HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.17.17 Parks and Rec MinutesFarmington Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Minutes from the May 17, 2017 Regular Meeting
Members Present: Hannah Simmons, David McMillen, John Moore, Laurie Suchanek and Dustin Johnson
Members Absent:
Other’s Present: Kara Hildreth, Tim Solomonson, Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., Community Development Director
Adam Kienberger, Recreation Supervisor Jeremy Pire 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 May 17, 2017 Meeting Agenda
Moved by McMillen and seconded by Simmons to approve the meeting agenda as amended to add Business Item Letter F.
Neighborhood Park Standards. All persons in favor (APIF). Motion carried.
III. Approval of April 12, 2017 Regular Meeting Minutes
The meeting minutes were approved with no revisions noted.
IV. Presentations
A. Approve Rambling River Center Plaza Preferred Concept
Tim Solomonson from Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. presented information about the preferred concept development of
the Rambling River Center Plaza (Plaza). He identified the preferred amenities and facilities that were determined through
public input. Public input included:
holding an open house to receive verbal and written comments from the public
providing the two concept boards and comment cards at City Hall
providing concepts on the city’s website for viewing and comments through Survey Monkey
He shared the preferred concept was determine after reviewing all comments generated and determining what amenities
and facilities received the most comments in support of having in the plaza design.
The Commission provided comments in support of the preferred concept.
Moved by Simmons and seconded by Suchanek to approve the preferred concept as drawn. APIF. Motion carried.
B. 2016-2017 Arena Ice Season Report
Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jeremy Pire presented information about participation in events and programs occurring at
the arena this past winter ice season. Attendance was up in events and programs over previous years. He reviewed the
rental hours of each group who rented ice time this past season and compared it to previous year’s ice time rental.
Farmington Youth Hockey Association (FYHA) increased the number of hours of ice they rented based on a new 10 year
agreement the city and FYHA approved this past fall.
Commission members thanked Mr. Pire for his presentation.
V. Business Items
A. Tru Value Homes Residential Development Concept Plan
Director Distad presented the concept plan and shared that staff and the develop agreed with trail locations, park location
and parkland dedication that will be given. He stated the one item the developer wanted the Commission to determine
was the location of sidewalks. Director Distad reviewed the three sidewalk options staff had developed for the
Commission to consider. He shared that staff was recommending Option #1 be approved because it provided the best
sidewalk connections with the least number of street crossings having to be made in order to provide property owners the
opportunity to walk to the park without having to walk in the street. Commission members discussed the three options
and the pros and cons associated with each of the options.
Moved by McMillen and seconded by Suchanek to approve sidewalk Option #1 for the Tru Value Homes residential
development. APIF. Motion carried.
B. Empire Township Park and Recreation Commission Park and Facilities Tour Schedule
Commission members reviewed the draft schedule for the tour. Moved by Suchanek and seconded by Simmons to
approve the park and facilities tour schedule with Empire Township’s Park and Recreation Commission. APIF. Motion
carried.
C. City Council Parks and Facilities Tour
Commission members reviewed the draft schedule for the parks and facilities tour with the City Council. Moved by
Simmons and seconded by McMillen to approve the parks and facilities tour schedule with the City Council. APIF.
Motion carried.
D. Approve Trail Map Sign Design Jim Bell Park and Preserve
Distad reviewed the trail sign design that would be installed along the trail loop in this park. Commission members
provided the following comments on the draft design:
Move graphics more to the edge of the sign to space things out and allow for some of the graphics to be enlarged
or shrunk to better fit on the sign
Change the you are here on the sign to a different font and make it all the same color
Reduce the size of the liquor store logo
Increase the size of the legend so people can see it better
Increase the city logo so it is at least the same size as the liquor store or a little larger
Put a period behind the word leash
Add a bullet point to address by city ordinance no glass containers allowed on the trail or in city parks
Distad shared he would pass along these recommended revisions to the vendor to see which ones could be incorporated
into a final sign design.
Moved by Moore and seconded by Suchanek to approve the sign design with the suggested revisions being incorporated
as much as possible into the final sign design. APIF. Motion carried.
E. 2018-2022 Park Improvement Fund Capital Improvement Plan
Distad reviewed the draft plan with the Commission. He informed Commission members the idea was to not make any
park improvements in 2018 so the fund balance could be increased. Then in 2019 Prairie Pines and Marigold Park would
be constructed if there were sufficient funds in the fund to do so. Commission members felt the grading and site
improvements should be completed in 2018 with an amount of $50,000 being spent to make the site improvements in
Prairie Pines Park, so the park would be ready to receive the remaining improvements in 2019. They based this on the
discussion that occurred during the public open house because neighbors of Prairie Pines Park voiced their support to have
the park constructed in 2018.
Moved by Simmons and seconded by McMillen to revise the draft plan to show $50,000 being spent in 2018 to make site
improvements to Prairie Pines Park and then have both Prairie Pines and Marigold Parks constructed in 2019 if there are
enough funds available to do so.
F. Neighborhood Park Standards
Distad informed Commission members the City Council tabled a decision on hiring a contractor to construct a full court
basketball court in Prairieview Park. The City Council wanted the Commission to discuss the number of basketball courts
the city should have. Commission members discussed this and in order to address the issue of the number of basketball
courts developed neighborhood park standards that identified what types of amenities and facilities should be constructed
in all neighborhood parks in order to make the park system equitable. Moved by Moore and seconded by Suchanek to
recommend to the City Council to move forward with constructing a full court basketball court at Prairieview Park based
on the Neighborhood Park Standards. APIF. Motion carried.
VI. Discussion Items
A. Business Partnerships
By consensus it was decided by Commission members to wait until the June 2017 meeting to discuss this item.
B. Review 2017 Annual Work Plan
Chair Johnson reviewed the 2017 Annual Work Plan and identified items having been completed since the plan was
approved in January. Director Distad shared he would update the document to show which items have been completed
based on the discussion that occurred and will include the updated document in the next meeting packet.
C. 2040 Comprehensive Plan’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Chapter
Distad shared the city has entered into a contract with Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc.(Consultant) to assist the city with
completing its 2040 Comprhensive Plan. Due to a cost estimate of $30,000 to $40,000 to have the Consultant write the
Park and Recreation Chapter and no funding available to pay this expense, Park and Recreation staff and the Park and
Recreation Commission will write the chapter.
Distad briefly reviewed information about the updates that have been drafted for the 2040 Comp Plan. It includes the
acknowledgement and demographic sections of the chapter.
He also reviewed the proposed future parks and trail locations map that will be updated during the chapter update.
He shared there would be two public open houses to gather input on the overall Comp Plan and input on the Parks,
Recreation and Open Space Chapter would also be solicited through a questionnaire provided at the meeting. The public
open houses were likely to occur in September and October based on a discussion that occurred with staff from HKGI.
He asked for input on what kinds of questions should be asked to receive input from the public. Commission members
provided comments about the following possible questions to be considered and what should be addressed through the
public input process:
Determine what amount of tax increase people might be willing to tolerate for new park and facility
improvements
Identify what park and/or facility improvements that would attract or foster new businesses and/or residential
growth
Ask what priorities residents see for park and facility improvements
Determine if they would be willing to and at what amount they would be willing pay to use park and/or facilities
if property taxes weren’t used to cover the cost to maintain them
Ask people how long they have lived in Farmington
Determine what kinds of parks and/or facilities should be built in order to retain residents and businesses
Distad shared he would try to draft a list of questions for the public input meetings based on the Commission’s input
tonight and bring these draft questions to a future Commission meeting to review and finalize.
VII. Commission Roundtable
Johnson: Didn’t have anything to share.
Moore: Shared that the trails by North Creek Park and Meadowview Park trail from 195th Street by CVS are getting
worse because of the damage that is being caused by willow trees pushing up the trail.
McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share.
Simmons: Didn’t have anything to share
Suchanek: Reported it is likely she will not be at the June meeting
VIII. Staff Report
A. Prairieview Park Playground Update
City Council approved hiring a contractor to construct the concrete playground border.
B. Basketball Court Resurfacing Project
City Council approved hiring a contractor to repair the basketball courts at Hill Dee and Jim Bell Park and Preserve
basketball courts.
C. Dew Days Information
Informed Commission members about the events Park and Recreation Department will be involved in including the Dew
Run and Rambling River Center’s Kiss the Pig and Live Bike Auction Fundraisers. Shared park maintenance staff also
supports the Dew Days Committee by transporting picnic tables from the Dakota County Fairgrounds to the big tent prior
to Dew Days and then returning the picnic tables to the Dakota County Fairgrounds after the event is over.
IX. June 14, 2017 Meeting Agenda Possible Items
The following items were identified by Commission members for its June 14, 2017 meeting agenda:
1. 2017 Annual Work Plan review
2. 2040 Comprehensive Plan
3. Business partnerships
X. Adjournment
Moved by Simmons and seconded by McMillen to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was
adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Randy Distad
Parks and Recreation Director and Recording Secretary