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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.08.20 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes from the July 8, 2020 Regular Meeting Members Present: David McMillen, Elizabeth Koss and Ashley Crabtree Members Absent: Brian Tennant and Laurie Suchanek Other’s Present: 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 July 8, 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 June 10, 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 A. 2021 Parks and Recreation Department Fees Director Distad identified the 2021 Schmitz-Maki Arena and park development fees that were recommended by staff to be increased. This included the ice rental fees being increased by $5.00 across the board, skate sharpening fees being increased a $1.00 and the park development fee being increased by 2.5% based on the construction cost index increase. He shared the arena did not break even on its operating costs in 2019, so the fee increase is being recommended in order to achieve a break-even budget for the arena in 2021. He shared the Rambling River Center Advisory Board recommended the Rambling River Center’s annual membership fee be increased $1.00 and all other fees were recommended to remain the same as the fees in 2020. Moved by Koss and seconded by Crabtree to recommend to the city council approval of the 2021 park and recreation department fees that were recommended by staff and the Rambling River Center Advisory Board. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. City Communication Presentation Chair McMillen asked for feedback about the city communication presentation that was made by Communication Specialist Lauren Siebenaler. The following feedback was provided: • thought there were good ideas presented about communicating with the public • have started noticing more of the communication that is occurring by the city • liked the increase use of photos and Facebook postings B. COVID 19 Update Director Distad provided a brief update about the department’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic including: • T-ball and soccer youth programs started this week and while not full, there were enough registrations to hold the programs • The summer playground program started this week and will be held through the end of July • The playground signs were installed by all playgrounds making users aware that the playgrounds are not sanitized, reminding them about social distance, to wash/sanitize their hands after using the playground and that they should use playgrounds at their own risk • Rambling River Center started offering a limited number of programs outdoors and there is no date identified yet of when the building will be reopening • Schmitz-Maki Arena is open for summer ice but there are limits to number of skaters that can be on the ice at the same time and not allowing anyone to remain at the arena to watch C. Publicizing Volunteering with the Parks and Recreation Department Director Distad informed Commission members that there will be an article in the fall Farmington Current publication about volunteer opportunities with the parks and recreation department. He also informed Commission members that he and Communication Specialist Siebenaler are working on creating posters about the volunteer opportunities with the department that will be placed inside the large informational boards located next to the parking lots in parks. D. 2020 Work Plan Review Chair McMillen reviewed the work plan and identified items that were completed since the last work plan review at the June 10, 2020 meeting. Director Distad shared he would update the work plan based on the objectives that were identified as being completed. He stated he would provide an updated work plan in the August 12, 2020 meeting packet for Commission members to review in order to continue to identify progress being made. VII. Commission Roundtable Koss: Didn’t have anything to share. Crabtree: Shared that the community Facebook page had a posting about Prairie Pines Park needing to be mowed and trimmed. Distad responded that staff will be mowing and trimming the park this week. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report Director Distad provided information on the following topics: A. Park Projects Shared that Farmington Preserve Park and Westview Park basketball court surfaces were repaired, leveled, painted, and lines were striped on the courts. B. Building Improvement Projects Made the Commission aware of the progress being made on Fire Station #1 overhead door project. C. Playground COVID 19 Signs Shared the signs have been installed and thus far hasn’t received any communication from the public about the signs. D. Willow Removal North Creek Park Area Informed about the purpose of removing the willows is to help prevent damage to the trails from the long root system that can poke up through the trail. The area where removal has occurred looks different and the ponds can be more readily viewed when walking the trails in this area. E. Schmitz-Maki Arena Summer Ice Information was provided about the status of summer ice. Has been going well and coaches, participants and parents are all doing a good job of trying to maintain proper social distance and not linger in the arena after each hockey session ends. F. 2021/2022 Budget Update Made the Commission aware city staff have prepared the first version of the requested 2021 and 2022 budgets and the city council will be reviewing it for the first time at a July 13 work session. It was shared that it is a work in progress with still some work to go before a preliminary budget will be adopted by the city council in September. IX. August 12, 2020 Meeting Agenda Items The Commission discuss possible agenda items and after some discussion decided there were not enough items identified to meet about. Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Koss to cancel the August 12, 2020 meeting. APIF. Motion carried. Director Distad shared he would work with Cindy Muller to publish a notice about the meeting being cancelled. X. Adjournment Moved by Koss and seconded by Crabtree to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary