft Revised 2021 Work Plan
DRAFT
FARMINGTON PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
2021 WORK PLAN
Goal #1: Provide to the City Council a recommended 2022-2026 capital improvement plan for
the park improvement fund.
Objectives:
1. By April 1, the Commission will have discussed and identified a preliminary list of five-year
capital improvement projects for the park improvement fund that will include a list of parks,
costs and schedule to be completed in the years 2022 to 2026.
2. By June 1, the Commission will finalize the five-year capital improvement projects for the years
2022-2026 and make a recommendation to the City Council for approval.
3. By December 31, the improvement projects recommended for funding from 2022-2026 will be
included in the City Council’s approved 2022 final budget.
Goal #2: Participate in a parks and facilities tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory
Board and City Council.
Objectives:
1. By April 1, the Commission, Advisory Board and City Council will have identified a date to
have a tour.
2. By May 1, a draft list of parks and facilities to tour will be reviewed by the Commission.
3. By June 1, a final list of parks and facilities to tour will be approved by the Commission.
4. By October 1, a parks and facilities tour will have occurred.
Goal #3: Meet in a work session setting with the City Council at least once in 2021.
Objectives:
1. By April 1st, the Commission will have identified a date to meet with the City Council in a work
session setting and will identify possible agenda topics for discussion during the meeting.
2. By September 1st, the Commission will have had a work session with the City Council and
discussed during the workshop the agenda topics identified.
Goal #4: Work with the developer to name the neighborhood park in the Fairhill Estate at North
Creek development.
Objectives:
1. By June1, the Commission will assess the progress being made in the build out of the
development, and if 50% or more of the development has been built out, the Commission will
move forward with determining how it wishes to work with the residents in the development to
name the park.
2. By September 1, the Commission will have implemented the preferred method for selecting a
name for the park.
3. By November 1, the Commission will consider park names and select one preferred name for
the park and forward the recommended name for the park to the City Council for
consideration.
4. By December 31, the city council will approve the name of the neighborhood park in the
development.
Goal #5: Receive periodic presentations from each of the parks and recreation department’s
professional staff members about programs, parks, facilities and trails.
Objectives:
1. By May 1, the Commission will have received a presentation by professional staff members of
the Department’s 2020 Annual Report.
2. By June1, Commission members will have received a presentation from staff on the results of
the Schmitz-Maki Arena’s winter ice season.
3. By August 1, Commission members will have received a presentation from staff on the first half
operations of the Rambling River Center.
4. By October 1, Commission members will have received a presentation from staff on the results
of the summer programs offered.
5. By November 1, Commission members will have received a presentation from staff about the
spring turf season and summer ice season.
6. By November 1, the Commission will have received a presentation from staff about
maintenance and improvements to parks and trails.
Goal #6: Identify Bike Pedestrian Plan priorities to accomplish in 2021.
Objectives:
1. By March 31, the Commission will review the priorities identified in the Bike Pedestrian Plan.
2. By June 1, the Commission will have developed and approved a list of priorities to work on and
complete in 2021.
3. By December 31, Commission members will have worked with staff to accomplish the Bike
Pedestrian Plan priorities it identified to complete.
Goal #7: Promote and encourage volunteerism in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Objectives:
1. By July 1, the Commission will have reviewed the volunteer opportunities available to the
public and determined if there are other volunteer opportunities to offer to the public.
2. By August 31, the Commission will have discussed different ways and opportunities to continue
to promote volunteerism in the parks and recreation department.
3. By October 31, volunteer opportunities in the parks and recreation department will be
promoted.
Goal #8: Provide community survey input, if a survey is approved by the City Council.
Objectives:
1. By April 1, the Commission will have discussed and identified questions related to parks and
recreation to be included in a possible community survey.
2. By May 1, Commission members will have reviewed a draft resident survey instrument and
provide feedback to staff about the park and recreation related questions.
3. By September 1st, Commission members will have seen the results of the resident survey
especially the questions that relate to parks and recreation.
Goal #9: Receive public input and then make a recommendation concerning providing pickle
ball courts in a city park.
Objectives:
1. By March 1, the Commission will discuss if it desires to provide pickle ball courts in one of the
city’s developed parks, or in one of the city’s undeveloped parks.
2. After receiving community input, and if the Commission decides to provide pickle ball courts in
one of the city’s developed parks, then by May 1 the park will be identified and a
recommendation will be forwarded to the city council to approve the project.
