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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.13.18 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (Commission) Minutes from the June 13, 2018 Regular Meeting Members Present: John Moore, Laurie Suchanek, Neil Ramdhan and Dustin Johnson Members Absent: David McMillen Other’s Present: John Anderson, Winkler Land Company, LLC.; Bart Winkler, Winkler Land Company, LLC.; Brian Stender, President Farmington Baseball Association; 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 June 13 Meeting Agenda Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Ramdhan to approve the amended meeting agenda moving the Sapphire Lake Development Preliminary Plat Park Reconsideration item to right after the Farmington Baseball Association presentation. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried. III. Approval of May 9, 2018 Special Joint Meeting Minutes with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions noted. IV. Presentations A. Farmington Baseball Association (FBA) Brian Stender, President of the FBA provided information about the history of the organization, participation numbers, and projects they have completed on city and school district ballfields. He is also here to request FBA be allowed to make the following improvements to city ballfields:  install grass infields on the Prairieview Park and Feely Field Field #3 fields  irrigation system installation on Prairieview Park and Feely Field Field #3 fields  install batting cages at Prairieview Park  replacement of netting on Feely Fields Field #3. Stender shared these improvements have previously been discussed with staff and the recommendation was made to have FBA bring the requested field improvements to the Commission. He said there is no current timetable and they are still determine what the final costs will be to make these improvements. They may all be done at once or they may be separate projects. It will all depend on what funds they have available to complete these projects. Suchanek asked how the FBA does fundraising. Stender answered through hosting tournaments and concession sales. He shared they also charge a facility fee that goes into a reserve fund, so it can be used for future facility improvements. They have also approached corporations for sponsorships. Ramdhan asked how the organization was doing with sustaining participation in the organization. Stender replied the organization tries to keep fees low to maintain and grow participation, but they have had to raise fees lately in order to cover umpire costs. They have difficulty hiring umpires because of parent’s behavior towards umpires. He said the FBA has been working hard on getting parents to show better sportsmanship towards umpires. It seems to be working and the Farmington parents have become better about their behavior and respect shown towards umpires. Distad agreed with Stender about parks and recreation staff meeting with the FBA previously and felt the improvements outlined in the presentation are reasonable. Distad said a discussion should occur by the Commission, at a future meeting, about the requests FBA presented about city field improvements they would like to make. If the Commission is in support of the field improvements after its discussion, then an agreement with the FBA to complete the improvements would be brought to the Commission at a future meeting to approve. The City Council would also need to approve the agreement with FBA before any field improvements could be made. V. Business Items A. Reconsideration Park Land Location Sapphire Lake Development Distad provided the following background information to the Commission members about the Winkler Land Company, LLC (Developer) requesting to have the park location in the Sapphire Lake Development be reconsidered by the Commission from what was approved at the May 2, 2018 meeting because of some issues that surfaced since then: The Developer met with city staff on June 7, 2018 about issues pertaining to the coverage of the sanitary sewer and elevation of the future Biscayne Avenue. In short, the area in the northeast corner of the development would have to receive considerable fill to provide the proper coverage for the sanitary sewer, which would require the future Biscayne Avenue to receive considerable fill in order for it to be at the proper elevation to match the future Spruce Street elevation. As a result, the Developer is requesting the Park and Recreation Commission reconsider the location of the park to be dedicated in the development. Specifically the developer is requesting the Commission consider allowing the park land dedication to occur over the last four residential lots in the northeast corner of the development, which was originally recommended by staff to the Commission. This would allow the future Spruce Street elevation to be lowered adjacent to the current proposed four residential lots. Because of this, it would allow a better transition of the future Spruce Street elevation to the future Biscayne Avenue elevation. It would also reduce the need for a large amount of fill for the future Biscayne Avenue. John Anderson spoke on behalf of the Developer about the request. He highlighted the amount of park and open space that would be provided along the greenway in the development. There would be approximately 1.335 acres of park dedication being satisfied by having the park located on the four lots in the northeast corner of the development and for the area of the trail. There would be an additional 4 acres of floodplain and wetlands that would be combined with the park land to make the overall park and open space area about. This would make the total area a little more than 5 acres . Ramdhan asked if the entire site would have to be filled. Anderson said the excavated material from the ponds would be used to fill the site and is needed because the ground water is so high in this area. He shared the Developer wants to build walkout homes and this requires that the building pads be built up to allow this type of house design. Ramdhan asked if the city would receive floodplain as part of the park. Anderson said no that park dedication would not be given for the floodplain, but the city would be deeded the floodplain that abuts the park. Winkler, the Developer, showed the dimensions of the park. Distad shared that the area shown in brown and tan would be the areas the city would allow the Developer to receive park dedication for. He suggested the Commission make a motion to do the following:  Approve the areas shown in tan and brown be accepted as part of the park dedication for the development  Require the developer to dedicate the remaining required park land in the development in the southeast area of the development that abuts the floodplain and wetland areas. Moved by Suchaneka and seconded by Ramdhan to accept the four lots in the northeast area shown in brown and the tan area where the proposed trail is be accepted as park land dedication and any remaining park dedication owed to be in the form of land in the southeast area of the development that abuts the floodplain and wetland area. APIF. Motion carried. IV. Presentations B. Schmitz-Maki Arena Distad highlighted the following information about the 2017-2018 winter ice season:  Ice rental hours increased by 109 hours from the previous season  Ice rental revenue increased by about $18,000 from the previous season  The Halloween Skate and Skate with Santa events had a total of 350 participants and both events provided a total of 378 pounds of food and $25.25 in cash to the Farmington Food Shelf  There were 203 participants in the Learn to Skate sessions V. Business Items B. Approve Park and Facilities Tour Schedule with Rambling River Center Advisory Board Commission members reviewed the draft parks and facilities tour schedule that was created during the May 9, 2018 joint meeting with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board. There were no revisions made to the draft schedule. Moved by Moore and seconded by Ramdhan to approve the schedule and locations of the parks and facilities tour with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board. APIF. Motion carried. VI. Discussion Items A. Review 2018 Annual Work Plan Chair Johnson reviewed the 2018 Annual Work Plan and noted there was one objective completed since the last Commission meeting. Distad shared he would update the work plan to reflect completed items at the meeting tonight. B. 2019 Park and Recreation Fees and Charges Distad shared with Commission members the staff recommended revisions to the fees and charges. He informed Commission members that no decision would be made during the meeting because the Rambling River Center Advisory Board first needs to review and make a recommendation to the Commission concerning the 2019 fees and charges for the Rambling River Center. He made the Commission members aware that this won’t be completed until the July 9, 2018 Rambling River Center Advisory Board meeting. Then the recommended Rambling River Center fees and charges will be brought to the Commission for consideration at its July 11, 2018 meeting. VII. Commission Roundtable Johnson: Encouraged everyone to enjoy the Dew Days celebration this week in downtown Farmington. Moore: Shared he has heard from some residents about their concern with trying to cross the roundabouts and that drivers don’t seem to be aware of pedestrians because they are watching for other vehicles. He asked if more pedestrian signage could be installed making drivers more aware of pedestrian’s crossing in the roundabouts. Distad shared he would make the City Engineer/Public Works Director aware of this. Suchanek: Shared she will not be in attendance at the July 11, 2018 meeting. Ramdhan: Thanked Commission members for clarifying some of the park location and dedication issues that occurred earlier in the meeting during the Sapphire Lake Development discussion. Shared he will not be able to attend the parks and facilities tour in August. He asked if staff could look at the fishing dock in Lake Julia Park. It seems to need repair. VIII. Staff Report A. MRPA Award of Excellence Made the Commission aware the Parks and Recreation Department was recognized with this award for the Vermillion River bank stabilization, habitat restoration and trail replacement project that occurred in 2017. The plaque was placed in the display case located by the doors that exit to the city hall parking lot. B. Schmitz Maki Arena Door Replacement Project Made Commission members aware four exterior door frames and 8 exterior doors have been replaced and staff will be painting the new doors in the coming weeks. C. Trail Maintenance Informed Commission members trail crack sealing occurred a few weeks ago and fog sealing of trails will occur in July. D. Schmitz-Maki Arena Preliminary Design and Construction Cost Estimates Provided information about the city hiring an architectural firm to work with staff and user groups on the preliminary design of the following:  move the resurfacer room to the northeast area of the building  move concessions area from the mezzanine to the current resurfacer room  add two dedicated high school locker rooms to the east of the arena  address issue of exterior concrete wall deterioration  correct ADA issues As part of the preliminary design work, construction cost estimates will also be prepared so the city can use the estimates for budgeting and funding purposes. IX. July 11, 2018 Meeting Agenda Possible Items The following items were tentatively identified by Commission members for its July 11, 2018 meeting agenda: 1. 2018 Annual Work Plan review 2. Recommend 2019 Park and Recreation Fees and Charges 3. Parks and Facilities Tour with Rambling River Center Advisory Board 4. Bike Pedestrian Plan Committee Makeup X. Adjournment Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Moore to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Distad Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary