HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.14.20 Parks and Rec Packet
M eeng Locaon :
Farmin gton C ity H all
430 T hird Street
Farmin gton, M N 55024
PA R K S AN D RE C R E AT I O N R E G U L A R M E E T I NG A G E NDA
O ctober 14, 2020
7:00 P M
1.C all M e e ng to O rde r
2.A pprove M eeng A genda
3.A pprove M eeng M inutes
(a)A ppr ove S eptember 9, 2020 M eeng Minutes
4.P re s e ntaons
(a)C ommunity G arden
(b)Park s and Recreaon D epartment's Reports
5.B us iness It e ms
(a)Res chedule Nov ember Meeng D ate
6.D is cus s ion It e ms
(a)2020 Work P lan Review
(b)2021 Work P lan I deas
7.C ommis s ion Roundtable
(a)Roundtable Format
8.S taff Re port /Updates
(a)I nformaonal I tems
9.M e e ng A ge nda Topics
(a)A genda I tems for November M eeng
10.A djournme nt
"The F armingt on Parks and Recreaon A dvisory C ommission's mission is t o advise and make
recommendaons to t he F armington C ity C ouncil concerning the comprehensive planning of the C ity
parks, trails, open space, recreaon facilies and recreaon programs."
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:A ppr ove S eptember 9 , 2020 M eeng Minutes
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
A$ached are the dra& minutes from the Par k and Recr eaon C ommis s ion's S eptember 9 , 2020 meeng.
Commission members are asked to review the minutes and provide at the meeng any correcons or
addions to the minutes that are needed.
AT TAC HMENT S :
Type Desc rip tion
Backup Material Draft September 9, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes from the September 9, 2020 Regular Meeting
Members Present: Laurie Suchanek, Elizabeth Koss, Brian Tennant and Ashley Crabtree
Members Absent: David McMillen
Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad
I. Call Meeting To Order
Vice-Chair Suchanek called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Quorum was present.
II. Approval of September 9, 2020 Meeting Agenda
Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Koss to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion
carried.
III. Approval of July 8, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions.
IV. Presentations
A. Public Comments
There were no public comments provided at the meeting.
V. Business Items
There were no business items during the meeting.
VI. Discussion Items
A. Commission Member Term Expiring
Director Distad informed Commission members that Chair McMillen’s term will be expiring on January 31,
2021. He shared that he discussed with him, so he is aware of his term expiring in 2021.
B. 2020 Work Plan Review
Vice-Chair Suchanek reviewed the work plan and identified items that were completed since the last work plan
review at the July 8, 2020 meeting. It was noted that there are a number of items in the work plan that could not
be accomplished in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was suggested that the items not completed
could be carried over to the 2021 work plan if the Commission supports this. Director Distad shared he would
update the work plan based on the objectives that were identified as being completed and would include the
updated work plan in the October meeting packet.
C. 2021 Work Plan Ideas
Director Distad shared with Commission member that in the past, possible items for the new work plan are
generated during the September-November meetings, so a draft work plan can be generated for the December
Commission meeting. He informed the Commission the January meeting is typically when the work plan is
approved. Commission members provide the following possible ideas for the 2021 work plan:
• Parks and facilities tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board
• Consider a name for neighborhood park in the Fairhill Estate at North Creek development
• Provide input for a possible community survey
• Have a parks and facilities tour with the city council
• Recommend a five year capital improvement plan for the park improvement fund
• Consider developing a master plan for Flagstaff Meadow Park
• Review the Bike and Pedestrian Plan and identify items to work on completing
• Park and Recreation Department staff presentations on programming, events, operations and
maintenance
• Look for ways to increase volunteerism
• Make a recommendation concerning providing pickle ball courts in a city park
VII. Commission Roundtable
Tennant: Shared that he took his daughter to the new Rosemount skate park and would like to see Farmington
build something similar to this skate park. Thought maybe it could be included as part of referendum and build
one in a community park.
Koss: Shared she was involved with volunteering with a group that weeded Depot Way Arts Park.
Crabtree: Saw on the Farmington community Facebook page that the two boardwalks that have been
underwater were raised up by staff. She thanked staff for doing this work.
Suchanek: Didn’t have anything to share.
VIII. Staff Report
Director Distad provided information on the following topics:
A. Park Projects
Shared the following park projects were recently completed:
• Prairie Pines Park signs installed
• Marigold Park signs installed
• Prairie Pines Park basketball court lines were painted
• Willow trees continue to be removed along trails
B. Recreation Programs
Shared the following information:
• Last Movie in the Park event is scheduled for North Creek Park on September 12
• Youth flag football program has started and has about 60 kids in most age groups, which is a better
turnout than staff expected
C. 2021 Budget Update
Shared that he made the city council aware that the Commission has discussed possibly converting the
Rambling River Park tennis courts to pickle ball courts during the park improvement fund budget presentation
because funding was requested to make surface improvements to the existing courts. This seemed to generate
support from council members. He further share there was also some discussion about still possibly doing a
community survey in 2021.
D. Schmitz-Maki Arena
Shared that the ice resurfacer relocation project is no longer being considered in the near future. Instead, there
were several other higher priority projects that were identified to be completed instead including:
• Replace the rubber flooring
• Replace the existing evaporative condenser
• Replace the oil separator
• Do major overhaul work on the compressors
He further shared these projects were approved by the city council and that funding will come from a $200,000
transfer from liquor store profits.
E. COVID-19
Made the Commission aware staff are planning to reopen the Rambling River Center on October 1 and that it
would be a limited opening with the building being open from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
Members who want to access it will need to either register for programs or make an appointment to check out
puzzles and board games. There won’t be any one allowed to just drop in and hang out in the building.
IX. October 14, 2020 Meeting Agenda Items
The Commission identified the following possible agenda items for the meeting:
• Review 2020 work plan
• Identify possible additional items for the 2021 work plan
• Presentation by the community garden coordinator
• Presentation by parks and recreation department staff members about summer programs/events, summer
ice, park and trail projects and maintenance
X. Adjournment
Moved by Tennant and seconded by Koss to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was
adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Distad
Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:C ommunity G arden
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
Jennifer L other t w ill be a&ending the meeng to pr es ent informaon to the C ommis s ion about the firs t
year of the community gar den that s he spearheaded in 2 0 2 0 .
Commission members s hould listen to her pr es entaon and then ask any ques ons they may have about
the community gar den.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Park s and Recreaon D epartment's Reports
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
Parks and Recreaon D epartment s taff member s J eremy P ire, Missie Kohlbeck and Ryan H ayes w ill be
a'ending the meeng to s hare informaon about the follow ing:
s ummer pr ogr ams and events
s ummer ice at S chmitz -Maki A rena
park and tr ail improv ements and maintenance
Rambling R iver C enter C O V I D -19 pandemic clos ure and reopening
Commission members are asked to lis ten to the pr es entaons and then as k ques ons about the
informaon pr ovided.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Res chedule November M eeng D ate
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
T he N ovember 1 1 regular meeng date falls on the Veteran's D ay holiday, w hich is a legal obs erved
holiday by the city and city hall will be clos ed on this date.
T he C ommis s ion's by laws state the follow ing s hould occur when the C ommis s ion's r egularly scheduled
meeng falls on a legally obs erved city holiday :
"Regular meengs w hich fall on an obs erved city holiday w ill be moved w ithin the s ame month and the
new date will be communicated in advance of the meeng date"
Commission members s hould come to the meeng prepared to discuss a new date for the Nov ember
meeng.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:2020 Work P lan Review
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
T he C ommis s ion's updated 2020 work plan is included in the meeng packet. S how n in bold red are work
plan items completed either at or s ince the las t C ommis sion meeng held on S eptember 9. I tems
completed prior to the S eptember 9 meeng ar e s hown in bold black.
Commission members s hould come to the meeng to review the work plan to idenfy if any other
addional items hav e been completed and then dis cus s other work plan items it would like to w ork on at
future meengs .
AT TAC HMENT S :
Type Desc rip tion
Backup Material Updated 2020 Work Plan
FARMINGTON PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
2020 WORK PLAN
Goal #1: Provide to the City Council a recommended 2021-2025 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 2021 to 2025.
Status: Completed. A discussion occurred at the May 13, 2020 meeting.
2. By June 1, the Commission will finalize the five-year capital improvement projects for the years
2021-2025 and make a recommendation to the City Council for approval.
Status: Completed. The Commission recommended to the City Council approval of a five-
year CIP for the park improvement fund for the years 2021-2025.
3. By September 15, the improvement projects recommended for funding from 2021-2025 will be
included in the City Council approved 2021 preliminary budget.
Status: Completed. The City Council approved a 2021 preliminary budget at its September
21, 2020 meeting, which included the park improvement fund’s 2021-2025 capital
improvement plan projects.
Goal #2: Create Commission By-Laws.
Objectives:
1. By March 1, a review of sample by-laws from other commission/boards will have occurred.
Status: Completed. A review occurred at the January 8, 2020 meeting.
2. By May 31, a draft of the Commission’s by-laws will have been reviewed.
Status: Completed. A review of the first draft of the bylaws occurred during the February 12,
2020 meeting.
3. By July 31, a final draft of the Commission’s by-laws will be reviewed and approved.
Status: Completed. A final draft was approved at the May 11, 2020 meeting.
4. By October 31, the Commissions by-laws will have been reviewed by the City Council and
approved.
Status: Completed. The City Council approved the Commission’s bylaws at its June 1, 2020
meeting.
Goal #3: Participate in a Parks and Facilities Tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory
Board.
Objectives:
1. By April 1, the Commission and Advisory Board will have identified a date to have a tour.
Status: Partially completed. Both groups proposed dates and the Advisory Board will
discuss the Commission’s proposed date of July 8, 2020 at its March 9, 2020 meeting.
2. By May 1, a draft list of parks and facilities to tour will be reviewed by the Commission and
Advisory Board.
Status: A draft list was completed. However due to the COVID 19 pandemic the list was not
reviewed because the tour was cancelled for this year.
3. By July 15 a final list of parks and facilities to tour will be approved by the Commission and
Advisory Board.
Status: Not completed due to the COVID 19 pandemic, which resulted in the July 8 tour
being cancelled for this year.
4. By October 1, a parks and facilities tour will have occurred.
Status: Not completed due to the COVID 19 pandemic, which resulted in the July 8 tour
being cancelled for this year.
Goal #4: Work with the Developer on Naming the Neighborhood Park in the Fairhill Estate at
North Creek Development.
Objectives:
1. By March1, the Commission will have discussed option with the developer on how to determine
the name of the park.
Status: Completed. Because the park has not been graded yet, it was decided at the January
8 Commission meeting to postpone the naming of the park until 50% of the development is
built and then possible park names would be solicited from residents who live in the
development.
2. By May1, the Commission will have implemented the option selected to name the park.
Status: Not completed. The park will be named after 50% of the development is constructed.
3. By September 1, possible park names will have been identified.
Status: Not completed. The park will be named after 50% of the development is constructed.
4. By October 31, a final name for the park will be selected by the Commission and the name
forwarded to the city council for approval.
Status: Not completed. The park will be named after 50% of the development is constructed
5. By December 31, the city council will approve the name of the neighborhood park in the
development.
Status: Not completed. The park will be named after 50% of the development is constructed.
Goal #5: Meet with the City Council.
Objectives:
1. By February 1, the Commission and city council will have identified a date to meet.
Status: Completed. A date of February 10, 2020 was approved to meet.
2. By February 29, possible agenda items will be identified for the meeting.
Status: Completed. The item to discuss with the City Council was identified as the
development of Jim Bell Park and Preserve.
3. By June 1, the Commission will have met with the City Council.
Status: Completed. The Commission met with the City Council on February 10 and had a
debriefing of the meeting at its February 12, meeting.
Goal #6: Learn about the City’s Various Communication Tools and Process Used to Keep the
Public Informed.
Objectives:
1. By February 15, the Commission will develop a series of topics and questions about city
communications, so they can be provided to the city’s Communication Specialist as an aid in
the development of a future presentation to the Commission.
Status: Partially completed. Preliminary presentation topics were identified at the January 8
meeting, but discussion about additional topics will be discussed at the February and March
meetings.
2. By March 31, a meeting date will be identified for the Communication Specialist to attend a
Commission meeting and make a presentation about the city’s communication tools and
process.
Status: Completed. The April 8 meeting was identified. However this did not occur because
of the COVID 19 pandemic and it was rescheduled to the June 10, 2020 meeting.
3. By July 31, a presentation to the Commission by the city’s Communication Specialist will have
occurred.
Status: Completed. A presentation occurred during the June 10, 2020 meeting.
Goal #7: Receive periodic presentations from each of the Parks and Recreation professional
staff members about programs, parks, facilities and trails.
Objectives:
1. By March 15, the Commission will have received a presentation by professional staff members
of the Department’s 2019 Annual Report.
Status: Completed. A presentation by Parks and Recreation Department professional staff
members occurred at the March 11, 2020 meeting.
2. By June1, Commission members will have received a presentation from staff on the results of
the Schmitz-Maki Arena’s winter ice season.
Status: Completed. Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire gave a presentation on the
winter ice season and an update on the impact the COVID 19 pandemic had on the arena
this past spring.
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 #8: Identify Bike Pedestrian Plan Priorities to Accomplish in 2020 and 2021.
Objectives:
1. By March 31, the Commission will review the priorities identified in the Bike Pedestrian Plan.
Status: Completed. The list was reviewed at the February 12, 2020 meeting.
2. By June 1, a draft list of priorities to work on and accomplish in 2020 and 2021 will be
developed by the Commission.
Status: Completed. Two priorities were identified. One was the completion of a trail on the
west side of MN TH 3 from 205th Street to Willow Street. The second was to install
pedestrian crosswalk signs in the roundabouts on MN TH 3 and CSAH 64 (195th Street).
3. By August 31, Commission members will have identified and approved a recommended final
list of priorities to accomplish in 2020 and 2021 and will have forwarded the recommended list
to the City Council.
Status: Completed. Two priorities were identified. One was the completion of a trail on the
west side of MN TH 3 from 205th Street to Willow Street. The second was to install
pedestrian crosswalk signs in the roundabouts on MN TH 3 and CSAH 64 (195th Street).
4. By November 1, the City Council will review and approve a final list of priorities to accomplish
in the city’s Bike Pedestrian Plan.
Status: Completed. The City received funding from MN DOT to fund a trail on the west side
of MN TH 3 from 205th Street to Willow Street. Construction of the trail however, has been
postponed until 2022 when a new roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of MN
TH 3 and Dakota County Road 66 and the trail construction will be combined with this
project. City staff are working with Dakota County and MN DOT staff on the installation of
cross walk signs.
Goal #9: Promote and Encourage Volunteerism in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Objectives:
1. By April 30, the Commission will have received a presentation on how volunteerism is
structured and what opportunities are currently available in the Parks and Recreation
Department.
Status: Completed. A presentation and discussion occurred at the March 11, 2020 meeting.
2. 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.
Status: Completed. A review of the volunteer opportunities was discussed during the May 13,
2020 meeting.
3. By August 31, the Commission will have discussed different ways and opportunities to promote
volunteerism in the parks and recreation department.
Status: Completed. A discussion occurred during the May 13, 2020 meeting. This included
a discussion with Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler about ways that volunteer
opportunities in the city may be promoted through the city’s website, publications and social
media platforms.
4. By October 31, volunteer opportunities in the parks and recreation department will be
promoted.
Status: Completed. An article appeared in the fall edition of the Farmington Currents
newsletter and posters were installed in the large information boards that are located by the
parking lots of parks that have them.
Goal #10: Make a Recommendation to the City Council to Conduct a Community Survey in
2021.
Objectives:
1. By April 1, the Commission will discuss a draft written letter to the City Council supporting
funds be included in the 2021 budget to complete a community survey.
Status: Completed. A discussion occurred at the March 11, 2020 meeting about what content
should be in a draft letter to the city council supporting funding being requested to be
included in the 2021 budget to complete a community survey in 2021.
2. By May 15, the Commission will have created a final written letter and it will be presented to
the City Council supporting the inclusion of funds in the 2021 budget to complete a community
survey in 2021.
Status. Not completed. It was determined at the May 13, 2020 meeting that because of the
COVID 19 pandemic it was best to not have a letter of support for a community survey given
the likely financial constraints residents of Farmington and the city will have in 2021. The
Commission felt that asking questions about a referendum would not likely go over very well
with the community given the timing of the pandemic and the impact it is having on
residents.
3. By July 1, the preliminary 2021 draft requested budget will show funding for a community
survey to be completed in 2021.
Status: Partially completed. While funding was not requested in the 2021 city budget,
funding was requested in the 2022 budget for a community survey.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:2021 Work P lan I deas
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
At its S eptember 9, 2 0 2 0 meeng, the C ommis s ion began a discussion about pos s ible topics to include in
the 2021 work plan. T he following pos s ible topics w er e idenfied:
Parks and facilies tour with the Rambling R iver C enter A dv is ory B oar d
Consider a name for neighborhood park in the Fairhill Es tate at Nor th C r eek development
P rovide input for a possible community s urv ey
H ave a par ks and facilies tour w ith the city council
Recommend a five year capital improv ement plan for the park impr ovement fund
Consider dev eloping a master plan for F lags taff Meadow Park
Review the B ike and Pedes trian P lan and idenfy items to work on compleng
Park and Recreaon D epartment s taff pr es entaons on programming, events , operaons and
maintenance
L ook for w ay s to increase volunteeris m
Make a r ecommendaon concerning prov iding pickle ball courts in a city par k
Commission members s hould come prepar ed to connue idenfying other pos s ible topics to consider for
its 2021 w ork plan.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:Roundtable Format
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
T he roundtable agenda item allow s Commis s ion members to share informaon with other C ommis s ion
members and s taff, or as k quesons of s taff about items not on the agenda. N o formal decis ions are
made during this agenda item.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:I nformaonal I tems
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
Commission members will receive updates on the follow ing items:
2021 budget update
S chmitz -M aki A r ena
O utdoor ice warming houses
Commission members s hould come prepar ed to lis ten to the informaon that will be prov ided and then
ask any follow up ques ons they would like on each of thes e items.
TO :Far mington Parks and Recreaon Commission M embers
F R O M :R andy D istad, Parks and Recr eaon D irector
S U B J EC T:A genda I tems for November M eeng
DAT E:O ctober 14, 2020
B A C KG R O U N D
T he following are pos s ible items for the Nov ember meeng agenda:
Review 2 0 2 0 w ork plan
I denfy addional pos s ible topics for 2021 wor k plan
Commission members s hould come prepar ed to idenfy other pos s ible addional agenda items.