3. By June 1, the city council will have approved the recommendation by the Commission to
provide a pickle ball court in one of the city’s developed parks.
4. If the city council approves providing a pickle ball court in an existing developed park, then by
July 15, quotes will be received from contractors to provide a pickle ball court in the park
identified.
5. By October 1, the pickle ball court project will be completed.
Goal #10: Begin the process in 2021 to complete a master plan for Flagstaff Meadow Park in
2022.
Objectives:
1. By June 1, discuss a 2022 timeline for completing a master plan for Flagstaff Meadow Park.
2. By August 1, approve a timeline to complete the master plan.
3. By October 1, complete a request for proposal process to hire a consulting firm to lead the
master planning process for Flagstaff Meadow Park.
4. By December 31, have the City Council approve hiring a consulting firm to complete a master
plan for Flagstaff Meadow Park in 2022
Goal #11: Continue to build and strengthen relationships with Empire Townsh ip’s Park and
Recreation Commission (ETPRC).
Objectives:
1. By May 1, discuss having a joint meeting with ETPRC, and if the Commission desires to have a
meeting, then determine some possible dates for the meeting.
2. If the Commission decides to have a meeting with ERPRC, then by July 1, a date will have been
set for the meeting.
3. By September 1, discuss and formulate a list of discussion topics for a joint meeting agenda
with ETPRC.
4. By December 1, a meeting will have been held with ETPRC.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:D iscussion C hair and V ice-Chair Elecons at February 10, 2021 M eeng
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
A ccording to the C ommis s ion's bylaw s and city ordinance, the C ommis s ion is to elect annually from its
members a chair and vice-chair. The elecon occurs in February due to the possible appointment and
s eang of new members at the February meeng.
The purpos e of this item is to have a brief discussion to gauge the interest C ommis s ion members may
have about s erving in the chair or vice-chair pos ion during the next year. This makes the February
elecon go much quicker and s moother.
Commission members s hould come to the meeng ready to s hare if they have any interest in serving in
either the chair or vice-chair posion during the next year.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Park and Facilies Tour with Rambling River C enter A dvis ory Board and City Council
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
Every other year, the commission has planned a tour of parks and facilies with the rambling river center
advis ory board (R R C A B) and city council. I n the pas t, thes e tours have occurred on oppos ite years.
Because the tour w ith the R R C A B had to be canceled in 2020 due to the C O V I D -19 pandemic, and w as
res cheduled to occur in 2021, it s eemed to make some sens e to try and combine the tour w ith the city
council tour of city parks and facilies. The commission had asked s taff to s ee if the R R C A B was
interested in combining their tour with the city council tour.
S ubs equently staff as ked, at the D ecember 14, 2020 R R C A B meeng if the R R C A B would be interested in
touring city parks and facilies w ith the city council s omeme in 2021. Members of the R R C A B
unanimous ly supported combining with the city council a tour of city parks and facilies.
A s a result of this, the commission should have a discussion about w hen the parks and facilies tour
s hould occur. I n the past, a tour has generally been in A ugus t, when pos s ible because of the sunset being
later in the evening. I n the pas t tours have also started at 6:00 p.m.
W ith this past pracce in mind, the commis s ion s hould s et a tentave date and me for the tour, so this
informaon can be s hared with the R R C A B and city council to s ee if the date and me will work for a
majority of members in each group.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Round Table Format
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
The roundtable agenda item allows C ommis s ion members to share informaon, make announcements or
ask quesons of s taff about items not on the agenda. This item is for informaonal purpos es only and no
formal decis ions can be made during the Commission's roundtable.
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:I nformaonal Updates
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
The following are items that informaonal updates will be provided to C ommis s ion members at the
meeng:
C O V I D
W his pering F ield development
S chmitz-M aki projects and opening
Rambling River Center opening
O utdoor rinks and w arming hous es
These are informaonal items only and no acon can be taken on any of these items .
TO :Farmington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :Randy D is tad, Parks and Recreaon D irector
S U B J EC T:I tems for February 10, 2021 M eeng A genda
DATE:January 13, 2021
B A C KG R O U N D
The following are items staff has preliminarily idenfied to be included for the February 10, 2021
Commission meeng:
Chair and V ice-C hair elecons
C O V I D update
Parks and Recreaon D irector posion
Parks and facilies tour
Meeng with city council
Review 2021 work plan