HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.14.23 Parks and Rec Minutes Farmington Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes from the June 14, 2023 Regular Meeting
Members Present: Katharine Caron, Ashley Crabtree, Katie Putt, Megan Merricks, and David McMillen
Members Absent:
Other’s Present: Parks and Recreation Director Kellee Omlid and Planning Manager Tony Wippler
I. Call Meeting to Order
Chair Putt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Quorum was present.
II. Approval of June 14, 2023 Meeting Agenda
Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Merricks to approve the meeting agenda. All persons in favor
(APIF). Motion carried.
III. Approval of May 10, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
Moved by McMillen and seconded by Crabtree to approve the meeting minutes with no revisions. APIF.
Motion carried.
IV. Presentations
A. Public Comments
There were no public comments shared at the meeting.
B. Residential and Business Developments Report
Planning Manager Tony Wippler did a presentation on current and future residential and
business developments.
V. Business Items
A. Recommend Purchase of Shade Structure for Flagstaff Meadows Park
Director Omlid presented information regarding shade structures for Flagstaff Meadows Park.
Staff secured three proposals for a shade structure and one quote for a shelter. Quotes ranged
from approximately $33,000 to $65,000. Staff is recommending purchasing a shade structure
with installation from Flagship Recreation / Landscape Structures. This will be a turnkey project
with Flagship Recreation / Landscape Structures doing the concrete flatwork and installing
conduit for future electrical. Chair Putt asked about staining (i.e. bird poop) on the fabric sails.
Commissioner Caron said they have a similar shade structure at her school and it looks nice and
is less maintenance. Director Omlid let commission know the sails would be removed prior to
winter and reinstalled in the spring. Moved by McMillen and seconded by Crabtree to
recommend city council to authorize purchase and installation of the shade structure in the
pre-selected color palette BV from Flagship Recreation / Landscape Structures. APIF.
VI. Discussion Items
A. Food Truck Event with Empire Parks and Recreation Commission
Commission reviewed the food truck event that was held on May 19. Reminder to bring trash
bags in fall. The number of food trucks was fine even though had space for more. Split up the
picnic tables into two locations. Commissioner Crabtree gave an update on the fall event.
Confirmed trucks include Brick Oven Bus, Griddle on the Go, and Unbakeable. BD Sammies can’t
attend the fall event, so looking for a sandwich food truck. Director Omlid will get the list of
food trucks attending Dew Days. There was discussion about making the event more of a family
festival by including games, music, etc. It was decided to visit with Empire Parks and Recreation
Commission about this idea at the October joint meeting.
B. Review Rambling River Park Concept Plan Open House
Commissioners reviewed the Rambling River Park concept plan open house. Comments
received included showing a skatepark in both concepts, bandshell has popularity, and possible
addition of a splash pad. Commission talked about the work session from November 2022 and
decommissioning a ball field(s) at Feely Fields. Commission thought the concept plans use the
space well, not duplicating amenities, and refreshing to see new stuff proposed to be added to
the park system.
C. Parks and Facilities Tour Schedule with the Rambling River Center Advisory Board and City
Council
Staff asked for suggestions for stops for the upcoming parks and facilities tour. Suggestions
included Mystic Meadows trail, Flagstaff Meadows Park and trail to Farmington High School,
Schmitz-Maki Arena, Meadowview Park, Daisy Knoll Park, Dakota Estates Park, Vermillion Grove
Park, Feely Fields, and Dodge Middle School tennis courts. Staff will bring the schedule and
locations to the July 12 meeting for commission to review and approve.
D. Review 2023 Work Plan Progress
Chair Putt reviewed the progress of the goals and objectives of the 2023 work plan.
VII. Commission Roundtable
Crabtree: Dew Days is looking for volunteers. If you have an hour, two, or more, please volunteer to
help. There is a signup link at www.farmingtondewdays.com. Asked if the parade route was changed
and mentioned there was a sensory zone again this year. There are signs identifying the sensory zone
which will be on 4th Street. The parade route is the same as it will leave the fairgrounds heading north
on 3rd Street to Oak Street to 4th Street back to the fairgrounds.
Caron: Didn’t have anything to share.
Putt: Asked about portable toilets in the parks as there isn’t one in Pine Knoll Park this summer.
Director Omlid let the commission know portable toilets are only put in parks where there are programs.
Farmington Baseball Association isn’t using the baseball field this year at Pine Knoll Park, so there is no
portable toilet there. Inquired about the watering of fields. The city doesn’t have irrigation at any of
the fields, so they aren’t watered. Putt submitted a ticket on Farmington Fix for trees needing trimming
near Pine Knoll Park. She thanked staff for their quick and efficient response and the trees look great.
McMillen: Didn’t have anything to share.
Merricks: Didn’t have anything to share.
VIII. Staff Report/Updates
Director Omlid provided information on the following:
A. Park Dedication Study
HKGi is continuing to work on the park dedication study. Staff and HKGi met June 22 for a
progress update. HKGi emailed two maps showing a one-mile buffer from community parks and
three-quarter mile buffer from proposed neighborhood parks.
B. Spruce Street Improvements
Improvements are scheduled to be completed by June 30. Work has started on the Arena
drop-off lane.
C. Pilot Knob Trail Preliminary Design
Staff received the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Dakota County for the Pilot Knob
trail preliminary design. The city attorney is reviewing the professional services agreement
(PSA) with Bolton and Menk. The MOA and PSA will be on the July 17 city council meeting for
approval.
D. Downtown Site Amenities
Benches, trash and recycling containers, and bike racks have been installed downtown.
E. Safe Routes to School for Boeckman Middle School Draft Plan
The safe routes to school for Boeckman Middle School team received the draft plan. Input on
the draft plan is due to the consultant Friday (June 16).
F. Dew Days
The Dew Run is Saturday (June 17). Dew Days starts Tuesday with the Ambassador coronation.
Events will be held Thursday through Sunday downtown. A teen block party is new this year.
G. Mystic Meadows Trail
Willows started busting through the new trail at Mystic Meadows (Denali Way). City staff and
Bolton and Menk staff walked the trails this morning. Bolton and Menk was going to reach out
to the root barrier company to schedule a meeting onsite to see if the issue could be identified.
IX. Meeting Agenda Topics
The following items were tentatively identified by the commission for its July 12, 2023 meeting agenda:
1. Commission suggested a presentation on tree species and diversification by the Natural
Resources Specialist in the future when there is a light agenda.
X. Adjournment
Moved by Crabtree and seconded by Caron to adjourn the meeting. APIF. Motion carried. The meeting
was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kellee Omlid
Parks & Recreation Director and Recording Secretary