HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.11.17 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Minutes from the January 11, 2017 Regular Meeting
Members Present: David McMillen, John Moore and Dustin Johnson
Members Absent: Mike Haley and Rob Carpentier
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 January 11, 2017 Meeting Agenda
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Moore to approve the amended meeting agenda as a result of the recognition of Mike
Haley and Rob Carpentier being pulled from the agenda due to both being absent from the meeting and the recognitions
will be rescheduled to the February 8, 2017 meeting. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried.
III. Approval of October 12, 2016 Regular Meeting Minutes and Approval of November 9, 2016 Empire Township
Park and Recreation Commission Joint Meeting Minutes
Both meeting minutes were approved with no revisions noted.
IV. Presentations
There were no presentations.
V. Business Items
A. Approve 2016 Meeting Attendance Report
Distad noted this is an item that was carried over from the December 14, 2016 meeting due to a lack of quorum at the
meeting. He stated a request is being made to have the Commission formally approve the attendance report for
documentation purposes. He also shared Commission members should have received a stipend for meeting attendance
based on the 2016 meeting attendance report that the Commission is being asked to approve.
Moved by Moore and seconded by Johnson to approve the 2016 meeting attendance report. APIF. Motion carried.
B. Approve 2016 Annual Work Plan Completion
Chair McMillen reviewed the work plan items and identified the items that have been successfully completed and the
items not completed. He asked if Commission members had any further revisions to the 2016 Annual Work Plan and
there were none given. Distad informed Commission members he is requesting approval of the 2016 Annual Work Plan in
order to have a record documenting the items completed and not completed.
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Moore to accept and approve the 2016 Annual Work Plan and consider it to be
closed. APIF. Motion carried.
C. Prairie Pines Park Master Plan Public Meeting Liaison
Distad informed Commission members in the past when a public meeting was held to gather input on a park master plan,
the Commission had a member serve as a liaison to the public meeting to listen to the input given. Johnson stated he
would be interested in volunteering to serve as the Commission’s liaison to the public meeting and that he would be able
to attend the public meeting at the Rambling River Center on Thursday, January 12.
Moved by Moore and seconded by McMillen to select Johnson as the liaison to the Prairie Pines Park Master Plan public
input meeting. APIF. Motion carried.
D. Prairieview Park Improvements
Distad explained to Commission members while there was $150,000 approved in the budget to make improvements to
Prairieview Park, in actuality, this amount should be trimmed to $100,000 due to the balance remaining in the park
improvement fund. He shared that staff is recommending $50,000 for a new playground, $30,000 for a new shelter and
$20,000 for a new full court basketball court. Commission members seemed to be in agreement with these general
amounts. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Moore to develop and mail Request for Proposals to playground and
shelter vendors based on the general budget outline. APIF. Motion carried.
VI. Discussion Items
A. Trail Signage Map
Distad provided information about two additional trail loops that signage could be made for including a trail loop in
Meadowview Park and the Prairie Waterway. Moore suggested that arrows being shown on the maps identifying the trails
continue beyond the trail loop area. McMillen requested that Distad share information with Tony Wippler about the
company that makes these signs, so Tony can contact them about HPC wayfinding signs.
B. Trails and Sidewalk Snow Removal Map Revisions
Distad briefly described two revisions made to the snow removal map. One was to include the Vermillion River Crossing
sidewalks and trails as a first priority snow removal area. The second revision was to add snow removal on a small trail
loop in the Mystic Meadows development since some of this trail is already having snow removed from it.
C. Review Meeting with Empire Township’s Park and Recreation Commission
Commission members felt the meeting was beneficial in having an opportunity to share information between the two
Commissions. Johnson felt it was beneficial to discuss programs and events that are offered and also provided a good
discussion about Swim Bus stops in Empire Township. McMillen felt having a parks tour in the summer of 2017 would be
beneficial for both Commissions to gain a better understanding of where parks and trails are located that are discussed
during the joint meeting. Moore felt there was anything substantive that occurred during the meeting other than
information being shared
D. Draft 2017 Annual Work Plan
Distad reviewed the draft work plan and shared the goals included were previously discussed by the Commission. Chair
McMilllen asked if there were any revisions Commission members would like to make to the draft work plan. Since there
were no revisions identified, the 2017 Annual Work Plan will be brought back to the February 8, 2017 Commission
meeting for formal approval. This will give new Commission members an opportunity to review and learn more about the
work plan during the meeting.
VII. Commission Roundtable
Johnson: Thanked Commission members Haley and Carpentier for their years of service on the Commission. He shared
he appreciated his last year on the Commission and has learned a lot about parks and recreation in the city. He is excited
for 2017.
Moore: Shared he was disappointed the Recreational Facilities Referendum failed. Is interested in exploring the
possibility of a disc golf course being developed in the city.
McMillen: Thanked Commission members Haley and Carpentier for the knowledge, dedication and insight they brought
to the Commission. He also stated he agreed with Moore about being disappointed with the Recreational Facilities
Referendum failing.
VIII. Staff Report
A. 2017 Budget Update
Distad shared the City Council adopted the 2017 budget and the Parks and Recreation Department received an increase
in funding, which primarily went towards increased personnel costs.
B. Outdoor Rinks
Shared the outdoor rinks are open, but not without some challenges from it being too warm initially to being really cold,
which affected the rink being closed a few days because of the temperature extremes.
C. Recreation Supervisor Position Status
Distad shared the City Council had a good discussion at their December 12, 2016 work session about the Recreation
Supervisor position that is vacant. It was a good opportunity to educate Council members about what this position does
and the impact it has on the community. Staff is moving forward with filling this position.
D. Community Expo
Distad shared the annual Community Expo will be held at Farmington High School on Saturday, January 28, 2017 from
9:00 a.m. until 12:00 Noon. He invited Commission members to attend and said this is a great opportunity for people to
get out and see what organizations and businesses exist in Farmington.
E. Park and Recreation Commission Applications
Distad shared there was one application received for the two openings on the Commission. The person who applied was
not available on the date the City Council interviewed candidates, so it has been scheduled to occur prior to the February
6, 2017 Council meeting. Additionally there were a few applicants who applied for and interviewed for appointment to
other Boards and Commissions but were not appointed, so they will be asked about interviewing for Park and Recreation
Commission appointment.
IX. February 8, 2017 Meeting Agenda Items
The following items were identified by Commission members for its December 10, 2014 meeting agenda:
1. 2017 Annual Work Plan approval
2. Trail signage update
3. Approval Marigold and Prairie Pines Park Master Plans
4. Election of officers
5. HPC wayfinding signage update
6. Recognition of outgoing Commission members
7. Prairieview Park RFP update
X. Adjournment
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Moore to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at
8:05 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Distad
Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary