HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.09.20 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington 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