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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.13.19 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes from the March 13, 2019 Regular Meeting Members Present: David McMillen, Brian Tennant, Ashley Crabtree and Elizabeth Koss Members Absent: Laurie Suchanek Other’s Present: Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire, Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck, Recreation Supervisor Ryan Hayes, Jody Peters Dakota County Tribune and Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad I. Call Meeting To Order Vice-Chair McMillen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present. II. Approval of March 13, 2019 Meeting Agenda Moved by Tennant and seconded by Crabtree to approve the meeting agenda as written. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of February 13, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions noted. IV. Presentations A. Parks and Recreation Department’s 2018 Annual Report New Commission members Brian Tennant, Ashley Crabtree and Elizabeth Koss introduced themselves and provided some personal background information to Commission members. Current Commission members David McMillen and Laurie Suchanek did the same. V. Business Items A. Fairhill Estate at North Creek Development Plat Director Distad provided background information about the development and how the plat has been revised from the previous plat submittal in 2017. He identified the revisions to the parks, trails and sidewalk plan and noted revisions staf f would like to see occur in the preliminary plat including:  Create an additional trail connection on the south side of 190th Street from the entrance street into the development to MN TH 3  Create an additional trail connection on the south side of 190th Street from the main entrance street into the development to the trail that is proposed in the gas easement  Flatten out the park area so facilities can be built in the area of the park that is visible from the street and also will discourage sledding from the top of the park towards the street McMillen asked when grading will start in the development. Distad responded the developer would like to get approvals done in early spring, so grading can begin as soon as road weight restrictions are removed later in spring. Moved by Koss and seconded by Crabtree to approve the following recommendation:  The neighborhood park location, size and configuration  The trail and sidewalk plan including additional new proposed trail locations  Allowing the developer to create a master plan for the neighborhood park, but requiring the park master plan to meet the neighborhood park standards and be approved by the Commission and the City Council first before development of the park can occur  Require the developer to start making improvements to the park once the development is 50% built out  Permit the developer to build the park and waive the park development fee in lieu of the developer covering the entire cost to make all park improvements approved in the park master plan APIF. Motion carried. B. Community Garden Director Distad informed Commission members that Jennifer Lothert contacted the Farmington Community Education department about its community garden and learned that garden plots are sold and there is one plot that is left unsold that is used to raise fruits and vegetables on and are donated to the Farmington Food Shelf. Her vision for the community garden is different in that she wants volunteers to plant and maintain it and then the garden would be open to anyone who wants to come and pick fruits and/or vegetables from the garden at no cost. He shared there was an email conversation he had with Ms. Lothert in the meeting packet about her vision for the community garden. It appears she would be looking to start the garden in 2020 which would give her some time to recruit volunteers and determine funding. She would like the city to provide a 30 foot by 30 foot area in a park that also have a water source. Director Distad informed Commission members that staff reviewed all park sites and felt that Evergreen Knoll Park best met what Ms. Lothert would need from the city. Staff felt the space behind the building in Evergreen Knoll Park would work well because there would be a water source on the outside of the building and would provide good parking for the garden volunteers and for people who may want to drive to the site and pick vegetables and fruits. He said he would recommend some kind of a memorandum of understanding or agreement be drafted and then entered into by the city and Ms. Lothert that identifies the terms and conditions of using this space for a community garden. Tennant asked if there would be a clause in the agreement that would allow the city to get out of the agreement if the garden was not successful. Distad shared the city has standard contract language that usually allows the city and the party entering into the agreement to give either one a 30 day notice to end the agreement. He felt this language would be important to include in the agreement form. Koss wondered if Lothert could partner maybe with the Farmington School District and the Dakota County Library in Farmington to recruit volunteers and or acquire seed and other materials for the garden. Distad said he would discuss this possible partnership with Lothert. Moved by Koss and seconded by Tennant to have staff work with Jennifer Lothert on creating either a memorandum of understanding or agreement that would identify the terms and conditions associated with having a community garden in Evergreen Knoll Park. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Review Park and Recreation Commission Ordinance Director Distad shared he had discussed with the city attorney about including meeting attendance requirement language in the ordinance and the city attorney recommended against this. Distad shared that instead of having this language in the ordinance it might be better to have it in Commission by-laws. He informed the Commission there aren’t any current by- laws for the Commission, so this would require by-laws being created. He suggested the by-laws be an item to include in the 2020 work plan, because this year’s work plan is set. McMillen agreed and felt the Commission has plenty of work plan items to complete in 2019. By consensus the direction was to have the creation of Commission by-laws included in the 2020 work plan. B. Review 2019 Work Plan Director Distad reviewed the work plan and identified there were 10 objectives completed since the review that occurred at the last meeting. He shared the work plan will be updated to reflect the newly completed objectives and it will be included in the April Commission meeting packet. C. City Council Park and Facilities Tour Date McMillen informed members about past history of having a parks and facilities tour with city council on odd numbered years. This means in 2019 there should be a tour scheduled. He added that this is also one of the 2019 work plan goals. Director Distad shared that in the past, the tour has occurred during the Commission’s August meeting date and has started at 6:00 p.m. in order to complete the tour while there is still daylight. He further stated that if the Commission wanted to continue with this schedule in 2019, it would mean a tour date of August 14 at 6:00 p.m. Tennant asked how it is determined which parks and facilities are toured. Director Distad shared in the past, staff has put a draft tour schedul e together based on the Commission’s initial discussion and input about what sites to tour. The draft schedule is then reviewed and approved by the Commission and provided to city council members in advance of the tour. By consensus, the Commission directed staff to provide to the city council the date of August 14 and start time of 6:00 p.m.for the parks and facilities tour. D. Rambling River Center Advisory Board Meeting Date Director Distad shared last year was the first year of this joint meeting and it was held on the Commission’s May meeting date at 6:00 p.m. prior to the regular meeting time of 7:00 p.m. The meeting with the Advisory Board occurred at the Rambling River Center and then the Commission had their regular meeting at the Rambling River Center at 7:00 p.m. He shared the Advisory Board has already discussed the date of May 8 to have the joint meeting, which is the Commission’s regular meeting date in May. He asked if Commission members were okay with having the meeting at 6:00 p.m. on May 8 prior to its regular meeting. By consensus, Commission members felt this date would work and asked staff to confirm this date with the Advisory Board at their April meeting. E. Park Improvement Fund Financial Plan Director Distad reviewed a draft 2030 Park Improvement Fund financial plan with Commission members. He shared that based on current annual funding levels and sources and projected expenses, the fund would eventually run out of funding in 2025 if revenues and/or expenses were adjusted. He asked Commission members to review the document and provide feedback to him. He shared this document would be brought back to the Commission at a later date and would be requesting it to be approved so it can be incorporated into the city’s long term financial plan. VII. Commission Roundtable Tennant: Didn’t have anything to share. Crabtree: Didn’t have anything to share. McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share. Koss: Didn’t have anything to share. VIII. Staff Report A report was given by Director Distad on the following items:  Playground and shelter purchases and installation contracts were approved for Prairie Pines and Marigold Parks  Shared information about the presentation made to the City Council showing the design options for making improvements to Schmitz-Maki Arena and the construction cost estimates for each of the options  Bike Pedestrian Plan public input process has ended and the plan is now moving into creating recommendations and strategies for implementing the plan and made Commission members aware of the presentation of the draft Bike Pedestrian Plan being made on Monday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. to the City Council, Park and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission  Informed them that Christian Life School will be closing after this school year and has decided to put the proper ty up for sale. Made Commission members aware that city staff toured the facilities and found them to be in good condition  Informed Commission members the park land donation in the Sapphire Lake development fell through and the city will only be receiving about 6 acres of park land in the development through the park dedication process IX. April 10, 2019 Meeting Agenda Items The following items were identified by Commission members for its April 10, 2019 meeting agenda: 1. Review 2019 work plan 2. Finalize details for the meeting with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board 3. Finalize details for the parks and facilities tour with the City Council 4. Sapphire Lake development update 5. Commission group photo for city’s website 6. Bike Pedestrian Plan Committee update X. Adjournment Moved by Tennant and seconded by Crabtree to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary