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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_2021_3_8_Meeting(875) . MARCH 8, 2021 RAMBLING RIVER CENTER ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES 1. Call to Order: Chair Joan Moes called meeting to order at 9:30 am. Members Present: Joan Moes, Blanch Reichert, Marjorie Koski, Pennie Page, Gina Smith and Ken Schumann Members absent: Pat Hennen Others Present: Parks and Recreation Director Randy Distad and Recreation Supervisor Missie Kohlbeck 2. Approve Agenda Motion made by Schumann to approve the meeting agenda and seconded by Koski. APIF. Motion carried. 3. Approve Minutes Motion made by Smith to approve February 8, 2021 meeting minutes and seconded by Koski. APIF. Motion carried. 4. Presentation The park and recreation department 2020 Annual Report was presented by Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck. She highlighted the challenges the department faced during the COVID-19 pandemic that occurred during 2020, but also presented what was achieved by the department despite the pandemic. 5. Business Items A. Adopt-a-Grandparent Program Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck informed board members that the program will match senior citizens and youth and have them contact each other 1 time a week throughout the summer via either phone, email, or zoom. No in person contact will occur due to COVID-19 during the summer. If the COVID restrictions are eased, then an outdoor event will be planned to occur in August as an in-person event. The committee will meet next week to finalize the application form and discuss conversation topics. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck thanked Page for her list of “Do’s and Don’ts” highlighting things participants should or shouldn’t do such as: youth not asking their senior partner for money and the senior partner not asking youth for rides. It was very insightful. A program description will be included in the summer edition of the Farmington Currents. B. 2021 Arts and Crafts Fundraising Event Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck shared there is currently 8 paid vendors. She said in the past there has been a requirement of having at least 35 paid vendors to hold the event. She said members will be recruited to volunteer to assist with set up and hand out information during the Arts and Crafts event. An attempt will be made to have food trucks should the MDH guidance allow this to occur. The arts and crafts fair event will be advertised in the summer edition of the Farmington Currents. Staff will also send a second application to the vendors who are on the list but have not yet submitted an application. C. VFW Steak Fry Fundraising Event Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck informed everyone that the Farmington Sons of the American Legion are still not meeting due to COVID-19. She shared that when they do start meeting and plan to resume Steak Fries, they will contact us about the RRC Steak Fry fundraising event. D. Kiss the Pig and Bike Auction Fundraising Events Advisory board members were made aware that due to the apparent cancellation of Dew Days, staff would like to bring the bikes to the Arts and Crafts Fair and have the annual bike auction held during this event. This would bring in additional people and help sell the bikes. Advisory board members were made aware that the RRC’s Model Railroad Club meets later this week and will discuss assisting with the bike auction, including cleaning and repairing bikes for the auction. General consensus from advisory board members was to move the bike auction to May 8, 2021 so it can be held at the Schmitz-Maki Arena during the arts and crafts event. Staff also presented an idea to move the kiss the pig contest to a fall park and recreation department event and also scheduling Koo Koo Kanga Roo to play at the same event. Advisory board members by consensus agreed with staff to do this. E. Free Meal with the Longbranch Kenny LaBeau is donating up to 200 meals for Farmington senior citizens on Tuesday, March 30. Eating in and take out are both options. Staff is currently handling reservations for both. They are also scheduling volunteers to assist with this free event both inside the Longbranch and at the takeout/pick up site. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck said there is still plenty of room and encouraged advisory board members to spread the word to others about this free meal event. She said the last day to make a reservation is Tuesday, March 23. F. Rambling River Center’s 40th Anniversary Celebration The Rambling River Center will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022. Koski, Page and Reichert volunteered to be on a committee to begin the initial planning. Moes will be an alternate. It was agreed that they will meet this month to begin the planning of the 40th anniversary event. G. Waffle Breakfast and Silent Auction Fundraising Event Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck made advisory board members aware that Dad’s Belgian Waffles has not responded to her emails or phone messages. She shared staff will reach out to other senior centers that also use Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast fundraiser and find out if anyone else has been able to speak with them. She said it is a possibility that due to COVID-19 they may no longer be in business. 6. Discussion Items A. Park and Facilitates Tour City Council and Rambling River Center Advisory Board The park and recreation commission added Evergreen Knoll and the community garden to the list of parks and facilities to tour. The advisory board approved the schedule by general consensus. B. Park and Recreation Director Position Update Director Distad informed everyone that first round interviews were completed last week for the park and recreation director position. Five candidates have been invited back. Advisory board members Joan Moes and Ken Schumann will participate in the next round of interviews and they will be held on March 23. C. Tour Other Senior Centers Advisory board members agreed that the tour of other senior center locations should remain the same as what was planned to occur in 2020 and should occur in fall this year. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck informed advisory board members that not all of the senior centers identified to be toured are open and operating. Staff will contact them closer to fall. She was hopeful the locations will be open and the advisory board can receive a complete tour. D. Review 2021 Work Plan Chair Moes reviewed the 2021 work plan. She identified that several of the goals are currently being worked on and a few more objectives have been completed. Goal #2, objective #1 was changed to show a deadline date of April 1. Director Distad will update and bring work plan to next meeting. Schumann left the meeting at 10:50 a.m. 7. Staff Report a. Informational Updates • RRC Covid update: The advisory board was given the ok to start meeting in person. Staff will work on having volunteers to start working again at the main desk once vaccinations are done and members have immunity. Activity has been increasing, so having the volunteers return will be helpful for staff. • Advisory board members reviewed the Muddy Bunny Run video. A thank you was extended to Joan Moes for her participation in the video. Recreation Supervisor Kohlbeck encouraged advisory board members to consider running/walking on April 3. • City Administrator David McKnight is planning to fundraiser for a new tread mill for the RRC. He is taking pledges and running 100 miles on Farmington streets in 100 days. Please consider donating to this cause. 8. Advisory Roundtable. Page – Shared members are pro-active in volunteering we should thank them in the newsletter. Koski - Asked that Family Fresh/Econofoods receipt information be included in the newsletter. Smith – Didn’t have anything to share. Reichert -Didn’t have anything to share. Moes – Didn’t have anything to share. 9. Agenda Items for April 12, 2021 Meeting • 2021 work plan items • Arts and crafts fundraising event • Kiss the pig and bike auction fundraising event • Waffle breakfast fundraising event • Farmington VFW steak fry fundraising event • 40th anniversary celebration • Meal event with Longbranch • Tour other senior centers • Parks and recreation director position • Adopt-a-Grandparent program • Garage sale discussion • Status of volunteers 10. 10. Adjourn Motion by Koski and seconded by Smith to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m. Respectfully Submitted Missie Kohlbeck, Recreation Supervisor and Recording Secretary