HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.14.18 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes from the March 14, 2018 Regular Meeting
Members Present: John Moore, David McMillen, and Dustin Johnson
Members Absent: Laurie Suchanek and Neil Ramdhan
Other’s Present: Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck and Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad
I. Call Meeting To Order
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present.
II. Approval of March 14, 2018 Meeting Agenda
Moved by McMillen and seconded by Moore to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried.
III. Approval of February 14, 2018 Regular Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions noted.
IV. Presentations
A. 2017 Park and Recreation Department’s Annual Report
Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck and Parks and Recreation Director Distad made a power point presentation about the
various accomplishments in 2017 in the areas of park improvements, park maintenance, trail maintenance, Schmitz- Maki
Arena usage, Rambling River Center usage, general city building maintenance, recreation programs and events.
V. Business Items
A. Park Naming Contest
Each Commission member first narrowed the list of the 39 park names submitted to five names they liked. Then they
shared the names of the five parks they selected, which were tabulated based on the number of times a park name was
identified. Based on the names identified most by Commission members, the final list was narrowed to five names.
Based on the number of votes cast on the final list of park names, the name Flagstaff Meadow received the most votes.
Moved by Moore and seconded by McMillen to recommend to the City Council the name of Flagstaff Meadow Park for
the Regetta Fields development. APIF. Motion carried.
B. Group Photo of Park and Recreation Commission Members
Because there were two Commission members absent, it was decided by group consensus to postpone the photo of
Commission members until the April 11, 2018 meeting.
VI. Discussion Items
A. 2018 Work Plan Review
Chair Johnson reviewed the list of goals and objectives in the work plan. There were two objectives completed since the
last Commission meeting. As a result of the presentation tonight and other decisions made, there were additional work
plan items completed. Distad will update the 2017 work plan to reflect these accomplishments and will include the
updated work plan in the April meeting packet.
B. City Parks Tour
Distad shared this idea was brought up at the February meeting and so he placed it on the Commission’s agenda as a
discussion item. He reviewed that the Commission briefly discussed the possibility of having a parks tour just for
Commission members because there is no park tours planned with the City Council or Empire Township’s Park and
Recreation Commission. He felt a tour would be beneficial because there are several new members on the Commission
who could benefit from seeing the city’s parks, trails and recreational facilities. Commission members agreed and felt it
warranted a discussion at the April meeting to see how all Commission members felt about this and a possible date for the
tour could be discussed that would allow all Commission members to attend.
C. Draft Agenda Items for Joint Meeting with Rambling River Center Advisory Board (RRCAB)
Distad shared the RRCAB would like to meet with the Commission on Wednesday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. The RRCAB
shared during its March 12 meeting it was interested in getting a tour of the city’s park, trails and recreational facilities
and wanted to discuss this during the joint meeting. Discussion centered on possible items to include on the agenda. The
discussed possible topics were as follows:
Introductions
Rambling River Center building tour
Parks tour for both groups
Initiatives both groups are working on
2040 Comprehensive Plan
Rambling River Center’s branding and logo
Distad shared he would make the RRCAB aware that the meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the
Rambling River Center.
D. Farmington Youth Baseball Association (FYBA) Presentation Information Request
Distad shared with Commission members that he would like to convey to the FYBA organization what information the
Commission desires to receive from them during their presentation. The following areas were identified by Commission
members that they desired to receive information about:
Organizations structure
Past and current participation numbers
A 5 year plan if they have one
Mission and values statements
Types of improvements they would like to make to the city ballfields and how these improvements would benefit
the organization
Distad shared he would provide this information to the FYBA, so they could provide this information during their
presentation
VII. Commission Roundtable
Moore: Didn’t have anything to share.
McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share.
Johnson: Thanked the person who submitted the winning park name.
VIII. Staff Report
A. 2040 Comprehensive Plan
Distad shared the Comprehensive Plan’s Existing and Proposed Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan Map was revised to
show future trails aligning with future collector streets. In addition, there were a couple of new future neighborhood park
locations added south of the Vermillion River Crossing because this area is identified as a future residential devel opment
in the city.
B. 2018 Park and Facilities Projects
Distad provided a status report on the following project that will be occurring this spring and summer:
Pool demolition
Arena doors replacement
Feely Fields outfield fence replacement on Field #1
Build out of the City Hall space that the United States Department of Agriculture will be leasing from the city
Basketball court surface improvements in Evergreen Knoll Park and Dakota County Estates Park
Fire Station #1 concrete apron removal and replacement
C. Bike Pedestrian Plan
Shared the Department was notified that it was selected to receive $32,000 in funding from Dakota County’s Statewide
Health Improvement Program funding to hire a consultant to lead the city through the development of a bike and
pedestrian plan. He stated the city would not receive funding until November 1, 2018 and the plan would be developed
and final approval give in the summer of 2019. Dakota County will be sending an agreement form for the City Council
to approve.
D. May and August Meeting Date Conflicts
Shared he is unable to attend the May 9, 2018 and the August 8, 2018 meetings due to scheduling conflicts. He
suggested that maybe the Commission could have the joint meeting with the RRCAB on May 9 and not have a regular
meeting on this date, or change the date of May’s regular meeting. Johnson suggested the May meeting date should be
discussed at the April Commission meeting and see if there are any pressing issues that would require holding the
meeting. Distad shared he would still put the meeting packet together for the joint meeting with the RRCAB on May 9,
but just wouldn’t be able to attend. He said he would check with other Department staff about attending the joint meeting
to take minutes.
E. FAA Traffic Control Center Utility Easement
Shared staff met with a member of the FAA Traffic Control Center about a future project that will occur on the city
parcel located east of the Schmitz-Maki Arena. This will be for an additional 5 foot wide easement that will allow
another pipe to be laid, so ground water under the Traffic Control Center can be pumped through this new pipe because
there is an issue with the current gravity flow pipe not removing water fast enough, which has caused some water to seep
into the lower level of the building. The easement will not interfere with any future ice arena expansion or parking lot
construction. He shared this was for informational purposes, so the Commission knew about this before any digging
started. He informed the Commission this project will occur this summer.
IX. April 11, 2018 Meeting Agenda Items
The following items were identified by Commission members for its April 11, 2018 meeting agenda:
1. 2040 Comprehensive Plan
2. 2018 Work Plan review
3. Projects update
4. May meeting discussion
5. Agenda for joint meeting with the RRCAB
6. Farmington Youth Baseball Association’s presentation
7. Fairhill Estate at North Creek development update
X. Adjournment
Moved by McMillen and seconded by Moore to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned
at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Distad
Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary