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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.10.21 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the February 10, 2021 Virtual Regular Meeting Members Present: Laurie Suchanek, Elizabeth Koss, Katharine Caron and Ashley Crabtree Members Absent: Brian Tennant Other’s Present: Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler and Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad I. Call Meeting To Order Vice-Chair Laurie Suchanek called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Introductions Katharine Caron introduced herself as the new member of the commission. Other commission members introduced themselves to Katharine. III. Approval of February 10, 2021 Meeting Agenda Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Koss to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. IV. Approval of January 13, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions identified. V. Presentations A. Public Comments There were no public comments shared during the meeting. Vice-Chair Suchanek shared that a letter was mailed to the resident in response to the comments provided at the January 13, 2021 meeting. In addition, she noted commission members also received a copy of the letter. VI. Business Items A. Chair and Vice-Chair Elections Vice-Chair Suchanek asked if there were any commission members interested in running for the chair position for the next year. Commission members Crabtree shared she would be willing to run for the chair position. Vice-Chair Suchanek asked two additional times if any other commission members were interested in running for the chair position. No additional commission members expressed an interest in the chair position. By a 4-0 vote Crabtree was elected as chair of the commission for the next year. Newly elected Chair Crabtree asked if there were any commission members interested in running for the vice- chair position for the next year. Commission member Koss shared she would be willing to run for the vice- chair position. Chair Crabtree asked two additional times if any other commission members were interested in running for the vice-chair position. No additional commission members expressed an interest in the vice-chair position. By a 4-0 vote Koss was elected as vice-chair of the commission for the next year. B. Approve 2021 Work Plan Director Distad shared an additional goal was added to the work plan that included involvement in the hiring process for a new parks and recreation director. Chair Crabtree reviewed the 2021 goals and objectives with the commission members. She asked if there were any additions or corrections and there were none. Moved by Koss, seconded by Suchanek to approve the commission’s 2021 work plan. APIF. Motion carried. C. Approve Local Trail Connection Grant Application Director Distad shared background information about the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Local Trail Connection Grant program. He identified the location of the trail connection on the east side of MN TH 3 from a future roundabout that will be constructed in 2022 at CSAH 66 to 209th Street in Farmington that this grant would fund. He identified how this trail would connect to Tamarack Park and to the Tamarack Ridge Retail Center. He informed commission members a recommendation is needed to be approved by the commission to have the city submit a grant application for this project. If the commission recommends approval, then it will be brought to the city council to have a formal resolution adopted supporting the grant application, which is a requirement of this grant. Motion made by Suchanek to recommend approval that the city submit the grant application for the trail connection identified. The motion was seconded by Koss. APIF. Motion carried. VII. Discussion Items A. Park and Facilities Tour with City Council and Rambling River Center Director Distad shared the Rambling River Center Advisory Board reviewed the schedule and locations that were approved for a parks and facilities tour in 2020, but did not occur due to the COVID 19 pandemic. He informed commission members the Rambling River Center Advisory Board recommended keeping the same schedule and locations, which means the tour would start at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11, 2021. He asked commission members if they wanted any revisions made to the schedule and the locations the tour would include. Chair Crabtree suggested that Evergreen Knoll Park’s community garden site should be added to the tour, so people on the tour can see the site. There was general support for this location being added. Director Distad said he would update the schedule to include this site and would bring back a final schedule for the commission to approve at its March 10 meeting. B. Review Open Meeting Law Director Distad reviewed the State of Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law with commission members. C. Whispering Fields Development Director Distad reviewed the revisions that were made to the trail and sidewalk plan for the development. The revisions were made with the developer’s approval. The revisions resulted in a trail being constructed on the west side of the development that runs north to the Farmington High School property where the trail is extended further north through the Farmington High School property to connect to the sidewalk system on the high school site. He further informed the commission that the developer would be covering the cost of constructing the trail on the high school site. Information was also shared that the main north and south road through the development would now only have a sidewalk on one side of the street instead of a sidewalk on one side and a trail on the other side because of the trail now being constructed on the west side of the development. He informed commission members the preliminary plat for the development with these revised trail and sidewalk locations was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. D. North Creek Regional Greenway Trail Director Distad showed the trail alignment that is being worked on to identify where the regional trail section from Lakeville to Farmington is proposed to be constructed. He cautioned commission members that this is not the final alignment yet, but it is getting close. He made commission members aware of the locations where bridges and culvert would be constructed over a number of water bodies. He shared that the design of the trail would occur through 2021 and then if everything goes as planned it would be bid and constructed in 2022. He informed the commission this is a partnership project with the City of Farmington, Dakota County and City of Lakeville staff involved with the preliminary trail design. Further information was shared about Dakota County being the funding source of the trail because it received a federal grant that will pay for most of the trail construction costs and Dakota County will provide any needed matching funds for the trail project. VIII. Commission Roundtable Crabtree: Didn’t have anything to share. Koss: Didn’t have anything to share. Caron: Shared she has questions, but wants to digest the information she received at tonight’s meeting before asking questions. Suchanek: Didn’t have anything to share. IX. Staff Report Director Distad provided information on the following topics: A. Outdoor Rinks and Warming Houses • Warming houses have been open to the public since January 11. It has been going well with people wearing masks and social distancing being followed in the warming houses. The weather has been perfect for skating outdoors and there has been good crowds at night for people skating. B. Park and Recreation Director Position • The application period for the position will close on Friday, February 12. Both Chair Crabtree and Suchanek will be involved in the interview process. C. Schmitz-Maki Arena • It reopened on January 4 with COVID restrictions in place. Games resumed being played starting on January 14. It has been going well so far with only 2 spectators being allowed to attend games per the most recent Governor’s Executive Order. Farmington High School has been managing spectator attendance and have done a great job with this. Youth hockey games are also under the same spectator restrictions and attendance at these games has been managed by the Farmington Youth Hockey Association. D. COVID-19 Update • Rambling River Center reopened on January 11 and it has gone well so far. Staff are still offering virtual programming through Zoom. This allows members who are not comfortable yet returning to the Rambling River Center an opportunity to still participate in programs. E. Farmington Currents Spring Publication • Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler provided information about the Farmington Currents spring edition planned mailing date and when the upcoming summer Farmington Currents is scheduled to be mailed to residents. X. March 10, 2021 Meeting Agenda Items The following items were tentatively identified by Commission members for its March 10 meeting agenda: 1. Review 2021 work plan 2. Parks and facilities tour with the city council and rambling river center advisory board 3. Park and recreation director position 4. Work session meeting with city council 5. Skate park idea 6. Pickle ball 7. 2020 department annual report XI. Adjournment Moved by Caron and seconded by Suchanek to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary