Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.14.20 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the October 14, 2020 Regular Meeting Members Present: David McMillen, Laurie Suchanek, Elizabeth Koss, Brian Tennant and Ashley Crabtree Members Absent: None Other’s Present: Jennifer Lothert, Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire, Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck, Recreation Supervisor Ryan Hayes 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 October 14, 2020 Meeting Agenda Chair McMillen requested amending the agenda by adding “Social Media” as Letter C. under 6. Discussion Items. Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Koss to approve the amended meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of September 9, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions identified. IV. Presentations A. Public Comments – There were no public comments provided. B. Community Garden Jennifer Lothert provided the following comments about the first year of the community garden that was planted in Evergreen Knoll Park: • It was very rewarding, but COVID 19 pandemic created issues to have volunteers help • Changed the format of allowing people to pick their own vegetables to having the volunteers pick the vegetables and then putting them on a table for people to take or they delivered them to people requesting a delivery • The vegetables were free to take • They mainly offered the vegetables to older adults, people with disabilities and veterans • Amount of produce was limited due to poor soils, which will be addressed in 2021 • Dakota Lumber donated the materials to build the fence around the garden • Farmington Greenhouse donated vegetable plants • The location of the garden will be moved more to the west because of the shade that occurs during most of the morning where the garden was located • They are planning to have it a second year and are continuing with their fundraising efforts to fund the garden C. Staff Reports Staff provided a report about summer programs and events, summer ice at Schmitz-Maki Arena, Rambling River Center programs and building opening, and parks and trails improvements and maintenance work. This included the following information: • Due to COVID 19 many summer programs and events either had to be cancelled or modified to accommodate the pandemic including limits on number of participants and event attendees • Summer ice had more hours rented, which saw an increase in revenue but this was offset with learn to skate lessons being cancelled which decreased the amount of revenue, but overall there was a small profit generated during summer ice • Parks and trail improvements included installing a new basketball goal at Farmington Preserve Park, installing new signs in Marigold and Prairie Pines Parks • Maintenance projects included hauling and placing a number of truck loads of wood fiber under all of the playground equipment and removing and treating willow trees growing along the storm water ponds and adjacent to trails due to the root system damaging the trails • Rambling River Center opened October 1 but only Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and participants have to make either an appointment or register for programs to use the building because there is currently no drop in of members allowed. V. Business Items A. Reschedule November 11, 2020 Meeting Director Distad informed Commission members that because the November 11 meeting falls on a legal holiday, it will have to be rescheduled according to the Commission’s bylaws. Chair McMillen asked if it worked in everyone’s schedule to move the meeting to Wednesday, November 18. Everyone shared this date would work to meet. Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Tennant to move the Commission’s November 11 meeting to November 18. APIF. Motion carried. Director Distad made Commission members that currently there are only a couple of non-business items identified for the November meeting. He asked if Commission members would be okay with cancelling the meeting if no additional items are identified for the November meeting agenda. He shared that this would be discussed with Chair McMillen when they meet to discuss the November agenda. He further informed Commission members that if the meeting is cancelled, then there would be a notice sent by Cindy Muller notifying people of the meeting cancellation. VI. Discussion Items A. Review 2020 Work Plan Chair McMillen reviewed the work plan and identified a number of goals and objectives that have been completed, including the staff report that was given during the meeting. He noted there were only a few objectives yet to accomplish this year. B. 2021 Work Plan Ideas Chair McMillen reviewed the list of possible work plan ideas that was created during the September 9 meeting. He asked if Commission members had any additional ideas. There were no additional ideas identified. Director Distad shared that in December a draft work plan would be reviewed by the Commission and then a final draft would be brought to the January 2021 meeting to be approved. C. Social Media Chair McMillen noted that there was a post on the Farmington Community Facebook page about someone identifying a trail issue that had not been corrected. He asked what the role is for Commission members to respond to these posts. Director Distad suggested that the Commission not respond to the posts and that Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler is the designated staff person to respond. He shared that staff have fixed the trail issue. Crabtree said that she has directed people to Farmington Fix so they can send a request to have a repair issue addressed by staff. Director Distad stated that this is a good approach and requested Commission members do this if they hear anyone being concerned about a maintenance/safety issue. 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: Thanked staff for fixing the issue on the north end of the bridge that goes over the Vermillion River by the Schmitz-Maki Arena parking lot. McMillen: Shared he will be applying for reappointment to the Commission. Said he saw that Tennant shared information about the new skate park in Rosemount and wondered if the city would be able to construct something similar. It was shared that this would be something to consider to include in a referendum if one occurs, as it would be suitable to be located in Jim Bell Park and Preserve where other community facilities are planned. VIII. Staff Report A. 2021 Budget Update Commission members were informed that the 2021 preliminary budget was approved by the city council B. Arena Improvement Projects Commission members were informed that the resurfacer relocation project was scrapped and instead there are a number of other projects and maintenance work identified to occur including: • The rubber floor was replaced entirely in the arena • Evaporative condenser will be replaced • Compressor maintenance work • New floor scrubber purchase • Replace the electric Zamboni batteries He shared that the city council decided it would transfer $200,000 from Farmington Liquor Store profits to fund these projects C. Outdoor Ice and Warming Houses Shared that staff is moving ahead with hiring warming house attendants and opening the warming houses this winter but there will be limited capacity to allow proper social distancing and masks will be required to be worn in the warming houses IX. November 18, 2020 Meeting Agenda Items The following items were tentatively identified by Commission members for its November 13, 2019 meeting agenda: 1. 2020 Work Plan review 2. 2021 Work Plan ideas/topics X. Adjournment Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Suchanek to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary